Six Ways to Get Your First Paying Clients as a Professional Fine Gardener

A few years ago I had a dream: to garden every day and somehow figure out a way to make money while doing it. And today, I can tell you that I've figured out just how to do that. My path here wasn't as straightforward as I imagined, but all the bumps and turns along the way taught me valuable lessons and prepared me for the fine gardening business I have today. Is my business thriving? Heck yes! Is my work fulfilling? Yes again! And can I support myself through my business? Yes Yes Yes!

Gardening hand tools in a bucket of weeds

When I first started my fine gardening service-based business, I had no idea if my idea would work or if I'd even make enough money to pay my bills. I was so afraid that I would fail. I was afraid no one would want to hire me. How would I even find customers in the first place? Was weeding gardens even a profitable business?

I'm sure if you're thinking of starting your own gardening business, you may be asking the same questions. And to ease your anxious mind, I'm going to tell you what I did in the beginning and (approximately) how long it took me to get my business up and running with paying clients (yes, the kind that aren't just your friends and family taking pity on you and your crazy idea!!!).

First, let's briefly go over what kinds of services you can offer as a professional fine gardener. Fine gardeners are skilled laborers who offer services such as garden weeding, fine pruning, fruit tree pruning, spring and fall clean-up, removal of invasive plants, garden design, planting, vacation garden watering, fertilization, top-dressing, consulting, and even garden coaching. Some in-demand non-fine gardening services that you could also offer include lawn mowing, edging, and hedge trimming--though, you'll need some specific tools for each of those services.

And if you find the right clients, they'll want you to provide all of these services on a recurring basis. For instance, the majority of my clients are set up on a monthly recurring garden maintenance plan where I schedule between 4-6 hours each month for me to work my magic and jeuje up their gardens. During these planned monthly sessions, I do anything and everything from consulting, transplanting, weeding, fine pruning, and just overall help in the garden.

Now, when you're first starting your side hustle or full-time business, you may not have the skills to do all of this or you may want to just focus on one aspect of fine gardening. Other limitations such as available tools and time of year may also dictate what services you offer. And that's perfectly fine and I think it's a smart business move to start small and specific!

When I first started my side hustle, all I did was weed garden beds. Then, after I got some professional experience working as part of a landscaping crew, I learned how to prune, what to prune, and when to prune. Fine pruning is an incredibly skilled task that you should only include as a service if you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs for short). So my suggestion is to start with what you know you can do well. The rest will come with time and more experience.

Once you decide what gardening services you'll offer, it's time to find your first paying clients who need help in their gardens.

My top six ways to find your first paying clients as a professional fine gardener are:

1. Craig's List

2. Apps

3. Physical Flyers and Business Cards

4. Your Website

5. Google My Business

6. Your Network

Craig's List

Craig's List App Gig List

After moving from California to Washington State back in 2021, I was looking for a job and wanted to continue my gardening side hustle. I've loved Craig's List for years, as the opportunities can be a great way of picking up work quickly. And in my experience, people posting on CL tend to have more than just one project in the works but want to try out someone before offering them ongoing work. Back in 2021, I replied to a CL ad that said "looking for someone to help pull weeds, plant, and move dirt" and I worked for that couple for nearly two years! The client paid me fairly and had lots of ongoing work whenever I wanted.

Here are a couple of insights to consider when finding work through Craig's List:

• People posting "help needed" ads on CL typically have more than just one job to be done, but want to try out a person before committing.

• People posting on CL need and want the job done soon--typically within a week of posting. So this can be a great way to find work quickly.

• Be polite, communicate to the best of your ability, and show up to the job on time. This first impression could lead to more opportunities (that haven't been advertised).

• People on CL (and other apps) tend to be looking for a deal and do not want to pay the "going rate" or taxes. Be aware of this for the future when you have a "proper" business with a business license and need to pay taxes.

As a side note, other social media sites such as Facebook and NextDoor can also be great places to find people looking for help and you can also openly post that you're accepting new clients and what services you offer. Unfortunately, these sites can be sorta spammy and will want you to sign up with a business page and pay for ads (it really is a "pay to play" game these days). When you're first starting out, I suggest making a few posts as yourself (and not your business) to see if you get any traction that way (people know and trust you, not your business at this point). Don't bother purchasing ads yet--get your first couple of clients first and see if you even enjoy weeding other people's messy gardens before investing in paid marketing.

Apps

We live in the digital age and apps come and go out of fashion quickly--so when you read this, my advice here may be slightly out of date. With that said, the Task Rabbit app continues to be one of the most popular methods of connecting homeowners with skilled workers and it's still a very popular app in 2024. This post isn't in any way sponsored by Task Rabbit, but I LOVE THIS APP. It really is the sole reason I was able to fill my schedule with meaningful work during my first year in business.

Task Rabbit App Home Screen

If you're unfamiliar with Task Rabbit, let me explain how the app works. You as a side hustler or sole proprietor of your new business can sign up with the app and choose which "tasks" you're willing and able to fulfill. Tasks range anywhere from sewing projects, to waiting in line, to fixing leaking sinks, and (of course) a myriad of yard and landscaping tasks. Once you've selected your tasks, you set your hourly rate, location, and availability. You can choose your availability up to two weeks into the future and can even accept "same day" requests. You're then connected with people who are actively looking to hire someone to complete "tasks." Once someone messages you about a project they need done--whether it's planting their garden or mowing their lawn--you decide if you're able and willing to take on the work and you accept the task. If you show up and complete the task, the homeowner pays you directly through the app and even has the option to tip. It's a pretty streamlined experience, in my opinion.

The caveat with Task Rabbit is that you have to be accepted by the site before you can start getting connected with homeowners. When I signed up in 2022, the process was pretty simple and involved filling out some tax and identification information, and then paying a small fee for a background check (which was completed through Task Tabbit). It took about two weeks before I was accepted and ready to start getting connected with new clients.

The other caveat is that Task Rabbit makes money off of your hourly wage. You always get paid the wage you set, but the person who hires you has to pay an additional amount. So sometimes your wage + Task Rabbit's cut can be a little outlandish to homeowners. You may have difficulty getting hired if your wage is set too high for the market. On the other hand, once you get a couple of 5-star reviews and can show people you're reliable and know what you're doing, they'll hire you based on your experience and the hourly price doesn't matter as much.

When setting your hourly rate, Task Rabbit will give you a range of what people are willing to pay in your area. I suggest starting on the lower end and then raising your rate once those glowing accolades start pouring in.

My favorite part about Task Rabbit (they really should sponsor me at this point!), is that it's basically a way to get your name out there and easily get connected with people who are actively looking for workers. In my experience, a lot of homeowners do not want to hire those big companies with huge marketing budgets to take care of their yards and gardens. Most people would much rather have a personal connection with a singular person or small, local business instead of a mega-corporation making billions of dollars that sends different people to mow the lawn each time. Chances are, if you hit it off with someone you get connected with through Task Rabbit, you'll have a paying customer for years. To this day, I still have recurring customers that I was initially conned to through Task Rabbit.

Physical Flyers and Business Cards

We may live in a digital age, but there is something truly special about physical flyers you read at a coffee shop or a business card you hand out during a (gasp!) real-life in-person interaction.

The first week I transitioned from a side-hustler to a full-time entrepreneur, I signed up for Canva and made a few flyers with my business name, services offered, and my contact information. Pretty simple and straightforward. I went around to all the bulletin boards around town and made space for my flyer to be front and center. To this day (two and a half years later), one of those original posters is still miraculously hung on a local job and business board and I get cold calls a few times a year. Older folks that aren't techno savvy often still rely on physical advertisements. It's important to market to this group of people, especially because they're the ones that are more likely to need your services.

Another physical marketing tool I love are business cards. When you're starting out, don't waste too much time on a fancy design and logo. Keep it simple and include your name, phone number, and an email address. If you have a logo, great; use it. Otherwise, you'll probably rebrand in a few months anyways, so keep your business cards simple and easy to read.

Giving out business cards

You may be wondering where and when I pass out my business cards and do they actually work? And the simple answer is anywhere and everywhere and YES.

I work in a lot of neighborhoods. People like walking their dogs in those neighborhoods. Lots of times when I'm unloading or packing my tools up for the day, people walking by will comment about all my tools and ask what I do. I tell people that I'm a fine gardener and that I weed people's gardens and prune ornamental trees. Lots of people are curious about this and it helps when you've just finished working on a garden you're particularly proud of--as a beautiful, tidy garden will always sell your services easily. People often ask me for my card because they'd like their garden to be neat and tidy too.

Over the years, I've gotten lots of one-time and repeat clients from handing out my business cards. Now any time someone asks what I do or what my business name is, I tell them and hand them a business card. This is a great way to get your name out there and make connections. Even if that person doesn't need your services now, when they do they'll call you or recommend you to their friends and family and can easily pass along your business card.

Website

Websites are amazing digital real-estate to invest in--but don't think you need a website before you start your business. I didn't have a website the first six months I was full-time running my business. Honestly, I was so busy working on other people's gardens, I didn't have time to put together a website until after the fall-rush was over. But once I had tried my business plan out, got my foot in the door, and knew I wanted to continue as a professional fine gardener, I invested in my website.

Websites are amazing because you own the space. Unlike social media sites where you have a page for your business, your website is solely yours and you control it. If Facebook or Instagram shut down tomorrow, I wouldn't even notice because I don't get any business from those sites. But I do get business from people googling "fine gardeners near me" and clicking on my website.

My website is still pretty simple, but it has all the nuts and bolts a service based business needs:

• Landing page describing who Dockton Creek Fine Gardening is

• A service page describing what Dockton Creek Fine Gardening does

• An about page that tells my story as the owner operator

• My blog (hello!)

• And a contact page

And that's basically it. Nothing too fancy needed. I now have a page with some pictures (and I need to add a few testimonials... but it's still a work in progress!).

I don't get a ton of traffic to my site, but I get enough from the right people looking for the services I provide that it's totally worth it for me to pay and keep. As a bonus hosting my website through Wix (also not sponsored), I can send pay links, collect online payments, book online, and do all my invoicing. There's also a ton of other products Wix offers, but I haven't utilized them yet. Overall, I've had a good experience having Wix host my website.

Google My Business

Similar to a website, Google My Business pages are really helpful and useful. Not only does having a Google My Business page help me get indexed, because I'm verified it lets people know that Dockton Creek Fine Gardening is a legitimate business. And as a plus, Google My Business pages are always free, allows you to link your socials, post updates, include pictures, and most importantly you can include your contact info. I highly recommend getting one these pages when you're fist starting out and continuously updating every few weeks as another means of free marketing.

Network

Hands down, the best way to find your first paying clients is through your network. Whether this is through your social media or in person, the people you already know are your best source for finding clients. Those people may not need work themselves, but chances are, they know someone or there's a friend of a friend looking for a gardener to help in the garden.

News travels quickly through social networks and people are more likely to hire someone when they've been recommended by someone they know.

When I first switched from a gardening side hustler to a full-time professional, I had no idea how I was going to get more clients--especially because I was still new to Washington State and didn't have the largest local network. But I was determined and unabashed. Over dinner one night, I let my in-laws know that I had quit my job and was starting my own gardening business.

My in-laws had lived in the same city for nearly 40 years--so they knew a lot of people and had an amazing network I could tap into. My father-in-law was (and still is to this day) one of my best networking advocates. I didn't even have business cards made up at this time, but my father-in-law wrote my name and number on a few sheets of paper and recommended me to a handful of his clients (he's a carpenter). Within a week of my dinner time announcement, I had two new paying clients eager to get on my schedule! Three summers later, one of those clients is still one of my best recurring clients that I see on a bi-weekly basis year-round.

I'm continuously impressed by the power of networking and still use this method constantly. I've gotten more clients through networking than I ever have with all the other methods listed here. Also, there's a lot of power in being professional, friendly, and reliable. Remember that recurring client that my father-in-law introduced me to? Well, she happened to right live next to a home with a gorgeous garden. While working one day, I introduced myself to the neighbor and commented on how beautifully designed her garden was. And lo and behold, she was a landscape designer! While she didn't need any help in her garden, she had boatloads of clients who did and through that simple interaction, I gained a valuable network member. She gave my card to another designer, who then recommended me to a gal with a home in a very upscale 55 and over HOA. Two years later, I have six clients in that upscale HOA and they are my BEST clients.

You really never know who you may meet along the way, so it's important to always put your best foot forward, be kind, genuine, understanding, and above all--be friendly and talk to the strangers you meet. Those strangers may end up being your best allies.

Recap

So there you have it, my top six ways a professional gardener can find their first paying clients: Craig's List, apps such as Task Rabbit, physical media like flyers and business cards, websites, Google My Business pages, and networking. There are so many people out there waiting for you to deliver the services you provide. It's just a matter of letting yourself be known and announcing to the world that you're open for business.

When using platforms like Craig's List, Next Door, and Facebook, you could have a few paying clients in days. Once accepted into the Task Rabbit platform, and if you live in an area with high demand (like a city or suburb), you'll have people contacting you within the first couple of days too. More traditional means of marketing such as flyers and business cards may take longer to reach the right clients, but I find that this is a great way of reaching people that wouldn't find you and your business otherwise. Think long-term with regards to flyers and business cards.

Additionally, websites and Google My Business profiles are a great way to reach people that want to vet you as a business before that initial contact. Vetting is pretty standard these days, so think of these digital assets as extensions of you and your business to make good first impressions with strangers on the internet. If they like what they see and resonate with you and your message, they'll reach out. I've found that it may take up to THREE MONTHS before first learning about you and your business and the followup for booking.

And finally, networking is a tried and true means of gaining customers. You may get a paying client through your network the first day you announce your business plans! It's also a great way of continuously gaining new customers, as the clients you already have will continuously rave about you and the services you provide.

What are some ways you've successful found clients as a side hustler or professional gardener? Let me know!!