How To Write a Lawn Care & Landscaping Business Plan (+Free Template)

Starting a landscaping company takes more than a truck, tools, and good word of mouth. You need a clear plan for the services you’ll offer, how you’ll price them, the equipment you’ll need, and how money will flow in and out. A solid business plan gives you that structure so you can grow with purpose, not guesswork.​​

This guide walks you through how to write a landscaping business plan step by step. You’ll learn what to include in each section, how to map out your services, and ways to use landscaping and lawn care software to keep your jobs, crews, and cash flow organized from the first estimate to the final invoice.

→ Want a quick start? Download our small business plan template with easy customization and a printable report.

What to include in your landscaping business plan

A good landscaping business plan doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to give you a clear roadmap for running, pricing, marketing, and growing your business. Here’s a straightforward outline of what to include; we’ll walk you through each step in more detail below.

Step 1: Cover page and table of contents

Start with a clean, professional cover page. It sets the tone for your plan and gives lenders, partners, or even future hires a snapshot of who you are and what you do. Keep it simple and to the point. 

It should include:

• Your business name and logo
• Your name and role
• Contact information (phone, email, website)
• Your service area
• The date you created or last updated the plan

Follow this cover page with a table of contents so readers can quickly find the sections they need, like the service list or market analysis. Keep both pages simple and organized so the rest of your plan is easy to navigate.

Step 2: Executive summary

The executive summary is your elevator pitch. Keep it short and focused on what you do, who you serve, and where you’re headed. Investors and lenders often read this section first, so aim for clarity over detail (you’ll expand on each point in later sections).

Use this section to summarize your:

• Mission statement: What your business stands for and the type of work you specialize in (for example, “Providing reliable, eco-friendly lawn care to homeowners in Austin”).
• Service offerings: A quick look at the main landscaping projects, lawn care maintenance, and any specialty services you provide.
• Company goals: A high-level idea of where you want the business to be in 1, 3, and 5 years. 
• Competitive advantage: What makes you different? Maybe it’s your experience, response time, specialized equipment, or design expertise.

Pro tip: Although it appears first, write your executive summary last so you can pull key points from the rest of the document.

Step 3: Business overview

Your business overview explains how your landscaping company is set up and how it operates. It tells the reader who owns the business, where you work, and how you’ve structured things to deliver reliable service. 

In this section, include baseline details like:

• Business structure: Your business history (if any) and your legal structure. Note whether you’re a sole proprietor, LLC, or something else. Many landscaping pros choose an LLC to separate their personal assets from business liabilities.
• Ownership: Who owns the business and what each owner handles in day‑to‑day operations. If you’re a solo owner-operator, explain your background and any relevant experience. 
• Service area: The neighborhoods, cities, or regions you serve.
• Location: Where your business is based, whether you operate from a home office, leased yard, or dedicated shop.
• Licensing and legal requirements: Any local permits, contractor registrations, pesticide or chemical application certifications, or insurance requirements you maintain to legally operate.

Step 4: Management team

Introduce the people responsible for running the business day to day. Even if you’re starting solo, it’s important to include because it shows lenders, partners, and future employees who’s leading the company and what experience you bring. 

It should cover:

• Owners and key leaders: List names, roles, and management areas (sales, field operations, finance, etc.).
• Experience and qualifications: Highlight relevant trade experience, certifications, or specialties (like horticulture knowledge, chemical application training, lawn treatment expertise, irrigation, or hardscape skills).
• Responsibilities: Outline who handles scheduling, estimates, customer service, jobsite supervision, and crew management.

If you’re a one‑person operation, use this space to highlight your background, strengths, and the roles you plan to delegate as the business grows. This shows you’re thinking ahead about leadership and growth, not just the work in front of you.

Step 5: Landscaping services list

This section explains exactly what services you offer and how clients will use and book those services. Landscaping is a broad trade, so clarify whether you focus on recurring maintenance, design-build projects, or both. 

Start with your core landscaping services: things like design, planting, hardscapes, and installations. If you specialize in irrigation, tree work, outdoor lighting, or water features, list those here as well. Include add-on services like landscape refreshes, sod installation, or storm cleanup if applicable. These offerings can help define your niche and set you apart in the local service area. 

Next, outline your recurring services (if you offer them), such as:

• Mowing
• Edging
• Trimming and pruning
• Fertilization
• Weed control
• Aeration
• Seasonal cleanups

Recurring plans like these create predictable cash flow, so call out any packages or service frequencies you plan to offer (weekly, biweekly, monthly, or seasonal visits). That makes it easier for lenders to see how your revenue will repeat.

Pro tip: If you want to make recurring work even easier to manage, you can use Housecall Pro’s Recurring Service Plans to package and sell maintenance plans directly to your customers—no spreadsheets or manual reminders needed.

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Step 6: Operations plan

Your operations plan explains the daily logistics of running the business. Use this section to show you have a clear system for handling projects and lawn care routes without chaos.

Start by outlining workflows for:

• How customers will request a quote (phone, online booking, referrals?)
• How you’ll create and send estimates, then capture approvals
• How you’ll add approved work to your calendar and assign it to crews

Then, explain how you’ll manage crews and field work. Describe how you’ll assign teams to one‑off projects versus recurring maintenance routes, who supervises jobsites, how you’ll prepare materials or equipment, and how you’ll adjust during peak seasons like spring and fall when landscaping demand spikes.

Learn more: What Do Landscapers Do in the Winter? 17 Winter Landscaping Job Ideas

Step 7: Landscaping and lawn care pricing

Lenders want to see that your pricing model is sustainable. Use this section to prove you understand your margins and have a plan to stay profitable as you grow. For project work, that means accounting for labor hours, materials, equipment use, and travel. For lawn care, it often means flat rates or packages for weekly, biweekly, or seasonal maintenance.

Whatever model you use, your structure should reflect the real expenses behind each job and factor in: 

• Crew wages and payroll taxes
• Fuel and travel time
• Equipment maintenance and repairs
• Insurance and licensing
• Disposal or dump fees
• Specialized materials or subcontractors

Some jobs will need custom estimates; others will be predictable enough to price from a rate sheet. To keep calculations simple, use a basic framework:

Total job cost = (labor hours x labor cost) + materials + overhead 

Final price = total job cost + your targeted profit margin

Learn more: How To Price Lawn Care & Mowing Jobs

Step 8: Industry analysis

Use this section to prove you understand the local market and its opportunities. Focus on trends that shape demand, like population growth, new housing developments, seasonal needs, or a shift toward sustainable lawn care.

Describe your main customer groups and what they usually need. Here are some examples:

• Residential clients: Weekly or biweekly lawn care, seasonal cleanups, landscape refreshes, and small installs.
• Commercial properties: Consistent, year‑round grounds maintenance, snow or leaf management (where relevant), and clear communication.
• Specialty customers: HOAs, property managers, or clients needing design, large installs, or higher‑end outdoor living projects.

Finally, explain how you plan to stand out. Whether it’s faster response times, specialized services, or the ability to handle both design and maintenance, show exactly why customers will choose you over the competition.

Step 9: Marketing strategy

Your landscaping marketing strategy explains how you’ll attract and retain customers. A good mix of online visibility, local presence, and steady referrals is usually enough to start. 

Outline the channels you plan to use and what you’ll share. Your strategy might include:

• Keeping your Google Business Profile updated with photos, hours, and service areas (non-negotiable for appearing in local search results).
• Sharing before-and-after photos and project highlights on your website and social pages.
• Collecting customer reviews to build trust and stand out in Google results.
• Running seasonal promotions for cleanups, aeration, or maintenance packages.
• Reaching out directly to HOAs, property managers, or commercial clients.

The goal is to show readers you have a clear, repeatable plan for generating leads—not just hoping word of mouth will be enough.

Pro tip: Housecall Pro’s marketing tools make it easier to stay visible and win repeat work. You can automate review requests, send targeted email campaigns, and even track which marketing efforts bring in the most new customers—all from the same platform you use to run your jobs.

Step 10: Employee planning

Next, explain how you’ll staff your business as it grows. Even if you’re starting solo, it helps to outline which roles you’ll hire first and how those roles support your services.​ A clear hiring plan shows lenders you can maintain quality as demand increases.

Describe the team structure you expect over the next few years, such as:

• Crew leads to manage projects and supervise job sites
• Technicians for lawn care routes
• Specialists for irrigation, hardscapes, tree work, or design, if those are part of your strategy​

Note any plans for hiring seasonal help during busy months and how you’ll train new hires on safety, equipment, and customer service. If your work requires specific certifications (like pesticide application), mention how you’ll handle that training. 

Step 11: Financial planning

Your financial plan lays out what it will take to run your landscape business and keep cash flow steady. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s to give yourself and any lenders a realistic picture of costs, revenue, and profit targets. It should be honest and grounded in real numbers so you can spot any issues early and adjust.​

Walk through it in four parts:

1. List your startup costs. Include costs for equipment, landscaping tools, trailers, licensing, insurance, and any storage or workspace. This sets expectations for what it’ll take to get off the ground.
2. Outline ongoing operating expenses. Add recurring costs like labor, fuel, maintenance, dump fees, marketing, and subscriptions.
3. Project your revenue. Estimate how much you expect to bring in from recurring maintenance routes versus one‑time projects, noting how maintenance creates predictable monthly income and installs add seasonal spikes.
4. Set basic financial goals. Define target profit margins, monthly revenue goals, and a rough break‑even point. A simple table or chart here makes it easier to see if your numbers support sustainable growth.

Step 12: Appendix

Store any documents that support your landscaping business plan here. You might include:

• Copies of licenses and certifications
• Proof of insurance
• Equipment lists
• Resumes or brief bios
• Sample contracts

You can also add photos of past work, design mockups, or worksheets you’ll use to track expenses and revenue. No matter the contents, keep the appendix organized so readers can quickly find what they need.

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How Housecall Pro can help you grow your landscaping business

As your landscaping business grows, keeping up with estimates, routes, and customer requests can eat up valuable hours. Housecall Pro streamlines those tasks so you can focus on completing jobs, supporting your crews, and taking on more profitable work. 

Housecall Pro’s landscaping and lawn care software gives you tools to grow, including:

• Price Book: Build consistent pricing for landscaping projects and recurring lawn care services.
• Estimates and E-Signatures: Send professional estimates, get approvals fast, and keep everything stored with the job. 
• Scheduling: Create efficient routes for weekly or biweekly lawn care and keep your project calendar organized.
• Job Costing: Get the full profit picture on every job by tracking labor, materials, and overhead.
• Online Booking: Let customers request work anytime.
• Invoicing and Card on File: Invoice instantly after a job and automate payments for recurring services.

These tools help you stay organized as your company grows and give customers a smooth, professional experience. Try Housecall Pro free for 14 days to see how it fits into your business.

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