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Starting a landscaping business is not just about buying equipment and providing a service to your customers. The decisions behind the equipment, how you plan to use the equipment and many steps in-between will determine the level of success you have as a business owner in this space.
At TriGreen Equipment, our goal is to be your one-stop shop for commercial landscaping needs. For us, it’s not just about purchasing our equipment and technology solutions, it’s about you, your goals and what fits you best now, and in the future.
If you’ve been asking questions like:
- How do you start a landscaping business?
- How much does it cost to start a lawn care business?
- What do you need to start a lawn care business?
- How do you actually grow and market it?
This guide is built to walk you through the realities of owning a full-time lawn care business.
Why Landscaping and Lawn Care Are Still Strong Business Opportunities
Landscaping and lawn care remain in demand across residential, commercial, and municipal markets. Grass keeps growing, properties need maintenance, and customers value reliability over flashy trends.
Some of the biggest advantages:
- Recurring customers (weekly or bi-weekly service)
- Room to scale from solo operator to multi-crew business
- Low overhead compared to other construction trades
- Skills you can learn while working
The key is starting with the right expectations and equipment so your business can grow instead of burning you out.
How Do You Start a Landscaping or Lawn Care Business?
Every successful lawn care company starts with a few core decisions. Particularly with the equipment you start with. Here’s how to approach them step by step.
Step 1: Decide What Kind of Business You’re
Building
Before you buy equipment or print business cards, define your focus. It is important to understand the difference between lawn care and landscaping services.
- Lawn care (mowing, trimming, fertilization)
- Landscaping (installations, hardscapes, design)
Next, who are you planning to serve? Think about the time it may take to handle these clients each day. If you have two massive commercial properties to mow and landscape, will you miss or delay cutting your residential customers?
- Residential, commercial, or both
- Are you a solo operator or do you have a crew-based operation
Your answers determine everything—from equipment needs to pricing and marketing.
Hot Tip: Many operators start with lawn care and add landscaping services over time as cash flow improves, experience grows and operators are added.
Step 2: What Do You Need to Start a Lawn Care Business?
At a minimum, you’ll need:
- Trailer or truck setup
- Safety gear
This is where many new business owners make their first costly mistake: buying equipment that can’t keep up once the workload increases.
Residential-grade tools often cost less upfront but wear out faster, break during peak season, and slow productivity. Fuel is also going to be a consideration. How many yards or how much can you mow before having to refill your tank?
Commercial-grade equipment is designed for daily use—less downtime, cleaner cuts, and faster job completion.
Real quick: Is leasing commercial lawn equipment worth it?
When your income depends on uptime, equipment reliability isn’t a luxury—it’s insurance. Speaking of insurance, leasing may be one of the best forms of insurance when you plan for the future of your business. Most warranties will be in place during the lease period and when the lease ends, you can move on to new equipment or simply buy it outright. Keep in mind when you buy outright and may want to sell, you are at the mercy of the market.
When you lease, you are dealing with a set expense. You have a lower monthly payment, and you know when your lease date is up with the dealer. This route can be great for larger businesses with multiple operators. If you want more information on this option – our team at TriGreen can answer your questions.
Step 3: How Much Does It Cost to Start a Landscaping Business?
Costs vary widely. So much so, it would be likely inaccurate for us to estimate it flat out in this guide. The market for available new and used mowers in your area may impact on what equipment you can get, particularly seasonally as well.
Most startups fall into one of these ranges:
- Bare-bones startup: Basic equipment, limited services, slower growth and operated by the owner
- Professional startup: Commercial mower, tools, reliable transportation, operated by the owner
- Growth-ready setup: Equipment sized for crews, expansion, and efficiency + technology that fosters goals related to everything in this point.
- Purchase a franchise or existing company
While it’s tempting to spend the least amount possible, many owners end up replacing equipment sooner than expected, often spending more in the long run.
A trusted equipment dealer can help you size equipment correctly for where you are and where you want to go.
Some commercial mower recommendations from the landscaping pros on our team:
Z930M ZTrakTM Mower
- Designed for light‑to‑mid commercial work
- Strong for municipalities, sports fields, and smaller commercial crews
- Has rear discharge option which can occasionally be required for some municipal contracts
- Typical engines: EFI or carbureted gas options in the ~23.5–25.5 HP range
- Intended for full commercial / high hour operations
- More powerful engine options (gas or diesel, depending on series)
- Better torque for thick grass, higher ground speeds, and larger properties
Limited rear discharge models remain, used Z950’s would have this option, however a Z930 is your best option for rear discharge
Bottom line: Z950s are noticeably stronger and built for longer days and tougher conditions.
A 60-inch deck is generally recommended. 72-inch decks if you are regularly doing large properties and have the hauling ability. Owner Operators may want to consider R-Series John Deere mowers because of comfort while M-Series may be best when you have multiple operators & multiple mowers.
Tweels vs standard wheels are also a major consideration when we get to downtime. Tweels on a mower are airless, radial tire-and-wheel assemblies. Tweels may cost an additional $1,450 (this can change)– but downtime and less time worrying about flat or damaged tires are serious commercial considerations.
For those who have long-term plans and want to be next-level efficient, having John Deere Modems and an Operation Center account can help reduce downtime, keep on top of maintenance and can be used to prevent theft. Be sure to ask TriGreen about this technology!
Lawn Care Basics Every Business Owner Should Understand
Even if you plan to hire employees someday, understanding lawn fundamentals is essential.
Key basics include:
- Proper mowing height by grass type
- Seasonal lawn care schedules
- Avoiding turf stress during heat
- Clean, consistent cutting results
Customers may not know why the lawn looks good—but they’ll notice when it doesn’t. Quality equipment paired with proper techniques builds trust and long-term relationships.
How to Market Your Lawn Care Business When You’re
Starting Out
Generally, this is a dynamic topic and opinions on the internet will vary. The cost of marketing can be minimal but larger operations will have more visibility and may have external teams working on their marketing.
However, you don’t need a huge budget to market effectively. Early success often comes from:
- Clean, professional-looking equipment
- Yard signs and neighborhood visibility
- Google Business Profile presence
- Before-and-after photos
- Word-of-mouth referrals
Showing up on time with reliable equipment sends a message: you’re running a real business, not a weekend side job.
That perception helps justify your pricing and win better clients.
Learning from the Field: Real-World Lessons Matter
One of the most valuable things new landscapers can learn is what not to do.
Experienced professionals often say:
- They underestimated equipment downtime
- They didn’t account for maintenance costs
- They wish they had planned growth sooner
- They bought equipment twice instead of buying right once
Learning from people who’ve already, like TriGreen customer Jeremiah Jennings — can save years of trial and error.
When Is It Time to Upgrade and Scale?
Growth usually brings signs:
- Jobs take longer than they should
- Equipment struggles under daily use
- You turn down work due to capacity
- Downtime starts affecting schedules
This is where dealer support becomes critical. Access to parts, service, financing options, and knowledgeable staff can determine whether growth feels exciting—or overwhelming.
The support outlined above is not likely going to be reflected if you purchase equipment from smaller roadside lots. Having a John Deere team in your backyard is going to help ensure your equipment lasts and tackles the jobs you need done.
Final Thoughts: Build a Business, Not Just a Job
Starting a landscaping or lawn care business is hard work, but it’s honest work with real opportunity.
The difference between burnout and long-term success usually comes down to:
- Planning ahead
- Investing wisely
- Partnering with people who understand your goals
Whether you’re just getting started or preparing for your next phase of growth, the choices you make early set the tone for everything that follows. TriGreen and our 28 locations are ready to help you every step of the way. If your company expands outside of one community you start in, the logistics of getting parts becomes time consuming and difficult. On the flip side, if you’re doing business with TriGreen, multiple locations means flexibility in where you pick up parts or which shops you can do business with. Expanding from the Pelham area to the Leeds area? No problem, we’re there. Building out contracts in Hendersonville when you’ve traditionally booked jobs in Mt Juliet? We have a location there, too.
If you have questions or want to speak to our commercial lawncare sales professionals from our Tennessee and Alabama locations, click here to locate a store near you.
