What landscaping buyers ask first
- Share of revenue from monthly maintenance contracts
- Route density, crew count and revenue per crew
- Equipment list with age, condition and loan balances
- Pesticide, fertilizer and irrigation licenses and who holds them
- Commercial accounts, HOA contracts and their renewal dates
Recurring Routes Earn the Higher Multiple
A company that mows the same lawns and manages the same properties every week earns a better price than one that lives on one time installs. Buyers split revenue into recurring maintenance, design and install work, and irrigation repair.
The bigger the recurring share, and the longer customers stay, the more a buyer will pay.
HOA and Commercial Contracts
Homeowner associations and commercial properties bring large, steady accounts, and also concentration. Buyers read each contract for term, renewal rules and whether a new owner can keep it.
If one HOA is a quarter of sales, expect a price discount or a payment tied to keeping it.
Crews and Route Density
Profit depends on how many stops a crew finishes in a day. Buyers look at revenue per crew, drive time and turnover, and at who handles customers when a crew leader quits.
Equipment and Licensing
Trucks, trailers, mowers and irrigation tools form a big part of the asset list. Buyers want age, condition and any loans. Applying fertilizer and pesticides needs state licensing, and the license holder matters if that person is leaving.
Weather and Seasons
Summer rains and cooler winter months change workloads and cash flow. Hurricane cleanup can bring extra revenue and extra risk. Show three years of monthly results so buyers can see what is normal.
What Raises the Price
A tight route map, crews that stay and contracts that renew all lift the multiple. A company that lives on one time installs, or whose owner sells every job, gets a lower one.
Buyers usually pay in cash, often with a bank loan, and sometimes with a note from the seller. Ask a broker to compare offers by what you actually receive.
Customer Handoff
Lawn customers care about the crew that shows up, not the owner. Still, tell them about the change in a calm, planned way. Buyers often ask for a short transition period where you ride along with the new owner.
Paperwork After the Sale
Equipment you own counts as tangible personal property, which you report to the county each year.
See Florida tangible personal property return in the year you sell. Sales tax and a final return are covered in closing your Florida sales tax account after a business sale.
Related trades are covered in selling an impact window and door company. For a private range, send the form or call (305) 555-0147.