The mistake that ruins landscaping side hustles…
Many people have had a landscaping job at some point. And for good reason. They’re a great, easy way to earn simple cash as a teenager. You can work for family friends too. However your earnings can be massively restricted by simple errors. If you do things right though, then anyone can build an easy side hustle that can bring in hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars per month.
I remember it clearly. My first job landscaping. And as soon as I was done mowing the lawn, I got asked a simple question, that I could not have messed up more than I did. ‘How much do you charge?’ I was a nervous wreck because I was worried of asking too much. And from that moment, my earnings were locked at the tiny wage of $5 an hour. Not bad, but not what I could have got. But even if I had asked for a better wage, I could’ve earned more. Much, much more had I known about this trick.
Offer a specialised service. Simple. The perceived value for mowing a lawn? Low. But something like building a rockery? Much more earning potential. Specialised work is no less work, no more complex, and a much better side hustle. Sticking with the idea of making a rockery. All you need to do is buy rocks, a few plants, some sand and some compost from a garden centre. Then pile the rocks up, pour sand and compost in and plant the plants. It’s a simple process that an amateur can easily do in a couple of hours, yet it seems so complicated and interesting, that you can charge in the $200–500 range. Obviously there are material costs, but even if you spend $50–100 on materials, it’s still a sweet, sweet profit and a great hourly wage.
So what do you need to make a rockery? It’s surprisingly easy and the brief summary I wrote earlier is nearly all there is to it. I made one with my parents the first time and was in genuine awe of how easy it was to make and how good it looked. The obvious first step is gathering your rocks. While you can buy these, ask around and see if your friends and family have any old rocks in their garden. If yes, it’s an easy way to save $50+ as the rocks are definitely the main cost. Then, place the rocks in a random pattern. I like making mound shapes however make whatever you and the client think will look best. Then, just mix in a mix of sand and compost. You can use other things instead but I find this works well as you can buy large bags of both for cheap. Then, plant your plants. Make sure to buy alpine plants, as these are the ones that can grow best in rockeries.
Not too hard, right? Sure, you’ll sweat. Rocks are heavy, after all. But if you want a landscaping side hustle, then definitely consider adding this to your service list. It’s fun, pays well and you make a nice garden element for your client. What’s not to like?
So, to conclude, if you’re a teenager, or just anyone starting out landscaping, then don’t just charge the minimum. I get that you’ll be worried of overcharging, but if you charge a fixed price for a service, then they will be so much less likely to feel cheated. All I’ll say is be confident. Confidently naming a figure, not seeming ashamed to charge someone, all these things make your business that bit more successful.
To finish, I’ll wish anyone trying this the best of luck. Put in the work and I can be sure that results will follow.
Robin Romano
*note-all price predictions are vague figures. There is no guarantee of how much you can make, however this is a side hustle that does pay well if you’re willing to put in the work.
