Is Running Your Own Business Lawn over Dew? How to Start a Landscaping Business

Whether you love being outdoors or you love the joy of constructing a project with your hands, you’ll find that there is something about landscaping that you can’t resist. Maybe you dream of creating breathtaking transformations from outdoor environments.  Perhaps there is a landscaping business in your future.  If this is your case, it will help to do a little pre-planning and research. The following items may give you a head start:  

• Reflect on your goals and develop a mission statement.  What would you like to accomplish with your new lawn maintenance business? Will you be targeting residences or commercial landscaping?   
• Identify Your Target Market.  Identify your customers.  Residences or commercial grounds?  Many marketers choose to develop something called a buyer persona – a short paragraph or two – that provides a snapshot of what your ideal buyer looks like.
• Build a Team/Staffing.  At some point you’ll have to put together a staff to run your business. This might mean a part-time office worker to manage, schedule, and bill.  You’ll also need landscapers/laborers. You will have to not only decide on the person's ability but will also have to run a background check on each employee.  

• Identify what equipment you’ll need.  Think through the most important equipment you will need.  Target equipment that is going to help you get things done faster, professionally and that requires minimal maintenance. Talk to your peers and dealers. Consider the type of guarantee/warranty that is included in the equipment.  

Develop the following skills:  

• Estimating.   Whether moving a lawn or building an elaborate gazebo, people will need to know the cost of the job upfront. Develop good estimating skills from the beginning. There are software packages to take out some of the guesswork but remember your goal is to determine your costs then add in a profit.  

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  Set prices.  Most landscaping professionals recommend coming up with an hourly rate, both for yourself and your employees.  To determine your rate, compare your prices to those of your competition. Have friends contact companies in your target market area that offer similar services.  

• Schedule jobs.  When your business just starts out, it will be easy to determine where you need to be on any given day.  Eventually, though, the phone starts ringing and you will be trying to find a way to coordinate jobs. Consider software packages designed for landscapers to help you track your business.

Located in South Elgin, Illinois, LaFarge Fox River Decorative Stone is your one-stop-shop for masonry, landscaping, concrete pavers, fire pits, retaining walls, ponds, and more! Visit our showroom today or call us: (847) 888-6133.

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Sources:

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279066 http://success.hindsitesoftware.com/field-service-software-blog/bid/216368/7-tips-for-starting-and-growing-your-lawn-maintenance-business

How to Create a Beautiful Hardscape

Hardscaping your yard is a wonderful way to add personal touches to your property. It is also an excellent way to prevent erosion and incorporate steep slopes or hills into your landscape. Here are a few things to consider when planning your hardscape for an end result you and your family will enjoy for years to come.

• Create a plan – Before beginning any landscaping project, it is crucial to have a detailed plan.  Consider how the hardscape will impact drainage as well as any plans you might have for future expansion. Your initial plan should not inhibit future projects but should offer opportunities to expand upon a well thought out design. 
• Blend with other projects – If this hardscape is an addition to an existing feature, be sure that you are able to blend the two so that there is no disruption in the flow of the design. It is important to remember, however, that you do not need to match the materials from one design to the next, but rather aim to create a proper harmony between the spaces.
•  Do not fail to prepare – Preparing the base of your hardscape is crucial to the final outcome. Create a firm foundation in which to build your project.
• Create highlighted areas - Use unique plants, distinct structures or focal points such as fountains, fire features or garden ornaments. This allows you to highlight particular areas of your design.
• Consider the end user – Take some time to think about who will be using the space. A hardscape design for empty nesters might be significantly different than one for a young family.
•  Create unity among hard and softscapes – Consider visual planes when selecting plants. Think about the overhead view, the vertical view as well as the ground view. Use similar shapes and structure in your garden to add to the continuity of the view.
•  Think about the small details – In addition to the visual details, consider the scents of the plants in your landscape as well as the sounds of your hardscape design (water features, wind chimes, etc.).

When in doubt, contact the experts at Lafarge Fox River Stone to help you create the hardscape of your dreams. We have been serving both homeowners and businesses in the Elgin and surrounding Illinois area since 1934 with a wide range of decorative stones and landscaping products!

Make Your Indoor Projects Easy

Are you looking for an indoor project to update your home?  With a supply of the best landscape and masonry stones in the area, Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone can make any indoor project a breeze!  From fireplaces to backsplashes, check out these great ideas for updating your home with products from our expansive inventory.

Fireplaces

A fireplace is a great focal point that adds dimension and light to any room.  With a range of style choices, you can design a fireplace that will suit any décor.  There are a number of different components that create a fireplace.  At Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone, we offer a variety of chimney tops, flue liners, fire brick, heat stop and stone veneers to create your dream fireplace!

Backsplashes

Backsplashes are a great way to protect walls from spills, prevent moisture damage and provide easy clean up.  There is now a wide-array of eye-catching materials that can suit your décor and allow your kitchen to become a piece of art!  Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone has a large inventory of veneer colors, patterns and textures that will make your kitchen shine.

Veneer

A stone veneer is a protective and decorative covering used on walls and surfaces.  Veneers are commonly used on fireplaces and backsplashes because of their lightweight application, variety of designs and reasonable cost.  Realstone Systems is a popular veneer brand because they are known for quality and natural beauty.  Norstone is a supplier of the best natural stone veneer panels and is commonly used for water features and feature walls.

At Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone, our mission is to supply you with all of your landscape and masonry needs, including fireplace materials and backsplash veneers!  Want to know more?  Visit our yard today and browse our vast stone selection located at the corner of Route 31 and McLean Boulevard in South Elgin.  For more information, visit www.foxriverstone.com or call 847-888-6133!