Start Your Own Lawn Care or Landscaping Business
Rake in the Green\ Successful landscapers and lawn care professionals reveal their secrets to success in this $20 billion industry. With all the homes, business parks, apartment complexes, shopping malls and hospitals that need landscaping, you can tailor your services and create your dream job. Your business can range from the simple-mowing and edging lawns, raking leaves and clipping hedges-to applying chemicals and fertilizer, trimming and shaping trees, designing landscapes and more....
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Rake in the GreenSuccessful landscapers and lawn care professionals reveal their secrets to success in this $20 billion industry. With all the homes, business parks, apartment complexes, shopping malls and hospitals that need landscaping, you can tailor your services and create your dream job. Your business can range from the simple-mowing and edging lawns, raking leaves and clipping hedges-to applying chemicals and fertilizer, trimming and shaping trees, designing landscapes and more. Learn everything you need to know, including: How to find customers What equipment you'll need How to hire and manage employees Record keeping and accounting Where to find working capital How to calculate job estimates And moreIf you love working outdoors, you owe it to yourself to buy this step-by-step guide and start building your own successful lawn care or landscaping business.
Preface xiThe Green, Green Grass of Home 1The Green Scene 2Reality Check 2Industry Snapshot 4Types of Green Industry Service Businesses 6Other Opportunities to Get Green 7Meet the Entrepreneurs 7Lawn Care 9Historical Perspective 10Business Basics 11Grass Attack 12Spreading the Wealth 13Guesstimating Your Worth 13Establishing Prices 14Start Your Engine 17Staffing 18Weathering the Storm(s) 19Landscaping 25Historical Perspective 26Types of Landscaping Businesses 28Scope of Services 29Gardening/Maintenance 30Installation 31Special Construction 32General Business Operations 33Estimating Jobs 33Setting Prices 36Scheduling Jobs 36A Day in the Life 37Staffing 38Weather Woes 39Mowing Down the Competition 41Defining Your Market 44Conducting Market Research 45Primary Research 45Surveying the Market 46Cash Bait 49Calling all Lawn Owners 49A Job for the Pros 50Secondary Research 51Economic Environment 51Your Budding Business 53Naming Your New Baby 54Registering Your Corporate Name 57Your Corporate Structure 58Sole Proprietorship 58General Partnership 58Limited Liability Company 58Corporation 58The Home Zone 59Other Licenses and Permits 60Navigating Unfamiliar Waters 60Cutting-Edge Help 65Your Legal Eagle 66Money Managers 68Computing King 70Covering Your Assets 70Types of Insurance 70Tools of the Trade 75Lawn Maintenance/Landscaping Equipment 76Vehicle 76Utility Trailer 77Vehicle Alarm System 78Storage Facility 78Uniforms and Hats 78Safety Equipment 79Digital Camera 79Lawn Care Necessities 80Lawn Mowers 80Snow Removal Equipment 81Spreaders and Sprayers 81The Final Four 82Landscaping Necessities 82Basic Tools for Other Landscaping Professionals 84Office Equipment 85Furniture 85Computers 86Software 86Telephones and Answering Machines 88Copy Machines 88Point-of-Sale Equipment 89Merchant Accounts 89Office Supplies 89Business Services 91Turf Tenders 99Diving into the Labor Pool 100The Chase Begins 101Back to School 103Giving 'Em the Third Degree 104Making a Good Impression 105Perking Up 106Giving the Taxman His Due 106Promoting Workplace Safety 108Call in the Reinforcements 110Planting the Seeds of Success 111Industry Associations 112American Nursery and Landscape Association 112Association of Professional Landscape Designers 112National Gardening Association 113Professional Landcare Network 113Industry Publications 114Trade Publications 114Consumer Publications 115University Courses 116Online Resources 116Certification 118Association of Professional Landscape Designers 118California Landscape Contractors Association 119Professional Landcare Network 119Spreading the Word 121Timing Is Everything 123Your Plan of Attack 123SWOT Analysis 123Read All About It 125Yellow Pages Ads 125Business Cards 126Fliers 128Door Hangers 129Brochures 130Direct Mail 131Word-of-Mouth 132Newspaper Ads 134Casting Your Net 137A Phenomenal Resource 139Your Cyber Salesperson 140Back to Basics 140Building a Better Web Site 141Romancing the Home(page) 142Selecting a Domain Name 144The Host with the Most 144Blowing Your Own Horn 145Newsletters 146Writing and Producing a Newsletter 146Feature Articles 148Submitting Your Manuscript 149Home and Garden Show Promotions 150Networking 151The Green Stuff 153Income and Operating Expenses 154Phone/Utilities 155Postage 155Wages 155Advertising 156Insurance 156Legal Services 157Accounting Services 157Internet Service Fees 157Transportation/Maintenance 158Magazine Subscriptions 158Membership Dues 159Loan Repayment 159Office Supplies 159Merchant Account 159Benefits/Taxes 160Miscellaneous Expenses 162Receivables 162Paying the Piper 163High-Tech Bookkeeping Solutions 163Where the Money Is 164Uncle Sam to the Rescue 165Do-It-Yourself Financing 165Unearthing the Green 166Your Green Piece on Earth 173Why Businesses Fail 174Hindsight Is 20/20 174All in a Day's Work 176Unexpected Company 176Making the Grade 176Going for a Ride 177House Call 177Your Formula for Success 178AppendixLawn Care/Landscaping Resources 179Glossary 189Index 193
