Starter kit · Lawn mowing and garden care
Starting a lawn mowing business?
Here are the first steps, straight from the official sources. Then grab a free app that takes bookings, sends quotes and gets you paid from day one.
Free to start · No credit card · Live in about 15 minutes
The first steps
Most people starting out in lawns and gardens work as a sole trader with a ute, a trailer and a mower. These are the registrations and checks that usually come first.
Step 1
Get an ABN
An Australian Business Number is free through the Australian Business Register. You quote it on your quotes and invoices.
Register for an ABN (business.gov.au)(opens in a new tab)Step 2
Register a business name, if you need one
If you trade under anything other than your own name, you must register it with ASIC. The fee is on business.gov.au and changes each July.
Register your business name (business.gov.au)(opens in a new tab)Step 3
Know when GST starts
You must register for GST once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 or more. Below that it is your choice.
Register for GST (business.gov.au)(opens in a new tab)Step 4
Look at insurance
Public liability is not compulsory for every business, but some occupations need it. Sole traders are not covered by workers compensation, so think about cover for yourself too.
Types of business insurance (business.gov.au)(opens in a new tab)Step 5
Check before you spray for a fee (Queensland)
Applying pesticides on a commercial fee-for-service basis needs a pest management licence in Queensland, and some herbicide work needs a commercial operator’s licence. Check both before offering weed spraying.
Pest management licence, Qld (ABLIS)(opens in a new tab)Step 6
Keep your records
The ATO says to keep most business records for 5 years: quotes, invoices, receipts and bank records.
Record keeping rules (ATO)(opens in a new tab)Step 7
Work through the full checklist
business.gov.au has a step-by-step guide to starting a business, with a checklist you can download.
Starting a business guide (business.gov.au)(opens in a new tab)
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check each official page (links checked 6 November 2026) or ask an accountant for your situation.
Your launch-day app, free to start
Copy our Lawn & Garden Care template into your own app, put your name, logo and colours on it, and you can take your first booking today.
Free plan: no credit card. Payments go straight into your own Stripe account, with a 2% platform fee. An AI phone receptionist is a paid add-on, see pricing.
A booking page
Customers book a standard mow, mow-edge-and-blow or garden tidy, with your prices and time slots.
Quotes with extras
Send a quote with optional extras like edging, weed spraying and fertilising that the customer can tick.
Get paid on the spot
Customers approve and pay by QR code or link on their own phone, deposit or balance.
Your crew in one place
Team chat and a forum instead of the group text, once you take on help.
Job sheets and safety
A daily job sheet and chemical application record as forms, plus mower safety and PPE procedures.
New booking alerts
New bookings and approved quotes come straight to your phone.