I am in the process of setting up a landscaping business in Ottawa. Your website has been great and I will continue to work through the information. I am however looking for specific information about the market in Ottawa. Is there a demand for another landscaping company? What might I focus on to fill certain voids or meet demands? What are the average markups for costs, overhead etc..in this part of the country?
Hey Starting_In_Ottawa, thanks for your question.
You asked a few here, so let’s break them down one at a time.
I am however looking for specific information about the market in Ottawa. Is there a demand for another landscaping company?
I can’t pretend to be an expert on each different area in North America, so I don’t claim to have any really meaningful insight on the climate in Ottawa. But here are my thoughts.
Ottawa was recently ranked The Best City to Live in Canada. (Source: MoneySense Magazine: Click here to read the list. That’s a good indication that Ottawa is a growing market, rather than a fading one. It’s a government city, which means it’s a little more resistant to inflation, and it has good immigration numbers. In terms of your location, Ottawa seems like a great bet. As for a landscaping company… there is a demand for everything, provided you can do it better than the rest of the market. If you can sell yourself and your company, and you can back it up with good work, then there will be demand.
If you want more information on the landscaping market specifically in Ottawa – check out your local Landscape Ontario – Ottawa Chapter group. Attend their next meeting. Network with some other owners there. They’re a great, smart group of landscapers looking to build a better, more professional industry in the Ottawa area.
What might I focus on to fill certain voids or meet demands?
The green industry is a very diverse industry. From cutting lawns, woodworking, lighting, tree care, to swimming pools – there are so many different specialty areas. Start by identifying what you’re good at, and what you like to do. The book Good to Great talks about a Hedgehog concept… finding something you can do best, and then doing it. A Hedgehog doesn’t try to outswim, outrun, or outclimb its predators. It’s just really good at what it does best – rolling up in a tough-to-penetrate ball of spines. Click here to download information from Good to Great.
Once you’re comfortable with a direction, then look at emerging trends in the industry…
“Green” Trends – Native garden design, living walls, green roofs, eco-friendly lawn-care and water-conscious irrigation systems are just some of the green trends that consumers are looking to incorporate into their outdoor living spaces.
Environmental Restoration – Developers are required to restore recently-built habitats to approximate versions of their original state. This is a growing market that has the added bonus of being mandated by governments and municipalities.
Outdoor Living – More and more people are expanding their living environments with outdoor kitchens, fire pits, seating areas and entertainment environments. Stonework, lighting, sound systems, and even fully stocked kitchens play into this mix. Designing and building high end outdoor living environments requires a lot of expertise, but the price per square foot is far, far higher than your traditional sod and paving stone walkway projects
Once again, start with something you can do really well, and grow from there. Learning that it’s OK to say No to things you don’t do will be one of the most profitable lessons you’ll learn in business.
What are the average markups for costs, overhead etc..in this part of the country?
It very much depends on the type of work/service you do. My advice – don’t get too hung up on competing with averages. Know your costs. Know your overhead and profit. Price your work with a system. You’ll be confident in your numbers and you’ll know you’re priced right. If you have provide a really good service, and have a really good sales process, you won’t need to compete with “the average. Most small businesses fail. You don’t want to be “average”. Know your costs. Don’t compete on price – compete with a great sales process, a solid brand, and relentlessly pursue productivity and efficiency in every area of your business.
From your question, we noted you don’t have a company name yet. So here’s my advice: the world is going online. Find a company name with an easy to remember website that’s available. With a generic name like “Turfcare” – you’ll take a long, long time to ever show up on Google or search engine listings. Your website might be your biggest source of leads– so pick a name that’s:
- Easy to spell (avoid funny spellings like The Lawn Guyz)
- Available as a .com – use a domain registration company like www.godaddy.com to make sure your company name is available as a .com
- Well suited for growth - If you have plans to grow your business, avoid highly specialized name. With a name like The Lawn Guys, you’ll have trouble selling landscape construction projects – that name says “We cut and care for lawns.” If you want to get into high-end contracts, then avoid “small business” names.
And one more thing on names…
- Get a Professional to Design Your Logo/Brand – A site like http://99designs.com/ has many private graphic designers who do work for incredibly reasonable rates. Your logo will be on every truck, lawn sign, and advertisement you do from now until whenever. Do it right the first time.
Tags: landscape, landscaping, markup, new, new business, Ottawa, overhead, pricing, starting landscape business, startup, trends
