How to start a lawn care business

How to start a lawn care business, step by step

1. 01

   Sell a route, not single mows

   Lawn care money comes from repeat visits close together. A customer who pays for a mow every week from spring to fall is worth far more than one who calls when the grass is knee high. Sell a season of weekly or every-other-week service from your first conversation.

   Keep the route tight. Ten lawns on three streets beat ten lawns across town, because every minute in the truck is a minute you're not paid for. Say no to far-off lawns until you can fill a day near them.

2. 02

   Price each lawn by size

   Walk the lawn before you quote. Note the mowable area, slopes, gates, obstacles and how much edging there is, then estimate your minutes on site. Charge a flat price per visit and list extras separately: edging, leaf cleanup, hedge trimming, bagging clippings.

   If you hire help, build their pay into each visit. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median hourly wage for grounds maintenance workers at $19.27, before payroll taxes and fuel.

3. 03

   Mow by the one-third rule

   University of Illinois Extension's advice is to mow by how fast the grass grows and never remove more than one-third of the grass leaf in a single cutting. Cut more and you stress the grass, and the lawn looks worse a week later, which is when customers notice.

   The rule is also your sales argument for weekly service in peak season. Mowing every two weeks during fast spring growth can mean cutting off far more than a third. Keep blades sharp too: a dull blade tears the grass and leaves brown tips.

4. 04

   Get licensed before you spray

   Most states require a license to apply pesticides, and weed killers count. In Texas, the Department of Agriculture says anyone applying any pesticide to lawns for hire, including general-use products from a store shelf, must be licensed. Each category exam costs $64, and the business must register with TDA and show proof of liability coverage.

   Until you hold that license, sell mowing, edging, blowing and cleanups only. Refer weed control and fertilizer with herbicide to a licensed company, and ask them to refer mowing back to you.

5. 05

   Buy a mower, trimmer and blower

   Start with three machines: a 21-inch self-propelled mower, a gas string trimmer and a handheld blower. That fits in a pickup bed or a small trailer and handles most residential lawns. Buy from a dealer who services what they sell, because a mower down in June costs you a week of income.

   Upgrade to a wide-deck commercial mower and a trailer once your route has more lawns than you can finish in a day with the walk-behind.

6. 06

   Register, insure and schedule

   Get a free EIN from the IRS, register with your state and city, and buy general liability insurance before your first lawn. A rock thrown by a mower through a car window is exactly the kind of claim it covers, and Texas requires proof of liability coverage for licensed pesticide businesses anyway.

   Put recurring visits into scheduling software from day one so a rain delay moves the whole route, not just one lawn, and every customer gets the same heads-up.

7. 07

   Put your route online

   Your site should show the neighborhoods you mow, your per-visit "from" price, what's included, add-ons, reviews and a quote form that asks for the address and lawn size. Replo builds that site from a short description and publishes it on your own domain.

   Replo doesn't schedule your route or bill customers. Embed Jobber's online booking or a Calendly link on the page so new customers can request a start date without a phone call.

What it costs to start a lawn care business

Three machines and setup for residential mowing in Texas. Buy used equipment from a dealer to cut the biggest rows.

Your first 30 days

1. Week 1

   Gear up and register

   • Buy or borrow a mower, trimmer and blower from a local dealer.
   • Get your EIN, file your registration and buy liability insurance.
   • Pick three neighborhoods close together to build your first route.

2. Week 2

   Price and land lawns

   • Mow three lawns for friends and time each one start to finish.
   • Set per-visit prices by lawn size and list your add-ons.
   • Launch your site with service area, prices and a quote form.
   • Leave door hangers on every house in your three neighborhoods.

3. Week 3

   Fill the route

   • Quote every lead within a day and offer weekly service first.
   • Group new lawns onto the same days by street.
   • Ask each new customer for a review after the second visit.

4. Week 4

   Add services and plan ahead

   • Offer edging, leaf cleanup and hedge trimming to current customers.
   • Decide whether to study for your state's pesticide license exam.
   • Set a target for lawns per day before you buy bigger equipment.

Build your lawn care site

Frequently asked questions

Is lawn care a profitable business?

It can be, if your route is tight and your customers are recurring. Profit comes from many short visits close together with little driving between them. Lawns scattered across town, or one-off mows, eat your margin in fuel and drive time.

What is the 1/3 rule in lawn care?

Never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade in one mowing. University of Illinois Extension says to mow by how fast the grass grows and follow this rule, which is why fast spring growth often needs weekly visits.

How do I start a lawn care business with no money?

Start with a mower and trimmer you already own or borrow, and only take lawns you can reach on foot or with your own car. Use the first few weeks of payments to buy a blower and better equipment, and get your EIN for free.

Do I need a license to spray weeds on lawns?

Yes, in most states, if you're paid to do it. In Texas, anyone who applies any pesticide to lawns for hire, including store-bought weed killer, must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture. Each category exam costs $64.

How should I price a mowing job?

Charge a flat price per visit based on lawn size and your time on site, not by the hour. Walk the lawn, note slopes, gates and edging, and time a similar lawn first. List edging, leaf cleanup and bagging as separate add-ons.