Starting a landscaping business is an exciting idea, especially if you love sprucing up your garden. But do you have what it takes to succeed in business?
As an aspiring entrepreneur, you probably know that 90% of businesses fail within the first five years. Most of these failures are the result of critical mistakes that could have been avoided with prior planning and preparations.
Mistakes are inevitable in the landscaping business, and some can lead to business failure.
Therefore, when it comes to renting/purchasing equipment, hiring employees, finding clients, and other critical aspects of the landscaping business, it’s crucial that you make carefully-thought out decisions. Avoid these mistakes when starting a landscaping business.
Table of Contents
1. Skipping the Business Plan
Benjamin Franklin, the founding father of the United States, is known for many things. In the business world, many know him as the man who coined the phrase, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.” And nothing can be truer than this, especially when it comes to starting a business.
You need a business plan. Period!
Without it, how will you track progress and reach your business milestone? How will you manage finances? How will you even get funding?
A business plan is a blueprint that helps your business grow. It can be your ticket to success, but it needs to be meticulously crafted. Your plan will lay out the goals you wish to accomplish and the steps your company needs to take to make it happen. So, without it, you’re practically setting your business up for failure.
2. Not Knowing the Legal Requirements
Every business, be it sole proprietorship or limited liability company (LLC), is subject to the governing business laws in its jurisdiction, and a landscaping business is no exception.
Landscaping businesses, in particular, involve many activities and are subject to regulations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Not complying with the legal requirements can lead to penalties, reputational damages, and, in some cases, business closure.
3. Not Having a Plan to Bring in Leads
Leads are the lifeblood of your landscaping business.
No leads mean no sales, no revenue, and no profit. As such, it’s in your best interest to have a plan for generating leads.
But how do you generate quality landscaping leads in such a competitive field? You could up your marketing game and try your luck or opt for lead generation companies.
The latter is the better option as it gets you quality leads with minimal effort. Many companies exist that guarantee quality landscaping leads and lawn care leads at low cost. Such companies use tested and proven digital marketing techniques to put ads in front of customers, then route the leads directly to you.
4. Pricing Incorrectly
Pricing incorrectly has kicked many businesses out of the market.
Prices are too high, and potential clients will go to the competition. Price is too low, and people will deem your services low quality. So, what’s the sweet spot?
You guessed right—the industry average. You’ll want to do thorough market research and competitor analysis to determine the right pricing for your mowing services.
5. Buying All the Equipment from the Start
To start a landscaping business, you’ll need equipment.
But should you buy or rent? And if you opt for buying, how do you go about it? Landscaping equipment can be expensive. Many people make the mistake of buying all the equipment they need at once, thinking they’ll get more clients if they have a lot of tools.
While buying equipment is a good thing, buying them at once is not recommended, as this can leave you with a mountain of debt. If you’re on a tight budget, consider renting the equipment until you’re financially stable enough to buy them.
6. Partnering with the Wrong People
A thriving landscaping business means utilizing a workforce that can deliver quintessential services and meet the demands of your growing business.
You can’t just hire anybody simply because they have mowing or landscaping experience. The quality of your employees is one of the critical determinants of the direction your business is headed. If your employees are amateurs in the field or lack the appropriate business etiquette, you could soon join the growing number of businesses that fail in the first year.
Once you’re ready to launch your landscaping business, be thorough with recruitment. Ensure your workforce has the required skills and personality to scale your business forward.
The Bottom Line
Many people have succeeded in landscaping businesses, and you can do it, too. All you need to do is plan, strategize, and avoid these killer mistakes when starting a landscaping business.
