A gardener will provide general lawn services such as mowing, weeding, and flower planting. They may rake leaves during the fall or provide soil treatment, shoveling, or other types of lawn care during the winter.
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Start a general gardener business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your General Gardener Business
- Form your General Gardener Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your General Gardener Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your General Gardener Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your General Gardener Business
- Get General Gardener Business Insurance
- Define your General Gardener Business Brand
- Create your General Gardener Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your general gardener business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our General Gardener Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a general gardener business?
Most people can get started with little more than a lawnmower and some general gardening tools. Those with more state-of-the-art equipment may be able to attract higher end clients, but it’s by no means a requirement to invest in the most expensive gear on the market.
What are the ongoing expenses for a general gardener business?
Ongoing expenses include equipment replacement and maintenance, transportation costs, and commercial insurance. If you hit a water main or cut a cable line while gardening, you can potentially incur hundreds or thousands of dollars in repair costs. Commercial insurance will cover all or part of these costs so you don’t have to pay for them out of pocket.
Who is the target market?
The target market is typically middle- to upper-class homeowners and commercial property owners of all kinds. Gardeners are looking for people who don’t want the responsibility of maintaining a lawn, but who still want to make their property presentable for themselves and visitors alike.
How does a general gardener business make money?
Gardeners make money by charging for their services. When setting their prices, they need to take into account the cost of the equipment, the time spent on transportation, and how long it takes to perform each task.
How much can you charge customers?
Top gardeners can charge up to $30 dollars an hour, though most will stick to around $15 – $20 an hour. Check the rates in your area before setting your prices.
How much profit can a general gardener business make?
Gardeners typically have varying profit margins based on their territory, the number of hours they work, and the type of equipment they use. However, it’s not unusual to see high profit margins in this industry. If you charge $22 an hour and work 40 hours a week at 80% profit, you’ll make around $700 a week.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Gardening can be a good way to break into landscaping, where top landscapers can charge up to $150/hr for their services. You may also want to teach community classes where people can learn more about how to get the most from their soil.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your general gardener business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your general gardener business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a hot tub garden business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
A general gardener business is generally run out of a large space. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a general gardener business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your hot tub garden business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your General Gardener Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for General Gardener Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a general gardener business
Look for gaps in current offerings before deciding your promotion strategy. For example, offering the same amazing service for a lower price, or providing full-scale service, can help beat the competition. Use photos of your work and make sure to provide references — even if they’re friends and family members whose lawns you’ve successfully worked on.
Gardeners with advanced industrial equipment may be able to use this to their advantage as well. Owners can advertise the machine’s benefits as a reason to choose them over the competition. Gardeners typically rely on flyers or business cards dropped off door-to-door, or by posting information at community centers and local shops. Consider going the extra mile when introducing yourself to new clients, such as attaching a small bag of seeds to your business business card with an offer to plant them.
How to keep customers coming back
Gardeners should always be on time and consistent with their work. You should be able to discuss the lawn with the property owner and provide interesting tips and practical advice about what else can and should be done to it. The more trust a gardener inspires, the more likely their business will grow.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
This business is great for those who enjoy being outside and working with different types of plants. Gardeners should be able to work directly with clients to discuss their properties, soil quality, and any hazards that need to be addressed.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a general gardener business?
Gardeners will travel around to different locations, helping clients with a number of different tasks. Gardeners aren’t typically asked to design the layout of a property, but they may need to confer with clients on a regular basis about which jobs need to take priority. Gardeners will also need to invoice clients and advertise their services.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful general gardener business?
Owners should have some experience and background in botany. Gardening can be a deceptively complex business, so it helps to have a jack-of-all-trades mentality. Gardeners should also be friendly and effective communicators.
What is the growth potential for a general gardener business?
Annual revenue in the home and garden industry continues to rise year after year, so it’s clear people value this service. Plus, it’s not a job that can be outsourced to people overseas, making it one of the more practical professions a business owner can tackle.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a general gardener business?
Gardening can be a very versatile position to have, so owners need a solid business model before getting started. Some gardeners will simply mow lawns and apply weed killer to overgrowth. Others will provide light landscaping advice or lawn planning tips. It all depends on the services required in your neighborhood.
Many gardeners will get started on a part-time basis only, testing the waters to learn more about what clients really need. It may be difficult for a sole proprietor to be hired by a commercial property owner, but smaller commercial businesses may need basic upkeep at a reasonable price. Warmer areas in the US are saturated with gardeners because they need year-round care. This drives the price down for services but also increases demand for gardeners across all demographics.
Gardeners should look for ways to keep clients during the winter, even in the snowiest areas. In addition to offering shoveling services to help maintain the safety and accessibility of a property, gardeners may be able to plant flowers such as holly to keep lawns attractive and colorful during a depressing season.
No matter what type of gardener you choose to be, you need to be proactive whenever possible. Telling clients about potential property hazards will help you earn their trust and may convince them to hire you for additional services. For example, if the roots of a tree look as though they may interfere with a client’s plumbing, or if one of their trees is dangerously close to tipping over in strong winds, you may be able to address these issue yourself or recommend a trusted business that can. Either way, it can fortify your relationship with the client and keep them coming back.
The most successful gardeners never stop learning about what they do. Take classes, experiment with your own plants, and read up on the trends in your industry. Even if your current clients need nothing more than law mowing, expanding your education and experience will help your business grown down the road.
How and when to build a team
Gardeners typically only hire a team when they’ve outgrown their workload. You may want to consider hiring an assistant or two at first to get a sense of their skills and work ethic before hiring a team who will go out to clients on their own.