Residential lawn irrigation installer

Homeowners with new or established lawns, new-build buyers, landscapers who subcontract irrigation work, and property managers of small residential complexes.

A fixed quote per installation based on the number of zones and the size of the property, plus flat fees for seasonal start-ups, winterizing and repairs.

• Basic plumbing and digging skills
• Reading a site and planning zones
• Clear quoting and customer service
• Comfortable with physical outdoor work

• Check whether your province or municipality requires a plumbing or irrigation licence, or a backflow prevention certification
• Backflow preventers often must be installed and tested by a certified person, so check local rules
• Call before you dig: arrange utility locates for buried gas, power and water lines before any trenching
• Commercial general liability insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire help (rules vary by province)
• Work is seasonal in most of Canada, so plan cash flow for the winter months and local watering restrictions
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $4,000 to $18,000, depending on your equipment, vehicle and the size of jobs you take on. Check insurance and any required certification as part of your budget.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many installs and services you book. Work is seasonal in most of Canada, so plan cash flow for the winter months.

Check whether your province or municipality requires a plumbing or irrigation licence or backflow prevention certification. Also arrange utility locates before digging, check insurance and WCB/WSIB if you hire, and GST/HST registration once past the small supplier threshold.