ForumGarden

I wanted to post this not to boast In any manner but to hopefully give a bit of hope to those In recession times.

As some of you know I was about to open a resturant but I got out jut In time after realising my business partner was attempting to rip me off on the basis that as I was a woman, I'd never notice.... errr excuse me...

My bank offered to loan me the money to go It alone but I've had nothing but set backs with building regs, leases etc etc and I started getting cold feet as to the amount of money I was needing to borrow.

Since Peter's accident, we've been relying on savings. We live In a small village and work around here Is very scarce. I was worried about the day our savings ran out although I do have some work on the race course still..

I thought, right, what can I do that will earn me money, good money. What knowledge do I have? Everywhere I went there would be adverts from people suffering advertising cleaning services, Ironing and even oven cleaning.

So to cut a long story short, I advertised myself as a Gardener and the work has just flooded In. The start up cost was nil because I already had all the equipment myself.

I started off with the big clearance jobs under-cutting anything and everyone In the area and a lot of my work has been recco's.

That was 8 weeks ago and I'm now at a stage where I've just taken on 2 workers and registered as a company with the tax man.

I'm about to up the advertising with a leaflet drop In the local newspaper and am just finishing a web site.

This was wayyyy out of my comfort Zone... the first time I had a large area to dig, I thought I was going to faint. I have no nails left and am probably scarred for life from brambles and hedges.... but I have enough work to classify It as full time.... tomorrow morning I'm starting a new large clearance contract.

It Is however earning me fair more than I Imagined It would and I've had no outlay whatsoever....

I've decided now that because all my customers have been so happy that this Is the way to go rather than go In up to my neck with the bank...

That's awesome!



We have guys around here that have started up similar businesses. And in the winter their crews keep drives(business and residential) and sidewalks cleared in addition to selling the firewood created from cutting down small trees.

flopstock;1408281 wrote: That's awesome!



We have guys around here that have started up similar businesses. And in the winter their crews keep drives(business and residential) and sidewalks cleared in addition to selling the firewood created from cutting down small trees.
Thank You...

Yes, some of the clearance jobs have added bonuses... I drained a pond where I managed to get the water Iris and lilly's out Intact and sold them on the very next day.

You'd not believe what I've done In the last weeks, I've been up ladders, down drains, chain sawing tree's, dismantling old sheds, even good cause to swing a lump hammer at an old wall... all sorts.... I hurt In places I didn't know It was possible to hurt but I get a great deal of satisfaction when the job Is finished.

A man came out the other day and said to Peter " God I wish my wife was like yours, she's so strong and such a hard worker"..... that made my day that did.

Congrats Oscar!

Good luck with your new business, Oscar ... you have a lot of initiative!

Very nice job, and wise choice.

You are right. I can say from experience that (especially in the current economy) it is never a good idea to start a business up to your a$$ in debt.

This is particularly true of the restaurant and hospitality business.

Oscar I am so very happy about your success in your lawn service. I think it must have been just waiting for you as to all the trouble you were having trying to get your restuarant going. An it must be something you really like. Hipp Hipp hurray for Oscar.:-6

Outstanding! Just keep (slowly) growing and soon you'll be the one in the pickup truck with the radio, driving around to different sites and giving orders! With nice new nails, too!

LarsMac;1408299 wrote: Very nice job, and wise choice.

You are right. I can say from experience that (especially in the current economy) it is never a good idea to start a business up to your a$$ in debt.

This is particularly true of the restaurant and hospitality business.


Thanks everyone for you kind wishes.

Yes, I agree and when I was Intent on going alone with the food Industry, I just kept hitting draw back after draw back and with what happened with my original partner, I listened to my gut Instinct.... I'm a great believer In that,

And you're right, this way, I am not chasing a loan repayment every month before any profit.... because I already had the equipment... all the money I earned was pure labour and profit.

The Key to any small business Is marketing the same as a large company and I have a background of sales and marketing so that helped when It came to advertising. You have to remain pro-active even when your diary Is full but I myself am surprised at the amount of work coming In.

I'm loving It... the weather has been kind to me and because I price a job as a job lot not by the hour, I'm free to go off for a break whenever I want.

There Is work out there and I had to step outside my comfort zone but I am satisfied with myself so I urge anyone In a similar situation to think about setting up on their own If there's a shortage of jobs In their area. I never believed In 8 weeks that I'd be taking people on.

My brother thinks It's hilarious because the words I hated to hear most as a child were when my Mother said ' Go and help your Father In the garden'... I considered It child abuse but now all that Knowledge he shared has come to fruition.

I've spent two days clearing the site and early this morning, I continued on my favourite part.... planting. I like that.... putting something back In the earth. I'm mass planting Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus and Snowdrops for the client.... he asked me to surprise him so I've tried to be artistic In the planting Instead of just clumps here and there....

Tomorrow morning, I'm off to quote another large site which Is mainly clearing but I like it when they ask my advice as to what to plant.... I love that part also.... This one Is a bigger job as It Involves laying slabs and basically creating a new garden from just a barren wasteland.... I hope I live up to their expectations. This one Is also a recco so I know I'm doing a good job...

However, my back Is killing me...

oscar;1408690 wrote:

However, my back Is killing me...


You need a rub down with the Sporting Life.

Let me add my congratulations too.

Is this a good time of year to start such a project ?

Bruv;1408702 wrote: You need a rub down with the Sporting Life.

Let me add my congratulations too.

Is this a good time of year to start such a project ?


It's a good enough reason to get Mr O to rub me down every night.

It's a fantastic time of year.

This Is the time of year people want tree's lopped, shrubs and roses pruned, beds and borders dug over, paths weeded etc etc....ready for spring next year....

I have also secured weekly deals which is an hours maintainence, mowing lawns, leaf blowing etc so even In winter there will be money coming In.

I'm versatile.... we clean guttering out, drains etc.... It all makes work

Fair enough, and clearing snow covered drives.