Tech School

[ryan41]

After being out of high school for 2 years i decided to go back to school for something that i really enjoy. I am all signed up for Horticulture/Landscape Tech at Blackhawk tech. link (http://www.blackhawk.edu/Transportat...echnician.aspx)

I started my business this year and it has gotten off to a good start with minimum advertising. Now it is kind of slow due to the extreme drout we are in Wisconsin. I love being my own boss & doing the work i do. I hope with this schooling i will be able to do a lot more and make more $$, grow & succeed. I also thought that if i did not make it big enough were i would be making enough money to live comfortably i could always get a job working for someone. I have recently really gotten into Tree removal, i would love to learn more about that and add that to my services.

I was wondering if any of you guys have went to school for horticulture/landscape and gotten anything out of it? Let me know if you think it was a good idea or not to go to school for this.

Thanks,
Ryan

[cpllawncare]

Education can never hurt you your young and with the education and being your own boss the possibilites are endless. Make sure you take some business mgmt also you'll need that too. Don't give up, with good mgmt your business should grow and keep growing. Stay focused on the long term don't get frustrated when things don't go as planned especially in the beginning.

[ryan41]

Thanks for the feedback!

[larryinalabama]

Arent those schools very pricey??

Our county offers a "Master Gardner" program at almost no cost, I take it but it would mess up my secdule.

[ryan41]

It's not really pricey at all. I would like to get it done in 1 year but it will probally be a year and a half. Its about 3,000

[larryinalabama]

Originally Posted by ryan41

It's not really pricey at all. I would like to get it done in 1 year but it will probally be a year and a half. Its about 3,000

Seems pricey to me but that is "doable".

Check with your comminiuty college for courses and seminars on starting a business.

Sounds like you will be a step above your competition.

[GreyFlames]

Originally Posted by ryan41

I started my business this year and it has gotten off to a good start with minimum advertising. Now it is kind of slow due to the extreme drout we are in Wisconsin. I love being my own boss & doing the work i do. I hope with this schooling i will be able to do a lot more and make more $$, grow & succeed. I also thought that if i did not make it big enough were i would be making enough money to live comfortably i could always get a job working for someone. I have recently really gotten into Tree removal, i would love to learn more about that and add that to my services.

I wanted to mention a couple things to try and help you out.

First, I am glad that you are growing with minimal advertising. But are you sure your new estimates and customers came from the advertising you paid for? Do you know how they heard about you? Take the time to test and measure all your efforts and methods of marketing. At the beginning of every year you should make a list of new ideas you are going to try this year. Include methods you are paying for and ones that are free. This includes advertising and sources like your vehicle sign. During the year make sure to ask every call or lead from your website how they heard about you. Write it down and then you can start to see patterns. By the end of the year you can compare your investment of time and money to the number of estimates you received. You then can focus your efforts on what is work best and next year double down on them while testing some new ideas.

Second, make sure you don't spread yourself to thin. Offering additional services like tree removal may not be in your best interest. You make higher margins if you focus your efforts on a few key services. You are able to become very efficient and get done more work in less time. Your marketing efforts will be more focused as well. When you are larger, adding an additional service to up-sell can be very lucrative, but I caution you doing it too early.

Keep up the great work. I wish you the best of luck.