Becoming a self employed gardener
Discussion
Hello 
I've always been keen to be self employed but for whatever reason, I haven't quite done it yet.
Last year had a go at creating my own online business, but have stopped that now before I got in too deep as I don't think it is something I would enjoy in the long run.
I don't think I want to be stuck behind a desk any more, but with limited skills it's tough to know what to do... Gardening is currently standing out, and I was wondering if anyone here has done it?
If there is anyone that could give me some guidance, I'd really appreciate it!
Not looking to start up immediately, but if I do go ahead it would probably be summer time.
Thank you.
I've always been keen to be self employed but for whatever reason, I haven't quite done it yet.
Last year had a go at creating my own online business, but have stopped that now before I got in too deep as I don't think it is something I would enjoy in the long run.
I don't think I want to be stuck behind a desk any more, but with limited skills it's tough to know what to do... Gardening is currently standing out, and I was wondering if anyone here has done it?
If there is anyone that could give me some guidance, I'd really appreciate it!
Not looking to start up immediately, but if I do go ahead it would probably be summer time.
Thank you.
I have a mate who does a bit of this on the side, I've seen some of the photos and he's very good, but it's not easy work. A few things to consider:
- What experience do you have of gardening? Mowing lawns and trimming bushes might be simple enough, but you don't want to be digging up Mrs Miggins' prize dahlias thinking they're weeds.
- Have you got the tools and car/van to move them about. If not how much will it cost to get them?
- What do you plan on doing with any rubbish/trimmings?
- Do you mind working outdoors in all weathers?
- It's quite seasonal, what will you do in winter?
- How much competition is there in the area? How are you going to drum up business?
- How are you going to keep track of all income/expenditure for tax returns, etc?
- How would you cope if you were unable to work for a period of time? For example, if you put your back out and were unable to move for 6 weeks how would you pay your bills?
- What experience do you have of gardening? Mowing lawns and trimming bushes might be simple enough, but you don't want to be digging up Mrs Miggins' prize dahlias thinking they're weeds.
- Have you got the tools and car/van to move them about. If not how much will it cost to get them?
- What do you plan on doing with any rubbish/trimmings?
- Do you mind working outdoors in all weathers?
- It's quite seasonal, what will you do in winter?
- How much competition is there in the area? How are you going to drum up business?
- How are you going to keep track of all income/expenditure for tax returns, etc?
- How would you cope if you were unable to work for a period of time? For example, if you put your back out and were unable to move for 6 weeks how would you pay your bills?
See if you can get some 'contract's, my next door neighbour is a gardener & he has quite a few.
He's got more work than he can handle & is busy all year round.
The only time he's ever at home is if he's on holiday, or it's dangerous to be outside doing what he does (tail end of hurricane kind of weather).
He's got more work than he can handle & is busy all year round.
The only time he's ever at home is if he's on holiday, or it's dangerous to be outside doing what he does (tail end of hurricane kind of weather).
one of my good mates from school is a gardener, has done it his whole working life as, he would rather die than be in an office environment all day.
My father in law left work and set up a business as a gardener, and did that till he retired a few years ago.
Both of them are/were incredibly busy respectively, and would end up turning down work and just staying with clients they wanted to do work for as a result. They both loved it.
My father in law left work and set up a business as a gardener, and did that till he retired a few years ago.
Both of them are/were incredibly busy respectively, and would end up turning down work and just staying with clients they wanted to do work for as a result. They both loved it.
Thanks for the pointers everyone!
I've still got a lot to figure out before/if I take the plunge.
willing to learn though, and I am pretty proactive with learning at least! although fully aware that there's a lot more to it than reading a couple of books.
I've got no equipment yet, this is simply an idea at this stage.
Lots to consider for sure, thanks for your input ZS!
I'd almost definitely want to go for contract work, too, if I could - this would be a business I'd like to grow so bringing on extra staff in the long run would be on my agenda.
This is probably something I'd start while already in full time employment, so starting with weekend work and see how we go!
I've still got a lot to figure out before/if I take the plunge.
Zetec-S said:
I have a mate who does a bit of this on the side, I've seen some of the photos and he's very good, but it's not easy work. A few things to consider:
- What experience do you have of gardening? Mowing lawns and trimming bushes might be simple enough, but you don't want to be digging up Mrs Miggins' prize dahlias thinking they're weeds.
- Have you got the tools and car/van to move them about. If not how much will it cost to get them?
- What do you plan on doing with any rubbish/trimmings?
- Do you mind working outdoors in all weathers?
- It's quite seasonal, what will you do in winter?
- How much competition is there in the area? How are you going to drum up business?
- How are you going to keep track of all income/expenditure for tax returns, etc?
- How would you cope if you were unable to work for a period of time? For example, if you put your back out and were unable to move for 6 weeks how would you pay your bills?
I actually have nearly no experience, other than lawn mowing, strimming, bit of weeding - What experience do you have of gardening? Mowing lawns and trimming bushes might be simple enough, but you don't want to be digging up Mrs Miggins' prize dahlias thinking they're weeds.
- Have you got the tools and car/van to move them about. If not how much will it cost to get them?
- What do you plan on doing with any rubbish/trimmings?
- Do you mind working outdoors in all weathers?
- It's quite seasonal, what will you do in winter?
- How much competition is there in the area? How are you going to drum up business?
- How are you going to keep track of all income/expenditure for tax returns, etc?
- How would you cope if you were unable to work for a period of time? For example, if you put your back out and were unable to move for 6 weeks how would you pay your bills?
willing to learn though, and I am pretty proactive with learning at least! although fully aware that there's a lot more to it than reading a couple of books. I've got no equipment yet, this is simply an idea at this stage.
Lots to consider for sure, thanks for your input ZS!
I'd almost definitely want to go for contract work, too, if I could - this would be a business I'd like to grow so bringing on extra staff in the long run would be on my agenda.
This is probably something I'd start while already in full time employment, so starting with weekend work and see how we go!
I think there is mileage in it.
A lot of people don't want/need a gardener per se, but somebody to come round cut the grass, do a bit of weeding, trim their bushes. We have a "gardener", but the reality is what he does is exactly what I've described. He also jet washes paved areas & can do basic maintenance (fix gates, paint fences, that sort of stuff).
A lot of people don't want/need a gardener per se, but somebody to come round cut the grass, do a bit of weeding, trim their bushes. We have a "gardener", but the reality is what he does is exactly what I've described. He also jet washes paved areas & can do basic maintenance (fix gates, paint fences, that sort of stuff).
Trevor555 said:
Our gardener does painting/decorating through the winter.
So you might need something if it goes quiet winter time.
Painter and decorator would be my choice. Mostly inside work and low start up costs. Last time I tried to get some decorating done (a whole house, empty) everybody was booked up for weeks.So you might need something if it goes quiet winter time.
Money is important, how much can you earn and how does it compare to your current income? I pay my mum's gardener £12/h, he's retired and it's cash, was about the going rate as the previous guy we used was the same .
Not sure what is achievable in contracting but you need to find this out, unless the money is not that important
Not sure what is achievable in contracting but you need to find this out, unless the money is not that important
Dog walking? Your outdoors, take multiple dogs at a time, offer washing services etc as extra.
Ironing lady? She constantly at mine picking clothes up and costing me money. Worth it.
Professional cleaning? Flats etc need cleaned at end of tenancy, also offering house clearance etc
Can really do anything. Also if you own a van my local gardener uses his to deliver parcels during the quiet Nov-Feb.
Ironing lady? She constantly at mine picking clothes up and costing me money. Worth it.
Professional cleaning? Flats etc need cleaned at end of tenancy, also offering house clearance etc
Can really do anything. Also if you own a van my local gardener uses his to deliver parcels during the quiet Nov-Feb.
Eric Mc said:
megaphone said:
M I pay my mum's gardener £12/h, he's retired and it's cash, /quote]
Are you insinuating something with that comment?
Not sure? If you mean am I suggesting the gardener gets paid in cash, sticks it straight in his sky and doesn't declare it to her majesty's finest, then I don't know, don't really care. Are you insinuating something with that comment?
Edited by megaphone on Thursday 23 January 15:05
megaphone said:
Not sure? If you mean am I suggesting the gardener gets paid in cash, sticks it straight in his sky and doesn't declare it to her majesty's finest, then I don't know, don't really care.
I was wondering what you were advising the OP. If you don't care, why did you make a point of bringing up the topic of paying a business in cash in the first place?Edited by megaphone on Thursday 23 January 15:05
There's definitely money in it, as i said the one i know does all contract work, a lot of it is for managed properties (flats/housing associations).
He also has business customers who he does work for, he's said numerous times that he can't take any one off customers on as he has so many contract ones, many of which he's had for a number of years & it's steady/stable income.
Whilst as he tells me he'll never be a millionaire, he's mortgage free, got a couple of properties & a few cars.
His work is garden general maintenance as opposed to landscaping, however he has been doing it for the last 30 years or so so has a good reputation.
He also has business customers who he does work for, he's said numerous times that he can't take any one off customers on as he has so many contract ones, many of which he's had for a number of years & it's steady/stable income.
Whilst as he tells me he'll never be a millionaire, he's mortgage free, got a couple of properties & a few cars.
His work is garden general maintenance as opposed to landscaping, however he has been doing it for the last 30 years or so so has a good reputation.
Eric Mc said:
megaphone said:
Not sure? If you mean am I suggesting the gardener gets paid in cash, sticks it straight in his sky and doesn't declare it to her majesty's finest, then I don't know, don't really care.
I was wondering what you were advising the OP. If you don't care, why did you make a point of bringing up the topic of paying a business in cash in the first place?Edited by megaphone on Thursday 23 January 15:05
I know a few (having a big garden and also a building firm), the ones who make good money all seem to be "landscape gardeners", ie, laying patios, building stairs, installing ponds/features-the stuff folk can't do themselves.
The ones who look after gardens round our way simply have to work as a team in the summer-2 blokes in a tipper transit and maybe a boy for the graft can hit one garden and get a lot done in a day for a one off cost/pcm. Mow the grass, trim stuff back, sweep up all the crap-then identify a couple of big jobs to do throughout the year-pressure wash all the patios/drive/re-sand and weed the block paving/lift a tree crown.
I know one lad who works for himself but he's a trained tree surgeon so is in demand for that but he also helps out on farms from March to October until late at night to pay his way. He's good, he's busy but he works like f
k for it! Having three rainy days means he's likely to have three 6am-11pm days to try and catch up.
Another revenue strain is grounders for building companies.
The ones who look after gardens round our way simply have to work as a team in the summer-2 blokes in a tipper transit and maybe a boy for the graft can hit one garden and get a lot done in a day for a one off cost/pcm. Mow the grass, trim stuff back, sweep up all the crap-then identify a couple of big jobs to do throughout the year-pressure wash all the patios/drive/re-sand and weed the block paving/lift a tree crown.
I know one lad who works for himself but he's a trained tree surgeon so is in demand for that but he also helps out on farms from March to October until late at night to pay his way. He's good, he's busy but he works like f
k for it! Having three rainy days means he's likely to have three 6am-11pm days to try and catch up.Another revenue strain is grounders for building companies.
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