Want to explore how to start a lawn care business with no money? It’s possible and it might even be easier than you think.
That said, you’ll want to know where to get started, how much it’ll cost, and have a good vision for what growth looks like.
In this article, we’ll show you all the insider tips and proven tools you need to discover how to start a lawn care business with no money by:
Although you might dream of growing quickly, it's important to start at the right pace. And honestly, that doesn’t mean spending a ton of cash upfront.
The early days are all about learning the right lessons and building your business. This is your time to:
Despite what you may have seen from influencers, you don't need expensive, top-of-the-line equipment to get started.
Save up or set aside some money to buy an affordable lawn mower to begin. Many successful lawn care businesses started with just a push mower and basic tools!
Start solo with 2-3 simple lawn care services you can master, and then expand from there.
What's in a name? It's the first thing every client sees about you.
In fact, every dollar you spend on marketing will include your business name. It's something you're going to think about every day for the life of your lawn care business.
And while naming your business is incredibly important, don't overthink it.
Your business name should be simple. If a client has to think about your clever pun to figure out that you perform lawn maintenance services, your name is too complicated.
Names DO NOT need to be:
You want to pick 2-3 words that you will own in your market. These should be words related to your service. When you have some words in mind, check to see if a domain name with those words and your city is available (e.g., "ClassyMowingDallas.com").
One of the first steps in how to start a lawn care business with no money is picking a good name.
Remember, your business name is how your leads and clients will discover your business. Since you'll need to register your business name and create a website, it's important to choose a business name that's not already in use.
Take a look at a few basic things to keep in mind:
Operating a legitimate business means taking some extra steps to ensure long-term success:
If you’re just starting your journey on how to start a lawn care business with no money, then you might be considering where you can cut costs.
However, even if cash is tight, you shouldn’t skip insurance. With a little research, there are some ways to find affordable coverage.
Don’t forget, compare multiple quotes online before deciding in order to get the best rate. Business insurance brokers are a great resource for this!
Your equipment is the heart of your lawn and landscape business, which is why investing in the right equipment is vital to your service quality and long-term success.
While you might not be thinking of standardizing fleets just yet, it’s important to choose vehicles and equipment with nearby dealers in mind.
In turn, standardizing your fleets of vehicles and equipment allows you to:
Remember, a great brand is useless to your business if you can’t quickly get it serviced 15 minutes from your shop or storage unit.
By choosing a brand that your local dealer readily services, you can reduce the chances of getting behind on jobs that result in lost profits due to long service wait times.
When exploring how to start a lawn care business with no money, it's crucial to know how to set your prices for maximum profit.
Remember, in order to scale in the future and begin hiring employees, you'll need a comfortable profit margin.
Take a look at a few basic things to keep in mind when setting your prices:
By the way, did you know that you can easily track time spent on jobs by using Service Autopilot while on the go?
Plus, Service Autopilot also allows you to:
Instant invoicing
Better scheduling
Manage your clients and employees all in one system
Can you leverage the power of free marketing when it comes down to how to start a lawn care business?
The truth is, there are lots of great strategies that you can use to get the word out about your business.
Your first 5 clients are the hardest to get, but each one can lead to more through word-of-mouth.
As you're discovering how to start a lawn care business with no money, it's important to leave room for marketing expenses in your budget.
By far, marketing is one of the best ways to quickly win clients, take over entire neighborhoods, and beat the local competition.
Take a look at a few simple ways you can start marketing your business:
You don't need a lot of money to look professional. Tech is advancing fast, and using the right tools can help you start out on the right foot.
Pro Tip: A professional-looking website is the best path. There are lots of services (Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, etc.) that you can use to get your site up quickly without a lot of tech experience.
You DESERVE the best lawn care software that’s going to work as hard as you do for your business.
You need software with:
AND so much MORE!
With Service Autopilot, you can automate your everyday tasks with this all-in-one software solution—simultaneously saving you time and money.
No more...
Now, THAT is the power of Service Autopilot.
Now, you know how to start a lawn care business with no money by doing things like:
Use the pro tips in this article, to start growing your own successful lawn care business today!
Related: Crafting Lawn Care Packages That Actually Sell
Originally published Feb 15, 2018 7:00 AM, updated May 22, 2025 9:03 AM
Tags: Business Operation
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