Creating a Profitable Landscaping Business in Four Simple Steps
More people than ever are starting their own businesses; 56% of the private sector is sole proprietorships alone, saying nothing of the volume of privately trading companies started up from home. There are boundless niches in which to work, and digital media is not the only way to start working for yourself. Hands-on labour like landscaping is a sought-after commodity, and with the right tools, you might be able to corner the market. Here’s how to start your own landscaping business in four easy steps.
Start Budgeting
The best place to start with building your business is the budget. Starting a landscaping company comes with its costs before you can get started generating income. You need to set money aside for certification tools, any potential marketing – both physical and digital – and initial staffing costs if you intend to have employees. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of setting up a private limited company, though you can opt to work as a sole trader and circumvent this fee for the time being. If these costs seem initially insurmountable, you may be able to secure a business loan which which to get your landscaping company off the ground.
Get Certified
A major way to bolster the potential success of your landscaping business is to enrol in relevant courses, enabling you to gain qualifications in horticulture and certifying to your customers that you are the business for the job. These diplomas might be in the form of an NVQ, or the Royal Horticultural Society’s own program. Either way, the courses will not only act as a marketing benefit but provide you with skills you might not have otherwise learned on the job!
Preparing for the Work
There are several steps to preparing for the launch of your landscaping business. You’ll first want to confirm your business plan – that is, the rates you intend to offer, the number of customers you’re aiming to retain and the profits you’re aiming to reach year on year. Next, you’ll want to develop your style as a landscaper; what do you intend to sell to your customers? Simple neatening of hedges and gardens, or a more involved form of a ‘garden architecture’, with different spaces and different vibes?
Next, it’s time to purchase your tools. You won’t be needing just a shovel and a hedge trimmer – be sure to invest in a range of high quality tools both for gardening and construction: a cordless Milwaukee SDS Plus drill for fence construction; a pneumatic pile driver for larger garden structures; mattocks; tree saws; the list goes on. Lastly, you’ll want to put together a team. With the right rate of pay, finding a skilled and dedicated team is not a difficult affair, and building the right team can win you more contracts in the long run.
Build Your Marketing Strategy
Now you’re ready to trade, it’s time to announce yourself to the world. Start with building a website advertising your services, and investing in a business phone and sim card to receive work on separately. With a website to point to, you can enlist the help of a local PR team to push your services to the right people – whether local newspapers or even radio. Meanwhile, leafleting is still a highly effective way of generating cold business; simply make up flyers and distribute them yourself!
