Start your business
Lawn care business starter equipment: what it costs
Mower, trimmer and blower options that are actually sold online, with specs and prices from the makers' and stores' own pages (Oct 30, 2026), plus the software and licensing you'll need.
Not tested by us. We haven't used any of this equipment. Specs and prices are copied from each maker's or retailer's own product page, read Oct 30, 2026 and linked next to every number. No rankings, no ratings: the order is by category or by the numbers.
Short version
- A one-person mowing route needs three tools on day one: a mower, a string trimmer and a blower. Edgers, hedge trimmers and a trailer come next.
- Battery and gas both work. Battery tools cost more upfront and need spare batteries for a full day; gas tools are cheaper to buy and need fuel and maintenance. Compare the warranty terms: several makers write different coverage for commercial use.
- Some well-known pro brands aren't sold online at all. They sell through local dealers, so we link their dealer locators instead of a store.
- Price your mows from your own speed with our lawn mowing quote calculator, and total your startup budget with the startup cost calculator.
Equipment, with listed prices
Listed prices by category, from the products below (read Oct 30, 2026):
- push mower (21"): $599.99
- string trimmer: $449.99 to $569.99 (2 listed)
- backpack blower: $449.99 to $599.99 (2 listed)
- stand-on zero-turn mower: $25,999.99
| Product | Specs (from the maker's page) | Listed price | Stores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks Commercial 82V 21" self-propelled mower 82LM21S-8DP (8Ah battery kit) push mower (21") |
| $599.99 Greenworks Commercial store, listing | Greenworks Commercial (opens Greenworks Commercial in a new tab) Search Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| EGO POWER+ 21" push mower kit LM2114 push mower (21") |
No price shown on the page we read. | price not listed on the page we read | EGO (opens EGO in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Greenworks Commercial 82V string trimmer 82ST12-4DP (4Ah battery kit) string trimmer |
| $569.99 Greenworks Commercial store, listing | Greenworks Commercial (opens Greenworks Commercial in a new tab) Search Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| ECHO SRM-2620T gas string trimmer string trimmer |
Price is ECHO's published MSRP; ECHO sells through retailers and dealers ("Find a Retailer" on its page). | $449.99 ECHO MSRP (echo-usa.com), listing | ECHO (opens ECHO in a new tab) Search Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| EGO Commercial 17.5" string trimmer STX4500 (tool only) string trimmer |
No price on EGO Commercial's page; sold through EGO Commercial dealers ("Find A Dealer"). | price not listed on the page we read | EGO (opens EGO in a new tab) |
| Greenworks Commercial 82V backpack blower 82BA26-52DP (two 5Ah batteries) backpack blower |
| $599.99 Greenworks Commercial store, listing | Greenworks Commercial (opens Greenworks Commercial in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| ECHO PB-580T gas backpack blower backpack blower |
Price is ECHO's published MSRP. The Amazon button goes to a listing we found by search for this model; we did not read it. | $449.99 ECHO MSRP (echo-usa.com), listing | ECHO (opens ECHO in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| EGO Commercial 800 CFM backpack blower LBPX8000 backpack blower |
No price shown on the page we read (kit variants marked "Coming Soon"). | price not listed on the page we read | EGO (opens EGO in a new tab) |
| Greenworks Commercial OptimusZ 52" stand-on zero-turn CZ52S24X stand-on zero-turn mower |
Listed for spec comparison: shown as sold out online, with a dealer locator. Not a day-one purchase for most startups. | $25,999.99 Greenworks Commercial store, listing |
Listed in category order, not ranked. Prices are what the linked page displayed on Oct 30, 2026, before tax and shipping; we don't print Amazon prices. Store buttons are separate links to separate stores.
Dealer-only brands
These brands say on their own sites that they sell through dealers. You can often see the gear in person and get local service, which matters for commercial use.
- STIHL: “Genuine STIHL products, parts and accessories are only sold through authorized local STIHL Dealers. STIHL has a large selection of equipment and accessories to choose from, and with many dealers offering online purchasing, you can pick up your quality STIHL products in-store or in some cases, even have them delivered to your home.” (stihlusa.com). Find a dealer. No affiliate link.
- Husqvarna (commercial): “Your local Husqvarna dealer is ready to assist you with commercial lawn and garden products for your specific application needs, workplace and working environment. ... There are many reasons to choose Husqvarna. One of them is that only authorized dealers sell our products.” (husqvarna.com). Find a dealer. No affiliate link.
Software you'll need
Once you have more than a handful of lawns, routes, recurring visits and invoices are where the time goes. These apps list lawn care among the trades they serve; two have free plans.
| App | Entry price | Source | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuoteIQ | from $29.99 per month, billed monthly | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit QuoteIQ (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Jobber | from $29 per month, billed annually (1 user) | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Jobber (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Housecall Pro | from $59 per month, billed annually | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Housecall Pro (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| GorillaDesk | from $49 per month for the first route, billed monthly | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit GorillaDesk (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Markate | from $45.95 per month billed yearly ($49.95 monthly) | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Markate (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Yardbook | Free plan free | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Yardbook (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| LawnPro | Free plan free plan; paid plans per month | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit LawnPro (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Service Autopilot | from $49 per month, annual subscription, plus sign-up fee | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Service Autopilot (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
Licensing, insurance and registration
Rules depend on your state, county and city, so we point you to the official sources instead of guessing. None of this is legal advice.
- Register the business and get local licenses. The SBA's launch guide walks through registering, state and federal tax IDs, licenses and permits, and business insurance. SBA: Launch your business
- Get an EIN. Free from the IRS; you'll want it for a business bank account and for hiring. IRS: Get an EIN
- Insurance. General liability is the usual starting point when you work on other people's property; ask an agent for quotes in your state. The SBA guide covers the types. SBA: Get business insurance
- Helpers. Before paying someone to help, check whether they're an employee or a contractor. IRS: Contractor or employee?
- Weed control and fertilizer. Applying pesticides (herbicides included) for customers usually needs a state license. In the EPA's words: “Many state pesticide regulatory agencies require applicator certification to use all pesticides commercially, whether or not they are RUPs.” Check with your state's pesticide agency before you offer it. EPA: Certification standards
For your own yard
Homeowner buying guides: battery lawn mowers for small yards, cordless leaf blowers and snow blowers for home driveways.