How To Start A Landscaping And Snow Removal Business In Ontario
If you live in Ontario, you know how the weather can be throughout the winter. Perhaps you yourself have struggled with removing snow from your property. You are not alone in this, and you are aware that others might have the same issue every once in a while.
As a problem solver, you’ve decided to be the answer to such issues. You’ve decided to start your own landscaping and snow removal business, but are sure where to go from there.
The good news is that you are not alone in your new business venture. Studies show that over 97% of businesses in Canada are small businesses. That means there are plenty of resources for you.
Start by reading the rest of this article. Below are the details you need to know when getting started.
Start with Market Research
If you’ve already decided on the geographic area(s) you’ll be providing your services in, then you’re off to a great start. This means you know exactly where your customer base will be.
There is more you need to consider, though. Who is your ideal customer? What do they buy, and what do they care about?
Research the consumer market in the area, including age demographics, income, and education. Once you have a good idea of what the consumers in the area will want, you are ready for the next step.
Draft an Official Business Plan
A business plan will help you to achieve your business goals.
There are plenty of resources for drafting a successful business plan, but the important thing is to remember to be realistic. Set short-term and long-term goals that’ll help expand your business & maximize profits.
A business plan should also include branding strategies and should reflect your business values and standards.
Invest in a Proper Marketing Campaign
If you want your business to thrive, you need to make sure you get the word out. That means you need a solid marketing campaign to reach potential customers.
The good news is that there are plenty of marketing avenues available to you. To start, consider digital marketing.
In today’s world, digital marketing is a great way to promote your business and reach your customers. Start your digital marketing journey with a great website.
Your website should reflect your brand, which you established when drafting your business plan. It should be consistent in tone, colour scheme, and information. Take the time to properly invest in a website, because it’s the foundation for any further digital marketing you might want to do.
Other digital marketing strategies include Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of your site content (which helps sites like Google find and list your business), social media marketing, and even creating a blog to establish your business as a leader in the industry.
Get the Right Tools
One of the most important parts of your business will be the equipment you use for landscaping and snow removal. Make a detailed list of everything you need to start offering your services.
But don’t buy too much, or equipment you won’t ever use. Stick with the essentials at first. Later on, when your business grows, you can add to your tools and equipment.
Budget and Prepare Your Finances
The point of any business is to make a profit. The paradox of running a business is that it usually costs money to get started.
For your landscaping and snow removal business you’ll have to specifically think about investing in all of the licensing, tools, and equipment to get started. That means you may need some capital, as well as a thorough budget to follow.
Your budget should go hand-in-hand with your business plan, so make sure you don’t plan to spend too much before you begin to turn a profit.
Hire the Employees You Need
Your landscaping and snow removal business requires physical labor. You might think you could handle it all yourself, but that is not a realistic (or profitable) mentality.
If you want to run a growing business, you need to free up your personal working time for management and running the business. That means you need solid employees to take care of the landscaping projects you come across.
You need to be able to trust your employees, so make sure you research how to hire the best candidate for your business.
Conclusion
With a solid business plan you’re well on your way to starting your own landscaping and snow removal business. But it’s also important to keep up with industry trends, and what you customers are looking for. This can often provide new service opportunities to help grow your business.
For more business tips, make sure to check out our blog.
