Gardening is a career whose appeal might be obvious to many. It will allow you to spend time outdoors, remain physically active, and be creative, too. If you’ve been enjoying life out in the garden, and you’ve developed a broad range of gardening skills, then you might seek to join the industry full-time.
Making the transition from hobbyist gardener to professional one might not be so straightforward, however. Let’s take a look at a few of the steps you’ll need to take to make it work.
Equipment
Working as a professional gardener requires a different standard and quality of equipment than working as an amateur one. You’ll need tools that are going to last the distance, and perform to a high standard. If you spend your time wrestling with your equipment, then you might find that your productivity suffers. As you accumulate experience and knowledge, you’ll find that you develop a good idea of which investments are worthwhile and which aren’t.
If you’ve done your research before getting started, then you might already have a good idea of what equipment is worthwhile. In many cases, you might need items that you’re unfamiliar with – which means that you’ll need to use them. In particular, professional gardeners have a responsibility to take personal protective equipment seriously. Gloves and workwear will make the difference to your ability to work comfortably and effectively in the long term.
Business Plan
Every effective business starts life with a well-crafted business plan. You’ll use this document to set out the services you’ll offer, and at what price, as well as your research of the local competition. Ideally, your business plan will be regularly updated as your plans change, and you review how well you’ve performed against your initial targets.
Build a client base
Gardening is a very seasonal occupation. During winter, you’ll have natural lulls in business, which you’ll need to offset by having a big enough client-base to be able to fill the cold months with preparatory work.
Register as self-employed
Depending on the size of your gardening business, you’ll need to register as self-employed, and file your tax returns accordingly. This is something that a professional accountant, or quality accounting software, will be able to help you with.
Take out insurance
Gardening is a profession that confers several different risks. You’ll want to assess those risks regularly, and take the necessary precautions. You’ll also want specialised insurance, which will cover not just you and your clients, but any members of the public who might become injured as a result of your activities. There’s nothing more likely to derail a new business than legal action, so make sure that you’re prepared.
For Gardeners in the U.S.
Since the majority of this post targeted gardeners based in the U.K., let’s take a moment to discuss how to approach things in the United States. Taking your gardening business full-time in the U.S. means navigating a few essential state and federal steps. First, you will need to choose a business structure. Most solo gardeners start as a Sole Proprietorship because it requires minimal paperwork, though establishing a Single-Member LLC (Limited Liability Company) is highly recommended to protect your personal assets from business liabilities.
You will also need to register for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the IRS website, which acts like a Social Security number for your business and is required if you plan to hire helper crews down the road.
If you are transitioning from a standard day job to full-time self-employment, your tax situation will change dramatically. Instead of having taxes automatically taken out of a paycheck, you will be responsible for paying quarterly estimated taxes. To avoid any surprises at the end of the year, it is smart to use an online IRS tax withholding estimator or a dedicated tax withholding calculator to figure out exactly how much you should set aside from your earnings.
