How to Start a Landscaping Business In Georgia
When starting a landscaping or lawn care business in the state of Georgia, you will need to complete a few important steps in order to become a legal business. Your landscaping business could include gardening, lawn mowing, leaf removal, excavation, tree work, and more. You may want to start here: How To Start A Landscaping Or Lawn Care Business. You can find the links to help get your new landscaping business registered in Georgia below. 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 start your landscaping or lawn care company, along with links to more information.
Getting started– Here are a few websites created by the state of Georgia about how to start a business in Georgia: http://www.georgia.org/small-business/start/ and http://www.georgiasbdc.org/startsmart/
Register your landscaping business name.
You will need to register your new landscaping business name with the Superior Court Clerk in your Georgia county.
If you need help selecting a name for your landscaping business: How to Choose a Business Name and How To Choose a Lawn Care Business Name
-Select a business structure.
Sole-proprietor, LLC, Partnership, Corporation, etc. Many small business owners start out with a sole proprietorship. If you want more legal protection, you may wish to choose an LLC. Find out more here: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure
-Register your landscaping business.
You can register your landscaping business with the state of Georgia here: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/
-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: https://dor.georgia.gov/business-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. Learn more >
More about liability insurance here: Contractor Liability Insurance
-Worker’s Compensation.
You will need Worker’s Compensation if you have any employees. Find out more>
-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 location, you may need to apply for permits before starting certain landscaping jobs.
-Inspections.
Depending on what your landscaping project involves, you may be subject to inspections.