Landscaping Tools: 3 Tips for Running Your Landscaping Business

Estimating the cost of jobs correctly is critical if your landscaping business is to stay profitable. While your skill at scoping jobs gets better with experience, knowing how to estimate costs early on gives you a leg up on the competition and helps build a loyal clientele.

When asked to quote, find out everything you can about the job and the potential client’s expectations. Make sure to visit the jobsite so you can apply your expertise and help the client consider things they may not have thought about. Factor the cost of labour and materials into your estimate, and give yourself room in the budget for unexpected costs.

Most landscaping businesses use three kinds of contracts:

• Fixed price: A single quote is given, and the client makes one payment. You risk losing money if costs are underestimated.
  
  
• Cost plus: The client agrees to cover all costs plus your profit.
  
  
• Time and materials: This type of contract is used when the scope is unclear or when the client wants to keep the scope open.

Create a contract that minimizes risk and ensures you’re compensated properly.

You need to own your core equipment, but specialized landscaping tools that aren’t required for every job, such as stump grinders, can be rented. This will ensure you have the equipment when you need it (and can take on a wider variety of jobs), but you won’t have to pay for maintenance and storage of machines and attachments you don’t use frequently.

Renting also gives you access to the latest technology, which can help you improve productivity and profitability, as well as safety. Harnessing the power of technology will boost your efficiency and allow you to take on more projects.

Take the time to look at your upcoming projects and think about the landscaping tools that will help you complete them efficiently. When will you need each piece of equipment and for how long? If you’re not sure, or if you’re ready to put a rental agreement in place, give us a call or visit Rental Point, the online platform for The Cat^® Rental Store.

Running your own landscaping company is both challenging and rewarding. With the right landscaping tools and some business know-how, you’ll be ready to spring into another season of success.

Finning is the world's largest Caterpillar dealer, selling, renting and providing parts and service for equipment and engines to customers across diverse industries, including mining, construction, petroleum, forestry and a wide range of power systems applications. We operate in Western Canada, South America, and UK and Ireland.