How to Start a Home-Based Landscaping Business, 6th: *Develop a profitable business plan *Build word-of-mouth referrals *Handle employees, paperwork, and taxes *Work smart and safe *Adapt to new trends like sustainable landscaping *Become your area's top
Have you ever dreamed of starting your own landscaping business? Have you been hesitant to put your plans into action? This comprehensive guide contains all the necessary tools and strategies you need to successfully launch and grow your own business. Owen E. Dell shares his experiences and down-to-earth advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based landscaping business. He shows you how to purchase the right tools, estimate start-up costs, price services, and stay...
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Making money doing lawn-care, landscape architecture, and garden work is a dream of many people—and this guide contains all the necessary tools and strategies they need to successfully launch and develop their own business doing so.
Acknowledgments viIntroduction vii01 So You Think You Want to Be a Landscaper? 1Measuring the Landscaper's Life 1What Kinds of Work Are Available and Who Does What? 2Do You Have What It Takes? 10Why Do You Want to Run Your Own Business? 12Making the Transition: Amateur to Professional 1202 Getting Started 18Start Up or Buy? 18Working Out of Your Home 19Tools and Equipment 21Other Office Basics 37The Bank Account 41Insurance 42Legal Considerations 46Business Taxes 48Defining Your Niche 49Conclusion 5303 Writing a Business Plan 54Why Do a Business Plan, Anyway? 55Preparing the Business Plan, Step-by-Step 56Some Tips on Raising Money 7804 Learning to Live with Record Keeping 81Bookkeeping 81General Business Records 10305 Employees: A Joy and a Nuisance 112How Many People Will You Need? 112Job Categories (Field) 116Finding Good Employees 118Legal Requirements of Employers 120Hiring 125Developing an Employee Manual 131Training Employees 132Managing Employees 133Record Keeping 13806 Getting Work 142Servingthe Client Well 142Marketing Basics 144Business Opportunities in Sustainable Landscaping and Gardening 153Getting Work 161Advertising 165Alternative Forms of Marketing 170Keeping Track of Potential Clients: Contact Report 17207 Bidding 174The Main Elements of a Bid 174The Bidding Process, Step-by-Step 178Submitting the Bid 187Sample Bidding Forms 188The Contract 188Job Costing 195Sales 101 19508 Finally you get to Do Some Real Work 199Designing the Project 199Project Management 202Getting Along with Others 217GettingPaid 223Following Up on Your Jobs 234Business Nightmares: Keeping Your Nose Clean 23509 The Long Haul 240After the Work Is Done 240Guarantees 242Liability for Work 245Long-Term Management 245Planning for Growth 253Planning for Retirement 254In Conclusion 254Appendix 1 Resources 256Appendix 2 Using the Internet 267Appendix 3 Business Plan Worksheet and Other Forms 273Index 309About the Author 317
