Self employed gardener- Should I? Advice needed.
Discussion
I hate what I do (motor industry) and want to get out. I don't really have much in the way of education after A levels, however I have always dreamed of being my own boss. I have been left £3k in my grandmothers will. I could get a little van and some tools plus a mower and set myself up as a general gardner/handyman. I have done a bit of gardening and groundwork unpaid a few years ago and loved it. I understand that I'd likely need to work part time and build up a business slowly.. I live in a heavily rural area, North Dorset so would think there is a lot of work out there. I need to earn circa £20k in order to live decently.
I have seen a lot of stories on the Internet, some on PH saying for example "I started up 6 months ago with no experience and now I'm booked solid for the next 4 months" Am I being realistic? Is £20k a year achievable or will I be working 7 days a week? I have absolutely no adversion to being outside in all weathers.
I just need advice- as in how I'd get my name out there, what works and what doesn't..I know people on here have done it, I'd love to hear from you. Cheers.
I have seen a lot of stories on the Internet, some on PH saying for example "I started up 6 months ago with no experience and now I'm booked solid for the next 4 months" Am I being realistic? Is £20k a year achievable or will I be working 7 days a week? I have absolutely no adversion to being outside in all weathers.
I just need advice- as in how I'd get my name out there, what works and what doesn't..I know people on here have done it, I'd love to hear from you. Cheers.
Do it, just be prepared to post plenty of flyers. The grass cutting and hedge trimming is the base work, once your in with a couple of houses your laughing, they all talk and you will get a few more. You need to be able to remove all the cuttings, unless they have a garden bin, but remember your local tip may charge for trade waste. I do it for a business man who has commercial and residential properties, that's who you need to approach. You need insurance in case there are any damages or stolen equipment, strimmer love to flick stones!
Go for it. You might want to consider decorating and window cleaning for the winter months as well.
www.streetlife.com is a local website that users can ask for recommendations for gardeners/window cleaners/handymen/cleaners etc. Also your local area pages on facebook.
www.streetlife.com is a local website that users can ask for recommendations for gardeners/window cleaners/handymen/cleaners etc. Also your local area pages on facebook.
As ever, your market research will seldom let be time poorly spent.
You've identified charges. Now identify who's also doing it, what services they provide (and don't provide). Check their accounts if you can if they're listed. Call for quotes and lead time to get some further intelligence on opportunities. Check rating sites to see who's good or not and why and learn from that. What's your USP going to be? Cost? Quality? Availability? Certain types of work?
Good luck!
You've identified charges. Now identify who's also doing it, what services they provide (and don't provide). Check their accounts if you can if they're listed. Call for quotes and lead time to get some further intelligence on opportunities. Check rating sites to see who's good or not and why and learn from that. What's your USP going to be? Cost? Quality? Availability? Certain types of work?
Good luck!
You're near me then (Stur in my case 
)
If you are comfortable with the working outside, and the fact that it is very physically demanding then do it, gardening rocks!
Quite a lot of guys that work at my landscaping company go on to become self employed (one of them is a PHer...), so it can't be all bad.
)If you are comfortable with the working outside, and the fact that it is very physically demanding then do it, gardening rocks!
Quite a lot of guys that work at my landscaping company go on to become self employed (one of them is a PHer...), so it can't be all bad.
My mother uses a handyman/gardener she loves him as he can do all the additional little faffy jobs that accumulate between my visits and listens to her blathering nonsense.
This year as well as mowing lawn and trimming hedge, he has fixed her Tv ariel, replaced a washer on a tap, cleared out and fixed the guttering, put up some shelves, fixed the shower and washing machine twice.. Due to my mother being happy she now tells anyone she meets about his service.
From what she has told me there is a big demand for these small jobs that most trades don't want to bother with.
This year as well as mowing lawn and trimming hedge, he has fixed her Tv ariel, replaced a washer on a tap, cleared out and fixed the guttering, put up some shelves, fixed the shower and washing machine twice.. Due to my mother being happy she now tells anyone she meets about his service.
From what she has told me there is a big demand for these small jobs that most trades don't want to bother with.
My wife is a member of several local groups on Facebook where people sell or give away things they no longer need or want, they are ludicrously popular with young(ish) mothers and word of mouth spreads very quickly this way.
We got the name of a gardener through a post on one of these who came round yesterday and he should do pretty well out of tending to our garden.
Be friendly, polite, communicate well (this is a hugely underrated skill imo) and do a decent job and you'll have no problem at all, just get your name out there.
We got the name of a gardener through a post on one of these who came round yesterday and he should do pretty well out of tending to our garden.
Be friendly, polite, communicate well (this is a hugely underrated skill imo) and do a decent job and you'll have no problem at all, just get your name out there.
Do your sums first. How many hours a day can you actually charge for taking into account travelling time and expenses between jobs. How many days a week do you want to do. What do you do when its pissing it down for weeks on end?
My Dad uses gardners, a "pool guy" and cleaners both in the UK and abroad. All charge £10-15 an hour and are only doing it to supplement a full-time job, ie. they work evenings, weekends or early morning.
On the basis you can do more than just outdoor work I think you need to be looking at £20 per hour minimum. Just take £20K, add tax and NI, your van and equipment costs. Divide this by 48 weeks, by 5 days and then your estimated paid hours per day.
I'm sure it can be done but it won't be easy.
My Dad uses gardners, a "pool guy" and cleaners both in the UK and abroad. All charge £10-15 an hour and are only doing it to supplement a full-time job, ie. they work evenings, weekends or early morning.
On the basis you can do more than just outdoor work I think you need to be looking at £20 per hour minimum. Just take £20K, add tax and NI, your van and equipment costs. Divide this by 48 weeks, by 5 days and then your estimated paid hours per day.
I'm sure it can be done but it won't be easy.
As another 'extra option' you could add wheelie bin cleaning too. The local one round here charges £3.50 a bin with the bin usually cleaned once a month. One of my clients pays a year up front for this service at a small discount.
I've been self employed for 6 years now, as a dog walker and house sitter.
I've been self employed for 6 years now, as a dog walker and house sitter.
quick one on the sums:
£15/hr- x 6hrs= £90/day
£90/day x 5 days/wk= £450/week
45wks/year= £20,250 a year
I'm allowing 6hrs chargable work per day, I'm allowing that for travelling between jobs, lunch, etc.... now obviously you'd hope to be getting full 8hr days, maybe longer if you get more work, but I'm being conservative to start.
again based on only 5 days a week, again weather/ seasonal stuff to be against you here, but good to average out over the year. you might get 7 days over summer but winter might go down to 3/4....
45 weeks a year- I've been very conservative, allowing for 5 weeks holidays and 2wks spare for being sick/unexpected time off..... so being very conservative with my numbers and allowing you a slower start, you are easily in the ball park that you need/want to be in.
don't forget to look at other things that you can associate with what you want to do-
- cleaning driveways- simple pressure washing and brushing
- clearing gutters- ladder + bucket
- painting sheds/ fences
- clearing rubbish/garage/ sheds and taking stuff to the dump- (although this might need waste carriers license/ paying to dispose of stuff at the tip!
All little things/ services that are quite simple, but time consuming and people would probably be quite happy pay someone else to do.
£15/hr- x 6hrs= £90/day
£90/day x 5 days/wk= £450/week
45wks/year= £20,250 a year
I'm allowing 6hrs chargable work per day, I'm allowing that for travelling between jobs, lunch, etc.... now obviously you'd hope to be getting full 8hr days, maybe longer if you get more work, but I'm being conservative to start.
again based on only 5 days a week, again weather/ seasonal stuff to be against you here, but good to average out over the year. you might get 7 days over summer but winter might go down to 3/4....
45 weeks a year- I've been very conservative, allowing for 5 weeks holidays and 2wks spare for being sick/unexpected time off..... so being very conservative with my numbers and allowing you a slower start, you are easily in the ball park that you need/want to be in.
don't forget to look at other things that you can associate with what you want to do-
- cleaning driveways- simple pressure washing and brushing
- clearing gutters- ladder + bucket
- painting sheds/ fences
- clearing rubbish/garage/ sheds and taking stuff to the dump- (although this might need waste carriers license/ paying to dispose of stuff at the tip!
All little things/ services that are quite simple, but time consuming and people would probably be quite happy pay someone else to do.
malks222 said:
quick one on the sums:
£15/hr- x 6hrs= £90/day
£90/day x 5 days/wk= £450/week
45wks/year= £20,250 a year
I'm allowing 6hrs chargable work per day, I'm allowing that for travelling between jobs, lunch, etc.... now obviously you'd hope to be getting full 8hr days, maybe longer if you get more work, but I'm being conservative to start.
again based on only 5 days a week, again weather/ seasonal stuff to be against you here, but good to average out over the year. you might get 7 days over summer but winter might go down to 3/4....
45 weeks a year- I've been very conservative, allowing for 5 weeks holidays and 2wks spare for being sick/unexpected time off..... so being very conservative with my numbers and allowing you a slower start, you are easily in the ball park that you need/want to be in.
don't forget to look at other things that you can associate with what you want to do-
- cleaning driveways- simple pressure washing and brushing
- clearing gutters- ladder + bucket
- painting sheds/ fences
- clearing rubbish/garage/ sheds and taking stuff to the dump- (although this might need waste carriers license/ paying to dispose of stuff at the tip!
All little things/ services that are quite simple, but time consuming and people would probably be quite happy pay someone else to do.
Thank you very much for that.. I worked out something similar but yours is much more comprehensive! £15/hr- x 6hrs= £90/day
£90/day x 5 days/wk= £450/week
45wks/year= £20,250 a year
I'm allowing 6hrs chargable work per day, I'm allowing that for travelling between jobs, lunch, etc.... now obviously you'd hope to be getting full 8hr days, maybe longer if you get more work, but I'm being conservative to start.
again based on only 5 days a week, again weather/ seasonal stuff to be against you here, but good to average out over the year. you might get 7 days over summer but winter might go down to 3/4....
45 weeks a year- I've been very conservative, allowing for 5 weeks holidays and 2wks spare for being sick/unexpected time off..... so being very conservative with my numbers and allowing you a slower start, you are easily in the ball park that you need/want to be in.
don't forget to look at other things that you can associate with what you want to do-
- cleaning driveways- simple pressure washing and brushing
- clearing gutters- ladder + bucket
- painting sheds/ fences
- clearing rubbish/garage/ sheds and taking stuff to the dump- (although this might need waste carriers license/ paying to dispose of stuff at the tip!
All little things/ services that are quite simple, but time consuming and people would probably be quite happy pay someone else to do.
It's a brilliant idea and you won't look back. As someone above said you may need to diversify in to drive cleaning, guttering etc to make it year round. A friend of mine did this and now he doesn't work on the tools, his staff do all the grubby stuff. He's managed to get contracts with the council & a hospital to do their general grounds maintenance, just bought a nice Audi R8! Obviously it doesn't always go this way but there's big potential in these businesses, I'm sure you'll at the very least make a modest living wage!
Ideal way to start is with a few grand aside to live on while word spreads, or have a part time job until you're too busy to keep it!
Best of luck
Ideal way to start is with a few grand aside to live on while word spreads, or have a part time job until you're too busy to keep it!
Best of luck
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