9 Landscaping Business Ideas and How to Get Started

Sure, you can start a landscaping company, but the opportunities in the landscaping industry go far beyond designing landscapes. Today, there are lots of niche markets on which you can focus, such as vertical gardening or backyard putting areas for golf enthusiasts. You also have the option to start a service-based business, sell retail products, teach, write or sell.

In addition, there are other factors that can affect how you structure your business – making it easier to customize your company to meet both your desires and your customer’s needs. For example, you can work outdoors or your business can be run completely from a computer. You can run a mobile business or operate completely from home.

The list below provides a place to start, with ideas and resources you can use. However, don’t let that stop you from coming up with your own unique idea. Heck, it’s your business!

1. Grow and Sell Plants from Home

Contrary to popular belief you don’t need to have a lot of acreage to grow plants and sell them for a living, according to Mike McGroarty of McGroarty Enterprises, Inc.. The key is growing the right plants and making the best use of your space. If you like working hand-on and being outdoors but prefer to work from home, this line of work could be for you.

2. Start a Lawn Care Service

A lawn maintenance service is nothing new, but it’s not going anywhere either. The downside is that there is lots of competition, so it’s easier to draw in customers when your services make yards look noticeably better (and you get referrals) or you offer additional services that your competition doesn’t offer.

3. Teach a Workshop on Growing a Vegetable Garden

Teaching gardening workshops in your local community is another way to make money. People are constantly looking for new hobbies to start or ways to try new things or meet other people. Workshops can offer all of these benefits.

As an instructor, you don’t necessarily need to be the most experienced gardener, as long as you offer a program that delivers value and fun. Start by contacting your city to find out the procedure for listing and teaching your class.

4. Teach a Landscaping Class Online

If you enjoy teaching but want to work from home, why not teach a class online? You can teach virtually any subject using very inexpensive tools, and for many courses you don’t even need a teaching credential.

Take basic landscaping, for example. Many DIY homeowners are looking for ways to complete basic landscaping projects themselves so they can save money. You could offer an online program explaining how to do basic projects, and you can even use online video demonstrations.

5. Become a Xeriscape Designer

Show homeowners how you can save them money over time with a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant yard, and many will listen. Not only do people want to save money, but there is a growing number of consumers who prefer the environmentally-friendly alternative.

Many xeriscaping designs also have a modern, sophisticated look and feel, which can also increase a property’s value. This business is essentially run the same as a traditional landscaping business, but targeting a specific niche market.

6. Write a Book on Creating Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor living spaces also enhance property values when done right – not to mention they can be used by the homeowner to entertain, relax and use for all sorts of purposes. Most times, creating these outdoor spaces involved more than setting up furniture outside.

It can include hardscaping, privacy structures and other items that homeowners generally need help with – so they hire a professional or seek instruction on design and layout. Of course, you could start a service-based business selling your services, but you could also write and publish a digital book for do-it-yourselfers.

Getting your book published (especially in digital format) has become exceptionally simple and inexpensive. With ebooks, production costs are minimal, so you can sell them for less money and potentially sell more of them – while still maintaining a high profit margin. Here’s how.

7. Open a Vertical Garden Online Store

Your online store can sell vertical garden kits or supplies – or gardening items totally unrelated to vertical gardening. In fact, if you want to sell products online, you don’t even need to build your own online store. For example, you can market unique, handcrafted gardening decor or products on websites like Etsy and reach thousands of potential customers.

8. Build Vegetable Gardens for Urban Gardeners

There is a growing market of consumers who want to grow their own produce but have limited space. Making the most of available vertical space and building irrigation systems can get tricky, and many new gardeners need help. A service like this can also include product sales or ongoing maintenance of gardens. Get creative!

9. Install Backyard Putting Greens

When done right, a backyard putting green can be just as beautiful as it is functional. They are also super low maintenance and can provide a simple source of entertainment. It’s no wonder that more golf enthusiasts are installing them. More information here.

For more new business ideas for small and home-based companies, visit The New Business Idea. You can also get over 200 business start-up guides and download the Home Business Start-Up Checklist free from www.HomeBusinessCenter.com.

Source: http://thenewbusinessidea.com/9-landscaping-business-ideas-and-how-to-get-started/