What are the best landscape/business books available ?

A couple that spring to mind:

1/ Financial Times Guide to Business Development: How to Win Profitable Customers and Clients (The FT Guides) - Ian Cooper ISBN-10: 0273759531 / ISBN-13: 978-0273759539. Concise & informed book for anyone, but not full of waffle and useful guidance. To me, part of Business 101.

2/ Landscape Management and Maintenance - John Parker/ Peter Bryan (published by Gower Books).
An old book, out of print but often available 2nd hand. For anyone in groundscare & landscape maintenance contracting - required reading. Discussing so many of the issues found in balance year round work, scheduling, specifying,performance vs task based contracts etc. Financials obviously out of date, but it's the principles contained within the book that are worth their weight in gold when you understand your costs. Cost originally £80, but 2nd hand £10-£20.

Much as tho I like online resources, I still relish the "actual" book, to be able it pull it off the shelf, the smell, to be able to dip in and read and keep close by. Must be my age :D

Good man. A real bargain...cheaper than a pint and so much more useful.../>

Graham Wright said:

Just managed to get this one for £2.81 from amazon. Bargain :)

Gary RK said:

Landscape Management and Maintenance - John Parker/ Peter Bryan (published by Gower Books).
An old book, out of print but often available 2nd hand. For anyone in groundscare & landscape maintenance contracting - required reading. Discussing so many of the issues found in balance year round work, scheduling, specifying,performance vs task based contracts etc. Financials obviously out of date, but it's the principles contained within the book that are worth their weight in gold when you understand your costs. Cost originally £80, but 2nd hand £10-£20.

Replies

Ian Olpin July 27, 2013 at 3:25pm

An obvious specific one, Gary, and a book that's mentioned often on these forums 'Start and Run a Gardening Business' by Paul Power. ISBN 978-1-84528-414-5 priced at £15 or so. Excellent bare bones advice for any start up, from an author who's 'been there, done that'.

A specific from another who's 'been there, done that'...'Driveways, Paths and Patios' by Tony McCormack (ISBN 978-1-86126-778-8 £15-ish) a useful book to dip into, especially the in depth setting out techniques. Mind you, most of the info is now freely available on his web site!
PRO

Gary RK July 27, 2013 at 5:21pm

A couple that spring to mind:

1/ Financial Times Guide to Business Development: How to Win Profitable Customers and Clients (The FT Guides) - Ian Cooper ISBN-10: 0273759531 / ISBN-13: 978-0273759539. Concise & informed book for anyone, but not full of waffle and useful guidance. To me, part of Business 101.

2/ Landscape Management and Maintenance - John Parker/ Peter Bryan (published by Gower Books).
An old book, out of print but often available 2nd hand. For anyone in groundscare & landscape maintenance contracting - required reading. Discussing so many of the issues found in balance year round work, scheduling, specifying,performance vs task based contracts etc. Financials obviously out of date, but it's the principles contained within the book that are worth their weight in gold when you understand your costs. Cost originally £80, but 2nd hand £10-£20.

Much as tho I like online resources, I still relish the "actual" book, to be able it pull it off the shelf, the smell, to be able to dip in and read and keep close by. Must be my age :D
PRO

Gary RK July 27, 2013 at 8:52pm

Good man. A real bargain...cheaper than a pint and so much more useful.../>

Graham Wright said:
Just managed to get this one for £2.81 from amazon. Bargain :)

Gary RK said:

Landscape Management and Maintenance - John Parker/ Peter Bryan (published by Gower Books).
An old book, out of print but often available 2nd hand. For anyone in groundscare & landscape maintenance contracting - required reading. Discussing so many of the issues found in balance year round work, scheduling, specifying,performance vs task based contracts etc. Financials obviously out of date, but it's the principles contained within the book that are worth their weight in gold when you understand your costs. Cost originally £80, but 2nd hand £10-£20.
PRO

Gary RK July 27, 2013 at 9:08pm

Graham, it doesn't matter. These sorts of books provide the key underlying principles that set you up regardless.

...however....they are a little 'dry' .. Don't think humour had found its way into reference style books when this was written ;-)
PRO

Robbie July 27, 2013 at 10:04pm

Picked it up too for £2.81 & the Paul Power book.