Operating a grounds keeping business can be tremendously rewarding in a number of ways. Firstly, and most obviously, there will always be demand for a quality grounds keeping service so long as people have land they need maintaining. This makes it a potentially lucrative venture, offering competitive money and a consistent flow of customers.
Secondly, when you operate a grounds keeping business, you will never have to work in the same surroundings day in, day out, instead working out in the open air, in a different location every time. This keeps you fit and healthy and prevents you from becoming burnt out or bored by your routine.
Of course, as with any commercial venture, starting a grounds keeping company is not the work of a moment and will require a lot of forethought. There are a number of aspects you need to consider, from purchasing the correct tools, to building a strong, responsive customer base you can rely on consistently.
This is what you need to know before starting a grounds keeping business:
You need the right equipment
First and foremost, before you start a grounds keeping business, you need to make sure you have the correct equipment at hand. The specific tools you require will depend on what type of grounds keeping services you want to offer, but it is safe to say that mainstay items such as a ride-on lawnmower, hedge trimmer, strimmer and a comprehensive toolkit are must-haves.
However, you may need more specialist equipment, such as a positive displacement blower, which can be used to provide pressure to tools such as a leaf blower. You can find out more about positive displacement blowers at: https://cbeuptime.com/products/blowers/positive-displacement-blowers/.
It is best to forge strong relationships with customers in a concentrated area
In order to make a success of your grounds keeping business, you need to have a steady flow of customers. Given that you will need to transport your equipment around with you, it will also be important to stay within a concentrated area, in order to avoid being spread too thin, needing to travel long distances and potentially missing appointments.
Furthermore, when you stick to a particular area, if you do a good job, then your customers will recommend you to their neighbors, which may translate into more business without you needing to drive far between appointments.
However, keep in mind that it will probably take time before you build a strong, responsive customer network. This is the nature of any enterprise, so don’t be disheartened if you have to market your brand aggressively at first.
It may be a while until you can leave your staff to do the work for you
Another aspect you should consider before you start a grounds keeping business is that it may be a while before it becomes a ‘set and forget’ type of company. You will likely need to do a lot of the work yourself until you become big enough and successful enough to completely outsource work to your employees.
Unlike more office-based businesses, this means that you will have to do hard, physical work day after day, which may quickly become tiring. Bear this in mind, especially if you have other commitments (such as a family or second job).