Do you love landscaping and design or do you already dabble in it by working under somebody else?
Do you know what it takes to make the entrance or backyard of a home a masterpiece by shaping shrubs, trees, gardens and installing lights?
If you know your way around the outskirts of a home, and find it rewarding to embellish it, then starting an outdoor lighting business would be a great idea — it will prove to be extremely profitable.
The outdoor lighting business is nearly a multi-million dollar industry.
Many people who live in homes or have businesses want to do little things that make the outside of them look more attractive and “pop.”
According to the Department of Energy, about 25% of all electricity produced in the US is used specifically for lighting purposes.
Another 10% is reserved to generate power for the outdoors and landscaping.
Although the number does not seem like a lot, the need for lighting homes is high.
People want to be able to see at night and enjoy the functionality purposes.
The right type of lighting can decrease energy consumption while reducing maintenance and costs as well.
Just decades ago, high-intensity discharge or HID, lamp technology completely dominated the outdoor marketing industry.
Today a newer technology called LEDs, or light emitting diodes, has been made to improve one’s lighting experience.
Where they used to be used mostly for colored lighting effects, its usage has evolved.
It has become attractive because of its lower costs and with the advancements in thermal managements, optics, chip technology and controls, it is the perfect choice for outdoor lighting.
The professional lighting industry has grown nearly three times as much today compared to 2012, and it is expected to go up from there.
You will need to invest in a couple thousand dollars if you are serious about starting the business.
If you are in a low budget, you will need to have at least $5,000-$10,000.
Ideally, if you can afford it, you will want to have between $15,000-$40,000 for your initial investment toward the business.
There will be a tremendous gap regarding how much you make your first year and beyond that, but the average outdoor lighting business owner can expect to bring in $50,000 annually.
Pricing is extremely individualistic, and you do not want to undercharge nor overcharge the clients you work for when operating your business.
There are two sets of prices you must know about: prices for outlining a home and prices for outlining trees.
You can get the most accurate prices to use by comparing it to other outdoor lighting business, but costs will consist of the following:
– Charge per Square Foot (size) and location of project
-Labor Costs
-Supplies and Material
-Job Cleanup
-Adding Fixtures/Fencing/Pavement
Can I start from home?: No
Average startup cost: $5,000 – $50,000
How many people work in the industry (US): 1 Million
Average earnings: $10,000 – $50,000 1st year/ $150,000 – $250,000 after
What skills are required?: A love to be outdoors, a knack for designing, an understanding of electrical systems and landscaping.
How do outdoor lighting landscapers find customers?: Commercial companies, people who live in residences, and industrial venues well be your primary customers.
You may also be working on garages, roadway and street lighting, and several public areas where lighting and landscaping is needed.
Equipment: $1,000 – $12,000
Inventory Fees: $2,000 – $10,000
Marketing and Advertising Costs: $300 – $3,000
Labor Fees: $200 – $5,000
Franchise Fees (Only if you choose to franchise): $8,000 – $15,000
License/Permit: $200 – $500
While it will be your job to listen to your client’s wants and needs, it is also your job to inform them with ideas that would bring about the best results for what they want.
The best way to promote your business will be enlighten your clients and tell them ideas they would not have otherwise thought of.
For example, other than being attractive, you may want to promote the security of a product.
LED lights are often not on the list for clients with a smaller budget, but inform them that it lowers the cost of their electricity bill while they are more green and environmently friendly.
Instead of just explaining your layout design, you want to always show your customers a rough sketch of the plan so there are no surprises and they are happy.
-Do not be “kute” or clever with names
-No abbreviations
– Use words that reflect your identity
Simple Life Outdoor Landscaping Rain or Shine Landscaping
Tom’s Outdoor Landscaping Business Rose Outdoor Landscape Services LLC
Green Thumb Outdoor Landscaping Brilliant Outdoor Landscape Designs
Joe’s Outdoor Garden Landscaping Budget Outdoor Landscaping Services
Plant the Seed Outdoor Landscapers Lawn and Lighting Landscaping LLC
Garden Outdoor Landscaping
Youtube Videos
References
http://home.costhelper.com/landscape-design.html
http://www.ecmag.com/section/lighting/glowing-outside-outdoor-and-landscape-lighting
http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_outdoor_landscape_lighting.html
http://hubpages.com/living/landscaping-company-names
http://www.wikihow.com/Price-Landscaping-Jobs
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Earlier this year, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) released the results of a survey that asked its members which residential landscape design elements would be most popular in 2016. Lighting, a top performer in 2015, remained among the most popular outdoor design elements for this year — along with fire pits, fireplaces and wireless Internet connectivity. In fact, more than 65 percent of the landscape architects surveyed said that they expected customers to request lighting as a part of their landscape plan.
Why has landscape lighting become so popular? More people are investing in their homes, spending a significant amount of time and money enhancing their homes’ curb appeal. When it’s done right, landscape lighting can spotlight a home’s best architectural features and draw attention to favorite plantings and trees. Lighting can also improve a home’s safety and security by illuminating formerly dark areas and making it easier to traverse stairs and outdoor paths.
“More people are taking an interest in their homes and living in them longer,” said Brian Peace, district sales manager for Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting in Simi Valley, Calif. “They want to upgrade their house rather than move to a different one. And more of the people investing in landscape lighting are living in your typical, average homes. It’s not just for people who live in higher-end homes or mansions.”
Landscaping + lighting = profits
With demand for residential landscape lighting increasing, it only makes sense that more landscape and irrigation contractors are adding it to their service menus. Statistics show that 80 to 90 percent of Peace’s customers are landscapers first and foremost who install lighting as an additional service.
“It makes perfect sense for landscape or irrigation contractors to get into the lighting business,” Peace added. “They’re already on the jobsite; they have an established clientele. It’s a relatively easy way to make more money from a single job. If you’re digging a trench to put in sprinkler pipe, you can also lay lighting wire in the ground in just a few additional seconds. It’s so simple to learn, and it doesn’t require any additional licenses. Because it’s low-voltage, it’s safe as well.”
Along with the ability to earn additional income, offering lighting also gives that contractor a more complete portfolio. If a homeowner wants a landscaping project done, including outdoor lighting, that homeowner is more likely to go with a business that can handle all of his or her needs, not just a few. At that point, not offering outdoor lighting design and installation could cause a contractor to lose a job entirely.
Getting started
Although there are some definite dos and don’ts, overall, offering landscape lighting is a relatively simple proposition. Most experienced contractors will have the basic tools they need already on hand. Plus, it doesn’t take a large crew or an investment in additional employees to offer lighting installation. Even small businesses with one- or two-person crews can easily handle lighting jobs.
“You tell a guy that he can put in a 10- to 12-light system in less than a day and make an additional $800, he’s usually going to go for it,” Peace says. “One guy can do it, two guys can do it and larger crews can do it.”
While the actual task of installation is something that can be learned, there is a certain degree of artistic flair that will make one contractor more successful than another.
“Most guys play around with lighting at their own homes first, then they seek out a couple of jobs and really get started,” said Peace. “One of my customers started out with landscape lighting about 10 years ago, and within five years, he was performing 200- to 300-fixture installations. He goes out during the day to check out the customer’s home and landscape, and then he goes back out at night to make any necessary adjustments. It’s really an art at that point.”
Peace recommends that a contractor who wants to get into landscape lighting take at least some training before actually performing jobs for customers. Peace’s company, Vista, offers numerous training programs nationwide that include basic lighting installation, estimating, troubleshooting and design assistance. Information about available training is available at Vista’s website, [ital>www.vistapro.com<ital].
“A contractor may need to invest six to 10 hours of class time to get a basic knowledge of outdoor lighting,” said Peace. “At Vista, we actually go with our students to their first few jobs to assist with the design work, getting the bid, and so on. We do recommend that individuals new to the business set aside some time to install lighting at their own homes or a friend’s home. That gives them the opportunity to play and experiment a little, see how much light an LED at 2.5 or 4.5 watts will give them, for example.”
Keys to success
When it comes to finding a lighting supplier, most contractors tend to stay local for the sake of convenience. However, the best practice is to get quotes from two to three different distributors to see who offers the best pricing. From there, determine which distributor also has the ultimate combination of product knowledge and experience.
“Back when I was installing lighting, I typically used two distributors all the time because they were convenient to my location, the price was right, and if I had a question or problem, they could help me solve it pretty quickly,” said Peace. “At first, price tends to be a contractor’s primary concern. But the distributor relationship will eventually come into play. You need to feel that the person with whom you’re working is knowledgeable about what they’re selling and can help you work through a problem when necessary.”
Knowledge is also a key factor when it comes to a contractor’s ultimate failure or success at the landscape lighting business. If contractors don’t know how to sell lighting and are uninformed about the products available, they can’t speak to their businesses intelligently. Also, prospective clients may get scared off because they know more about landscape lighting than the contractor they’re trying to hire.
“People today can go to the Internet and find out nearly everything they need to know about a product or service,” said Peace. “Outdoor lighting is no different. Many homeowners will self-educate first, and then they call contractors for bids. I’ve had contractors tell me, ‘I didn’t get the bid, but the clients sure knew a whole lot about lighting.’ I respond, ‘Would you hire someone for a job who doesn’t know as much as you do?’
“Landscape lighting can be very profitable if they get into it and do it right. Get educated and then experiment with it. It can be an easy money-maker.”
Article provided by Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting. For more information, visit www.vistapro.com.
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