Lawn and garden maintenance route

Busy homeowners, older residents, landlords, property managers and small businesses with yards.

Fixed price per visit or a monthly contract, plus extra charges for cleanups, mulch, planting and other one-off jobs. Clustering clients close together means more stops per day.

• Operating mowers and trimmers safely
• Basic plant and lawn knowledge
• Route planning and reliability
• Quoting jobs fairly

• General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire anyone
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license
• Some states require a license or pesticide applicator certification if you apply fertilizer or weed killer, so check your state agriculture department
• Seasonal income in colder areas, so plan for slow winter months
• Physical work in heat, plan for equipment maintenance and injury risk

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $9,000, depending on your equipment and whether you need a truck or trailer. Consider general liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire anyone.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many regular customers you have and the services you offer. Income can be seasonal in colder areas, so plan for slow winter months.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license. Some states require a license or pesticide applicator certification if you apply fertilizer or weed killer, so check with your state agriculture department before offering those services.