How To Start A Landscaping Business In Michigan
A landscaping or lawn care business in Michigan can provide a great part-time or full-time income. Your landscaping business could include gardening, lawn mowing, leaf and lawn debris removal, excavation, tree work, and more. You may want to start here: How To Start A Landscaping Business. You must do your own thorough research, as laws change regularly. Here are some steps you may have to take (not necessarily in order) to register your landscaping business, along with links to more information.
Getting started- The state of Michigan has a website about starting a business in Michigan here: http://www.michiganbusiness.org/start-up/business-assistance/#guidance
-Register your landscaping business name.
You need to register your business name. Check for name availability here: https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/corpweb/CorpSearch/CorpSearch.aspx
If you need help selecting a name for your landscaping business: How to Choose A Business Name and Landscaping Business Name Ideas
-Select your business structure.
Sole-proprietor, LLC, Partnership, Corporation, etc. Find out more here: http://sbdcmichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-Guide-to-Starting-a-Business-WEB.pdf?rnd=1516040785759
-Register your landscaping business.
You can register your landscaping business with the state of Michigan here: http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/0,4676,7-238-43519_43521_69027_69032-155361–,00.html
-Open a Business Checking Account.
You will need to open a separate bank account for your landscaping business with your new business name.
-Find out about taxes and hire an accountant.
You may want to file your own taxes if you are a small company. As you grow, it will be easier to have an accountant do the work. More info about taxes here: http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/ and http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Starting-a-Business
-Get Landscaping Software.
Landscaping software will streamline your business before you even start, giving you visibility and control over all your leads, sales, jobs, and tasks from a single program to get your company on the fast track toward growth.
You’ll also be able to create estimates, place material orders, automate the boring (but necessary) stuff, empowering you and your team to finish jobs on time and on budget. Try JobNimbus for Free!
-Get Liability Insurance.
We work with ContractorsLiability.com because they’re the one-stop-shop for General Liability insurance and are able to get online quotes in all 50 states. Get A Free Quote Now>
-Worker’s Compensation.
You will need Worker’s Compensation if you have any employees. Get A Free Quote Now>
-Register as a Contractor.
You must register as a licensed contractor in the state of Michigan. You can find out more about getting a license here: http://www.michigan.gov/statelicensesearch/0,4671,7-180-24786_24809-81004–,00.html .
-Get Health Insurance.
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
-City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to operate your landscaping business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
-Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of landscaping jobs.
-OSHA.
Depending on how many employees you have, you may need to follow OSHA regulations. http://www.osha.gov
-Create Your Brand
You will want to have a memorable logo, company slogan, and other visuals you can use with your marketing materials that will show customers what you are about.
-Create Your Landscaping Website
It is important to have a well-designed website that is SEO-optimized in order to attract a steady flow of landscaping leads. Contact us if you need a website built.