Ready to start your landscaping business in South Carolina? Let’s make it official.

This guide walks you through the licenses you need to formally establish your business and how to get them. 

You will also learn:

• The different types of permits required

• How much they cost

• A step-by-step process for getting licensed

• Mistakes to avoid when getting a license

• How to stay productive and grow your business

Let’s dive right in!

Do you need a license to start a landscaping business in South Carolina?

Starting a landscaping business in South Carolina doesn’t require a statewide business license. However, you may need a local business license from the county or municipality where the landscaping company will operate. 

While general lawn care doesn’t require a special license from the state, specific services, such as pesticide/fertilizer application or landscape design, require certifications from regulatory bodies. 

In a nutshell, the license requirement depends on the county you’ll be operating from and the services you want to offer. 

What are the types of landscaping business licenses and permits in South Carolina?

To effectively run a landscaping enterprise in the Palmetto State, here are the different licenses you’ll need:

General business license

First, a business license from the municipality or county where the company will operate. Since it doesn’t cover the entire state, you should check with the local government to determine what’s expected. 

To do that, create an account with the Municipal Association of South Carolina and enter your business address to confirm the local county or municipality that will issue your license. 

Landscape Architect License

If you're looking to offer services like designing hardscape, grading plans, or public landscaping in South Carolina, you'll need a Landscape Architect License.

The South Carolina Landscape Architect Board manages this license and requires applicants to have a college degree, possess relevant experience, and pass a licensing examination. 

Specialized licenses

For landscaping businesses that include pesticide and fertilizer application in their scope, South Carolina law requires them to obtain a license.

The Department of Pesticide Regulation issues this license, which requires the applicant to pass a state exam, one category-specific exam (to test their knowledge of pesticide use in typical jobs), and provide proof of insurance. 

General contractor licenses

You’ll need this permit to handle construction projects that cost over $10,000, such as hardscaping, water features, or outdoor structures.

The Contractor’s License Board oversees this license, allowing you to take on projects in South Carolina. Also, you or a qualified participant (someone designated by you as the one responsible for directing or reviewing work performed in a particular classification) have to pass the PSI exam requirements before submitting a license application to the board.

Step-by-step process to get a landscaping business license in South Carolina

Now that you’re ready to start the process, let’s take a look at what’s involved. Below are the steps required to start a landscaping business in South Carolina.

1. Choose a business structure

Determine the legal structure you want for your business. Would you like it to be a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation?

Sole proprietorship means you’re running the business alone and may need to file a Doing Business As (DBA) name. In contrast, corporations or LLCs are operated in partnership with others and offer protection from personal liability.

Choosing the right structure for your business could minimize taxes and protect your assets. 

2. Determine local business license requirements

After registering your business, check if you need a local license from the city or county where you operate. Considering not all counties require a license, use the South Carolina Business One Stop or the Municipal Association of South Carolina to look up license requirements by address.

3. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

If you plan to hire workers, you’ll need to apply for an EIN on the IRS website. It’s a must-have for taxes and hiring employees.

Obtaining an EIN is free, and it’s crucial for opening a bank account, processing payroll, and filing taxes. 

4. Get insurance

You need general landscaping business insurance to protect your company and clients. You will also need equipment and workers’ compensation insurance that covers workers and landscaping tools.

Surety bonds are also required if you bid on government landscaping contracts.

5. Apply for necessary permits and licenses

What will the scope of your landscaping services be? Will you focus on lawn care services, or will you also include design and pesticide application? 

To apply pesticides commercially, you’ll need to: 

• Pass a core exam and at least one category exam

• Pay an application fee ($200)

• Submit the application form to Clemson/DPR 

For design services, you’ll need a Landscape Architect License from the South Carolina Dept. of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. You will have to pay a $200 application fee, complete the form, and provide references, employment verification forms, and college transcripts or a reciprocity verification form. 

6. Prepare and submit your application

Collate all the documents required by the local government, which could include:

• Owner and business information 

• EIN

• Insurance/bonds 

• Registered business certificates

Next, pay the necessary fees and submit an application to the county or city where you intend to operate. Some allow online submissions, while others prefer in-person or mail submissions. 

Once the application has been reviewed and approved, you’ll get the business license, which must be renewed annually.  

7. Maintain compliance

Review the requirements provided by your municipality or county and strive to remain compliant. 

Ensure all business documents and insurance are up to date. File and pay sales taxes and, most importantly, renew local licenses annually.

How much does a South Carolina landscaping business license cost?

Since SC doesn’t issue a statewide landscaping business license, the fee structure varies by municipality and, in some cases, your gross income. 

Here’s a general overview of the expenses associated with getting a business license:

General business license fees

• Cost: $25-$300+ per year, depending on municipality and gross income.

• Required to operate in a region legally.

• Renewals are typically annual.

• Contact the city or county government office to confirm the accurate price.

Pesticide applicator license

• Individual applicator, covering the person applying the pesticides: $50 per person

• Business applicator license required to offer the service: $150 and $50 for the designated certified applicator.

• Core exam costs: $75

• Each category exam: $50

Landscape Architect License

• Application fee per exam: $50

• Certificate of authorization registration fee: $200

• Application by reciprocity: $200

• Biennial renewal fee: $200-400, depending on license type

• Licensee list: $10

• Late fee for delinquent renewals: $20

What are the most common mistakes to avoid when getting a license?

While there is some flexibility regarding landscaping business licenses in South Carolina, you want to avoid the following mistakes, as they can lead to fines, delays, or disqualification from operating your business: 

1. Assuming there’s a state license 

Considering many states in the U.S. have state licenses, it’s easy to assume that there’s one in South Carolina, too. 

However, there is no statewide business permit, except for a pesticide license. You should contact the city or county where the company will operate to verify what’s required for landscapers.

2. Mixing up pesticide licenses

South Carolina offers two pesticide permits: one for the applicator and one for the business owner. This can cause some confusion for landscapers, who may select one when they need both. 

If your business offers pest application services, you need:

• A pesticide business license for the company

• A commercial applicator license for you or anyone who will do the job

You can apply for both through Clemson University’s Department of Pesticide Regulation.

3. Underestimating the exam difficulty

To get a pesticide license, you need to pass the core exam and at least one category-specific exam. 

Each exam has a fee, and failing will cost you time and money. So, use official study guides and, if you can, enroll in a prep course to ensure you’re ready for test time. 

4. Forgetting renewals

Getting a license isn’t a one-and-done process. Most permits expire in December, so they need to be renewed annually. Failing to renew could result in late fees or fines. 

You have to be extra vigilant for permits such as the Landscape Architect License, which requires biennial renewal.

How Aspire helps landscaping businesses stay organized and compliant

Now that you have a license and business is underway, you need a proper system to help you stay organized and on track. 

It can be challenging to keep up with landscaping operations as the business grows. You’re either trying to secure new leads, manage client relationships, track employee performance, or monitor profitability, or everything at the same time. 

While the conventional approach is to use different tools for each aspect of the business, Aspire centralizes everything, allowing landscaping operations to be managed from a single location. 

Here are the different ways Aspire helps landscaping businesses:

Contract and proposal management

Aspire features customizable proposal templates that enable you to send professional-looking proposals to clients. Instead of waiting to get to the office, you can bring out an iPad, smartphone, or laptop to edit a proposal, allowing you to close deals quickly. 

This saves time and reduces errors. If clients are comfortable with the proposal, they can sign the contract right on Aspire.

Considering that every contract and proposal is stored in a central location, it’s easy to review them to ensure your company has the required licenses and stays compliant.

Invoicing and payment processing

Aspire also has an invoicing feature that simplifies billing for your landscaping services.

Clients who accept proposals can make payments within Aspire, making the process seamless. This also means you can monitor outstanding bills, paid invoices, and have direct access to financial records. 

Pesticide compliance tracking

With Aspire, you can track all the licenses and certifications held by your employees and the company. 

Having easy access to such information helps you maintain compliance with the Department of Pesticide Regulation and assign employees with commercial applicator licenses to pesticide-related projects.

Business reporting and documentation

Get insights into everything that goes on in your landscaping business with Aspire’s reporting feature. You can view the direct costs associated with your service type, client retention rates, total cash inflow and outflow, job inventory, and current losses. This helps you determine whether the business is running at a profit or a loss.

Additionally, you can monitor your crews’ productivity, labor and material costs, and tax filings. This ensures you can make smart decisions to grow your business. 

Scheduling and job management

Want to seamlessly schedule projects and delegate tasks to different crews? Aspire’s scheduling feature enables you to do just that, reducing double-booking and other errors associated with manual scheduling.

Over to you

A South Carolina landscaping business license allows you to legally operate in specific counties, protects you, and builds client trust. 

Pair that with Aspire, a landscaping management tool that enables you to grow the business, and you’re in for a comfortable ride. 

From creating proposals to sending invoices, receiving payments, managing equipment, scheduling projects, monitoring profitability, and generating reports, Aspire helps you run every aspect of your landscaping business efficiently.  

Schedule a free demo to see how it works in real time. 

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. While every care was taken to use official sources, you should always verify requirements with South Carolina’s government websites.