So poor I can't even pay attention

dorothy52

Mara Darling, if it's weird then I am one weird woman (actually I am!) Robin's Clever Dog call us all her 'friends in the box' and that's just what we are. Proper friends. Cool.

dorothy52

Shall I do another 30 mins of yogalatis or have a mars bar? Hmm........

missrlr

Friday = mars bar
Of in my case G&T

taxi73

loving all these wonderful ideas

Snagggles

I am loving reading the positivity and enthusiasm on this thread.

Not exactly gardening really, but a potential way to 'extend the season' so you can still earn an income from it in the winter: could you offer services to small businesses with small offices, to provide and maintain indoor plants/plant displays, and you go once a week to water, feed, care for as appropriate? Plants enhance a space so much, but particularly if the business has clients which visit, tatty, half-dead plants on windowsills look unprofessional and don't make a good impression at all.

Large companies will probably have some sort of contract for that kind of thing, but smaller places probably won't have, and may well either not have thought about it, or have found it too expensive to get an established company in to do it.

Snagggles

Also, someone mentioned insurance - as soon as you start to get some clients, make sure you allow for public liability insurance, because if you break/damage something, or something you do ends up injuring someone, you're leaving yourself open to being sued. Sorry, that sounds very negative, but PL insurance isn't that expensive, and it's something you can put on your flier to reassure potential customers that you are a serious business.

Can you get a CRB check done for yourself, and if so, is it expensive? That's another thing that may be worth adding if you can, as people will be giving you access to their property, so it's a little thing that might give you the edge over other gardeners in your area.

How are you with technology? A simple website, with some before/after photos and ways to contact you, so you can add the website address to your flier, might make a difference too.

Piquant_2

triple_choc_chip wrote: »

Hi Piq et al;
Another lurker here (sounds pervy!)

A couple of thoughts:

15 years ago I was paying £50 a day for a gardener, even with this recession it must be about £100 now. Have a look in all those places Dorothy suggested as research to see what others are charging.

You could set your price and then offer a discount to those with their own tools / mower etc - and make them your first customers!

Good luck

That is a very good idea about the discount, thank you. You've read the rules about re-lurking? Yes? Not allowed! It's lovely to see you here, please stay.

missrlr wrote: »

Piq anything I have of assistance is yours , and when I get money it's yours as seed capital (yep tis a proper term in fiscal circles that one not a bad pun even though it could be here) if you get a really bad garden I will labour for you.

You can help me when you come to stay. A business plan is beckoning.... does that clear your guilt about taking a break?

Mara_uk7 wrote: »

Darn it, I love this place, Almost feel as if I know you all personally now !! Is that weird ?

It is a wonderful place and I think you'll find that everyone is pretty much the same in real life too. Like attracts like, so not weird at all.

Piquant_2

Caroline you are fast turning into my very own divine dragon, you know so much. I think the Enterprise allowance was what my advisor was talking about before he was sacked. I've got some documentation on it in my job centre folder, I will look it out. This holiday is becoming fortuitous, even if I do have to work Monday

Caroline, cake and snaggggles you are right about the public [:eek::eek: I forgot to type the L in public:eek::eek:] indemnity/liability insurance. Again, it something to put on research list. I think later today I'd better formalise my list from the scrap of paper on the coffee table to something more like a plan - missrir, caroline??

Looks like CRB check is going on the list too. Something I know nothing about. I'm so boring I should pass, I've done nothing illegal with animals, people or plants. I did have points on my licence for speeding but they've expired now. Height of naughtiness covered.

Dot, I have no idea what yogalatis is. It sounds like a yogurt dessert, but is probably a cross between pilates and yoga. Either way I'd go with the mars bar As always your advice is great and enthusiastic. Garden design is something to look to for the future. I would need a portfolio of work and a lot more experience to be considered. I'd also need an army of hunky men at my disposal to clear, dig and build. Oh now there's something to work towards.....

mary_hinge

I love the support found in this thread, Piq if anyone can do this it is you. Sorry you have been given a hard time at the yard, ignorant people never fail to amaze me, but that says more about them then anything else.

I wish I lived closer I could be your first customer my [STRIKE]over grown jungle[/STRIKE] garden could do with some green fingers, my veg patch is looking very neglected!:o

I'm doing ok thankyou, slightly more un-hinged then before but in a good way! have resurrected my diary as a kick up the bum!

Chin up lady

Mrs H x

Snagggles

I think pubic liability insurance must be for an altogether different line of work. :rotfl: