How Much Does It Cost to Start a Landscaping Business?
Opening a landscaping business typically costs $33,000–$66,000; our worked example comes to $44,867. The largest line is pickup truck (used) — enter 0 if you already own one. Here is every line with the range we found in published prices, what moves it, and what it costs to run each month.
Price your own landscaping businessFree numbers first · $49 for the full planStartup costs, line by line
| Item | Our example | Typical range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup truck (used) — enter 0 if you already own one | $20,000 | $15,000–$33,757 | A reliable used pickup. If you already own one that can tow, this line drops to zero. |
| Utility trailer | $3,500 | $1,000–$4,999 | An open utility trailer sized for your mower, with ramps and tie-downs. |
| Commercial mower | $8,000 | $6,699–$10,549 | The main tool and the main maintenance cost. A used commercial mower with service records saves a lot. |
| Trimmers, blowers and hand tools | $2,000 | $1,360–$2,270 | Trimmers, blowers, edgers, hand tools and hearing and eye protection. |
| LLC filing and registered agent, first year | $350 | $134–$749 | State filing fees vary; a registered agent is required in most states. |
| Licenses and permits budget (confirm with your city and county) | $500 | $59–$500 | A business license, plus a pesticide applicator license if you will treat lawns — check your state agriculture department. |
| Logo, website and printed materials | $800 | $238–$1,038 | Logo, a simple website or booking page, cards and signage. |
| Working capital: 3 months of fixed costs and wages | $9,717 | computed | Cash to carry fixed costs and wages while sales build. Lenders look for it. |
| Total to open | $44,867 | $33,000–$66,000 |
Ranges come from published prices, insurer cost data and trade sources — see every source. The working-capital reserve is 3 months of fixed costs and wages. Replace each line with your own quotes in the calculator below.
Monthly running costs
Once open, a landscaping business has fixed costs that arrive every month and variable costs that rise with every sale.
| Cost | Typical |
|---|---|
| Insurance (liability, commercial auto) | $250 / month |
| Marketing and listings | $300 / month |
| Phone, scheduling and invoicing software | $80 / month |
| Fuel | 4.5% of sales |
| Equipment maintenance | 5% of sales |
| Materials (mulch, plants, seed) | 7.5% of sales |
| Card processing | 3% of sales |
What labor costs by state
Wages for landscaping workers vary widely by state — the national mean was $20.33 an hour in 2025. Highest and lowest:
| Highest | Mean wage |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $24.62 |
| Massachusetts | $24.30 |
| Washington | $23.62 |
| California | $22.80 |
| Vermont | $22.76 |
| Alaska | $22.73 |
| Colorado | $22.52 |
| Minnesota | $22.21 |
| Lowest | Mean wage |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $16.12 |
| West Virginia | $16.29 |
| Louisiana | $16.42 |
| Arkansas | $17.34 |
| Alabama | $17.36 |
| Oklahoma | $17.43 |
| South Dakota | $17.60 |
| South Carolina | $18.04 |
Paying for it
Most owners combine their own cash with a loan. In our example, $10,000 of the owner’s money leaves $34,867 to borrow; over 7 years at 13.50% — the bank prime rate of 7% plus 6.5 points, the SBA’s maximum 7(a) spread for a loan this size — the payment is about $644 a month. Your lender sets the real rate and terms.
Break-even
Covering year-one fixed costs, wages and the loan payment takes about $4,854 in monthly sales — about 3.9 service visits per working day at $60 per service visit.
Your own numbers
Questions
How much does it cost to start a landscaping business?
Typically $33,000–$66,000, based on published prices and cost data for each line; our worked example comes to $44,867, including $9,717 of working capital. The largest line is pickup truck (used) — enter 0 if you already own one ($20,000 in the example).
What are the monthly costs of running a landscaping business?
Fixed costs in our model run $630 a month before wages and loan payments — insurance (liability, commercial auto), marketing and listings, phone, scheduling and invoicing software. Costs that rise with each job add about 20% of every sale.
How can I start a landscaping business for less?
Start with the pickup you already own and a used mower with service records, build mowing routes with stops close together to save fuel and time, and add higher-margin work like mulching or cleanups once you have steady weekly customers.
Can I get a loan to start a landscaping business?
Many owners use equipment loans or small-business loans, usually alongside their own cash. Lenders will want a business plan that shows your costs, a realistic first year and how the payment is covered.
Related
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 — NAICS 561730 (Landscaping Services).
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census — receipts, payroll and employment.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 — Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers.
- Federal Reserve, bank prime loan rate (via FRED).
Figures are computed by Main Street Plans from the published federal files listed above. See how we build our numbers.