The Pros and Cons of Forming a Lawn Care Business

The idea of starting a business can be fulfilling, especially if you strike a perfect work balance and make a steady profit year on year. The multi-billion-dollar lawn care and landscaping venture present numerous opportunities for growth because property owners are continuously searching for ways to enhance the value of their properties. Standard lawn care services include gardening, soil aeration, mowing grass, trimming, fertilization, pruning and weed, and pest control. For businesses inclined towards landscaping, core services can consist of remodeling of passageways, hardscaping, lawn replacement, and installation of irrigation systems. Investors interested in the lawn care business can click here to learn more about the franchising opportunities available. Below are the most striking Pros and Cons of starting a lawn care business:

Pros of Starting a Lawn Care Business

High Demand

Unlike other businesses prone to the vagaries of market unpredictability and the effects of the recession, the demand for lawn care has remained relatively high regardless of what happens to the market. That is one of the reasons business experts refer to this business model as recession-proof. It is essential to acknowledge that the grass will always grow, so the need to carry out yard maintenance services such as trimming and mowing stands. Since the work done on the field is usually seasonal, you can choose to preoccupy yourself with another job during the winter off-season or re-strategize how to grow the business once work resumes.

Low Capital

Another huge advantage of starting a lawn care business is the low start-up capital. With a few pieces of equipment, skilled staff, and means of transportation, you can set up a full-fledged lawn care business. Overheads of running the business are also low since one can run the venture from home, and workers are only paid for the jobs that come through. 

The lawn care business also requires minimal working capital and low maintenance cost calculated annually. You can save money on transportation by targeting your services to a specific geographical area and building a solid network to grow your business through word of mouth.

Simple Business Model

The lawn care business runs on a simple yet effective business model that has been tried and tested. Depending on the allocated budget and the scale of a business you want to run, opportunities afforded by reputable lawn care franchises make it easy for any focused entrepreneur to make money and grow the business. Some franchises will offer equipment and a ready market, which can go a long way to ease the initial jitters.

Work on a Part-Time Basis to Supplement Your Income.

Being a seasonal worker, consider running the lawn care business as a part-time job and use the rest of the time to pursue another job or career as a strategy to supplement income. Pursuing related interests such as landscaping, fencing, pest control, sprinkler installation, and much more can advance the business.

These points prove that the lawn business in the big leagues is a possibility.

Cons of Starting a Lawn Care Business.

A Lot of Competition

Many people find it easy to start a lawn care business because of minimal barriers. The level of competition can go a notch higher if you are operating in a market with many established and up-and-coming players. New players seeking to establish themselves need to provide hard to beat offers to stay above board. One of the strategies is providing low prices, even though this can reduce the profit margins and lead to stagnation.

High Cost of Labor

For the most part, the cost of hiring labor is higher in the lawn care business because the services provided are primarily labor-intensive and time-consuming. Although entry-level staff may be cheaper to bring on board, hiring trained and experienced staff to perform socialized services will cost you more money. The business owners may also be forced to employ more people to get the work done efficiently and completed promptly.

Minimal Control Over Adverse Inferences Made by Customers

In the service industry, lawn care businesses offer wide-ranging services to sustain the business. As you do your best to deliver quality lawn care and landscaping services, remember you have no power to control how customers and their attitudes impact your business. Things can turn hostile if you deal with customers with unrealistic expectations or request too many favors. And this may end up eating your time, leading to work inefficiency and higher dissatisfaction rates. Also, working too quickly may make the customer feel like they are being shortened.