Start a Home Based Landscape Business
By Siriol Jameson
Why not start a home based landscape business that makes money. Today, we will look at
an easy step-by-step guide to make money in your home based landscape business. Landscaping
is in great demand today. Developers want landscapers to design gardens for commercial
buildings. Real estate agents want neat gardens to increase the value of a home.
Homeowners want theme gardens. Some popular themes are the Garden of Eden, the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon, and the Gardens of Versailles. Here are three steps to help you start
your home business and become a professional landscaper:
1. Check out the licenses you need at your state and local government.
2. Join a national trade association such as the American Nursery and Landscape
Association (ANLA). They provide beginning landscapers with the help they need. They offer
educational programs, and advice with licensing. They also provide credit card processing
and help in setting up your home business. In addition, they offer insurance.
The ANLA provides networking opportunities and trade fairs. These give you a chance to
learn the ropes on the job with established landscapers.
3. Establish your credibility with three references. In the beginning you can provide
landscaping services to family and friends and ask them for references. Your membership in
the trade association as well as the Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau
will further enhance your credibility.
Take a look at these quick and easy ways to find clients:
• Place door hangers with a description of your landscaping service on
doors in your area. • Post ads in the local newspaper and on
community bulletin boards. • Place magnetic decals with the name of
your home business and telephone number on your car and ask friends to do the same.
There are three fascinating gardens that are all the rage today:
1. Butterfly Gardens
Everybody loves big, orange, Monarch butterflies and you can plant a garden to attract
them in droves. Butterflies are attracted to bright-colored flowers and bushes that grow
in full sun.
Some butterfly favorites include dahlias, black-eyed Susans, honeysuckle, lavender, sunflowers,
phlox, butterfly weed, purple sage, purple salvia, zinnia, lobelia, and cherry laurel.
2. Honeybee Gardens
Honeybees are dying out everywhere and this could spell disaster for our food supply.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one-third of our food is pollinated by
insects. And, 80 percent of these are honeybees.
People everywhere are clamoring for honeybee gardens. Some even set up honeybee boxes
in their gardens in hopes the bees will come. You can provide honeybee boxes as part of
your service and maintain them as an added service.
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