10 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Landscaping Business

Starting a landscaping business is a common path for aspiring entrepreneurs. Every year, many new landscaping companies enter the market, but a large number struggle to survive past the early stages. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, and nearly half don’t make it past year five.

Landscaping can be a great business, it’s hands-on, in demand, and relatively affordable to start. But it’s easy to get tripped up early if you don’t know what to watch out for. This guide will walk you through how to start a landscaping company the right way, while focusing on common mistakes that often sabotage new owners.

Whether you’re just exploring the idea or ready to take the leap, understanding these pitfalls will save you time, money, and stress.

1. Skipping the Planning Stage

One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a landscaping business is diving in without a clear plan. You grab some tools, print a few flyers, and hope for the best. That might get you a couple jobs, but it’s not a strategy.

What you need to start a landscaping business isn’t just equipment. You need a plan that covers:

• Which services you’ll offer
• Who your ideal customers are
• How much you charge
• What your local competition looks like
• How you’ll promote yourself

Even a basic one-page business plan helps you stay focused and avoid wasting money chasing the wrong opportunities.

2. Buying Too Much Gear Upfront

It’s tempting to load up on all the latest tools, riding mowers, power edgers, a truck and trailer combo, but that’s a fast way to burn through your savings.

Start small and build up as the work comes in. Most landscaping companies begin with:

• A reliable push mower
• A string trimmer and blower
• Hand tools (rake, shovel, pruners)
• A decent truck or trailer

You don’t need to impress clients with gear. Impress them with reliability and clean work. Then reinvest your earnings into better equipment as you grow.

3. Underpricing Your Services

When you’re new, it’s easy to underprice just to get your foot in the door. But low prices often attract the wrong type of customers, those who expect cheap work and don’t value your time.

Figure out how long a job will take, what materials cost, and how much you need to earn per hour to stay in business. Don’t forget about gas, maintenance, insurance, and taxes. Look at what other local landscaping businesses charge and stay competitive, but don’t race to the bottom.

It’s better to lose a few price-shoppers than to work all day for almost nothing.

4. Not Registering Your Business Properly

Another common mistake: skipping the legal stuff. You might think you can start mowing lawns without paperwork, but that can lead to fines, lawsuits, or tax problems later on.

Here’s what to do before taking on clients:

• Choose a business structure (LLC is a good choice for beginners)
• Register your business name
• Get a business license from your city or county
• Apply for an EIN if you’ll open a business bank account or hire workers
• Get any required landscaping or pesticide licenses in your state

Getting legal protects you, makes you look more professional, and opens doors to commercial clients.

5. Mixing Personal and Business Money

If you’re swiping the same card for groceries and mulch, it’s going to be a nightmare come tax season.

Set up a separate business checking account right away. Track all income and expenses. Use simple accounting software like Wave or QuickBooks. You’ll thank yourself later when it’s time to file taxes or apply for financing.

Also, don’t forget to set aside money for taxes, about 25–30% of your profit is a safe estimate.

6. Ignoring Insurance

Skipping insurance is one of those things you’ll regret only after something goes wrong. A rock from your mower breaks a window? Someone trips on your tools? That’s all on you without coverage.

At minimum, get general liability insurance. You may also need:

• Commercial vehicle insurance
• Equipment coverage
• Workers’ comp if you hire help

Even if it seems like an extra expense, it’s cheaper than paying out-of-pocket for an accident or lawsuit.

7. Offering Too Many Services at First

When you’re figuring out how to start a landscaping company, it’s smart to stay focused. Some new business owners try to offer everything, mowing, mulching, hardscaping, irrigation, tree removal, from day one. It spreads you too thin.

Instead, pick 2–3 core services you can do really well. Most successful landscaping businesses start with mowing, trimming, and seasonal cleanups. Expand once you have the experience, tools, and customer base to support it.

8. Not Marketing Consistently

Many landscapers rely only on word of mouth. That’s fine once you’re established, but when you’re new, you need to be visible.

Here’s what you should do:

• Set up a Google Business Profile
• Build a basic website with your services and contact info
• Ask happy clients for reviews
• Use social media (Facebook, Instagram) to share photos of your work
• Print simple flyers or door hangers for your neighborhood
• Join local Facebook or Nextdoor groups

You don’t need to spend big. You just need to show up where people are already looking for local services.

9. Poor Time Management

Running a landscaping business means juggling clients, jobs, supplies, and scheduling. If you’re always late, forgetting tools, or overbooking yourself, clients will notice, and stop calling.

Use a calendar app or job scheduling tool. Keep track of recurring jobs. Text clients to confirm appointments. Simple systems help you look more professional and reduce stress.

10. Taking On Every Job

In the beginning, you might say yes to everything, yard overhauls, junk removal, 60-mile drives, but it’s not always worth it. Some jobs eat up your time, kill your margins, or burn you out.

Know your limits. It’s okay to turn down work that doesn’t fit your services, pay rate, or schedule. Saying “no” can actually help your business grow faster by keeping your time focused on profitable jobs.

Think Bigger Than Yard Work

Building a landscaping business is about more than just yard work and basic maintenance. It’s about building something that lasts, and that takes more than hard work. The truth is, most of the challenges you’ll face won’t come from the work itself, but from the decisions you make early on. The habits you build now, how you price, plan, and prioritize, will shape the kind of business you end up running a year from now.

You don’t need to be perfect out the gate. But you do need to stay sharp, stay humble, and stay flexible. The landscaping industry rewards consistency more than flash. Show up, do solid work, learn from your mistakes, and don’t let pride get in the way of progress. If you can do that, you’re already ahead of most who try and fail.

Starting smart beats starting fast. And that mindset will take your landscaping company further than any piece of equipment ever could.