How to Start a Lawn Mowing Business (Step-by-Step)

How to Start a Lawn Mowing Business (Step-by-Step)
A step-by-step guide on how to start a lawn mowing business and the requirements for it. Understand the benefits of owning a lawn mowing business. Visit Square.
by Square Feb 15, 2022 — 5 min read
How to Start a Lawn Mowing Business (Step-by-Step)

As Australians become increasingly time-poor, those blessed with entrepreneurial minds have the opportunity to provide a suite of services that people can’t find the time to do. The best opportunities tend to be those with a low barrier to entry and which offer consistent work.

Starting a lawn mowing business, for example.

If you have a lawnmower, you have the equipment you need to mow lawns. What’s more, the grass always grows – sure, it’s faster at some times than it is at others, but there’s always lawn to cut.

While the act of mowing a lawn is simple enough, starting a lawn mowing business is a little more complex. There are plenty of questions to be answered: what laws, permits and requirements apply? How do you create, market and build a business? How do you get paid, and pay yourself?

Here we’ll take a deep dive into how to start a lawn mowing business: why you should do it, the paperwork and equipment you’ll need, and how to ultimately build a successful company.

6 benefits of owning a lawn mowing business

Why should you consider starting a lawn mowing business? This work brings a number of benefits, but here are six of the best.

Low barrier to entry: Compared with most other hands-on businesses, lawn mowing requires minimal equipment, little training, and fewer licences and permits, and you don’t need to find a shopfront or warehouse. The upfront investment is relatively affordable.

Regular work: Grass grows all year round, so most clients will require your services every few weeks. Once you’ve built up a solid customer base you’re guaranteed regular work.

Greater autonomy: Owning a lawn mowing business means you can set your own schedule and make your own money. Take on as much work as you’re comfortable with and take breaks whenever you need to.

Variety in your day: You won’t be stuck in the same office cubicle. You get to travel around, spending time in the sun, meeting new people and making their gardens look beautiful.

No limits: Do you have enough work to bring someone else on board? Then do it! You could grow your venture into a large business or franchise – it’s up to you how large your business becomes.

A sense of accomplishment: As a business owner there’s a real sense of accomplishment in watching your business grow.

Requirements to start a lawn mowing business

If you decide that a lawn mowing business is right for you, what are skills you’ll need to bring to the table, and the rules, regulations and requirements you’ll need to abide by?

Skills and knowledge

First and foremost you’ll need to know how to maintain a lawn! While it doesn’t require any official course or qualification, there’s actually a little more to this than you might first think, as depending on the level of service the customer is after, you’ll need to know:

There was a time when the owner of a lawnmower business would need to bring some basic knowledge of the machinery they work with in case of a breakdown, but as electric lawnmowers and whipper snippers are beginning to take over the market, there are far fewer ways for your machinery to fail.

Licenses

In Australia there’s no such thing as a lawn mowing licence. You will need a driver’s licence to get you and your equipment to your customers though.

Business registration

As a fully-fledged business, you’ll need to register for tax. Thankfully the process of applying for an ABN is a surprisingly simple one. While most lawn mowing businesses start out as ‘sole trader’ operations, those with visions of building an empire might choose to create a company or trust. If that’s you, you’ll need an ACN instead.

If you earn more than $75,000 in a year you’ll need to register for GST, at which point a professional accountant is advised (if you haven’t found one already.)

Insurance needed for a lawn mowing business

Insurance is as critical for a lawn mowing business as it is for any business. You’re undertaking physical work on another person’s property, which brings all sorts of legal ramifications if something goes wrong. Your financial liability for accidents, injuries and mistakes can be huge. It’s scary to think that without insurance you’re only ever a moment away from your business collapsing.

The most significant liability you face is injuring someone or damaging property. Thankfully public liability insurance is built for these exact situations, with reasonably priced policies covering you for millions of dollars in damages. If you do commercial work for another business or a property manager, they may stipulate other types of insurance coverage.

Other forms of insurance that apply to a lawn mowing business include:

Essential equipment needed to start a lawn mowing business

What equipment will your lawn mowing business need? The following core items will get you on your way.

Market your lawn mowing business

It’s time to get to work, though you can’t expect that work will just come to you – you’ll need to go out and get it. Marketing a small business is a subject that deserves its own guide, but the most effective strategies include:

How much can you charge customers?

The average hourly rate an Australian lawn mowing business charges is $45-$50, though that can vary greatly – a mowing business in the Sydney CBD will obviously have higher costs than a business in a small country town, so will need to charge far more. Always base your rate off your costs.

How to get paid as a lawnmower

Once you’ve got your first job, how do you get paid? With cash all but dead, the modern business owner needs to go digital:

While Australians might be increasingly time-poor, their grass continues to grow. A lawn mowing business offers regular, satisfying work, and is easier to establish than a lot of other ventures.

If you’re ready to capitalise on this growing industry, Square is ready to deliver the knowledge, tools and support you need!

Square
The Bottom Line is brought to you by a global team of collaborators who believe that anyone should be able to participate and thrive in the economy.

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