How To Start A Grass Cutting Business In South Africa

What is Grass Cutting?

The act of leveling or cutting down grass, grain, etc., with a mowing machine or scythe. the quantity of grass, grain, etc., cut in a specified period.

How To Start A Grass Cutting Business In South Africa

Make a lawn mowing business plan

Most of what you read about planning is not appropriate, complicated and confusing. The lawn mowing business plan you write down on one piece of paper will be suited to focusing your attention on the right type of development path. There will be some simple ideas you can edit and adjust over time.

Start with some work

Buying some lawns is important. You want to hit the ground running, and you want to buy enough that you know you can comfortably service. A common mistake is to buy a fully developed business then struggle to keep up. Clients get disappointed with a drop in service and they haven’t built trust with you, so if you make this mistake, expect to lose some of your client base. If you buy a lawn mowing franchise ask your franchisor to hold some of your clients until you are ‘lawn mowing fit’. Buying a good franchise business will make your first year much more profitable

Pick a trainer and coach

So you think you can mow a lawn, but can you run a lawn mowing business?

My start-up hack is to give away 2-3 weeks with a couple of very capable lawn mowing men.

Yep work for them, for free. The truth is that you will probably be slowing them down in the first week at least. Don’t do 8 hours mowing a day in your first week. Start with 5-6 hours a day for the first week, then only ever a maximum of 6 while you train. Then by the last few days you should be able to do 8 hours fairly comfortably.

Choose the right lawn and garden tools

Most people spend a huge amount of time here and this is almost the easiest part. Choose two mowers, as this seems like a correct balance to start with.

Use your existing clients to build income

While you can go out finding new customer sources, your best resource is your existing client-base. These are the people who will recommend you to their friends and family – a vital marketing tactic. Use all the options you have, whether it’s handing out a few of your business cards, adding a message at the end of your invoice or offering a great referral benefit system.

Collect payment routinely

Payment is one of the most important parts of a contractor and client relationship. Without it, you have no income, yet so many feel awkward discussing it. There are a few things to consider when thinking about payment:

Marketing and growing your lawn mowing business

For a non-franchised business, this is a large task and only a few with some sales or marketing expertise will find this easy. Most people will need to have a suitable plan that will need to be reviewed regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

How do you charge grass cuttings in South Africa?

Ideally, you should charge R300 at the very least, for only grass cutting, charge more if your clients want you to do landscaping and gardening. You can be able to make around R27 000 in a month and very little goes towards operating expenses, which is mainly fuel and your lunch money.

How profitable is a lawn mowing business?

How Much Can You Earn? Many lawn care entrepreneurs earn $5,000 to $50,000 in their first year. And once they’ve been in business a while, they can earn as much as $160,000 to $250,000. So, owning a lawn care business has a lot of profit potential.

How do I get clients for lawn cutting business in South Africa?

Use your existing network.
Offer discounts and referrals.
Claim your Yelp Business Page.
Use your social media channels.
Create print marketing materials.
Create a website.

How much do landscapers charge in South Africa?

The average cost of landscaping is R300. 00 to R500. 00 per square metre.

How much does lawnmower cost?

Typically, lawn care will cost anywhere from $48 to $211. The average cost is about $129. Lawn mowing can run $25 to $150 per week, with a national average of about $45. The price fluctuates depending on the size of the yard, the frequency of mowing, and the services included.

What is cut value in lawn mowing in South Africa?

Broadly speaking, the worth of a Jim’s Mowing business is formulated around the number of regular (consistent) customers multiplied by the amount charged for mowing services and is called the “Cut Value.” A business that is bought with no customers starts from $38k and a business with customers starts from $45k

Is a gardening business profitable?

Gardening can be a profitable business and provide a good work/life balance when managed properly. If you are thinking of starting a career as a self employed gardener, this short and simple guide will help you get a sense of what is involved. To be successful you need to be one of the best!

Can you make money cutting grass?

A lawn mowing business offers anyone that’s fit, honest and hard-working the opportunity to be their own boss and build a profitable business. A lawn mowing business also has low barriers to entry – all you need is a some basic equipment and a way of getting to jobs to be up and running.

Do I need qualifications to be a gardener?

You could do a college course in gardening or horticulture to get some of the knowledge and practical skills needed for this career. Courses include: Level 1 Certificate in Horticulture Skills. Level 2 Diploma in Practical Horticultural Skills.

Are gardeners in demand?

Gardening jobs will always be in demand, nature is the reason for this as things grow and this growth needs to be managed and controlled. Nature itself will not change but how gardeners garden may well change or improve. Tasks may become easier, some jobs could disappear, and new tasks could be created.

Is landscaping expensive in South Africa?

The price largely depends on the landscaper (more experienced designers charge more) and location. The cost of landscaper consultation typically runs from R450 / hour to R650 / hour, averaging at R550 / hour.

How long does it take to become a qualified gardener?

Gardening courses can range from 6 months to a few years depending on the level of expertise you require. More information about gardening qualifications can be found below. Members must prove that they have at least one horticultural qualification at Level 2 or above before being accepted as a member.