Building the Business

I have all the skills i feel i need for a jobbing gardener ..... most of the required tools, but at the moment i don t have a van .... i will get one next spring ..... but it has not been a problem as it happens, i can travel by bike/bus/train to my customers!
however living in a small town where residents are notoriously tight, i find it impossible to make a living ......... i started last summer after being out of work for a year [so much for a degree in computing and business] .... i had to build the business slowly and started at �£6 per hour....... even at this rate [which is wildly uneconomic] i still had enuff work to keep me going as i got a bit fitter.
i put the rate up to �£8, but this is still not really economic .. �£15 is about right but they won t pay this kind of money!
I put out 300 business cards and got 1 new customer
i am the best gardener in the area
what more can i do?

 

Reckon you're in a bit of a closed area up there! Even in Wearside our gardeners charge more than that. Many also offer a charge for half a day or one day and will do any jobs they're required to do. This seems to work for them. a van will also be an asset and increase your credibility.

Still, keep slogging - you've got to get a reputation and that takes some time to build up. But you'll get there!

 

ty for your support. yes once i ve got a van i can travel.. obviously...... but immediately have to add on costs every week
at the moment, i do half days [ie a session for �£30 approx
and a whole day is �£50 or �£60]....... but we are talking really hard work,,,,,,,, not possible to work an eight hour shift.. and of course if i have to do office work or plant purchasing the customer does not see that
the main prob is that gardening is seen as a casual job done by people who are signing on and �£6/7 is the going rate...... i am building up, but slooooooowly

 

The first year is tough in any business, especially as a gardener going through your first winter. It sounds like you're aiming in the right direction though.

A sign written van would help a lot; Advertising to the neighbours & passers-by of your jobs, & giving you a more professional, established image. You need to have a professional image to set yourself apart from the dole cheats & earn good money.

If you get a large van then you will find that people will ask you to move things for them. (it may not be gardening but it helps pay the bills!)

Could you offer any related services? Power-washing, fence painting/repairs, re-pointing patios... or stock sundries to sell on to your customers?

We met some of our best customers while selling plants (& giving out cards) at markets & car boot sales.

You may be able to earn more by pricing some things by the job rather than by the hour.

Stay positive, plan ahead, do whatever you have to do to get through this winter.

With a little luck it gets easier each year.

 

thanks for that,
i do try to stock a few items for re sale,
but don t find they are very profitable, but the gardens look much better of course
I try to quote by the job: my weekly custoners are on �£12 per 1 1/2 hour which means i can guarantee income of say �£100 per week.... still small beans. As most of my regular customers know each other i have to charge a constant rate or i d be in trouble

i do clean patios and have offered to paint stuff but find its still all tiny jobs, and somehow customers imagine i can do these thing for next to nothing viv a vis materials!
i m not really able to buy a van at the moment as i have no regular income, but i will get one as soon as i can,
when i am approaching customers, i knock on doors, so they don t realise immediately that i m on my bike, nearly all my customers have been gained this way, though you get some queer looks!

 

Can you put an ad. in your local paper, in the free ads.
�£8 an hour is not much after tax, come to that its not much before tax.
I'm no buisness man myself, but I think you've got to get away from the "doing people a favour" approach. Its just a thought.

 

yes...... its �£20 per advert in local paper,and i get one customer on average, but at this time of year i think people have to be approached to motivate them, trouble is i don t have enuff spare cash to buy tools, advertise and buy a van!
yes i agree, i do have a rather "doing people a favour" approach, but at the moment i am pretty desperate to get any work, and i m looking in the longer term to build up a base of regular weekly customers to cover my overheads and wage, leaving me 2 days week to do "projects" which should be more profitable

 

As someone has allready mentioned your possible clients are limited so you need to impress. If you have a digital camera take photo,s of the gardens you work on and print them off and make a portfolio of your work to show potential customers, as the saying goes a picture paints a thousand words.Good luck!

 

ty

 

Hi LG
Good on you for setting up in business & using your initiative - this reply is a bit lengthy so apologies in advance!
I have been working as a gardener for about 3 years now, and yes its tricky when you first start out, the winter months can be a killer. I'm doing a degree in horticulture & garden design, as I live in a city and need the competitive edge that this gives (not to mention justifying charges). I understand that you are earnest and genuine but,the trouble with knocking on doors, is it is unfortunately, the approach sometimes used by people who don't know one end of a fork from another (& just out to make a quick �£), and there have been numerous reports in the media (& on websites) warning people not to respond to this as they could be ripped off-so people don't expect a "professional" to turn up on their doorsteps.
When I started out I charged �£6 which, as you've found out covers nothing, I've upped it to �£10 as there are so many "man with white van & mower"s in my area - I use my horticultural knowledge, experience, and training as leverage (& put it on my cards) I also advertise in the local post offices, newsagents and have just started giving cards to local estate agents. I don't bother with the press as �£ for �£ the response is not cost effective. Also what has been useful is taking a short business course (VERY helpful in terms of tax - i.e. you must notify the tax office withing 3 months of your start date, etc). Another thing you MUST do is take out business insurance (professional indemnity) You can put this on your adverts as it looks more professional & is great for peace of mind - any outside work (especially with power tools) has the potential for going wrong no matter how high your standards.
The design work I do is charged at a much higher rate, as are planting plans & consultations.
You need to decide what your specialism is - are you going to be an odd job person (i.e. doing bits of gardening, bits of fixing, bits of painting) Are you going to be a lawns & hedging person? A Gardener/plantsperson? Then I would suggest getting some training, approaching Learning Direct or your local College of HE/FE, Get in touch with Business link (you can do this over the web to find out your nearest one), and your bank to set up a business account, and look into funding for a van & equipment etc. Don't be shy to ring up competitors found in yellow pages & pretend to be a customer to check them out (Services offered, charges, experience etc)
People will only pay up the "ceiling level" for services in your area - e.g. if no other gardener charges more than say �£8 an hour than I'm afraid you're a bit scuppered unless you can show that you are really outstanding, better quality & your service is totally different. The portfolio idea is a good one, but back it up with some qualifications (RHS is good). & don't be too keen to take on a job just because it is a job (i.e. don't negotiate on price -you just end up ripping yourself off)
Keep it up LG & look forward to the day when you are driving around in your van with your name on the side!
(as an aside, I don't have a van & so far its been fine, though my work is becoming less about lawns & hedges, & more about plants & design -yippee!)
Decide in what direction you want to take your business, & plan how you are going to get there
Good Luck! - if you want any more hints etc let us know
PS It IS the best job in the world!