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Starting a Landscaping Firm – License, Permit & Insurance

Do you want to know the legal requirements you need to start a landscaping business? If YES, here is a checklist of landscaping business licenses, permits & insurance.

Having provided you with a:

  1. Landscaping Industry Overview
  2. Market Research and Feasibility
  3. Landscaping Business Plan
  4. Landscaping Service Marketing Plan
  5. Landscaping Business Name ideas
  6. Landscaping Business Licenses and Permits
  7. Cost of Starting a Landscaping Business
  8. Landscaping Company Marketing ideas

We will consider what it takes to get operating license and permit for your landscaping business including insurance coverage and intellectual property protection.

Starting a Landscaping Firm – Licenses, Permits & Insurance

  • Best legal entity to use for this type of business

The nature of landscaping business and the nature of the market makes it easier for people to start the business on a small scale just to take care of the market available in their neighborhood. The percentage of people who start landscaping industry on a larger scale is less than 15 percent of the total numbers of registered landscaping companies in the united states; most people prefer starting the business small.

In essence, choosing a legal entity for this type of business is influenced by the nature of the business. Majority of those in the business prefer sole proprietorship; that is perhaps the most suitable legal entity for landscaping business.

On the other hand, if you have a big picture of the business and your aim is to bid for contracts from the government and from corporate organizations, then you should consider Limited Liability Company, an LCC. Limited Liability Company will definitely protect you from personal liability in case things go wrong in the business.

Does a Landscaping Business Need Professional Certification?

Ordinarily, if you decide to start a landscape and lawn care business in the United States, you would not have need for a professional certificate except in situation when you have to handle chemicals.

Be that as it may, it is important to note that any entrepreneur who wants to start a landscaping or lawn care business in the United States of America should be aware that the landscaping and lawn care industry is a closely regulated industry that requires practitioners to earn certifications that permit them to handle hazardous compounds; most especially when they also offer fumigation services.

List of Legal Documents You Need to Run a Landscaping Business

These are some of the basic legal documents that you would need to successfully run a landscape and lawn care business in the United States of America;

  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Business License
  • Business Plan
  • Non – disclosure Agreement
  • Employment Agreement (offer letters)
  • Operating Agreement
  • Insurance Policy
  • Employees Handbook
  • Contract Document
  • Trademark registration for your logo (optional)
  • Tax Payer’s ID number.

What is the Best Insurance for a Landscaping Company?

The fact that you can operate your lawn care and landscaping company as a sole proprietorship business does not meant that you will not have need for basic insurance policy that is expected for a business owner or company. You can talk to your insurance broker and he or she will be able to guide you on the best and most suitable insurance cover that you should buy for your lawn care and landscaping business.

Well, these are some of the basic insurance cover that you should consider purchasing if you want to start your own lawn care and landscaping business in the United States of America;

  • General insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Liability insurance
  • hazard Insurance
  • Workers Compensation
  • Overhead expense disability insurance
  • Business owner’s policy group insurance

Does a Landscaping Business Need Intellectual Property Protection?

If you are considering starting a landscaping and lawn care business, you do not have need to apply for intellectual property protection. But if you just want to secure an intellectual property protection for your company’s logo and brand statement, then you should go all the way. But the truth is that most landscaping and lawn care business owners do not consider it a priority.