How to start · Updated May 2026

How to start a landscaping business

Starting a landscaping or lawn care business takes $5,000–$15,000 for a mower, trailer, and equipment — or far less if you start with a push mower and grow. The model's strength is recurring routes: weekly and biweekly maintenance that bills automatically and compounds as you add stops.

Startup cost

$5,000–$15,000

Licensing

Basic mowing and maintenance usually needs only a business license…

For

Solo landscapers & small crews

The steps to start a landscaping business

01

Get licensed and certified

Basic mowing and maintenance usually needs only a business license. The moment you apply fertilizer or pesticides, most states require a licensed pesticide applicator certification. Larger hardscape/installation work can trigger a contractor license above a cost threshold.

02

Register your business and get insured

Register as an LLC or sole proprietorship, get an EIN, and open a business bank account to keep finances clean. General liability covers property damage (flying debris, etc.); add commercial auto for the trailer and workers' comp once you hire.

03

Buy your core equipment

Plan on $5,000–$15,000 to start. A commercial mower and trailer are the big costs; you can start lean with residential gear and reinvest. A truck and pesticide license raise the figure.

04

Set your prices

Price recurring maintenance as a monthly route fee with the card on file; quote cleanups, installs, and seasonal work by the job. Lawn care prices run roughly $40–$80 per mow and $100–$410 a month for full service; route density — many stops close together — is what turns that into a strong full-time income.

05

Get your first customers

Door-hangers and yard signs in a tight geographic cluster, Nextdoor, and referrals. Build density one neighborhood at a time so your drive time stays low and routes stay profitable.

06

Set up the system to run it

Use one tool to schedule jobs, send estimates and invoices, take payment, and follow up automatically — so admin doesn't eat your evenings. JobStack is the AI-powered CRM built for landscapers.

What you'll need to start

Pricing your work

Price recurring maintenance as a monthly route fee with the card on file; quote cleanups, installs, and seasonal work by the job. Lawn care prices run roughly $40–$80 per mow and $100–$410 a month for full service; route density — many stops close together — is what turns that into a strong full-time income.

Dig into the numbers: the lawn care cost guide, and the free hourly rate calculator to set a rate that covers overhead and profit.

Starting a landscaping business: FAQ

How much does it cost to start a lawn care or landscaping business?
Typically $5,000–$15,000 for a commercial mower, trailer, and equipment — but you can start with residential gear for far less and reinvest as routes fill. A truck and pesticide license push it toward the high end.
Do I need a license to start a landscaping business?
Basic mowing usually needs only a business license. Applying fertilizer or pesticides requires a licensed applicator certification in most states, and larger installation work can require a contractor license above a cost threshold.
How do landscapers make steady money?
Recurring routes. Weekly and biweekly maintenance billed monthly with a card on file creates predictable income, and clustering stops in tight geographic routes keeps drive time — your biggest hidden cost — low.

Run the business from your phone.

Once the jobs come in, JobStack handles scheduling, estimates, invoicing, and AI follow-ups — the CRM built for landscapers. Launching soon.

See JobStack for landscapers

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