How To Start A Gardening Business

 

Do you love the outdoors and have skilful, green fingers? It maybe only a seed of an idea but have you ever considered turning your hobby and passion into your job?  

1. Overview
2. Pros and Cons
3. Regulations and required qualifications
4. How much can I earn?
5. How much does it cost to start a gardening business?
6. Choice of Business Structure
7. Branding and how to market your gardening business
8. Making a business plan and red tape
9. Conclusion

  

Starting up a gardening business can be not only rewarding financially but you are also offering a service that many people feel is essential to the smooth running of their lives.

 

• Potential Annual Revenue: £20-50,000
• Startup Cost: £1,000-£2,500
• Time To Revenue: 2-3+ months 
• Annual Market Growth Rate: %
• Best for: Hard working, outdoorsy, self-motivated, problem solving entrepreneurs

 

With us all spending more time at home over the last few years, many people decided to update/renovate their gardens but now find they don’t have time to maintain them. 

Here’s where you can come to the rescue! Mowing, pruning, clearing and weeding your way through your local areas gardens and community green spaces. 

 

Before you dig in, here are some pros and cons to keep in mind:

8 Great Reasons to Start a Gardening Business

• Recession proof – you can´t hold back Mother Nature
• Can be kept low cost – for example lawns and pruning only (Maintenance) 
• Easy to start
• Very difficult to lose money
• Reliable work, many customers will book weekly, bi-weekly or monthly
• Flexible working hours 
• Little or no experience is required for small maintenance jobs 
• Keep fit and healthy

 

4 Common Challenges when Starting a Gardening Business

• Usually less work is available in the winter. Plan for this. ⛄
• Can be back breaking work
• Travel costs
• Your equipment and tool maintenance can be expensive. 

 

Qualifications

To be a successful gardener will need knowledge and experience in a number of fields due to the many duties you will be involved in every day.

If you have good qualifications that’s even better! There are many short horticultural courses available, contact your local college for part-time or evening course information. The more qualified you are, the more you can earn. 

 

The Royal Horticultural Society, the UK’s leading garden charity, also runs courses, online and in person or a mixture of the two. The qualifications are designed by the RHS to provide learners with up-to-date horticultural information and practical skills which can be used for accessing or developing a gardening career as well as growing your own curiosity. There are  3 levels and each course can be taken over a year.

The RHS also runs paid, two or three year fixed term apprenticeship courses around the country. 

A knowledge of gardening regulations, hazardous chemicals, waste management and first aid is also beneficial. Show all your certificates on you marketing and website.

 

Your gardening business may change and evolve over time. ……..

Starting off small with general seasonal maintenance growing to large scale planting, designing social areas and how about installing water features! However, don’t  start something you can’t finish or aren’t qualified to do, you will be found out very quickly. 

 

Your customer database can be very varied, from domestic gardens to large private grounds. Pensioners to busy professionals. 

Contact your local council for any maintenance contracts in your town. Care and nursing home gardens need tending to and how about people with holiday lets and rental properties? 

From registering your company, establishing your brand to marketing your services, we’ll cover everything you need to know to help you turn your creative talent into a successful gardening maintenance business

 

 

The all-important question – How much can I earn?

In the first quarter of 2023, there were approximately 167,000 people employed or self-employed as gardeners and landscape gardeners in the United Kingdom. 

Do your research. Find out what other local gardening businesses are charging in your area for the same services you offer. 

The national average salary for a gardener is £22,218 per year. This figure comes from an average of gardeners across the country working at all skill levels. Obviously many gardeners will be earning a lot more and some less. This will depend upon the services they can offer, experience and region they work in.

You can charge by the hour or by the job, think mowing the lawn or chainsaw work. An average hourly rate is about £20 per hour but can be much more depending on the job and the local region. Most gardeners aim to earn a minimum of £150 a day. 

Many tradespeople impose a minimum call out fee. This guarantees that your clients will only contact you if they have enough business to warrant your journey to them. And remember to add in extras like weed killer, fertilisers etc. Waste disposal could cost you so factor that in as well. 

The most important thing to remember is to make your pricing clear to your client before you start the job and warn them of any extras that may occur.

 

 

How much does it cost to start a gardening business?

Depending on what level you intend to set out at, your start up costs can vary quite a lot. 

Do you already have a van? This is probably going to be your biggest purchase. Remember insurance, MOT, fuel etc. 

Which area you go into will determine the type of start-up equipment you´ll require. A lot of hand tools are required. A mower, strimmer and hedge trimmer are essential so invest in these and consider renting larger items such as a chainsaw or chipper, then when your finances allow, you can invest in the more expensive items. Also consider where you will store your tools.

Your customer database could be varied, from residential gardens to large private grounds such as restaurants, care homes and hotels. This can affect what type of tool and machinery you invest in. 

 

Also contact your local council for any work contracts in your town. 

Keep your eyes open for new builds in your area. New housing estates are a great place to advertise your business as the gardens of new builds are usually left bare. Handing out leaflets on a new estate is a great way of instigating a chat. 

 

How I’d set this business up.

So do you think this sounds like the business for you?

Here’s how I’d make sure you hit the manicured lawn running and not the compost heap!

Choice of business structure

This is fundamentally important when you are setting up any business. As a solopreneur, you can start this business as either a sole trader or a limited company.

I’d also strongly consider a hybrid startup structure where you can reap the benefits of both structures with minimal cost and risk.

This could enable you to start trading with the simplicity of a sole trader but also have secured the limited company for marketing hacks and saving tax later if you decide to incorporate your business.

Have you thought of a company name yet? Use our FREE Company Name Checker Tool and find your memorable name. You’ll be searching through a database of over 5 million registered company names and more than 11 million UK domain names.

 

 

How to market a gardening business.

This is a business that I would definitely want to fast-track from the beginning for growth. You want to get busy as quickly as possible and there is only one real way to achieve this.

Most buyers/potential clients for this service are going to find a gardener using a Google search. Sure some will use an app, some might ask for a recommendation on social media but MOST will look on Google.

Google knows that when someone is looking for a gardening service, they want to see results close to where they are located.

This usually means that Google will show a maps listing at the top of the search results like the image below.

 

 

If your business shows up here then you are right at the top of the search results, under the nose of people who want to find a gardener.

For any type of business/search term where Google shows a Maps listing like this , I describe these businesses as having “high local marketability”.

High local marketability means if you know what you are doing and tick the right boxes with Google you can get a lot of business enquiries very easily.

So if potential customers can’t find you on Google, they won’t be calling you. And guess what? That means someone else is picking up that client and you’re missing out!

 

 

So how do you dominate Google search results for this business?

You have to optimise for the Google maps listing.
How do you do that? 

 

Follow these 10 simple steps to marketing a gardening business:

• Get a website. Make sure it complies with Google’s best practice guidelines.

• Get your new website in Google so clients find YOU.

• Provide LOCAL PROOF. Use a local phone number to tell clients and Google you are definitely a local business.

• Provide SOCIAL PROOF. Show reviews from real customers on your site. This is called “social proof”and turns browsers into buyers!

• Use LANDING PAGES. A landing page is optimised for a specific search term making it rank higher than your competitors. Landing pages are for people who want to buy your service now. They show the client what they want to see

• Provide great CTA’s (CTA =call to action). Make it super easy on your website for clients to get in touch with you by including features such as a messaging/chat app and CTA’s that show clients exactly how to contact you.

• Share FEEDBACK. Go the extra mile to provide an outstanding service and you are sure to collect plenty of positive feedback from clients. Ensure you harness this by collecting reviews from every new customer.

• AUTOMATE – You won’t have time to be manually updating your website. Make sure you automatically show the new reviews on your website, driving more clients to your business.

• PROMOTE – Regular updates to your website and using Google tools will give your website an extra edge.

• MAINTAIN – From time to time websites need technical maintenance to the software they run on to keep peak performance.

 

Most businesses in this sector DO NOT invest enough time and money to execute this simple marketing  strategy providing you with the opportunity to step in and DOMINATE in the local search engine results.

 

Live Chat Function

This is great as it gives your potential customers a “one click method” to message you straight from your websites – you get the messages on your usual Messenger account, this is probably something that your competitors won’t have and we’ve had clients getting great success using this tactic. Make it easy for your potential clients to get in touch with you.

 

 

Still confused? We can create a personal website for you to get you off to the best start.

 

Always ask for references and reviews on your website. This is so important for new customers looking for a reliable company. Why not offer your services free of charge or at a reduced rate for friends and family to get the ball rolling. Encourage them to comment on your website and social media platforms. 

Google reviews, testimonials and recommendations are essential. Potential customers WILL check for reviews when they are searching for a service, product or trade. 

This is difficult when you first start out and asking can be uncomfortable but a happy client will want to help you up the ladder every time.

 

 

 

How to find your customers and grow your gardening business 

 

Marketing your gardening business is crucial to attract new customers and expand your business. 

 

Here are 8 great tips to help you market your gardening business effectively:

• Do your research

  Running a gardening business can be competitive, so it’s important to research your competitors in your local area and identify what you can offer that others don’t. This will help you differentiate your business and attract more customers. Be reliable. 

Make yourself stand out! What can you offer in your local area that other gardeners don´t? How about snow clearance or watering greenhouses whilst customers are on holiday? Ask your customers what services they would like to use that aren’t currently available locally.

 

• Create a great company and domain name for your website

Choose a name that is related to you and your business and is memorable for your potential customers. Remember to steer well clear of similar sounding names so confusion does not occur with other companies. Use our Company Name Search Tool and get started now! 

 

 

We can quickly and easily help you get the ball rolling with this, registering your company and domain name and even providing you with fully featured business email boxes making your business look more professional, adding credibility when you are approaching new customers. So instead of emailing from an @yahoo or @hotmail address you can be emailing from @mycompanyname. Doesn´t that look better? 

 

You will then have to register a domain name for your website. We all know websites are crucial nowadays so make sure you get yours registered as soon as you have chosen your trade name. Take a look at our Domain Name FAQs  which will explain why a domain name is so important. 

Then use our easy to use Domain Checker and let´s get you onto the world wide web!! 

 

 

• Create a website

  We all know a website is essential in any business today. High quality photos and videos of beautifully manicured lawn and tidy hedges are fantastic for an attractive website and the site gives lots more information about the services you offer, the area you cover and if relevant, any fixed rates you offer. They are also essential for contact purposes, bookings and enquiries.

 

A little information about yourself can make the business more personal and boost customer confidence. Here you can introduce yourself and give your experience and any relevant qualifications you have.

• SEO 

  Search engine optimization is the art of getting your gardening website to the top of the search results on Google and the other search engines so that you have the best chance of getting their business.

 

If you’re new to running a website it’s easy to get caught out with a low cost SEO service that just doesn’t work.

We can help put together an affordable SEO package and we’ll always tell you what we are going to do and what results you might expect to achieve.

And don’t forget to add all reviews and comments to your website – I can’t stress highly enough how important reviews are. 

 

To begin with, offer your services to friends and family. Also give special offers, ask your clients to introduce friends and family and they´ll receive a discount for a set period.

We all rely on those Google reviews and recommendations when we need a service, product or trade, so make sure they are clearly visible on your site. 

 

Unsure where to start with a website? Just ask us. We can help you create a website that will attract new customers and boost your local marketability .

 

• Word of mouth is a powerful and effective marketing tool and should never be underestimated!

 

A front garden is highly visible to passers by so use this to your advantage. You can potentially  gain most of your customers through word of mouth, a delighted customer will be more than happy to show off improvements that have been made in the garden, inviting friends and family round to admire your handywork. 

By attending local community events you´ll get your name out there!  Building a strong local network can lead to plenty of word-of-mouth referrals.

 

• Design an eye-catching logo:

  Your logo is an important aspect of your brand identity, so it’s essential to design a logo that represents you and your business and can be used everywhere, including your workwear, van, business cards and leaflets. 

Have you thought about adding QR codes to your marketing material? 

With a click of their mobile phone, customers can make an appointment, fill out a request form, or write a review by using a QR code. Add a QR code to your work vehicle, magnetic signs are perfect for this. Potential consumers passing by can immediately scan for further information about your services. 

QR codes are perfect for business cards, giving website links, tips or how to find us instructions. They are also an easy way to get that all-important customer feedback and can be added to invoices and receipts that go directly to your review page.

 

• Use social media:

  Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTokk can be powerful marketing tools for your gardening business and cost you nothing!

Join local business Facebook groups or similar platforms to promote your business and connect with potential customers. 

You can also create social media pages for your business and post regular updates, photos, and promotions to attract more customers. 

How about a discount for early bookings on a Spring Clean Your Garden Day?

Plenty of photos, videos, reviews, updates and promotions will keep you in full sight of your target audience. 

Reach out to other businesses that work outdoors. How about a pool maintenance service or an exterior painter? These relationships can be mutually beneficial if you both make recommendations.

• Use apps:

  There are many apps available that can help you manage your business more efficiently. They can be used for booking appointments, saving customer details and receiving payment.  

 

By implementing these marketing strategies, you can attract more customers, improve your brand identity, and grow your gardening business.

 

Other formalities

There are other formalities that you will need to complete before you can start trading successfully.

Business plan

Start by formulating a business plan. This will help to focus on delivering a clear message to your potential customers.

There are different types of business plans. (But you can use my 1 page business plan here) It’s designed to cut the waffle but has enough detail to make it a meaningful tool so that you remain laser focussed on what needs to be done when you set up this business.

 

Open a bank account

You need a separate business bank account for your business whether it’s a sole trader or limited company.

Keeping your personal and business finances separate is crucial for several reasons. It simplifies accounting and bookkeeping, making it easier to track business expenses, income, and tax obligations. It also helps demonstrate financial transparency, which can be important for legal and tax purposes.

How about a  contactless card payment machine? No carrying lots of change around with you all day. There are plenty on the market now and easy for you and your customers to use. 

 

You will need Insurance.

There are lots of companies offering their services so have a good look around and take their advice. 

Public liability insurance is crucial to protect yourself and your customers, providing cover against injury or accidental damage to their property. 

If you employ someone Employers’ liability insurance is essential to cover any injury and illness sustained whilst whilst being employed by you, 

Then there is insurance for your equipment and tools, protecting you from theft, damage and loss. 

If you have a van make sure your insurance company knows it is a works vehicle. And make sure your eye-catching logo and your contact details are prominently displayed!  

Some of your work may require a licence such as use of a chainsaw or pesticides. Do your homework and contact your local council and government websites for details. 

 

Conclusion

Starting your own gardening business is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, stay fit and active and meet new people. It is full of opportunities, you can keep it as a solo enterprise or expand with time. 

This business has a high season in the spring and summer and a low season in the autumn and winter, so make sure that you keep this in mind when making your business and your price plans. 

Ultimately, running a gardening business can offer satisfaction to both you and your clients. The ability to create something beautiful, contribute to the environment, serve your clients’ needs, and build a successful enterprise can bring a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment. Knowing that you are making a positive impact on people’s lives and the world around you can be deeply rewarding.

 

So, before you take a notebook and pencil and start drafting your business plan, learn more by getting in touch. 

Let’s get this new business started!