Synopses & Reviews
From the Publisher: Making money doing lawn-care, landscape architecture, and garden work is a dream of many people and this guide contains all the necessary tools and strategies they need to successfully launch and develop their own business doing so. This sixth edition also features advice on marketing and selling one's services within "sustainable landscaping," one of the hottest new trends in the field. Develop a profitable business plan. Build word-of-mouth referrals. Handle employees, paperwork,and taxes. Work smart and safe. Adapt to new trends like sustainable landscaping. Become your area's top landscaper.
Synopsis
Making money doing lawn-care, landscape architecture, and garden work is a dream of manypeople—and this guide contains all the necessary tools and strategies they need to successfully launch and develop their own business doing so.
About the Author
Owen E. Dell, RLA, a licensed landscape architect and landscape contractor, is a 35-year veteran of the profession. He is also an internationally known lecturer, a writer, and a television personality. His award-winning projects have been featured in Sunset Magazine, Landscape Architecture, the Los Angeles Times, and numerous other books and publications.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 01: So You Think You Want to Be a Landscaper? -- Measuring the landscaper's life -- What kinds of work are available and who does what? -- Do you have what it takes? -- Why do you want to run your own business? -- Making the transition: amateur to professional -- 02: Getting Started -- Start up or buy? -- Working out of your home -- Tools and equipment -- Other office basics -- Bank account -- Insurance -- Legal considerations -- Business taxes -- Defining your niche -- Conclusion -- 03: Writing A Business Plan -- Why do a business plan, anyway? -- Preparing the business plan, step-by-step -- Some tips on raising money -- 04: Learning To Live With Record Keeping -- Bookkeeping -- General business records -- 05: Employees: A Joy And A Nuisance -- How many people will you need? -- Job categories (field) -- Finding good employees -- Legal requirements of employers -- Hiring -- Developing an employee manual -- Training employees -- Managing employees -- Record keeping -- 06: Getting Work -- Serving the client well -- Marketing basics -- Business opportunities in sustainable landscaping and gardening -- Getting work -- Advertising -- Alternative forms of marketing -- Keeping Track of potential clients: contact report -- 07: Bidding -- Main elements of a bid -- Bidding process, step-by-step -- Submitting the bid -- Sample bidding forms -- Contract -- Job costing -- Sales 101 -- 08: Finally You Get To Do Some Real Work -- Designing the project -- Project management -- Getting along with others -- Getting paid -- Following up on your jobs -- Business nightmares: keeping your nose clean -- 09: Long Haul -- After the work is done -- Guarantees -- Liability for work -- Long-term management -- Planning for growth -- Planning for retirement -- In conclusion -- Appendix 1: Resources -- Appendix 2: Using the Internet -- Appendix 3: Business plan worksheet and other forms -- Index -- About the author.