For people looking to diversify their landscape business or looking for a new niche, providing spraying services could be a perfect option.
It’s something that Mark Beegle knows all about as the regional sales manager at GNC Industries, a manufacturer of industrial spraying equipment for the lawn care, tree care, parks, golf and pest control industries. He shared some of his insights on what people should know about getting into the spraying business.
There are a wide range of products used for spraying turfgrasses, ornamentals and trees including pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers.
Spraying equipment can also be used for deep root tree injection fertilization, liquid deicing/anti-ice and even fire control, which is a growing market, especially in remote areas for brush fires or hard-to-reach places.
The number one reason, said Beegle, is that spraying is a much more cost-effective way to apply lawn and landscape treatments than spreading granular fertilizers or other products. Spraying has about one third the materials cost compared to other methods, meaning sprayers can earn a much better profit.
“The majority of sprayers previously worked for a lawn care company and then decided to branch out on their own,” Beegle said. It’s also the type of business that can still provide a good income for people looking for a new career or a good business opportunity.
By the time someone gets their business license, spraying equipment, insurance, and initial stock, the total investment can reach about $10,000.
The typical return on investment is about two spraying seasons or two years.
An owner/operator can earn around $60-80,000 annually, on average.
When it comes to spraying pesticides, sprayers will need to get licensed. Which license you get depends on what you want to spray—you'll probably need a Turf and Ornamental or Structural Pest Control license for the states you want to operate in. (Find the pesticide control agency in your state for more information.)
Keep in mind that maintaining the license may also require ongoing CEU classes.
Beyond state licensing, the more education and certifications a sprayer has, the more opportunity it opens up, said Beegle.
If you have the chance to attend a Ewing Education turf or pest management class, they can be a great source of product knowledge and a good way to learn from experts who know what the business entails.
“We recommend a 200 gallon sprayer that includes an electric hose reel and a piston pump. It’s the most user-friendly set up with the least maintenance,” said Belle.
A 200 gallon sprayer is typically a good size for most independent lawn companies—that's generally the maximum amount they will spray in a day, said Beegle.
Besides traditional skid sprayers, there are also space-saving, split-tank and compact sprayer options available.
Be aware that there are certain truck requirements based on the sprayer tank size as well. Here's a basic guide:
[box][twocol_one]
Sprayer Size
50-100 gallons
200 gallons
300 gallons
400+ gallons [/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]
Truck Requirements
Most trucks and some UTV’s
1/2 ton minimum
3/4 ton minimum
1 ton minimum [/twocol_one_last] [/box]
Interested in learning more about spraying options? Talk with your local Ewing store and ask for the Sprayer Basics brochure, or let us know what questions you have in the comments below.