How to Start a Landscaping Business 1-2-3
If you enjoy working outdoors and want to incorporate your creativity into your work, landscaping may be the
perfect business for you.
Learn from Professional Landscaper Janet Hartin, who has worked in the landscaping field for many years. Her
extensive experience includes teaching other professional landscapers how to excel in the field, plus she has
written hundreds of articles on landscaping. In short, she knows what she's talking about.
As a landscaper, you get to work with design elements as well as planting and care of landscaped grounds.
This high-paying work lets you work with a variety of clients: residential, schools, businesses, public parks,
golf courses, resorts and more. For some, this can be a dream come true.
What's Included?
- How to plant and maintain all sorts of trees and plants, plus how to create water and energy efficient
landscapes.
Start-up basics, including business
planning, legal issues, insurance, licensing and how to obtain funding and budget for success. Plus:
cost to start your business and how much to charge your clients.
Equipment and tools that you need, where to get
them, how to save money, benefits of leasing and free trials of landscape design software to
increase your profits.
- How to find clients and land jobs and 9 different ways to make money year-round, even in slow
seasons.
Start Your Own Landscaping Business
Before you start your landscaping business, check with your city or county government office to see which
licenses you need. Most times,
landscapers need to have a business license and some states require you to also carry a contractor's license.
If you apply pesticides, you may also need a pest control license.
Your state may or may
not require your business to carry liability insurance. In most cases it is a good idea to have it. Get a business insurance quote free. Landscapers typically need a truck and hand tools
to complete most jobs. Larger equipment that is not used as often can usually be rented. If you plan to do
more gardening work, a lawn mower, edger and blower are needed. Set up a budget for equipment, supply and predicted labor
expenses. Establish an hourly or job rate to charge your clients to help cover those costs and generate
profit as well.
Need Training? Professional Landscaper
Career Training
Decide the type of landscaping work you want to offer - focusing on a niche market rather than "everybody"
will help you actually get more clients and succeed with your business. For example, your niche market or
specialty could be water gardens, commercial landscapes, concrete work, drought-tolerant landscaping, Japanese
zen gardens, etc. You don't need to limit your work - just market yourself as a specialist in a particular
area.
If you don't have any clients from past landscaping jobs who can give you referrals, you may want to start
with small residential jobs to help you build your customer base. This way, you can build a pool of satisfied
customers who can give you referrals or testimonials you can use in your ads or on a website. Satisfied clients
are a great resource for obtaining new customers.
Need help naming your landscaping
business?
Landscape Business Marketing Tools:
Advertise with
Signs
Use a car magnet to advertise your business while you are on the road, a yard sign to announce a sale or a
banner to promote your store's grand opening. You can design and create your own signs cheaply online using
SignsBannersDecals.com.
Landscaping Business Resources:
More Landscaping Business Information:
Greenhouses: a High-Profit Business
rated by entrepreneurs
This very comprehensive guide covers plant
containers, buying plugs, propagation, hydroponics, specialty crops, watering and growing care,
soil/fertilizer mixes and more.
- You'll learn about different types of greenhouse structures, coverings, heating and cooling systems and
a plan for a solar greenhouse. Plus valuable greenhouse business tips on organic program emphasizing
prevention, organic sprays, and beneficial insects.
- All greenhouse business aspects covered: marketing, accounting, sales, plant delivery, bill collecting,
computers, financing, licenses and permits. Includes wholesale price lists and a long list of plant buyers
and suppliers.
Start a Greenhouse Business
Landscaping Business Associations