Why not start a gardening business?
Do you love gardening and being outdoors?
Do you mind hard work and being outside in all weathers? (Even when it is freezing cold?)
If so, the decision to start a gardening business might be an easy one
A home gardening service is an excellent home business idea, as it means you provide a much-needed service in your local area
Why Start a Gardening Business?
Your garden business could provide a variety of services, here are 9 ways you could start a gardening business:
Offer the following services (combine them for even more options)
- grass cutting
- grass treatments
- planting
- weeding
- fencing
- hedge maintenance
- tree surgery
- patio design and build
- full landscaping [and weeding to full garden design and planning)
The above list is really just a start – the services you provide will be very much up to you
Note that some (tree surgery for example) may need certifications depending on the area you live in.
However, it’s a good idea to know ahead of time just what you’ll be providing.
Start by writing a list of the services you feel able to offer.
Do you have experience with garden design and a great eye for detail?
If so, you may want to help people plan and design their dream garden.
Be aware that potential customers may ask about your qualifications and ask for samples of gardens you have previously designed.
If garden design isn’t quite right for you, you may want to simply offer maintenance and/or planting services.
In this case, you may advise clients about certain plants, and help them choose new plants, and then plant them and care for them.
Or you may simply want to offer light maintenance on existing gardens such as scheduled grass cutting and weeding.
Again, the services you provide when you start a gardening businessare entirely up to you.
How Do I Get Start a Gardening Business?
If you’re going to get started as a one-person business then you will need all the relevant equipment.
Of course, you’ll have good knowledge about gardening and plants.
If you’ve never taken a formal course that’s usually fine
But it’s a good idea to brush up on your skills as necessary with a home-study course or by studying gardening books.
Once you have all your equipment, you need to ensure you’re meeting all the legal business requirements.
Your local county office can advise you and help with this step, or go to a small business advisor in your area
Make sure you have all the right insurances to cover you
- in case of injury or your clients in case things go wrong
- damage you may cause through accidents
How Do I Find Clients?
This is a business that will largely depend on word of mouth (and Facebook!)
If your customers are happy with your services, they will likely recommend you to their family and friends.
Ensuring you do a great job is important!
To gain your first few clients, sending flyers out locally as well as placing a sign on your car (which has your logo and details) is an easy and inexpensive way to start.
You may also want to place an ad in your local paper.
Building a relationship with a local garden nursery or garden center is a good idea as well.
You can commit to buying your plants and equipment from them if in exchange they tell their clients about your services.
Most garden centers will be okay with letting you place a flyer on their bulletin board.
If you love gardening and have a great knowledge of plants and their care , starting a garden service business may be ideal for you.
This is a flexible business with a lot of potential to expand
Why not take the plunge and start a gardening business today