How to Start a Landscape Design Business
Setting up a landscape design practice, from where your state draws its licensing lines to the first garden plan you invoice.
Landscape design sits next to a licensed profession, landscape architecture, so the first question is what your state lets you do without that license. After that come registration, a tax ID and your fees. Invoicing design phases and installation is on the landscape designer invoicing guide linked below.
The BLS profile of landscape architects (In the US, last modified August 27, 2026) says: "All states require landscape architects to be licensed." and "Licensing requirements vary by state but usually include at least a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from an accredited school, internship experience, and passing a qualifying exam." Ask your state's licensing board which design work and titles call for that license.
First design invoice, sample figures only: a site visit at 1 × $150.00, a planting plan at 1 × $900.00 and 2 revision hours at 2 × $75.00 = $150.00 add up to $150.00 + $900.00 + $150.00 = $1,200.00.
Step-by-step startup guide
Follow these steps to launch your landscape designer business on solid footing.
- 1
Define your design services
Decide whether you'll offer planting plans, full garden layouts or consultations only, and whether you'll pass installation to a contractor.
- 2
Find your state's licensing line
The BLS landscape architects profile (In the US, last modified August 27, 2026) says: "All states require landscape architects to be licensed." Ask your state's licensing board what a designer without that license can offer and call themselves.
- 3
Register your business
Settle the business structure with professional advice, then complete the registration your state asks for.
- 4
Obtain an EIN
The IRS's EIN page (In the US, IRS, last reviewed or updated July 17, 2026) says: "You can get an EIN for free directly from the IRS in minutes." The SBA (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says: "Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your business’s federal tax ID number."
- 5
Set your design fees
Decide whether each plan is a flat fee or billed by the hour, and how many revisions the fee includes.
- 6
Bill the first design
Invoice the site visit, the plan and any revision hours with a due date. The landscape designer invoicing guide covers design phases and installation.
Tips for starting your landscape designer business
- If a client also wants installation, quote it separately from the design.
- Keep site photos and measurements with each project file.
- Reserve some of each design fee for tax. The IRS self-employment tax page (In the US, IRS, last reviewed or updated October 30, 2026) says "The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%."
- Check your state's rules before you describe your services on a website.
How Billed helps you get started
Features to look at as you set up your business.
Estimate Templates
Billed's features page says: "Create professional estimates with Billed App estimate templates."
Customize Estimates
Billed's features page says: "Customize your estimates according to your needs. Add your logo, business info and more in estimates."
Project Due Dates
Billed's features page says: "Deliver your projects on time with project due dates in Billed App."
Payment Reminders
Billed's features page says: "Send payment reminders to your customers to get paid faster on your invoices."
Frequently asked questions
More Startup Guides
Send Your First Invoice
Create invoices, track payments and keep your clients' details in one place with Billed.
At a glance
| Question | Where to look | Quoted here |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing and titles | Your state's licensing board | BLS (In the US, last modified August 27, 2026) |
| Tax ID | The IRS | IRS (In the US, last reviewed or updated July 17, 2026) |
| Registration | Your state | Pointer only |
| First design invoice | You | Landscape designer invoicing guide |
When this isn't for you
If you're a licensed landscape architect, or plan to join a design firm on staff, this guide for independent designers won't fit.