A lot of us started our landscaping businesses as a side hustle. You probably know how this works: you get your first big break, maybe you mow someone’s yard once a month, and things take off. Eventually, you realize that if you want to keep up with the demands of your business, you need help—but how do you find suitable employees who will work hard and stay loyal to your company? I’ve got a few tips that I’ve learned over the years that should help make hiring employees for your landscaping business much easier.
To get employees for your landscaping business figure out what kind of person would make a good fit, take advantage of your network and job boards, offer training and advancement opportunities, and create a work environment that encourages your employees to stay.
You need to Know What You’re Looking For Before Trying To Find Employees
It can be tempting to cast a wide net when you are looking for employees. But before you go searching for candidates, you must know what kind of people will maximize your company’s potential. What do we mean by this? It means that before you start searching for employees, you need to do some homework. So, when an open position comes up at your company, and someone applies for it, you will know whether or not they would be a good fit.
1. Know what your company’s primary focus is
2. It is easy to get excited about hiring new people, but you must make sure they will be a good fit. When searching for new employees, think about these questions:
- Are you looking for someone who will work hard and do a good job, or do you have more specific expectations? For example, what makes a good employee could be professionalism, good communication skills, detail-oriented, and positivity or friendliness.
- What is your company’s budget? Early on, asking this question can ensure that they won’t be out of reach when applicants offer their salary requirements.
- What kind of work environment do you want to create? Your company culture plays an essential role in attracting and retaining top talent, so consider what kind of atmosphere would be most conducive to employee satisfaction and engagement.
- How much time do I have available for training? A landscaping business can have many moving parts; they won’t be out of reach when an applicant offers their salary requirements, so having extra hands-on training time is beneficial when starting up a new project or taking on additional responsibilities.
3. Create a list of skills needed for each position
- Soil and irrigation management
- Lawn maintenance
- Tree and bush work
- Weed management
- Identifying weeds and other invasive plant species
- Knowledge of various pesticides
4. Start interviewing!
Take Advantage of Your Network and Job Boards
“You know that old saying: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Well, in the world of employment, this is especially true.
This is where networking comes in. Networking, in short, is how you meet people and make connections and is a great way to get the word out about your business. You can network in person or online, depending on what works best for you and your business. You don’t have to be highly social to do it, either. You just need to keep your eyes open for opportunities and be willing to reach out when they present themselves.
You might think that this would be difficult because everyone knows everyone and there are not any fresh faces around anymore. However, there are tons of people looking for ways to connect with others who might be able to help them advance their careers or start one entirely new.
So how do we find these people? Well, there are a few ways:
- Ask your friends, relatives, and business associates for their recommendations. They may know of people looking for jobs in landscaping, especially if they’re from your area. You can’t be afraid to put yourself out there even if others may see you fail at first.
- Post your job description on job boards or other online platforms that allow you to reach a broader audience of potential employees. Popular job boards include Monster, Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, TaskRabbit, and Thumbtack. (The last two are not considered job boards, but you may find solo entrepreneurs that you could consider contracting.)
- Run ads through social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram; this is an inexpensive way to attract candidates who are already getting their news or services from these sites (and therefore likely to be interested in working with you).
10 Main Types Of Service For Landscaping
Offer Training And Advancement Opportunities
People often view landscaping as a low-skilled job that anyone can do. In reality, landscaping is a specialized field that requires years of training and experience to perfect. If someone wants to thrive in this industry, they need to learn how to advance their career and climb the ladder.
Offering an apprenticeship can be attractive to those seeking experience in landscaping. Apprenticeships typically last between one and three years and involve working under the supervision of an experienced landscaper to learn the craft from the ground up. After completing an apprenticeship program, your apprentice should be ready for any position you have trained them for. The apprentice will only have to determine if your company is right for them.
Another way to attract employees is to offer flexible work schedules, paid training programs, and opportunities for advancement within your company, such as promotions or specialized positions (such as a manager). You’ll increase employee satisfaction and retention because these factors matter most when deciding whether someone stays at a job or not – especially if other companies are offering similar salaries nearby without these benefits.
Training employees is a crucial part of the job. (Before you consider this, think about the time that is needed to make sure it is done correctly.) Employees should know how to use the right tools and equipment, as well as how to handle grass, mulch, or other plants properly. They also need to understand how to maintain their vehicles and equipment so that they can keep them running smoothly at all times.
Employees who want to progress in their careers will appreciate this, while those just starting will be happy to gain new skills that could make them more marketable in other areas.
Create An Environment That Will Encourage Employees To Stay
As a business owner, you should create an environment that will encourage employees to stay with the company. It’s crucial to create a work culture that is both fun and productive to create an environment that will encourage employees to stay. You’re in charge of creating the culture of your business, so you need to be intentional about creating a space where people feel supported and valued.
Employees should feel valued and respected at all levels of the company. This is done by having clear communication channels and transparency in making decisions.
By setting clear expectations around work-life balance so that employees know what they can expect from you as a manager or leader in terms of time commitment outside of work hours or during holidays, you create clear communication channels and transparency. Also, when it comes to taking time off from work due to illness or family emergencies, no one should feel like they don’t have a choice if you have clearly defined processes for handling vacation and time-off requests.
Also, as mentioned above, offering apprenticeships and training programs, providing a good benefits package, paying employees a decent salary, and quickly helping new employees become more familiar with their jobs play a role in creating a positive work environment.
You might be thinking that hiring employees sounds like a lot of work. And let’s face it—it is. But if you can get the right people into your business, it’s worth all that time and effort. It will pay off in the long run when you have great employees loyal to your company and make every day more enjoyable for everyone around them!
11 Must-Have Items For A Landscaping Business
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a lawn care business?
You’ll need to consider how much money you can invest in equipment and employees. The second thing to consider is whether or not you need any special licenses or permits. Next up is finding clients. Many people who own their businesses find this part easier because they already have connections with potential customers.
How do I get clients for my landscaping business?
1. Ask for referrals from close relationships and current customers. Let them know that you’re always looking for new clients.
2. Advertise through social media.
3. Don’t be afraid to wear your company’s logo. This is a great conversation starter.
How can I grow my landscaping business?
Reach out to your community by offering curbing services, expanding your service area, or offering to bundle services together for a discount. You can also research what events in your area would be relevant to your business and target those.
To learn more on how you can start your own landscaping business, check out my startup documents here.
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Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Landscape Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a landscape business owner at a job site, driving down the road or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Landscaping Business Boss: I want to help landscape business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.