How to start a landscaping business

Season: April to November · Typical startup: $100 to $500 (trailer later)

Small landscaping jobs (spring bed cleanups, fresh mulch, trimming hedges, planting) pay far more per hour than mowing, and the same customers book every spring and fall. You can start with tools you already own and a hedge trimmer, then add a trailer when the mulch orders get big. Here is the gear, pricing, and how to fill your spring.

$100 to $500 (trailer later)To get started

$75Typical mulch, installed (per yard)

April to NovemberSeason

The gear and what it costs

Shovels, rakes and a wheelbarrowMost families already own these. Buy a good flat shovel and a bow rake if not.

$0–250

Battery hedge trimmerShaping shrubs is quick, visible work customers notice from the street.

$100–250

Hitch and small trailerLater, once you haul mulch by the yard. Until then, have the supplier deliver.

$600–1,500

What established pros charge

Mulching job, national average · HomeAdvisor	$180
Typical range · HomeAdvisor	$100–$350

National figures from published cost guides, checked November 8, 2026. Local prices vary.

Starting rates for a new business

Spring bed cleanup	$150
Mulch, installed (per yard)	$75
Hedge trimming	$100
Small planting project	$300+

Our suggested starting point for a new business. Price per project. Mulch is quoted by the cubic yard, installed. Compare with the pro figures above, and raise your rates once you have reviews and a full week.

How to find your first customers

In March, post before-and-after photos of a cleaned-up bed in your town's groups: "Booking spring cleanups now."
Offer every mowing customer a spring cleanup and fall mulch. They already trust you.
Realtors need curb appeal before a house is listed. Ask two local agents if they need a crew.
Do one front yard on a busy street really well. Neighbors ask who did it.

Rules to check before you start

Call 811 a few days before any digging deeper than a few inches. It is free, and it marks buried gas, power and water lines.
Applying weed killer or fertilizer for pay needs a pesticide applicator license in most states.
Some cities and counties require a business license, even for a small service business. Check your city or county website before you take payment.
Once you make $400 or more in profit in a year, you owe self-employment tax and need to file a return (IRS). Keep every receipt for gas and gear.
Card payouts need a Stripe account. Stripe requires the account holder to be 18 or older for this kind of account, so a parent or guardian sets it up if you are under 18 (Stripe). Cash works from day one. Venmo, Zelle and Cash App need your own account, and under-18s need a parent to set one up.

Stay busy all year

Add mowing in summer, leaf cleanup in fall and holiday lights in winter, so one customer list pays you all year.

Build your landscaping plan free

Answer a few questions and get your gear list, prices, local demand and a booking page. You only pay $5 to unlock it.

Build my plan →

Questions

How much do landscapers charge for mulch?

HomeAdvisor's 2025 guide puts the average mulching job at $180, with most between $100 and $350, and installation labor at $20 to $60 per cubic yard.

Do I need a license to do landscaping?

Basic cleanups, mulching and planting usually need only a local business license, if any. Spraying weed killer or fertilizer for pay needs a state pesticide license in most states, and some states license larger landscape contractors.

What is the most profitable landscaping work?

Spring and fall cleanups and mulch installs. They are quick, visible, and customers rebook them every year.

Can a teenager start a landscaping business?

Yes. Cleanups, mulching and planting are good first jobs. Wear gloves and eye protection when trimming, and lift mulch bags with your legs. On Launchpad, 13 to 17 year olds sign up with a parent or guardian's agreement.

Sources

Checked November 8, 2026.