A lawn care business offers services that include cutting grass, trimming plants, removal of debris, and maintenance of turf, which includes fertilization, weed control, and pest control.
Some care services also provide landscape care and maintenance services, including planting trees, shrubs, flowers, lawns, or gardens, designing landscape plans, or constructing walkways, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, and similar structures.
Available statistics show that the revenue of the landscaping and lawn care service in Florida will amount to approximately 7.699,3 million U.S. Dollars by 2024.
The market size of the industry in the U.S. has been growing by 2.5 percent on average between 2016 and 2021. Florida (8,758 businesses), California (8,288 businesses), and New York (6,958 businesses) are the states with the greatest number of landscaping businesses in the U.S.
How to Start a Lawn Care Business in Florida
Table of Contents
Conduct Market Research
The first step in the market research process for your lawn care service is to develop market-based research questions in line with your overall business goal and objective.
In this regard, you should source information that will help you maximize your business, help you know what your potential market will be looking out for from a lawn care services business, and also help you operate your lawn care service with less stress and of course, build the business to profitability.
a. Who is the Target Market for a Lawn Care Business?
If you are thinking of opening a lawn care business then you should make target demographics all-encompassing. It should include all parks and stadium operators, sports centers, schools, churches, office facility owners, players in the real estate industry, homeowners, home staging companies, and households in the neighborhood where your lawn care services business will be located.
b. Is Lawn Care Business a Profitable Business?
Yes, the lawn care service is very profitable. Reports show that lawn care and landscaping business owners in Florida can earn between $5,000 to $50,000 in their first year and as much as $160,000 to $250,000 after a few years once they are established.
c. Are There Existing Niches in the Industry?
No, there are no existing niches when it comes to lawn care services businesses.
d. Who are the Major Competitors?
- BrightView Holdings Inc.
- Massey Services Inc.
- Yellowstone Landscape Inc.
- Juniper Landscaping Holdings LLC.
- LawnStarter Lawn Care Service
- Beachside Lawn Care
- Creative Edge Landscape & Lawn Care LLC
- The Master’s Lawn Care
- FLA Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance Services LLC
- Rountree’s Lawn Maintenance, Inc.
- Franco’s Lawn & Landscaping Service
- TLC Total Lawn Care
- Mad Mower Lawn Care Services, LLC
- Hardin Diamond Cut Lawn Care LLC of Brandon FL
- Lawn Care Extraordinaire
- Augusta Lawn Care of Winter Garden
- Evergreen Lawn & Pest Control
- A&T Lawn Care Services of Central Florida, Inc.
- KP’s Lawn Care & Services LLC
- Lawn Love Lawn Care of Tampa.
e. Are There County or State Regulations or Zoning Laws for Lawn Care Business in Florida?
No, there are no county or state regulations or zoning laws for lawn care services businesses in Florida, but players in this industry are expected to work with the existing regulations governing similar businesses in the county where their business is domiciled.
f. Is There a Franchise for Lawn Care Business?
Yes, there are franchise opportunities for the lawn care services business. Here are some of them;
- Lawn Doctor
- Weed Man
- Spring-Green Lawn Care
- NaturaLawn of America Inc.
- S. Lawns
- Clean Air Lawn Care
- Freedom Lawns USA
- The Grounds Guys
- Father Nature Inc.
- M3 Artificial Grass and Turf.
g. What Do You Need to Start a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- A Feasibility Report
- Business and Marketing Plans
- Business Licenses and Permits
- Office Facility
- EIN (Employer Identification Number)/Federal Tax ID Number.
- A Corporate Bank Account
- Equipment
- Employees
- Startup Capital
Choose a Memorable Business Name
When looking to start a business, before you can begin to file the necessary documents with the constituted authorities or start your website, it is necessary that you come up with a name that you will be recognized with. It is essential that the name you come up with can easily be pronounced, is unique and easily memorable.
Some of the catchy business name ideas suitable for a lawn care business are;
Creative Lawn Care Business Name ideas
- Lush Green© Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Perfect Care® Lawn Care Company, LLC
- Fuller Care© Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Lawn Solutions® Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Jack Cyril™ Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- McNeil Holmes™ Lawn Care Company, LLC.
- Grass Cutters© Lawn Care Company, LLC
- Jeremy Wandel® Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Phil Olsen© Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Stanley Fredrick© Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Amber Grass® Lawn Care Company, LLC
- Ante Group® Lawn Care Company, LLC
- West Ends™ Lawn Care Company, LLC
- Green Fingers© Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Rennes Boyle® Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- McLee Johnbull™ Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Star Group™ Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Simon Donalds© Lawn Care Company, Inc.
- Ekron Cuts® Lawn Care Company, LLC
- Justin Bradon™ Lawn Care Company, Inc.
Register Your Business
a. What Type of Business Structure is Best for a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
Although, there are several options when it comes to the business structure of a lawn care services business in Florida, the one that most players in this line of business consider is an LLC. It is common to consider an LLC because providers want to protect themselves from lawsuits.
Please note that an LLC will need an EIN if it has employees or if it will be required to file any of the excise tax forms listed below.
b. Steps to Form an LLC
- Choose a Name for Your LLC.
- File Articles of Organization.
- Choose a registered agent.
- Decide on member vs. manager management.
- Create an LLC operating agreement.
- Comply with other tax and regulatory requirements.
- File annual reports.
c. What Type of License is Needed to Open a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- General Business License
- Health and Safety Permit
- Zonal Permits
- Signage Permit
- Operational State Facility Inspections
Please note that in Florida, general garden and yard maintenance does not require a license unless you want to use pesticides. Landscape designers who mow, trim, plant, and maintain yards require only a business license from the State of Florida, but they can’t use pesticides without at least a certification from FDACS.
d. What Type of Certification is Needed to Open a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
You don’t need any certifications to open a lawn care services business in Florida. Although most lawn care specialists hold a trade qualification, often completed as part of an apprenticeship.
e. What Documents are Needed to Open a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- DBA
- EIN
- FDACS Certificate
- Business and liability insurance
- Federal Tax Payer’s ID
- State Permit and Building Approval
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Business License
- Business Plan
- Employment Agreement (offer letters)
- Operating Agreement for LLCs
- Insurance Policy
- Online Terms of Use
- Online Privacy Policy Document
- Contract Document
- Company Bylaws
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
f. Do You Need a Trademark, Copyright, or Patent?
If you are considering starting a lawn care services business in Florida, usually you may not have any need to file for intellectual property protection or trademark. This is so because the nature of the business makes it possible for you to successfully run it without having any cause to challenge anybody in court for illegally making use of your company’s intellectual properties.
Cost Analysis and Budgeting
a. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
When it comes to starting a lawn care services business, the startup costs range from $10,000 to $100,000 and above depending on how much equipment the business owner decides to purchase, the number of employees, and the size of the office and storage facility. Please note that this amount includes the salaries of all the staff for the first month of operation.
b. What are the Costs Involved in Starting a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- The total fee for registering a business in the United States of America – $750.
- Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services total – $1,200.
- Marketing promotion expenses – $700
- Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation, and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
- The cost of accounting software, CRM software, and Payroll Software – $700
- The cost for payment of rent for 12 months at $1.76 per square foot in the total amount of – $35,600.
- The cost for office facility remodeling – $5,000.
- Other start-up expenses including stationery – $500
- Phone and utility deposits will cost – ($2,500)
- Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $20,000
- The cost for equipment and start-up inventory – $15,027
- The cost for the purchase of a utility truck: $25,000
- The cost of launching an official website – $600
- The cost for the grand opening party – $3,000
- Miscellaneous – $2,500
c. What Factors Determine the Cost of Opening a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- The size of lawn care services business
- The choice of location
- The required licenses and permits
- The type of facility
- The cost for branding, promotion, and marketing of the lawn care service
- The cost for furnishing and equipping the facility
- The cost of the insurance policy covers
- The cost of registering the business
- Source of your supplies and ongoing expenses
- The cost of recruiting and training your staff
- The cost for the purchase and customizing of uniforms
d. Do You Need to Build a Facility? If YES, How Much Will It Cost?
It is not compulsory to build a new facility for your lawn care services business.
e. What are the Ongoing Expenses of a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- Supplies (inventory expenses)
- Utility bills (fuel, internet subscriptions, phone bills, signage and software renewal fees et al)
- Fueling
- Salaries of employees
f. What is the Average Salary of Your Staff?
- Chief Executives Office (Owner) – $45,000 Per Year
- Admin Officer (Cashier) -$30,000 Per Year
- Lawn Care Specialists – $29,630,000 Per Year
- Truck Driver – $26,100 Per Year
g. How Do You Get Funding to Start a Lawn Care Business?
- Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
- Raising money from investors and business partners
- Sell shares to interested investors
- Applying for a loan from your bank/banks
- Pitching your business idea and applying for business grants and seed funding from the government, donor organizations, and angel investors
- Source for soft loans from your family members and friends.
Write a Business Plan
a. Executive Summary
McNeil Holmes™ Lawn Care Company, LLC is a licensed company that will be based in Jacksonville but will operate in other cities in Florida. We are in the business to help our clients take proper care of their lawns and create the kind of environment and aesthetic that will give them joy.
We have successfully come up with a list of landlords and property owners in the whole of Long Beach; those we know will need our services and we look forward to helping a larger percentage of them manage their lawns. We have been able to successfully acquire the required training and licensing that will enable us to launch our company without stress. We will ensure that every property that we handle has our unique signature of excellence on it.
b. Products and Service
- Lawn mowing/maintenance
- Sod installation/hydro-seeding
- Weeding or fertilizer and/or pest control application
- Landscape care/maintenance services
- Landscape design / contracting services
- Landscape architecture services
- Weekly lawn cut
- Weeding Beds
- Spring Cleanup
- Trimming Landscaping
- Fall Cleanup
- Chemical Treatment
- Snow Plowing.
c. Mission Statement
We aim to help homeowners, property managers, and the government manage their lawns and provide any other related services. We will work towards becoming the number one lawn and landscaping company in Florida.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to become the preferred choice of homeowners, property managers, and the government when it comes to lawn care in Jacksonville and other cities in Florida.
d. Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of a lawn care services business are to care for lawns and also to provide related services.
e. Organizational Structure
- Chief Executives Officer (Owner)
- Admin Officer (Cashier)
- Lawn Care Specialists
- Truck Driver
Marketing Plan
a. SWOT Analysis
Strength:
- Excellent operational history
- Attention to detail
- Accurate estimates with no hidden costs
- Experienced and trained professionals
- Diverse service offerings
- Excellent customer testimonials.
Weakness:
- Not enough existing clientele to run at full capacity immediately
- The owner is new to large-scale marketing
- We will need a loan to purchase trucks and equipment
- The owner is currently running the business solo and will need to manage construction/build out the existing business
- Lack of economies of scale.
Opportunities:
- Growing real estate market in Florida
- Build upon existing clientele
- Online market, new services, new technology, and of course the opening of new markets.
Threat:
- Loans diminish profitability until they are paid off
- The first year will be financially tight while we gain customers and pay off loans
- Competition in the area could increase
- Management of employees requires time, money, and efforts
- The transport department could change its regulatory status and decide to enforce strict regulations that can strangulate new businesses.
b. How Do Lawn Care Businesses Make Money?
Lawn care services businesses make money by offering the following services;
- Lawn mowing/maintenance
- Sod installation / hydro-seeding
- Weeding or fertilizer and/or pest control application
- Landscape care/maintenance services
- Landscape design/contracting services
- Landscape architecture services
- Weekly lawn cut
- Weeding Beds
- Spring Cleanup
- Trimming Landscaping
- Fall Cleanup
- Chemical Treatment
- Snow Plowing.
c. Payment Options
- Payment via bank transfer
- Payment with cash
- Payment via credit cards
- Payment via online bank transfer
- Payment via check
- Payment via mobile money transfer
d. Sales & Advertising Strategies
- Introduce your business by sending introductory letters alongside your brochure to households, parks managers, sports centers, households, home staging companies, and players in the real estate industry amongst others within your location of operation
- Advertise your services in community-based newspapers, local TV and radio stations
- List your business and products on yellow pages ads (local directories)
- Leverage the internet to promote your lawn care company
- Engage in direct marketing and sales
- Encourage the use of word-of-mouth marketing (referrals)
- Leverage the internet to promote your business (when you blog regularly on key issues as it relates to your business, people will consider you an expert in the field)
- Join local chambers of commerce and industries around you with the main aim of networking and marketing your services; you are likely going to get referrals from such networks.
- Engage the services of marketing executives and business developers to carry out direct marketing for you.
Financial Projection
a. How Much Should You Charge for your Product/Service?
Typically, lawn care will cost anywhere from $48 to $211. The average cost is about $129. Lawn mowing can run from $25 to $150 per week, with a national average of about $45. The price fluctuates depending on the size of the yard, the frequency of mowing, and the services included.
b. How Much Profit Do Lawn Care Business Owners Make a Year in Florida?
Lawn care and landscaping business owners can earn between $5,000 to $50,000 in their first year and as much as $160,000 to $250,000 after a few years once they are established.
c. What Factors Determine the Amount of Profit to Be Made?
- The capacity of the lawn care services business
- The types of lawn care services they are specialized in
- The location the lawn care business is covering
- The management style of the lawn care service
- The business approach of the lawn care service
- The advertising and marketing strategies adopted by the lawn care services business.
- The number of years the lawn care service is in business
d. What is the Profit Margin of a Lawn Care Business?
The profit margin of a lawn care services business is not fixed. It could range from 45 percent to 60 percent depending on the size of the contract and the materials needed.
e. What is the Sales Forecast?
Below is the sales forecast for a lawn care services business. It is based on the location of the business and other factors as it relates to such startups in Florida;
- First Fiscal Year: $220,000
- Second Fiscal Year: $300,000
- Third Fiscal Year: $350,000
Set Up your Shop/Office
a. How Do You Choose a Perfect Location for Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- The demography of the location especially as it relates to activities in the real estate market
- The demand for the services of lawn care businesses in the location
- The purchasing power of businesses and residents of the location
- Accessibility of the location
- The number of lawn care services businesses in the location
- The local laws and regulations in the community/state
- Traffic, parking and security et al
b. What City is Best to Open a Lawn Care Business in Florida?
- Tampa, Florida
- Winter Haven, Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- Lakeland, Florida
- Maimi, Florida
- Lake Wales, Florida
- Lake Butler, Florida
- Titusville, Florida
- Wildwood, Florida
- Leesburg, Florida.
c. What Equipment is Needed to Operate a Lawn Care Business?
When it comes to starting a standard lawn care services company, you will need a truck, lawn mower, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrow, string trimmer, edging shear, and other related equipment. It is important to state that this equipment can be purchased as fairly used if you are operating on a low budget.
Hire Employees
When it comes to hiring employees for a standard lawn care services business, you should make plans to hire a competent chief executive offer (you can occupy this position), lawn care specialist, and truck driver.
Launch the Business Proper
No lawn care services business opens its door for business without first organizing an opening party to officially launch the business. You can choose to do a soft opening party if you are operating on a low budget or you can go for a grand opening party.
The bottom line is that with a proper launching of the lawn care services business, you will officially inform people in your city that your lawn care service is open for business.
a. What Makes a Lawn Care Business Successful?
- Choose a good location and office facility to launch the business
- Make sure you offer a variety of services
- Throw an open house grand party before officially opening the lawn care services business
- Be deliberate with your marketing sales approach
- Encourage the use of word of mouth to promote your lawn care services business
- Leverage all available online and offline platforms to promote your lawn care services business
b. What Happens During a Typical Day at a Lawn Care Business?
- The office is open for the day’s work
- The jobs to be done for the day are reviewed and all the needed materials are put together
- Lawn care specialists, lawn mowers, and other tools are transported to the site where the job will be carried out
- Accounting and admin duties are carried out
- Staff return back to the office and reports for the day is written and submitted
- The business is closed for the day.
c. What Skills and Experience Do You Need to Build a Lawn Care Business?
- Excellent mower operating skills
- Ability to pay attention to details
- Excellent tool handling skills
- Excellent project managing skills
- Customer services skills
- Interpersonal skill
- Accounting and bookkeeping skills
- Business management skills
- Bargaining skill
- Work experience in a lawn care services company
- Experience in managing people
- Experience in business administration
- Experience in handling projects.