Landscaping can be a cutthroat business. Costs can rise sharply just because materials have changed in price. Subcontractors may not be available when you need them or may even back out. Working with clients is always challenging. Between all the issues both in acquiring clients and doing work that’s to a high standard without costing your business an arm and a leg, it can sometimes feel impossible to bring home a tidy profit.

Bringing home a profit, however, is entirely possible. With a few simple changes to your workflow and approach, you can easily shrug off more of the costs to then take in more profits overall. All you need to get started is to follow this guide.

1.    Offer Your Services in Stages

Most people aren’t going to have a huge sum of money to pay for everything they want all at once. A good way to work with that without undercharging to appeal to them is to offer your services in stages. You can start with a design service at a fixed rate. You can then give them quotes for the wholesale landscape supply they’ll need to buy then and there, then wait for a price drop. Finally, you can do the work as a whole.

Yes, it means that their dreams will take longer to come to life, but considering this is the best way for people to take on these sorts of projects without resorting to loans or financing options, it’s also a smart way to do business.

2.    Split Up Your Costs

As previously stated, you can absolutely have your customers buy the supplies from you. You have access to wholesale retailers and prices. You can then offer them those items at the wholesale price, while adding on a management fee, for example, to make it worth your while. Your clients can then buy those supplies in advance, or wait until they’re ready for the labor work, too. Keep in mind most of these items can’t just sit outside on their lawn, so work out a way to store the items (for a fee) as well.

3.    When to Rent Equipment

If you need professional tools and machinery, but only for a few days or weeks out of the year, then you’ll likely be better off renting what you need for the job than buying it outright. Buying all the equipment you need comes with many downfalls. One, it’s a high upfront cost and two, you need to store and maintain it properly. By renting you can save overall, you don’t have to pay to maintain or repair it, and you also don’t need to store it.

4.    When to Buy Equipment

When it comes to equipment you need for every job, know that you’ll want to buy them —and buy the good stuff. To help you save money, always keep an eye out for sales, even from other companies. If another landscaping company goes out of business, for example, you may be able to pick up essential equipment at a massive discount.