How Small Businesses in the Landscaping and Earthmoving Industries Can Diversify Their Income Streams
Small businesses in the landscaping and earthmoving sectors have long been the backbone of Australia’s construction, agriculture, and property maintenance industries. However, reliance on a single stream of income - such as residential landscaping or contract excavation - can make these businesses vulnerable to economic cycles, seasonal slowdowns, or market shifts.
Diversifying income streams isn’t just a strategy for survival; it’s a pathway to stability, growth, and even innovation. Here’s how small operators in these sectors can tap into new opportunities and make their businesses more resilient.
1. Offer Complementary Services
If you’re already providing landscaping or earthmoving services, there’s a natural opportunity to expand into related offerings that your existing clients might need. For example:
• Landscape Design: Move beyond labour and into planning by offering 2D/3D landscape design services. You can partner with a designer or invest in software and training.
• Irrigation and Drainage: Many property owners need help managing water flow—this is especially relevant during drought or flood seasons.
• Retaining Walls, Decking, and Paving: Offering hardscaping services allows you to bid on more comprehensive jobs and upsell during initial quotes.
These services can be higher margin and help avoid “quiet seasons” by filling gaps in workload.
2. Equipment Hire and Operator Services
If your business owns machinery like excavators, skid steers, or dump trucks, consider leasing your equipment during downtimes. Equipment hire (with or without an operator) is a valuable income stream, especially for projects that don’t require full-time operation.
• Short-Term Hire: Offer competitive day or week rates to contractors, builders, or even local councils.
• Wet Hire Services: Package your machinery with skilled operators—many clients prefer a “done-for-you” model.
Not only does this keep machines active and earning, but it also spreads your exposure across different industries.
3. Enter the Civil and Infrastructure Space
While landscaping and residential earthworks are steady markets, larger-scale infrastructure and civil projects (e.g., council works, road preparation, subdivisions) can offer more stable and long-term contracts.
Getting pre-qualified with local councils or civil contractors can take some paperwork and compliance, but it opens the door to reliable, well-paid jobs—even during downturns in residential construction.
4. Seasonal and Emergency Response Work
Australia’s climate presents unique challenges and opportunities. During summer, bushfire risk and drought increase the need for fire breaks, fuel reduction, and water management services. During storm season, fallen trees, floods, and erosion create demand for:
• Emergency earthworks
• Debris removal
• Temporary access track creation
Offering seasonal or emergency services can help fill downtime and build a reputation for reliability when clients need help most.
5. Sell Products or DIY Kits
Landscaping businesses in particular can supplement service income with physical products:
• Soil, mulch, sand, and gravel: Partner with local quarries or wholesalers to sell landscaping materials.
• Garden features and kits: Raised garden beds, fire pits, edging materials, or DIY pond kits are easy to market to homeowners.
• E-commerce: A small online store for local deliveries can help generate income with minimal extra labour.
This can appeal to the growing DIY market, especially when paired with educational content (see below).
6. Offer Training or Consulting Services
If you’ve built years of experience, why not leverage it to teach others? Offering workshops, short courses, or even one-on-one consulting for:
• New landscapers or machine operators
• Property developers or homeowners planning outdoor upgrades
• Local apprentices seeking to improve their skills
You can charge for this expertise in-person or digitally. Creating online content—videos, guides, or paid webinars—can become a long-term passive income stream.
7. Go Green: Sustainability Services
With sustainability becoming a top priority for both residential and commercial clients, businesses that offer environmentally responsible solutions can tap into a premium market. Services might include:
• Native plant landscaping
• Rain gardens and water capture systems
• Soil regeneration and erosion control
• Carbon-offset land reshaping or tree planting
Positioning your brand as eco-conscious doesn’t just help the environment—it builds credibility and taps into grants or government-supported programs.
8. Build Strategic Partnerships
Work closely with builders, developers, real estate agents, or agricultural consultants to create referral pipelines. Diversifying through partnerships means accessing jobs you might not otherwise land on your own.
Also consider teaming up with businesses in adjacent industries (like fencing, concreting, or demolition) to offer “one-stop shop” packages to clients.
For small businesses in landscaping and earthmoving, diversification isn’t just a defensive move - it’s a growth strategy. By branching into new services, monetising equipment, embracing digital tools, and building strategic alliances, operators can reduce risk, attract new clients, and build a more robust and rewarding business.
Start small, test new ideas, and build steadily—and your business will be better positioned to weather the ups and downs of the market.
