Consulting Business Ideas: Consider Garden Consulting, Money Can Grow On Trees

You would help people plan and design their gardens, suggesting the best flowers, shrubs, trees, and even decorative structures for the area. Clients may also call on you to recommend solutions to insect infestations, plant diseases and other gardening problems.

What you need to know about this business

• The start up costs range is $5500 to $9900.
• You can charge $33 to $49 per hours or $75 to $200 per hour if you have a degree or certification in landscape design, architecture or horticulture.
• The income potential is $35,000 to $80,000 or more.
• A client may hire you for a one-time consultation or have you come on a regular or as needed basis.
• You can either supply the plants yourself or refer your client to a suitable garden center.
• This is an out-of-the home business, except for designing on paper.

How to market this business

• Place signs on your customers' lawns while you are working there.
• Rent booths at home and garden shows
• Write a gardening column for your local paper.
• Place magnetic sign a paint a sign on your car.
• Make direct calls to builders of new housing developments.
• Create a website giving gardening advice and offering your services.

Home Business Requirements

• Computer with gardening designing software
• Access to online gardening databases
• Drafting tools
• Gardening reference books