Outdoor OutdoorsRepeat customersSeasonal

How to start a lawn care business in Canterbury

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Canterbury asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In New Zealand dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for New Zealand: researched US figures converted to New Zealand dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are New Zealand's own.

To startNZ$1.7k–19kLean to full setup

Per monthNZ$6.9k–14kOnce established

Profit margin75–85%Before paying yourself, after fuel, repairs and insurance

First customer1–3 weeksFrom today

DifficultyStart with skills you have

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you like working outside and a steady route

Lawn care is a classic first business: customers need you every week or two all season, so a full route means steady income. You can start with a push mower and a trimmer, then move up to commercial mowers and a trailer as your route grows.

You'll like it if

You enjoy being outdoors in all kinds of weather
You like routine and a set weekly route
You're happy with physical work all day
You take pride in a neat, finished look

Think twice if

Heat, pollen or noise bother you a lot
You need steady income all twelve months
You can't lift or push heavy equipment
You have no way to move a mower between jobs

02What it costs

From NZ$1,700 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startNZ$1,700

What	Cost
MowerA residential push mower, up to a commercial walk-behind and zero-turn	NZ$410
Trimmer, edger and blowerHandheld to commercial backpack models	NZ$660
TrailerAn open utility trailer to tow your mowers	NZ$0
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	NZ$0
Safety gear and hand toolsGlasses, ear protection, boots, rakes and shears	NZ$210
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus commercial auto and equipment cover	NZ$210
Website and marketingWebsite, cards and flyers	NZ$210
Total	NZ$1,700

Once you're running: about NZ$210 a month, plus about 12% of what you earn. Insurance, phone and scheduling software every month, plus fuel, repairs and wear on each job.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per lawn NZ$70 NZ$25NZ$200

Lawns a week 35 170

Monthly costs NZ$210 NZ$0NZ$840

Typical in Canterbury: NZ$50–NZ$100 per lawn, 10–50 lawns a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleNZ$2.1k–3.5k

Evenings and weekends, 10–15 lawns a week in season

Full-time, on your ownNZ$6.9k–11k

35–50 lawns a week in season

With a helperNZ$11k–14k

About 80 lawns a week in season

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

See who mows lawns near you, what they charge and how long your season lasts.
- Search "lawn mowing near me"
- Note 5 competitors and their prices
- Pick neighborhoods close together
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Canterbury has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3
Register your business in Canterbury
1 day to 2 weeks NZ$0–NZ$148

Most owners start as a sole trader; registering a company with the Companies Office keeps business debts separate.
- Start as a sole trader: free
- Register a company: NZ$148.05
4
Get your IRD number
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Inland Revenue, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Inland Revenue
- Open a business bank account
5
Sort out GST
1–3 days Free

You must register for GST once your sales pass NZ$60,000 a year. The rate is 15%.
- Know when to register for GST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Commercial auto, if you tow with a work truck
- Equipment cover
- Workers' comp, once you hire
7
Buy your equipment
1 week NZ$1.3k–17k

A push mower, trimmer and blower handle your first lawns. Move up to a commercial mower and trailer when your route fills up.
- Mower
- Trimmer and blower
- Safety gear
8
Set your prices
1 day Free

Price by lawn size, with weekly visits a little cheaper than every other week. See the prices below.
- Weekly and every-other-week
- Spring and fall cleanups
- A one-time mow costs more
9
Build a tight route
1–2 weeks Free

Lawns close together mean less driving and more mowing. Focus your marketing on a few streets.
- Pick 2–3 neighborhoods
- Group lawns by day
- Leave a flyer next door to each job
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

Customers book lawn care they can find. A site with your prices and online booking does the selling for you.
- Website with your prices
- Online booking
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first 10 customers
1–3 weeks Up to NZ$270

Neighbors, flyers and local groups bring the first lawns. Reviews bring the rest.
- Flyers on your chosen streets
- Neighborhood groups
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Know your route, who's paid and who wants a cleanup in the fall.
- Customer list and route
- Invoices
- Season sign-ups
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in CAN

What Canterbury asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Start as a sole trader

There's nothing to register: you tell Inland Revenue you're working for yourself.

Inland RevenueFree

Register a company

Reserving the company name and incorporating, including GST. A company also files a yearly annual return, for a fee.

Companies OfficeNZ$148.05once

IRD number

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Inland RevenueFree

Pesticide and weedkiller rules

Mowing and trimming need no special license, but spraying weedkillers or pesticides for pay usually needs training or a license.

Your pesticide regulatorVaries

Green waste disposal

Take clippings and leaves to a yard-waste or composting site. Many places don't allow them in regular trash.

Your city or local councilVaries

Agrichemical rules

Follow the label, and get a certified handler qualification before using the most toxic products.

Environmental Protection AuthorityVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Push or self-propelled mowerA good residential mower to start

NZ$410–NZ$710Must have

String trimmerAlso edges in a pinch

NZ$380–NZ$750Must have

Leaf blowerHandheld to backpack

NZ$270–NZ$620Must have

Safety gearGlasses, ear protection, gloves, boots

NZ$150–NZ$530Must have

Rakes, shovels and shearsFor cleanups and edges

NZ$90–NZ$250Later

Stick edgerCrisp edges along drives and walks

NZ$440Later

Commercial walk-behind mower21–30 inch deck, built for daily use

NZ$2,600–NZ$3,700Later

Zero-turn or stand-on mowerMows big lawns several times faster

NZ$9,200–NZ$15,500Later

Utility trailerOpen trailer, often bought used

NZ$1,350–NZ$2,750Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Weekly mow

NZ$70 per visit · 30–60 minutes

Mow
Trim and edge
Blow off walks and drive

Every two weeks

NZ$80 per visit · 45–75 minutes

Mow
Trim and edge
Blow off walks and drive

Fall leaf cleanup

NZ$310 per visit · Half a day

Leaves raked and blown
Beds cleared
Debris hauled away

Mowing prices for a typical yard in CanterburyTypical: NZ$40–NZ$120

Average NZ$70

NZ$0NZ$40NZ$80NZ$120NZ$160

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

Most customers search "lawn care near me". A free profile with reviews puts you on the map.

Free

Flyers on your route

Leave a flyer at the houses beside every lawn you mow. Neighbors make the tightest routes.

Low cost

Neighborhood groups

Nextdoor and local Facebook groups bring your first lawns.

Free

Seasonal add-ons

Offer spring and fall cleanups to your mowing customers before anyone else does.

Repeat income

Reviews

Ask every customer. Most new customers pick the profile with the best reviews.

With PressUp Reviews

What a landscaping website needs, and how PressUp builds it

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get equipped

Buy a mower, trimmer and blower
Pick your neighborhoods
Practice on friends' lawns

Week 3

Go live

Website with booking
Google Business Profile
Set your prices

Week 4

First customers

Flyers on your streets
Aim for 10 lawns
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to mow lawns in Canterbury?

Mowing, trimming and cleanups usually need no special license beyond registering your business. Spraying weedkillers or pesticides for pay is different: that usually needs training or a license.

How long is the season?

It depends on where you live: from about six months in cold places to most of the year in warm ones. Plan your savings, or add leaf cleanups and other winter work.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many people start with a handful of lawns on evenings and weekends, then go full-time once their route is full.

How many lawns can one person do?

A typical suburban lawn takes 30 to 60 minutes. With tight routes, one person can mow dozens of lawns a week.

Do I need a commercial mower?

Not to start. A good residential mower handles your first lawns. Commercial mowers last longer and work faster once you're mowing every day.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources