Horticulture therapy is defined as the process of using gardening activities and plants to improve an individual’s mind, body, and spirit. While this treatment approach dates back to ancient Egypt, it was first introduced in the 1940s as part of a rehabilitation project for service members returning home from the war. Since then, it has been introduced into a variety of therapy settings, offering social, cognitive, physical, and emotional benefits. It is currently used in various applications, such as clinical practice, community programs, independent living programs, and prisons.
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Start a horticultural therapy by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Horticultural Therapy
- Form your Horticultural Therapy into a Legal Entity
- Register your Horticultural Therapy for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Horticultural Therapy
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Horticultural Therapy
- Get Horticultural Therapy Insurance
- Define your Horticultural Therapy Brand
- Create your Horticultural Therapy Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your horticultural therapy . 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 Ghostwriting 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 horticultural therapy?
A horticulture degree is the first investment you will make in achieving your business goals. The average cost for this two-year program is $51,000. Once you have completed your coursework and internship, you can begin to start investing in your business’s future. When first launching your business, it may not be necessary to lease a dedicated space. You will need to sharpen your skills, pool all potential resources, market within the medical community, and seek funding for research and development. As your business progresses, you may find it necessary to invest in an office and community space in order to further your work.
What are the ongoing expenses for a horticultural therapy?
Horticulture therapists are responsible for procuring all plants and materials used during therapy sessions. The materials’ average cost for each therapy session ranges from $17 to $25 per person. Therapists are encouraged to approach local plant nurseries for donations. In addition to the standard overhead expenses associated with managing a business, entrepreneurs in this field will need to budget for liability and health insurance, continuing education, and payroll-related expenses.
Who is the target market?
Horticulture therapists are licensed to work in a variety of healthcare and/or social service settings. It’s important for you to carefully consider the impact you wish to make within the community before developing your marketing strategy. Target markets include everything from mental health, corrections, special education, and foster care programs.
How does a horticultural therapy make money?
As a horticulture therapy business owner, you can expect to generate revenue through each therapy program you develop and each session you and your team participate in.
How much can you charge customers?
As an independent horticulture therapist business, you will be paid on a contractual basis, earning upwards of $85,000 annually per contract. The specifics of fees collected will be mapped out in a signed contract and will match the scope of services you are contractually obligated to provide.
How much profit can a horticultural therapy make?
If your horticulture therapy business signs two contracts at $84,000, this will generate a gross annual income of $168,000. If you are able to lead both programs with the help of volunteers and donations, you stand to net over $100,000 annually.
How can you make your business more profitable?
As your business begins to build a reputation within the community, new opportunities will arise. Each potential business opportunity should be carefully considered to ensure that you maximize your profits. If you take on a new contract that pays $58,000 annually but the cost to hire an additional therapist will set you back $54,000, it may not be in your best interest to take on this new client.
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 horticultural therapy 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 horticultural therapy 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.
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Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation 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.
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.
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 horticultural therapy
Once you have identified which aspect of the medical community you wish to focus your efforts on, you will need to approach administrators of healthcare facilities and agencies that serve those special needs. A deliberate and educational presentation will be your first step. Once you have gained administrative support, the Board of Directors of the healthcare facility will look to you for educational materials before making their final decision.
How to keep customers coming back
Once your organization has gained its first contract, you will need to utilize your training and experience to develop a targeted program that meets the needs of the facility and its patients. Patient success translates to organizational success, ensuring you retain current contracts and build a reputation that will spread throughout the medical community.
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?
Launching a horticulture therapy business is ideal for individuals looking to combine their passion for gardening with a desire to help others achieve their personal and professional goals. Therapists are often part of a highly skilled and trained medical team that includes physicians, occupational and physical therapists, psychiatrists, nurses, and even job coaches.
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What happens during a typical day at a horticultural therapy ?
A horticulture therapist’s day is structured around the needs of the individual or group they are treating. They are responsible for educating staff and administrators regarding the basics of horticulture and its benefits. Collaboration with medical teams helps the horticulturist identify individual or group therapy needs in order to then design a therapy strategy that meets those needs. Working within their program’s budget constraints, they are tasked with developing long-term programs and locating affordable resources.
When not conducting therapy sessions, horticulture therapists work to find funding and additional resources for their programs, find and train volunteers, market their business, and educate others regarding the benefits of horticulture therapy.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful horticultural therapy ?
As part of the medical community, you will first need to procure a horticulture degree through an accredited college with a concentration in horticultural therapy. Aspiring therapists are also required to complete a 480-hour internship where they gain real-world clinical experience under the supervision of a Registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR).
Due to the nature of this business, successful horticulture therapists should also be patient and flexible. They must be able to communicate with people from various backgrounds and possess the ability to communicate the benefits of the niche human service they provide.
What is the growth potential for a horticultural therapy ?
The benefits of horticulture therapy were first recognized by the ancient Egyptians. Plants reward their caregivers with flowers, fruits, new growth, and a deep sense of satisfaction. Innovative and driven entrepreneurs have an opportunity to realize significant growth, limited only by their own imagination.
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 horticultural therapy ?
Horticulture therapists are encouraged to continually sharpen their skills. This can be done through participation in organizations such as the American Horticultural Therapy Association and the American Society for Horticultural Science.
How and when to build a team
Most horticulture therapists rely on the support of volunteers. As your business starts to gain traction within the community, it may be necessary to hire additional therapists and expand your pool of volunteers. Since employee and volunteer actions are a direct reflection of your company, careful vetting and training should be considered of the utmost importance.