These days, many people are trying to crawl into the entrepreneurship world. After all, everyone likes working on their terms without being accountable to anyone. However, with the skyrocketing competition, you need more than hefty capital to start a successful venture. Unlike conventional products and services, think of something unique but in-demand. As more people spend time indoors, the lawn care industry could be a great startup choice.
Surprisingly, there is also ample opportunity in this business sector, allowing you to make substantial profits. All you need is landscaping expertise, fertilizer knowledge, gardening skills, and a proficient team of gardeners. Likewise, you can purchase standard lawn-care equipment such as mowers, sprinklers, etc., without breaking a bank. Hence, with limited capital and loads of expertise, you can kick off a successful landscaping business.
Do you know the best part? You can make employees learn to work on the job since it doesn’t require proper training or license. If you are ready to jump on this bandwagon, let us help you out. Here we are unfolding five tips to help you launch a lawn care or landscaping business.
Source: caminofinancial.com
1. Create A Business Plan
Usually, owners think they can memorize everything, but this is not how companies work. One of the first things you will need is a solid business plan. It would include your vision and mission statement, business goals, and prospects. After all, this plan would serve as the foundation of your newly built venture. Besides the objectives, talk about your target audience, financial goals, and upfront business costs. It would give a rough idea about the capitalization requirement.
Moreover, briefly describe the services you are offering. However, if you can’t think of brilliant services, search online. If you are residing in Alberta, look up to lawn care Calgary AB for some inspiration. They offer condo maintenance, commercial landscaping, and various tree services. Thus, you can also provide similar services and include them in the business plan. Remember to cover every small detail in the plan and develop a robust foundation.
2. List Down Startup Expenses
How much capital are you raising? Whether you are starting from $5000 or $15000, it would never be enough without proper planning. Therefore, set some capital aside before coughing up money on expenses. Likewise, list down all necessary and extra costs to avoid overspending. Here we are listing some everyday lawn care business expenses.
- A truck with a flatbed trailer: If you can’t buy one, calculate the annual rental costs and negotiate terms with the rental company.
- Two commercial lawnmowers.
- Get gardening tools, such as a trimmer to access hard-to-reach areas and an edger for cutting overgrown grass. You will also be needing a shovel, blower, and rakes.
- You will require safety equipment for employees – gloves, safety goggles, noise-canceling headphones, etc.
If you don’t have ample capital, consider saving up on gardening equipment. Instead of brand-new ones, opt for second-hand tools in good condition. It will help you pinch hundreds of dollars that you can spend elsewhere.
Source: outdoorideas.net
3. Define Your Target Market
Are you targeting residential customers? Will business owners be interested in your services? Answering these questions will let you determine the business’s target audience. Although lawn care startups look like a lucrative business, competition still exists in the market. Thus, it would be in your optimal interests to find your target market. You can create customer segments to target a specific clientele. Otherwise, narrow down your business to one particular niche.
You could either offer commercial lawn maintenance services including, seeding, weeding, sod installation, and lawn aeration. Likewise, if you wish to target upper-middle-class customers, opt for landscaping services. You can design the layouts for landscapes, update existing ones, and improve their curb appeal. Honestly, having a clear idea about your target audience will let you establish customer-centric services, increasing sales.
4. Set Competent Prices
Gone are those days when owners set prices on estimates and blind guesses. Now, before you decide how much to charge per square foot, conduct in-depth market research. Dig into your competitor’s site and check what prices they are charging. However, don’t forget to consider their experience level because people charge higher when they have goodwill.
Before setting an hourly rate, consider how much effort and labor goes into your services. Also, check the average salary of landscapers to set a competitive rate. According to BLS, landscapers make $32,360 per year, which is $3.92 per hour. Nevertheless, if you don’t want to stick to a fixed rate, send clients a rough estimate for landscaping services and then agree upon a final cost. No matter how you are setting prices, make sure to account for business expenses and taxes.
5. Invest in Branding
In today’s digital world, branding plays a crucial role. It will develop a strong brand identity, differentiating you from competitors in the niche. Here are few ideas to establish an excellent brand for your landscape business.
- Invest in an Attractive Logo: Logos put your business on the map, building brand recognition.
- Highlight Your USP: What distinguishes your brand from competitors? It could be a unique service such as luxury landscape or incredible customer service. Hence, highlight what makes your company unique to attract more people.
- Create a Brand Story: These days, people like connecting with brands on a personal level. Thus, tell people why you like landscaping, how you came into this field, etc.
Wrap Up
Starting a lawn care business can be thrilling yet overwhelming. From bringing brilliant services, hiring a team, attracting customers – you have to look after many things. Therefore, begin by building a strong foundation to ensure the company is heading in the correct direction. Also, don’t be afraid to follow your passion because the landscaping business’s success depends on delivering high-quality work.
