How to Start a General Gardener Business

Start a general gardener business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your General Gardener Business
2. Form your General Gardener Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your General Gardener Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your General Gardener Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your General Gardener Business
7. Get General Gardener Business Insurance
8. Define your General Gardener Business Brand
9. Create your General Gardener Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your general gardener business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out othersmall business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit ourHow to Name a Businessguide or get help brainstorming a name with ourGeneral Gardener Business Name Generator

If you operate asole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit ourDBAguide to learn more.

Whenregistering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a general gardener business?

Most people can get started with little more than a lawnmower and some general gardening tools. Those with more state-of-the-art equipment may be able to attract higher end clients, but it’s by no means a requirement to invest in the most expensive gear on the market.

What are the ongoing expenses for a general gardener business?

Ongoing expenses include equipment replacement and maintenance, transportation costs, and commercial insurance. If you hit a water main or cut a cable line while gardening, you can potentially incur hundreds or thousands of dollars in repair costs. Commercial insurance will cover all or part of these costs so you don’t have to pay for them out of pocket.

Who is the target market?

The target market is typically middle- to upper-class homeowners and commercial property owners of all kinds. Gardeners are looking for people who don’t want the responsibility of maintaining a lawn, but who still want to make their property presentable for themselves and visitors alike.

How does a general gardener business make money?

Gardeners make money by charging for their services. When setting their prices, they need to take into account the cost of the equipment, the time spent on transportation, and how long it takes to perform each task.

How much can you charge customers?

Top gardeners can charge up to $30 dollars an hour, though most will stick to around $15 – $20 an hour. Check the rates in your area before setting your prices.

How much profit can a general gardener business make?

Gardeners typically have varying profit margins based on their territory, the number of hours they work, and the type of equipment they use. However, it’s not unusual to see high profit margins in this industry. If you charge $22 an hour and work 40 hours a week at 80% profit, you’ll make around $700 a week.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Gardening can be a good way to break into landscaping, where top landscapers can charge up to $150/hr for their services. You may also want to teach community classes where people can learn more about how to get the most from their soil.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most commonbusiness structuretypes are thesole proprietorship,partnership,118bet金博宝 , andcorporation.

建立一个法律业务实体如LLCorcorporationprotects you from being held personally liable if your general gardener business is sued.

You can金宝搏188是什么公司yourself and pay only the minimal stateLLC costsor hire one of the118金宝app for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more aboutstate sales taxand franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to aspiercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting abusiness credit cardhelps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with ourLLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a hot tub garden business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visitingSBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

A general gardener business is generally run out of a large space. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require aCertificate of Occupancy(CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• If you plan to lease a location:
• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a general gardener business.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening,it is recommendedto include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

• If you plan to purchase or build a location:
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your hot tub garden business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully.Business Insuranceprotects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face,begin withGeneral Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need isWorkers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is great for those who enjoy being outside and working with different types of plants. Gardeners should be able to work directly with clients to discuss their properties, soil quality, and any hazards that need to be addressed.

What happens during a typical day at a general gardener business?

Gardeners will travel around to different locations, helping clients with a number of different tasks. Gardeners aren’t typically asked to design the layout of a property, but they may need to confer with clients on a regular basis about which jobs need to take priority. Gardeners will also need to invoice clients and advertise their services.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful general gardener business?

Owners should have some experience and background in botany. Gardening can be a deceptively complex business, so it helps to have a jack-of-all-trades mentality. Gardeners should also be friendly and effective communicators.

What is the growth potential for a general gardener business?

Annual revenue in the home and garden industry continues to rise year after year, so it’s clear people value this service. Plus, it’s not a job that can be outsourced to people overseas, making it one of the more practical professions a business owner can tackle.