Hi All,
I am new to this site this week. I have already replied to a few items on the forum as I felt I had something to offer.
You all seem like genuinely nice people that help each other, which is great! I can see myself coming here regularly.
Right so onto the subject in question!
After 8 months of working evening and weekends I have finally had enough of my office job (Accounts support analyst 3yrs) and I have handed in my notice. So as of 4th Sep I am going full time on the gardening front.
I know probably the wrong time of year to do this but hey ho. I felt that I needed to take it by the horns and run with it.
I have managed to buy some vital bits of kit for doing the jobs in hand -
Van (Ford transit SWB med top)
Lawn mower
Sthil kombi with strimmer, brush cutter, long reach hedge cutter heads
Sthil leaf blower
hand tools
etc
So on that front I think I will be ok for now. But I know there will always be something I want to get but I will just have to get it as and when I can.
To be honest I feel scared as hell and abit sick. Thinking what I have done. Quit my job that has guaranteed money every month. As im sure like most/ all of you I have a family and a house to keep running. I keep thinking am I mad?
So I am guessing I am just asking if any of you guys have any pearls of wisdom that you can offer it would be more than appreciated.
Cheers guys :-)
Views: 1475
Replies
Well done on making the leap Dan.
Garden maintenance is a good life and hopefully with the help of the LJN members you can not only make a go of it but also make some decent money.
The best advice I can give is read as much as you can in the LJN archives. Just use the search bar at the top.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I third Phil & Tom,
Wished I had found this place last year, would have helped me a lot with pricing and other things.
Its a great site to be on.
have you been doing any work on the side before you quite your job? or are you starting off with 0 customers?
I'd say get a website made asap sign write your van just to get your name out there as your starting late in the season.
Thanks Phil/ Tom will do. yeah pricing is the thing I need to get down I am getting better but still not 100% quite yet. I have found espically with bigger jobs to always add on a little bit for unforseen things just incase.
Yeah that is what I am worrying about getting difficult/ iffy customers. il go with my gut :-)
Mitchel - I have been working on the side evening and weekend for the last 8 months and have around 10 regulars plus a few big jobs a month.
I have a website up and running even if it is basic http://www.dandgardeningservices.co.uk/ any tips would be great.
I am calling a friend who I met on a bricklaying course a few weeks back about sign writing my van tonight as he does it for a job and said he can get it done cheap for me. So that is in the pipeline.
Yeah defo a little late in the year but if im honest I couldnt wait until spring! Maybe im being abit of a 'bull in a china shop' but you dont get anywhere waiting around making excuses of why not to do something!
September & October are often very busy months, as people leave summer holiday thoughts behind.
That site is a good start, but you need more pages and it needs to be mobile friendly (I am still working on mine but just too busy right now).
Dan.... Firstly Congratulations!!!... I am seriously envious. Im currently working shifts so filling my time with my gardening with a view to going full time asap.
Im sure everything will go well for you and you will enjoy yourself, and I hope to be joining the crowd of full timers as soon as possible.
Best of luck Dan! As Richard said get the prices right. Be confident I would say with pricing. I panicked a lot at the start with quotes and gardens I allowed myself to be haggled down which is now coming back to bite me, now that I'm busy. Get your name out there and work will come your way!
Stick to your prices. If they haggle they cannot afford you! Walk away as the work may be rubbish too.
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