Hedgerow Landscapes
“Maintenance contracts carry the winter. Build jobs pay for the vans.”
GPGareth Pryce · Hedgerow Landscapes · Since 2012
12-mo revenue$271,770+3% vs last yearGoCardless + Xero
Based on 28 real landscaping businesses in Canada, including 10 that closed.
✓Your budget should cover this.
Bills run about $720 a month (fuel, insurance, rent, phone). Most owners make a profit after about 3 months. Keep this much aside to pay bills until then.
Pay dump fees. Some cities ask for a hauling permit.
Only if you spray: provincial pesticide applicator licence.
Register with your province (about $60 to $360). Get a free business number from the CRA.
Free to about $15 a month. Keeps business money apart from yours.
Sets up your books and files your first tax return.
Before costs. Busiest April–October.
| Slow | Typical | Strong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $3.9k | $7.3k | $13.9k |
| Year 3 | $10.2k | $17.5k | $30k |
| Year 5 | $12.8k | $22.7k | $40.3k |
Slow: 1 in 4 make less than this. Typical: half make more, half make less. Strong: 1 in 4 make more than this.
“Maintenance contracts carry the winter. Build jobs pay for the vans.”
“We sell the winter pruning contract in October, before anyone thinks about their garden.”
Mow Better Lawns earned well from April to September and almost nothing from November to February. With no winter work and no savings plan, Jake Lowe ran out of cash every January and borrowed to restart in spring. After the third winter he stopped.
$14.1k
about $142k
Starting costs about $128k less. Buying costs more, but you earn from the first month and skip the risky early years.
“The brand brings the phone calls. Keeping the crews busy in February is still my job.”