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How to Run a Lawn Mowing & Gardening Services Business in Australia — Tax, Deductions & Accounting Support from Trinity Accounting Practice

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Australia’s love for outdoor living and beautiful gardens means there’s a steady demand for lawn mowing, gardening, landscaping, and yard maintenance services across suburban and rural areas. Whether you’re a solo operator or managing a small team, running a lawn care business can be profitable — but only if you manage your finances and compliance effectively.

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At Trinity Accounting Practice, we’ve supported lawn mowing and garden service providers across Australia. We help with business setup, bookkeeping, GST, tax, and financial strategy — giving you peace of mind while you focus on growing your business.

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In this complete guide, we’ll cover:

• ✅ How to start and structure a lawn and garden business
• ✅ Licences and compliance for yard care
• ✅ What expenses you can claim
• ✅ Managing payroll, subcontractors, and GST
• ✅ Tools, equipment, and software to streamline your business
• ✅ How Trinity supports lawn care businesses across Australia

1. Starting a Lawn Mowing or Gardening Business

Choose the Right Structure

Your structure affects your tax rate, liability, and growth options:

• Sole Trader – ideal for solo operators, easy to set up and manage
• Partnership – useful for family-run or friends in business together
• Company – better asset protection and tax flexibility
• Trust – often used for asset protection and tax planning

📌 Trinity will help you choose the best structure for your income, future growth, and legal protection.

Business Registrations

You’ll need:

• ABN (Australian Business Number)
• GST registration (if expected income > $75,000/year)
• Business name registration (optional, for branding)
• Public liability insurance
• Workers compensation (if hiring staff)

2. Licences and Compliance

While lawn mowing and gardening are generally low-regulation industries, you may need:

• Chemical use licences if spraying herbicides or pesticides
• Council permits if disposing of waste or operating machinery in public areas
• White Card for commercial or construction site work
• Environmentally-safe disposal methods for green waste

We also recommend:

✅ Safety policies
✅ First-aid kits in vehicles
✅ High-vis uniforms for roadside work
✅ Ongoing training in safe machinery use

3. Tax-Deductible Expenses for Lawn and Gardening Businesses

Running a gardening business involves ongoing costs — many of which are tax deductible.

✅ Tools & Equipment

• Lawn mowers (push, ride-on, zero-turn)
• Whipper snippers and brush cutters
• Hedge trimmers and blowers
• Chainsaws
• Trailers, ramps, and toolboxes
• Hand tools (spades, pruners, rakes, shears)

These may be written off under instant asset write-off rules or depreciated.

✅ Vehicle Costs

• Ute, van, or trailer fuel and maintenance
• Registration and insurance
• Tyres and servicing
• Vehicle finance interest
• GPS and dash cams

📌 Use a logbook to track business vs personal use

✅ Uniforms & PPE

• Branded shirts, jackets, hats
• Steel-capped boots and gloves
• High-vis vests and protective eyewear
• Sunscreen, earplugs, masks

✅ Consumables & Supplies

• Mulch and compost
• Fertiliser and weed killer
• Plants and soil (if reselling or landscaping)
• Safety signs and stakes

✅ Office & Admin Costs

• Mobile phone and internet
• Business cards and flyers
• Website and social media ads
• Accounting software (Xero, MYOB)

✅ Professional Services

• Accounting and tax advice
• Legal fees for contracts or disputes
• Bookkeeping and software support

📌 Trinity ensures every deduction is recorded and claimed correctly to reduce your tax bill.

4. Managing GST, BAS & Tax

If your income exceeds $75,000 annually, you must:

• Register for GST
• Lodge quarterly BAS (Business Activity Statements)
• Track GST collected from clients
• Claim GST credits on eligible purchases

Income Tax

• Sole traders pay tax at individual marginal rates
• Companies pay a flat 25% tax (for small business entities)
• Trusts distribute profit to beneficiaries

📌 We offer tax planning advice to reduce your liability, including super top-ups and expense prepayments.

5. Subcontractors, Payroll & Hiring Staff

As your business grows, you may need help from:

• Part-time staff
• Casual day labourers
• Subcontractors for larger jobs

Trinity helps you:

✅ Classify workers correctly
✅ Lodge Single Touch Payroll (STP)
✅ Handle PAYG withholding and super
✅ Issue Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) if using subcontractors

📌 Avoid ATO penalties by getting worker classifications right — many lawn care businesses get audited over this.

6. Managing Bookings, Invoicing & Cash Flow

Time is money. Use tech tools to streamline admin:

Recommended Software:

• ServiceM8 – job scheduling, quotes, and client communication
• Jobber – CRM for lawn and garden services
• Xero – cloud accounting, GST, payroll, invoicing
• Square or Stripe – accept mobile payments

Cash Flow Tips:

• Charge upfront deposits for landscaping
• Use recurring billing for maintenance clients
• Keep a buffer fund for fuel, repairs, or quiet seasons
• Review rates annually to match inflation and demand

7. Marketing Your Lawn & Garden Business

You don’t need a big budget to grow — just consistency.

• Use Google My Business to show up in local searches
• List on Airtasker, Hipages, and Oneflare
• Drop flyers in mailboxes or local café boards
• Run Facebook ads targeting your local suburbs
• Offer referral discounts to loyal clients

💡 Trinity partners with marketing professionals who can assist with branding and local SEO.

8. How Trinity Supports Lawn & Garden Businesses

We’ve worked with gardeners, landscapers, lawn contractors, and outdoor maintenance crews across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and regional towns.

✔️ Business Setup

• ABN, GST, and TFN registration
• Company or trust setup
• Insurance and compliance referrals

✔️ Bookkeeping & Xero Integration

• Receipt management
• Weekly or monthly bank reconciliation
• Invoicing setup
• Reporting on profits, job costs, and cash flow

✔️ BAS, Tax & Financial Advice

• BAS lodgement and GST advice
• Income tax returns
• Vehicle and tool depreciation
• End-of-year tax planning

✔️ Payroll, Super & Contractor Reporting

• Award-compliant payroll
• Superannuation lodgement
• Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR)

9. Why Gardeners & Mowers Trust Trinity

✅ We know the outdoor services industry
✅ We help you stay compliant with the ATO
✅ We’re available after hours and weekends
✅ We make tax and bookkeeping stress-free
✅ We serve clients across all Australian states and territories
✅ We’re Xero Certified Advisors

Let’s Grow Your Lawn Care Business the Smart Way

Whether you're mowing lawns solo or managing a landscaping crew, Trinity Accounting Practice is here to handle your books while you focus on running a reliable, profitable business.

👉 Trinity Accounting Practice
✅ Accounting Firm in Beverly Hills
📍 159 Stoney Creek Road Beverly Hills NSW 2209
☎️ 02 9543 6804
🌐 www.trinitygroup.com.au
📅 Book a chat: https://calendly.com/ramy-hanna

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