How to Start a Landscaping Business in 13 Easy Steps

Originally published in May 2022. Last updated on February 27, 2025.

Starting a landscaping business gives you the flexibility to work on the jobs you want, when you want to. You’ll create beautiful outdoor spaces for your clients and bring in big money doing it.

In this article, we’ll cover how to start a landscaping business that turns a profit. And how to grow the business over time.

What’s shaping the industry?

Like any industry, landscaping evolves with trends, technology, and customer preferences.

Homeowners are ditching high-maintenance lawns in favor of native plants and drought-resistant landscaping. Green, organic solutions are also a selling point.

Automated irrigation systems and remote-controlled outdoor lighting are changing the game. Customers love convenience, and offering services like these might give you a competitive advantage.

With unpredictable weather patterns, more people are investing in landscapes designed to handle extreme conditions—whether it’s droughts, floods, or deep freezes. Extreme weather is expected to get worse thanks to climate change.

READ MORE: Landscaping industry statistics and trends

Overcoming challenges

Landscaping businesses (especially new ones) run into their fair share of challenges:

• Weather patterns are shifting. Your business will have to adjust its approach to plant selection, water management, and project timing.
• Customers want beautiful outdoor spaces, but they don’t always want to maintain them. You’ll need to balance aesthetics with functionality.
• Staying ahead means learning about technology like smart irrigation and automated lighting.

Skills to set you up for success

Even if you’re planning to focus on design or sales, knowing how to handle the basics will make you a better business owner. Some key skills to focus on include:

• Plant care and maintenance: Understanding soil types, irrigation, and seasonal care will help you create thriving landscapes.
• Landscape design basics: Even if you’re not drawing up blueprints, you should know how to balance hardscaping and softscaping elements.
• Equipment and tool use: From chainsaws to skid steers, know how to safely and efficiently use landscaping tools to protect yourself and others.

READ MORE: 9 Landscaping business tips to improve operations

Choose a business structure

Before you do anything else, choose a business structure. You’ll need that information for the rest of the business registration process.

Here are your options:

• Having sole proprietorship (U.S., CA) or becoming a sole trader (UK, AU) allows you to run your business alone and have complete control over it. This is the most common option for individuals starting a landscaping business.
• Register as a partnership (U.S., CA, UK), or form a joint venture or co-operative (AU) if you’re starting your business with two or more self-employed people.
• If your business has medium or high liability risk, register as a limited liability company or LLC (U.S.), corporation (CA), limited company or limited partnership (UK), or company (AU). This will help protect your personal assets in case of legal problems.

READ MORE: Should I incorporate my small business?

Register your business name

Next, register your business with your regional government. You can do this at any local registry. 

All you need is the registration fee and a landscaping company name that’s unique, simple to spell, and easy to remember.

Here’s how the registration process will look for you, depending on your country:

• United States: Trademark your business name and register your domain name.
• Canada: Register and trademark your trade name to protect your brand. However, if the business’s name is the same as your personal name, you don’t need to register it.
• United Kingdom: Decide if you’re a sole trader or business partnership, check name availability, search for a trademark, and register the company name and business.
• Australia: Register your business name through the Business Registration Service, ASIC, or a private service provider. You don’t need to register your business if you use your personal name as your business name.

Get a landscaping license

You may be required to have a landscaping license (or a gardening license) in your city or state. If you do need one, don’t start landscaping homes or businesses without it.

Your business license will have an up-front cost, and you’ll need to renew it every year. The cost will depend on the type of license you need and the services it allows for.

Head over to your city or state website and look for information about business licenses. You can also find other local regulations by googling “YOUR CITY NAME + business laws.”

Get your employer identification number

If your business is a partnership or has employees, you may need to apply for an employer identification number (U.S.) or business number (CA). You’ll use this unique ID when tax time comes around.

Residential services

• Hardscaping: Build patios, walkways, and retaining walls for homeowners to enjoy their outdoor living areas.
• Home gardens: Create and care for vegetable and flower gardens.
• Landscape design and architecture: Design aesthetically pleasing and functional outdoor spaces tailored to homeowner preferences.
• Lawn care: Provide regular lawn mowing, fertilization, and weed control to keep lawns healthy and green.
• Seasonal cleanup: Provide spring and fall clean-up services to remove debris and prepare the landscape for the changing seasons.
• Small tree and shrub pruning: Maintain the health and appearance of smaller trees and shrubs.
• Softscaping: Plant flowers, shrubs, and trees to enhance the beauty of residential properties.
• Water features: Install and maintain smaller ponds, fountains, or decorative water features.

Commercial services

• Erosion control: Implement measures to prevent soil erosion.
• Hardscaping: Build durable patios, walkways, and retaining walls suitable for heavy commercial use.
• Irrigation: Install and maintain irrigation systems to keep landscapes watered.
• Landscape design and architecture: Design comprehensive landscape plans, considering functionality and aesthetics.
• Lawn care: Maintain large lawn areas, including mowing, fertilization, and weed control.
• Outdoor lighting: Install and maintain outdoor lighting systems for safety and aesthetics.
• Snow and ice removal: Clear snow and ice from parking lots and sidewalks for safe access to commercial buildings.
• Tree care: Prune, trim, and remove large, mature trees.

Services applicable to both residential and commercial

• Drainage: Address drainage issues, such as installing French drains or improving grading.
• Fencing: Install fences for privacy, security, or aesthetic purposes.
• Land clearing: Clear land for new construction or landscaping projects.
• Grading and land leveling: Level land for construction, landscaping, or drainage purposes.
• Retaining walls: Build retaining walls to prevent soil erosion and create level surfaces.
• Seasonal color installation: Plant seasonal flowers and plants to add color and visual interest to landscapes.
• Sustainable landscaping: Implement eco-friendly practices, such as conserving water and reducing pesticide use.
• Turf installation: Install new lawns using sod or seeding methods.

By offering a diverse range of services, you can cater to various client needs and potentially increase your revenue streams. Remember to start with core services that align with your expertise and gradually expand your offerings as you grow.

Pro Tip: Check with your state or municipality to see if you need a landscaping license to perform certain services. For example, landscapers in California need a state license for any job that exceeds $500.

Curious about what kind of equipment a successful landscaping and lawn care company uses to get their jobs done? We asked Brian Boase from MIL-SPEC Landscaping to open his shop doors to give you an inside look at his tools and setup.

READ MORE: How MIL-SPEC Landscaping went from 0 to 60 clients a week

Invest in landscaping business software

Landscaping business software can help you save time managing your business.

Here’s how Jobber’s landscaping business software can help your business run smoothly:

• Create and send professional quotes that include photos taken at the site assessment. You can also suggest premium landscaping materials, like mulch or crushed stone.

• Schedule landscaping jobs and generate the fastest, most fuel-efficient routes.

• Keep clients informed before, during, and after the job. Send appointment reminders, on-my-way text messages, and automated follow-ups.

• Instantly create accurate invoices and get paid faster with convenient credit card processing.

READ MORE: Commercial lawn care contracts: How to price, bid, and win them

Handle customer complaints and feedback like a pro

Having a process for handling customer concerns will help. Listen carefully when issues arise, acknowledge any mistakes, and work toward a solution. Looking at complaints as a learning opportunity can benefit your business in several ways:

• It shows potential customers that you’re committed to providing the best service possible.
• It can turn unhappy customers into loyal advocates.
• It helps you to learn from your mistakes.
• It gives you a chance to retain customers.
• It helps you manage your brand’s reputation.

Manage your online reviews

The feedback you get online can influence potential customers. Encourage happy clients to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, and social media to build credibility. Respond to those reviews, both good and bad, to show that you’re actively listening to customers and valuing their input.

To receive a steady flow of feedback, ask customers for a review after each completed job. This can be time-consuming, but you can easily set up automatic review collection in Jobber. When you make an invoice in Jobber, you can choose whether to send the customer a review request.