How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Service Business

by Lynn Wasnak

Overview

If you enjoy working with people and working outdoors, operating a small nursery, landscaping, or lawn service may be the perfect business for you. In fact, many operators combine all three of these elements to make an ideal year-round business.

This complete manual will arm you with everything you need to get started and run with your new business, including: business forms, contracts, and worksheets and checklists for planning, opening, and running day-to-day operations. You will learn dozens of other valuable, timesaving tools of the trade that no business should be without.

While providing detailed instructions and examples, this book leads you through every detail that will bring success. You will learn how to draw up a winning business plan and about deciding on a name, choosing the right equipment, and selling your other services to your present customers.

You will learn about advertising, insurance, basic cost control systems,  and market research. You will learn how to build your business by using low and no cost ways to satisfy customers, as well as ways to increase sales and have customers refer others to you.   The companion CD-ROM is included with the print version of this book; however is not available for download with the electronic version.  It may be obtained separately by contacting Atlantic Publishing Group at [e-mail]

Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president’s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice.  Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781601382283
Publisher:	Atlantic Publishing Company FL
Publication date:	11/23/2009
Series:	How to Open & Operate a ...
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Section 1 Choosing The Outdoor Business That Is Right For You 15

Chapter 1 Characteristics of a Successful Business 17

Chapter 2 Know Yourself Before You Start a Business 23

Franchise or From the Ground Up? 25

Starting from scratch 30

Section 2 Outdoor Opportunities 37

Chapter 3 The Nitty Gritty Work of Landscaping 39

Doing a Good Job Is Not Enough 42

Outdoor Maintenance 43

Chapter 4 The Nursery Business 47

Green is "In" 47

How to Make "Beautiful Work" Profitable 52

Section 3 Business Operations 57

Chapter 5 Planning for Success 59

Getting Started 59

Business Planning 60

Becoming a Small Business 65

Parts of Your Business Plan 69

Insurance 79

Chapter 6 Branding Your Business 89

Creating an Effective Brand 92

Chapter 7 Funding Your Business 99

Financing Options 100

Professional Advisors 103

Money Management 105

Controlling Costs 107

Chapter 8 Estimates, Bids, and Contracts 129

Contracts with Vendors 129

Contracts for Customers 131

Planning for Profitability 135

Bidding for Commercial Jobs 137

Negotiating Prices 140

Billing and Collection 142

Secrets of Job Estimating 144

Section 4 Bn The Office 161

Chapter 9 Locating Your Office 163

Home or Facility, Pros and Cons 163

Chapter 10 Buying Office Equipment and Supplies 187

Setting Up Your Office 167

Computers and Software 174

Hiring Office Help 187

Section 5 In The Field 193

Chapter 11 Buying Professional Equipment and Supplies 195

Outdoor Equipment 195

What Does All of This Cost? 204

Essential Maintenance 205

Outdoor Supplies 207

Chapter 12 Hiring Outdoor Workers 219

Interviews 222

New Employee Paperwork 227

ImmigrationConcerns 227

Drug Testing 230

Training 230

Payroll and Benefits 234

Subcontracting and Partnering/Referral 235

Additional Schooling 242

Section 6 Your Customers 245

Chapter 13 Finding Customers- or Helping Them Find You 247

Inexpensive Marketing Methods 247

Conducting Appointments 260

Cross-selling Your Services 262

Chapter 14 To Focus or Expand 271

Appendix Bibliography and Additional Resources 277

Immigration and Job Form Information 278

Bonding 280

Business community resources 280

Drug Testing 280

Gardening 280

Government sites and forms 281

Landscaping 281

Marketing 281

Pest control 282

Small business help 282

Software 282

Supplies 283

Web site Design 283

Index 285