Are you a lawn care business owner looking to add new revenue streams? This is a seasonal business in many areas of the country, and often the biggest challenge is creating a steady flow of income.
There are several options for those in the green space industry. You could add a greenhouse or nursery, landscape or hardscape services, or commercial mowing and property maintenance. Many turn to tree trimming and stump removal, or plant health care.
But which is more profitable?
What is Plant Health Care?
As a landscape service company, it’s in your best interest to make sure that your customer’s entire property looks amazing. One unhealthy plant can quickly spread pests and disease. A plant health care program provides:
- Monthly inspections
- Diagnose and treat disease problems
- Diagnose and treat pest problems
- Nutrient management and fertilization
- Soil analysis
- More…
Offering plant health care services is a great way to guarantee happy customers by providing good looking year-round landscapes and expanding your businesses opportunities.
Equipment Investment
What about up-front costs? Tree trimming and stump removal requires heavy equipment (don’t forget about the cost of insurance) to get started.
On the other hand, a specialized spray truck is significantly less expensive.
| Investment | Plant Health Care | Tree Trimming/Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Service Spray Truck | $80,000 | |
| Aerial Boom Truck w/ Chipper Body | $140,000 |
|
| Wood Chipper | $16,000 |
|
| Stump Grinder | $18,000 |
|
| Misc. Equipment | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| EQUIPMENT TOTAL | $90,000 | $184,000 |
| Labor | 1 person | 3 persons |
| Supplies | $100/day | $50/day |
Income Potential
Removing a mature tree will tie up a crew of 3 for an entire day:
- $1,500 – $2,000 job bid
- Labor and equipment eats up profit
- One time service (non-repeatable)
With a plant health care monthly subscription plan, you inject steady cash flow into your company:
- $25/month plan (one customer = $300/annual)
- $1,250/mo – $15,000/annual (50 customers)
- $5,000/mo – $60,000/annual (200 customers)
As mentioned in our Spray Truck Buyer’s Guide, one of the most overlooked considerations is the cost of labor. Tree trimming and stump removal has lower income per employee.
If you’re looking to take your company to the next level, consider adding a plant health care program to your service offering.
