Cost Guides · Landscaping
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Landscaping Business?
Plan on $300 to register, a pesticide license if you spray ($250 in Washington, $350 in Colorado), and about $600 for a trimmer and blower before a mower or truck.
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How much does it cost to start a landscaping business?
Starting a landscaping business costs $300 to register, $250 (Washington) to $350 (Colorado) for a pesticide license, and $600 or more for a trimmer and blower before a mower or truck. Liability insurance has no published flat rate; get quotes, not a guess. For the step-by-step, read how to start a landscaping business first.
How much does it cost to register a landscaping business?
Registering is the cheapest startup line, set state by state. Texas publishes a clean example: the Secretary of State’s fee schedule lists the Certificate of Formation for an LLC at $300. Check your own state’s fee.
How much does a landscaping license cost?
Mowing and edging need no pesticide license, though your state may still require a general business license. Spraying a pesticide for pay is a different cost line: a commercial applicator license, priced by the state.
| State | License | Fee | Captured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Commercial Pesticide Applicator license | $350 annual licensure fee | Sept 26, 2026 |
| Washington | Commercial Applicator license | $250 application fee | Sept 26, 2026 |
A mow-and-edge-only startup may never pay this fee. Check your state’s department of agriculture for its exact number.
What does general liability insurance cost to start a landscaping business?
No state publishes a flat general liability rate. Your rate depends on revenue, crew size, and claims history. Get quotes early and budget for it.
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How much does landscaping equipment cost to start?
Many dealers gate mower pricing behind a lookup or a cart. ECHO publishes a list price next to each model below.
| Equipment | Model | MSRP | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas string trimmer | ECHO SRM-2620 | $399.99 | ECHO list price |
| Handheld gas leaf blower | ECHO PB-2520, 25.4 cc | $199.99 | ECHO list price |
| Walk-behind or riding mower | Varies by model | Varies | Ask a dealer |
| Truck and trailer | not published | No static price found | Depends on new or used |
Both prices are ECHO’s list price. A dealer may sell below it.
What do fuel and maintenance cost?
Fuel and maintenance are real costs with no fixed startup figure, and this guide will not invent one. Gas swings by region and week; maintenance depends on hours run. Budget a per-job line instead of a flat monthly guess.
How much do you need to pay a first hire?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this role as Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, code 37-3011. Add payroll tax and insurance before comparing the wage below to a job’s bill rate.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual wage | $42,290 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median annual wage | $39,150 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Mean hourly wage | $20.33 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median hourly wage | $18.82 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| National employment | 952,640 workers | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
That is the wage paid, not the rate billed. Add the employer’s share of Social Security (6.2 percent) and Medicare (1.45 percent), plus unemployment tax and workers’ comp. Then clear the total before adding a person.
How do you finance the startup costs?
Financing equipment, instead of cash, keeps cash free for licensing and payroll. The SBA’s 7(a) program covers equipment: “The maximum loan amount for a 7(a) loan is $5 million.” Apply through a lender.
Starting cost order: what to pay for first
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Register the company before you take a deposit.
Check your state’s filing fee (Texas charges $300 for an LLC) and open an EIN.
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Get licensed if any job involves a pesticide.
Confirm your state’s applicator fee ($250 in Washington, $350 in Colorado).
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Buy or finance only the equipment the first jobs need.
A trimmer and blower alone can run $600 at MSRP; finance a mower or truck through an SBA 7(a) loan.
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Price every job to clear the wage plus insurance.
Use the BLS wage table as the floor, add payroll tax and a liability quote, then hire.
SimplyWise Cost Estimator for landscaping startup costs
SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job-site photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds, with material, labor, and fee lines you can edit. Build fuel and equipment costs into the estimate instead of guessing. It is $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr, about $20/mo on annual, with a 7-day free trial.
Keep reading
Sources
Registration and licensing
- Texas SOS Form 806 fee schedule, 2026-10-29.
- Colorado Dept. of Agriculture, 2026-09-26.
- Washington Dept. of Agriculture, 2026-09-26.
Equipment and wages
- ECHO SRM-2620 Trimmer page, $399.99 MSRP, 2026-09-26.
- ECHO PB-2520 blower page, $199.99 MSRP, 2026-10-29.
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, code 37-3011, 2026-09-26.
- IRS Topic 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates, 2026-10-29.
Financing and product
- SBA 7(a) loans, 2026-09-26.
- SimplyWise Cost Estimator, App Store, 4.8 rating, 2026-09-26.
Frequently asked questions about landscaping startup costs
Registration and licensing costs
How much does it cost to start a landscaping business?
Registration is a state fee (Texas charges $300 for an LLC). A pesticide license costs $250 in Washington and $350 in Colorado. Equipment starts near $600 for a trimmer and blower at MSRP, before a mower or truck, and liability insurance has no published flat rate.
Equipment and insurance costs
How much does landscaping equipment cost to start?
ECHO lists a trimmer at $399.99 and a blower at $199.99. A mower and truck add to that; ask a dealer for those prices.
How much does general liability insurance cost for a landscaping business?
No state Department of Insurance publishes a flat rate. It depends on revenue, crew size, and claims history, so get quotes from an agent instead of a guessed number.
Wages and financing
How much do you need to pay a first landscaping hire?
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (BLS code 37-3011) earn a $42,290 mean annual wage and $39,150 median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Add the employer’s share of Social Security (6.2 percent) and Medicare (1.45 percent), per the IRS, plus unemployment tax and workers’ comp, before comparing that to a job’s bill rate.
Can I get an SBA loan to start a landscaping business?
The SBA’s 7(a) program covers equipment, with a $5 million maximum loan amount. Apply through a lender and finance the mower or truck instead of cash.
Estimating the first jobs
Can I quote a landscaping job from a photo?
Yes. SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job-site photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Every line stays editable.
Turn the startup cost list into your first priced job.
Snap a photo and get an itemized estimate with editable lines. Free to try, then $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr after a 7-day trial.