# Landscaping Business Startup Cost Worksheet: What to Budget For

Landscaping business startup cost worksheet: one-time and monthly cost categories to budget for, with a free calculator for your own quotes.

Source page: https://cheapcheapwebsites.com/small-business-guides/industries/landscaping/startup-cost-worksheet/
Updated: October 6, 2026

Landscaping startup costs center on equipment and transport: mowers, trimmers, blowers, a trailer, a truck that can tow it, and hand tools. Insurance, licensing, fuel and maintenance follow. For pricing, track cost per hour of equipment and labor, because a commercial mower and crew have a real hourly cost even when they are idle.

## Equipment cost per hour

Divide the cost of a mower by the hours you expect to use it over its life, then add fuel and maintenance per hour. Add crew wages and overhead. This gives a cost per crew-hour that your prices must exceed.

| Item | Formula |
| Equipment | purchase price ÷ expected lifetime hours |
| Fuel and maintenance | monthly spend ÷ hours used |
| Labor | wage × crew size |
| Overhead | insurance + vehicle + software ÷ hours |

## Buy, rent or finance

- Buy core mowers and trimmers you use daily
- Rent specialty equipment like aerators at first
- Compare dealer service plans before buying

## Off-season cash planning

In many climates revenue drops in winter while truck payments and insurance continue. Set aside cash during peak months or add winter services to cover fixed costs.

## Itemized budget lines

| Line | What it covers | Source for a real number |
| Commercial mower | Main revenue equipment | Dealer quote |
| Handheld equipment | Trimmers, edgers, blowers | Dealer bundle |
| Trailer | Open or enclosed | Dealer quote |
| Tow vehicle | Truck with capacity | Vehicle quote |
| Hand tools | Rakes, shovels, pruners | Supply list |
| Insurance | Liability, auto, equipment | Agent quote |
| Licensing | Applicator certification if needed | State fee schedule |
| Fuel and maintenance | Weekly operating cost | Logs |
| Software | Scheduling, invoicing | Monthly plans |
| Marketing | Website, flyers, signs | Websites from $399 |

## Worked example: per-visit pricing

Tomas times his mowing visits and finds a typical lot takes a certain number of minutes including trimming, edging and blowing. He adds drive time between stops, fuel, equipment wear, insurance share and his target pay per hour, then sets per-visit prices by lot size. Corner lots, steep slopes and gated backyards get adjustments. He reviews pricing each winter.

## Costs owners forget

- Blade sharpening and replacement
- Trailer tires and maintenance
- Dump fees for debris
- Equipment repairs mid-season

## One-time costs

| Item | Your quote |
| Equipment | $ ______ |
| Truck and trailer | $ ______ |
| Registration and licenses | $ ______ |
| Website build and domain | $ ______ |

## Monthly costs

| Item | Your quote |
| Fuel | $ ______ / month |
| Equipment maintenance | $ ______ / month |
| Insurance | $ ______ / month |
| Disposal fees | $ ______ / month |
| Software | $ ______ / month |
| Website care | $ ______ / month |

## Free tools

Startup cost calculator · Break-even worksheet

## Common questions

### What is the biggest startup cost?

Usually the commercial mower, trailer and tow vehicle.

### Should I buy used mowers?

Used commercial mowers can work if service history is clear.

### How do I budget fuel?

Track gallons per route per week and update monthly.

## Sources

- SBA: Calculate your startup costs: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/calculate-your-startup-costs

Websites from $399 with domain included: https://cheapcheapwebsites.com/products