Are you passionate about plants, and do you enjoy being outside? Do you enjoy building durable outdoor systems and getting your hands dirty? Then this is for you! If you’ve been thinking about starting a gardening business in the UK, here is an article that covers starting a gardening business tips, from honing your abilities to forming your company legally to what it takes to be successful. It is important that you have a business plan as you start your gardening business because a business without proper planning is a waste of time. Get our gardening business plan today!
Here we go…
What Is a Gardening Business?
The fast-growing industry of gardening offers clients cost savings, landscape enhancement, and environmental benefits. Traditional outside plot gardens or smaller container gardens can be made.
Companies that provide garden services provide a variety of services, from full garden design and landscaping to grass mowing and other maintenance labour.
What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a Gardener?
A horticultural degree can provide you with useful expertise and make you stand out to customers, although it is not necessary. There are various gardening certifications offered by the Gardeners’ Guild, and you can join.
How to Start a Gardening Business
You should think carefully before starting a gardening business in the UK because many things will affect your success or failure. You need to follow the following steps when starting a gardening business in the UK:
#1. Capital
The start-up costs for starting a gardening business in the UK are somewhat high. You must purchase all the tools you’ll need to do your duties effectively. You must also have a vehicle or trailer to transport that gear to each client’s residence or place of business. Maintaining this equipment will be necessary, so always keep a reserve for unanticipated repairs. Depending on the magnitude of the work you do, you’ll need liability insurance and probably need to hire staff. Don’t forget to include marketing expenses as well to get your company in front of clients.
#2. Get a business name
You must think of a unique name for your gardening business. It should be unique, convey the character of your brand, and make you stand out from your competitors. Check to see if the name is available before registering it, and learn about intellectual property rules.
#3. Know the business
Since the seasons and weather dictate whether you can work or not, running a gardening business can be difficult. Despite the fact that this is a year-round occupation, keep in mind that the majority of your business will be seasonal.
#4. Check out your local area
In the past, the majority of more affluent homeowners thought of hiring someone to work in the garden. However, a wider range of clients are likely to be in need of gardening services nowadays, such as people who work long hours or retirees. Investigate the types of people who live near you in the area where you intend to operate. Consider the breadth of gardening services that these people would require. Look at the overall state of the gardens in your neighborhood. Are they well-maintained, or do they appear to need some upkeep?
#5. Know your clients
As in communal and public settings, you can choose to engage with private clients, commercial enterprises, or government contracts. Alternatively, you can also mix things up. It’s best to start with private clients and work your way up from there. Each has benefits and drawbacks, so carefully consider your target market.
#6. Find out what people want
You could conduct a brief poll in your neighbourhood to find out what kinds of gardening services locals would be interested in. Also, you may observe how they respond to your suggested pricing points. Don’t disregard neighbourhood establishments with grounds, like inns or nursing facilities. The gardens of rental houses or vacation homes may require maintenance, so real estate brokers may be looking for contractors.
#7. Design a gardening business card
Despite the fact that we live in a digital age, a business card can still be an excellent way to promote your gardening services. At garden exhibitions or while providing a service quote, you can leave them with potential consumers.
There are platforms like Canva and Adobe Spark where you can use templates to make your own business cards and marketing materials, so don’t worry if you don’t have any graphic design experience.
#8. Write your business plan
Your company’s strategic direction, the services you’ll provide, and your expansion plans will all be determined with the help of a gardening business plan. Spend some time getting to know your prospective clients, organizing your marketing, and creating a budget for both one-time and continuing expenses.
You must have a business plan since the vast majority of venture capitalists and all financial institutions will not finance a startup or small company without a well-thought-out, documented plan. A business plan not only helps you concentrate on specific goals but also demonstrates to others that you have thought things through.
So, why not contact us at Business Yield Consult for your outstanding gardening business plan? We have compiled one for your use and to ease the stress of writing one.
You can also download our gardening business plan template to guide you on how to write your plan.
#9. Get gardening business insurance
Your top priority should be to arrange public liability insurance for your gardening company. This may protect you in the event that you harm a member of the public or damage their property.
Also, keep in mind that you are required by law to have employers’ liability insurance for all employees, including those who are only employed temporarily.
#10. Price your services
When starting a gardening business, think carefully about the price you’ll charge for your services. If there are numerous other garden service companies in your region, not only will you need to pay all of your expenses and create your own designs, but you will also need to be competitive. You might choose a specific hourly rate that you charge clients who only need the occasional odd job done. If a client requests a long-term contract in which you promise to perform, say, seven hours of labor per week, you may subsequently decide to lower that hourly rate.
You might provide quotes for some projects based on the job rather than the hour (although you will have estimated how long the job will take before setting your charge).
#11. Promote your business
Since you probably won’t have any physical locations to serve as a “shop window” for your company, you’ll need to promote effectively to let potential clients know who you are, where you are, and what services you can provide.
Make sure you and your personnel offer a high-quality and dependable service because word-of-mouth endorsement is incredibly valuable. Why not have your company name and logo printed on the protective apparel that you and your staff will wear for a large portion of the time? A striking emblem on your car will also draw attention to the fact that your company is in charge of the well-kept lawn where it is parked. With the homeowner’s permission, of course, you may post a board at the location where you are working on promoting your company if you are going to offer landscaping services.
What Tools Do I Need to Start a Gardening Business?
You’ll need a pair of sturdy boots, some microfleece, a waterproof coat, and pants, as you’ll be outdoors in all types of weather. If you provide landscaping services, you might also require plants, compost, and lawn care supplies.
If you’re just starting off, larger equipment like lawnmowers and hedge trimmers can be rented. Make sure you get tool insurance to safeguard you in the event that your tools are lost or stolen, whether you are renting or owning them. The most essential thing you’ll need is a van, so you can move all of your equipment from customer to customer.
It’s also important to know that the tools you’ll want will depend on the services you’re providing, but to get you started, here are some gardening tools you need for your gardening business:
- Garden fork
- Pruning shears
- Rake
- Watering can
- Hand trowel
- Secateurs
- Spade
- Wheelbarrow
- Gloves
Is a Gardening Business Profitable?
Gardeners often make varying amounts of money depending on their region, how many hours they work, and the tools they employ.
How Much Can a Self-Employed Gardener Earn in the UK?
The potential earnings of a self-employed gardener depend on their services, level of expertise, and geographic location. Gardeners who work for themselves typically make at least £15 per hour. Make sure that whatever hourly fee you decide to charge for your gardening services will allow you to pay all of your home expenses.
How Much Should I Pay a Gardener Per Hour in the UK?
The hourly charge for a gardener ranges from £12 to £60, with an average price of about £25.
Therefore, hire someone to complete these boring, unpleasant activities so you may sit and enjoy the garden.
How Many Hours Does a Gardener Work a Day?
The majority of gardeners begin their shifts between 7 and 9 a.m. and wrap up between 4 and 6 p.m. Consequently, working as a gardener is a 9-to-5 job, and you will have plenty of time to spend with your family or catch up with your friends after work.
Do Gardeners Work in the Rain?
There are only a few particular chores where harm could occur, including mowing the lawn, but most gardening work can be done in the rain. Even after cloud bursts and deluges of rain, labor can continue in the summer because the earth dries out fairly rapidly.
How often Should a Gardener Come?
Regular visits from a gardener, such as once a week, several times a month, or once a month, are preferred by most homeowners. Services like gardening cleanup or hedge cutting and maintenance may fall under this category. Some people contract out these jobs once a year.
Final Thoughts
It may be quite satisfying when you are starting a gardening business in the UK because it allows for a flexible schedule and a healthy work-life balance. Due to the necessity of lawn maintenance in UK daily life, there is a lot of money to be made and job security to be had. So, why not get our ready-made gardening business plan to make starting your gardening business easier?
FAQs
Do you need qualifications to start a gardening business?
While prior experience is not essential, a naive approach may turn off some potential clients. As a result, if you’re new to the field, having a degree and some professional work experience will be crucial for securing new clients. Gardening is often a seasonal occupation, with the bulk of the work being done in the summer.
What do gardeners do in the winter UK?
The best time to go over borders and pull every last perennial weed you can find is during the winter. When plants are dormant, everything is simpler to see and access, including walls, fences, climbing plant structures, supports for plants, painted surfaces, etc. In addition, issues are apparent, adding to the mess caused by winter.
Should you leave your garden over the winter?
Garden maintenance is important at all times.
Making the mistake of waiting until the weather warms up again could result in you having a lot more work to do once the days start to grow longer. Winter is a perfect season to complete work, especially when it comes to landscaping and garden care.
