Just do it. It will be lots of work and you'll learn as you go but if you enjoy it then it may be your dream come true. Figure out in advance just what services you will offer: will you design and install? will you maintain your designs and guarantee plants to survive a given time? Will you charge for estimates as a consultation fee? Do you have blank contracts ready to be filled out stating services to be performed and fees? Do you have a pickup truck or two? Do you have a couple of tillers, saws, pruners, shovels, blower, rakes, hoses, Is there a labor pool nearby? Do you have contacts to do irrigation, electrical or heavy equipment work? Do you have a business license? Are you a hard-nosed business person or are a soft touch? In other words, if doing a job for a friend or relative would you charge them just like anyone else? How do you plan to promote yourself and your business. Do you have a name for the business? Can you afford to advertise? What forms of advertising will you use. Are you a good record keeper ? I say all this not to discourage but to help you understand what to expect and to be prepared.

Gardenlady, I frequent the other forum also, and read your post there. First of all, you are probably understating your credentials. You are a MG. No apologies necessary. My bet is that you have a considerable amount of gardening expertise BEFORE becoming a MG - otherwise you not likely have opted to upgrade your knowledge base in the first place. In fact, the majority of the current crop of trainees were already accomplished gardeners - with various specialties.

In the MG class that I am currently attending, I believe there are four trainees with the announced intention of entering the green industry upon conclusion of their training. I know of at least four who are already well established in the green industry and who are attempting to udate their knowledge base with the MG training.

Several of our instructors (university professors) have already told us they we are getting the meat & potatoes of a 6-year degree curriculum - with the added benefit of slanting it towards a practical application. What you don't get are some of the fine points - but how many of 20-year-olds, in a typical university setting, are?

Our extension agent is quite proud of the number of MGs who are now established as owning successful green businesses a few years later.
My advice is to make no apologies and drive on towards your goal.

"Several of our instructors (university professors) have already told us they we are getting the meat & potatoes of a 6-year degree curriculum - with the added benefit of slanting it towards a practical application."

Back_Yard_Guy, maybe you need to go over to the thread "The Master Gardener Name" and post that tidbit of info. There seems to be some feelings against the name and the professors' opinions of the training might carry some weight.

Pam, if you have looked at this seriously and considered all the skills you need as well as the potential customer base in your area, go for it! If I had the time (besides my full time job and caring for MIL and volunteering) I'd do the same thing. I'm hoping the day will come when I can make a small start in that direction myself. Please come back here and let us know how it turns out!

Oh my gosh!You people are so kind and helpful! I thought everyone would 'boo' me right out the door! As you can probably tell, my level of confidence is low one minute, and then the next I'm telling my self I can do this. I got my MG title 4yrs ago and have been working hard since, expecially in my own yard.I will need to go over alot of material and focus on design this winter. I figured it's worth a try...it's what I'm good at so why not? I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and continue to welcome any 'business' advice you can offer.
Pam

Gardenlady, I would hope that most of the respondnts would treat you respectfully. Just about everyone had to start someplace - usually right where you are now. Please take a look at link below - to the professional gardener forum. As you browse through through the responses, please pay close attention to the two responses by 'Laag'. He is one of the most respected members of the forum, and is degreed Landscape Architect. In his first post, he relates how he got started. If that doesn't give you a surgence of confidence......well, you really need to read it.

Sandy, that is indeed what they related to us. Since I have a graduate degree in mechanical engineering, I sort of have a feel for university professors & cirriculum content. I read the other thread last night, and thought long and hard about responding in kind. However, stirring up dissention probably isn't a value-added activity.

Here is a link that might be useful: Getting Started In The Green Industry

Well, Pam, I believe that you can do whatever you set your mind to do.

I am a MG who started a small landscape business without the degree. I started maintaining flowerbeds, and things 'got out of hand'. LOL

I have 6 women working for me, although they seldom all work at the same time. They have learned to lay flagstone, build watergardens, build custom trellis', as well as prune and groom expertly. All of these ladies are excellent and dependable workers, tough as they can be, and I am most grateful to have them. They range in age from 23-64 years, and every one holds up her part.

One thing I have never done is advertise. All our work has come to us via word of mouth, and I stay busy. Actually, too busy sometimes.

I believe that if you believe you can, want to do it, and have the good sense to think it all through, you will succeed.

Do you have a college near you that you might could take some Cont. Edu. classes? This is a valuable resource. I took one class for fun, thinking that if I learned one thing I would be happy. I learned a lot about organizing a design and a job. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Do you know where you will find help that is competent, and that you can trust? I have always been very, very careful who I took into a client's yard. The idea of one of my helpers casing the joint just horrified me.

I put an ad at the college for some part time help, and hired a really nice, big, strong young man. He worked out really well, until he graduated and got a real job. After that it was all women, all the time. And by the way, 3 of my lady workers are Master Gardeners as well.

I am more than happy to tell you how we did/do it. Email me anytime. Good Luck

Janie

BackYard Guy,...hmmm, my son is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. And I did read 'Laag's' post. I totally agree, everyone has to start somewhere. You all did, right? I also firmly believe, there are MANY people extremely knowledgeable on a specific topic without the 'degree' and have tons of experience to share with others.
Janie---I WILL be emailing you soon. Yo make me so excited i wish I could start right now! Thank you, everyone or your time and kindness.
Pam

We have several people who work in garden and landscape businesses. The one catch is that they can not use their Master Gardener status in connection with this work.

Penny

Penny, we have that same stipulation.

I Say go for it too.I am also starting a business. And I got my start with one client.I signed up at the local County senior services office (COSA) where they have list of people who offer their services to seniors at a discount.Seniors can call this county agency and get the names of venders offering services they need.The COSA person runs a brief background check and interviews all potential venders so that the seniors can feel assured that the people have been checked out.Afterwards they will call the clients back to check how the work was done and if they were satisfied.Free advertising tip I hope you can use.
Jackie

You won't be able to advertise that you are a Master Gardener. Technically- MG is volunteer- and you can't get paid- if you use the MG status it causes conflicts.
But otherwise I think - go for it. Everyone should get to do what they love for pay.

That's strange... does anybody watch Gardening by the Yard with Paul James on HGTV? Right under his name it says "Master Gardener"... wonder how he gets away with THAT!

I've been flower gardening 8 years now, and have wanted to go through the MG program for the last 3, but caregiver responsibilities prevented. Now, at last, I am signed up and can't wait to start!!

I've also toyed with the "be-my-own-boss" ideas, too. My husband thinks I should start a greenhouse and have a landscaping business, but I'm afraid my "therapeutic passion" would not be the same if I did it for money.

Gail

Go for it. If you are comfortable that your knowledge can be applied to other peoples landscaping then do it. One piece of advice is for you to take a class or two on business. Bookkeeping or time management. It is these areas that so many small businesspeople have their problems. You have a marketable skill, you need to learn how to use that skill to make money. So what you need to do is make sure you have some business tools along with those shovels and hoes. Good luck.

Chinamigarden,
Thank you so much for the good,solid advice. Monday I have a appt. with the SBD. Then, I will be able to put things into perspective. I appreciate your's and others positive input, very encouraging.
Pam

In many areas of the country there is a program, administered by the Small Business Administration, called SCORE. The Service Core Of Retired Executives helps new or beginning small business operators to get on track with their management and business operation practices. In some areas they do a great job, others are not helpful at all. You may want to check them out in your area. In some cases they will assign your business to a retired executive who will mentor you during the beginning phase.

It would be very rare to find one that knows anything about the particulars of what you are wanting to do, but you should find volunteers that will guide you through much of the legal and operational parts of doing business. To find out more about their organization take a look at the site mentioned below. You and others may find it interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: SCORE

Our local Garden Center is owned and operated by a man who has no degree in Landscape design, but he can design a garden and install it better than anyone. He is impossible to get because he is always booked up. HOWEVER: He keeps a large inventory of plants, shrubs, trees and everything else necessary for a complete landscape. Also, his biggest problem is employees (labor).