How to start a lawn care business with no money.
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If you’re looking for a great way to make money in the lawn care industry, starting your business can be a great option. However, getting started on a tight budget is one of the biggest obstacles you’ll face.
Starting a lawn care business with no money may seem daunting, but the good news is that with some creativity and hard work, it is possible to get your business off the ground without breaking the bank. Once you start to generate income, you can then begin to invest in your business and take it to the next level.
Luckily, we’ve got a few tips to help you get started without breaking the bank.
Start a lawn care business part-time while you work another job.
This is the easiest way to set up small businesses and this is what a lot of the people I work with do.
They work a part-time or full-time job and run your lawn care business after hours and at the weekends. As the business grows you may be able to cut down on your hours at work.
Slowly take your business to the level where it can support your living costs and then move into it full-time.
Test your new business idea first.
Dont run out and register your business or apply for a business license before you have gone out and actually mowed some lawns. Start small and grow your business from there. You can write a business plan and decide on a business name but do not get too carried away. You can set up your business legally once you have started to build a client base and know that you are going to stay with the business.
If you decide that you need a business plan then you can use this guide. “Successful Lawn Care Business Plan: A Comprehensive Guide.”
Open a business bank account
You need to keep your money in a separate account from day one. If you dont want to open a new account straight away then use an old account that you do not use or open a side account using Internet banking. Keep the money separate from your own funds.
You can find more about that in the article “How Much Should You Pay Yourself?”
Video How to Minimize Start-up Costs for Your Lawn Mowing Business.
Use what you have
Don’t go running out and buying gear to start your own lawn care business if you already have the necessary equipment. Instead of immediately investing in expensive lawn care equipment to start your lawn care business, keep your startup costs down by using what you already have. Use your own lawn mower, trimmer, and other tools to get started.
You can also ask friends and family if they have any extra equipment you can borrow or use. You would be amazed at the gear that people have sitting around doing nothing.
All you really need is a lawn mower a string trimmer and a leaf blower plus some sort of work vehicle and you are ready to go. You can worry about additional equipment later on.
Use free software
Use Google Calendar to keep track of your first lawn care clients and Zoho software to keep track of your income and expenditure. You dont need expensive lawn care software from day one. Google Calendar is free and Zoho Books is free until you turn over more than 50K in a year. They also have some amazing free invoicing software attached.
Reinvest your earnings:
As you start making money after business expenses, make sure to reinvest it back into the business. This can include purchasing better equipment, marketing your services, and expanding your offerings.
Buy Top-End Domestic Mowers, Not Commercial Ones
Equipment cost is one of your most significant expenses when starting your lawn mowing business.
When it comes to choosing a lawnmower, it’s tempting to go for the most expensive, heavy-duty commercial option which will require you to get a business loan.
However, this isn’t necessary. Instead, opt for a top-of-the-line domestic model. This will allow you to start your business and get through the first year without blowing your budget.
Top-end domestic mowers have all the power and features you need to do a great job without the bells and whistles you don’t need.
So save yourself some money and go for a top-end domestic mower – you won’t regret it.
It may not be quite as tough as its commercial counterpart, but it will be more than up to the task of handling the average residential lawn. Plus, it will be much easier on your wallet.
Don’t buy a vehicle unless you have to.
Don’t run out and buy a vehicle unless you have to. Your personal car can get you started, and you can get a tow bar fitted and a trailer for less than the cost of another vehicle. Another advantage is that you will already know how mechanically sound your vehicle is. This might be better than taking a chance on an unknown vehicle. I have had an engine blow up within a month of buying a vehicle in the past, so it does happen.
You can always replace it once you have made a bit of money.
You would be better off spending that extra money on marketing. By using your personal car to get started, you can save money and get your business up and running. Plus, you can upgrade to a new vehicle once your business is established.
Don’t waste your money on a new car when you’re just getting started – use your personal car and invest in other areas of your business for better results.
Price Your Services Fairly
When pricing your services, it’s essential to strike a balance between being competitive and making a profit. If you price yourself too low, you’ll struggle to make ends meet.
On the other hand, if you price yourself too high, you risk losing customers to the competition. Do some research on comparable businesses in your area and price your services accordingly.
I find that this simple formula will help you price your lawn mowing services correctly. I call it the Goldilocks equation.
- If you are winning every estimate then you are quoting too low
- If you are getting one in three then you are quoting just right
- If you are not getting one in five then you are quoting too high.
It is okay if you don’t get the quoting quite right in the early days. You are not married to a price; you can always increase it a little further down the line if you feel that you may have underpriced it. With a little effort, you should be able to find a sweet spot that attracts customers and helps you make a decent profit.
Just because you start your business on a shoestring doesn’t mean that you have to charge budget prices.
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Market Your Lawn Care and Landscape Business
Try letting your friends and potential customers know that you’re starting your own business and offer to mow their lawns for a discounted rate or in exchange for a testimonial or referral. This can help you gain some experience and build a portfolio of work. It will also help you decide whether this type of business is a good fit for you.
Video The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Lawn Mowing Business Using Referrals 🌱
Then you can get some business cards made and start targeting the general public.
Use anything you can think of to let the world know you are open for business. Use Word of Mouth, Online Ads, Flyers and Facebook – Getting the word out about your new business is essential for success.
Luckily, there are plenty of low-cost options for marketing your small business. You can start by spreading the word through family members, friends or potential clients by hanging flyers in local businesses.
Develop a reputation as someone who is reliable and does excellent work, and with a little effort, you can get your name out there without spending a fortune.
Dont forget to get your online presence sorted out. Put up a website and choose a couple of social media platforms to start with. Sometimes the social media that you use the most is the best place to start.
This is an article that can help you come up with free and paid ideas to market your lawn care business “9 Ways to Get New Lawn Care Customers Fast.“
Partner with other businesses:
Consider partnering with local landscaping companies or garden centers to offer your services to their customers. This can help you gain exposure and attract new clients without spending any money on marketing.
Once you’ve got some customers under your belt, you can start placing online ads or even launch a social media marketing campaign.
Video How Much Does It Cost to Run a Lawn Mowing Business?
Offer extra services
As any business owner knows, acquiring new customers is essential for growth. However, it is also important to maximize the value of each customer.
One way to do this is to offer additional services to your existing customer base. For example, if you run a lawn care business, you can upsell customers on garden maintenance, tree trimming, or hedge clipping.
By offering these additional services to your customers, you can increase your income without having to spend any more on advertising.
And because an existing customer is 50% more likely to buy another service from you than a new customer, it makes sense to upsell your current customers on these additional services.
Not only will this increase your revenue per customer, but it will also make them more likely to continue doing business with you in the future. After all, it is easier and less expensive to retain existing customers than it is to constantly be searching for new ones. You can maximise your income by offering a comprehensive suite of lawn care services.
I talk more about other services in this article “Should I offer other services in my lawn mowing business?”
Be “Johnny on the spot.”
As any business owner knows, time is money. When you’re in the lawn mowing business, that means every minute counts. That’s why it’s so important to be as efficient as possible when it comes to quoting and booking jobs. The best way to do that is to always be available by phone. Keep your headset plugged in while you work, and take all calls as they come in.
In today’s competitive marketplace, it is more important than ever to be “Johnny on the spot” regarding lawn care quotes. When you answer the phone, be prepared to give a quote and book the job right away. Ensure you arrive before the competition, quote the job, and secure the contract. Then do the job quickly and efficiently, book the next cut, and get out before the next guy even arrives.
The more prominent companies will struggle to get out a quote in such a slim timeframe, and you will pick up plenty of work by just arriving first.
This is an article on how to deliver great service to the customers of your business “How to Effectively Communicate With Your Lawn Care Customers.“
Conclusion on how to start a lawn care business with no money
So, if you’ve decided to go ahead, Congratulations!
This can be a great way to make extra money and gain valuable industry experience. But before you start, it’s essential to consider a few things.
In this post, we’ll give you tips on how to buy the right equipment, price your services competitively, and market your business effectively—all without breaking the bank.
You can be well on your way to financial success with a little effort!
If you need help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We offer marketing services that will help get your new business off the ground and running.
Thanks for reading, and good luck with your new venture starting a lawn care company!
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