The lawn care industry is booming, and there has never been a better time to start a lawn care business. According to recent statistics, the industry is worth north of 100 billion USD. This is because more and more businesses are choosing to pay for lawn care services such as U.S. Lawns commercial lawn maintenance instead of DIYing their lawn care. While the numbers are staggering, starting a lawn care business is not easy. The industry is highly competitive, and you need to make sure you have the right set of skills and equipment to handle the job. This article will guide you on how to start a commercial lawn mowing business.
- Business Plan and Marketing
The first step to starting a business is to conceptualize a business plan. This involves determining your target market, the services you are going to provide, how you will market yourself, and how you will deal with customers. This plan should include social media marketing, advertisements, and a strategy to acquire and retain customers.
- Choosing Your Location
Commercial lawn mowing requires specialized equipment and a lot of space. This means that you should choose a location with enough space to store your equipment. Many commercial lawn mower businesses prefer to be located close to central business districts because they have the highest demand for lawn mowing services. A strategic location for your business can encourage customers to seek your services before considering other similar businesses further away.
- Equipment
The essential equipment for a commercial lawn mowing business is a lawnmower. Many new lawn mowing businesses choose to rent their lawnmowers, but this means you will be paying the middleman’s rent, and you will also have to pay extra for maintenance. This option is best for entrepreneurs who are just starting out because they won’t be hindered by the need to purchase expensive equipment.
- Licenses and Insurance
In most states, you will be required to get a license and insurance cover for your business. You should get business liability insurance from a company that offers lawn mowing insurance and understands the scope of your business operations. This will cover you in case of an accident involving you or your employees. You should also get workers’ compensation insurance for your employees. This will cover them in case of an accident on the job.
- Hiring an Extra Hand
The best way to establish yourself as a business is to get a few employees. This will help you to deal with the workload, and it will also let you focus on other important aspects of your business. You should choose your employees carefully. They should be well-trained, experienced, and reliable, and you should choose people who are actually interested in the lawn mowing business.
- Market Yourself
Now that you have your business license and insurance, you will be one step closer to starting to mow lawns. You can start walking door-to-door and talk to property owners and managers. Another good option is printing flyers and distributing them in areas with high foot traffic, such as malls. You can also offer discounted service since your interest at this stage would be attracting customers.
- Start Doing Business
This is the most crucial stage since this is where your lawn mowing skills will be put on display. You will have to put your right foot forward every time. Keep your communication channels open, and your pricing should be transparent.
- Get More Customers
The more customers you have, the more money you will make. You should keep track of your customers and try to build a relationship with them. You should also try to get referrals and recommendations from your customers. Aggressive advertising plus excellent service on your end would help you immensely retain existing customers and attract new customers.
- Growth
If your business is successful, you can start thinking of expanding. The first thing you should do is hire and train more people. You can also rent more equipment and space.
Starting a commercial lawn mowing business is quite rewarding. Not only will you enjoy the beautiful sight of a well-mowed lawn, but it can also grant you a stable income. You will need to focus on giving the best lawn mowing service and building relationships with your clients since nothing says quality more than repeat customers. Follow the steps outlined above to start, establish and grow your commercial lawn care business.
