Self employed gardener- Should I? Advice needed.
Discussion
Regards to your gear, don't buy s
te, get good stuff and it doesn't matter if it's secondhand. Buy the fundamentals first, hand tools, mower, builders bags to get rid of stuff.
You don't have to buy everything yet, get it over time, you can always hire at first but remember to quote it in to cover costs.
Look after it all!
te, get good stuff and it doesn't matter if it's secondhand. Buy the fundamentals first, hand tools, mower, builders bags to get rid of stuff. You don't have to buy everything yet, get it over time, you can always hire at first but remember to quote it in to cover costs.
Look after it all!
I'll add my voice. Do it. 15 an hour is £30K a year if you fill the order book. You won't, but there's 20k there easily. Don't be afraid to take on a bit of handyman stuff enough route, or bits of casual shop, factory, postie work in Nov-Dec when nobody's interested in the garden and you have bills to pay.
curlie467 said:
Regards to your gear, don't buy ste, get good stuff and it doesn't matter if it's secondhand. Buy the fundamentals first, hand tools, mower, builders bags to get rid of stuff.
You don't have to buy everything yet, get it over time, you can always hire at first but remember to quote it in to cover costs.
Look after it all!
this.te, get good stuff and it doesn't matter if it's secondhand. Buy the fundamentals first, hand tools, mower, builders bags to get rid of stuff. You don't have to buy everything yet, get it over time, you can always hire at first but remember to quote it in to cover costs.
Look after it all!
but also don't underquote.
If someone asks for a price for an all in job. work out how long you will take, then add lots of leniency. stuff always takes longer than you expect!
For the out of season works, think about gritting services as well, even if you do this as labour for others rather than directly to avoid considering the liability issues/costs. Lots of horticulture/ground maintenance contractors offer this service to utilise labour/equipment at quiet times
Edited by mfmman on Friday 19th August 11:15
I would also say target your services at areas were people tend to want them and are willing to pay, areas that have small gardens there might not be much demand, but area were people tend to have bigger gardens you will be demand. In my area most places have bigger gardens which are too much for people to manage on there own unless you spend you whole weekend doing it so gardeners are in demand, to the point I make sure I tip pretty frequently and always at xmas to ensure the guy comes back after his 4-8 week holiday.
sparks_E39 said:
I've been thinking more on how I would start this.. I can't afford to risk being out of work as I have commitments, I don't work weekends so am thinking set up for Saturday's and possibly Sunday's for now- and build it up till I'm confident in having enough work during the week.
I did this about 25 years ago, bought an old van (mk 1 transit with v4 and twin webbers). Best tip I could give is do every job for a price rather than an hourly rate. Clients want to know how much it's going to cost before they agree to the work, and might baulk at the sound of $40 per hour for a 15 minute job but be quite happy to pay $10 or $20 fixed price for the same work. I started on evenings and weekends while working full time, employed a few monkeys as I got busier (still kept working at my normal job),employed my brother as a full time manager.
Eventually I gave my brother a half share and walked away myself. Still get a few quid in dividends every year for doing nothing and will sell my share when I retire.
sparks_E39 said:
I've been thinking more on how I would start this.. I can't afford to risk being out of work as I have commitments, I don't work weekends so am thinking set up for Saturday's and possibly Sunday's for now- and build it up till I'm confident in having enough work during the week.
Good plan. When the part time work generates more cash than the job and you are turning people away, and when you have gone through a winter with no work and still survived, you'll know whether it will fly.sparks_E39 said:
I've been thinking more on how I would start this.. I can't afford to risk being out of work as I have commitments, I don't work weekends so am thinking set up for Saturday's and possibly Sunday's for now- and build it up till I'm confident in having enough work during the week.
A totally different occupation but my brother worked in a stty factory/slaughterhouse for years. He always did his own DIY due to not having enough cash and self taugh himself basic plumbing, plastering etc. One day he was painting the outside of his house and a neighbour enquired how much it would be to do theirs. While he was doing that job the following week another neighbour asked and it snowballed from there. Hes been a self employed decorator the last 15 years.What happened with the RN?
I've always wondered if tree surgeons make much extra money from selling firewood.
dai1983 said:
A totally different occupation but my brother worked in a stty factory/slaughterhouse for years.
That's certainly a tough enough existence. I've worked in slaughterhouses as a manager and some of the jobs on the lines are truly, truly horrible. One that springs to mind is the man who sorts through the still-warm entrails to pick out the edible bits and throw away all the guts. Possibly worse is where the hides are salted down before being sent for tanning. That's like a scene from Hell. Chicken factories by comparison are very pleasant. Anyone who has done several years on the lines in these places has certainly put their time in.tty factory/slaughterhouse for years. battered said:
That's certainly a tough enough existence. I've worked in slaughterhouses as a manager and some of the jobs on the lines are truly, truly horrible. One that springs to mind is the man who sorts through the still-warm entrails to pick out the edible bits and throw away all the guts. Possibly worse is where the hides are salted down before being sent for tanning. That's like a scene from Hell. Chicken factories by comparison are very pleasant. Anyone who has done several years on the lines in these places has certainly put their time in.
Rendering plants take some beating...don't ask 
8-P said:
If I could live off that Id jump at the chance, if you have relatively few commitments Id give it a crack.
Just all the commitments that one normally would have. Rent, phone bills and car expenses.. I'm also engaged, but my fiancées income cannot support both of us so I need to work still during the week at first. Go for it sparks! I started off doing work in the evenings and weekends until I had enough work to quit my job-still remember how that felt 30 years later 
As has been said, price per job but don't be tempted to "buy" work by being too cheap, communicate well, be friendly, be prepared to be flexilble and do what you say you will do, when you say you will do it. I can't stress that last bit enough. Best of luck mate. 
As has been said, price per job but don't be tempted to "buy" work by being too cheap, communicate well, be friendly, be prepared to be flexilble and do what you say you will do, when you say you will do it. I can't stress that last bit enough. Best of luck mate. Edited by Little Pete on Friday 26th August 14:22
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