How to Start a Lawn Care Business

1. Decide what you will offer

Start narrow. Mowing, trimming and edging need the least equipment and no special licenses in most places. Add services once you know your costs:

• Seasonal cleanups (spring and fall) pay well and use the same equipment.
• Fertilizing and weed control usually require a state applicator license (see step 2).
• Snow removal keeps income coming in winter. Our snow removal pricing calculator shows what to charge.

2. Check the rules where you work

• Business structure. A sole proprietorship needs the least paperwork; an LLC can separate business and personal liability. The SBA explains the common business structures. Ask an accountant which fits you. Still looking for a name? Try our business name generator.
• Tax ID. You can apply for an employer identification number (EIN) online with the IRS; once approved, it is issued immediately.
• Business license. Requirements and fees depend on your state, county and city. The SBA's guide to licenses and permits explains where to look.
• Pesticides and fertilizer. Federal rules require certification to apply restricted-use pesticides, and the EPA notes that many states require all commercial applicators to be certified. Find your state's pesticide regulatory agency before you offer weed control or fertilizing.
• Sales tax. Some states charge sales tax on lawn care services and others do not. Check with your state's revenue department.
• Zoning and HOA rules. Zoning can apply even to a business run from home, for example parking a trailer or storing fuel. Check before you buy a trailer.

3. Get insured

General liability insurance covers the classic lawn care accidents: a rock thrown through a window, a damaged car, an injured passer-by. The SBA lists it as the coverage for any business. Also ask about:

• Commercial auto. A personal auto policy may not cover a truck and trailer used for business. Ask your insurer.
• Equipment coverage for mowers and trailers against theft.
• Workers' compensation. Once you have employees, the SBA notes you need workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance, and some states require more.

Many customers, and almost every commercial property, will ask for a certificate of insurance before you start. Our lawn care insurance guide lists what each policy covers and what insurers say it costs.

4. Buy the equipment you need now

Buy for the jobs you have, not the ones you hope for. A reliable mower, a trimmer and a blower cover most residential work. Used commercial equipment is often a better buy than new consumer equipment. Add your own prices in the startup cost list to see your budget; nothing is pre-filled, because prices vary too much between regions and between new and used.

5. Set your prices from your own numbers

Price from time, not from the cheapest flyer in the neighborhood. Work out how long a typical lawn takes you, including the drive, and what an hour needs to earn after fuel, equipment wear and insurance. The lawn mowing price calculator turns that into a per-visit price and a monthly plan; the lawn care pricing chart shows what national cost guides report for other services.

6. Put it in writing

A one-page agreement prevents most disputes: what each visit includes, what happens when it rains, when invoices are due. Start from our lawn care contract template, and send estimates and invoices with our free templates.

7. Find your first customers

• Start close to home. Customers on the same streets mean less driving and more mowing per hour.
• Door hangers and flyers in neighborhoods where you already have a lawn.
• A free Google Business Profile so you show up in local searches and can collect reviews.
• Ask for referrals once a customer is happy, and make it easy for them to share your number.

8. Keep the books from day one

• Open a separate bank account for the business.
• Keep receipts and track business mileage.
• Set money aside for tax. The IRS sets the self-employment tax at 15.3% once your net earnings reach $400, and you may have to pay estimated tax every quarter.

9. Add software when paperwork starts eating your evenings

With a handful of customers, a calendar and templates are enough. When scheduling, quoting and chasing invoices take hours every week, compare the options in our lawn care software comparison, including a free one, or see Jobber vs Housecall Pro priced for your team.