Are you thinking of setting up your own gardening business? If you enjoy getting out and using your hands, you’ll love being a gardener! However, before you can reap the benefits of this interesting and varied career, it’s vital you understand everything you’ll need to get started.
Researching your competition
Before setting up a garden maintenance business, it’s worth checking out your competition. Are there many other gardeners in your local area and if so, what do they specialise in? It could be that you could fill a gap in the market by specialising in a type of garden maintenance your competitors don’t provide.
This will also help you to see what qualifications you should complete before setting up. While there are no specific qualifications you actually need, it does help to be qualified as it will encourage more people to contact you.
Building links with good suppliers
As a gardener, you’re also going to need numerous tools, equipment and materials. Therefore, building up a good relationship with suppliers is essential. For example, Travis Perkins is a reliable, affordable supplier providing fences, driveway paving and deking to name just a few.
One thing to keep in mind here, is that you shouldn’t just focus on the supplier with the cheapest prices. Instead you need to ensure you’re getting high-quality products. When you’re starting out as a gardener, your reputation is everything. So, never compromise quality for a lower cost.
Advertising
One thing you might be concerned about is advertising. Once you’ve set up your business, you’re going to need to get your brand name out there. So, how can you do this with a limited budget?
The great thing about garden maintenance work, is that you don’t need a website or a strong social media presence right away. Instead, you can focus on cheaper marketing methods. Create flyers and ask friends and family for recommendations. You can still get on the social media bandwagon as it is free to use. However, offline marketing is often the best way to go when you’re just starting out.
Overall, setting up a garden maintenance business does take time and money. Ensuring you build up good relationships with suppliers and researching your competitors can help you drastically cut the initial costs involved. Don’t forget to familiarise yourself with the legalities of the business too, including registering as self-employed and sorting your taxes out.