If you’ve ever considered starting your own lawn care business you may have wondered what kind of equipment would you need to invest in right away?
You take a look at your neighbor's yard. It's emerald green, perfectly cut, trimmed, and edged. You've even observed their lawn care provider to see what kind of equipment they use. If you can get a lawn care business equipment package like that guy, then all you'll need is customers!
What is the equipment needed to start a lawn care business?
All business endeavors start with a plan, even if its small. You'll need to consider what kind of services you plan to offer before you decide on what type of equipment to purchase.
If you plan to aerate lawns, spread seed or pesticides, or remove snow in winter, then you'll need the proper equipment to complete all those tasks.
However, if you plan on offering only lawn care services, then your equipment list is a bit shorter. You'll need the basic cutting equipment such as a mower along with trimmers, edgers, and blowers for cleaning up after. First, though, think about the big stuff.
The biggest thing to consider when it comes to the right truck, is how much weight it can handle when towing. Riding mowers can weigh over 500 lbs! Add in bags of fertilizer, mulch, seeds, and the equipment needed to distribute them, and you have some serious weight to pull. Additionally, you should add in the weight of the fuel in the mowers and the weight of the trailer.
To be on the safe side, using a truck rated for towing up to 9,800 pounds is a good start. Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan, or Chevy Silverado 1500 are all recommended to get the job done.
A flatbed with a ramp is handy for driving riding mowers up onto the trailer. These come in two different variations: plain flatbeds and mesh sided flatbeds. Both are relatively inexpensive and are good for storing equipment. While you want enough room to store all your stuff, a trailer that's too big can be an unnecessary inconvenience.
The best equipment isn't about a brand name, it's about quality. On the equipment's quality rests your reputation.
Of all the equipment needed to start a lawn care business, many would say the mechanical equipment is the most important. Most cities prohibit the storage of business equipment on residential streets or properties, so you'll either need to buy or assemble your own storage shed on your property or maybe rent a storage unit. Neither is very expensive and can probably be found somewhere relatively close by.
You'll need a place to clean and prep the equipment for the next job. It makes the most sense to do this at home. If you build or buy a storage shed to place on your property, make sure it's big enough for a trailer as well as equipment (after it's been cleaned and prepped). Your work truck can probably be parked in your driveway.
Unfortunately, even the best equipment for lawn care business can be unhealthy for operators. OSHA recommends respiratory protection in the form of face masks, gloves for hand protection, steel-toed boots for foot protection, safety glasses to protect your eyes, and ear muffs for protecting your ears. Most of these items aren't very expensive and can be found almost everywhere.
The right mower for you isn’t the right mower for everyone. It depends largely on the size of lawns you’re mowing, the amount of space / weight limit you have to haul it, and how important it is for you to save time on your mowing jobs. If you’re mostly working with larger lawns and you’re looking for time savings, riding lawns are typically what you need. If you are not able to haul around large / heavy objects or you are working within tight spaces / smaller properties, a push mower might be for you.
Riding mowers are very technologically advanced these days. Some of the major name brands companies are John Deere, Husqvarna, Gravely, Troy-Bilt and many more. There are even robotic mowers for lawns that just need an evening up. These mowers essentially turn and cut the grass all by themselves. All you have to do when operating, is keep the mower straight.
Push mowers aren't too expensive, nor are super advanced. You might want to consider owning both a push mower and a riding mower to expand your business capabilities. When you decide which brand you consider the best equipment for your lawn care business, check with them to find out if they offer a lawn care business equipment package.
You might want to check out our post on choosing the right lawn mower for your lawn care business.
Many lawn care equipment companies sell packages of products to simplify the buying process and possibly save you money. For example, if you choose a Husqvarna riding mower, you can select a package deal that also includes a trimmer and a leaf blower. Husqvarna offers many equipment packages, so you should be able to find one to suit your needs. You can look online for a dealer near you, check prices, and plan exactly what equipment is necessary. Bundling products can help you save time and shipping costs. The brand of equipment you use may also allow you to customize any lawn care business equipment packages they offer.
No two lawn care businesses are made up of exactly the same suite of products. It takes a little bit of planning and research to find the right equipment that you need. Price and brand names aren’t everything. It’s also important to consider the types of services you’ll be completing and generally what kind of clientele you’ll have.
Remember to start with the basics and grow your business equipment over time. There are tons of other accessories and products not listed in this article that can provide benefits for a lawn professional, but we wanted to focus on what you need to get started.
Now go out there and start building up your inventory. Happy hunting!
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