Landscaping and Lawn Care has long been an attractive business for the
young entrepreneur. How many people made their first independent income
by mowing neighborhood lawns in the summer or raking leaves in the
fall? Of course, many have discovered that there is more to the
landscaping and lawn care business than a few dollars earned on a lazy
summer afternoon with Dad's borrowed push mower.
The
Neighborhood Lawn Kid Grows Up
Many small business owners in some areas have grown their lawn care and
landscaping businesses to include multiple work crews and automated
billing systems. Still others have diversified their offerings to
hydroseeding, turf installation, heavy equipment operation, landscape
design, and irrigation system service and installation.
The bad news is that during a time of economic slowdown such as the
present one, service businesses such as lawn care tend to be impacted
first. Simply put, when people become worried about making their
mortgage payment, keeping their jobs, or putting gas in the family SUV,
it might be tough for them to write the monthly check for lawn
maintenance.
Increasingly, it will be important for companies to offer unique
services or benefits to differentiate themselves in a tighter market.
The move toward cleaner, greener, and healthier alternatives may create
a great way to make your present or proposed lawn care business more
competitive.
There are several national green lawn care franchises that you may
consider, but it is certainly possible to develop your own operational
business in this sub-sector of the lawn care industry.
The Eco-Friendly landscape
service might involve the following unique elements:
- Drip
irrigation system design and installation
- Xeriscaping
low water demand landscape design and planting (with local, draught
resistant plants)
- Pest control
utilizing friendly insects and nematodes
- Pest control
utilizing natural insecticides
- Mold and
mildew controls using natural methods
- Chemical-free
lawn fertilizing
- Lawn mowing
using quieter, cleaner electric mowers
- Organic fruit
tree care
- Chemical-free
weed control
- Compost
system installation and maintenance
Let
People Know
Whatever green or eco-friendly services you offer in your lawn care and
landscaping company, your success will depend on marketing your
services. You may find that your most important marketing
message will take the form of educating the public about the importance
of the healthier methods you use. Fortunately, local media will
probably be more than willing to help you out in your efforts. Craft a
series of local media releases explaining your methods.
Formulate a personal story to go along with your business, telling how
you, as the owner of the company, came to recognize the value and
importance of green business practices.
Choose a company name and logo that will clearly convey your commitment
to green methods and environmental stewardship. Put your logo on ever
surface you can.
More Information
One great resource for the entreprenuer interested in natural
gardening, organic gardening, and chemical-free lawn care is
Arbico-Organics.
This great
little company has a full line of natural
gardening products, freindly insects, and organic gardening know-how.
Finally, enjoy a business
you believe in and enjoy working in nature while all the rest of the
world sits behind a desk!
