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New Gardening business...
Thebookfairy
Posts: 4
I'm starting up a v small informal gardening business in Cotswolds, & any advice on what to do & not do, whether to open a company, insurance, business name ideas..... All suggestions would be very gratefully received. It will be very small scale part time business, I've been a full time mum for years so starting this up is a bit daunting! I'm studying for the rhs horticulture diploma too, and I'm an NT garden volunteer too, so it will all be v minimal to start with. Thanks!
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I'd love a little stall, but I think that's a long way away yet!
good luck with your venture OP
Hi! - I'd suggest that before you take things any further you investigate whether or not you'd need some sort of planning permission for what you propose to do. If you fail to do that, you might well find yourself in all sorts of trouble with not only the neighbours/locals, but also the council's planning department. There are all sorts of issues which people might feel they'd want to object to - additional traffic/change of use/loss of amenity to them etc etc. so do take some proper advice first before starting any sort of business where none has existed previously.
Sorry to be what looks like the bearer of bad news, but "better safe than sorry".
Do you intend to start up a gardening business (ie weeding, lawn cutting etc) or a more specialised garden design business. If it is the former, then a card in shop windows or old people's luncheon clubs etc will surely drum up some business. There are always folk who need regular reliable gardeners. But there is no money in this area unless you go down the more specialised route of garden design etc.
Hi thebookfairy-
You will need to register as self employed with hmrc in order to declare your income even if you are just doing 'odd jobs' or making small earnings below the tax bracket. This will ensure your NI contributions are made too.
I suggest you get a book on starting a small business which should run through everything such as what you can offer your customers and how to promote your business through to stuff like self assessment taxing and considerations such as public liability / professional indemnity insurance.
I would also scope out what other similar businesses offer in the area, how much they charge and see if you can find your own angle on it.
I believe there are short courses you can attend on running your own business.
Hope this is helpful and good luck
Thanks for all your help. My idea is to do general garden maintenance, I don't have a mower or any electrical equipment, but I have everything else. I don't think planning permission is necessary as nothing will be done from my house. My skills are primarily working really hard, weeding, pruning, cutting back, making it look fabulous - I'm a bit of an OCD Gardener, so it all has to be really neat & tidy! I've also just totally renovated my (small) garden - built steps & put in new borders with sleepers, 75 bags of gravel etc so I know I can do all that too. I've written a little notice to put in the local post office so I'll see where I go from there. I'm a relatively new gardener but I'm totally obsessed & learning it all fast!
Should I register as self-employed? I'm employed as a gardener for a few hours a week by someone else..... I'm paid in cash but I shall be declaring it.
I dont know your financial situation, but try and keep this a part time, evening weekends thing if you can, at least until you drum up regular customers. My dad did what you planned to do for a while and found finding business very difficult. Keep plugging at it, and I think you being a female will work in your favour, especially with elderly female customers. It's something the OH has talked to me about, but I fear there isnt enough money in it for me, I don't have transport - a biggie, to make the jump. You seem determined and that's fab
do invest in a lawnmower though!
Even if it's a second hand push mower, which might be advantageous to smaller suburban gardens as it means you can work without being intrusive to the owners home.
I don't think so Steve, so long as it's declared. Though someone should correct me if I'm wrong.
Registering as self employed is just how you go about declaring your income if you want to self assess online with hmrc. You can self assess for different types of income, (pensions, second property income etc) that's all
Good luck book fairy, can' t offer any advice, I' m a full time mum and know when it's my turn to get back into 'real' work I may faint with terror, it won' t be as a gardener but Will be self employed, hope it goes well for you