(edit title) Starting a gardening business Moving to Sweden Options

[Strider1379]

Hi, My wife and I are planning to move to Sweden from England next year with our new born child. As a qualified gardener I’m planning to start my own gardening business. We are looking to live in the Halland county. I’ve already downloaded the Swedish business start-up documentation, but would really like any advice and tips from anyone who has already started a similar business in Sweden. The language won’t be an issue as I studied in Scandinavia.

[johnjohn]

Best of luck in your new plans. I can not speak about Halland. I live in Småland and there are no gardeners anywhere near to me. Virtually everyone does their own gardening or if elderly or incapable the kommun provides this service free of charge. There are however some small private places where you can buy bushes, trees and shrubs but these have a difficult time as now big retailers in the nearby cities have taken over.

[Migga]

Swedes like the outdoors and that includes gardening, they might do well on their own. You could look at bigger things like landscaping aswell, that might be something that the gardening Swedes might want to look in to but are to inexperienced to do it themselves.

[Gordy]

One of my neighbours is a garden designer and also writes books and magazine articles on the subject.

She says that a lot of garden design inspiration here in the south of Sweden comes from the English country cottage style.

So I think that you may have a chance to market yourself as "The English Gardner".

I'm not familiar with Halland but here in Skåne we have an area Skanör/Falsterbo/Ljunghusen which has a lot of summer homes belonging to high net worth individuals, I would think that somewhere like that could represent rich pickings if you market yourself as a cut above the more normal hedge trimming and grass cutting operations.

[skogsbo]

Virtually everyone does their own gardening or if elderly or incapable the kommun provides this service free of charge. There are however some small private places where you c ... (show full quote)

Virtually everyone does their own gardening or if elderly or incapable the kommun provides this service free of charge. There are however some small private places where you can buy bushes, trees and shrubs but these have a difficult time as now big retailers in the nearby cities have taken over. ... (hide full quote)

Plantagen has alot to answer for, there are many similar chains in the UK squeezing the private nurseries. There are many private hotels, golf courses, shops, even factories which have small gardens etc.. possibly chance to pick up a bit of contract work there. Maybe even provide seasonal cut flowers for inside.

I would think that somewhere like that could represent rich pickings if you market yourself as a cut above the more normal hedge trimming and grass cutting operations.

Very true, target the cash rich, time poor, holiday stuga tourist. Those who want a nice garden, even though they only visit for 1 weekend a month in summer. Charge a premium rate, or offer different packages, such a full maintence(weekly) or a spruce up just before they visit etc. You can make it a year round deal, as some might visit over the winter holiday or sports week in Febuary..etc. and you could provide a one off snow clearing service. A leaflet drop around every stuga in your area printed in 3 or 4 languages, or specific ones if you know their nationality already.

My background isn't horticultural, but I farmed as a kids, allotmenting in the middle, now back on my own farm in Sweden. We are always looking for angles to expand out and make farming pay. Swedish gardens have enough space and Swedes have enough spare time for 90% of them to do just what they want in their garden already, many of those who don't have the motivation or the physical means just move to a flat or apartment, that removes the need. Trying to sell basic garden services, or say young tomato plants to a Swede is like snow to Eskimos. Many will buy a lot of young plants, but these are mainly the urban dwellers and they won't go further than a massive chain store for the bulk of their purchases. There are the occasional small rural nurseries, but they shift quite small volumes in comparison, often having cafes and gift shops tied in to expand their sales. There is curious thing here though at the moment, that many are mad for their £1000+ grass cutting robots! A passing phase I suspect, depending on the life of the machine and batteries within.

As mentioned earlier claim something unique, claim the web address the Swedish, Danish or German of english gardener and perhaps the english one too and link them. A van with the same logo too etc.. People buy into dreams and ideals. You often see it, but perhaps you could offer to do the gardening in the middle of roundabout or road junction for free, in return for placing a modest advert or two on it. Then your work will speak for itself.

[160kph]

I think that the Halland coast should be a good area to find customers. There are a lot of wealthy home owners in Halmstad, Falkenberg and Värberg. Being a English gardener will be very appealing to people and I've found that many customers are very good at recommending you to there friend, workmates and family when they see you do a good job. I have found that with some customers it's worth doing that little bit extra and they really appreciate it, I have customers who I feel I should pay as they have generated so much extra work for me with others.

Also the "RUT avdrag" (50% reduction on labour) makes a gardening service very affordable.

I would recommend getting a good understanding of the tax system as being self employed in England is so much easier then Sweden. Compulsory VAT registration and income low tax Personal Allowance are just a couple of things that make it a little more difficult.

It could also be a good idea to buy some equipment in England before you move over as the price of things can be as much as half the price of the same in Sweden.

[skogsbo]

It could also be a good idea to buy some equipment in England before you move over as the price of things can be as much as half the price of the same in Sweden.

Good advice. I brought a £600 chainsaw with me, that would be 10,000kr here. A huge margin.
Although you need to make sure you consider the vat/moms you can claim back when purchasing too. Abbey garden machinery post Europe wide and are quite cheap, but customer service varies.