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- Grants for Starting a Lawn Care Business
Originally published in April 2021. Last updated on March 13, 2025.
Getting a lawn care business up and running takes money—but loans and investors aren’t your only options.
Lawn care grants can be a hidden gem among your business funding options. Although they’re often overlooked, they can be valuable for growing your lawn care company more quickly.
In this guide, we’ll break down the types of lawn care grants available, how to apply, and the best ways to use the funding to expand your business.
Jobber Grants
Jobber Grants is a $150,000 program built to recognize excellence in small home services businesses. This year, $10,000 grants will be awarded to 15 home service businesses doing excellent work in their communities.
I’m excited to be receiving a Jobber Grant that will allow me to fulfill my goals of growing my business and making a greater impact in my community.
This grant will go a long way in allowing me to invest in upgraded equipment, hire and train more staff to serve our growing customer base, and mentor those who might want to start their own lawn care businesses one day.
Meet the Jobber grant recipients and difference-makers
Applying for a Jobber grant takes just five minutes, but the impact can be life-changing. Each year, Jobber awards grants to service professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders making a difference.
Every recipient has a unique story and plays a vital role in their community. Meet a few of these inspiring business owners.
Environmental, recycling, and green grants
If you’re starting a green lawn care business, there are several grants that reward businesses for sustainable or eco-friendly business practices. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants are awarded to support projects and programs that protect human health and the environment.
These grants are most often available for businesses that use low-emission tools and machines, as well as businesses that reduce waste or contribute to sustainable initiatives on a broader scale.
You might consider applying for green grants if you:
- Use electric or hand-powered tools
- Use environmentally friendly lawn care products
- Have a composting program for yard waste
These grants cover a wide range of environmental areas, including air quality, water quality, hazardous waste, environmental research, sustainability, and environmental education. To learn what grant program your lawn care business may be eligible for, visit the EPA website.
Grants for new immigrants
Typically, grants for new immigrants exist on all three levels: federal, state, and local. These grants are often for refugees or new immigrants to the United States who have started small businesses in recent years. The qualifications for these grants vary depending on who is funding them.
If you’re an immigrant or refugee, it’s worth looking into grants that you may qualify for in your city or state. An example of this type of grant would be one from the Minority Business Development Agency, which offers funding after a thorough applicant and evaluation process.
Newcomers may also consider the Refugee Microenterprise Development (MED) Program. This program helps refugees start and grow their businesses by providing loans up to $15,000, credit-building opportunities, and business training.
Pro Tip: If you are pursuing a government-sponsored grant, be sure to check in frequently. Funding and requirements may change each year.
Female founder grants
There are many grants available to help women entrepreneurs build their lawn care businesses and pursue reliable funding sources.
Some examples of female entrepreneurs include:
Amber Grant
The Amber Grant helps female entrepreneurs realize their business dreams. A total of $30,000 in grants is awarded each month, and three separate $25,000 grants are awarded at the end of each year. Application deadlines are strict, so be sure to submit on time if you want to be considered for a monthly award.
To apply for these grants, you’ll have to share details about yourself and your business goals. Submitting one application makes you eligible for all grants related to your lawn care business.
Cartier Women’s Initiative
The Cartier Women’s Initiative aims to encourage and support women who lead startup businesses with the potential to make a social or environmental impact. Grant winners receive awards based on tiers, with the highest grant recipient receiving up to $100,000.
In addition to financial support, grant winners benefit from business mentoring, entrepreneurship workshops, and networking opportunities.
The Kitty Fund
The Kitty Fund is a micro-grant program that supports mother-owned businesses by awarding 25 grants of $1,000. This fund was uniquely designed to recognize the challenges that “mom entrepreneurs” face while managing a business and raising a family.
The application usually requires details about your business, your journey as a mother and business owner, and how the grant will be used to further your business goals.
Job creation grants
Job creation grants reward and help businesses who have contributed to creating jobs in a given area. This could mean you employed teens or adults to work for you part-time or full-time from the local community.
If your lawn care business has helped create jobs in your city or town, and you have plans to hire more employees, you may be eligible for this type of grant.
These grants may be offered based on local rules and application requirements. An example is the Virginia Enterprise Zone–Job Creation Grant, which awards businesses on the basis of having employees who meet certain pay and benefits criteria.
Improvement grants
Improvement grants help businesses grow by funding renovations, technology upgrades, or equipment improvements.
Before investing in new tools, machinery, or even office space upgrades, check if there’s a grant that can offset the cost. For example, some local governments offer grants to small businesses for energy-efficient equipment upgrades, helping you save money while improving operations.
Some improvement programs vary by state or locality, and they may be sponsored by local providers. For example, business owners in Virginia can apply for the Small Business Improvement Program offered by Dominion Energy. This program incentivizes energy savings and efficiency, helping small business owners save money on operational costs.
READ MORE: How to write a lawn care business plan
Young entrepreneurs
Young entrepreneurs grants are awarded to startup founders under a certain age. Some grants are even awarded to teens who run their own small businesses.
Most of the time these grants are local, but you can find state and federal grants as well. If you’re a young person who has started a lawn care business, see which grants you could qualify for before you’re outside of the age limits.
Student-focused grants are often available through local districts and educational institutions like the Future Business Leaders of America (FLBA). Other opportunities are available through groups like the Annie F. Casey Foundation, which provides grants to established businesses and organizations striving to improve socioeconomic opportunities for youth.
Small business grants
Small business grants are designed to support entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons, from boosting the local economy to encouraging community involvement.
Eligibility requirements and funding amounts vary widely. Some small business grants come from local governments, while others come from private organizations and industry groups. No matter where you apply, these grants can provide funds for equipment, assist with marketing, or even help you hire your first employees.
Some examples of small business grants include:
Rural Business Development Grant
The Rural Business Development Grant is offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Grants range from $10,000 to $500,000 and offer financial assistance to small businesses in rural communities.
To qualify for this grant, your lawn care business must have fewer than 50 employees and earn less than $1 million per year.
FedEx Small Business Grant
The FedEx Small Business Grant is awarded yearly to help small business owners grow their business. If you want to receive the yearly notification, be sure to sign up for FedEx emails.
One $50,000 grant is awarded, along with nine additional $20,000 grants. To apply, complete an application and create a short video that showcases your business’s values, and how the grant would impact your growth.
To be eligible for the FedEx Small Business Grant, you’ll need to have opened a valid FedEx shipping account at least six months prior to application.
NASE Growth Grant
The NASE Growth Grants awards four winners up to $4,000 each quarter to support the growth of their business. Funds can be used to hire new lawn care employees, invest in new equipment, or market your business.
To be eligible for a NASE Growth Grant, you must be an existing NASE member.
How to apply for a lawn care grant
Different grants will have different application requirements, but here’s a general guide on how to apply:
1. Research available grants
Research different grants for which your lawn care business is eligible. Look for grants specifically targeted at small businesses, the lawn care industry, green businesses, or community improvement projects.
Websites like Grants.gov, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and local business development centers can be a great place to start.
2. Understand the requirements
Every grant will have its own specific set of requirements. These may include:
- Business size
- Revenue
- Ownership (e.g., minority, woman, veteran-owned)
- Focus (e.g. environmental sustainability)
- Employee count
Make sure you fully understand the grant’s requirements before you apply. This can help you save time and put all your efforts into securing a grant that matches your business.
3. Gather the necessary documents
Depending on the grant’s requirements, you may be required to provide key pieces of information, including:
- Banking or financial statements
- Proof of business registration and ownership
- Resume or personal essay
- Testimonials from customers, community leaders, or employees
Carefully review the required documentation to make sure you have everything ready before the submission deadline.
4. Submit your application
Follow the instructions provided on how to submit your application. Pay close attention to deadlines, format requirements, and supporting documentation.
5. Follow up
After submitting your application, make a note of any follow-up dates or additional requirements. Some grants may require in-person or online interviews or presentations.
Tips for applying for lawn care grants
To increase your odds of securing grant funding, try these tips:
Check out your local small business organization
Most cities and towns have a small business organization that exists to help people just like you. These organizations often have a complete list of grants in the area and will be familiar with the qualifications and application process.
Aside from having the tools you’ll need, most of them will have staff that can give you advice, review your applications, and help you find even more funding options that could be available.
Be organized
Applying for grants can be a long and arduous process. Make sure that you read over the application and qualifications carefully a couple of times before filling anything out.
Always have someone else review the requirements and your application before you submit your proposal to ensure you haven’t missed anything.
Hire an assistant to apply for grants for you
Grants can sometimes be a bit tricky to gain access to. In some cases, you need to use the right language and terminology in your proposal to be awarded specific grants.
If you’re new to grant writing, then consider finding a friend or a professional who has experience.
You can always hire someone who has experience in writing grant applications if you don’t have the time to invest in it. One option is to offer them contract-based work for each grant you wish to apply for.
Ask other lawn care business owners for advice
Don’t be afraid to network to learn more about grant opportunities and submission help. Check online forums, or ask other small business owners in your city about their experience.
Folks who have been awarded grants might be able to share how they wrote their proposals or can share which grants they have been successful with in the past.
Apply for small business tax credits
Aside from grants, you also have other options available to you, such as tax credits. The IRS offers a variety of small business tax credits for small business owners and entrepreneurs—everything from using biodiesel to implementing a pension plan.
To see if you may qualify for any, review a comprehensive list of IRS small business tax credits and get the forms you need to claim them.
What can you use your grant for?
Lawn care grants can be used for all kinds of different things, depending on the types you apply for.
Your lawn care grants can be used towards things like:
- Lawn care business software or lawn care apps
- Lawn care advertising
- Hiring lawn care employees
- Landscaping tools and equipment
- Office space
The right business grant can help aspiring lawn care service providers turn their goals into reality—whether that means starting a business from scratch, offering new services, or investing in better, eco-friendly equipment.
If you’re a female founder, young entrepreneur, or if your landscaping business creates jobs or promotes sustainability, you could qualify for funding that can give your business a sizable boost. You can start exploring these opportunities now to increase your chance of long-term growth and success.
Frequently Asked Questions
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There’s no set limit to the number of grants you can apply for when starting your lawn care business. However, each application requires time and effort and might require you to write, gather documents, and submit detailed applications.
If you have limited time, prioritize grants that align closely with your business goals and have eligibility criteria you know you meet. -
To verify whether a grant is genuine, start by researching the organization offering the funding opportunity. Legitimate grants are typically provided by government agencies, reputable nonprofits, or well-known corporations.
Be cautious of grants that require upfront fees or have no previous recipients and award-winners. Utilizing official resources like Grants.gov can help you feel more confident about credible opportunities. If you spot red flags or feel unsure, reach out to the organization directly before you send your information. -
Grants and loans both provide funding but are significantly different in their terms. Grants are essentially gifts that don’t require repayment, making them highly attractive but often competitive and with specific eligibility criteria. Loans, on the other hand, have to be repaid with interest over time. Loans might have more flexibility in how you use them, but they’ll add to your financial responsibilities when it’s time to repay.
Choosing between grants and loans depends on your overall financial situation, business eligibility, and long-term growth plans.
READ MORE: How to get a small business loan in 8 steps
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