Every single industry benefits from jumps in technology, and that includes the construction and landscaping industries. While you might be working with your hands, the right tools and equipment can make a world of difference with the type of projects you can complete and the speed you can complete them. Here are some tips to help you use these tools in the best way for your company.
A Digital Presence
A business website might have been a luxury a decade or so ago, but now it’s practically a necessity for even small local businesses. While you can only focus on the local market, most people prefer to use websites to research different businesses and search for them. In short, if you’re not online, you might as well be invisible.
At the very least, you need to be registered on Google Maps. Registering your business on Google Maps is simple, but it opens you up to a lot of potential customers. Most people who want a service will first head to a search engine, and Google by far has the monopoly on most people.
As well as being visible on Google Maps, it’s a good idea to be visible to the search engines. This means utilizing search engine optimization, or SEO. In short, if someone types in a keyword like “landscaper near me”, the search engine will look for the most relevant result. By using SEO, you make yourself easier to find for the search engine, so you’re more likely to pop up on the results page.
This does require having somewhere for the search engine to find. A website is a good place to start, because it’s also a handy way to allow your customers to see your portfolio and get in touch. Starting a blog gives you plenty of SEO opportunities, as well as a way to earn more money. You can also use social media to reach more customers, both locally and further away.
Project Management Software
One fantastic way to use digital tools for your landscaping business is to manage your clients and your projects. Ideally, you will pick up different projects and clients so you’re able to keep business and can constantly earn a profit. However, this means that your company becomes more complicated and more difficult to manage.
This could lead to mistakes, like double bookings for jobs or clients getting forgotten about. This, understandably, can impact your business reputation and make you seem less professional and less competent. The best way to prevent this is by having a robust project management system in place.
You can use a landscaping app that’s specifically designed to help you manage your projects more efficiently. As well as helping you plan jobs and make sure that everything is above board, this app can also track your timesheets, so your employees are also properly organized.
As you hire more employees, you can assign them to different projects at the same time, allowing your business to earn a lot more profit in the same timeframe. However, this is again another level of complication. If you’re worried about time management and worker safety, you can use driver tracker software to track company vehicles.
This means that you know where your workers are at a given time, allowing you to work out who is nearest for callouts and to check in if you suspect that there’s an issue. Talk to your workers about this kind of software before implementing it and explain the benefits for their safety and the efficiency of your company.
Accounting Software
Another common pitfall for small businesses is that accounting often gets more complicated as it grows. As a sole trader, it might be relatively simple to keep track of your profit and expenses, allowing you to submit your own tax returns.
However, when you hire more employees and things get more complicated, you’re more likely to make mistakes on your tax returns. This could mean that you get fined or have to pay more taxes, or it could simply mean that you miss out on potential benefits and tax breaks.
Accounting software can help you to keep more accurate records. This means that your bookkeeping doesn’t have any issues, so you’re less likely to pay too much tax or not enough. You can also use software to give basic accounting guidelines.
For example, if you’re spending more than you should in one area of your business, your software makes your financial information clearer and easier to read. This means that you can spot potentially worrying patterns and deal with them sooner rather than later, potentially saving a lot of money.
However, the best way to get great accounting advice and information is to outsource to an accountant. This is better if you don’t want to handle any of the accounting side of things, or if you want to ensure that you get everything right and any potential tax breaks.
Hiring or Buying Equipment
Finally, it’s important to talk about the other tools that you will use in the landscaping business.
As a landscaper, you can’t do everything with brute force and your bare hands. You will need equipment for yourself and your employees. The equipment you need will depend on the type of work and projects you take on.
Some equipment is necessary for almost every job, or for most of the jobs you will take on. For example, an electric lawn mower will come in handy for small maintenance jobs, where you need to keep the lawn to a certain level.
But if you occasionally take on larger projects, you may need specialized equipment. If you don’t use this equipment very often, it could be worth hiring it for that job. Generally, renting equipment is better for short-term usage, but as you find yourself needing that equipment more and more, it’s often worth buying it.
Always keep your equipment well-maintained and look out for different equipment that can help you take on larger jobs or work more efficiently.
