Do you enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors? Do you also enjoy gardening, and aren’t bothered by what the weather is like on any given day? If so, why not consider a career in the garden industry?
It’s a lucrative field- those people with big gardens often work long hours to pay for them. And that means they need a lot of help to keep them in order. So, if you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty, here’s what you need to do to get started.
The skills
You’ll need plenty of skills to be a successful landscape gardener. Although you don’t need qualifications, it might be hard to find new customers without getting experience first. So, think about doing a course in landscaping, and finding some work with a local firm before you get started. It’s also worth thinking about developing your skills as you grow. When you start out, you should target smaller gardens and build up your experience before moving onto larger plots.
The costs
The start-up costs for a landscaping business are minimal. You’ll need a van or a truck, some basic tools, and some money set aside for marketing purposes. When you first get going, it might be an idea to hire or rent your tools and vehicles, to cut down on those initial payments until you have built up profit.
The suppliers
You will need to build up a good relationship with a local supplier – or suppliers. They will be able to help you get the products you need to work, such as your tools, fertilisers and other garden essentials. Have a look around your local area and see if you can find somewhere that will give you the best deals. For example, Arborgreen offers discounts to trade customers. Those little savings can come in handy for increasing your profit margins.
Insurance
Just as you should have insurance for any other business, so you should for your landscape gardening company. At the bare minimum, you will need professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance. This will cover you against accidents and damages that you might encounter when you are working on your projects. You will also need employer’s liability insurance from the very moment you start hiring staff.
Marketing
Your success will be defined by your reputation, so it’s easy to see why marketing is such an important tool. The more you impress your clients, the more likely they will be to recommend you to friends, family, and neighbours. Make sure you have a website that you can point people to, with the best examples of your work. Use customer testimonies, too – they might make the difference between someone giving you a call and going elsewhere.
So, do you think you have what it takes to become a landscape gardener? If you are interested, it can be easy to find experience in your locale with another firm. We recommend that you give it a go first, before diving into forming a company. It will give you a better indication of whether you can handle it or not. Happy landscaping!
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