Trades and home services · LLC guide · updated
How to start an LLC for a landscaping business
Landscapers run mowers, trimmers and trailers on other people's property every day. Thrown rocks break windows, trailers come loose, and herbicides drift onto the wrong lawn. An LLC keeps those claims with the company and is the name commercial clients want on contracts.
Our registered agent is optional: $74.25 a year, the same at renewal. Questions first? Ray or Vinny picks up at (954) 470-8356.
- EIN
- Pesticide applicator
- Business license
- Commercial auto
- Workers' comp
Landscaping Business businesses in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 561730) and U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2022 (NAICS 56173), the latest U.S. totals.
Why landscaping business owners form an LLC
Thrown objects and trailer claims
Rocks from mowers and loose trailers cause property damage and injuries.
Chemical drift
Herbicide and pesticide drift onto neighbors' plants brings claims and regulatory fines.
Crew injuries
Equipment cuts and heat illness are common.
An LLC keeps the company's debts and claims away from your personal assets when you run it as its own business: its own bank account, contracts signed in its name, and no mixing of money. It does not cover your own negligence, and lenders often ask for a personal guarantee. Insurance comes first.
Licenses and registrations for a landscaping business
Federal items link to the agency's own page. State and local rules vary, so pick your state at the top for your state's business portal. Tick items off as you go; the list remembers your progress on this device.
- We do thisForm the LLC and get its EINAlmost every registration above asks for the company's legal name and EIN, so this comes first. We file the LLC with your state for $123.75 plus the state fee, and can get the EIN for $41.25; the IRS also issues it free online.
Insurance and taxes to plan for
Insurance
- General liability
Covers property damage and injuries on clients' property.
- Commercial auto
Covers trucks and trailers.
- Inland marine
Covers mowers and equipment.
Taxes
- Equipment write-offs
Mowers and trucks can often be expensed or depreciated quickly.
- Sales tax on landscaping
Some states tax lawn and landscaping services; others do not.
Keep spray records and customer notices for every application, in the company's name. They are your best defense in a drift or damage claim.
Forming the LLC itself: 7 steps in every state
- 1. Check the name
- 2. Name a registered agent
- 3. File with the state
- 4. Sign an operating agreement
- 5. Get an EIN
- 6. Open a bank account
- 7. Keep it in good standing
The filing office, fee and yearly report change by state. Open your state's step-by-step guide.
What it costs to form a landscaping business LLC
| Cost | File it yourself | With Vermilion Vitez |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee (paid to the state) | $35 to $520 | $35 to $520 |
| Filing service, operating agreement included | $0 | $123.75 |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 | $0 yourself, or $41.25 if we get it |
| Registered agent, per year (optional) | $0 if you serve yourself | $74.25 |
State fees as charged at our checkout. Industry licenses, permits, bonds and insurance above are separate and set by each agency. Checkout shows the card processing fee before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to mow lawns?
Mowing alone usually needs only a local business license. Applying pesticides or herbicides for pay usually needs a state license.
What insurance do landscapers need?
General liability, commercial auto for trucks and trailers, equipment coverage, and workers' comp once you hire.
Can a landscaping LLC hire seasonal workers?
Yes, as employees, or through the H-2B program for foreign seasonal workers.
Should my landscaping LLC elect S corporation status?
Often once profit is steady. A CPA can compare self-employment tax savings with payroll costs.
How much does it cost to form an LLC for a landscaping business?
Your state's filing fee ($35 to $520 depending on the state) plus $123.75 if we file it, with the operating agreement included. Industry licenses, bonds and insurance are extra and set by each agency.
Is this page legal or tax advice for my landscaping business?
No. It summarizes public rules in general terms, with links to the agencies that set them. For your situation, talk to a licensed attorney or CPA, or book a free call with us.
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Ready when you are
Have us file your Landscaping Business LLC
$123.75 plus your state's filing fee, with the operating agreement included. Checkout shows the full total, card processing fee and all, before you pay.
Rather talk first? Call Ray or Vinny at (954) 470-8356.