Small Landscaping Owner
Compensation Benchmark
$70K – $95K
Side-by-side comparison · 2025–2026
Landscaping vs Roofing
Compare revenue, profit margins, owner compensation, startup costs, crew productivity, seasonality, scalability, and valuation benchmarks.
Decision Snapshot
| Best For | Winner |
|---|---|
| Revenue Predictability | Landscaping |
| Peak Revenue Potential | Roofing |
| Lower Startup Cost | Landscaping |
| Recurring Revenue | Landscaping |
| Revenue Per Crew | Roofing |
| Profit Margin Stability | Landscaping |
| Year-Round Operations | Landscaping |
| Valuation Multiples | Roofing |
KPI Comparison Dashboard
| Metric | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue | $600K – $2.5M | $800K – $4.5M |
| Net Profit Margin | 5 – 12% | 6 – 15% |
| Owner Compensation | $70K – $150K | $80K – $220K |
| Revenue Per Crew | $200K – $350K | $400K – $900K/crew |
| Startup Cost | $75K – $250K | $100K – $350K |
| Business Value | 1.8× – 2.8× SDE | 2.0× – 3.2× SDE |
| Recurring Contract % | 35 – 55% | 5 – 15% |
Winner Scorecard
Revenue Stability
Landscaping8/10
Roofing5/10
Winner: Landscaping
Peak Earnings Potential
Landscaping6/10
Roofing9/10
Winner: Roofing
Recurring Revenue
Landscaping9/10
Roofing2/10
Winner: Landscaping
Capital Efficiency
Landscaping8/10
Roofing7/10
Winner: Landscaping
Business Model Overview
Landscaping
Revenue Sources
- Residential Maintenance Routes
- Commercial Grounds Contracts
- Landscape Design & Install
- Hardscape & Outdoor Living
- Irrigation & Enhancements
Roofing
Revenue Sources
- Residential Roof Replacement
- Storm & Insurance Restoration
- Roof Repairs
- Commercial Roofing
- Gutter & Exterior Add-Ons
Revenue Comparison Center
How each model converts service calls into revenue.
Landscaping
Lead
Estimate
Crew Dispatch
Service/Install
Recurring Contract
Revenue
Roofing
Lead/Storm
Inspection
Estimate
Install
Insurance Close
Revenue
Revenue Drivers
| Driver | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Field Staff Count | 8 – 30 crew members | 2 – 8 install crews |
| Average Ticket | $45 – $120 (weekly) | $8K – $22K (install) |
| Project Ticket | $3K – $25K (install) | $12K – $28K |
| Recurring Revenue | 35 – 55% (maintenance) | 5 – 15% |
Customer & Job Economics
Lifetime value and job economics — the core financial differentiator.
Landscaping
Property Owner
Weekly Service
Seasonal Upsells
Design Project
Renewal
Roofing
Homeowner
Inspection
Replacement/Repair
Insurance Claim
Referral
Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Lifetime Value | $800 – $2,400 | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| Visits Per Year | 26 – 40 (weekly service) | 1 – 2 (install cycle) |
| Average Ticket | $45 – $120/week | $8K – $22K |
| Contract Retention | 75 – 90% | Low – Moderate |
Technician Productivity Comparison
Revenue per technician and field productivity.
Landscaping
Crew
Properties
Revenue
Roofing
Crew
Installs
Revenue
| Metric | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Per Crew | $200K – $350K | $400K – $900K/crew |
| Jobs Per Period | 12 – 25 properties/day | 4 – 8 installs/month |
| Labor Cost % of Revenue | 40 – 55% | 25 – 35% |
Profitability Comparison
Landscaping
Weak 3 – 5%Avg 6 – 8%Strong 9 – 12%
Roofing
Weak 3 – 6%Avg 7 – 11%Strong 12 – 15%
Expense Breakdown
| Expense | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Labor | 40 – 55% | 25 – 35% |
| Materials | 12 – 20% | 30 – 42% |
| Fleet & Equipment | 8 – 14% | 5 – 8% |
| Marketing | 4 – 8% | 8 – 14% |
Recurring Revenue & Demand Analysis
Maintenance contracts and emergency demand shape margin stability.
Landscaping
Contract Recurrence
35 – 55% recurring maintenance
Roofing
Storm Revenue Driver
20 – 40% insurance restoration
| Metric | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance/Recurring Revenue | 35 – 55% | 5 – 15% |
| Insurance/Storm Revenue | Low | 20 – 40% |
| Project-Based Revenue | 15 – 30% | 70 – 85% |
| Weather Dependency | Moderate – High | High |
Owner Compensation Comparison
Multi-Crew Landscaping Operator
Compensation Benchmark
$120K – $200K+
Small Roofing Owner
Compensation Benchmark
$80K – $130K
Storm-Market Roofing Operator
Compensation Benchmark
$150K – $400K+
Startup Cost Comparison
Investment required to launch or acquire each home services business.
Landscaping
- Mowers & Equipment30%
- Trucks & Trailers25%
- Marketing Launch15%
- Working Capital30%
Roofing
- Trucks & Equipment25%
- Tools & Safety Gear15%
- Marketing Launch25%
- Working Capital35%
Cost Breakdown
| Expense | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $25K – $80K | $40K – $120K |
| Vehicles | $20K – $60K | Included above |
| Marketing Launch | $15K – $40K | $30K – $80K |
| Total Launch Budget | $75K – $250K | $100K – $350K |
Valuation Comparison
| Metric | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| SDE Multiple | 1.8× – 2.8× | 2.0× – 3.2× |
| Revenue Multiple | 0.35× – 0.65× | 0.4× – 0.8× |
| EBITDA Multiple | 2.8× – 4.5× | 3.0× – 5.0× |
$1M+ Revenue Company → Estimated Value
Landscaping
$356K – $554K
2.2× SDE on $198K SDE
Roofing
$640K – $1.15M
2.6× SDE on $360K SDE
Break-Even Comparison
| Metric | Landscaping | Roofing |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Revenue Needed | $60K – $100K | $100K – $180K |
| Accounts/Jobs Needed | 150 – 350 weekly accounts | 12 – 25 installs/month |
| Months To Break-Even | 6 – 14 months | 8 – 18 months |
| Crews at Break-Even | 2 – 4 crews | 2 – 4 crews |
Growth Potential Analysis
Landscaping Growth Path
1 Crew
Weekly Route Density
3 – 5 Crews
Commercial Contracts
Roofing Growth Path
1 Crew
Storm Marketing
3 – 5 Crews
Regional Brand
Capital Efficiency
Which model gives the best return on invested capital?
If You Invest $250,000
Landscaping
- Revenue Generated
- $800K – $1.4M
- Profit Generated
- $64K – $154K net profit
- Payback Period
- 2 – 4 years
Roofing
- Revenue Generated
- $1.2M – $3.5M
- Profit Generated
- $120K – $380K net profit
- Payback Period
- 2 – 4 years
Who Should Choose What?
Choose Landscaping If
- You want recurring maintenance revenue and predictable weekly cash flow
- You prefer route-based operations over project-based install cycles
- You want lower startup costs and faster break-even with a small crew
- You value commercial contract books and customer retention over storm spikes
- You want a business model with 35–55% recurring revenue penetration
Choose Roofing If
- You're in a storm-prone market with strong insurance restoration demand
- You want high-ticket project revenue and higher revenue per crew
- You can manage weather-dependent scheduling and sales-driven growth
- You want upside from hail/wind events and large replacement projects
- You're comfortable with project-heavy revenue and lower recurring mix
Interactive Decision Tool
Interactive Decision Tool
Answer four questions to get a trade recommendation based on your capital, revenue goals, and growth plans.
Recommendation: Landscaping
Landscaping aligns with your goals — recurring maintenance revenue, route-based operations, lower startup costs, and predictable weekly cash flow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more profitable — landscaping or roofing?
Landscaping offers more stable recurring revenue (35–55% maintenance) with median ~8% net margin. Roofing margins range 7–15% with higher volatility — storm years can produce exceptional profits while slow years compress margins. Landscaping is more predictable; roofing has higher upside in event-driven markets.
Which generates more revenue?
Roofing has higher peak revenue potential — median ~$2.0M with storm operators exceeding $4M. Landscaping median is ~$1.1M with steadier growth through route density and commercial contracts. Roofing wins on peak potential; landscaping wins on consistency.
Which has more recurring revenue?
Landscaping dominates recurring revenue with weekly maintenance contracts representing 35–55% of income. Roofing is overwhelmingly project-based — repairs and replacements drive 70–85% of revenue with minimal recurring penetration (5–15%).
Which is cheaper to start?
Landscaping startups typically require $75K–$250K versus $100K–$350K for roofing. Landscaping can launch with mowers, a truck, and a small crew. Roofing needs safety equipment, material relationships, and often stronger sales infrastructure.
How do valuation multiples compare?
Roofing businesses sell at 2.0×–3.2× SDE (median ~2.6×) while landscaping companies trade at 1.8×–2.8× SDE (median ~2.2×). Buyers pay premiums for roofing's higher revenue per crew but discount weather dependency and project volatility.
Which is better in storm markets?
Roofing benefits disproportionately from hail, wind, and hurricane markets — insurance restoration can represent 20–40% of revenue. Landscaping operates in storm markets but benefits from cleanup and repair work rather than full replacement cycles tied to insurance claims.