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For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
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The costs of getting more work from existing or lasped customers is less than finding new ones.
Look at what work you do that is profitable look at what type of customers are most profitable and find more work and customers of the same type.
Remember turnover is vanity profit is sanity.
If you can find for them ways to make their garden better looking easier to maintain and so you may purchase it at better prices and have your cut. That was what I did in the years of gardening- I negotiated prices with few suppliers and offered several products to my customers. ( I even made for them a discount card to several shops of garden furnitures, supply and more)
there are many suppliers here like myself that will be happy to offer you ideas.
I am sure that you will find your way.
best of luck ofer
Other people have got further quicker, I am comforted with the knowledge that however badly I have done at times, my bank has done far worse. That has been perhaps the greatest boost to my confidence.
I am mindful of the development of a formula 1 racing car, if they can make an improvement that gains them a hundreth of a second a lap they make it, eventually each improvement adds up to a significant amount.
jamesalbertclifton said:
The biggist thing I'm trying to get my head around is employing staff and on what contract.
Have a Plan. Make it realistc and measurable in small chunks otherwise you will get deflected and not achieve any obvious results. Then work then Plan.
Work with your local Hort college, you maybe able to offer part-time work to a student (which gives you a chance to see how it works and have your 'own' time)
As mentioned get your Accountant on board (agree a fixed fee as well..payable in installments)
Look for BusinessLink management training courses/grants. Schemes have been around where they will give you upto £1000 + £500 of your own contribution to find business training / mentors etc. I have been thru this and its good.
Look at the work you do, or can do. Look to push out any non-time sensitive work to the quieter season(s) and back-fill with current season work.
Look for further non-time sensitive work (fencing, sheds, painting, simple running repairs) for those winter months..
Set up your services clearly and simply, market them. Make a point of them - ie Autumn - must be leaf clearence time etc
Take a look at additional landscape related services you could offer. They may well help you fill gaps until you become busy and then you can cherry-pick.
Strike up relationships with Tree Surgeons (you may get referred work they are not interested in) and Hard Landscapers (maybe they would sub some 'soft' work out to you), but referrals will only work if its a two way street and you use them as your 'preferred' contractor for your clients.
Your existing customers are the most valuable assest you have - mine them for referrals to neighbours, friends and family.
Keep your website and marketing stuff clear and simple. Don't get sucked into spending £££'s on these areas.
Contentious point (IMHO): for maintenance etc people want clarity of what you offer, for design led services people want vision, examples, galleries.
Having twenty pictures of cut lawns often does nothing for a client.
Having service descriptions, contact details and if relevant indicative pricing does..
Ok, I'm my lunch is over and I'm off to client site...Good luck
Roy Robbins said:
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