How to Start a Landscaping Business
Business Overview:
If you are an able landscaper tired of working for someone else, find out how to start a landscaping business so you can be your own boss and keep the profits. Working for a larger company often means you do all the work, get only a small portion of the profits and have no say in how the business is run. Starting a landscaping business is the perfect way to utilize your skills and have the freedom to make your own business decisions. How you market your landscaping business will mean success or failure. Without enough clients at the right price points, you cannot make a profit. It is imperative that you learn how to properly market your new business. The good news is, the demand for landscaping services is always going to be high and once you have a good base of customers, you will likely get plenty of referrals. Your marketing plan will be one major portion outlined in your landscaping business plan. Another item you will need to include in your plan will be who will be doing the majority of the actual landscaping. You might decide to hire a landscaping staff and have them do all the work while you run the business from home. In fact, as you grow this business idea and you are able to add more equipment and more employees, you won’t be able to be on every job site. Managing your crews from home, with occasional drop-ins to check on job quality and consistency, will be the best option. When you look into how to start a home-based landscaping business, you will find answers to questions about the pros and cons of buying a landscaping franchise. The cost may be more up front but you won’t have to bother with buying any equipment and the franchise may even come with employees. Whether you focus your business on corporate, civil or residential clients, high quality services, good prices and an excellent marketing strategy will translate into a successful landscaping business.
A Day in the Life of a Landscaping Business Owner:
As the owner of a landscaping business, you will need to check the appointments for the day and talk to your crew to make sure they know where to go and when to be there. You will talk to your crew throughout the day to check on the equipment and supplies. You or your employees will need to stop at your local nursery or greenhouse for plants, trees, etc. that they’ll be using that day. You will spend a portion of your day marketing your business by making contact with local nurseries that may need extra landscaper business to take on their overflow work. You’ll continue marketing by visiting local condo associations and businesses to present your landscaping services, or by speaking with homeowners, one-on-one, to let them know of the great services you offer. You may also place ads online and in the newspaper and discussing referrals with clients. You will need to look at your finances and make sure all your invoices have been sent out and all your bills have been paid.
About Your Customers:
Your customers will be office managers, real estate professionals, apartment and condo managers, and homeowners who need high quality landscaping services.
What You Need to Start:
- Business plan
- Marketing plan
- Truck with trailer
- Various landscaping tool and supplies
- A good relationship with several local nurseries and greenhouses
- License and insurance
- Computer with finance software
The Good:
- Running your own business can be very rewarding.
- As the business owner, you don’t have to do the manual labor any longer.
- Once your marketing plan kicks in, you should have plenty of business to make a good profit.
- You get to spend your day dealing with a business you enjoy.
- You can work as much or as little as you want.
- If you like to be outside, you can spend a good part of your day onsite where your employees are doing the work you’ve assigned to them.
The Bad:
- Hiring a skilled staff of employees can take some time.
- Inclement weather can hinder the jobs on some days and cause this to be a seasonal business if you live in the Northern climate.
Resources:
- American Nursery and Landscape Association
- Professional Landcare Network
- Ecological Landscaping Association
- Bureau of Labor Statistics on Landscape Architects
- Wikipedia on Landscaping
About The Author
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