Lawn mowing round

Busy households, older homeowners, landlords and letting agents who want lawns kept tidy without doing it themselves.

Fixed price per visit based on lawn size, usually weekly or fortnightly from spring to autumn. A tight round of nearby gardens means more visits per day.

• Comfortable with outdoor physical work
• Safe use of mowers and strimmers
• Reliable and good at route planning

• Public liability insurance, and check whether your policy covers powered tools
• Disposing of grass cuttings: check council rules, and if you carry green waste commercially, check whether you need waste carrier registration
• Seasonal income: winter work is much quieter, so plan cash flow
• Safe use of petrol equipment, protective gear and noise limits near neighbours
• A van or trailer to carry equipment, with the right vehicle insurance for business use

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the mower, strimmer and hand tools you buy and how you carry equipment. Treat these as estimates and price up your own kit list before you start.

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,500, depending on how many regular customers you build up and the time of year. Winter work is much quieter, so plan your cash flow around the growing season.

Check public liability insurance covers powered tools, and council rules on disposing of grass cuttings, including whether carrying green waste commercially needs waste carrier registration. Also check vehicle insurance for business use and safe use of petrol equipment.