Is this a good business idea for a first timer ?

[splaboosh92]

Hi, this is my first time on uk business forums so be easy on me ! Ive had a few ideas to start a little first time business that has low over heads and low start up costs. Initially me and my mate were talking about starting a burger van at one of the local car boot sales, but after i done some research (online, spoke to 1 or 2 organisers from the boot sales and some current burger van owners) it turns out the business isnt really there anymore because nobody is actually selling their pitches anymore and a lot of the boot sales have their own standing vans sooooo, because i currently work for a landscaping company (which i hate doing) im pretty clued up when it comes to garden maintenance so i was thinking about a complete exterior maintenance company. The services i would provide would be, grass cutting and general garden maintenance, window and conservatory cleaning, paving/slabbing/concrete jet washing, car cleaning and valeting, gutter cleaning and wheelie bin cleaning. The way i thought id advertise it would be through giving my number to local companies such as window fitters, conservatory builders, landscapers and ask them to recommend me. I also thought id put leaflets in local shops and through the odd door. I think the market id appeal to would pretty much be all home and shop owners, ranging from 25 up to the elderly. The costs of my services would depend on the age of some customers (o.a.p discounts), package deals on how many services the customer would require in a month, e.g. All the services, some once a month, some twice a month, it would work out cheaper than paying for the services individually. A deal for customers where they get 5 washes, 5 cuts, 5 cleans, they get the 6th one free, and if they recommend me to another client they get money off or a free cut or something etc........ This isnt a business in which im going to be doing full time, this is something i plan to do on the weekends and maybe some days after work and just how it goes from there. Thats all ive got so far, any suggestions or advice will be appreciated, thanks !

 

[Frimley111R]

Sounds like you've got it sussed tbh. People always need those services and all you need to do is be polite, reliable, presentable and offer good value (you don't need to be cheap if you're good!) then you'll be successful. Tell as many local people you know as you can or even knock on a few doors too. If people know you are local they may be more likely to talk to you.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I have a suggestion for you - paragraphs and sentences.
Good luck.

 

[JoshB92]

You seem to have a good work ethic which is the key to a business like this. Thinking from a customers point of view, if someone came to me and said they can do 'everything' as you say you can do, I'd be wondering how you could possibly have all of the specialist equipment in your van to do a very high quality job at a good rate. I'd be thinking that either the equipment and thus results could be substandard, or the price too high to reflect the cost of the vast array of equipment.

Then again, I'm not the target market and many may disagree with my thought process

Regarding marketing, always remember that the actual advertising is the final stage of the whole marketing process. It isn't enough to send out a catchall flyer aimed at 'everyone from 25-OAP'. You need to work out the specific markets of people, the problems that they need solving, and then finally work out the best way of getting that message across to them.

Example: You could look at finding an area where a lot of 20-30 year old professionals live. They may not have enough time to do all the gardening chores, or wash their cars, or do all the exterior maintenance. So now you can work out how best to reach out and let them know that you can solve these problems for them - cleaning their cars to a high standards to impress clients and maintain a sharp professional image, take care of the guttering and garden by the time they are home from work, etc.

Another example: An area of older people, maybe you have found a village of elderly residents going for village of the year in it's region. What problems do they have? Maybe they are too frail or unable to complete some of the garden tasks. How do you target them? Find a way of getting across to them that you can take care of all the menial handiwork, leaving them to get on with the flower displays to impress the village of the year judges.

Simple examples, but you get my drift. Find a market, find the problems, get across to them that you can solve that problem for that market. You can capitalize on the 'nosy neighbour' effect, if you can make one persons front garden look far better than any other on the street, then have some flyers to put through every letterbox on the street, where you can apologise for any disruption your work might have caused, ask them if they've seen what the neighbours have had done, and if they would like to get the same service they now have your contact details

 

[iconic]

The services i would provide would be, grass cutting and general garden maintenance, window and conservatory cleaning, paving/slabbing/concrete jet washing, car cleaning and valeting, gutter cleaning and wheelie bin cleaning.

That is far too many services to start offering all at once.

It will cost you £££ for all the equipment for starters - Then you would become a jack of all trades.

Why not just concentrate on domestic garden maintenance, simple grass cutting, hedge trimming, tidying etc... There is good money in it, and its regular repeat work. Then look at getting some commercial contracts etc...

When I first started my window cleaning business I offered loads more services (gutter cleaning etc...) but soon realised that it is much more profitable to concentrate on one thing (just window cleaning) and do it well.

Andy

 

[Alexander Cleaning]

I agree with Iconic as too many 'services' can complicate your focus and aim. Whereas if you concentrate on one or two things then you will be known for them and no doubt be recommended if you do a good job.

Having said this if you should focus on for example window cleaning i would suggest using a water-fed pole system as this is not only safer but also faster (thus giving you a better R.O.I)

 

[Suzuki]

If you hate working for a landscaping company currently, I don't see any reason to set up doing the same thing (renamed slightly).

You're just going to end up doing the old job you hate, for longer hours and less money.

 

[Frimley111R]

I think I'd agree with the comments above if, for no other reason than, as a 'specialist' you could charge more. People who are 'jack of all trades' are almost expected to everything very cheaply.

 

[fairestcape]

Here are a few "must haves":

You need to set this up properly, and that will include things like:

* liability insurance. What happens if you ride the lawn mower over some old lady's cat?... or worse, the old lady herself? Or set her shed on fire... ?

* proper tools for the job. I know it sounds crazy, but there are issues relating to "Health & Safety" that stipulate what tools you need for certain jobs. For example... if you offer to clean gutters, if they are above 5m from the ground, then the ladder you use must have extra supports (that are "approved".)

* How will you dispose of garden refuse? These days, many depots charge fees for commercial operators. Do you have a truck or van, and is it insured to do this work?

* How skilled are you? And can you provide evidence of that skill? What happens if you go into someone's garden and pull out all their rare cycads believing them to be weeds? (Some cycads can cost £10,000 each).

* credentials... are you trustworthy, and is there someone out there who can vouch for this? What references can you provide?

Keep thinking along the lines of what I say above... they are important and to be successful, all will apply.

But above all - go out and get started!... just do it properly and you will succeed.

 

[Jet Virtual]

Can't see this being a salable business but could put money in yuor pocket until you come up with a better business idea

 

[Ceriann]

Hi, this is my first time on uk business forums so be easy on me ! Ive had a few ideas to start a little first time business that has low over heads and low start up costs. Initially me and my mate were talking about starting a burger van at one of the local car boot sales, but after i done some research (online, spoke to 1 or 2 organisers from the boot sales and some current burger van owners) it turns out the business isnt really there anymore because nobody is actually selling their pitches anymore and a lot of the boot sales have their own standing vans sooooo, because i currently work for a landscaping company (which i hate doing) im pretty clued up when it comes to garden maintenance so i was thinking about a complete exterior maintenance company. The services i would provide would be, grass cutting and general garden maintenance, window and conservatory cleaning, paving/slabbing/concrete jet washing, car cleaning and valeting, gutter cleaning and wheelie bin cleaning. The way i thought id advertise it would be through giving my number to local companies such as window fitters, conservatory builders, landscapers and ask them to recommend me. I also thought id put leaflets in local shops and through the odd door. I think the market id appeal to would pretty much be all home and shop owners, ranging from 25 up to the elderly. The costs of my services would depend on the age of some customers (o.a.p discounts), package deals on how many services the customer would require in a month, e.g. All the services, some once a month, some twice a month, it would work out cheaper than paying for the services individually. A deal for customers where they get 5 washes, 5 cuts, 5 cleans, they get the 6th one free, and if they recommend me to another client they get money off or a free cut or something etc........ This isnt a business in which im going to be doing full time, this is something i plan to do on the weekends and maybe some days after work and just how it goes from there. Thats all ive got so far, any suggestions or advice will be appreciated, thanks !

Hi there,

It is all well and good doing that many things, but it would be much more effective concentrating your time on one thing