How to Start a Landscaping Business 1-2-3

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Landscape Business Start-Up Plan

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

T I P : How to Make Money Growing Plants in Your Backyard See how Mike McGroarty started growing and selling plants from his small backyard - and made enough money to run a full-time gardening business from home. See how he did it

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.

• "How Do I Write a Proposal?"
• Download the sample sales letter for landscapers that you can mail to clients or use on a website
• Design Your Own Logo Online & Get Free Business Cards
• Advertise for cheap using Landscape Business Websites
• Find Local Customers Online

Landscaping Business Resources:

Landscaper Training & Certification How to Register Your Business Name Get a Business License Free Business Insurance Quotes

Small Business Financing Business Accounting Software Sample Invoice & Invoice Software Accept Credit Cards

More Landscaping Business Information:

• Start a Tree Trimming Business
• Start a Pool Service Company
• Start an Outdoor Lighting Business
• Start a Sprinkler System Business
• Sell and Install Patios and Decks

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 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 

 

T I P : How to Make Money Growing Plants in Your Backyard How gardener Mike McGroarty started growing and selling plants from his small backyard, turned a sizable profit - and how YOU can do the same thing (even without lots of space).

Landscaping Business Associations

• Planet Professional Landscape Network
  Planet's mission is to cultivate and safeguard opportunities for their members, professionals in the landscape and lawn care field.
• Landscape Network
  An organization that connects customers to landscaping and lawn care contractors.