business plan for landscape gardening

Landscaping Company Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Landscaping Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your landscaping business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their landscaping companies.

Landscaping Business Plan Example

Below is a sample landscaping business plan and template to help you create each section of your landscaping business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is a startup landscaping business located in Dallas, Texas. The company is founded by John Martinez, an experienced entrepreneur who has gained valuable knowledge on how to manage a landscaping business during the past five years while working as the manager at Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care. Now that John has experienced managing a landscaping business, he is ready to start his own company, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service. John is confident that his landscaping skills, combined with his understanding of business management, will enable him to run a profitable landscaping company of his own. John is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of residential landscaping – sales and marketing, scheduling, customer service, financial management, and landscaper training and support.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will provide a variety of professional landscaping and lawn care services for residential customers in Dallas, Texas. Beautiful Gardens will be the go-to landscaping business in Dallas for high quality landscaping services of all kinds. The company will be the ultimate choice for prompt, reliable, and courteous customer service that goes above and beyond the competitors.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will provide:

• Lawn Care and Chemical Application
• Landscape Maintenance
• Landscape Design
• Landscape Construction
• Trimming and Pruning
• Trees and Ornamental Planting and Care
• Perimeter Pest Control
• Vegetation Management
• Gardening and Plant Care Consulting Services

Customer Focus

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will target homeowners in Dallas. The company will also target owners of multi-family residential buildings such as apartment complexes and condominiums. No matter the customer, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will deliver the best communication, service, and high quality landscaping.

Management Team

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be owned and operated by John Martinez. John is a graduate of Texas University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He has over five years of experience working as a manager for another local landscaping business. John will be the company’s Chief Executive Officer. He will steer the vision of the business and provide direction for the other managers and executives of the company.

John has recruited a landscaping expert, Lisa Smith, to be the company’s Chief Operating Officer and help oversee the business operations. Lisa will handle the day-to-day operations, including training the landscape personnel, providing consultation services, and overseeing the landscape design process. Lisa is a graduate of California University with a degree in Landscaping Design.

John and Lisa have recruited an experienced marketing director, Robert Johnson, to become a member of the Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service management team. Robert is a graduate of the University of Maine with a Master’s degree in Sales and Marketing. John and Lisa rely on Robert’s expertise to execute the company’s marketing plan and advertising strategies.

Success Factors

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Skilled team of landscaping experts who will oversee the process and conduct inspections regularly to ensure all landscapers are adhering to stringent quality standards.
• Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service makes it easy for customers to obtain its services. The company uses a proprietary software application to engage with customers and ensure transparency throughout the process. Customers can use the app to schedule service, pay their bill, monitor the work being done, leave feedback, and receive customer support. For customers who prefer to communicate in person or over the phone, the company maintains an office space with a customer support representative available during regular business hours every day of the week.
• The company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.

Financial Highlights

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is seeking $350,000 in debt financing to launch its landscaping business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the office space and purchasing landscaping equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office space build-out: $120,000
• Landscaping equipment, supplies, and materials: $80,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $130,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

Company Overview

Who is beautiful gardens landscaping service.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is a newly established landscaping company in Dallas, Texas. Beautiful Gardens will be the go-to landscaping business in Dallas for high quality landscaping services performed by expertly trained professionals. The company will be the ultimate choice for prompt, reliable, and courteous customer service that goes above and beyond its competitors. Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to provide a wide variety of landscaping and lawn care services for homeowners who value high quality, reliable service and easy-to-use communication systems.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to guarantee the quality of its services thanks to the latest and most innovative landscaping project management technology and stringent quality control standards. The company’s team of highly qualified professionals are experienced in landscaping, lawn care, and gardening, thus will be able to provide exceptional results for a wide variety of services from routine maintenance to new landscape design and build-out. Beautiful Gardens also provides consulting services in the areas of landscaping, gardening, and lawn care.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service History

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is owned and operated by John Martinez, an experienced entrepreneur who has gained valuable knowledge on how to manage a landscaping business during the past five years while working as the manager at Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care. Now that John has experienced managing a landscaping business, he is ready to start his own company, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service. John is confident that his landscaping skills, combined with his understanding of business management, will enable him to run a profitable landscaping company of his own. John is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of residential landscaping – sales and marketing, scheduling, customer service, financial management, and landscaper training and support.

Since incorporation, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service, LLC to transact business in the state of Texas.
• Has signed a lease to rent the office space.
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include previous employees, landscapers, friends, family, and professional networks to inform them of the new business.
• Began recruiting a staff of accountants, landscapers, and sales personnel to work at Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service Services

Industry analysis.

The United States Landscaping Services industry is valued at $128.8B and is expected to increase by 2.3% this year. There are more than 600,000 businesses and over 1M people working in the industry nationwide. The states of Florida, California, and New York have the most landscaping businesses of all the states, while Texans spend the most on landscaping services of all states.

Households with higher than average levels of disposable incomes (over $100,000 per year) spend the most on landscaping services for their homes. While these households reduce their spending on non-essential items during times of economic downturns, they are still more consistently spending on landscaping during these times versus lower income households. The number of households in the U.S. in this higher income bracket is expected to increase this year, resulting in growth opportunities for operators in the landscaping industry. Additionally, there is a rising demand for residential landscaping services from millenials and Gen Z consumers as more of them are participating in gardening activities.

The industry faces several challenges including shortage of quality labor, numerous price-based competitors, economic downturns, and high insurance costs. Industry operators can overcome these challenges and find success by researching their competitors, providing quality service by capable personnel, implementing a targeted marketing campaign, and charging fair prices for customers and employees.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for Dallas, Texas are:

Customer Segmentation

Beautiful Gardens will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Homeowners with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more
• Owners of multi-family residential properties such as apartment complexes and condominiums
• Millennials and Gen Z homeowners who need help starting their own gardens

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Leif’s Lovely Landscaping Service

Leif’s Lovely Landscaping Service has been operating in the Dallas area for over ten years and has gained a loyal customer base for its excellent service and low prices. Leif’s provides residential homeowners with general landscaping and lawn care services. The company is a small operation and the founder does most of the landscaping work himself. Customers come to Leif’s for reliable, friendly service and the lowest prices in Dallas. The company offers lawn care and chemical application, mulching, tree trimming, and debris cleanup services.

Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care

Founded in 1990 by Henry Lake, Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care is a well-known landscaping and lawn care business that serves all of Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding areas. The company offers a wide variety of landscaping services for residential homeowners. Services include regular lawn care, trimming, and maintenance, design, construction, and maintenance of landscaping features, and pool service. Lake Landscaping & Lawn Care is owned and operated by Henry Lake, an experienced contractor who designed some of the most prominent outdoor spaces in the area before starting his own business over 30 years ago.

Pete’s Perfect Landscaping

Pete’s Perfect Landscaping is a new Dallas-Texas based company providing landscaping services to customers throughout the city. The company was founded by Peter Smith, an experienced gardener who has been working in the landscaping industry for over 20 years before deciding to start his own landscaping company. Pete’s Perfect Landscaping provides a variety of landscaping services including pruning, trimming, planting, mulching, debris removal, and lawn maintenance.

Competitive Advantage

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be able to offer the following advantages over its competition:

• Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service uses a proprietary software application to engage with customers and ensure transparency throughout the process. Customers can use the app to schedule service, pay their bill, monitor the work being done, leave feedback, and receive customer support.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service makes it easy for customers to obtain its services. The company uses a proprietary software application to engage with customers and ensure transparency throughout the process. Customers can use the app to schedule service, pay their bill, monitor the work being done, leave feedback, and receive customer support.
• For customers who prefer to communicate in person or over the phone, the company maintains an office space with a customer support representative available during regular business hours every day of the week.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The company’s marketing director will create accounts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. He will ensure Beautiful Gardens maintains an active social media presence with regular updates and fun content to get customers excited about the company’s landscaping services.

Professional Associations and Networking

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will become a member of professional associations such as the Landscaping Association, American Gardening Society, and the Texas Lawn Care Association. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the company’s vendor and client network.

Print Advertising

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The company will also invest in ads to display in industry publications and local newspapers.

Website/SEO Marketing

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will utilize the in-house marketing director that designed the print ads to also design the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Beautiful Gardens is able to provide. The website will also list information on the company’s events and testimonials from satisfied clients.

The marketing director will manage Beautiful Gardens’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “Beautiful Gardens” or “landscaping business near me”, Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will be moderate, but higher than low-end competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the Company’s services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service.

Operation Functions:

• John Martinez will be the CEO of the company. He will oversee the management team and lead the direction of the business. John has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Lisa Smith – Chief Operating Officer who will manage the design and build process, train landscapers, and oversee the activities of the staff.
• Sam Garcia – Bookkeeper who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Robert Johnson – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the company and manage the website, social media, and outreach.
• Joe Williams – Quality Control Manager who will oversee all inspections of the landscapers to ensure stringent compliance with quality standards are met.

Milestones:

Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

11/1/2022 – Finalize lease on office space.

11/15/2022 – Finalize employment contracts for the Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service management team.

12/1/2022 – Begin build-out of the office and purchase equipment.

12/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan.

1/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for initial landscaping product suppliers and employment contracts for landscapers.

2/15/2023 – Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service officially opens its office up to customers and starts taking appointments.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Beautiful Gardens Landscaping Service are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the company’s services. When it comes to pricing, the business will monitor operational costs, average prices charged by competitors, and local market demand to ensure its prices will generate a healthy profit margin.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a landscaping business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, landscaping equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of appointments per month: 600
• Average fees per month: $15,000
• Overhead costs per year: $400,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, landscaping company business plan faqs, what is a landscaping company business plan.

A landscaping company business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your landscaping company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your landscaping company business plan using our Landscaping Company Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Landscaping Companies?

There are a number of different kinds of landscaping companies , some examples include: Commercial, Residential, and Arborists.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Landscaping Company Business Plan?

Landscaping companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. This is true for a business plan for landscaping  and a lawn care business plan.

What are the Steps To Start a Landscaping Company Business?

Starting a landscaping company business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Landscaping Company Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed landscaping company business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your landscaping company business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your landscaping company business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Landscaping Company Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your landscaping company business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your landscaping company business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Landscaping Company Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your landscaping company business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your landscaping company business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful landscaping company business and how to write landscape business plan :

• How to Start a Landscaping Company Business

Where Can I Get a Landscaping Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free landscaping business plan template PDF here . This is a sample landscaping business plan template you can use in PDF format.

500+ business plans and financial models

How to Write a Landscaping Business Plan: Complete Guide

• January 30, 2023

👇 Check all our resources on landscaping businesses 👇

Whether you’re looking to raise funding from private investors or to get a loan from a bank (like a SBA loan) for your landscaping business, you will need to prepare a solid business plan.

In this article we go through, step-by-step, all the different sections you need in your landscaping business plan. Use this template to create a complete, clear and solid business plan that get you funded.

1. Executive Summary

This is the first part and the most important section of your business plan. This is the first thing lenders and/or investors will have a look at.

Before we dive into the specifics, keep in mind the executive summary is a summary: keep it to 2 pages maximum. Indeed, your executive summary should briefly sum up the key sections of your business plan as well as presenting the funding ask.

Why do you need a business plan for your landscaping business?

The funding ask (or funding requirement), as explained below, is the reason why any business would have a business plan. Business plans are prepared for one of the 3 following objectives:

• Obtain financing from a bank or any other lender (a SBA loan for example)
• Obtain financing from private investors (business angels, investment funds, etc.)
• Get approval for a private or public grant

How to write an executive summary for a landscaping business plan?

The executive summary of your landscaping business plan should include the following important information:

• Business overview : the name of your company, its legal structure, the business model (franchise vs. independent landscaping business), the type of services you will offer (lawn maintenance, hardscaping, design, etc.), the customers you target (individuals or businesses, etc.)
• Market analysis : how big is the landscaping industry in your area? How many competitors are there? What services do they offer? etc.
• People : who is the management team? what is your/their experience in the landscaping industry?
• Financial plan : what is your expected revenue and profitability for the next 5 years? When do you expect to break-even? Simply include here a chart of your key financials (e.g. revenue, gross Profit, net profit , cash flow)
• Funding ask : what loan/investment/grant are you seeking? How much do you need? How long will this last?

2. Landscaping Business Overview

The business overview section of your landscaping business plan highlights what services your landscaping company offers, to whom as well as how your business is structured legally. 

Ideally, this section should include the following details about your business;

• The history of the project: why do you want to start this business today?
• The services you offer and their price range
• Your target customers: who are your customers (businesses or individuals?)
• Your company legal structure

a) History of the Project

Why did you decide to start your own landscaping business? Here a brief company history comes in handy if you want to outshine your competitors in the eyes of an investor (or a lender). 

Use this section to mention 2 vital things about your landscaping business, including;

• Your interest and passion for getting into the landscaping business
• The rationale behind you starting a landscaping business today

For example, you might be an experienced landscaping worker and found out there was no company offering landscaping services to businesses in the area where you’re from.

b) Services

Landscaping companies have a number of services they offer to local customers, businesses or individuals. Ultimately, you should prioritize what suits your target audience depending on your market analysis. There are 2 main types of services for landscaping companies:

• Lawn maintenance: one of the most common services. It includes cleanups, pruning, fertilizing, aeration, lime application, mowing, and weed control
• Landscaping services instead include planting, mulching, landscape designing, hardscaping and foundation planting, to mention a few

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with offering both services if you have enough resources. You can also offer your landscaping services individually or as comprehensive packages based on your clients’ needs and budget. 

c) Pricing Strategy

It’s crucial to outline your pricing list when writing a landscaping business plan. Focus on the most important details about your pricing structure without going overboard. For example, whilst lawn mowing costs on average $45 per week in the US, the cost of lawn care services ranges from $48 to $211 for homeowners .

Similarly, the cost of landscaping services may vary from one location to another, depending on the target audience. On an hourly basis, average landscaping services cost $50 to $100 per hour on average. 

A clear pricing strategy can give you the upper hand when seeking financial support from potential investors and lenders, making it an important part of your landscaping business plan. 

Also, it’s important to outline your pricing strategy in your business plan so investors can tie it into your financial projections later on (see more on that below).

d) Target Audience

What’s your target market ? Knowing your consumers will always play a key role in the success of your landscaping business. It also gives you a competitive advantage by helping you identify the existing market gap. 

Are you targeting homeowners, commercial property managers, or businesses offices and headquarters? Understanding your target market will help you better define your marketing strategy and retain customers.

e) Legal Structure

Finally, your business overview section should specify what type of business structure you opt for. Is this a corporation or a partnership (LLC)? Who are the investors? How much equity percentage do they own? Is there a Board of Directors? If so, whom? Do they have experience in the industry?

Landscaping Financial Model

Download an expert-built 5-year Excel financial model for your business plan

3. Landscaping Market Analysis

Now that we have covered all about your business, let’s now look at your industry, and more precisely the landscaping industry in your area, your competitors and target audience.

Indeed, before you reach out to lenders or investors, you must prove to them that you understand your market. This helps earn their trust and can make the difference fo them to invest in your business.

a) Landscaping Business Market Overview

You should present in this section the status quo of the landscaping industry in the US, as well as in your city / area. You must address 2 main points here:

How big is the landscaping industry in your area?

• How fast the market is growing?

How big is the landscaping industry in the US?

Before diving into your specific city or area, it’s always good to get a clear overview of the US market first. Indeed, getting national data will help you address all the factors that could affect your business, such as demographics, market demand, and environmental activities. 

The landscaping industry has grown at a steady rate of 2.5% per year in the last few years, up to $105 billion in 2021 . 

After the US, assess the status of the landscaping market in your city or area. Focus on the zone where you plan to offer your landscaping services.

Naturally, you might not be able to get the data for your specific city or region. Instead, you can estimate the size of your market, for more information on how to do it, read our article on how to estimate TAM, SAM and SOM for your startup . To give you an example, let’s assume you plan to operate in a radius where there are 40 competitors:

As we know the US landscaping industry is worth $105 billion today, and there are about 604,000 landscaping businesses (small and large) in the US in total, we can deduct that the average annual revenue per landscaping company is $175,000.

So we can safely assume the landscaping industry is worth $7,000,000 in the area where you plan to operate. Now, assuming there are 30,000 houses, this means each household that owns a house spend $195 per month in landscaping services, pretty close to the national average.

How fast is the landscaping industry growing in your area?

Growth is an important metric for assessing the status of the landscaping industry in your region. 

Here if you don’t find information online or via your research, you can calculate growth using the total number of landscaping businesses in your area. 

For instance, if there were 40 landscaping businesses in the region in 2019, which increased to 45 in 2022, it’s safe to assume that the market is growing at 4% per year. 

b) Landscaping Competitor Analysis

At the very least, your competitor analysis should answer all or some of these questions:

• How many landscaping businesses are in your region?
• What services do your competitors offer? What’s their average price?
• How many employees do they have on the payroll?
• What’s the approximate number of customers/contracts they serve per month?

After answering these questions, it will be easier to tailor your services and prices to suit the target market. 

c) Landscaping Business Customer Analysis

We presented in the Business Overview section who were your target customers. Here instead instead you must show in your business plan that these target customers actually live in the area and need the services you offer. 

Indeed, it would be pointless to start a landscaping business in your region when nobody needs your services in the first place. 

And having competitors doesn’t necessarily mean your target customers are there. For example, you might not focus on the same customer segment (e.g. individuals homeowners vs. businesses).

There are here a few important questions you must answer:

• What landscaping services do your target customers need?
• How many potential customers are there in the area (for example, if you focus on homeowners, you can use the number of houses in the area as a proxy)?
• How much does the average customer spend on landscaping in the area (if you can’t find the information for your city, use the national average instead)?

4. Sales & Marketing Strategy

The next section of your landscaping business plan gives you a chance to highlight your strategic plan for acquiring new clients. 

Start by exploring your unique selling point, the suitability of the proposed marketing strategies, and the overall marketing budget. 

a) Landscaping Marketing Channels

Here are a few examples of marketing channels landscaping businesses use:

• Email marketing
• Social media
• Website 
• Local advertising (newspapers)
• Register with the online business directories (Yelp, Yellow Pages, etc.)
• Google Business profile and ratings
• Word-of-mouth recommendations

b) What are Your Unique Selling Points (USPs)?

A unique selling point makes you stand out in a competitive market. When getting started, it is the easiest way to win over multiple customers and one of the best strategies for edging out your biggest competitors. You can build your USPs around the following aspects;

• Price : affordable services will most likely appeal to most customers
• Specialization : choosing a specific service helps you stand out (for example, you might focus on landscape design and hardscaping)
• Additional services : you can provide extra services not available in the area 

5. Management & People

The 5th section of your landscaping business plan should be about people. It should include 2 main elements:

• The management team and their experience / track record
• The organizational structure: what are the different teams and who reports to whom?

a) Management

Here you should list all the management roles in your company.

Of course, the amount of details you need to include here varies depending on the size of your company. For example, a landscaping business with a number of vehicles and teams would need more detail vs. a small landscaping business run by 1 or 2 persons.

If you plan on running your business independently, you may write a short paragraph explaining who are the co-founders and/or senior managers (if there are any in addition to yourself). It’s important to highlight their experience in the industry and previous relevant professional experiences.

b) Organizational structure

No matter how many leadership roles there are, you should now explain how you intend to run the company from a management standpoint.

What are the different teams (management, sales, operations, mechanics, finance, etc.)? Note that you should include these details even if you haven’t hired anyone yet. It will show lenders and investors that you have a solid hiring and management plan to run the business successfully.

A great addition here is to add an organizational chart that list all the roles, from Directors to managers, key supervisory roles, employees and contractors. Make sure to highlight with reporting lines who manages/supervises whom.

6. Financial Plan

The financial plan is perhaps, with the executive summary, the most important section of any business plan.

Indeed, a solid financial plan tells lenders that your business is viable and can repay the loan you need from them. If you’re looking to raise equity from private investors instead, a solid financial plan will prove them your landscaping business is an attractive investment.

There should be 3 sections to your financial plan section:

• Your historical financials (only if you already operate the business and have financial accounts to show)
• The startup costs of your project (if you start a new landscaping business or if you plan to purchase new equipment and vehicles, etc.)
• Your 5-year financial projections

a) Historical Financials (optional)

In the scenario where you already have some historical financials (a few quarters or a few years), include them. A summary of your financial statements in the form of charts e.g. revenue, gross profit and net profit is enough, save the rest for the appendix.

If you don’t have any, don’t worry, most new businesses don’t have any historical financials and that’s ok. If so, jump to Startup Costs instead.

b) Landscaping Startup Costs

Starting a small one-person landscaping business can cost as little as $500 , but most large-scale landscaping businesses need to spend more on equipment, marketing and staff. That’s why most landscaping businesses typically cost between $15,000 and $50,000 to start (excluding the cost of a vehicle). 

As you can see, startup costs vary significantly according to factors like the size of your business, the number of employees, the quality of equipment, the services you offer and the tools needed, etc. 

So, we have given you a clear overview below of all the essential costs you can expect to start a small landscaping business with 4 employees. There are 2 types of costs: startup costs and operating costs . For more information on how much it costs to start and run a landscaping business, read our complete guide here .

Note that these costs are for illustrative purposes and depend on several factors which might not fully apply to you.

c) Landscaping 5-Year Financial Projections

In addition to startup costs, you will now need to build a solid 5-year financial model as part of your business plan for your landscaping business.

Your financial projections should be built using a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and presented in the form of tables and charts in your business plan.

As usual, keep it concise here and save details (for example detailed financial statements, financial metrics, key assumptions used for the projections) for the appendix instead.

Your financial projections should answer at least the following questions:

• How much revenue do you expect to generate over the next 5 years?
• When do you expect to break even?
• How much cash will you burn until you get there?
• What’s the impact of a change in pricing (say 20%) on your margins?
• What is your average customer acquisition cost?

You should include here your 3 financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). This means you must forecast:

• The number of contracts (customers) you will win over time ;
• Your expected revenue ;
• Operating costs to run the business ;
• Any other cash flow items (e.g. capex, debt repayment, etc.).

When projecting your revenue, make sure to sensitize pricing and the number of contracts as a small change in these assumptions will have a big impact on your revenues.

7. Funding Ask

This is the last section of the business plan of your landscaping business. Now that we have explained what type of landscaping services your company offers and to whom, at what price, but also what’s your marketing strategy, where you go and how you get there, this section must answer the following questions:

• How much funding do you need?
• What financial instrument(s) do you need: is this equity or debt, or even a free-money public grant?
• How long will this funding last?
• Where else does the money come from? If you apply for a SBA loan for example, where does the other part of the investment come from (your own capital, private investors?)

If you raise debt:

• What percentage of the total funding the loan represents?
• What is the corresponding Debt Service Coverage Ratio ?

If you raise equity

• What percentage ownership are you selling as part of this funding round?
• What is the corresponding valuation of your business?

Use of Funds

Any business plan should include a clear use of funds section. This is where you explain how the money will be spent.

Will you spend most of the loan / investment to acquire the cost for the vehicles, tools and equipment? Or will it cover mostly the cost of the salaries of your employees the first few months?

Those are very important questions you should be able to answer in the blink of an eye. Don’t worry, this should come straight from your financial projections. If you’ve built solid projections like in our landscaping financial model template , you won’t have any issues answering these questions.

For the use of funds, we recommend using a pie chart like the one we have in our financial model template where we outline the main expenses categories as shown below.

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Landscaping Business Plan

Beautiful and well-maintained lawns are a treat to look at. But with today’s hectic lifestyle, few people have the time and energy required to maintain one.

And with more income at their disposal, people like to outsource this task to professionals who can manage their gardens well and design them in a way that enhances their house’s beauty.

With artistic lawns cropping up at every corner of our cities, the demand for landscaping architects is at its peak. Be it offices, residential spaces, or public areas, every space needs an aesthetically pleasing lawn.

But not everyone has the amount of creativity and precision that goes into maintaining beautiful gardens. And if you have it, then a landscaping business might be the right choice for you.

All you need is a little bit of groundwork and a proper landscaping business plan .

Industry Overview

According to recent statistics, the landscaping industry employs over 1 million people and has grown 4.9 percent since 2020.

So, if you are a creative individual who can think out of the box, a landscaping business can help you reach your maximum potential. The best part about the landscaping business is that it takes minimum entry conditions and minimal costs to set up.

Now, you may wonder, why do so many landscaping businesses owned by highly creative individuals fail? The reason is as simple as it gets; The lack of a proper business plan.

Although creativity is essential to help you stand out, a landscaping business plan is of utmost importance for the sustenance of your business.

Here, we’ll share a few tips to make your setup process smoother.

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Things to Consider Before Writing a Landscaping Business Plan

Decide what services you want to offer.

Landscaping comes with a lot of sub-niches and additional services. Deciding what you can and should offer as per the needs and requirements of your target audience is essential.

It helps you stay prepared for the service, including getting the right equipment and hiring the right people. Picking your niche is also a great help while formulating business strategies.

Get the required permits

Although the landscaping business does not have strict entry conditions, there are a few licenses and permits that you should have before getting started.

The easiest way of doing this is by checking out all the permits required by your state and area and making a checklist for keeping track of what you have got and what not.

Having all the necessary permits helps you stay on the right side of the law.

Develop a pricing strategy

As you have a service that is mostly based on skill and equipment cost, you’ll have to give your pricing strategy a serious thought before getting started.

It is essential to ensure that your pricing is neither too much for your customers nor too little for your business to make any profit. There are several ways you can set a pricing strategy, depending on your competitor’s pricing, your market position, and the demand for your services.

Know your target audience

Knowing your target audience is crucial to business success. Researching who your target audience is, what are their motivations to avail landscaping services, how they avail such services, what kind of service they prefer  (This can also help in deciding your niche and additional services), what prices they are willing to pay, etc.

How Can a Landscaping Business Plan Help You?

A business plan can become a constant guide in your business journey. It’ll aid you while sailing through the roadblocks, prevent you from having chaotic finances, help you in knowing the market and your competitors better, and save you from the trap of having a static business model that becomes irrelevant as the industry changes.

Apart from that, in the landscape business, it would help you in developing your unique style and technique that sets you apart from your peers.

How to Write a Landscaping Business Plan?

As we have discussed the benefits of a business plan , it brings us to our next question.

How do you write one? Moreover, how do you know if you have written a good one?

Don’t worry! There are several quick and cost-effective solutions to your problem.

If you find writing a business plan intimidating, there are several options like business consultants, premade templates, and online business plan software which can help you create a complete and evolving business plan anywhere and at any time.

We have created this sample landscaping business plan for you to get a good idea of what a perfect landscaping business plan should look like and what details you need to include in your stunning business plan.

Landscaping Business Plan Outline

This is the standard landscaping business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• 3 Year profit forecast
• Products and Services
• Startup cost
• Market Trends
• Target Market
• Market share
• Sales Strategy
• Marketing strategies
• Personnel Plan
• Average Salary of Employees
• Important Assumptions
• Brake-even Analysis
• Profit Yearly
• Gross Margin Yearly
• Projected Cash Flow
• Projected Balance Sheet
• Business Ratios

Now Let’s Understand How You Should Complete Each Section.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is one of the most crucial sections of your business plan, as it is the first and foremost document in it and serves as a pitch to your prospective investors. Hence, this section should sum up your business idea and function with utmost precision.

It should also consist of a mission statement and clearly state your vision for the business. For a landscaping business, it would consist of your growth model, your source of labor and raw material, as well as how your style of design sets you apart from the others.

2. Description of your niche

Next up, you’ll need to define the niche your business functions in. As landscaping consists of several areas like,

• Commercial Landscaping
• Residential Landscaping
• Art-based designs(for public and tourist spaces)

It is necessary to define what kind of services you’ll offer and who would be your primary client base. So, how can you select a niche? We’ll discuss that in the competitive and market analysis section.

3. Competitive and Market Analysis

Before you enter any market, it is the wisest thing to carry out an analysis of the current market situation and the recent trends in the industry. Also, it is a good practice to know what your competitors are doing, because if you are aware of what’s going on, deciding what you should do and what gaps you can fill through your services becomes easier. Hence, this helps you in identifying what your niche would be.

For example, if there is a dearth of good landscape architects for office spaces in your area, you can accordingly modify your skills and marketing strategy to serve the purpose of capturing that market.

4. Website Strategy

In today’s fast-paced environment, most people prefer getting their work done online. Hence, having a website is necessary for your business to be discovered. Thus, including a website strategy in your plan is essential. Also, as a creative business, your website needs to lean on a more artistic side and represent what your style stands for.

5. Management Summary

In this section, you are supposed to include important information about people responsible for a company’s management, the tasks they have been delegated, their roles and responsibilities, etc. As a landscaping business has a large scale of functioning, you need to include this section in your plan.

6. Financial Plan

Writing a financial plan is a necessary step toward creating a well-rounded business plan. A financial plan helps your business in becoming cost-effective and profitable. It also helps you pre-plan and stay afloat in times of recession and instability in the market. Hence, this section is necessary for the sustenance of your business.

Download a sample landscaping business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free landscaping business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your landscaping business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Landscaping Business Plan Summary

In conclusion, a business plan can turn to conduct your landscaping business a hassle-free activity. Moreover, a well-planned business with clearly defined goals and dynamic strategies has a higher chance of succeeding than one which doesn’t have either of these things.

Besides the above things, in the landscaping business, it is also important to have a thorough knowledge of advanced technology and newly improved techniques to improve the efficiency of your business’s day-to-day activities.

After getting started with Upmetrics , you can copy this sample landscaping business plan template into your business plan and modify the required information and download your landscaping business plan pdf or doc file. It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

So, are you ready to reach far and wide in the landscape market with your well-written business plan?

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About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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Home » Sample Business Plans » Real Estate

How to Write a Landscaping Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting a landscaping company? If YES, here’s a complete sample landscaping business plan template & feasibility report to help you get started. Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a landscaping business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample landscaping marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for landscaping businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

A Sample Landscaping Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

It is not enough to own a property that is well designed and built; the hallmark of any property is the beauty of the lawns and gardens. Landscapers are in the business of giving total esthetic effect in and around our neighborhoods. It is not enough to plant flowers or have a lawn in your compound and just watch them grow; you need to hire a professional landscaping company to help you bring out the beauty in your environment.

Landscape architecture is all about the art, planning, designing, management, preservation and rehabilitation of the land and the design of a large man – made concepts; it beautifies our environment. Landscaping business just like Lawn care business is not one of those businesses that you can start and make big money from without truly working pretty hard and smart.

Any entrepreneur who intends to start his or her own landscaping business with the aim of making huge profits from it must be very creative and ready to go the extra mile to convince clients that he or she can deliver an excellent job. Furthermore, you have got to prove beyond every reasonable doubt that you are competent.

In a publication released by a Professional Land-care Network (PLANET), an international association serving landscaping professionals, lawn care professionals, exterior maintenance contractors, installation/design/building professionals, and interior scapers, there are approximately 12,000 landscapers in the united states of America.

This statistics covers independent operators, franchises and large corporate chains. They also stated that the number of professional landscapers could actually be considerably higher because there are so many people doing landscape maintenance on part – time and on a pay as you go basis.

Lastly, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published in 2006-2007 (U.S. Department of Labor), is that almost 1 out of every 4 landscaping, grounds – keeping, nursery, greenhouse and lawn service workers is self-employed and provides maintenance services directly to customers on a contract basis. Of these, about 1 out of every 6 works part time.

Although, landscaping business might not be amongst the money spinning businesses in the US, but they have a very large market that is readily available for them if they can convince property owners to patronize their services.

As a matter of fact, statistics has it that the United States green industry (landscape and lawn maintenance, landscape contractors, landscape architects, irrigation contractors, and lawn and landscape product suppliers) generates roughly $67 billion to $69 billion annually. PLANET estimates that the landscaping services sector alone generates about 704,000 jobs and $35.6 million in value-added services annually in the US; it is indeed a growing industry.

Landscaping business also falls in the category of seasonal businesses. The industry experiences downtime during the winter period and in most states in the US. In general, the demand for landscaping services is usually at its peak in the spring and generally between April and October. Which is why landscaping companies are always everywhere sourcing for business deals within this period of the year.

If you are familiar with the landscaping industry, you will notice that most landscaping companies do not restrict their services to only landscape architecture et al; they ensure that they add additional services such as lawn care services, snow plowing services (during winter season), fumigation services and any other similar services just to ensure that they maintain steady in – flow of income during peak and off peak periods.

As such; any entrepreneur who wants to start a landscaping business in the US should be aware that the landscaping and lawn care industry is a closely regulated industry that requires practitioners to earn certifications that permit them to handle hazardous compounds; most especially when they also offer fumigation services.

2. Executive Summary

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is a licensed landscape architecture company that will be based in Miami Beach, Florida –United States of America and will have active presence in other cities such as; Greenacres City, Miami, Jacksonville, Clearwater, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, North Miami, West Palm Beach, Palm Harbor, Deltona, Orlando, Palm Bay and Panama City et al.

We chose to operate in these cities because we know that our services will be in high demand due to the geographical nature of Florida. Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is in the business of beautifying in our environment by offering professional landscape architecture services. We know that the beauty of a city or property is not complete if the gardens or lawns are not properly designed and managed.

We know the importance of networking with the right set of people, which is why we have form partnership with stake holders (landlord associations, property managers and relevant government agencies) in Florida.

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is specialized in handling golf courses, beach houses, major roads and streets as well as residential buildings and public facilities et al. As a matter of fact, when it comes to giving golf course the professional outlook it deserves, we are on top of the game.

We have some of the finest landscapers, who are gifted and also have gone ahead to acquire the relevant trainings that will make them create esthetic effect in the environment that will be second to none.

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is fully aware of the seasonal nature of the business which is why we have made provision to engage in complimentary services during off peak period. We will engage in snow plowing during winter, sale of flowers, tree cutting, fumigation and other related services.

We will also provide consultancy services to homeowners, property managers and the government when it comes to creating the esthetic effect that will bring out the beauty in our environment.

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is a private registered company landscape company that is owned by Glover Carrington and family. The company will be fully and single handedly financed by the owner – Glover Carrington. The business will be managed by his son Gordon Carrington; he is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Mr. Gordon Carrington (Master of Landscape Architecture – MLA) is a core professional who has experience in sensitivity to landscape quality, ability to analyze problems in terms of design and physical forms, understands the arts and humanistic approach to design and he has skills in all aspects of professional practice including management and professional ethics. He has well over 7 years of experience in the industry.

3. Our Products and Services

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is in the business of bring out the beauty in our environment and our services will be carried out by highly trained professionals who know what it takes to give our highly esteemed customers value for their money.These are the services that Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company will be offering;

• Landscape architecture services
• Landscape care/maintenance services
• Trimming Landscaping
• Landscape design/contracting services
• Lawn mowing/maintenance
• Sod installation/hydro – seeding
• Weeding or fertilizer and/or pest control application
• Weekly lawn cut
• Weeding Beds
• Sale of flowers
• Spring Cleanup
• Fall Cleanup
• Chemical Treatment
• Snow Plowing
• Consultancy and Advisory Services

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision is to become the number one choice of homeowners, property managers and government agencies when it comes to landscaping services in Florida, U.S.
• Glover and Greenhouse Landscaping Company is a business positioned to be the become the leaders when it comes to bringing out the beauty (esthetics) in our environment by offering top notch landscaping architectural services and other related services in Miami Beach and other cities in Florida, U.S.

Our Business Structure

Glover and Greenhouse Landscaping Company will be headquartered in Miami Beach, but will operate in other cities in Florida which is why we designed our business structure to support the nature of our operations. We want to create a team of dedicated workforce that will help the organization achieve its aim of becoming the number one landscape company in the whole of Florida.

Because we don’t have the required finance to manage the numbers of workforce that we would need, we have made provisions to hire some freelance landscapers to help us handle some contracts when the need arises. Here is the business structure of Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company;

• Chief Operating Officer (Owner)
• Sales and Marketing Executive

Landscape Architect / Landscapist

• Field Staff
• Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer:

• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for the day to day running of the business
• Responsible for handling high profile clients and deals
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization at regular interval
• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all projects on behalf of the company
• Supervises projects
• Ensures compliance during project executions
• Provides advice on the management of projects
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Uses IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of ongoing projects
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and billing of every project
• Represents the organization’s interest at various stakeholders meetings
• Ensures that project desired result is achieved, the most efficient resources are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied. Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office activities.

Sales and Marketing Officer

• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information.
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps increase sales and growth for the company
• Lists the property for rent / lease to the public
• Markets space; finds tenants; participates in lease negotiations.
• Provides property owners with a real property condition disclosure (if required by law) and other necessary forms.
• Prepares necessary papers describing the property for advertising, pamphlets, open houses, etc.
• Holds an open house to show the property.
• Serves as a contact available to answer any questions about the property and schedule showing appointments.
• Responsible for planning and designing of places such as residential development area, parks, campuses, cemeteries, resorts, commercial centers, water fronts and corporate and institutional centers.
• Responsible for designing and implementing projects that respect both the needs of people and our environment
• Offers training and consultancy services
• Responsible for analyzing problems in terms of design and physical form
• Responsible for translating designs into a built work
• Responsible from training of field workers and freelancers

Field Workers

• Responsible for Lawn mowing/maintenance
• Handles Sod installation/hydro – seeding
• Handles Landscape care/maintenance services
• Carries out task in line with the stated job description
• Handles snow plowing
• Handles tree cutting
• Assists in transport working tools and equipment from the office (store) to site and back to the office
• Handles any other duties as assigned my the line manager

Front Desk / Customer’s Service Officer

• Receives Visitors / clients on behalf of the organization
• Receives parcels / documents for the company
• Handles enquiries via e-mail and phone calls for the organization

6. SWOT Analysis

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is in business for the purpose of making profits and building long lasting relationship with its clients and we know that in order for us to achieve these, we must be able to leverage on our strengths and take hold of all the opportunities that we come across.

We are aware that if effective strategies are not put in place, the weakness of a company and the threats that the business will be exposed to can strangulate the business which is why we have decided to take out time to conduct a SWOT analysis for Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company.

As a company, we look forward to maximizing our strength and opportunities and also to develop strategies that will help us effectively handle our weaknesses and threats. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company;

Our strength as a landscape company is the fact that we have healthy relationships with key stakeholders in Florida. We have some of the latest equipment that will help us deliver neat and excellent jobs. Our management team and workforce are highly trained and qualified to deliver excellent jobs within record time. We are well positioned and we have active presence in major cities in Florida.

Our weakness could be that we are a new landscaping company in Miami Beach, Florida and it will require consistency for us to gain the confidence of our prospective clients (homeowners, property managers and even the government).

• Opportunities:

The opportunities that are available to us cannot be quantified; we know that there are loads of homeowners, property managers and government establishment that will require our services in Miami Beach and other cities in Florida.

Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a landscaping company are global economic downturn that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters and the arrival of a competitor ( a company that offer same service as we do ) within same location. There is hardly anything we could do as regards these threats other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

It is a common trend in landscaping and lawn care industry to see loads of landscapers struggle to meet ends meet. This is so because a larger percentage of people who are supposed to patronize their services are reluctant when it comes to paying the true worth of the services rendered.

It is also a common trend to see landscape companies engage in other complimentary services to makes meet. The fact that there are off peak periods in the business makes it of necessity for landscape companies to look for other sources of income in order to maintain steady flow of income throughout the year.

If you are conversant with the landscape industry, you will realize that one of their major challenges is the challenge of accurately pricing services It takes a landscape company that has been in the business for a while to effectively charge clients in such a way that they will have enough resources to carry out the project, pay for labor and still make enough profits. It is important for any landscape company to first inspect the area they are to carry out their job so that they will be able to properly submit a quotation that will be favorable to both parties.

Usually, most landscaping companies ensure that they send their quotations to prospective clients only when they have been able to do their calculations based on per square foot of the property. Over and above, the creativity of the landscape architect will go a long way to determine the amount that can be charged and the inflow of business.

8. Our Target Market

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company was deliberately located in Miami Beach simply because we have a wide range of people and businesses that can hire our services; the geographical nature of Miami Beach is highly suitable for the kind of services we render. Our target market as a landscape company is not just restricted to only homeowners and property managers but also government establishment.

We are quite aware that the state government is one of the biggest clients in the industry, which is why we have structured our business to meet the expectations and requirements of the government when it comes to bidding for government contracts. This is the group of people that we will market our landscape business to;

• Facility managers for botanical gardens, historic buildings, municipalities and other government entities, universities, cemeteries and other public places with green spaces
• Homeowners who plan to put their home on the market and want to improve its curb appeal with fresh or updated landscaping
• Builders of both residential and commercial properties who don’t already have their own landscaper or staff
• New homeowners who wish to update the existing landscape of their property
• Homeowners who are frequently out of town on business
• Retirees who don’t care to do their own maintenance any longer
• “Snowbirds” with winter homes in warmer climates
• Golf course managers who may need help with maintenance
• Rental property or condominium association managers who are personnel-impaired
• Homeowners who don’t have the vision, skill or tools to design their own landscaping
• Managers of public facilities
• Government establishment

Our Competitive Advantage

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is fully aware that there is competition in the industry, which is why we decided to carry out thorough research and draft a killer landscaping marketing plan; so as to know how to take advantage of the available market in the cities where we want to operate.

We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us competitive advantage in the marketplace; some of the factors are competence, trust, honesty, good network and excellent relationship management. One of the positive that we have as a company is the fact that we have some of the best hands in the industry under our payroll; our manager has a robust experience in the industry.

Another competitive advantage that we are bringing to the industry is the fact that we have designed our business in such a way that we can comfortably work with both the highly placed clients and the lowly placed clients; our prices are designed to fit into the budget of the lower class, the middle class and the upper class.

We are quite aware of the importance of taking proper care of our workforce which is why we have created welfare packages that will make all our employers willing to stay longer with us and also to always put in their best when carrying out their jobs.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company will ensure that we do not only generate income from our core service delivery but also from complementary services that we will render. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Posh Lawn Care and Landscape Company;

• Tree Cutting

10. Sales Forecast

From the survey conducted, we were are able to discover that the average landscaping business owner rakes in about $5,000 to $ 50,000 in their first year of active business, and a steady increase of $160,000 to $250,000 from subsequent year as long as they are consistent in what they do and have been able to create additional sources of income.

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company have perfected her sales and marketing strategies and we are set to deliver excellence services and designs. We know that if we structure our business properly and we have highly trained and motivated employees, we are likely going to meet or even surpass our set target of generating enough income / profits from our first three months of operations.

With the help of experts, we have been able to critically examine the landscape industry with more emphasis on Miami Beach, Florida and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well.

Below are the projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of operations;

• First Year-: $150,000
• Second Year-: $250,000
• Third Year-: $500,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and natural disasters within the period stated above.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company will do all it can to ensure that we become the preferred choice as far as landscaping services is concerned in Florida. We know the effectiveness of properly positioning a business which is why we have chosen a corner piece location in a busy road in Miami Beach to locate our business.

We will ensure that we leverage on all available networks to source for business deals. In view of that, we will continue to find local real estate clubs and connect with them and also we will locate gathering where we can find homeowners within the locations where we intend operating and then connect with them.

We will ensure that we bid at the appropriate time whenever there is the opportunity to handle government contracts both at the community and state level. We will also enter business partnership with local contractors and property managers since they also interface with property owners regularly; through them we can secure business deals.

Over and above, we have perfected strategies to network with people who are likely to refer business our way. In summary, Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company will adopt the following strategies in sourcing for clients for our business;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stake holders in the real estate industry, government institution and also property owners.
• Promptness in bidding for contracts
• Advertise our business in real estate / properties magazines and websites
• List our business on yellow pages ads
• Attend related real estate expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still deliver quality job for them.
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Direct marketing
• Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We are quite aware that any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street they are operating from must be ready and willing to utilize every available means (conventional and non – conventional means) to advertise and promote the business.

We intend growing our business which is why we have perfected plans to build our brand via every available means. Below are the platforms Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company intend to leverage on to promote and advertise her business;

• Encourage our loyal customers to help us use Word of Mouth mode of advertisement (referrals)
• Advertise our landscaping business in relevant magazines (real estate magazines), local newspaper, local TV stations and local radio station
• Promote our landscaping business online via our official website
• List our landscaping business on local directories (yellow pages ads)
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn, Badoo, Facebook , twitter, et al to promote our landscaping business
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations around Miami Beach and other key cities in Florida.
• Direct coupon mailing approach to introduce our landscaping business to residence and property managers
• Engage in road show from time to time to create awareness of our landscaping business.
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas in Miami Beach, and other key cities in Florida
• Maximize our company’s website to promote our business
• Attend landlord and residence association meetings with the aim of networking and introducing our landscaping business.

These are some of the equipment that we would need to fully launch our lawn care and landscaping business;

• String Trimmer
• Edging Shears
• Turfing Iron
• Half Moon Cutter
• Leveling Rake
• Spring – tined Rake
• Wheel Barrow

12. Our Pricing Strategy

From our findings, the average cost of landscape services varies and it is dependent on loads of factors. For example, normal landscaping services include prices for services such as regular lawn maintenance which includes edging, mowing and blowing, fertilization, weeding beds, hedge trimming, shrub removal, replacement or moving, grass replacement, lawn care, irrigation among other landscape related services that may be required by a client.

Usually, these services are priced separately in most cases and in some instances; they may be priced together into one monthly service price.

We have been able to conduct effective survey and we were able to adopt a price format that is ideal for the kind of services we are going to be rendering.  Part of our business strategy is to ensure that we work within the budget of our clients to deliver excellent landscape services. At Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company, every client will find packages that will suite their budget.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits. Here are the payment options that are available to all clients of Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for services rendered to them without stress on their part.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company ®

Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company is a privately owned business and it will be financed by the owner of the company; Mr. Glover Carrington. These are the areas where we intend sourcing for fund for Glover and Greenhouse Landscape Company;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the start – up capital from family members and friends (soft loans and gifts et al)
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the banks (loan facility).

N.B: Mr. Glover Carrington has been able to generate $30,000 ($20,000 from his personal savings and $10,000 as soft loan from his family members and friends. 50% of the start – up capital ($30,000 will be generated from the bank as loan)

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

• The Total Fee for incorporating the Business in Florida: $750.
• The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license: $1,500
• The Amount needed to acquire a small Office facility with space for storage of working tools and equipment in Miami Beach, Florida for 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive): $30,000.
• The Cost for equipping the office (computers, printers, fax machines, furniture, telephones, filing cabins, safety gadgets and electronics et al): $3,000
• The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment (walk-behind mower, a back pack blower, an edger, a weed eater and hand tools): $10,000
• The Cost of Launching our official Website: $600
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al): $1,000

Going by the report from our research and feasibility studies, we will need about $60,000 to set up a standard landscaping business in Long Beach, CA.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

Although Mr. Glover Carrington is the founder if the business, he is over 60 years old and since he intends building a business that will last, grow and expand, he decided to invest in training his son who is going to be the manager of the business. That is part of his sustainability and expansion strategy.

Glover and Greenhouse will ensure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.

Integrity, competence, trust and good relationship management are major factor that can guarantee steady growth for any business and we will ensure that we are known for such qualities.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Renting of Office Facility in Miami Beach, Florida: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Start – up Capital Generation: Completed
• writing of business plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Purchase of the needed working tools and equipment: Completed
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety License Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with key players in the industry (networking and membership of relevant real estate bodies, landlord association): Completed

More on Real Estate

How To Write a Successful Landscaping Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for landscaping businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every landscaping business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Landscaping Business Plan Template

What is a landscaping business plan.

A landscaping business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Landscaping Business Plan?

A landscaping business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Landscaping Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful landscaping business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a landscaping business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your landscaping company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your landscaping business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your landscaping firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen landscaping business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a landscaping business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the landscaping industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, landscaping business customers may include residential homebuilders, commercial developers, and residential homeowners.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or landscaping services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your landscaping business may have:

• Established industry relationships
• Comprehensive services
• Wide range of landscaping services
• Customized services
• Use of the latest technology

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, or launch a direct mail campaign. Or you may promote your landscaping business via a mix of these channels.

Operations Plan

This part of your landscaping business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a landscaping business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding new services, expanding to a new location, or hiring new employees.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific landscaping industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Landscaping Company

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Landscaping Company

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup landscaping business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Landscaping Company

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your landscaping company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

This guide has provided you with a basic outline of what should be included in your landscaping business plan. Use this as a starting point and tailor it to fit the specific needs of your company.  

Finish Your Landscaping Business Plan in 1 Day!

Other helpful articles.

How To Develop Your Landscaping Mission Statement + Examples

Free Landscape Business Plan Template (+PDF Download)

Read Time 6 minutes

Author Stephanie Figy

Published February 21, 2023

Download the Guide

Table of Contents

1. Executive summary

2. company overview, 3. landscaping services, 4. landscaping pricing, 5. market analysis, 6. competitor analysis , 7. marketing plan and sales strategy , 8. management plan, 9. financial plan, set up your landscaping business for success.

A landscape business plan is essential for securing bank loans, managing startup costs, and maintaining cash flow. Even the most seasoned landscape business owner needs a dynamic roadmap to guide operations and inform goal-setting.

Annually reviewing and adjusting your company’s business plan helps you to scale your landscape business strategically. 

This article describes what to include in a landscape business plan and provides a free landscape business plan template to get started. 

>> Download Aspire’s FREE landscape business plan template. 

The executive summary serves as a strategic snapshot of your landscape business plan. It should be compelling to capture the attention of potential partners and lenders. 

The executive summary briefly describes the new business, its mission, and its goals. Summarize the most critical aspects of the plan, such as:

Market opportunities

Services offered

Financial projections

If you’re applying for funding, specify the amount , how you intend to use it , and, more importantly, how it will increase your profit margins .

Even though the executive summary comes first in the plan, write it last to identify and highlight the most crucial elements of your plan, ensuring that it presents a well-rounded and compelling case for your landscape business.

The company overview is where you start to dig into the details of your landscaping or lawn maintenance business. It should include specifics, such as:

Landscaping business name

Business address

Phone number

Email address

Business website

In addition to the nuts and bolts, a company overview is where business owners state their mission statement , vision statement , and core values . This gives the reader a comprehensive understanding of the company’s business identity.

In this section, list your various landscaping services, such as routine lawn care services, landscape design, or mulch installation. For each service type, detail the: 

Potential profitability

Scalability

Industry relevance

Strategic importance

List any specialized equipment or certifications that enable you to perform unique services or differentiate you in the marketplace. Also, determine whether you plan to provide these services to homeowners, commercial clients, or both.

Some landscape companies in colder climates pivot to snow removal during the winter. If that’s a part of your business model, include the related services in this section. This demonstrates your capacity to diversify and sustain your business during off-peak seasons, contributing to overall revenue stability and client retention.

Next, outline your pricing strategy, including the pricing model or models your business uses, such as flat-rate , project-based , or hourly pricing. Note that pricing depends on factors like:

Market demand

Competition

You may also list prices from a few competitors to show where your business stands in the marketplace. Include how your pricing strategy positions your business, whether as a cost leader , a premium service provider , or a value-driven option .

Explain if your pricing strategy allows flexibility, such as offering package deals or customizing services based on client preferences. If applicable, discuss strategies to attract and retain clients, such as:

Discount programs

Seasonal promotions

Membership programs

Referral incentives 

Include a market analysis within your business plan to show potential investors and partners what the landscape industry looks like in your area, such as:

Market size

Growth trends

Opportunities

Identify market gaps, whether certain services are not offered, or areas are not sufficiently served.

Discuss emerging trends and innovations within the landscaping industry. This could encompass:

Eco-friendly practices

Sustainable landscaping

Advancements in technology and equipment

Your awareness of industry trends indicates your readiness to adapt and stay competitive.

In addition, outline your target audience or buyer persona , including demographics and psychographics. If your key target market includes discerning families, this could help determine specific service offerings, such as organic cleaning products and methods. 

In the competitor analysis section of your business plan, list the top landscape industry players in your service area and their strengths and weaknesses. Discuss competitive advantages that set the business apart and strategies for outperforming competitors, which may include capitalizing on the weaknesses of your peers. 

→ When performing a competitive analysis, due diligence requires consulting market research and industry benchmarks. This guides strategic decision-making .

In addition, detail the marketing and promotional tactics employed by competitors, including their:

Online presence

Social media engagement

Advertising campaigns

Customer acquisition strategies

Explain how your marketing efforts aim to stand out or compete effectively.

You’ve already established your target audience. Now, outline how you plan to reach potential customers and convert them into new customers. List your marketing channels and tactics, like direct mail, email marketing, and social media marketing.

When crafting a marketing strategy , consider each step of the buyer journey and how your company will effectively target customers through those steps, which include:

For your sales strategy, define your approach, such as value-based or consultative selling . 

In addition, define your follow-up strategy for unsold estimates–consider what will convert them–and how to utilize customers you’ve serviced to garner reviews and referrals. 

Your management plan provides an overview of the company’s business structure and key personnel responsible for executing the business plan. It acts as a roadmap for:

Making staffing decisions

Defining internal processes

Developing leaders 

You may start with an organizational chart, which provides an overview of the company hierarchy from the management team on down. Then, go into further detail, listing the roles and responsibilities of each team member. 

A company’s recruitment and retention relies on quality management. Discuss strategies for attracting and retaining talent and your plans for talent development and growing your landscape business . This could include mentorship programs , career pathing , and feedback mechanisms . 

The financial plan breaks down the numbers side of your landscaping business, outlining the company’s economic viability and the leadership’s financial acumen. 

For businesses seeking funding, outline the capital requirements to start the company and how the money will be used. Include personal income statements for each owner and major stockholder, showing assets and liabilities outside the business and personal net worth.

A financial plan should include financial statements, such as:

12-month profit-and-loss projection

Cash flow statement projection

Projected balance sheet

Break-even calculation

Take into account the average profit margins for a landscaping business . Also, list financial risks and mitigation strategies. 

→ Your financial plan is a moving target, as you can’t always predict and plan for changing economic landscapes. Regularly r evisiting and updating this section of your business plan is crucial .

You might use resources to help implement your financial plan, such as landscape business software like Aspire, which provides visibility into every aspect of operations. 

With real-time data readily accessible via custom reports and dashboards , and features to accurately and immediately calculate job costs, Aspire helps landscaping businesses make informed decisions to improve:

Productivity

Accountability

A landscape or lawn care business plan helps secure funding, uncover your business differentiators, and guide day-to-day landscape business operations. Check out our sample business plan to get started. 

Field service software helps implement the business plan, leading to growth, profitability, and landscape business success .

Aspire ’s end-to-end business management software delivers industry-leading features for:

Job costing

Labor management

Purchasing 

For more than a decade, landscape contractors have trusted Aspire’s tools to help them operate profitably and efficiently.

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Sample Landscaping Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a landscaping business. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors. For aspiring landscaping business owners, having access to a sample landscaping business plan can be especially helpful in providing direction and gaining insight into how to draft their own landscaping business plan.

Download our Ultimate Landscaping Business Plan Template

Having a thorough business plan in place is critical for any successful landscaping venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help you secure financing from lenders or investors. A landscaping business plan example can be a great resource to draw upon when creating your own plan, making sure that all the key components are included in your document.

The landscaping business plan sample below will give you an idea of what one should look like. It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your landscaping as Growthink’s Ultimate Landscaping Business Plan Template , but it can help you write a landscaping business plan of your own.

Landscaping Business Plan Example – GreenScape Artistry

Table of contents, executive summary, company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

Welcome to GreenScape Artistry, a dynamic and innovative landscaping business based in Mesa, AZ. As a local enterprise, we’re excited to fill the significant market gap for premium landscaping services in our community. Our mission is ambitious yet simple: to exceed our customers’ expectations with unmatched landscaping solutions. We understand the unique needs of the Mesa community and are dedicated to offering a broad spectrum of services, including Landscape Design, Lawn Maintenance, Hardscaping Installation, Planting and Garden Maintenance, and Irrigation System Installation and Maintenance. Our headquarters, nestled in the heart of Mesa, positions us perfectly to serve our neighbors with the excellence they deserve.

Our optimism for GreenScape Artistry’s success is built on solid ground. With a foundation laid by our founder’s extensive experience in landscaping and a commitment to exceptional service at competitive prices, we stand out from the competition. Since our launch as an S Corporation on January 5, 2024, we’ve achieved notable milestones, including the development of a brand identity, securing a prime operational base, and beginning to establish our presence in Mesa. These accomplishments signal the start of our journey to becoming Mesa’s preferred landscaping service provider, and we look forward to the growth and challenges ahead.

The landscaping industry in the United States is flourishing, boasting a market size of over $99 billion as of 2020. It’s an industry on the rise, thanks in part to an increasing interest in outdoor living spaces and sustainable landscaping practices. GreenScape Artistry is poised to capitalize on these trends, offering environmentally friendly landscaping solutions and creative designs for outdoor living spaces. Our location in Mesa, AZ, places us in the heart of a market that values sustainability and innovation, making our services particularly relevant and in demand.

GreenScape Artistry targets Mesa’s residents and small businesses, focusing on those who prioritize both aesthetic appeal and functionality in their outdoor spaces. Our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of homeowners seeking personalized landscaping that reflects their style while accommodating the Mesa climate. Additionally, we serve small businesses and real estate developers in Mesa, offering solutions to enhance their exterior appeal and property values. Our comprehensive approach ensures we meet the diverse needs of our customer base, from simple makeovers to extensive landscape designs.

Our main competitors include Just Right Lawn Maintenance, Francysco Landscaping, and Shady Tree Services and Landscaping. These companies have their strengths, from customer service to innovative designs and specialized tree care. However, GreenScape Artistry sets itself apart with superior landscaping services at competitive prices, a focus on sustainability, and a customer-centric approach that offers personalized solutions. Our experienced team and innovative techniques ensure we deliver exceptional quality and value, establishing us as a leading choice for landscaping services in Mesa, AZ.

At GreenScape Artistry, we offer a wide range of landscaping services designed to enhance any outdoor space. From landscape design to lawn maintenance and irrigation system installation, our services are tailored to meet our clients’ specific needs, ensuring satisfaction and sustainability. Our marketing strategy employs a mix of online and traditional methods, including a user-friendly website, active social media engagement, local SEO, and community involvement. We aim to build strong customer relationships through these channels, supported by email marketing campaigns, local events participation, and a referral program to attract and retain customers in the Mesa, AZ area.

To ensure GreenScape Artistry’s success, we prioritize efficient day-to-day operations, including customer communication, project planning, supply management, and team coordination. Our focus on quality control, billing accuracy, and ongoing maintenance services supports our commitment to excellence. Marketing and feedback collection are integral to our operations, allowing us to adapt and improve continually. Key milestones for our growth include establishing a strong brand, developing a comprehensive service portfolio, securing client contracts, and achieving operational efficiency, all aimed at reaching $15,000/month in revenue and adjusting our strategy for continued success.

Zoey Campbell, our President, brings invaluable experience and a proven track record from her previous landscaping business to GreenScape Artistry. Her leadership is defined by strategic growth, operational efficiency, and a relentless pursuit of quality and customer satisfaction. Zoey’s comprehensive understanding of the landscaping industry and her vision for incorporating sustainable practices make her an ideal leader to steer GreenScape Artistry toward becoming an industry leader in Mesa, AZ.

Welcome to GreenScape Artistry, a fresh and vibrant landscaping business newly established to serve the community of Mesa, AZ. As a local venture, we have identified a significant gap in the market for high-quality landscaping services. Our mission is to fill this void by offering unparalleled landscaping solutions that not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations. We pride ourselves on being a local business that understands the unique landscaping needs and preferences of the Mesa community.

At GreenScape Artistry, our portfolio of services is designed to cater to a wide range of landscaping needs. From the initial design phase to regular lawn maintenance, we are equipped to handle all aspects of your landscaping project. Our services include Landscape Design, where we bring your vision to life with innovative and sustainable designs; Lawn Maintenance, ensuring your outdoor space remains pristine and vibrant; Hardscaping Installation, adding structure and elegance to your garden with stone pathways, patios, and more; Planting and Garden Maintenance, where we select and care for plants that thrive in the Mesa climate; and Irrigation System Installation and Maintenance, to keep your garden lush and healthy with efficient water management systems. Located right in the heart of Mesa, AZ, we are committed to serving our local community with these top-notch landscaping services.

Our confidence in the success of GreenScape Artistry is rooted in several key factors. Firstly, our founder brings a wealth of experience from previously running a successful landscaping business, ensuring that we have the knowledge and expertise required to excel in this industry. Additionally, we are committed to providing superior landscaping services at competitive prices, setting us apart from our competitors. Our approach is customer-centric, focusing on delivering exceptional quality and value to every project we undertake.

Since our inception on January 5, 2024, as an S Corporation, we have made significant strides in establishing our brand presence in Mesa, AZ. Our accomplishments to date include the creation of our logo, which encapsulates our brand’s identity and values, the development of our company name that resonates with our mission and vision, and securing a prime location that serves as the base for our operations. These milestones mark the beginning of our journey towards becoming the go-to landscaping service provider in Mesa, and we are excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

The landscaping industry in the United States is thriving, with an estimated market size of over $99 billion in 2020. This industry includes businesses that provide a range of services such as lawn care, tree trimming, and landscape design. With an increasing focus on outdoor living spaces and sustainable landscaping practices, the market is expected to continue growing in the coming years.

One of the key trends driving growth in the landscaping industry is the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable landscaping solutions. Consumers are becoming more conscious of their environmental impact and are seeking out companies that can provide eco-friendly landscaping services. This trend bodes well for GreenScape Artistry, as a new landscaping company serving customers in Mesa, AZ, that specializes in using sustainable practices and materials in their designs.

In addition to the focus on sustainability, another trend in the landscaping industry is the growing interest in creating outdoor living spaces that serve as extensions of the home. This includes features such as outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and seating areas. As more homeowners look to enhance their outdoor spaces for both relaxation and entertainment purposes, there is a growing need for landscaping companies like GreenScape Artistry that can provide creative and functional designs to meet these demands.

Below is a description of our target customers and their core needs.

Target Customers

GreenScape Artistry will target local residents who are keen on enhancing their outdoor living spaces. These customers typically value a combination of aesthetic appeal and functionality in their gardens, yards, or patios. The company will tailor its services to meet the unique desires of homeowners looking for customized landscaping solutions that reflect their personal style and the arid Mesa climate.

Aside from local homeowners, GreenScape Artistry will also cater to small businesses in Mesa seeking to improve their exterior appearance. First impressions are crucial in the business world, and a well-maintained landscape can attract more customers and improve the overall perception of a business. Services will be customized to create welcoming and professional environments that stand out in the local community.

Additionally, GreenScape Artistry will target real estate developers and property managers looking for landscaping services that can increase property values and curb appeal. This segment understands the importance of landscaping in selling homes or maintaining attractive rental properties. The company will offer scalable solutions to fit the varied needs of this customer segment, from simple makeovers to comprehensive landscape designs.

Customer Needs

GreenScape Artistry caters to the desires of residents seeking high-quality landscaping services and lawn maintenance. Customers can expect not only aesthetically pleasing landscapes but also sustainable solutions that enhance their outdoor living spaces. This commitment to excellence ensures that every project meets the highest standards of functionality and design.

In addition to regular maintenance, customers have access to customized landscaping solutions that reflect their personal style and the unique characteristics of their property. GreenScape Artistry understands the importance of creating outdoor environments that are both beautiful and practical. Whether it’s installing water-efficient irrigation systems, selecting drought-tolerant plants, or crafting serene garden spaces, the company meets diverse customer needs with creativity and expertise.

Moreover, GreenScape Artistry recognizes the growing desire for outdoor spaces that serve multiple purposes – from relaxation and entertainment to gardening and play. By offering flexible design options and innovative landscaping techniques, the company helps customers maximize the use and enjoyment of their outdoor areas. This holistic approach to landscaping ensures that every project not only looks great but also adds value to the property and enhances the quality of life for its inhabitants.

GreenScape Artistry’s competitors include the following companies:

Just Right Lawn Maintenance offers a range of services including lawn care, trimming, and seasonal cleanups. Their price points cater to both middle and high-end markets, aiming to provide value through comprehensive maintenance packages. They report moderate revenues, indicating a solid customer base within their operational geography which primarily encompasses the wider Mesa, AZ area. Their key strengths lie in their customer service and reliability. However, they face weaknesses in the breadth of their landscaping design services, which are more limited compared to others in the market.

Francysco Landscaping specializes in landscape design, installation, and maintenance services. They serve both residential and commercial customers, offering competitive pricing that appeals to a broad market segment. Their revenues are on the higher end, reflecting a strong presence in Mesa, AZ, and surrounding areas. Francysco Landscaping is known for its innovative designs and use of sustainable practices, positioning it as a leader in eco-friendly landscaping solutions. The main weakness identified is the occasional longer lead times for project commencement due to high demand.

Shady Tree Services and Landscaping provides comprehensive tree care, including pruning, removal, and emergency services, alongside traditional landscaping services. Their pricing strategy is aligned with industry standards, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of customers. Operating primarily in Mesa, AZ, they have built a reputation for prompt and efficient service, contributing to their steady revenue stream. A key strength is their specialized expertise in arboriculture, making them a go-to for tree-related services. However, they have a weakness in marketing and online presence, limiting their visibility to potential customers outside of word-of-mouth referrals.

Competitive Advantages

At GreenScape Artistry, we pride ourselves on delivering superior landscaping services at the most competitive prices in the market. Our commitment to quality ensures that every project we undertake is executed with the utmost precision and creativity, setting us apart from the competition. By leveraging the latest landscaping techniques and technologies, we can offer innovative solutions that not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations. This dedication to excellence and innovation positions us as a leader in the landscaping industry, providing our clients with exceptional value for their investment.

Furthermore, our customer-centric approach is a significant competitive advantage. We understand that each client has unique needs and visions for their outdoor spaces. Therefore, we offer personalized consultations and tailor our services to align with their specific requirements and budget constraints. This flexibility and attention to detail ensure a seamless and satisfying experience for our customers, fostering long-term relationships and a strong reputation in the Mesa, AZ community. In addition, our skilled and experienced team is committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, making us an ideal choice for clients looking to enhance their landscapes while minimizing their environmental footprint.

Our marketing plan, included below, details our products/services, pricing and promotions plan.

Products and Services

GreenScape Artistry offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to enhance the beauty and functionality of any outdoor space. With a focus on creativity, sustainability, and client satisfaction, they ensure every project, big or small, is handled with utmost care and professionalism. Below is a detailed look at the key products and services they offer, along with the average selling price for each service.

Landscape Design stands at the forefront of GreenScape Artistry’s offerings. This service encompasses a detailed planning and design process, where clients can expect personalized solutions that blend aesthetics with functionality. Whether it’s a serene garden or a modern outdoor living space, the team works closely with clients to bring their vision to life. The average cost for Landscape Design services hovers around $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the complexity and scale of the project.

Lawn Maintenance is another critical service offered, ensuring that clients’ lawns remain lush, healthy, and well-manicured throughout the year. This service includes mowing, edging, weed control, and fertilization, among other maintenance tasks. Clients can expect to pay approximately $100 to $300 per month for Lawn Maintenance, with variations based on the size of the lawn and the frequency of the service.

Hardscaping Installation is for those looking to add a durable and aesthetic element to their landscape. From patios and walkways to retaining walls and fire pits, GreenScape Artistry can transform any outdoor area into a functional and inviting space. The cost of Hardscaping Installation can vary widely, from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on materials and project scope.

Planting and Garden Maintenance services are designed for clients who wish to enrich their outdoor spaces with vibrant plants, flowers, and trees. This service not only includes the initial planting but also ongoing maintenance to ensure the garden thrives. Prices for Planting and Garden Maintenance typically range from $500 to $3,000, reflecting the diversity of plant choices and the extent of the garden area.

Last but not least, Irrigation System Installation and Maintenance is a critical service for maintaining a healthy and vibrant landscape in the arid Mesa climate. GreenScape Artistry specializes in the installation of efficient irrigation systems and offers regular maintenance to keep them functioning optimally. Clients can expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,500 for installation and an annual maintenance fee of $150 to $450, depending on system complexity and size.

GreenScape Artistry is dedicated to providing high-quality landscaping services that meet and exceed client expectations. With a team of experienced professionals and a passion for outdoor design, they are equipped to handle projects of all sizes, ensuring each client’s outdoor space is not only beautiful but also sustainable and functional.

Promotions Plan

GreenScape Artistry employs a multi-faceted approach to attract customers through a blend of traditional and modern promotional methods, with a strong emphasis on online marketing. Understanding the importance of digital presence, the company invests in a robust online marketing strategy. This involves the creation of a user-friendly website that highlights their portfolio of landscaping projects, customer testimonials, and detailed information about their services. Additionally, they maintain an active presence on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to showcase their latest projects, share landscaping tips, and engage with the community.

Apart from online marketing, GreenScape Artistry also leverages local SEO tactics to ensure they appear prominently in search results when potential customers in Mesa, AZ, search for landscaping services. This includes optimizing their website content with relevant keywords, managing their Google My Business listing, and gathering positive reviews from satisfied customers to enhance their visibility and credibility online.

Email marketing campaigns form another pillar of their promotional efforts. By collecting email addresses through their website and social media channels, GreenScape Artistry sends out regular newsletters that feature special offers, seasonal landscaping tips, and updates on new services or projects. This keeps them top of mind with their audience and encourages repeat business and referrals.

Understanding the power of community, GreenScape Artistry also participates in local events and home shows. This direct engagement allows them to display their expertise, meet potential customers face-to-face, and build relationships within the community. They also sponsor local sports teams and community events as a way to increase brand visibility and show their support for the Mesa community.

Referral programs are another tactic GreenScape Artistry employs to attract new customers. They incentivize existing customers to refer friends and family by offering discounts or special services in return. This word-of-mouth marketing is highly effective in building trust and expanding their customer base organically.

In conclusion, GreenScape Artistry utilizes a comprehensive mix of online marketing, local SEO, email marketing, community engagement, and referral programs to attract customers in Mesa, AZ. By combining these methods, they not only aim to reach a wide audience but also to build lasting relationships with their customers, ensuring the growth and success of their landscaping business.

Our Operations Plan details:

• The key day-to-day processes that our business performs to serve our customers
• The key business milestones that our company expects to accomplish as we grow

Key Operational Processes

To ensure the success of GreenScape Artistry, there are several key day-to-day operational processes that we will perform.

• Customer Communication: Maintain regular and clear communication with clients to understand their needs, schedule appointments, and provide updates on project progress.
• Project Planning and Design: Work closely with customers to plan and design their landscaping projects, ensuring their visions are feasible and within budget.
• Supply Management: Order, track, and manage the inventory of plants, materials, and equipment needed for scheduled projects to ensure availability and efficient use of resources.
• Team Coordination: Schedule and coordinate the work of landscaping teams, ensuring they have the necessary information, tools, and materials to complete their tasks efficiently.
• Quality Control: Monitor the quality of work performed by the landscaping teams, ensuring all projects meet the company’s standards and customer satisfaction.
• Billing and Invoicing: Accurately track time and resources spent on each project to generate and send invoices to clients, and follow up on payments.
• Maintenance Services: Provide ongoing maintenance services for completed projects, ensuring landscapes remain healthy and beautiful.
• Marketing and Promotion: Implement marketing strategies to attract new customers, including social media marketing, local advertising, and promotional offers.
• Feedback Collection: Actively seek and collect feedback from customers to identify areas for improvement and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Training and Development: Provide regular training and skill development opportunities for employees to ensure high quality of work and adaptability to new landscaping techniques and trends.
• Health and Safety Compliance: Ensure all operations comply with relevant health and safety regulations, including proper use of equipment and handling of materials.
• Financial Management: Monitor and manage the company’s finances, including budgeting, expense tracking, and financial forecasting to ensure profitability and sustainability.

GreenScape Artistry expects to complete the following milestones in the coming months in order to ensure its success:

• Launch Our Landscaping Business : Secure necessary permits and licenses specific to Mesa, AZ, for landscaping services, purchase initial equipment, and establish a business location if necessary. This foundational step is crucial for a legitimate start.
• Develop a Strong Brand and Online Presence : Create a professional website and social media profiles to showcase services, previous work, and customer testimonials. This milestone will help in attracting and retaining customers by establishing trust and showcasing capabilities.
• Build a Comprehensive Service Portfolio : Develop a range of services tailored to the Mesa, AZ climate and customer needs, including drought-resistant landscaping, garden design, maintenance services, and more. This will cater to a wider market segment and meet various customer needs.
• Secure Initial Client Contracts : Aim to secure a certain number of contracts or projects within the first few months of operation. This will generate initial revenue and help in building a portfolio.
• Establish Partnerships with Local Suppliers : Forge relationships with local suppliers for plants, materials, and other necessities. This will ensure the quality and availability of supplies, potentially at discounted rates due to long-term partnerships.
• Implement an Effective Marketing Strategy : Launch targeted advertising campaigns both online (social media, Google Ads) and locally (flyers, local newspapers, community boards) to increase brand visibility and attract customers.
• Hire and Train a Skilled Team : As demand grows, hire additional staff with the necessary skills and provide training to ensure high-quality service. This will also include developing efficient operational processes to manage projects effectively.
• Achieve Operational Efficiency : Streamline operations through effective scheduling, project management, and customer relationship management systems to reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.
• Get to $15,000/Month in Revenue : This is a critical financial milestone that will indicate market acceptance and the ability to cover operational costs, reinvest in the business, and start generating profit.
• Review and Adjust Business Strategy : After reaching initial milestones, conduct a comprehensive review of business performance, customer feedback, and market trends. Adjust the business strategy, services, and operations as necessary to ensure continued growth and success.

GreenScape Artistry management team, which includes the following members, has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan:

Zoey Campbell, President

Zoey Campbell, President, brings a wealth of experience to GreenScape Artistry, underscored by her successful tenure at the helm of a previous landscaping business. Her background in the industry is marked by a series of strategic growth initiatives and operational efficiencies that have led to significant business achievements. Zoey’s leadership style is characterized by a proactive approach to problem-solving and an unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Her experience in managing all aspects of a landscaping business, from client relations to project management and financial oversight, makes her uniquely qualified to guide GreenScape Artistry towards its goal of becoming a leader in the landscaping industry. Zoey’s vision for the company involves not only expanding its service offerings but also implementing sustainable practices that will ensure its long-term success and the well-being of the communities it serves.

GreenScape Artistry is seeking $232,000 in funding to achieve our growth objectives. This investment will be allocated towards both capital and non-capital needs, including location buildout, equipment purchases, initial working capital, and marketing efforts. Our financial strategy is designed to ensure we have the foundation and resources needed to expand our services, attract and retain customers, and ultimately establish GreenScape Artistry as a premier landscaping service provider in Mesa, AZ.

Financial Statements

Balance sheet.

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Income Statement

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Cash Flow Statement

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Landscaping Business Plan Example PDF

Download our Landscaping Business Plan PDF here. This is a free landscaping business plan example to help you get started on your own landscaping plan.  

How to Finish Your Landscaping Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your landscaping business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

How to write an effective landscaping business plan

Key takeaways

• An organized business plan paves the way to launch a successful landscaping company
• Landscaping business plans are just as important for new companies as they are for established companies seeking investors
• There are seven core sections of a landscaping business plan that can help you succeed and reach profitability

A landscaping business plan is a must if you’re thinking about starting your own landscaping company or seeking funds to grow your business. More than just a document, a business plan is a valuable tool all small business owners should rely on to plan a successful company.

Business plans benefit companies of all stages—whether you’re just launching your lawn care business or already have a few years under your belt. In fact, companies that take the time to write a business plan typically grow 30% faster than those that don’t .

Although writing a business plan takes a significant amount of planning and research, the process doesn’t need to be overly complicated. There are seven core sections to include. Learn how to write your landscaping business plan so you can set your company up for success and secure the funding you need from potential investors.

7 core sections of a landscaping business plan

A landscaping business plan allows you to set your company up for success. It helps you figure out if you have a viable business idea, creates a roadmap for launching your business, and organizes your thoughts.

Your landscaping business plan should include the following seven sections:

• Executive summary
• Business description
• Market analysis
• Services or product line
• Operations and management
• Marketing and sales
• Financial factors

Let’s review the specific details you should include in each section of your business plan.

1. Executive summary

An executive summary gives an overall description of your company and kicks off your business plan . It describes who you are, what you do, and why your landscaping company will succeed.

You can keep this section brief and high level, but make sure to include the following:

• Mission statement
• Description of your business
• Leadership team and number of employees
• Services you offer
• Where you’re doing business
• Why you’ll succeed

It’s good practice to write your executive summary after you’ve filled out all other sections of your business plan . This will help you first figure out all the details regarding your business, allowing you to then craft an effective executive summary .

2. Business description

The business description goes more in-depth and covers the finer details of your landscaping business . This is where you explain your competitive advantage, which problems you solve, and why your company will succeed in your market.

Highlight the value you bring to consumers and what sets you apart from your competition. Be clear about what makes you better than competitors and outline your company’s strengths.

Do you have employees who have many years of experience in the landscaping business ? Is there an opening in the market that makes you uniquely fit to fill a certain niche?

Also, discuss which customers you plan on serving. Is your target market more focused on residential customers, like homeowners ? Or will you go after commercial customers, such as offices and larger business accounts?

3. Market analysis

Before jumping into starting your own landscaping business , you must take a look at the overall industry and your competition . Analyzing the market helps you determine if there’s enough room in your area for another business like yours to be successful.

Take a look at the landscaping industry as a whole. Is consumer spending within the landscaping industry on the rise? 

You can estimate market saturation by simply taking a count of how many landscaping businesses are operating in your area. Figure out where these landscaping companies serve and determine if there’s an opportunity for you to enter the market and win over new customers.

Analyze what these competitors are doing well and find areas for improvement. Reading through your competitors’ Yelp reviews is an easy way to figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are from a consumer standpoint.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of other landscaping companies will enable you to optimize your business practices and earn market share when first starting out.

4. Services or product line

The services and product line section of your landscaping business plan tells readers how you expect to make money. Specify the exact lawn care services you’ll provide customers and which niche you’ll serve.

Landscaping companies can offer more than only lawn mowing, but it’s best to choose only a few services you can adequately offer without overextending yourself. Service options may include:

• I nstalling sod or mulch
• Planting flowers and other plants
• Fertilizing
• Pest control
• Landscape design
• Ongoing lawn maintenance

Pick the landscaping services you’re qualified to offer and list them in this section. It’s also helpful if you discuss the frequency of your services. For example, are most customers receiving weekly lawn cutting or will you provide services on a bi-weekly basis?

5. Operations and management

The operations section of your landscaping business plan highlights what type of business structure you’re forming and how your leadership team is organized.

Explain what type of business you’re forming. You can choose between a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. You can find more information by reading through our guide on registering your business .

You’ll then need to provide an organizational chart that introduces the leaders of your company and provides a hierarchy of your team. Detail who holds which responsibilities and the hierarchy of your leadership team. If you’re the only member of your company, you can give a professional overview of yourself.

Talk about each employee and give each person’s years of experience and qualifications. Highlight areas that show why they’re the right fit for the job and how they’ll help your business succeed. You can even include brief resumes of your key employees to strengthen this section.

6. Marketing and sales

The marketing and sales section of your landscaping business plan tells readers how you’ll find and retain customers. There are many different landscaping marketing strategies that can help you find new leads and build lasting relationships with current customers.

A professional-looking website is a significant aspect of your marketing strategy . It will serve as the face of your company online. Most marketing channels will direct potential customers to your website.

You’ll also need to find ways to capture the attention of potential customers and encourage them to visit your website or contact you directly via phone or email. Some effective marketing strategies include:

• Email marketing
• Referral program
• Pay-per-click digital advertising
• Social media marketing
• Claiming your Yelp Business Page
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Content marketing

Choose the appropriate strategies, create a marketing plan , and highlight them in this section. Explain how you expect to find new leads to grow your business and how you plan on building trust , retaining current clients and earning customer loyalty . 

Get a free Yelp page

Promote your business to local customers.

7. Financial factors

The finance section of your lawn care business plan offers realistic financial projections for your company. You’ll need to show readers that your business will be financially stable, especially if you’re seeking funding .

Analyzing your financials will help you determine if a landscaping business is worth pursuing. It’s important that you’re realistic with your expectations and have the appropriate funds to launch your business.

List all of the startup costs you expect to encounter. This can include expenditures like a lawnmower , work vehicles, edgers , or trimmers . From there you can determine the pricing of your services.

You can include financial statements like income statements, balance sheets , and cash flow statements if you’ve already launched your business. This will give tangible evidence for potential investors or lenders to determine if you have a viable business idea they’re willing to put money into.

You can also add a funding request if you’re seeking investment from a third party. Just be sure to include how much capital you’ll need, what you intend on doing with the funds, and how long investors can expect for your company to reach profitability . The time it takes you to reach profitability will depend on startup costs, pricing, and how quickly you can build your customer base.

Build a strong foundation with your business plan

It’s in your best interest to write a business plan before you embark on your entrepreneurial endeavor. It will serve as the foundation of your company and guide your future decisions. A well-thought-out business plan allows you to confidently navigate uncharted waters with a roadmap to follow.

Once you’ve organized your landscaping business plan , you can hit the ground running. After your business starts picking up, claim your Yelp Business Page and begin receiving reviews from happy customers.

The information above is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and may not be suitable for your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, references to third-party links, services, or products do not constitute endorsement by Yelp.

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Learn how to write your landscaping business plan so you can set your company up for success and secure the funding you need from potential investors.

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How to write a business plan for your landscaping company.

Starting a landscaping company is a great idea because it provides an opportunity to create beautiful outdoor spaces for clients while also providing a steady source of income.

Additionally, it is a relatively low-cost business to start, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs.

But, first thing first, you need to write a business plan.

A business plan is essential for any new project, as it outlines the goals and objectives of the project, and provides a roadmap for success. Writing a business plan for a landscaping company will help ensure that the project is managed efficiently and effectively.

In short, a good business plan will help ensure the profitability of your landscaping company .

What are the essential parts of a business plan for a landscaping company? What's the basic outline for the structure? What metrics should be considered for the financial assessment? What are some tips for writing a business plan in the most efficient way possible?

Prepare yourself for a satisfying read, as all your questions will find answers in this article!

One last thing: starting your business plan from scratch is optional.

Instead, you can download our customizable business plan for a landscaping company and modify it to meet your specifications.

How to map out a business plan for a landscaping company

Is it necessary to create a business plan for your landscaping company.

Yes, you should create a business plan for your landscaping company.

Creating an effective business plan will help you to:

• gain knowledge of the landscaping market
• stay abreast of emerging trends and apply them to your project
• narrow down success factors for a landscaping company
• understand the landscaping goals, preferences, and budget constraints of clients
• create a solid value proposition for your outdoor design and maintenance business
• research competitor pricing strategies
• find competitive advantages for your landscaping company
• find a business model that optimizes cash flow generation
• establish a foolproof strategy to foster business growth
• evaluate risks associated with operating a landscaping company, including worker safety, equipment maintenance, and weather conditions

Our team has drafted a business plan for a landscaping company that is designed to make it easier for you to achieve all the elements listed.

How to organize a business plan for a landscaping company?

In a business plan, you'll find an abundance of facts, figures, and indicators. There should be a clear structure, so it does not look messy.

When we designed our business plan for a landscaping company , we ensured it was properly organized.

We've organized it into 5 distinct sections (Opportunity, Project, Market Research, Strategy and Finances).

1. Market Opportunity

The section number one is titled "Market Opportunity."

Our team has compiled vital data and metrics about the landscaping company, providing insights and trends for entrepreneurs in the outdoor design, gardening, and landscaping industry.

The data here is always up to date; we update it twice a year.

2. Project Presentation

In the "Project" section, you can showcase your landscaping company, detailing the range of services you offer, such as landscape design, installation, maintenance, hardscaping, and irrigation. You can highlight your expertise, use of sustainable practices, client satisfaction guarantee, and the unique value proposition that creates beautiful and sustainable outdoor spaces.

Remember to introduce yourself at the end of this section.

Discuss your experience in landscaping, your creative approach to outdoor design, and how you plan to provide exceptional landscaping services. Highlight your range of landscaping services, your use of sustainable practices, and your dedication to creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces that enhance the aesthetics and value of properties through your landscaping company.

We formulated some language in our business plan. Customize it to fit your concept perfectly.

3. Market Research

After that, comes the "Market Research" section.

In this section, you will find a market segmentation analysis for your landscaping company.

It includes a study of competing landscaping businesses and emphasizes your company's competitive advantages. A tailored SWOT analysis is also provided.

4. Strategy

In the "Strategy" section, a detailed 3-year action plan is provided, which highlights all the crucial steps and initiatives to transform your landscaping company into a highly profitable venture.

Moreover, you'll find a marketing plan, a strategy to handle risks, and a completed Business Model Canvas within this section.

5. Finances

In conclusion, the "Finances" section provides an in-depth analysis of the financial aspects and progress of your project.

How to make the Executive Summary for a landscaping company?

The Executive Summary gives a summarized glimpse into the business plan of your landscaping company.

Don't exceed 2 pages; emphasize only the most important components.

The objective of this document is to spark the reader's interest in your business plan.

In the Executive Summary of your landscaping company, answer these questions: what services does your landscaping company provide? what is your target market? who are your competitors in the industry? how do you differentiate from them? what is your budget?

How to do the market analysis for a landscaping company?

Analyzing the market for your landscaping company allows you to gain insights into factors such as customer preferences for outdoor aesthetics, competition within the landscaping industry, and emerging trends in landscaping design.

By conducting a comprehensive market analysis, a landscaping company can identify customer needs, provide creative and sustainable landscape solutions, optimize pricing strategies, and execute targeted marketing campaigns, ultimately leading to a loyal customer base, increased projects, and a prominent position in the local landscaping industry.

Here is what you can expect to find in the "Market Research" section of our business plan for a landscaping company :

• key insights and trends in the landscaping industry, including landscape design preferences, outdoor living trends, and sustainable practices
• a compilation of potential market segments for a landscaping company
• the competitive analysis
• the potential competitive advantages for a landscaping company

The key points of the business plan for a landscaping company

What's the business model of a landscaping company, business model of a landscaping company.

A landscaping company's business model revolves around providing landscaping services such as lawn maintenance, garden design, irrigation system installation, and hardscaping.

The company generates revenue through contracts with residential and commercial clients, charging fees based on project size and complexity.

The business model focuses on offering comprehensive landscaping solutions, utilizing skilled professionals, sourcing quality materials, and delivering exceptional customer service to create and maintain visually appealing and functional outdoor spaces.

Business model vs Business plan

Don't confuse "business plan" with "business model."

A business model is like a structure that explains how a company makes money and provides value.

In a business plan, you delineate your business model employing a resource called the Business Model Canvas.

Rest assured, there is a Business Model Canvas (already completed) in our business plan for a landscaping company .

How do you identify the market segments of a landscaping company?

Market segmentation for your landscaping company involves dividing your potential customers into different groups based on their landscaping needs, property types, and preferences.

These categories may include factors such as residential landscaping, commercial landscaping, garden design, or customers seeking specific landscaping services (e.g., lawn care, hardscaping).

By segmenting your market, you can offer a range of landscaping services and solutions that cater to each segment's specific requirements. For example, you might provide residential landscaping services, offering lawn care, garden design, and plant installations for homeowners, offer commercial landscaping solutions for businesses, property management companies, or homeowner associations, specialize in creating and maintaining gardens and outdoor living spaces, or focus on hardscaping services such as patio installations, walkways, or water features.

Market segmentation allows you to effectively target your marketing efforts, showcase your landscaping expertise, and deliver personalized and visually appealing outdoor environments that meet the unique needs and preferences of each customer segment.

In the business plan for a landscaping company , you will find a complete market segmentation that allows you to identify your potential customers effectively.

How to conduct a competitor analysis for a landscaping company?

It's clear that you won't be the only landscaping company in your area. There are other professionals offering landscape design, installation, and maintenance services to clients.

Develop a solid business plan by conducting an extensive competitor analysis that evaluates their strengths and weaknesses.

Address their weaknesses (such as limited service offerings, poor project management, or inadequate customer satisfaction).

Why should you pay attention to these factors? Because these weaknesses can impact customer satisfaction when utilizing landscaping services. By addressing these points, you can provide comprehensive landscaping solutions, offer creative design and maintenance services, and deliver exceptional customer support, positioning your landscaping company as a trusted partner for transforming outdoor spaces.

It's what we call competitive advantages—cultivate them to make your business shine.

Here are some examples of competitive advantages for a landscaping company: comprehensive landscaping services (design, installation, maintenance), skilled and experienced landscape architects, use of high-quality materials and plants, attention to detail, exceptional customer satisfaction.

How to draft a SWOT analysis for a landscaping service?

A SWOT analysis can help identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to a landscaping company, providing valuable insight to help create a successful business plan.

As you can guess, there is indeed a completed and editable SWOT matrix in our business plan for a landscaping company

The strengths for a landscaping company

The letter "S" in SWOT signifies Strengths, representing the project's strong areas or aspects.

For a landscaping company, potential strengths include expertise in landscaping design, a reliable team of experienced landscapers, access to high quality materials, and a commitment to providing excellent customer service.

The weaknesses for a landscaping company

The letter "W" indicates Weaknesses, representing the project's areas or aspects that need improvement.

For a landscaping company, potential weaknesses could include a lack of resources, limited access to materials, a lack of experienced staff, and a lack of marketing expertise.

The opportunities for a landscaping company

The letter "O" in SWOT signifies Opportunities, representing the favorable circumstances or chances for the project.

In the case of a landscaping company, potential opportunities include designing and constructing outdoor living spaces, providing lawn care services, installing outdoor lighting, and creating hardscaping features such as patios and retaining walls.

The threats for a landscaping company

When we use the "T" in SWOT, we're talking about Threats, which are the external factors that can impede the project's progress.

How to elaborate a marketing strategy for a landscaping service?

A marketing strategy is a plan that helps a business attract customers and sell its products or services.

It should be included in a business plan to make sure the business reaches the right customers, stands out from competitors, and gets the most out of its marketing efforts.

A well-executed marketing strategy will draw in homeowners and businesses in need of expert landscaping services to your company.

Homeowners won't hire your landscaping company without proper marketing; showcasing your creative designs, expert gardening, and efficient maintenance services is crucial.

Have you considered creative marketing initiatives to promote your landscaping company? Organize garden makeover contests, create visually appealing before-and-after photos for social media, and collaborate with local home improvement stores for joint marketing efforts.

No need to panic if you're struggling to come up with ideas for your project's marketing strategy.

How to build a solid financial plan for a landscaping service?

A solid business plan must include financial data to provide an accurate assessment of the business's potential success.

As you prepare your business plan, it is important to include revenue forecasts for your landscaping company.

By presenting a revenue forecast that is relevant and credible in your business plan, you establish a strong foundation for investor confidence.

Our financial plan for a landscaping company is designed to be user-friendly, incorporating automatic verifications that assist in identifying and correcting any assumptions. This ensures you can build credible projections with confidence.

Of course, you will need to create a preliminary budget for your landscaping company. Make sure to include every expense (by the way, they are all listed in the financial plan we've made).

The break-even analysis is vital for your financial plan because it tells you if you whether your landscaping company will generate profits or not.

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Landscaping Business Plan Template

FEB.10, 2021

Do you want to start a landscaping business?

Do you want to start a landscaping business? Well, this business primarily includes designing and maintaining peoples’ lawns by utilizing gardening skills and ideas to convert even the smallest spaces into impressive designs.

These days, lawns have become an integral part of houses, corporate buildings, and streets. Previously landscaping services were only utilized by people who loved to beautify their space. However, now more people are utilizing the service to also play their part in saving the climate.

Thus, opening a landscaping business plan is the right choice and it can become a profitable venture if you manage to plan and execute it effectively. If you don’t know how to open a landscaping business you can take help from this business plan for landscaping written for a startup, Land Care.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Land Care will be a registered and licensed landscaping startup in Seattle . The business will aim at providing professional expertise to help people in installing and maintaining their lawns. In the initial phase, the business will serve its customers by providing the following services: lawn installation, sod laying, lawn care, and designing rock/ stone structures.

2.2 Management of Landscaping Business

To manage a landscaping business plan , you need to employ skillful gardeners and landscapers. Moreover, you’ll also need to invest in landscaping tools and machinery. Besides the general startup requirements, there is a lot more to manage to run your business plan landscape company  successfully. For example, advertisement plan, online presence, sales management, and finance management.

If you are looking for how to set up a landscaping business you can take help from this landscape business plan . In this landscaping business plan on how to start a business plan landscape company , we have provided all the details of Land Care.

2.3 Customers of Landscaping Business

The customers of a landscaping business belong to various walks of life. They include residents, home builders, businesses & corporates, government agencies, and educational institutions.

2.4 Business Target

Our target is to become the most renowned and popular landscaping business in Seattle. Moreover, through our high-quality service, we aim to achieve and maintain a CSAT score above 95%. Besides, our financial targets to be achieved in the next three years are demonstrated here.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Land Care is started and owned by Judi Smith. Judi has done her graduation in Horticulture. She is well known for her ideas of upkeeping garden spaces. During and after her academic years, she has won many landscaping competitions.

3.2 Why the landscaping business is being started

Judi was always an enthusiast of garden structure design. She decided to start a landscape business plan  to utilize her skills and her passion for the benefit of her customers. As well as for earning a good living.

3.3 How the landscaping business will be started

Step1: Drafting landscaping business description

To ensure a successful startup it is essential to do everything with proper planning. Judi studied several landscaping business plan examples to make a landscaping business plan for her business. But due to a lack of experience in marketing and financial analysis, she decided to hire a professional to write a business plan landscape company  for her. The landscape business plan  she got written is provided in this lawn care business plan sample .

Step2: Define the brand

Judi acquired the licenses and permits required to start her own landscaping business plan . Meanwhile, she defined her services, business values & aims, and customer care policies to get identified by the target market.

Step3: Set up everything from machinery to workforce

After that, Judi started to back up her business with a strong workforce and the latest landscaping tools. She rented a building to set up her office. Meanwhile, she hired a co-manager to get some help in conducting interviews and tests to hire the most competent employees. Then she purchased the required inventory to run her business plan landscape company .

Step4: Promote, market, establish a web presence

The last thing to do was to reach out to the target market. Judi utilized the latest methods including online and social media campaigns to attract target customers. The detailed advertisement plan Judi employed to get introduced to a large audience will be provided in later sections.

When you are owning your own landscaping business plan you can implement your creative ideas to the fullest. However, it is still necessary to write down the services you want to provide your customers in a landscape business plan template. As it will enable you to get the required inventory and to hire the employees with the relevant skills.

• Stone walls
• Ground cover
• Landscape stairs
• Plant anchors
• Turf installation
• Rotovating soil
• Hydroseeding
• Grasscycling
• Maintenance of rock and gravel landscape
• Planting Trees/ Shrubs/ Flowers/ Vegetables Our last service will include cultivating plants on your lawn. We’ll plant trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, and fruits that would be considered best for your soil.

Marketing Analysis of Landscaping Business

Before opening a business plan landscape company  it is essential to carry out an accurate marketing analysis. This is to know the market opportunities and your target customers. Exploring the groups of your target customers should be done before even researching on how to write a business plan for landscaping. It is because a thorough knowledge of your customers will enable you in introducing the services that would interest them.

Marketing analysis is a stepwise process. If you are looking for a complete business plan for a landscaping company, you can take help from here. In this landscape business plan and landscaping business model we’re providing marketing analysis done for Land Care.

5.1 Market Trends

Landscaping services are in great demand. Firstly because they freshen and beautify the outdoor spaces. And second due to the awareness in people to keep their surroundings green. According to IBISWorld, the landscaping business plan has seen a growth rate of 1.8% during the past five years i.e. from 2016 to 2021. And the landscape business plan is expected to grow by another 1% in 2021.

The latest stats calculated in 2021 also reports the total market size of landscaping services as $99.7 billion. Thus, the market stats are satisfactory to initiate your startup.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

The potential customers of Land Care are divided into the following groups:

5.2.1 Residential Community

Our primary customers will be the residents living in our vicinity. In our city, most of the families belong to the working class and others do not have a great number of young enthusiasts to install a lawn themselves. Therefore, to beautify and maintain their outdoor they’ll need to hire professional services.

5.2.2 Home Builders

Our second target customers will be the construction companies and contractors who build homes. Landscaping and lawn installation increases the value of the property. Therefore, they are expected to avail of our landscape design services.

5.2.3 Businesses & Corporates

Nowadays, all small and large buildings of businesses and corporates contain decorative landscaped lawns. As that helps in creating a refreshing environment. This group is expected to become our potential customers as they’ll also need regular maintenance and care.

5.2.4 Government Facilities

Government properties, offices, public parks, bus stations, and even some streets are also marked by landscaped lawns and designs. Therefore, they will also be hiring our services.

5.2.5 Educational Institutes

Almost all educational institutions ranging from schools to universities contain beautiful lawns. This is to create a pleasant and natural atmosphere to promote learning. Thus, such institutions are also expected to avail of all our services.

5.3 Business Target

• To earn a net profit margin of $10.7k per month by the end of the second year and $21.8k per month by the end of the three years of our launch
• To achieve an average rating above 4.8 within a year of our launch
• To achieve a Net Promoter Score above 80%
• To achieve and maintain a CSAT score above 95%

Immigration Business Plan

5.4 product pricing.

Our prices are a little higher than our competitors. However, we still expect to get more customers as we provide a 50% discount on the maintenance of lawns that are installed/ designed by us.

Marketing Strategy

No matter how efficient and skillful you are, you can never get customers without an effective marketing plan for the landscaping business plan . Thus, to make sure that your customers know about you, you should start advertising before starting a business plan landscape company . Here we’re listing how Judi decided to market her startup.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

The competitive aspects we’ll have to outperform our competitors are listed here:

• We’ll establish a website and social media account to display our works and to facilitate our customers in booking our services and in giving feedback.
• We’ll use the latest tools to ensure quick work delivery.
• We are highly client-oriented. Our skillful workers will be working in collaboration with customers to ensure that they get what they wanted.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We’ll set up four different forms of landscaped lawns in our workspace to give an idea of what to expect from us.
• We’ll advertise our services through Google Local ads service and social media sites.
• We’ll make our website SEO to get topmost positions in Google searches.
• We’ll offer a 50% discount on all of our services for the first 20 days of our launch.
• We’ll offer a 50% discount on lawn maintenance/ care services for the lawns that are installed/ designed by us.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

While writing a landscape business plan you should include a detailed list of the employees you’ll hire to run your business plan landscape company . The list should also include expected/ average salaries so that you can arrange for the finances accordingly.

The personnel plan developed for Land Care is provided here as an example.

7.1 Company Staff

• 1 Co-Manager to help in overall operations
• 5 Landscapers to design, construct & beautify the outdoor area
• 4 Gardeners to fertilize the soil, mow lawn & plant plants
• 1 Social Media Manager to manage company’s sites
• 1 Technician to upkeep the machinery
• 1 Accountant to maintain financial records
• 1 Sales Executive to execute the marketing strategy
• 1 Receptionist/ Call operator

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

The financial plan is a crucial component when you make a landscaping business plan. In your financial plan, you should analyze projected profits and losses, gross margins, cash flows, and balance sheets to find out

• Where to invest more in order to get the desired goals?
• What financial decisions should be taken to achieve long term success?
• How to ensure financial stability for your business plan landscape company ?

To help you in making a landscaping financial plan that satisfies all the above-mentioned requirements, we’re providing the financial plan sample made for Land Care.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 break-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

Download Landscaping Business Plan in pdf

OGS capital professional writers specialized also in themes such as garden nursery business plan , janitorial services business plan , pressure washing business plan , real estate flipping business plan , handyman business plan and many other business plans.

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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How To Start a Landscaping Business and Make It a Success

There are nearly a million people working in the landscaping industry throughout the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A career in this industry enables you to beautify your environment, work with your hands, and engage your creativity.

But, what if you want to do more than just work for a landscaping company? What if you want to own one? This guide will explain how to start a landscaping business, including steps like developing your skills, purchasing required supplies, and more. The tips will help you get a successful company off the ground and maximize your chances of consistently turning a profit.

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Key takeaways

• You'll need to develop landscaping skills to start a landscaping business.
• Purchasing landscaping supplies can be an expensive but essential upfront investment.
• A business plan will help you make the right decisions for your growing company.
• The right business structure can help protect you from liability.
• A detailed marketing plan will help you find the right customers for your landscaping business.

Pros and cons of starting a landscaping business

• There's a steady demand for landscapers.
• The barriers to entry are relatively low.
• You can work outdoors or lead a team from your office.
• The work may be seasonal in some parts of the country.
• You may have high equipment and labor costs for certain kinds of landscaping work.
• There's intense competition.

As long as there are homeowners and commercial buildings that need lawns mowed and flowers planted, there will be a demand for landscaping services. Since all you need is some basic equipment to get started, you can take advantage of the low barriers to entry and the high demand to get your company off the ground.

Unfortunately, in parts of the country with unfavorable winters, your work may be seasonal, and you may be forced to venture into related fields — like snow plowing — during the winter months. This can require finding a new customer base and purchasing additional equipment.

Depending on the type of landscaping you do, you may also incur high business expenses and startup costs for labor and for equipment. If you'll be doing specialized work that requires a bulldozer or other machinery, for example, it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to purchase this equipment. You could also face intense competition in many areas of the country.

Steps for starting a landscaping business

When you are figuring out how to start a business in the landscaping field, you'll need to both make sure your landscaping skills are up to par and make smart choices about the business side of your operations. Here are nine steps to take to get your company off the ground and make it a success.

1. Develop your landscaping skills

If you expect people to pay you for your landscaping skills, you'll need to make sure your talents in this industry are well-developed. There are a number of ways to do that.

You could obtain formal education, such as by completing an academic program focused on landscape management or horticulture. You could also complete various certifications through the National Association of Landscape Professionals .

Depending on what type of landscaping jobs you plan to focus on, you may also want to undergo additional training. For example, you could become a landscape architect if you hope to focus on complex landscape design work, but would need at least a bachelor's degree and would be required to complete a Landscape Architect Registration Examination.

You will likely also need real-world training, especially if you are going to be working with machinery or performing complex tasks such as hardscaping. This can often be obtained on the job by working for a landscaper or through certification programs.

2. Purchase landscaping supplies

Landscapers use many tools, and you may need to purchase a variety of different supplies depending on the kinds of services your company plans to offer. Some of the supplies you may need include, but are not limited to:

• A truck to transport landscape equipment and materials
• A lawn mower
• Various shears and trimmers, including string trimmers (weed whackers) and hedge trimmers
• Edgers to create perfect borders around flower beds
• Rakes and leaf blowers to remove leaves and debris
• Shovels for removing and adding soil, mulch, and plants
• Spreaders and/or sprayers to distribute fertilizer and weed- or insect-control applications

If you plan to do larger jobs such as installing a swimming pool or moving large rocks, you will also need to buy or rent equipment such as a bulldozer or a skid steer.

3. Create a business plan

Running your own landscaping business involves more than just focusing on your landscaping talents. In order to become an entrepreneur, you'll need to develop your business skills as well, starting by making a business plan. Business plans serve as a guide or roadmap to help you lead your company to profitability and make cohesive decisions as you begin operations.

Traditional business plans are incredibly detailed and include things like:

• A description of your company
• An analysis of the market
• Details about your organizational structure
• A description of your product line and services
• Your marketing plans and sales methods
• Financial projections for when your landscaping business will become profitable and how much you might charge for different services.

You could also opt for a lean business plan that focuses just on the key elements of your business.

4. Choose a name for your business

You'll need to select a name for your new business. This should be something catchy, simple for customers to remember, and distinctive to your brand. You'll also want to register it with your local government if required, which can usually be completed through the secretary of state's office where you plan to operate.

You will need to make sure no other companies have the same business name as you, or you will not be able to register it. You'll likely also want to register an online domain name with your company's name so you can set up a website people can navigate to when searching for your services or information about your company.

5. Decide on a business structure

You'll need to decide on the right type of business entity your landscaping company should operate as. You have several options, including the following:

• Sole proprietorship. No paperwork is involved in creating a sole proprietorship, and you and your business are the same legal entity. You'll declare business profits and losses on your personal taxes and have no protection from liability.
• Partnership: If you are going to start the business with another (or more than one) person, you can choose to operate as a partnership. Partners in general partnerships share liability and are responsible for operations, whereas partners in limited partnerships are more hands-off and are typically protected from liability. Whatever type of partnership you choose, make sure you put a partnership agreement in place. And, you and your partners will declare company profits and losses on personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Companies. When you create an LLC, your business has a separate legal identity. You'll typically have to file tax returns and register your business with the state. LLC owners are called members and are protected from personal liability. Profits and losses still pass through to them and are declared on personal taxes.
• S corporations: S-corps are also separate legal entities that must file their own tax returns and be registered with the state. They can be more complicated to create but provide liability protections as well as some tax flexibility, as you can declare certain income to be a distribution rather than wage income, which can have favorable tax benefits. Profits and losses pass through to owners with an S-corporation as well.
• C corporations: C-Corporations are separate entities without the restrictions on ownership that exist with LLCs and S-corps. Many large and publicly traded companies are C-corps. C-corps file their own taxes and declare profits and losses, which creates a risk of double taxation, as owners are also taxed on dividends the corporation pays.

The right business structure will depend on your goals for the company, your tolerance for paperwork, and how important it is for you to put liability protections in place.

6. Register your business for taxes

Once you start your company, you will typically need to apply for an Employer Identification Number, especially if you plan to hire workers to staff your landscaping business. You can apply for an EIN on the IRS website.

If your business exists as a separate legal entity, your company's EIN is used when filing tax forms with the IRS on behalf of the business.

7. Get licenses, permits, and insurance

Depending on where you live and what kind of landscaping work you plan to perform, you may need to obtain specific business licenses and permits to operate.

For example, you may need a commercial applicator license to apply pesticides as part of your landscaping work. Or you may need a landscaping construction professional license if you intend to design or plant trees, grasses, or nursery stock or may require other special licenses to do tree work. It's a good idea to research the specific requirements in your state to find out what the mandates are.

You will need business insurance to protect against financial loss as well. You should purchase general liability insurance in case you harm someone or damage a customer's property. If you will be hiring any workers, unemployment and workers' compensation insurance may also be necessary. And, it's a good idea to get business interruption insurance in case a covered event causes you to temporarily pause operations.

8. Fund and budget for your landscaping business

You will need money to operate your landscaping business, so you should open a separate bank account to keep your company funds in. You'll also need to look into how you will secure funding to get your business off the ground. You could rely on your savings, pursue a business loan, get a small business credit card , or ask investors to help fund your startup landscaping enterprise.

9. Market your business

The key to figuring out how to make money as a landscaper is knowing your target market and being proactive in reaching customers.

To do that, you'll need to identify who you want to provide services to, if there's a niche you want to fill, and how you will reach potential customers so they'll know you can provide the services they require.

There are a number of ways to market your landscaping company, including through ads in local magazines, creating a website, connecting with customers through local groups, creating a word-of-mouth referral program, or posting pictures and videos of your work on social media sites like Houzz, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Don’t forget to print and hand out your business cards.

Consider what kind of marketing is most likely to help you reach your target audience — and what kind of marketing is within your budget and skill level.

What is landscaping?

Landscaping is the process of improving and maintaining a property's grounds. There are different kinds of landscaping work that you could do, with landscaping tasks ranging from planting flowers to installing a patio or pool to adding other ornamental features such as ponds and outdoor kitchens.

What is the difference between landscaping and lawn care?

Lawn care focuses specifically on lawn maintenance. A lawn care business could include mowing, trimming and edging, pest control, leaf blowing, and fertilization. Landscaping can include lawn care services but also involves a broader array of services designed to make land more attractive. Landscaping could include planting flowers and trees, leaf removal, or adding pools or other outdoor structures.

How profitable is a landscaping business?

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), the typical landscaping business owner's salary ranged from $54,000 to $115,000. However, the salary of a landscape business owner — and the profits a landscaping business makes — will vary depending on many factors, including geographic location, reputation, and services provided.

How much does it cost to start a landscaping business?

The cost of starting a landscaping business varies depending on what kinds of services you wish to perform. If you simply plan to mow lawns, you could potentially get started with a few hundred dollars. If you need an equipment truck or specialized equipment such as a bulldozer, then you may need tens of thousands of dollars to get your business off the ground.

How do I make my landscaping business successful?

To make your landscaping business successful, you must develop both your landscaping skills and your business skills. You will need a business plan and a marketing plan so you can reach customers, set prices, and determine how to become profitable. It can help to have certifications or other advanced training in landscaping. And getting good reviews once you begin work can become referrals and positive references to provide potential clients.

Bottom line

Figuring out how to start a successful landscaping business can be a challenge, but it is worth the effort if you want to help people enhance their homes or buildings — while also making a good income. Start working on these steps today, and your company will be off the ground before you know it.

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7 Steps to Form an LLC

1. check what requirements your state has, 2. name your business, 3. pick a registered agent, 4. file your articles of organization, 5. create an operating agreement, 6. plan for the future, 7. consider using a professional, 7 steps to start an llc for your small business.

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• The exact steps for forming an LLC vary by state, but it's a similar process in most states.
• You'll need a business name, a registered agent, articles of organization, and an operating agreement in certain states.
• Save $25 when using Block Advisors to form your LLC today. Discount applied in cart.

If you're working on setting up your own business, there's a good chance you're looking to open a limited liability company, or LLC. This business structure gives you limited liability protection similar to a corporation, plus the flexibility of a sole proprietorship or partnership, making it a popular choice for small business owners.

The main perk of an LLC is that it generally can protect your personal assets (like the money you're saving up to buy a home or retire) from certain liabilities or debt that come with owning your business. In other words, in many cases, a creditor you owe money to through your business usually won't be able to come for the money in your personal accounts. Having an LLC can also legitimize your business, which may be a benefit to many small business owners.

If that sounds good, follow these steps to open your LLC.

• Check what requirements your state has
• Name your business
• Pick a registered agent
• File your articles of organization
• Create an operating agreement
• Plan for the future
• Consider a professional service 

LLCs are regulated by states, which means that you'll have to meet the specific requirements outlined by the state where you're registering the LLC. You'll find this information easily on your Secretary of State's website.

While most steps necessary to establish an LLC will need to be done no matter which state you live in, the specific guidance for how to do each step — like naming your business and picking a registered agent — can vary.

Now that you have a business, it's time to choose a name for it. While you'll want something catchy and easy to market, it's also important to make sure that the name you choose meets your specific state's requirements.

First, you'll need to ensure that the name you choose isn't being used by another LLC in your state. You can typically do a name search on the Secretary of State's website ( here's Illinois' search tool , for example).

In general, you'll need to have certain words in the name that make it clear your business is an LLC, such as "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." Many states will also prohibit you from including certain words in the name. In New York, for instance, you can't include the words "academy," "bank," "finance," "union" and many more .

Every LLC has to have a registered agent who acts as the point person for any legal matters that may come up and for the Secretary of State to send any official paperwork to. Generally, that person (or business) must have a physical address in the state where your LLC is registered and be available to receive mail there during working hours. They also have to be at least 18 years old.

You can name yourself as the registered agent, but it may not be the best idea. If you're worried you might not be available to serve as the point person or might not be able to keep up with important mail, it might be best to outsource this role. There are registered agent services you can use, though they'll come at a cost.

Next, head back to the Secretary of State's website to find the articles of organization that you'll need to file. You can also meet with someone in the department in person or by phone if you prefer.

The exact information you'll have to fill out for the articles of organization will vary by state. Still, you can expect to be asked for basic information like your LLC's name, address, services, and how you expect it to be managed. You'll also need to pay a filing fee.

Keep in mind that the articles of an organization may be called something different, depending on the state. Alabama and Texas, for example, call it a "certificate of formation." Some states also have publication requirements, which means you need to publish an announcement of your new business in a newspaper.

While you'll likely divvy up responsibilities for anyone in your business on your own, you may also be required to do so via an operating agreement. These agreements outline how your business will be run and delegate roles and power to different members. That may include voting procedures, rules around daily operations, and ownership rights within the company.

Only some states require you to create this type of agreement, but it is a good idea to do so even if you don't technically have to.

Opening an LLC may be your first priority, but there are other tasks to take care of during the process, like getting your employer identification number (EIN). An EIN is an identifying number that the IRS will use for tax reasons, but it's not always required for opening an LLC.

You may also want to open a business bank account to ensure you keep your personal and business assets separate for bookkeeping and tax purposes. Plus, look into what exactly you need to keep your LLC active in your state, which may include filing an annual report.

A lot goes into opening and operating your own business, but you don't have to take care of everything on your own. Block Advisors , part of H&R Block, can help you decide which type of business structure is best for you, such as an LLC, and help you open that business. Using an online service to incorporate your business will help ensure that you submit all of the necessary paperwork required in your state of incorporation. This could save you time now and headaches later.

With Block Advisors, you're not on your own once your business is up and running. The service provides tax help, including filing your taxes with a professional or on your own with help from a live expert. You can also opt for one of its bookkeeping services , which range from a step-by-step guide to doing your own bookkeeping to working with your own dedicated accountant.

If you're looking to scale, Block Advisors also offers payroll services, which help you pay your employees each pay cycle and can make sure you stay compliant. There are three tiers to choose from — the basic service comes with a dedicated accountant, up to the premium service, which includes timekeeping, human resources assistance, and more.

*This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. You may want to seek the advice of an attorney to evaluate all relevant considerations in forming a business entity. 

**Block Advisors discount may not be combined with any other offer or promotion. Void if transferred and where prohibited. Discount will appear in your cart automatically when you use the link. No cash value. Expires June 30, 2024.

Watch: AI expert explains how to incorporate generative AI into your business strategy

• Main content

A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Garden

Published on April 26, 2024

If you’re ready to be a plant parent, this guide will help you start your own grassroots movement.

Whether you want a tropical escape in your backyard or a vegetable garden so you can enjoy more organic, farm-to-table meals, a garden is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s a place where the soil under your feet holds the promise of lush landscapes and harvests. If you're a gardening newbie looking to earn green thumb status, dig in and uncover the basics of cultivating your own backyard paradise.

Where Should Gardening Novices Begin?

So, you've got the gardening bug, but you're not quite sure where to start. First, you’ll need to stock up on the essential tools of the trade and pinpoint the easiest gardens to nurture.

Gardening Tools for Beginners

The main must-haves include:

• A shovel or some sturdy trowels to help you transplant seedlings or dig up weeds. Look for a stainless-steel trowel with a comfortable handle.
• Durable gloves that fit well and are made from protective, water-resistant material.
• A watering can that's lightweight and easy to carry. Metal cans are more durable, but plastic can be lighter and less expensive.
• A handy pair of bypass pruners to help you trim and perfect your plants.

Over time you may add kitchen shears, soil knives, sieves, and other items to your gardening arsenal. Don't forget a good quality soil mix and some fertilizer to give your plants a healthy start.

Types of Gardens to Plant

Now that you're armed with the right tools, it's time to choose your gardening adventure. Much like when you begin landscaping, you’ll need to decide on a planting method that makes sense for your space. Here are some starter ideas:

• Raised garden beds: This option allows growing plants to be in soil higher than ground level. Most people use wooden frames to create raised garden beds for better soil drainage and fewer pests. Building raised beds takes time and money. However, they make sense if you're less mobile or have back pain and want your garden to be more accessible. Costs for a garden bed vary greatly. They will depend on factors like size, your choice to either buy a kit or build from scratch, and the decision about whether to DIY or hire help. Expect to pay $250 to $350 for the materials to build a wooden raised garden bed that’s 5 by 12 by 1 square feet, not including soil, seeds, and starter plants.
• In-ground gardens: Growing your plants directly in your yard soil without beds and containers means you'll deal with more pests and potential soil issues. However, you may use less water and spend less because you won't need to design and build garden beds.
• Container garden: These are a low maintenance option especially suited to beginners. Growing plants in pots or grow bags is a manageable way to dip your toes into gardening without feeling overwhelmed. A bonus is that it's great for people with space constraints.

7 Gardening Steps for Beginners

You've sorted out your tools and type of garden plot, so let's break down the steps to starting your own garden.

#1 Consider How Much Sunlight Your Yard Gets

Sunlight is the lifeblood of any garden, so it's essential to assess how much sunshine your outdoor space gets throughout the day. Take note of shady spots and sun-drenched patches to tailor your plant selection accordingly. Different plants need different amounts of sunlight, so you'll want photosensitive plants for the shadier spots and sun-loving ones for bright, sunny areas.

Understanding the play of sun and shade in your yard may require a little extra work. Consider keeping a journal that tracks sunlight patterns in your yard every two hours. Or draw a rough map of your yard and mark the movement of sun and shadow across the space every two hours throughout the day. Apps are also available to make it a breeze to plan, track, and access key info about your garden.

Plants usually require one of the following:

• Full sun: Six or more hours of direct sunlight
• Partial sun: Four to six hours of direct sun
• Partial shade: One and a half hours to four hours of direct sun
• Full shade: Less than one and a half hours of direct sun

A gardening expert at your local nursery can help you identify the plants that can thrive best in different parts of your yard based on your light map or journal.

#2 Identify the Type of Garden You Want

Now comes the fun part – deciding what kind of garden speaks to your green soul. Whether you're dreaming of a bountiful vegetable patch, a fragrant herb garden, or a plot of colorful blooms, there's a garden style for every taste and temperament. Here are a few options to consider:

• Herb garden: Most herbs grow well in containers or small gardening beds. Herbs like basil, mint, chives, and parsley are easy to grow. Just think, you can save on the cost of buying fresh herbs at the farmer's market or grocery store.
• Vegetable garden: Bell peppers, cucumber, zucchini, and peas are among the easiest-to-grow vegetables. Harvesting your own fresh produce will help your family eat more veggies and feel incredibly rewarding.
• Native plants: Native gardening not only promotes biodiversity but may also require less water and keep you from overdoing or even eliminate use of pesticides and fertilizers. You may need to get help from a local gardening expert to understand which local plants are the best fit.

There's also landscaping and design to consider. A beautiful formal garden could add serious curb appeal to your home, but you may love the splash of colors and textures of a cottage garden.

#3 Test and Optimize Your Garden Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden, so it's worth investing some time in testing and amending your soil. Container gardeners may skip this step, but in-ground gardeners can't afford to. You can buy a soil testing kit or have a soil test done by your local extension service. Collecting soil samples is easy, and most testing services are convenient and affordable. Getting your results may take a few weeks, though (depending on wait times at your testing center). Testing will help you determine your soil's pH and nutrient levels so you can choose the right plants and fertilize your soil properly.

Typically, the pH range you want is 6.0 to 7.4 so if your soil is within this range, you don't need to adjust the soil pH. If your test shows your soil pH is over 7.2 or below 5.5, you can take corrective measures.

• To raise soil pH: You can use agricultural lime which is usually available as a powder, granules or pellets. Baking soda also works to increase soil pH though the process is slower.
• To decrease soil pH: Sulfur, iron sulfate or aluminum sulfate can all help reduce soil pH.

Adjusting the soil pH may be too complex a project for beginning gardeners. If you suspect your yard needs a soil pH adjustment, consider getting help from a professional gardener or landscaping expert.

#4 Select Your Plants

With your soil prepped and your garden vision in mind, it's time to choose your plant babies. Your yard’s sun exposure and your preferred type of garden should be at the forefront of your decision-making process but you’ll also need to consider the climate , soil, and water requirements. Identifying the right plants for your garden can be tough at first, but it's easy to research the best plants for your yard online or talk to experts at your local nursery. Whether you're starting from seed or picking up seedlings, opt for varieties that are well-suited to your hardiness zone and growing conditions .

#5 Start Planting

It's finally time to get your hands dirty and start planting! When you're gently transplanting seedlings, take time to nestle each plant into its new home with care and attention. Read transplanting tips for your plants to identify how deep the roots need to be buried, the right time to transplant, and the right techniques. Water slowly and gently after transplanting and make sure no roots are exposed.

#6 Mulch Your Garden

Once your plants are snug in the soil, top things off with a generous layer of mulch to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Here are a few different types of mulch to consider:

• Straw: Look for hollow stalks left over from wheat, barley or rye harvests. Hay may contain dried weeds and their seeds which could pose a problem.
• Wood bark: Bark mulch is more durable than wood chips and can last up to 10 years.
• Pine needles: Pine straw is a light mulch that helps insulate the soil and stabilizes the soil temperature.
• Leaves: If you have trees in your yard, shredding fallen leaves (with a leaf shredder) can produce an inexpensive and nutrient-rich mulch.
• Compost: You can easily purchase compost at a nursery or make your own at home using food scraps and trimmings from your garden. Compost returns nutrients to the soil and works well for flower and vegetable garden beds.

#7 Monitor and Maintain Your Garden

Congratulations, you're officially a gardener! But your green journey doesn't end here. – Nnow it's time to roll up your sleeves and tend to your garden with love and care. Keep an eye out for pests and signs of diseases like leaf discoloration, holes, or wilt; water regularly; and stay on top of any necessary pruning or fertilizing to keep your garden looking its best. Regularly check for wilting plants, sudden death or discoloration of leaves, spots, powdery residue, and uncharacteristically small leaves. These could be signs of plant disease, pests, or improper care.

Planting Your Garden Successfully

While the steps listed above will help new gardeners get started, later success comes from consistency. You'll need to care for your garden regularly, observe how your plants change and grow, and use your app to keep track of any problems. Over time, you'll gain more confidence in your gardening skills and learn which plants work best for your location and lifestyle. Like most hobbies, gardening involves some trial and error. You may learn that some plants don't grow well in your yard or soil and that you should watch for certain pests. As your knowledge grows, so can your garden.

And there you have it: a beginner's guide to cultivating your own little slice of paradise. So, grab your shovel, embrace the dirt under your nails, and get growing! Happy gardening!

• Yard & Patio

Exclusive-Country Garden Plans to Present Debt Revamp Plan in Second Half, Sources Say

FILE PHOTO: A view of an under-construction residential development by Country Garden in Shanghai, China February 29, 2024. REUTERS/Nicoco Chan/File Photo

By Clare Jim and Xie Yu

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Country Garden has told some of its offshore creditors it plans to present a debt restructuring proposal in the second half of this year, two sources said, as the embattled developer scrambles to stave off a liquidation petition.

China's biggest private developer defaulted on its $11 billion worth of offshore bonds late last year and is facing a liquidation petition in Hong Kong for non-payment of a $205 million loan. The first court hearing has been set for May 17.

A growing list of Chinese developers has defaulted on their repayment obligations since the sector slipped into an unprecedented debt crisis in mid-2021, and a handful have been ordered to be liquidated by courts so far.

China Evergrande Group was ordered to be liquidated in late January by a Hong Kong court after it failed to offer a concrete restructuring plan to creditors more than two years after defaulting on its offshore debt.

If Country Garden is able to present a debt restructuring proposal to its offshore creditors and get their approval for implementing it, it would help the developer push back against the liquidation petition.

A liquidation order against Country Garden would worsen the outlook for China's property sector, which has lurched from one crisis to another over the last couple of years after a regulatory crackdown on high leverage among developers.

Country Garden aimed to present a preliminary restructuring proposal to an ad hoc group of bondholders as early as June for negotiation, and publish it to the wider list of creditors in the third quarter, one of the people said.

The company is conducting due diligence on its business health, which is required for working on any restructuring proposal.

Country Garden's creditors, including a bank lender group, are now reviewing data and information provided to them, but formal negotiations on restructuring terms have not started, said the sources and two separate sources, who declined to be named because the conversations were private.

Country Garden did not comment on the proposal timeline, but said it was working with the creditor groups and their advisors in a fair manner. Together with the key bondholder and lender groups, it hoped to finish due diligence as soon as possible and then start discussion on restructuring terms.

LIQUIDATION SUIT

The liquidation petition against Country Garden ramps up pressure on the developer to come to the negotiating table for debt restructuring talks, some its offshore creditors, advisers, and analysts have said.

In liquidation lawsuits involving defaulted companies, a company needs to convince the court that it was making progress on a debt restructuring plan which would be supported by and acceptable to most of its creditors.

In previous cases in Hong Kong, the court has made a number of adjournments on hearing before a decision was made.

Country Garden has hired Kroll to carry out a liquidation analysis for the liquidation suit, Reuters reported last month, to assess potential recovery rates for creditors that they can present in court.

Its shares in Hong Kong have been suspended since April 2, pending the publication of the 2023 results. The firm delayed results last month saying it needed to collect more information to make appropriate accounting estimates and judgements.

Country Garden said this week that it had won bondholders' approval to further delay payments on three onshore bonds to September, in order to give it more time to raise funds.

(Reporting by Clare Jim and Xie Yu; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Stephen Coates)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

Tags: Hong Kong

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• Property Supplements

Country Garden plans to present debt revamp plan in H2, sources say

It plans to present a preliminary restructuring proposal to an ad hoc group of bondholders as early as June for negotiation

Country Garden has told some of its offshore creditors it plans to present a debt restructuring proposal in the second half of this year, two sources said, as the embattled developer scrambles to stave off a liquidation petition.

China’s biggest private developer defaulted on its US$11 billion worth of offshore bonds late last year and is facing a liquidation petition in Hong Kong for non-payment of a US$205 million loan. The first court hearing has been set for May 17.

A growing list of Chinese developers has defaulted on their repayment obligations since the sector slipped into an unprecedented debt crisis in mid-2021, and a handful have been ordered to be liquidated by courts so far.

China Evergrande Group was ordered to be liquidated in late January by a Hong Kong court after it failed to offer a concrete restructuring plan to creditors more than two years after defaulting on its offshore debt.

If Country Garden is able to present a debt restructuring proposal to its offshore creditors and get their approval for implementing it, it would help the developer push back against the liquidation petition.

A liquidation order against Country Garden would worsen the outlook for China’s property sector, which has lurched from one crisis to another over the last couple of years after a regulatory crackdown on high leverage among developers.

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Country Garden aimed to present a preliminary restructuring proposal to an ad hoc group of bondholders as early as June for negotiation, and publish it to the wider list of creditors in the third quarter, one of the people said.

The company is conducting due diligence on its business health, which is required for working on any restructuring proposal.

Country Garden’s creditors, including a bank lender group, are now reviewing data and information provided to them, but formal negotiations on restructuring terms have not started, said the sources and two separate sources, who declined to be named because the conversations were private.

Country Garden did not comment on the proposal timeline, but said it was working with the creditor groups and their advisors in a fair manner. Together with the key bondholder and lender groups, it hoped to finish due diligence as soon as possible and then start discussion on restructuring terms.

The liquidation petition against Country Garden ramps up pressure on the developer to come to the negotiating table for debt restructuring talks, some its offshore creditors, advisers, and analysts have said.

In liquidation lawsuits involving defaulted companies, a company needs to convince the court that it was making progress on a debt restructuring plan which would be supported by and acceptable to most of its creditors.

In previous cases in Hong Kong, the court has made a number of adjournments on hearing before a decision was made.

Country Garden has hired Kroll to carry out a liquidation analysis for the liquidation suit, Reuters reported last month, to assess potential recovery rates for creditors that they can present in court.

Its shares in Hong Kong have been suspended since April 2, pending the publication of the 2023 results. The firm delayed results last month saying it needed to collect more information to make appropriate accounting estimates and judgements.

Country Garden said this week that it had won bondholders’ approval to further delay payments on three onshore bonds to September, in order to give it more time to raise funds. REUTERS

KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE

• Country Garden extends bonds to avoid first local default

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Don't bother with copy and paste.

Get this complete sample business plan as a free text document.

Garden Nursery Business Plan

Start your own garden nursery business plan

Rose Petal Nursery

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Rose Petal Nursery is dedicated to providing a quality choice for people looking for plant and garden supplies, as well as serving contractors who need a reliable source of products. Our start-up expenses come to $41,500 which includes the cost of the greenhouses ($38,000) and the cost of rent for the land ($1,000). The start-up costs will be financed entirely by Jim and Dan Forester.

We will offer a wide variety of plants, trees, vegetable plants, along with a selection of garden supplies. Most of the plants we sell will be grown in our greenhouses. With a convenient location Rose Petal Nursery intends to successfully market to the residential customer, as well as contractors and renters.

We would like to see a five to ten percent increase in our customer base each year. Our marketing strategy includes providing a knowledgeable staff, affordable prices, a great location, and top notch customer service.

Rose Petal Nursery has been the dream of owners Jim and Dan Forester for many years, and has been a project in the making for the last five years. Jim and Dan will manage all aspects of operations at Rose Petal Nursery. Dan will oversee the staff and be involved with the ordering of merchandise, while Jim will be responsible for the ordering of the garden supplies and tree stock, as well as the maintenance of the greenhouses.

Rose Petal aims to experience a growth rate of 20% in sales for the second year of operation and build upon that as the company grows. With creative marketing, and a quality choice of plants and garden supplies for our customers Rose Petal Nursery intends to make its presence known in the nursery community.

1.1 Objectives

• Maintain an average gross margin at or above 50%.
• Generate an average of $1,000 of sales each business day of each month.
• Realize an annual growth rate of 10% in Year 2.

1.2 Mission

Rose Petal Nursery is dedicated to providing a wide variety of plants and trees in an aesthetic setting. Customer service is extremely important. We want each customer to have a pleasant shopping experience, and it is the intention of our staff to answer questions with expertise and to offer advice when we feel it is needed.

1.3 Keys to Success

The primary keys to success for the company will be based on the following factors:

• Sell products of the highest quality with excellent customer service and support.
• Retain customers to generate repeat purchases and make referrals.
• Continue to expand daily sales by adding to the variety of plants we sell.
• Communicate with our customers through creative advertising.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Rose Petal Nursery is the dream of brothers Jim and Dan Forester, and has been a project in the making for five years. With an opening date of April of this year, Jim and Dan are seeing the dream of operating a nursery come to fruition. Located on the outskirts of Eugene at 35571 Brookside Rd. Rose Petal Nursery will focus on providing quality bedding, hanging,and vegetable plants, along with a variety of potted trees. Our aim is to serve both residential customers and landscaping contractors. We will also have a variety of garden accessories such as ponds, statues, potting soils, fertilizers, and garden tools. Our start-up requirements will be $100,000.

2.1 Start-up Summary

Our start-up requirements come to $100,000 which includes the first month’s rent of the land for our nursery. The regular rental fee is $1,000 a month. The start-up costs will be financed entirely by Jim and Dan Forester.

2.2 Company Ownership

Jim and Dan Forester are the owners and operators of Rose Petal Nursery. Jim has worked in the nursery industry for over twenty years (with 10 years managing Stoneybrook Nursery). Dan has a degree from Washington State University in agronomy and has worked for the Lane County Extension Agency as a plant specialist advising the local population on the purchase and care of a wide range of plants.

Rose Petal Nursery will offer a wide variety of bedding plants, shrubs, trees, and vegetable plants along with many garden accessories such as fountains, stepping stones, garden tools, fertilizers, and potting soils. Most of the plants will be grown on-site in state-of-the-art greenhouses. Initially though, we will buy full grown plants for our first few months of inventory.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Rose Petal Nursery target market strategy is based on becoming an attractive choice for homeowners and landscape contractors in the greater Eugene/Springfield region. The target markets we are going to pursue are the residential consumers looking for a wide variety of plants and trees to beautify their residences. Landscape contractors will be attracted by competitive prices and a diverse inventory. People will want to shop at our location because of the superior customer service we will provide. Rose Petal Nursery would like to see a five to ten percent increase in customers annually.

4.1 Market Segmentation

The profile of our customer consists of the following geographic and demographic information:

Geographics

• Our immediate geographic market is the greater Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area with a population of 200,000 people.
• A 100 mile geographic area would want our services, as we become a well known nursery.
• The total target market is estimated at 500,000 people.

Demographics

• Male and Female.
• Married and Single.
• Combined annual income in excess of $50,000.
• Age range of 25 to 80 years, with a median age of 40.
• Own their own houses or townhouses valued at over $150,000.
• Most work out of the home by choice in a variety of work environments.

We know the following regarding the profile of the typical resident of the greater Eugene/Springfield area:

• 50% have lived in the area for 10 or more years.
• 30% are between the ages of 30 and 45 years of age.
• 40% have completed some college.
• 30% are professionals and/or business owners, or managers.
• 60% have children living at home.
• 50% own their own residence.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

Our target market is based on becoming a resource for people looking to buy flowers, trees, and garden supplies. Our marketing strategy centers around superior performance in the following areas.

• Customer service
• Large selection and fair pricing
• Quality products

The target markets are separated into three segments; “Residential, Homeowners,” “Commercial Contractors,” and “Renters”. The primary marketing opportunity is selling to these accessible target market segments that focus on the beautification of peoples’ homes and places of business.

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Commercial Contractors — Commercial contractors are important Rose Petal Nursery customers. A consistent inventory, and providing the large quantities contractors need, is important. With prompt and affordable service, contractors will know that they can count on us to meet their needs in a professional manner. Most of the contracting businesses we will service have an annual revenue of at least $50,000 to over $100,000.

Renters — People who do not own their own homes but need flowers and plants to beautify their living spaces make up an important segment of our target market. Many rentals and even apartment complexes have spaces that renters can use to plant gardens. Household income for this group would be in the range of $20,000 to $50,000.

4.3 Industry Analysis

The nursery business is highly competitive, and it is important to maintain a high level of customer service, offer quality products, and give the consumer a wide variety of choices when shopping for plants and trees. Our approach will be to offer a diverse selection of plants, trees, and garden supplies. Exceptional customer service will be important in meeting the needs of our target markets. Healthy plants will be a top priority, and we will display the plants artistically. Plants are a commodity that will always have a market as people consider them to be very important to have around their residences. There are four other nurseries around the greater Lane County area, and we will have to provide top quality service to be succeed.

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

Current local competition includes the following:

• Lone Pine Nursery — Locally owned, and selling a limited variety of plants, shrubs, trees, and garden products to the general public. This nursery is seasonal focusing on spring and summer flowers. They have a very pleasant facility in which to shop, but prices are a little more on average than Rose Petal’s with not a very good selection of trees and shrubs.
• McKenzie Nursery — Locally owned, offers a limited selection of plants and shrubs with the main emphasis on providing fresh produce in the summer months. Seasonal “U-pick” strawberries, blueberries, and apples are available on the property. Their prices are competitive but the location is not convenient for a lot of people, as it is 25 miles out of town.
• Green Thumb Nursery — Locally owned, offering a variety of plants and trees, as well as, a large selection of garden supplies. Green Thumb most closely matches what we have to offer when talking about plants and shrubs, but they do not have a large enough inventory to service some of the large contractors in the area.

Rose Petal Nursery will provide competitive pricing for its products, and will guarantee to match competitors’ prices, but exceptional customer service and product knowledge will make us stand out to our target markets. The size of our inventory and the variety of choices our customers will have when choosing flowers, trees, and shrubs will make Rose Petal Nursery an attractive choice. Our location is very convenient, only 5 minutes outside the city limits.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Our strategy is based on serving our customers with expert service and product knowledge.

• We are building our marketing plan to reach homeowners, renters, and contractors.
• We focus on satisfying the needs of our customers.
• We focus on providing quality plants at affordable prices.

5.1 Sales Strategy

The primary sales strategy includes these factors:

• Exceptional customer service
• Exceptional product knowledge
• Large and varied inventory
• Convenient location.

5.1.1 Sales Forecast

The sales forecast is broken down into two main revenue streams: the general public, and contractors. The sales forecast for the upcoming year is based on a modest growth rate for sales. Being a start-up business we are projecting a growth rate of 20%, hoping our advertising will bring in new customers daily.

5.2 Milestones

The milestones chart is accompanied by a table outlining key activities critical to our success.

5.3 Marketing Strategy

Our marketing strategy is based on becoming an option for contractors and the general public to fill their plant and shrubbery needs. Our marketing strategy is based on superior performance in the following areas:

• Knowledgeable staff
• Affordable prices
• Great location.

5.4 Competitive Edge

Rose Petal Nursery will have one of the most extensive and affordable plant and flower selections in the greater Eugene/Springfield area, and a very knowledgeable staff ready to provide unparallel customer service. Contractors looking for a reliable nursery will find Rose Petal very supportive and easy to work with. The ease and convenience of our location is a very big plus.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Owners Jim and Dan Forester will oversee and manage all aspects of operation at Rose Petal Nursery. Jim will be responsible for the ordering of garden supplies and tree stock as well as the maintenance of the greenhouses. Dan will be responsible for overseeing staff and working with contractors as well as doing some of the ordering of merchandise.

6.1 Personnel Plan

The personnel plan contains two full-time employees and two part-time employees in addition to Jim and Dan Forester. Jim and Dan will both draw $3,500 per month. The two full-time employees will be paid $2,000 per month to begin with and the two part-time employees will make $1,000 a month. Employees will help customers and care for plants as part of their jobs.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The financial plan contains these essential factors:

• A growth rate of 20% in sales for the year 2005, to total in excess of $379,000 in total revenues.
• Average in sales per business day (305 days per year) in excess of $900.00.

Difficulties and Risks

• Slow sales resulting in less-than projected cash flow.
• Overly aggressive and debilitating actions by competitors.
• A parallel entry by a new competitor.
• Sluggish economic conditions.

7.1 Important Assumptions

The following critical assumptions will determine the potential for future success.

• A healthy economy that supports moderate growth in our market.
• Low operating expenses, particularly in the area of buying plants that could be grown on-site.

7.2 Break-even Analysis

The following chart and table summarize our break-even analysis. Our fixed costs will be approximately $14,800 per month at the onset and we expect to reach the break-even point in the third year of operation.

7.3 Projected Profit and Loss

7.4 Projected Cash Flow

The cash flow projections are outlined below. These projections are based on our basic assumptions with revenue generation factors carrying the most significant weight regarding the outcome. We are anticipating that we will have a steadily increasing cash flow as the business continues to grow.

7.5 Projected Balance Sheet

Rose Petal Nursery’s balance sheet is outlined below.

7.6 Business Ratios

Business ratios for the years of this plan are shown below. Industry profile ratios based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code 5193.02, Flowers and Nursery Stock are shown for comparison.

The following will enable us to keep on track. If we fail in any of these areas, we will need to re-evaluate our business model:

• Gross margins at or above 50%.
• Month-to-month annual comparisons indicate an increase of 15% or greater.
• Do not depend on a credit line to meet cash requirements.

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