Just as you would run other businesses, the various positions in your landscaping business must have a properly laid out job description. However, if you are running your landscaping business on a small budget, with enough training, you can handle these positions for small-scale projects.
The job positions in a landscaping business are typically divided into two roles – landscaping management staff and landscaping operation workers. These roles consist of the following job positions:
- Board of directors/Business owner
- Human resource manager
- Receptionist/customer service manager
- Procurement manager
- Financial manager
- Landscape technicians
- Equipment operator
- Landscape designers/architects
- Greenhouse/nursery growers
- Interior landscaper
- Agronomists and botanists
- Irrigation technician
1. Landscaping Management Staff
The management staff consists of a group of two or more managers. The main role of these managers is to ensure that your business is being run smoothly and adequately to meet the goals of your landscaping business. The managers do this by managing the people and resources.
In your landscaping business, there should be a hierarchy of managers to ensure checks and balances, with you as the head manager. However, if you are operating your landscaping business on a small to medium scale, you can be the sole manager of your business.
The following job positions are classified into the management roles:
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Board of Directors/Business Owner
The board of directors in your landscaping business is in charge of governing your business. The board of directors in your business consists of the CEO – Chief Executive Officer (You) – who is the chairman of the board, the CFO – Chief Financial Officer, and the large shareholders.
The duty of the board of directors in your landscaping business is to create strategies for achieving the goal of your business and to ensure the smooth running of the business. The board of directors will also be responsible for setting up your company’s management committee which ensures the adequate performance of the operations staff and reports back to the board of directors.
On the other hand, not all landscaping businesses are run by a board. You can also be the sole proprietor of your business, especially if it is being run on a small to medium scale. In this case, you create the strategies for the smooth running of your business and manage the resources, and every other employee in your business will report directly to you.
Human Resources Manager
The human resources manager in your business handles and coordinates all the activities of your business’ personnel. Some of the roles that the human resources manager will perform in your business will be:
- Recruiting top-notch field and internal workers.
- Ensuring the welfare of all the workers.
- Handling the payroll of all the workers.
- Implementing systems for operations.
N/B: If you intend on starting your landscaping business on a small scale and you do not have enough capital to hire a human resource professional, you can also handle the position of the human resource manager. However, ensure that you are not being overwhelmed as it could affect the smooth running of your business.
Receptionist/Customer Service Manager
Personally, when I walk into an office with a receptionist (whether it is a small or large scale, It leaves me with an impression of the business. Again, if you are starting on a small scale, your receptionist can also handle customer/client management. However, if you want to start your landscaping business from your home, you don’t have to hire a receptionist or a customer service manager. But as the business grows, you might want to consider moving to another space where you can run an office, and hire a receptionist/customer service manager that will help manage client/customer relationships. I hope you get to that scale and even beyond!
Procurement Manager
The procurement manager in your landscaping business will be in charge of handling purchases in your business that will help your business achieve its goals and objectives. Some of the purchases include tools and machinery, in-office equipment, safety wear, and materials for both field and in-office operations.
The procurement officer will ensure that you find suppliers who do not only sell at the best prices, but also give the best value, negotiate with suppliers, and finalize purchases. Again, in a small to medium-scale landscaping business, you might decide to procure your supplies or hire one person to handle your business’s procurements. But on a large scale, you would need to hire a team of procurement managers.
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Financial Manager
The financial manager position is very crucial to your landscaping business as this position will determine the viability of your business and monitor your business’s financial health. The financial manager will monitor the cash flow of your business, determine the profitability of your business, and manage your business’s expenses.
It would be a plus to hire a financial manager who can handle the preparation and calculation of taxes for your business if you are still operating on a small scale, however, on a large scale, these positions can be separated to ensure accuracy and specialization. In addition, it would be advisable to hire a financial manager for your business even on a small scale. This would help you with a clearer and unbiased report of your business’s viability.
2. Landscaping Operations Workers
Your operations staff consists of the core/hands-on staff in your business. Your operations staff perform the day-to-day tasks in the business. They mostly perform their duties with the instructions given by the management staff. The role of operations in your landscaping business will include both field workers and internal workers.
Landscape Technicians
Your business will need a landscaping technician primarily to identify, create, maintain, and implement beautiful landscape designs. Your landscape technician will occasionally monitor the landscapes for disease and insect infestations for treatment and control. A landscaping technician will mostly work on your small projects such as gardening and providing plant knowledge.
As a small-scale business owner, if you have substantial knowledge in creating great designs and implementing these designs, this would help cut the cost of hiring a landscaping technician. However, if you cannot handle the position of a landscaping technician, it is advisable to hire a landscaping technician or seek the services of a freelance landscape technician
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Equipment Operator
The equipment operators of your landscaping business are the first-in-line professionals in your business. They handle and control the heavy equipment used for landscaping such as hydraulic truck cranes, forklifts, hedge trimmers, sprayers, etc. They also provide recommendations to the landscaping technicians on improvements and processes to improve landscaping. This is a very crucial position with a high hazard potential. You will need a professional equipment operator for your landscaping projects.
Landscape Designers and Architects
These are the professionals who plan, design, and install new landscapes. They perform renovations and recreational duties and ensure proper survey and supervision. They also specialize in creating functional drainage, grading, sculpting, and constructing beautiful structures. Your landscape designer will ensure that every landscape project is environment-friendly.
The landscaping designers and architects that your business hires must be professional, well-grounded, and passionate about landscaping. These skills will provide the best results. Unlike landscape technicians, these professionals are mostly conversant with working on large-scale projects such as parks and public spaces.
However, on a small-scale project, you and your landscaping technician can carry out the duties of landscape designers and architects. These positions will usually require a team of professionals brainstorming on a project. As the business owner, If you know enough about landscaping, you can head this team.
Greenhouse and Nursery Growers
The greenhouse and nursery growers in your landscaping business are solely responsible for planting, growing, and maintaining trees and flowers. They ensure the proper health of trees and flowers. They study the environment and determine the kind of trees and flowers that thrive in the environment and how perfect they are in line with the uniqueness of every landscaping project your business is working with. On a small scale, with adequate research and little experience, you can carry out the job description in this position. You can learn a thing or two here.
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Interior Landscaper
Your landscaping business will need an interior landscaper to create an elegant, attractive, stylish, and tasteful indoor environment that leaves an exhilarating response. Their sole responsibility is to create outdoor-ish scenery in an indoor space to give a naturally peaceful and calm sensation to people. Your interior landscaper will know plants and trees that can survive indoors or use catalysts that could create an environment where an outdoor plant can thrive indoors. This requires the knowledge of a professional interior landscaper because some plants that thrive outdoors will not thrive indoors, even with artificial assistance.
Agronomists and Botanists
Your business’s agronomist performs the role of soil study, soil management, and soil production. They will determine the acidity of the soil and identify deficiencies in the soil to proffer the best solutions. Your business needs an agronomist to work hand in hand with other positions to maintain good plant health.
On the other hand, a botanist studies plants, their characteristics, their adaptations to various environments, and their life cycles. They are also known as plant doctors. You might need a botanist at the beginning of your landscaping projects to study the land and its properties. You may not need this service as soon as the project kicks off.
Arborist
Your business’s arborists oversee the planting, maintenance, and removal of woody plants and flowers. They also ensure that the plants do not get infested, and in the case where they are, provide the best treatments. In a project where there has been uprooting of large trees from a landscape, your arborist will figure out the best way to back-fill the space in preparation for planting in the future. The arborist will need to work hand-in-hand with you and the landscape technician to decide what plants and trees to stay, and what to take away.
Irrigation Technician
Your landscaping business needs an irrigation technician to determine the perfect irrigation system for your landscaping projects. Your irrigation technician is also responsible for water conservation during and after landscaping projects. They also fix, repair, and maintain equipment for efficient irrigation. They will ensure that your landscaping projects remain as natural and beautiful as they ought to be. This position requires a highly skilled professional.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I handle the job positions in my landscaping business by myself?
If you have experience in landscaping, you can handle most of the positions yourself. However, to create a beautiful landscape, there is lots and lots of work to be done! So, if your budget can handle it, hire the professionals you need to help you run your landscaping business successfully. In no time, you will make enough profits to make up for your labor costs.
How much do I need to hire a landscaping professional?
The average cost of hiring a landscaping professional per year ranges from $30,000-$50,000 depending on experience. However, if you are starting your landscaping business, you should consider hiring professionals for specific projects. As time goes by, you can decide to hire professionals on long-term contracts.
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.