Brand new to business

[chrisf]

My husband has suggested I start a landscaping business, he is a builder and can give me 5 single family homes in the next few months to plant, then in the spring another project.
I have no experience, other then owning a successful business, which I sold, that has no relation to landscaping.
I know I need equipment, employees, and customers. I have been in sales and marketing forever which should help me.
I'd like to give it a shot, but would like to know what I'm up against, and what direction I should take. Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

[daveintoledo]

what about the years of knowledge in landscaping you need to run a landscaping business......

[chrisf]

I'm aware I'm lacking the years in the business, but is there any hope for me?

[daveintoledo]

there is so much more to landscaping then just lawn mowing, you would need to take some college horticulture classes....or find what information is taught and get the books and learn yourself.

Best way is to go and work for a landscaper for a couple of years, very hard back breaking work

[FiremanDud]

I'm aware I'm lacking the years in the business, but is there any hope for me?
I think there is depending on what your going to offer. Basic service(mow, trim, edge, and blow and hedge timming) or are you refering to landscape design and planting. If your just doing the basic service then there's hope. If your doing the landscaping then you better do some research in that area. I don't know a lot about plants and landscaping but it doesn't take a masters degree to offer the basic's services.

[daveintoledo]

i think she is refering to landscaping, not mowing, designing and installation of new homes....

[FiremanDud]

i think she is refering to landscaping, not mowing, designing and installation of new homes....
Well then she really needs to do her homework!

[chrisf]

The jobs my husband would give me are the actual install. But all the plants, shrubs are outlined in the plans, just a matter of purchasing and planting.
Then the idea would be to go into maintenance. My mother would also advise, she is very knowledgable in flowers, shrubs, etc, her grandfather owned a very successful business in the St. Louis area back in the day.
I feel I have an opportunity, but don't know if it's worth it or not.
thanks!

[daveintoledo]

id go there and ask some questions, there are some very successful and talented people there, some of them are female... sheshovel comes to mind.... ask her for some advice....

[Thirdpete]

start reading, that's it. read, read, read.

[Jody P]

When I did installations several years ago (Atlanta Market) the majority of the front yards & side yards (1/4 ac to 3/4ac lots) were sod. This is very labor intensive. Depending the the time of the year you only have a couple of days to lay the sod. There is a fair amount of preparation prior to the sod being laid. I had a Bobcat uniloader w/ a RockHound Attachment and still my crew did a lot of hand raking. The backyards were generally mulched and seeded. I not trying to discourage you but you have to be prepared to send in the troops and get the job done very quickly. Another thing about installations is that the sod and new plants need water and a lot of it. So you must be prepared to send someone out to make sure the watering gets done. This being said you situation is unique since your husband is the builder. Look very closely at the landscape plan and figure how much time you think it will take to do the job. Look around to see if you can get day laborers and rent the equipment you need. Depending on the size of the job you can spend one day preparing the yard, planting, strawing and doing the mulch & seed. Then on the next day if required lay the sod and clean-up. If you are laying sod plan on being at the job site when the sod is delivered. This way you can get the driver to place the pallets where you need them. You can then use two workers toting and laying and one worker trimming. (Small to medium lots.)