Business Planning Guide
Solo vs Crew vs Company
Which landscaping business size is right for you? There's no wrong answer—just the one that fits your life.
Before you buy equipment or print business cards, answer this: what do you actually want from your landscaping business? Some people want maximum freedom. Others want to build something they can sell someday. Most fall somewhere in between.
This guide breaks down three paths—solo operator, small crew owner, and company builder. Each has real tradeoffs. None is "better" than the others. The best choice is the one that matches how you want to live.
Quick Comparison
| Solo Pro | Crew Owner | Company Builder | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $80k–$150k | $200k–$500k | $500k–$2M+ |
| Owner Income | $60k–$100k | $40k–$120k | $80k–$300k+ |
| Profit Margin | 60–80% | 15–30% | 20–40% |
| Time to Profitability | Immediate | 1–3 years | 3–5 years |
| Hours | High early, moderate later | 50–70/wk | High early, low later |
| Flexibility | High | Low | Medium |
| Stress Level | Lower | Highest | High |
| Exit/Sale Value | Minimal | Low | High |
The Solo Pro
One person, minimal overhead, maximum flexibility
What It Looks Like
You run 15–30 accounts yourself. You own your schedule—take Fridays off, work around your kids' events, travel in the off-season. You do the work, collect the check, and keep almost all of it. No employees, no payroll taxes, no HR headaches.
Your business is you. When you work, you earn. When you don't, you don't. Most solo operators gross $80k–$150k and keep $60k–$100k after expenses. Hours are high early on (50–60/week while building), then moderate once established (30–40/week).
The Honest Tradeoffs
- +Keep 60–80% of revenue as profit
- +Total control over your schedule
- +No management or employee issues
- –Income stops when you stop
- –Hard to take extended time off
- –Little to no sale value if you exit
This is for you if...
- • You value freedom over maximum income
- • You love the actual work of landscaping
- • Managing people sounds exhausting
- • $60k–$100k would be a great living for you
- • You want a business that fits your life, not consumes it
This isn't for you if...
- • You want to build wealth through business equity
- • You hate physical labor and want to "graduate" from it
- • You need income even when you can't work
- • Your income goal is $200k+
- • You want to build something to sell someday
The Crew Owner
A small team, steady income, manageable complexity
What It Looks Like
You run one or two crews with 2–5 total employees. You split time between working jobs, selling new work, and managing your team. Revenue is $200k–$500k, but owner pay is often $40k–$120k because margins compress hard with payroll.
This is the "wilderness" phase—you might make LESS than when you were solo while working MORE hours. You're dealing with hiring, training, no-shows, payroll, and the stress of keeping people busy. It gets better, but expect 1–3 hard years.
The Honest Tradeoffs
- +Higher income ceiling than solo
- +Business runs (somewhat) without you
- +Bridge to company if you push through
- –Profit margins drop to 15–30%
- –Employee problems become your problems
- –Stuck in the middle—too big for easy, too small for systems
This is for you if...
- • You want higher income but not empire-level stress
- • You're okay managing a small team
- • You want to step back from full-time labor eventually
- • You can survive $40k–$80k for a few years while building
- • You want some business value but aren't optimizing for exit
This isn't for you if...
- • You hate dealing with employee issues
- • You want to keep 60%+ profit margins
- • You need total schedule flexibility
- • You want to build a company worth $1M+
- • You can't handle the "wilderness" phase stress
⚠️ The "Wilderness" Warning
The $100k–$250k revenue range is called the "wilderness" because it's the hardest phase. You're too busy to do everything yourself but don't have enough margin to hire real help. Many landscapers get stuck here for years. If you choose this path, plan for 1–2 tough years before it gets easier.
The Company Builder
Multiple crews, real systems, building equity
What It Looks Like
You run 3+ crews, 10+ employees, $500k–$2M+ revenue. You're not on a mower anymore—you're running a company. Your job is sales, hiring, systems, and strategy. You might have an office, a shop, and real overhead.
Owner pay is $80k–$300k+ depending on how mature the business is. Hours are brutal early (60–80/week), but eventually drop as you build management. The business has real value: 2–4x annual profit if you sell. But it takes 3–5 years before it feels "worth it."
The Honest Tradeoffs
- +Uncapped income potential
- +Business has significant sale value
- +Can eventually be semi-passive income
- –Years of lower pay while building
- –High stress and responsibility
- –Real financial risk if things go wrong
This is for you if...
- • You think in years, not seasons
- • You want to build wealth, not just income
- • You're energized by leadership and strategy
- • You can handle years of delayed gratification
- • You want to build something bigger than yourself
This isn't for you if...
- • You need maximum income now, not later
- • Managing people drains you
- • You love the craft more than the business
- • You want predictable, low-stress work
- • You're not willing to risk years of hard work
There's No Wrong Answer
A solo operator making $100k with Fridays off isn't "behind" a company builder grinding 60-hour weeks. They just want different things. The wrong choice is picking a path because you think you should, then being miserable living it.
Be honest about what you want. Then build accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a solo lawn care operator make?
When should I hire my first employee?
Is it better to stay solo or grow a company?
How much revenue do I need to support employees?
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