Starting any type of business is always a demanding but hugely rewarding experience. This is especially true if the sector you are operating in is a billion-dollar industry, like landscaping.
In 2021, the lawn care industry was estimated to be worth around USD$105 billion. Additionally, it’s estimated that the industry employs around a million people. This only goes to show how in demand these services are. (3)
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can ensure your business remains competitive. Utilizing professional digital tools and establishing the right pricing strategy, establishing and maintaining your reputation, being at the forefront of the latest industry trends and streamlining internal business processes, are all important factors that will contribute to the success of your business.
To give you an overview, here are some standard best practices you should apply when running a lawn care business:
1. Have a Plan
Like any business, it’s always best to formulate a business plan. This should include all crucial elements, like market analysis, marketing techniques to find paying customers, financial data, key strategies, and company strategy and objectives.
This plan will help your company stay on the right track and remind you why you are doing what you’re doing. Additionally, don’t forget to have a good vision and mission statement, too. (1)
Write down all of the things you wish to include in your business plan––jot them down in physical or digital format. Doing so will help you organize your thoughts as well as rule out any irrelevant ideas that may come to mind. Moreover, writing down your plans will allow you to discover new ideas that are essential in the success of your new business.
2. Use Business Software
Lawn care business software, like the one Jobber offers, will help you and your staff have a more coordinated form of communication, which is vital since lawn care services typically involve team members going out to visit various locations.
Industry specific software like this can also be used to efficiently organize clients’ information as well as automatically generate quotes and invoices, eliminating the long admin time it usually takes to do this manually.
Furthermore, lawn care business software is also great for tracking your staff’s time, which means that team members no longer have to visit the office to clock in and out as they can do it using their mobile devices.
Your team can also use the system to schedule callbacks and future jobs, ensuring that there won’t be any conflicts in your calendar, which, in turn, helps you avoid booking two clients in the same hour, boosting your business and effectively elevating your customer satisfaction.
3. Continually Update Your Knowledge on Landscaping
Even if you’re starting new to the industry, solid investment in learning and development will ensure you can compete effectively in the marketplace. Customers will learn to trust you if you are professional and invest in training for your staff members, some of whom may express an interest to specialise in a certain area. To be at the forefront of new trends, innovations and ideas, will set you apart from your competitors.
You can do this through online or hands-on courses, or by setting aside regular time to keep abreast of industry news. The level of service you will be able to provide will be enhanced as a result, which will have a direct impact on your customer satisfaction. As with any business, more satisfied customers facilitate more sales by word-of-mouth referrals and positive reviews.
4. Generate Brand Recognition
As mentioned earlier, since the lawn care industry is a billion-dollar sector, it’s safe to assume that you may not be the only service provider in your locality. To make sure that customers choose your business over others, it’s important to differentiate your company from the rest. One of the techniques used to do this is brand recognition. (3)
As a part of your branding efforts, make sure to create and use an eye-catching and memorable name and logo. Additionally, your logo should have a good color scheme that reflects your company offering. A consistent use of font is also advised. This way, customers will subconsciously be reminded of your company when they see your logo, with associated colors and text. (2)
Final Words
Starting a business in any industry is always a daunting task. Fortunately, the best practices mentioned above will ensure that you’re on the right track.
However, don’t expect that your lawn care business will achieve success overnight. It takes time and patience to be a major player in this billion-dollar industry, so always remain consistent in your efforts and make sure that you’re always updated on the latest trends.
References
- “How to Start a Lawn Care Business – Latest Guide for Entrepreneurs”, Source: https://www.apurple.co/how-to-start-a-lawn-care-business/
- “How To Grow Your Lawn Care Business”, Source” https://lawnlove.com/blog/how-to-grow-your-lawn-care-business/
- “Landscape Industry Statistics”, Source: https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/LP/About/Industry-Statistics/LP/Media/landscape-industry-statistics.aspx#:~:text=Size%20of%20the%20Industry,of%204.9%20percent%20from%202020
