How to Start Your Own Gardening Business

Starting & running a gardening business

About this Site

Welcome to the online version of "How to Start Your Own Gardening Business". On this site, you can read the full text of "How to Start Your Own Gardening Business". This book provides in-depth advice on starting a business in the gardening industry, including writing a gardening business plan, financing the business and managing accounts. You can sign up for our newsletter, or download the PDF version of the ebook from the online store.

About the Author

When Paul Power left school he joined the Civil Service, but hated the bureaucracy, commuting and office politics. He finally decided to turn his hobby into a profession. He now enjoys running his own gardening business and only regrets not having done it sooner! He is based in Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Chapter List

Preface
A Growing Opportunity Why Start A Gardening Business?; Who Will Want Your Services?; Your Skills And Aptitudes; Have You Got What It Takes?; How Much Time Will Your Business Need?; Finding Your Niche; Carrying Out Some Initial Market Research; Summary;
Essential Planning For You And Your Business The Importance Of Business Planning; Planning A Strategy; Writing Your Business Plan; Detailing Your Business Idea; Preparing An Initial Cash Flow Forecast; Preparing A Profit And Loss Forecast; Contingency Planning; Is Your Idea Viable?; Summary;
What’s Involved In Starting And Running A Gardening Round? Knowing What You’re Letting Yourself In For; Working Out The Costs Of Providing Your Service; Getting Started; Coping With The Paperwork; Limitations Of A Gardening Round; Offer Domestic Maintenance Contracts; Summary;
The General Gardening Business The Inner Workings Of A General Gardening Business; Some Services Offered By A General Gardening Business; Getting Started; Tools; Vehicles; Financing Your Business; Getting The Business – Quotes And Estimates; Some Other Issues; Summary;
Seasonal Opportunities The Benefit Of Spin-Offs; You Can Specialise; Lawn-Cutting Service; Build It And Fix-It Service; Mobile Plant Nursery; Gardening Coaching Service; Always Something To Do In A Garden; Summary;
Launching Your Business Preparing For Growth; Creating The Right Image; Standing Out From The Crowd; Business Stationery; Bank Accounts; Getting Your First Customers – The Gardening Round; Launch Strategy For Other Businesses; Summary;
Bookkeeping And Administration Systems Tax For The Self-Employed; Value Added Tax; Bookkeeping – The Options; Completing Your Annual Tax Return; Getting Paid Every Time And On Time; Staffing Issues; Summary;
The Gardening Calendar A Year In The Gardening Business; January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December; Summary;
Avoiding Seasonal Blues When Things Don’t Always Go To Plan; Factors Outside Your Control; Difficult People And Situations; Handling Complaints; Motivation – Keeping Going; Building Your Knowledge; Successful Selling;
Growing Your Business Expansion Is Good For Your Business; The Commercial Market; One Last Thing; Summary;