Start Your Own Landscaping / Snow Removal Business

_{Image by Heather Cuthill}

When times are tough, entrepreneurs get going! And things have been tough in the Canadian economy since commodity prices started tanking. But, as the 2016 Rio Olympics proved, Canucks are a special breed. Ice in our veins and all that. When there are no jobs to be had, we put our Can-do spirit into gear and start our own businesses.

If you enjoy gardening and spending time outdoors year-round, you might want to think about starting your own landscaping business. The work is very physical and the hours are long - but you are your own boss and you can get your business up and running quickly for a relatively small initial capital outlay.

Landscaping Offers Year-Round Income Opportunities

A successful landscaping business offers services in every month of the year: lawn care, sodding, tilling, tree pruning and removal, planting and weeding, irrigation, retaining walls, decks and fences, sidewalks and pathways, soil delivery, snow removal and de-icing, and holiday lighting installations.

For creative entrepreneurs, there are no slow seasons. During slower periods, you can offer incentives such as a "best vegetable garden" or "best Halloween display" photo contest, with the winner receiving free landscaping services for 3 months.

What You Need to Do to Start Up

1. Register your business. The first thing you will need to do is register your business. You can set up a sole proprietorship or incorporate as a corporation. Once you have done that, you can set up your bank account, obtain any business licenses and permits you need, and register for business tax, GST, worker's compensation, EI and CPP.

2. Comply with the laws. You will also need to make sure that you comply with your local municipal and provincial laws that may require training and/or licensing for tree trimming and pruning services, and for operating the equipment required to provide these services. Most information is provided online. Do your homework and make sure you're not violating any laws or regulations.

3. Invest in equipment. You will need to purchase some good reliable lawn and garden equipment, tools and safety gear, as well as a vehicle to haul it all. If you have the capital to invest in more expensive specialty equipment such as a backhoe, mini-excavator, aerial bucket, etc., you will be able to offer a more expansive set of services right off the bat. But if you don't have access to sufficient funds, you can plan to make larger capital investments down the road once your business is bringing in enough revenue to allow you to get a business loan.

Now You Need to Market Your Business

4. Set your service rates based on what the market will bear. What are the going rates for landscaping services in your area? You want to keep your rates competitive without overpricing or underselling yourself in your target market.What are your competitors offering for services? Again, you will need to price yourself according to the level and scope of services you are able to offer.

5. Offer incentives to attract clients. Once you've decided on your prices, you need to establish a customer base. A good way to attract new clients is to offer a discount for first-time users of your service. Free estimates and consultations are also a great selling tool, and so is special pricing for a long-term contract.

6. Make your business visible.

• Put your business name, phone number and website URL, on your vehicle and make sure it's easily readable.
• Don't have a website? GET ONE. You cannot do business these days without a website. Godaddy.com or Wix.com can set you up with a website very quickly for a reasonable price.
• Carry printed business cards with you at all times and remember to pass them out freely.
• Always carry your necessary documents (estimate forms, contracts, etc) in your vehicle and on your laptop or mobile device, so that they're accessible upon request.
• Advertise in the local Yellow Pages and other business directories, local cable TV and community association newsletters.
• Take good photos of work you have already performed and create a portfolio. Post these on your website and keep them on your phone, tablet, laptop etc. to show potential clients.
• Use social media to showcase your business, network with clients and offer coupons and promotions. 

Put together a set of comprehensive customer contracts and forms.

You will need to put all your contracts in writing to protect both yourself and your customers. Here are a few examples of the forms you should have in your document portfolio:

• Landscaping contract that covers a variety of landscaping and groundskeeping services;
• Holiday lights installation contract for commercial or municipal clients;
• Holiday lights contract for residential clients;
• Snow removal contract.