Amidst record-breaking heatwaves across the UK and Europe, there’s never been a better time to get out in the sun and enjoy our parks and gardens. With the demand for landscape gardening services on the increase, more green-fingered entrepreneurs are taking to the market than ever before – but what things do you need to consider when starting up your own budding landscaping business?
What kind of services will you provide?
First and foremost, you need to establish which specific services your business will provide. The range of these may depend on local demand, budget, experience, expertise, and the number of staff in the company.
The most popular landscaping services include landscape design, maintenance, and installation – businesses may specialize in niches including water features, lawn maintenance, and hedge pruning. Generally, landscaping businesses offer hardscape services (such as building patios, walls, and swimming pools) and softscape services (such as planting flowers).
Many landscapers also provide waste removal and cleaning services. The best choice here is a combination of services with cheap running costs that are in demand in your local area.
Finances and equipment
Once you’ve decided on services, it’s time to factor in running costs and overheads such as rent, vehicles, fuel, and wages. How much will you need to charge in order to generate profit?
Many entrepreneurs make use of business loans, credit cards, government schemes, and private investors to fund their initial business ventures, so consider which option is best for you. A great way to cut costs is to invest in time-saving tools and equipment, such as a self-propelled lawn mower for large-scale lawn maintenance jobs.
Consider seasonality
Landscaping is a seasonal business by nature, an aspect that’s been amplified by the effects of global warming, with British gardens suffering from rising summer temperatures.
When planning your business, consider whether changes in weather will have an impact on demand and decrease your workflow and bottom line – for instance, interior landscapers may see a relative increase in business in the winter whilst exterior landscapers are likely to be most busy during spring and summer months.
How will you stand out from the competition?
The landscaping market is extremely competitive in the UK, so it’s essential that your business stands out from the crowd.
Once you’ve established that your services are in demand, you need to plan how you will market yourself; this could include building a company website, canvassing with flyers, advertising in local newspapers, attending trade shows, and registering your business with online directories and making use of social media.
Make sure that you factor in marketing costs to your finances when making a budget for your new business.
