How to Become a Landscaping Contractor
Landscape contractors are landscape and grounds keeping supervisors who own their own companies. They perform a wide range of duties including scheduling workers and equipment, ensuring quality work is performed, preparing customer estimates, updating work procedures, hiring and training new workers, and assisting their workers when deadlines are near. The work performed is outside and often seasonal,with a higher need in the warmer months. Becoming a landscaping contractor can be a challenging career both physically and mentally.
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Instructions
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Complete formal education to assist your career as a landscaping contractor. Although you can start your own business with a high school diploma and experience, formal education in business management, landscaping design, arboriculture, and horticulture will assist you greatly. Any additional skills or degrees you can attain in these fields will both increase the credibility of your company and qualify you for additional types of jobs.
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Procure any state required licensing. Most states require a license or certification for anyone applying pesticides, and some also require landscaping contractors to be licensed. You can contact your State's Department of Agriculture or Department of Environmental Protection, to identify these requirements. Additionally, you will need to contact your county for business license requirements in your area.
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Hire employees carefully. They will need the ability to work with little or no supervision, be capable of heavy manual labor, be cautious when using machinery, and communicate well with your customers. Your employees will represent your business, and effect its reputation. Hiring employees by word of mouth is usually the best. Quality employees can also be found at local high schools or technical schools, where references can be obtained from their instructors.
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Promote your business to gain new customers. Customers who are happy with your service will help grow your business through word of mouth. Keeping your current customers happy and asking them to recommend you to their friends, will be your best and least expensive form of advertisement. You will also want to have business cards and fliers printed to give current customers, prospective customers, and local businesses with similar clientele. Creating a web site and paid advertising (in print, radio, or TV), are other options for future business growth.
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Attain certifications to further promote your business. A certification for grounds managers is offered by the Professional Grounds Management Society. To qualify for the certification examination, you must have field and supervisory experience, some of which can be substituted with formal educational degrees. The Professional Landcare Network also offers specialized certifications including Tree Care Apprentice, Tree Climber Specialist, Tree Care Specialist, Ground Operations Specialist, and a Safety Certification. Attaining any of these certifications (or hiring employees with them) will highlight your company's credibility and can be used to further promote your landscaping business.
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