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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 9:54pm

  the thing is some of my customers have gone on holiday and a few of the others there isnt anything to do, the leaves are collected, the boarders dug and mulched, shrubs pruned, greenhouses cleaned and disinfected. maybe its my fault for being so damn efficient but i cant stand behind a shed pretending to be busy its just not in my nature. i have a customer that i go to for a full day each week and i'm part way through cleaning, sanding and teak oiling a big patio set, i planned to carry on with that through december but they told me yesterday that they are going away for christmas and wont be back till 4th january so could i come back after then.  i'm looking for about £70 - £100 a week so not a huge ammount.

   

  this is my 3rd winter since starting out on my own last winter was bad, this year has been no better and this winter is going to be tough.
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:03pm

  i had saved up but with things that have happened recently i've had to use some of the savings, two winters ago i decorated half of the downstairs of my great uncles house, that kepped me busy. last year i done some decorating work for one of my customers.
  
  John www.acegardenservices.co.uk said:

  Whatever it takes Matt (legally) to get through the first couple of winters, decorating, house repairs etc etc.

  Just try to remember when things pick up next year, that you need to try and find winter work in the garden. When pricing regular garden maintenance that has work all year round, take this into consideration.

   Suggest projects that can be undertaken in the winter, and simply make yourself indispensable, no one wants to lose a great worker during the winter months.  

   

   
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:09pm

  i have been offered a deal with a local reconstituted stone manufacturer he has offered me the warwickshire, staffordshire and north west birmingham areas as a reccomended installer, the thing is i've never done hard landscaping, he has offered me training in the installation but i would need assistance with installations as its a two or 3 person lift with some of the items.
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:18pm

  the business went fine it was personal problems that were far beond my control that created a hickup
  
  ROWLY HILL said:

  I hate to quote this back to you Matt but I'm going to -

  "ive never written a business plan for my gardening business, although i have completed them before, for me i find i work better to targets that i set myself monthly and i usually hit my personal goals. one of my customers said she finds it amazing how i set targets and exeed them" ( copied from the Business Plan post).

   

  Perhaps now is the time to rethink and look at writing a business plan. Specifically working on how you can avoid being in the same situation in the winters to come.

   

  Make a list of work that could be completed in the winter, think about how you could market yourself and get it.

  Action in the spring and build a list of jobs and winter work and clients and you won't have to worry about part time work again.

   
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:20pm

  i planned to have 2 weeks leading up to christmas and 2 weeks after christmas at home with nothing to do.
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:24pm

  i'll write a business plan and devote a page to;

   

  1) not have a house fire and loose everything in the downstairs of my home,

  2) try not to make a car pull out infront of me and write my truck off,

  3) if any of the above happen get the insurance companies and land lady to operate in a timely manner so i dont have to rent another place for 3 months wile mine is rebuilt.
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:27pm

  i can pay the bills for the next month i can buy food for the next month i'm just looking for that little bit extra to get my savings back up to where i think they should be
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:33pm

  i agree that business plans have a place in business but they dont really prepare a business for things like above. i know i have done well to get to this point of the year and have enough to see me through the month.

   

  i'm not whining saying i'm the only person to have suffered far from it.
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  Stephen @ SJS December 10, 2010 at 10:33pm

  At the end of the day if it means taking a part time job to increase income then so be it, as stated look at this time next year where you want to be with regards work, it certainly has been a challenging year for you by the sounds of things if the installer is prepared to give you training in that line of work grab it & take all availlable advice on board it is always a learning process,  refuse nothing with regards advice etc & hopefully all will work out better for you next year.

   

  All the best for 2011
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  Matt Brown December 10, 2010 at 10:37pm

  of course i'm always open to any help and assistance. i know next year will be different and it will change.

   

  i may come across as a snappy tosser but i do try not to be.