Priscilla Y. Huff, author of
'101
Best Home-Based Businesses for Women' and one of our expert home business
columnists, shares great ideas on how to turn a love of plants and gardening
into a profitable home business.
Dear Priscilla:
I am an avid gardener. Nothing makes me happier
than to be out in a garden working. I would like to parlay my love and talent
for gardening into a business, but I'm not sure how. Do you have any ideas
on what type of business I could create based on what I've told you? Would
people be willing to pay for someone to do their gardens? If so, how do I
charge them? How do I start? Thank you.
Priscilla's Answer: Hello, It is nice to hear from a fellow
avid gardener, too!! Statistics show that gardening is one of the biggest
hobbies in the U. S.
Here are just a few (of many!!) business-related ideas to this industry:
Ideas:
* Landscaping Services (homes, businesses)
* Garden Consulting/Planning
* Growing Herbs (a good newsletter is "The Business of Herbs,"
http://www.herb-biz.com
* Plant Maintenance for businesses; for owners on vacation.
* Specialty Grower - herbs, orchids, Christmas trees, other plants, trees,
or shrubs that interest you.
* Selling Gardening-related products: pots, aprons, tools, unique garden
'sculptures', stones (sandblasted with sayings, figures)
* -Raising beneficial insects (praying mantis, lady bugs)
2. Some Resources to Assist You:
Books:
* Backyard Market Growing by Andrew W. Lee
* Herbs for Sale by Lee Sturdivant
* -Publisher of many gardening/small scale farming guides: Storey/Garden
Way Publishing http://www.storey.com
(visit their site for a current listing).
* Agency:
The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has an extension office
(supported usually by a state university) in every county in the U. S.
Originally, these offices were set-up to assist farmers (they still do),
but many offer assistance for small ag/gardening businesses with information
on plants, and U. S. programs. Some are even offering agriculture-business
"incubators," that help growers develop their existing businesses. Look in
the government pages of your local phone directory for their telephone number
or search this site:
http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/statepartners/usa.htm
* To get started, do some market research in your community to see
what is needed in terms of gardening/growing services or products. Then try
some of those ideas part-time...one woman had a small greenhouse erected
in her backyard to sell spring-plants (check first with your local authorities
to see if you are permitted to sell from your home).
* Take some business-related courses to help you know how to run
a business (and to help you figure out your pricing 'formula'). Chambers
of Commerce, evening adult schools, and other agencies like Small Business
Development Centers
http://www.sba.gov/SBDC or Women's
Business Centers http://www.onlinewbc.org
or SCORE chapters http://www.score.org
may have offices near you that offer personal business consulting and
seminars.
* Consult with an accountant to also assist you also figure out
your pricing and business costs.
* One magazine that often features women with unique shops and often
plant-businesses is Victoria Magazine
http://www.victoriamag.com (read
especially their annual women entrepreneur August issue).
Finally, if you are not sure which business to start, you can try
getting a part-time job in that area--a greenhouse, farm, landscaping--to
see if you would like to do this activity as a business and to pick up some
on-the-job training tips.
Note, too, that if you take some gardening courses, those will help
build your list of "credentials" when you market yourself and your
business.
Best wishes for success with your gardening venture(s)!!
To order Priscilla's
book"More
101 Best Home-Based Business for Women" click on this link.
About the Author: Priscilla Y. Huff, small business expert,
author of the just-released, "101 Best Home-Business Success Secrets for
Women (Prima Publishing). For feedback or business questions, contact her
at
pyhuff@littlehse.com. |
