Start a Lawn Maintenance Service - Here's How

Have a love for the outdoors? Plants adorn our streets and yards to make them look beautiful. But after the initial planting, someone needs to take care of the upkeep of the yard. Those who know about lawns know that it is not only the grass that you take care of.

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What is a Lawn Maintenance Service?

A client may call you to come and service their lawn. That will undoubtedly involve cutting the grass, but they might want other services also. The job in question may include aeration, fertilization, and weed cutting. Trimming bushes and hedges are also a part of the job.

As for the lawn, just cutting it is not enough anymore. The grass needs to be edged up properly and trimmed around any decorative stones in the yard. At the end, the lawn person will use a leaf blower and get rid of all of those clippings on the sidewalk.

What It Takes to Get Started

Anyone running a lawn business may want to have a working knowledge of plants and grass. For instance, grass and plants are best fertilized twice a year—in the spring and in the fall. Through courses in plant science and books on the subject you can learn how to clip hedges, fertilize plants, aerate the soil, and spray for pests and other insects. If you do the maintenance on your own yard you are ahead of the game.

Widening Your Scope

When people hire a lawn care business for their home or business, they are often looking to find a business that is diversified in what they offer. Many lawn businesses start out offering grass cutting services and then widen their circle of expertise. You can make more profit with extra services. The service will be in greater demand if you can meet all of the client’s demands within one company.

Start-Up Equipment

The equipment for the business is the most expensive part of the business start-up costs. Limited funds won’t stall this type of business, though. Renting equipment can cut the cost of doing business in the beginning so you can jump right into the lawn service market. When money permits, purchase your equipment.

As a lawn specialist, at the least you will need a reliable lawnmower, an edge trimmer, leaf blower, and possibly some masks. The masks keep grass and other things in the air from getting into your system while you cut grass. A riding lawnmower is prudent for large lots of half an acre or more. Carrying your equipment around will require a truck, van, or a trailer to haul behind your vehicle. Plan to spend at least $1,000 to get things underway.

Spread the Word about Your Business

Advertise to gain new clients. Put up flyers at plant nurseries, in the newspaper, in trade magazines, and in the mailboxes in your neighborhood. To maximize your efficiency, schedule jobs in the same neighborhood on the same day. 

And don't forget to set up your business website. It will be a place where people can get more information about your services and contact you for hiring. Click here for a free 10-day website builder trial.