If you want independence as well as steady income from your career, then starting a gardening business might be perfect for you. Much like any other entrepreneur, to start your gardening business, there’s a lot of groundwork that you’ll need to set. You’ll also need to think about whether a gardening business would be right for you.
Running a gardening business is labor intensive. You’ll need to do a lot of heavy lifting, pruning, digging, bending, and more. You’ll also be exposed to the elements for multiple hours every day. A lot of the work that you get might be seasonal as well. During spring and summer, you’ll probably have more work than in winter. You’ll also need to build specialized knowledge if you really want your business to thrive.
You’ll need to know what plants grow best in the area, and how to best care for them. You could also choose to specialize in exotic plants, which might expose you to a different clientele. Such clients often pay more, as taking care of exotic plants is harder.
But how exactly do you start your gardening business? Here are some tips that will help you on your journey:
1. Decide What Services You Will Offer
You could choose to offer a wide range of services or just specialize in one or two. The kinds of services that gardening businesses offer generally include:
- Lawn care and maintenance
- Landscaping
- Selection of new plants
- Planting new plants, and refining how the garden looks
- Mowing, pruning, cleaning and leaf blowing services
- For food gardens, planting, taking care of and then harvesting the produce
2. Create Your Price List
You should charge prices that allow you to compete with other gardening businesses in your area. Not only should your prices look reasonable to your customers, but you should also be able to make a profit. Look at how your competitors have priced their services.
Write down what your business expenses are as well. Then, ensure that you charge your prices such that you can meet your expenses, manage business operations, and make a profit.
3. The Business Budget
To make a budget, you’ll need to write down what your start up expenses are, as well as your monthly expenses. Your start up expenses include buying equipment, buying plants, registering your business, and more. Your monthly expenses will include your marketing costs, fuel for your vehicle, paying employees, maintaining equipment, and more.
For gardening businesses, the start up costs aren’t moderate. With just around $5000, you should be able to start a new gardening business.
4. Buying Supplies And Equipment
You could already have some of the supplies and equipment that you need to get your business started. You’ll need gardening equipment, but you’ll also need a van that helps you transport your equipment to your job sites.
You might also need carpentry tools, depending on the kind of job you’re doing. You’ll also need to purchase some office supplies as well as simple cash flow management software, for the administrative side of your business.
5. Write Your Business Plan
Before you register your business, consider creating a business plan first. In your business plan, try to predict how your business’s cash flow, revenue, and expenses are expected to proceed within the next six months. A business plan is also useful for getting business loans. Even if you don’t need a loan for your business, writing a business plan can help you set a direction for your business.
6. Registering Your Business
Next, you’ll need to register your business. You’ll need to choose a name for your business, as well as a legal entity for it. If you’re running your gardening business by yourself, then you could choose to register your business as a sole proprietorship. If you have a partner, then you could choose to form a partnership.
You’ll also need to check what the business licensing rules are for your city, as well as your state. You might also need to have a personal license that enables you to provide landscaping services.
Consider investing in trade insurance as well. This is as running your gardening business exposes you to certain career risks, such as getting sued by unhappy clients. When you have trade insurance, you can protect your business as well as your finances. If you would like to learn more about trade insurance, then click here.
7. Marketing Your Business
To enable your gardening business to get clients, you’ll need to market it. Ask your friends, family and network circle to provide you with referrals. Create a website for your business, and ensure that you’re gardening business is listed in online listings. Create social media business accounts as well, to reach clients online. Keep sharing quality content on a regular basis to attract clients to your business.
Conclusion
For gardening business owners, the summer months tend to be the busiest time of all. This is a great time to start a new gardening business. Use this guide to learn everything you need to know about starting a new gardening business.
