In the lawn and landscaping business, maximizing profitability takes more than excellent service and a bit of know-how. You also need to make strategic decisions.
The landscaping market continues to grow at a steady pace, expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% through 2029.
For landscaping business owners, it’s important to find and leverage the in-demand services in your geographic location before you can transform a seasonal business into a thriving year-round business venture.
So, what are these top revenue streams? Let’s uncover how to start and grow a successful landscaping business by utilizing the top revenue streams in the industry.
How To Start a Lawn Care Business Off Right: Your Offerings
One of the first things to understand is that landscaping and lawn care businesses are similar, but not the same thing.
For example, a typical lawn care service business would offer services such as:
- Specialized lawn care
- Pest control
- Lawn fertilization
- Weed control
- Aeration
On the other hand, a landscaping business might often include expanded services:
- Lawn mowing and maintenance
- Landscape design and installation
- Tree & shrub maintenance
- Weed service
While there is certainly overlap between the two businesses, and both lawn care and landscaping services are needed by home and business owners across the country, it is important to research the market in your specific location and to clearly define your business offerings for your area.
Not only should your service offerings meet the demands of your local market, but they should also fall into your own abilities. To ensure that your service offerings meet these criteria, you’ll need to assess your revenue streams, explore new ones, and uncover ways to grow your business.
Ways To Grow Your Landscaping Business
Figuring out your most profitable revenue streams can be a challenge, but there are a few specific ways to approach it that can make the process easier.
Mowing is Just the Beginning
Most landscaping companies offer mowing services unless the focus is exclusively on installations or design.
For many landscaping businesses, mowing services are the backbone of your monthly income. It’s a repeat business offering that can help you cultivate long-term clients and a more stable income. It is also relatively recession resistant, helping ensure your finances are predictable month after month.
One of the biggest advantages of offering mowing services is that it gives you the opportunity to upsell existing clients on other services. Clients who know they can rely on your quality services are more likely to add additional services from you instead of shopping around. Plus, a loyal client base allows you to learn more about what your clients need and how you could best help them.
Some add-on services that your mowing clients are likely to buy from you include:
Seasonal Clean-up Services: Providing services like spring and fall clean-ups, including leaf removal, snow removal, debris clearing, and preparing gardens and lawns for the changing seasons.
Tree and Shrub Care: Pruning, trimming, and removing trees and shrubs, as well as providing services like tree fertilization, pest and disease control, and stump grinding.
Organic and Sustainable Services: Catering to the growing demand for eco-friendly landscaping practices by offering niche organic lawn care treatments, sustainable landscaping designs, xeriscaping (drought-resistant landscaping), wildlife habitat creation, and water-efficient irrigation systems.
Holiday Lighting: Help your clients get set up for the holidays by offering your services for light installation. No one knows the outside of their homes like you do!
Depending on your location and what your clients are looking for, these are great options to consider adding to your service offerings.
Climate-based services
Another key aspect of growing your landscaping business is to learn about and offer climate-based services. Different climates require specialized landscaping services, from the dry deserts of the southwest to the lust plant life of the north.
You might be in a location where moss treatment is a must-have. Humid climates can cause plants to wreak havoc on buildings, homes, and even roads and walkways.
Or your business may serve people living in a dry climate that demands special watering and fertilizing routines. Specializing in native plants, xeriscaping, and efficient drip systems are all ways to grow a landscaping business that caters to desert dwellers.
And then there are pests that can become a common destructive force in a particular area. In some places snails can make a mess of a yard or landscaping. In others, your clients may struggle with bee or wasp population overgrowth. This is an opportunity to work with customers to adjust their landscaping needs and services.
By offering climate-based services like these, you can offer real value to your clients while helping you stand out from the competition.
Get Trendy
For many of today’s homebuyers and property owners, landscaping is very much about visual appeal and making the most of outdoor spaces.
For homeowners, staying on top of current trends, such as the native plant trend, can help them improve property value and lower their water usage without sacrificing the beauty of their outdoor spaces.
For your business clients, knowing and offering the most modern trends in landscaping could be your key to cultivating profitable long-term clients. For example, sustainable landscaping, reducing lawn areas, and eco-friendly landscaping practices have all gained in popularity over the last few years.
By offering innovative practices and trendy designs, you may be able to expand your landscaping business’s current revenue streams.
Specialize or Find a Balance
For many landscaping businesses, the key to profitability is to uncover and fill an underserved niche or specialty in your local market. Choosing to focus on residential versus commercial clients can be a way to specialize and grow your business.
Focusing on residential clients can be a great way to develop long-term repeat clients who will turn to you for their landscaping and related service needs year-round. Residential landscaping also requires relatively small amounts of capital and can be an affordable way to get started. While one single mowing job may not sound too profitable, mowing services can produce steady, reliable income and serve as a foundation to build out add-on service offerings.
On the other hand, corporate commercial clients can offer larger service contracts, but may also require more industrial equipment, as well. Focusing on commercial clients can help you expand a growing business more quickly and see larger returns on your investment, but there is also more risk. One canceled contract can result in a larger loss.
However, you choose to specialize in your business, having a clearly defined scope and knowing your clients and how best to fill their landscaping needs is your path to solid business revenue and a thriving landscaping business.
Consider a Franchise
One way to grow a landscaping business could be to partner with a well-known service brand. If you already own a lawn care and landscaping business, a franchise conversion can give you access to a larger target market and enable you to offer more services through a proven business model.
If you’re just starting out, becoming a franchise business owner may be the right call. With experienced support, comprehensive training, and a respected brand name, owning a franchise landscaping business could be your path to financial success and a healthy work-life balance.
Make Your Landscaping Business Profitable
Profitability starts with offering services that your customers need. But you’ll also need a competitive edge, well-trained employees, and a solid business plan to keep your business growing through the years. These are just a few of the advantages that starting a franchise business has to offer both new and experienced entrepreneurs.
Ready to get started?
For information on Lawn Pride (lawn care) franchise ownership, download our complimentary franchise guide.
For information on The Grounds Guys® (landscaping services) franchise ownership, download our complimentary franchise guide.
