Three Things You'll Need To Become A Landscape Contractor
Do you love working outdoors? Maybe you also like working with trees, flowers, and a variety of other types of plants. If you have thought about turning your passion into a business, and want to become a landscape contractor, here are three things you will need.
Landscaping Equipment
If you're going to be working in people's yards, you're going to need certain equipment that will help you do a good job, and do it in a timely manner. Since you're just starting out, you may want to begin by purchasing only the basic pieces of equipment, and then you can upgrade or purchase more equipment as your business grows. Here are some of the pieces of landscaping equipment you'll need right away:
- Reliable lawnmower
- Gas-powered edger/weed whacker
- Gardening tools such as a shovel and a rake
- Leaf blower
- Safety gear such as safety goggles and hearing protection
By having these pieces of equipment, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful landscaping contractor.
Transportation
In order to haul all of your landscaping equipment, you will also need to think about investing in reliable transportation. If you already own a pickup truck, you are well on your way to having a way to transport all of your equipment. If you don't own one yet, getting an older used pickup will do the trick. Depending on how much equipment you have, you might also need to get a trailer of some kind. There are many types of trailers to choose from and advantages of each. For example, an enclosed cargo trailer would offer better protection for your equipment. There are also companies who make customized trailers, depending on your needs.
Landscaping Contractor Insurance
Because the landscaping business requires the use of power tools and sharp objects, it is considered one of the 25 most dangerous jobs. In order to protect yourself and your business, it is recommended to get the right kind of landscaping contractor insurance for your business.
The type of insurance you need will largely depend on the exact type of work you do. For example, if you simply mow lawns and offer seeding and edging services, your insurance needs would be different than if you also did mulching, irrigation, and tree trimming. Whether or not you have commercial customers might also be a factor. In order to find the type of insurance that best suits the needs of your company, find an insurance agent that knows about the various aspects of landscaping. For more information, visit sites like http://www.olynorthwest.com.