landscape business plan

Landscaping Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Landscaping Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your landscaping business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their landscaping companies.

Landscaping Business Plan Example

Below is a sample landscaping business plan and template to help you create each section of your landscaping business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is a startup landscaping business located in Dallas, Texas. The company is founded by John Martinez, an experienced entrepreneur who has gained valuable knowledge on how to manage a landscaping business during the past five years while working as the manager at Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care. Now that John has experience managing a landscaping business, he is ready to start his own company, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service. John is confident that his landscaping skills, combined with his understanding of business management, will enable him to run a profitable landscaping company of his own. John is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of residential landscaping – sales and marketing, scheduling, customer service, financial management, and landscaper training and support.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will provide a variety of professional landscaping and lawn care services for residential customers in Dallas, Texas. Beautiful Gardens will be the go-to landscaping business in Dallas for high-quality services of all kinds. The company will be the ultimate choice for prompt, reliable, and courteous customer service that goes above and beyond the competitors.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will provide:

• Lawn Care and Chemical Application
• Landscape Maintenance
• Landscape Design
• Landscape Construction
• Trimming and Pruning
• Trees and Ornamental Planting and Care
• Perimeter Pest Control
• Vegetation Management
• Gardening and Plant Care Consulting Services

Customer Focus

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will target homeowners in Dallas. The company will also target owners of multi-family residential buildings such as apartment complexes and condominiums. No matter the customer, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will deliver the best communication, service, and high quality landscaping.

Management Team

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be owned and operated by John Martinez. John is a graduate of Texas University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He has over five years of experience working as a manager for another local landscaping business. John will be the company’s Chief Executive Officer. He will steer the vision of the business and provide direction for the other managers and executives of the company.

John has recruited a landscaping expert, Lisa Smith, to be the company’s Chief Operating Officer and help oversee the business operations. Lisa will handle the day-to-day operations, including training the landscape personnel, providing consultation services, and overseeing the landscape design process. Lisa is a graduate of California University with a degree in Landscaping Design.

John and Lisa have recruited an experienced marketing director, Robert Johnson, to become a member of the Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service management team. Robert is a graduate of the University of Maine with a Master’s degree in Sales and Marketing. John and Lisa rely on Robert’s expertise to execute the company’s marketing plan and advertising strategies.

Success Factors

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Skilled team of landscaping experts who will oversee the process and conduct inspections regularly to ensure all landscapers are adhering to stringent quality standards.
• Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service makes it easy for customers to obtain its services. The company uses a proprietary software application to engage with customers and ensure transparency throughout the process. Customers can use the app to schedule service, pay their bill, monitor the work being done, leave feedback, and receive customer support. For customers who prefer to communicate in person or over the phone, the company maintains an office space with a customer support representative available during regular business hours every day of the week.
• The company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.

Financial Highlights

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is seeking $350,000 in debt financing to launch its landscaping business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the office space and purchasing landscaping equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office space build-out: $120,000
• Landscaping equipment, supplies, and materials: $80,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $130,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

Company Overview

Who is beautiful gardens landscaping service.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is a newly established landscaping company in Dallas, Texas. Beautiful Gardens will be the go-to landscaping business in Dallas for high quality landscaping services performed by expertly trained professionals. The company will be the ultimate choice for prompt, reliable, and courteous customer service that goes above and beyond its competitors. Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to provide a wide variety of services for homeowners who value high quality, reliable service and easy-to-use communication systems.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to guarantee the quality of its services thanks to the latest and most innovative landscaping project management technology and stringent quality control standards. The company’s team of highly qualified professionals are experienced in landscaping, lawn care, and gardening, thus will be able to provide exceptional results for a wide variety of services from routine maintenance to new landscape design and build-out. Beautiful Gardens also provides consulting services in the areas of landscaping, gardening, and lawn care.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service History

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is owned and operated by John Martinez, an experienced entrepreneur who has gained valuable knowledge on how to manage a landscaping business during the past five years while working as the manager at Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care. Now that John has experienced managing a landscaping business, he is ready to start his own company, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service. John is confident that his landscaping skills, combined with his understanding of business management, will enable him to run a profitable landscaping company of his own. John is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of residential landscaping – sales and marketing, scheduling, customer service, financial management, and landscaper training and support.

Since incorporation, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service, LLC to transact business in the state of Texas.
• Has signed a lease to rent the office space.
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include previous employees, landscapers, friends, family, and professional networks to inform them of the new business.
• Began recruiting a staff of accountants, landscapers, and sales personnel to work at Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service Services

Industry analysis.

The United States Landscaping Services industry is valued at $128.8B and is expected to increase by 2.3% this year. There are more than 600,000 businesses and over 1M people working in the industry nationwide. The states of Florida, California, and New York have the most landscaping businesses of all the states, while Texans spend the most on landscaping services of all states.

Households with higher than average levels of disposable incomes (over $100,000 per year) spend the most on landscaping services for their homes. While these households reduce their spending on non-essential items during times of economic downturns, they are still more consistently spending on landscaping during these times versus lower income households. The number of households in the U.S. in this higher income bracket is expected to increase this year, resulting in growth opportunities for operators in the landscaping industry. Additionally, there is a rising demand for residential landscaping services from millennials and Gen Z consumers as more of them are participating in gardening activities.

The industry faces several challenges including shortage of quality labor, numerous price-based competitors, economic downturns, and high insurance costs. Industry operators can overcome these challenges and find success by researching their competitors, providing quality service by capable personnel, implementing a targeted marketing campaign, and charging fair prices for customers and employees.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for Dallas, Texas are:

Customer Segmentation

Beautiful Gardens will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Homeowners with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more
• Owners of multi-family residential properties such as apartment complexes and condominiums
• Millennials and Gen Z homeowners who need help starting their own gardens

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will face competition from other landscaping companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Leif’s Lovely Landscaping Service

Leif’s Lovely Landscaping Service has been operating in the Dallas area for over ten years and has gained a loyal customer base for its excellent service and low prices. Leif’s provides residential homeowners with general landscaping and lawn care services. The company is a small operation and the founder does most of the landscaping work himself. Customers come to Leif’s for reliable, friendly service and the lowest prices in Dallas. The company offers lawn care and chemical application, mulching, tree trimming, and debris cleanup services.

Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care

Founded in 1990 by Henry Lake, Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care is a well-known landscaping and lawn care business that serves all of Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding areas. The company offers a wide variety of services for residential homeowners. Services include regular lawn care, trimming, and maintenance, design, construction, and maintenance of landscaping features, and pool service. Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care is owned and operated by Henry Lake, an experienced contractor who designed some of the most prominent outdoor spaces in the area before starting his own business over 30 years ago.

Pete’s Perfect Landscaping

Pete’s Perfect Landscaping is a new Dallas-Texas based company providing services to customers throughout the city. The company was founded by Peter Smith, an experienced gardener who has been working in the landscaping industry for over 20 years before deciding to start his own landscaping company. Pete’s Perfect Landscaping provides a variety of landscaping services including pruning, trimming, planting, mulching, debris removal, and lawn maintenance.

Competitive Advantage

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to offer the following advantages over its competition:

• Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service uses a proprietary software application to engage with customers and ensure transparency throughout the process. Customers can use the app to schedule service, pay their bill, monitor the work being done, leave feedback, and receive customer support.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service makes it easy for customers to obtain its services. The company uses a proprietary software application to engage with customers and ensure transparency throughout the process. Customers can use the app to schedule service, pay their bill, monitor the work being done, leave feedback, and receive customer support.
• For customers who prefer to communicate in person or over the phone, the company maintains an office space with a customer support representative available during regular business hours every day of the week.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The company’s marketing director will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. He will ensure Beautiful Gardens maintains an active social media presence with regular updates and fun content to get customers excited about the company’s services.

Professional Associations and Networking

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will become a member of professional associations such as the Landscaping Association, American Gardening Society, and the Texas Lawn Care Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the company’s vendor and client network.

Print Advertising

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The company will also invest in ads to display in industry publications and local newspapers.

Website/SEO Marketing

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will utilize the in-house marketing director that designed the print ads to also design the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Beautiful Gardens is able to provide. The website will also list information on the company’s events and testimonials from satisfied clients.

The marketing director will manage Beautiful Gardens’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “Beautiful Gardens” or “landscaping business near me”, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be moderate, but higher than low-end competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the Company’s services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service.

• John Martinez will be the CEO of the company. He will oversee the management team and lead the direction of the business. John has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Lisa Smith – Chief Operating Officer who will manage the design and build process, train landscapers, and oversee the activities of the staff.
• Sam Garcia – Bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Robert Johnson – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the company and manage the website, social media, and outreach.
• Joe Williams – Quality Control Manager who will oversee all inspections of the landscapers to ensure stringent compliance with quality standards are met.

Milestones:

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

11/1/2022 – Finalize lease on office space.

11/15/2022 – Finalize employment contracts for the Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service management team.

12/1/2022 – Begin build-out of the office and purchase equipment.

12/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan.

1/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for initial landscaping product suppliers and employment contracts for landscapers.

2/15/2023 – Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service officially opens its office up to customers and starts taking appointments.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the company’s services. When it comes to pricing, the business will monitor operational costs, average prices charged by competitors, and local market demand to ensure its prices will generate a healthy profit margin.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a landscaping business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, landscaping equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of appointments per month: 600
• Average fees per month: $15,000
• Overhead costs per year: $400,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Free Landscaping Business Plan PDF

You can download our free landscaping business plan template PDF here . You can easily complete your business plan using our Landscaping Business Plan Template here .  

Landscaping Business Plan FAQs

What is a landscaping business plan.

A landscaping business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your landscaping business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

What are the Steps To Start a Landscaping Business?

Starting a landscaping business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop a Landscaping Company Business Plan – The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed landscaping business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure – It’s important to select an appropriate legal entity for your landscaping company business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your landscaping business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Landscaping Business – Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your landscaping company with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options – It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your landscaping company, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location – Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees – There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Landscaping Company Equipment & Supplies – In order to start your landscaping business, you’ll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business – Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your landscaping company. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful landscaping company and how to write a landscape business plan:

How to Start a Landscaping Business

Landscaping Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Landscaping businesses run the gamut from one-person lawn care services to huge companies with dozens of locations. As long as people and businesses have lawns, there will always be work, yet many landscapers fail in the first year, often due to haphazard and unsustainable growth. A written business plan can help you avoid this trap by delineating a clear road map for organized growth. In addition, if you plan to seek outside funding, your business plan is essential to convincing investors or lenders to take a chance on your company.

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 2,000 entrepreneurs create business plans to start and grow their landscaping companies. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a landscaping business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Landscaping Business Plan Template here >

What is a Landscaping Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your landscaping business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Landscaping Company

If you’re looking to start a landscaping business or grow your existing landscaping business you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your landscaping business in order to improve your chances of success. Your landscaping business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Source of Funding for Landscaping Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a landscaping company are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

The second most common form of funding for a landscaping company is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a landscaping company.

Your business plan should include 10 sections as follows:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of landscaping company you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a landscaping business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of landscaping companies.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the landscaping industry. Discuss the type of landscaping company you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of landscaping company you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

• Commercial : this type of landscaping company provides services to commercial facilities, municipal buildings, and campuses. This type of business provides lawn maintenance, as well as tree and shrub services and exterior landscaping installation.
• Residential : this type of landscaping company typically focuses on lawn maintenance for households and multifamily properties.
• Landscape design : this type of landscaping company includes the construction of embankments, terraces and retaining walls used in landscape structures, in addition to walkways, decks, fences, ponds and similar structures.
• Arborist services : Arborists undertake the cultivation and management of individual trees or trees within a small area, as opposed to similar professionals in the forestry industries. Arborist services also include tree felling and surgery.

In addition to explaining the type of landscaping company you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, new store openings, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the landscaping industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards residential outdoor kitchens, it would be helpful to ensure your plan calls for employing plenty of skilled labor.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your landscaping business plan:

• How big is the landscaping industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your landscaping company. You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your lawn care business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: families, baby boomers, businesses, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of landscaping company you operate. Clearly baby boomers would want different pricing and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than businesses.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most landscaping companies primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other landscaping businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to choose from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes DIY platforms such as TaskRabbit, or doing the landscaping themselves. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone uses a landscaping business for lawn maintenance.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other landscaping businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be landscaping businesses located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What products/services do they offer?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide superior landscaping services?
• Will you provide landscaping services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you make it easier or faster for customers to schedule your services?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a lawn care business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : in the product section you should reiterate the type of landscaping business that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to mowing and trimming lawns, will you offer services such as insect and weed control?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your landscaping business. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your landscaping business located near a garden supply store, or greenhouse, etc. Discuss how your location might provide a steady stream of customers.

Promotions : the final part of your landscaping business marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local bloggers and websites
• Pay per click advertising
• Local radio advertising
• Banner ads at local venues

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your lawn care business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your landscaping business such as serving customers, procuring supplies, keeping the equipment maintained, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 100th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch in a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your landscaping business’s ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in the landscaping business. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in landscaping businesses and/or successfully running retail and small businesses.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 100 customers per week or 200? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your landscaping business (purchasing equipment, etc.), that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a landscaping business:

• Cost of equipment like mowers, trailers, weed trimmers, clippers, etc.
• Cost of maintaining an adequate amount of supplies (i.e. bug and weed killer, etc.)
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your store design blueprint or location lease.

Landscaping Business Plan Summary

Putting together a business plan for your landscaping business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the landscaping business, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a solid lawn care business plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful landscaping business.

Download Our Landscaping Business Plan PDF

You can download our lawn care business plan example pdf here. This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format to help you get started on your own business plan.

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Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How To Start A Landscaping Business

Updated: Apr 29, 2024, 12:58pm

Table of Contents

1. create a plan, 2. register your business, 3. get your tax identification number, 4. open a business banking account, 5. set your rates, 6. market your business, reasons to start a landscaping business, bottom line, frequently asked questions.

Landscaping is a lucrative field. While starting a landscaping business isn’t the cheapest between the necessary tools, equipment and business registration fees, it’s not the most expensive either. It’s also pretty simple to get started in terms of legal requirements. We’ll walk you through how to start a landscaping business so you can launch your new business quickly.

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When starting a landscaping business, the first step is to create a plan. It doesn’t need to be as comprehensive as a traditional business plan, but it is worth outlining the areas in which you plan to serve, the services you plan to offer, any specializations you might have, the tools and equipment you need to get started, your budget, and a general idea of how you plan to market your business and acquire customers.

For example, here’s a list of items that you’ll need to start a landscaping business:

• Pickup truck: $30,766
• Mower: $350 to $1,499
• Trimmer: $169 to $249
• Edger: $109 to $119
• Blower: $109 to $409
• Two gas cans (one for regular fuel and one for mixed fuel for trimmers and edgers): $25
• Shovels: $13 to $34
• Shears: $13 to $32
• Rakes: $12 to $28
• Work gloves: $12 to $15
• Noise-canceling headphones: $89
• Safety goggles: $3 to $13
• Steel-toed boots: $76 to $83

Of course, you may need more tools if you have employees. For example, this might mean multiple blowers and edgers, and an assortment of rakes. On top of that, you’ll also need to have funds available for materials and products, such as fertilizer, pesticides, plants and flowers–depending on your customer’s needs.

Generally, it’s best to anticipate needing $10,000 to start your business, depending on the amount of equipment you already own. This includes the equipment needed, business formation, insurance, website development and an initial marketing campaign.

Establishing your business entity involves choosing a name and registering your business with the state. While you can choose to be a sole proprietor with a “doing business as” (DBA) name, you don’t give yourself liability protection from that structure. Establishing an LLC or corporation offers you more protection.

To establish an LLC or corporation, you’ll file the appropriate paperwork with the secretary of state after you run a name search. The name search ensures that you are not choosing a name that competes with an existing business. The paperwork establishes the LLC documents or articles of incorporation.

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With the paperwork you receive from the secretary of state, you will be able to file for a tax identification number (TIN) with the IRS. The TIN is similar to a Social Security number for your business and is necessary to open a bank account.

The TIN is free if you do it directly with the IRS. You can do so by submitting an online application .

With your TIN and business registration documents, you can open a business banking account.  It’s important to have a separate bank account because it keeps business income and expenses separate from your personal income and expenses. This prevents the commingling of funds, putting those funds at risk for liabilities. It also makes it easier to file your taxes when you have all of your income and expenses noted in one place.

You may also want to establish a relationship with a trusted payment gateway. The bank account will allow you to make cash and check deposits, but it won’t automatically process credit card payments. Using a service such as Stripe or Square will allow you to easily take all forms of payments. Expect to pay up to 3% on gateway transaction fees.

Next, set the rates you will charge for your services. If you’re not sure what the going rate is in your area it can be worth it to call other landscaping companies in your area to see what the average range of costs for services is. You may have one set of rates for weekly mow and blow services while charging another fee for actual landscaping costs, such as putting in new grass or plants.

A weekly mow and blow might cost anywhere from $45 to $100, depending on the size of the yard. Landscaping costs average around $4 to $12 per square foot on average. Landscape design work can cost $7,000 or more depending on the complexity and size of the project.

Make sure that your charges cover your overhead. Overhead includes the cost of fuel, supplies such as fertilizer and labor for any employees you have. If you have employees, you’ll be required to get workers’ compensation to cover them. Your rates should cover your costs and leave a profit for you.

Once you have the business established and know your services and rates, you can start to market your new company. A grassroots marketing plan might include knocking on doors to hand out business cards introducing people to your services. This is a good method as you can start to get weekly clients in the same neighborhood to reduce commuting costs and time on the road.

Here are a few leading ways to market your landscaping business:

• Build a website so you can get found online
• Create a Google My Business account to get found in local search results
• Create social media accounts, such as a Facebook Business Page
• Register with relevant online business directories, such as Angi, Yelp or Yellow Pages
• Local advertising, such as local newspapers
• Pay-per-click advertising, such as Google Ads or Bing Ads
• Word of mouth
• Local networking events and business associations
• Direct outreach to local businesses (if offering commercial landscaping services)

For example, setting up a business website is a key component in getting found online and acquiring customers. The good news is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, nor does it need to take a lot of time. Learn more about how to easily set up a website .

Owning a landscaping business is a good way for someone already working in the industry to become their own boss and make a good living. The business allows you to meet and interact with different people regularly. On top of the pride of owning your own business, you get to own a business that helps the environment. The more people care for their lawns and gardens, the better it is for the environment. You get CO2-consuming trees and plants and help the good insects such as bees and butterflies survive. This is a gratifying aspect of landscaping.

Starting a landscaping business isn’t complicated, but it requires the proper tools and equipment to get the job done. Be sure to see what you already own and budget for purchasing tools to start your company. Start small and scale as you get more clients and generate more revenue.

How profitable is a landscaping business?

The average profitability of a landscaping business is 5%, but an efficient operation might generate up to a 12% profit.

How do I come up with a lawn care business name?

Generating a name can be challenging but try to think about what you do in a straightforward way. You want the company name to clearly state what you do so people don’t have to think about it. When you have a name chosen, run it through the state’s business name search to make sure another lawn care company isn’t using it.

What kind of education is needed to start a landscaping business?

Although no formal education is necessary to start and operate a landscaping business, there are some degrees and certifications that may help you attract customers. For example, some options are available for Bachelor of Science degrees in landscaping, specifically related to horticulture. You can also find organizations like the National Association of Landscape Professionals that offer landscape certifications in disciplines like lawn care management and landscape technician. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also offers certification programs, including system installation and maintenance and irrigation system design.

What is the job description for a landscaper?

A landscaper works on planting and maintaining flowers, trees, grass, hedges and bushes. They regularly mow and weed lawns and rake up leaves and debris accumulated on the property. The landscaper may also water and fertilize plants and grass. Many landscapers also install sprinkler systems.

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Free Landscape Business Plan Template (+PDF Download)

Read Time 6 minutes

Author Stephanie Figy

Published February 21, 2023

Table of Contents

1. Executive summary

2. company overview, 3. landscaping services, 4. landscaping pricing, 5. market analysis.

• 6. Competitor analysis
• 7. Marketing plan and sales strategy

8. Management plan

9. financial plan, set up your landscaping business for success.

A landscape business plan is essential for securing bank loans, managing startup costs, and maintaining cash flow. Even the most seasoned landscape business owner needs a dynamic roadmap to guide operations and inform goal-setting.

Annually reviewing and adjusting your company’s business plan helps you to scale your landscape business strategically. 

This article describes what to include in a landscape business plan and provides a free landscape business plan template to get started. 

>> Download Aspire’s FREE landscape business plan template. 

The executive summary serves as a strategic snapshot of your landscape business plan. It should be compelling to capture the attention of potential partners and lenders. 

The executive summary briefly describes the new business, its mission, and its goals. Summarize the most critical aspects of the plan, such as:

Market opportunities

Services offered

Financial projections

If you’re applying for funding, specify the amount , how you intend to use it , and, more importantly, how it will increase your profit margins .

Even though the executive summary comes first in the plan, write it last to identify and highlight the most crucial elements of your plan, ensuring that it presents a well-rounded and compelling case for your landscape business.

The company overview is where you start to dig into the details of your landscaping or lawn maintenance business. It should include specifics, such as:

Landscaping business name

Business address

Phone number

Email address

Business website

In addition to the nuts and bolts, a company overview is where business owners state their mission statement , vision statement , and core values . This gives the reader a comprehensive understanding of the company’s business identity.

In this section, list your various landscaping services, such as routine lawn care services, landscape design, or mulch installation. For each service type, detail the: 

Potential profitability

Scalability

Industry relevance

Strategic importance

List any specialized equipment or certifications that enable you to perform unique services or differentiate you in the marketplace. Also, determine whether you plan to provide these services to homeowners, commercial clients, or both.

Some landscape companies in colder climates pivot to snow removal during the winter. If that’s a part of your business model, include the related services in this section. This demonstrates your capacity to diversify and sustain your business during off-peak seasons, contributing to overall revenue stability and client retention.

Next, outline your pricing strategy, including the pricing model or models your business uses, such as flat-rate , project-based , or hourly pricing. Note that pricing depends on factors like:

Market demand

Competition

You may also list prices from a few competitors to show where your business stands in the marketplace. Include how your pricing strategy positions your business, whether as a cost leader , a premium service provider , or a value-driven option .

Explain if your pricing strategy allows flexibility, such as offering package deals or customizing services based on client preferences. If applicable, discuss strategies to attract and retain clients, such as:

Discount programs

Seasonal promotions

Membership programs

Referral incentives 

Include a market analysis within your business plan to show potential investors and partners what the landscape industry looks like in your area, such as:

Market size

Growth trends

Opportunities

Identify market gaps, whether certain services are not offered, or areas are not sufficiently served.

Discuss emerging trends and innovations within the landscaping industry. This could encompass:

Eco-friendly practices

Sustainable landscaping

Advancements in technology and equipment

Your awareness of industry trends indicates your readiness to adapt and stay competitive.

In addition, outline your target audience or buyer persona , including demographics and psychographics. If your key target market includes discerning families, this could help determine specific service offerings, such as organic cleaning products and methods. 

6. Competitor analysis 

In the competitor analysis section of your business plan, list the top landscape industry players in your service area and their strengths and weaknesses. Discuss competitive advantages that set the business apart and strategies for outperforming competitors, which may include capitalizing on the weaknesses of your peers. 

→ When performing a competitive analysis, due diligence requires consulting market research and industry benchmarks. This guides strategic decision-making .

In addition, detail the marketing and promotional tactics employed by competitors, including their:

Online presence

Social media engagement

Advertising campaigns

Customer acquisition strategies

Explain how your marketing efforts aim to stand out or compete effectively.

7. Marketing plan and sales strategy 

You’ve already established your target audience. Now, outline how you plan to reach potential customers and convert them into new customers. List your marketing channels and tactics, like direct mail, email marketing, and social media marketing.

When crafting a marketing strategy , consider each step of the buyer journey and how your company will effectively target customers through those steps, which include:

For your sales strategy, define your approach, such as value-based or consultative selling . 

In addition, define your follow-up strategy for unsold estimates–consider what will convert them–and how to utilize customers you’ve serviced to garner reviews and referrals. 

Your management plan provides an overview of the company’s business structure and key personnel responsible for executing the business plan. It acts as a roadmap for:

Making staffing decisions

Defining internal processes

Developing leaders 

You may start with an organizational chart, which provides an overview of the company hierarchy from the management team on down. Then, go into further detail, listing the roles and responsibilities of each team member. 

A company’s recruitment and retention relies on quality management. Discuss strategies for attracting and retaining talent and your plans for talent development and growing your landscape business . This could include mentorship programs , career pathing , and feedback mechanisms . 

The financial plan breaks down the numbers side of your landscaping business, outlining the company’s economic viability and the leadership’s financial acumen. 

For businesses seeking funding, outline the capital requirements to start the company and how the money will be used. Include personal income statements for each owner and major stockholder, showing assets and liabilities outside the business and personal net worth.

A financial plan should include financial statements, such as:

12-month profit-and-loss projection

Cash flow statement projection

Projected balance sheet

Break-even calculation

Take into account the average profit margins for a landscaping business . Also, list financial risks and mitigation strategies. 

→ Your financial plan is a moving target, as you can’t always predict and plan for changing economic landscapes. Regularly r evisiting and updating this section of your business plan is crucial .

You might use resources to help implement your financial plan, such as landscape business software like Aspire, which provides visibility into every aspect of operations. 

With real-time data readily accessible via custom reports and dashboards , and features to accurately and immediately calculate job costs, Aspire helps landscaping businesses make informed decisions to improve:

Productivity

Accountability

A landscape or lawn care business plan helps secure funding, uncover your business differentiators, and guide day-to-day landscape business operations. Check out our sample business plan to get started. 

Field service software helps implement the business plan, leading to growth, profitability, and landscape business success .

Aspire ’s end-to-end business management software delivers industry-leading features for:

Job costing

Labor management

Purchasing 

For more than a decade, landscape contractors have trusted Aspire’s tools to help them operate profitably and efficiently.

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• Sample Business Plans

Landscaping Business Plan

Beautiful and well-maintained lawns are a treat to look at. But with today’s hectic lifestyle, few people have the time and energy required to maintain one.

And with more income at their disposal, people like to outsource this task to professionals who can manage their gardens well and design them in a way that enhances their house’s beauty.

With artistic lawns cropping up at every corner of our cities, the demand for landscaping architects is at its peak. Be it offices, residential spaces, or public areas, every space needs an aesthetically pleasing lawn.

But not everyone has the amount of creativity and precision that goes into maintaining beautiful gardens. And if you have it, then a landscaping business might be the right choice for you.

All you need is a little bit of groundwork and a proper landscaping business plan .

Industry Overview

According to recent statistics, the landscaping industry employs over 1 million people and has grown 4.9 percent since 2020.

So, if you are a creative individual who can think out of the box, a landscaping business can help you reach your maximum potential. The best part about the landscaping business is that it takes minimum entry conditions and minimal costs to set up.

Now, you may wonder, why do so many landscaping businesses owned by highly creative individuals fail? The reason is as simple as it gets; The lack of a proper business plan.

Although creativity is essential to help you stand out, a landscaping business plan is of utmost importance for the sustenance of your business.

Here, we’ll share a few tips to make your setup process smoother.

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Things to Consider Before Writing a Landscaping Business Plan

Decide what services you want to offer.

Landscaping comes with a lot of sub-niches and additional services. Deciding what you can and should offer as per the needs and requirements of your target audience is essential.

It helps you stay prepared for the service, including getting the right equipment and hiring the right people. Picking your niche is also a great help while formulating business strategies.

Get the required permits

Although the landscaping business does not have strict entry conditions, there are a few licenses and permits that you should have before getting started.

The easiest way of doing this is by checking out all the permits required by your state and area and making a checklist for keeping track of what you have got and what not.

Having all the necessary permits helps you stay on the right side of the law.

Develop a pricing strategy

As you have a service that is mostly based on skill and equipment cost, you’ll have to give your pricing strategy a serious thought before getting started.

It is essential to ensure that your pricing is neither too much for your customers nor too little for your business to make any profit. There are several ways you can set a pricing strategy, depending on your competitor’s pricing, your market position, and the demand for your services.

Know your target audience

Knowing your target audience is crucial to business success. Researching who your target audience is, what are their motivations to avail landscaping services, how they avail such services, what kind of service they prefer  (This can also help in deciding your niche and additional services), what prices they are willing to pay, etc.

How Can a Landscaping Business Plan Help You?

A business plan can become a constant guide in your business journey. It’ll aid you while sailing through the roadblocks, prevent you from having chaotic finances, help you in knowing the market and your competitors better, and save you from the trap of having a static business model that becomes irrelevant as the industry changes.

Apart from that, in the landscape business, it would help you in developing your unique style and technique that sets you apart from your peers.

How to Write a Landscaping Business Plan?

As we have discussed the benefits of a business plan , it brings us to our next question.

How do you write one? Moreover, how do you know if you have written a good one?

Don’t worry! There are several quick and cost-effective solutions to your problem.

If you find writing a business plan intimidating, there are several options like business consultants, premade templates, and online business plan software which can help you create a complete and evolving business plan anywhere and at any time.

We have created this sample landscaping business plan for you to get a good idea of what a perfect landscaping business plan should look like and what details you need to include in your stunning business plan.

Landscaping Business Plan Outline

This is the standard landscaping business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• 3 Year profit forecast
• Products and Services
• Startup cost
• Market Trends
• Target Market
• Market share
• Sales Strategy
• Marketing strategies
• Personnel Plan
• Average Salary of Employees
• Important Assumptions
• Brake-even Analysis
• Profit Yearly
• Gross Margin Yearly
• Projected Cash Flow
• Projected Balance Sheet
• Business Ratios

Now Let’s Understand How You Should Complete Each Section.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is one of the most crucial sections of your business plan, as it is the first and foremost document in it and serves as a pitch to your prospective investors. Hence, this section should sum up your business idea and function with utmost precision.

It should also consist of a mission statement and clearly state your vision for the business. For a landscaping business, it would consist of your growth model, your source of labor and raw material, as well as how your style of design sets you apart from the others.

2. Description of your niche

Next up, you’ll need to define the niche your business functions in. As landscaping consists of several areas like,

• Commercial Landscaping
• Residential Landscaping
• Art-based designs(for public and tourist spaces)

It is necessary to define what kind of services you’ll offer and who would be your primary client base. So, how can you select a niche? We’ll discuss that in the competitive and market analysis section.

3. Competitive and Market Analysis

Before you enter any market, it is the wisest thing to carry out an analysis of the current market situation and the recent trends in the industry. Also, it is a good practice to know what your competitors are doing, because if you are aware of what’s going on, deciding what you should do and what gaps you can fill through your services becomes easier. Hence, this helps you in identifying what your niche would be.

For example, if there is a dearth of good landscape architects for office spaces in your area, you can accordingly modify your skills and marketing strategy to serve the purpose of capturing that market.

4. Website Strategy

In today’s fast-paced environment, most people prefer getting their work done online. Hence, having a website is necessary for your business to be discovered. Thus, including a website strategy in your plan is essential. Also, as a creative business, your website needs to lean on a more artistic side and represent what your style stands for.

5. Management Summary

In this section, you are supposed to include important information about people responsible for a company’s management, the tasks they have been delegated, their roles and responsibilities, etc. As a landscaping business has a large scale of functioning, you need to include this section in your plan.

6. Financial Plan

Writing a financial plan is a necessary step toward creating a well-rounded business plan. A financial plan helps your business in becoming cost-effective and profitable. It also helps you pre-plan and stay afloat in times of recession and instability in the market. Hence, this section is necessary for the sustenance of your business.

Download a sample landscaping business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free landscaping business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your landscaping business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Landscaping Business Plan Summary

In conclusion, a business plan can turn to conduct your landscaping business a hassle-free activity. Moreover, a well-planned business with clearly defined goals and dynamic strategies has a higher chance of succeeding than one which doesn’t have either of these things.

Besides the above things, in the landscaping business, it is also important to have a thorough knowledge of advanced technology and newly improved techniques to improve the efficiency of your business’s day-to-day activities.

After getting started with Upmetrics , you can copy this sample landscaping business plan template into your business plan and modify the required information and download your landscaping business plan pdf or doc file. It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

So, are you ready to reach far and wide in the landscape market with your well-written business plan?

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About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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How to write an effective landscaping business plan

Key takeaways

• An organized business plan paves the way to launch a successful landscaping company
• Landscaping business plans are just as important for new companies as they are for established companies seeking investors
• There are seven core sections of a landscaping business plan that can help you succeed and reach profitability

A landscaping business plan is a must if you’re thinking about starting your own landscaping company or seeking funds to grow your business. More than just a document, a business plan is a valuable tool all small business owners should rely on to plan a successful company.

Business plans benefit companies of all stages—whether you’re just launching your lawn care business or already have a few years under your belt. In fact, companies that take the time to write a business plan typically grow 30% faster than those that don’t .

Although writing a business plan takes a significant amount of planning and research, the process doesn’t need to be overly complicated. There are seven core sections to include. Learn how to write your landscaping business plan so you can set your company up for success and secure the funding you need from potential investors.

7 core sections of a landscaping business plan

A landscaping business plan allows you to set your company up for success. It helps you figure out if you have a viable business idea, creates a roadmap for launching your business, and organizes your thoughts.

Your landscaping business plan should include the following seven sections:

• Executive summary
• Business description
• Market analysis
• Services or product line
• Operations and management
• Marketing and sales
• Financial factors

Let’s review the specific details you should include in each section of your business plan.

1. Executive summary

An executive summary gives an overall description of your company and kicks off your business plan . It describes who you are, what you do, and why your landscaping company will succeed.

You can keep this section brief and high level, but make sure to include the following:

• Mission statement
• Description of your business
• Leadership team and number of employees
• Services you offer
• Where you’re doing business
• Why you’ll succeed

It’s good practice to write your executive summary after you’ve filled out all other sections of your business plan . This will help you first figure out all the details regarding your business, allowing you to then craft an effective executive summary .

2. Business description

The business description goes more in-depth and covers the finer details of your landscaping business . This is where you explain your competitive advantage, which problems you solve, and why your company will succeed in your market.

Highlight the value you bring to consumers and what sets you apart from your competition. Be clear about what makes you better than competitors and outline your company’s strengths.

Do you have employees who have many years of experience in the landscaping business ? Is there an opening in the market that makes you uniquely fit to fill a certain niche?

Also, discuss which customers you plan on serving. Is your target market more focused on residential customers, like homeowners ? Or will you go after commercial customers, such as offices and larger business accounts?

3. Market analysis

Before jumping into starting your own landscaping business , you must take a look at the overall industry and your competition . Analyzing the market helps you determine if there’s enough room in your area for another business like yours to be successful.

Take a look at the landscaping industry as a whole. Is consumer spending within the landscaping industry on the rise? 

You can estimate market saturation by simply taking a count of how many landscaping businesses are operating in your area. Figure out where these landscaping companies serve and determine if there’s an opportunity for you to enter the market and win over new customers.

Analyze what these competitors are doing well and find areas for improvement. Reading through your competitors’ Yelp reviews is an easy way to figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are from a consumer standpoint.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of other landscaping companies will enable you to optimize your business practices and earn market share when first starting out.

4. Services or product line

The services and product line section of your landscaping business plan tells readers how you expect to make money. Specify the exact lawn care services you’ll provide customers and which niche you’ll serve.

Landscaping companies can offer more than only lawn mowing, but it’s best to choose only a few services you can adequately offer without overextending yourself. Service options may include:

• I nstalling sod or mulch
• Planting flowers and other plants
• Fertilizing
• Pest control
• Landscape design
• Ongoing lawn maintenance

Pick the landscaping services you’re qualified to offer and list them in this section. It’s also helpful if you discuss the frequency of your services. For example, are most customers receiving weekly lawn cutting or will you provide services on a bi-weekly basis?

5. Operations and management

The operations section of your landscaping business plan highlights what type of business structure you’re forming and how your leadership team is organized.

Explain what type of business you’re forming. You can choose between a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. You can find more information by reading through our guide on registering your business .

You’ll then need to provide an organizational chart that introduces the leaders of your company and provides a hierarchy of your team. Detail who holds which responsibilities and the hierarchy of your leadership team. If you’re the only member of your company, you can give a professional overview of yourself.

Talk about each employee and give each person’s years of experience and qualifications. Highlight areas that show why they’re the right fit for the job and how they’ll help your business succeed. You can even include brief resumes of your key employees to strengthen this section.

6. Marketing and sales

The marketing and sales section of your landscaping business plan tells readers how you’ll find and retain customers. There are many different landscaping marketing strategies that can help you find new leads and build lasting relationships with current customers.

A professional-looking website is a significant aspect of your marketing strategy . It will serve as the face of your company online. Most marketing channels will direct potential customers to your website.

You’ll also need to find ways to capture the attention of potential customers and encourage them to visit your website or contact you directly via phone or email. Some effective marketing strategies include:

• Email marketing
• Referral program
• Pay-per-click digital advertising
• Social media marketing
• Claiming your Yelp Business Page
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Content marketing

Choose the appropriate strategies, create a marketing plan , and highlight them in this section. Explain how you expect to find new leads to grow your business and how you plan on building trust , retaining current clients and earning customer loyalty . 

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7. Financial factors

The finance section of your lawn care business plan offers realistic financial projections for your company. You’ll need to show readers that your business will be financially stable, especially if you’re seeking funding .

Analyzing your financials will help you determine if a landscaping business is worth pursuing. It’s important that you’re realistic with your expectations and have the appropriate funds to launch your business.

List all of the startup costs you expect to encounter. This can include expenditures like a lawnmower , work vehicles, edgers , or trimmers . From there you can determine the pricing of your services.

You can include financial statements like income statements, balance sheets , and cash flow statements if you’ve already launched your business. This will give tangible evidence for potential investors or lenders to determine if you have a viable business idea they’re willing to put money into.

You can also add a funding request if you’re seeking investment from a third party. Just be sure to include how much capital you’ll need, what you intend on doing with the funds, and how long investors can expect for your company to reach profitability . The time it takes you to reach profitability will depend on startup costs, pricing, and how quickly you can build your customer base.

Build a strong foundation with your business plan

It’s in your best interest to write a business plan before you embark on your entrepreneurial endeavor. It will serve as the foundation of your company and guide your future decisions. A well-thought-out business plan allows you to confidently navigate uncharted waters with a roadmap to follow.

Once you’ve organized your landscaping business plan , you can hit the ground running. After your business starts picking up, claim your Yelp Business Page and begin receiving reviews from happy customers.

The information above is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and may not be suitable for your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, references to third-party links, services, or products do not constitute endorsement by Yelp.

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