Open Association of Landscape Industries
lady gardener starting out
Hi everyone - new to this site - great site ! i was made redundant at the end of last year and i have decided to pursue my life long passion for gardening and set up a small local gardening business in the next couple of months.
I am trying to get a business plan together and have been reading up on pricing strategies on this forum and other sources. A number of people have suggested NOT quoting an hourly rate, but pricing up each job. I have no problem with this suggestion, especially for one off projects, but how does this work in practice for more regular customers - with my friends and family the EXPECTION is for gardeners to give them hourly rates between £10 - £15 (here in the east midlands).
Any advise from the experienced on how to tackle (get around this issue!) would be appreciated, as i know that it is essential to get the pricing right (to stay in business!) and more importantly to feel confident when selling your services, especially to your first potential customer.
I am trying to get a business plan together and have been reading up on pricing strategies on this forum and other sources. A number of people have suggested NOT quoting an hourly rate, but pricing up each job. I have no problem with this suggestion, especially for one off projects, but how does this work in practice for more regular customers - with my friends and family the EXPECTION is for gardeners to give them hourly rates between £10 - £15 (here in the east midlands).
Any advise from the experienced on how to tackle (get around this issue!) would be appreciated, as i know that it is essential to get the pricing right (to stay in business!) and more importantly to feel confident when selling your services, especially to your first potential customer.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kirsty Blair on -
Hi there, great name for this business! Whats your business name?
I went to see a lady last week who asked what price I charge per hour - I said I don't charge like that so that she doesn't have to worry about how long we take and she still gets the same job. She actually appreciated that I don't charge per hour.
I go and see how long the job will take me, I don't give a price right then as I always get caught out and forget something, then add on my overheads etc and come out with a realistic price at the end. Just remember you have to make a living, it may sound expensive but its not.
For regular maintenance jobs they have a rate, dependant on how far it is away and how big etc. I work it out on a yearly basis - how many visits, how long, overheads, divide it out and you get your average price per visit.
If you only charge per hour your going to have to cover your costs, travel etc off your £10-15 per hour so your going to be working for much less.
Hope this helps
kirsty
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Permalink Reply by Nicki Jackson on -
Hi Clare
Welcome to LJN, in my previous life I provided advice to small and start-up businesses - please feel free to contact me direct at nicki@bluedaisygardens.co.uk It can be quite daunting as well as exciting to start afresh. I'm not as experienced in horticulture as some of the established members of LJN, I'm currently retraining at Pershore College but business advice I can definately point you in the right direction.
Nicki
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Permalink Reply by clare birch on -
hi kirsty,
thanks for your reply - have a few names i am mulling over at the moment!! but will hopefully decide within the next week. My father in law is concerned about me advertising that i am a lady gardener and that i am going to attacked! but i have asured him that i will take sensible precautions! my main USP is that i will be a lady gardener!
Anyway yes i see what you mean - I guess my friends are used to Fred the gardener coming around and saying right there and then - 'thats £10 an hour mrs! ', as is the case with my mothers current gardener - I can only assume that this particular gardener gives some sort of reduced rate for pensioners or has a group of people in the same location! . Other wise i don't know how he has stayed in business for all these years. He works full time as a gardener, has some good qualifications and supports a family? But i am concerned as this is the sort of person i will be completing against. What area of the country are you in ? a family member of mine has a gardening business in st albans and she charges around £18 per hour but i don't think i could get that around here.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Russell on -
Being a female gardener has been a really strong selling point in my business, many people prefer it, so dont be afraid to advertise yourself as such! Also don't underestimate the power of networking - you do a good job for one person and they will often recommend you to their friends. I charge £16 - £17 per hour, and live in Sussex. Dont be afraid to sell yourself high, you can always offer to lower the rate per hour if they are able to offer you more hours per session - your overheads are less if you spend six hours a week in one garden, than travelling to six different jobs. I have reduced the rate on one job I do in order to secure it, as it is a lovely garden, lovely client and I spend the whole day there. I always charge by the hour though, and make it clear that if I need to spend time outside of the garden sourcing materials, plants etc, that I will charge for my time. As long as you have a clear pricing policy from the outset, then nobody can query it later.
Good luck!
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on -
Personally I don't like female gardeners using their gender as a selling point. I wonder if I started a hair salon called "Hair cut, by a man" how long it would take for people to brand it sexist! As a consumer I wouldn't use a company that uses this sales technique, but by the look of things I seem to be the one and only person on this site that feels this way!
I recently started my business and it's gone well. Also speak to Rhona Jack as she is in the same boat as you. Best of luck, hope it goes really well for you! Feel free to get in touch for any newbie questions as I've probably asked the exact same ones and got answers already!
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Permalink Reply by clare birch on
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hi all,
yes i think i know the lady gardener you are talking about - there is a web site called the lady gardener and team - they do garden landscaping as well - something to aspire to in the long term i hope!! and there is a lady gardener registered as a limited company. But no reason why i couldn't use this name as a local sole trader company? Food for thought
clareb
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Permalink Reply by clare birch on
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thanks for all the response so far - rhona jacks are you out there - can't seem to find you on the members list - if you are in the same boat as me then it would be great to get in touch! still trying to find my way around the forum at the moment.
clareb
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Anthony @ JDC Maintenance on -
it's not Rhona it's Rhonda :-) click the name for her profile
clare birch said:thanks for all the response so far - rhona jacks are you out there - can't seem to find you on the members list - if you are in the same boat as me then it would be great to get in touch! still trying to find my way around the forum at the moment.
clareb
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Big Dig Groundworks on -
"Dan Frazer Gardening said:
Personally I don't like female gardeners using their gender as a selling point. I wonder if I started a hair salon called "Hair cut, by a man" how long it would take for people to brand it sexist! As a consumer I wouldn't use a company that uses this sales technique, but by the look of things I seem to be the one and only person on this site that feels this way!
I recently started my business and it's gone well. Also speak to Rhona Jack as she is in the same boat as you. Best of luck, hope it goes really well for you! Feel free to get in touch for any newbie questions as I've probably asked the exact same ones and got answers already!"
May be I should advertise as "hard landscaping done by real men" as I have a shaved head and goatee beard, and so does the guy who helps me out from time to time, and we are both prop forwards at rugby union. But some how I dont think it will make people choose me over anyone else anymore than they do now. LOL
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Permalink Reply by clare birch on
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yes i do agree with some of the points made regarding lady gardeners (name) - i think it is misleading to call yourself the Lady Gardener and then send blokes to do the work! - think i am crossing that name off my short list!
clareb
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Russell on
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There is a big gardening company near us called 'Girl Force'.... I do rather smile when I see one of their vans, as it is more often than not being driven by a bloke! In fact, their team seem to be 50/50 male female - guess the male employees must be very in touch with their feminine side....
Dan Frazer Gardening said:Personally I don't like female gardeners using their gender as a selling point. I wonder if I started a hair salon called "Hair cut, by a man" how long it would take for people to brand it sexist! As a consumer I wouldn't use a company that uses this sales technique, but by the look of things I seem to be the one and only person on this site that feels this way!
I recently started my business and it's gone well. Also speak to Rhona Jack as she is in the same boat as you. Best of luck, hope it goes really well for you! Feel free to get in touch for any newbie questions as I've probably asked the exact same ones and got answers already!
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Permalink Reply by Michael Gurney on -
Lady Gardnener haveing just spent this week in the tree tops with 3 other tree guys, 8 hrs a day all weathers etc, I would love to see a Lady Gardener!
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