- Equipment<\/a>
- How to save: buy used or in a bundle<\/a><\/li>
- 3 essential lawn care tools<\/a>
- Lawn mowers<\/a><\/li>
- String trimmers<\/a><\/li>
- Leaf blowers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Transportation and storage<\/a>
- Vehicles<\/a><\/li>
- Trailers<\/a><\/li>
- Storage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Additional equipment<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Business License and Fees<\/a><\/li>
- Operation Costs<\/a>
- Customer acquisition<\/a><\/li>
- Business insurance<\/a><\/li>
- Software<\/a><\/li>
- Fuel and maintenance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- To Get Started, Buy Your Lawn Equipment<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
The cost of starting a lawn care business<\/a> from scratch can range from $15,000 to over $50,000, depending largely on the quality of equipment you purchase. If you already have access to a pickup truck, garage space, or lawn mower, you can cut this cost dramatically.<\/p>
If you don\u2019t have access to that kind of cash upfront, dealer financing and small business loans are available to help your lawn care operation pay for itself. Even though starting a business seems daunting, a platform like LawnStarter can help you turn a profit quickly by connecting you to new customers, optimizing routes, and handling all your accounting and billing.<\/p>
Equipment<\/h2>
LawnStarter requires its pros to own three main tools: a lawn mower, a string trimmer, and a leaf blower. You\u2019ll also need a truck or SUV capable of hauling those tools. For the most basic one- or two-person operation, this may be all you need to get started.<\/p>
How to save: buy used or in a bundle<\/h3>
Our research has found that used lawn care equipment, or commercial equipment bundles from independent equipment dealers, can save you thousands of dollars as you start your business. Full packages including trailers, mowers, blowers, and trimmers are the most cost-effective way to start a commercial lawn care business.<\/p>
3 essential lawn care tools<\/h3>
Let\u2019s start simple. You\u2019re going to need three essential tools to operate a lawn care company: a lawn mower, a string trimmer, and a leaf blower. All three of these tools come in a variety of brands, with different power sources, abilities, and price points. It\u2019s important to choose the right options for the types of lawns you\u2019ll encounter most.<\/p>
Lawn mowers<\/h4>
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rsz_lawn-g2f1042d02_1280-646x430.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Hebi B. \/ Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure> Push or ride-on? Electric or gas? For a brand-new lawn care professional, the sheer number of choices can make finding the right mower a chore. Every option has its pros and cons. <\/p>
For example, electric mowers cut down fuel costs, but can\u2019t run all day without you changing the battery a few times. Riding mowers<\/a> can handle larger yards, but require a trailer and a high towing capacity to transport them.<\/p>
Time is money, as the saying goes, and a faster mower can significantly boost the number of yards you\u2019ll get done in a typical day. While a commercial stand-on or zero-turn mower<\/a> may come with a steeper price tag, it will significantly affect your income.<\/p>
When buying new equipment, a commercial-grade walk-behind mower will cost between $1,000 <\/strong>and $5,000<\/strong>, and a ride-on mower will cost $6,000-$10,000<\/strong> or more. <\/p>
However, a quick Google search for equipment bundles will turn up much less expensive results. A full commercial mower bundle, complete with trimmer, blower, and trailer, can cost as little as $6,000. <\/strong>Many equipment dealers will offer financing options, so you don\u2019t need to front the entire cost.<\/p>
Check out our Lawn Mower Pricing Guide<\/a> for more information on purchasing a mower.<\/p>
String trimmers<\/h4>
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_shutterstock_1737611561.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Clean-cut edges make the difference between an amateur mow and a professional lawn care service. A good string trimmer<\/a>, also known as an edger, weed eater<\/a>, or weed wacker, is a tool that will help you deliver lawn care that\u2019s a cut above many of your competitors. <\/p>
The cost of a commercial-grade weed wacker varies but generally runs between $100-$400.<\/strong><\/p>
Leaf blowers<\/h4>
![\"man](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/16667336501_76fb327f37_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Dean Hochman \/ Flickr<\/a> \/ CC By 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> A high-quality lawn care job isn\u2019t over until you\u2019ve cleaned up. A commercial leaf blower<\/a> will clear grass clippings, leaves, and other debris from the yard and hardscapes. A backpack-style blower, the most popular type for pros, costs between $250 <\/strong>and $500<\/strong>.<\/p>
Transportation and storage<\/h3>
Lawn care is a field service industry. You need a reliable way to get you and your equipment to your customer\u2019s property, and a place to store and maintain your equipment at the end of the day. Apart from a mower, your vehicle will likely be the biggest purchase you\u2019ll make.<\/p>
Vehicles<\/h4>
When you\u2019re just starting in the lawn care industry, you\u2019ll probably be looking at used vehicles to keep your costs down. Choosing a vehicle is a big decision. Factors such as fuel economy, mileage, and towing capacity should all be considered.<\/p>
A new pickup truck will likely cost between $30,000<\/strong> and $50,000<\/strong>, while used trucks can be found for as little as $5,000<\/strong>.<\/p>
Trailers<\/h4>
If you\u2019re planning to purchase a larger mower, you\u2019ll need a trailer to haul it. There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing a trailer, the most obvious being its design. <\/p>
Flatbed trailers<\/strong> are less expensive than covered trailers, but leave your equipment exposed to the elements. <\/p>
Covered trailers<\/strong> protect your equipment from theft and damage, and can save you money on storage.<\/p>
On average, open trailers cost around $1,000<\/strong> and enclosed trailers can run from $3,000<\/strong> to $10,000.<\/strong><\/p>
Storage<\/h4>
![\"large](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rsz_16878566224_5cdb12c410_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: SteelMaster Buildings \/ Flickr<\/a> \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> If you don\u2019t have access to a garage, finding a place to store and maintain your equipment can be a challenge. For this reason, an enclosed trailer can serve as a garage and may be worth the extra investment.<\/p>
Renting a storage unit is another option. Mobile storage units (like PODS) average around $150\/month<\/strong>. Units at self-storage businesses are comparably priced, though larger units can cost up to $300\/month<\/strong>.<\/p>
Additional equipment<\/h3>
As your business grows, you may want to offer other outdoor services to your customers. Services like pressure washing or aeration can set you apart from your competitors. Many lawn care companies also offer winter services<\/a>, such as snow removal, to keep business flowing in the mowing off-season. <\/p>
Here\u2019s a list of additional lawn care and outdoor services equipment you may consider purchasing, and the average cost:<\/p>
- Business insurance<\/a><\/li>
- Trailers<\/a><\/li>
- String trimmers<\/a><\/li>
- 3 essential lawn care tools<\/a>
- How to save: buy used or in a bundle<\/a><\/li>
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