Thank you! I didn't think about pricing myself that way. You're so right.
Here in Michigan you can be a Landscape designer without a degree or a contractor. I can work with community garden groups and other clubs, in fact I have a seminar to attend this weekend. Classes might be a good place for my to start especially with all the web learning platforms out there. Do you think I should ONLY advertise myself as a consultant to start then?

And Oakland co., metro-detroit Michigan... Despite having long winters I know people who continue to support themselves as landscape designers even through the cold. They usually pick up some holiday decorating and such.

Hi Alex,
Former metro Detroiter here... started my gardening business in Plymouth in 2002 then moved to west Michigan in 2008. It sounds like you're on the right track to me. A 4 year horticulture degree would open doors for you in the future if you decide to pursue it, but I think you can certainly start a successful landscape design business with your associates degree. Attending seminars and garden clubs is a good idea, but have you considered offering to be a speaker for garden clubs? That's how I got a lot of our business initially. Local garden clubs are always looking for speakers, and if you put yourself out there as the expert in your particular niche, I'm sure you could line up lot of speaking engagements. At each one you've got a group of 25-30 potential clients.
Also, you may want to look into joining the Association of Professional Gardeners - which happens to be based right there in metro Detroit. I was a member for a long time before moving. (www.associationofprofessionalgardeners.org) They're a great group of gardeners who are supportive and encouraging to new people starting gardening businesses. They're having their annual conference next month on Sat. March 7, 2015. You might even find someone willing to hire you part time while you are getting your business up and running.
And... I agree with what lazy_gardening wrote above - don't underestimate your value to a potential client and under-price your services. You do after all have a degree in Landscape Design.
Lastly, have you considered offering maintenance services to your design clients? If you design and install a beautiful garden, perhaps you should offer to maintain it as well. That way it can truly reflect your vision of the design, and it's also a good stream of continual revenue. It's like the gift that keeps on giving... client pays you for the design, then pays you monthly to keep it looking beautiful, while they get to kick back and enjoy their beautiful garden. It's a win-win!
Here's to your success,
Paul

Hello Alex. Great article. I sympathize with on the part about, "feeling discouraged by those around me." Starting a business is hard work and its been tough for me too, which brings me to my question.

Have you or anyone you know found any great resources on how to start a landscape design business?

I have seen some outdated books on Amazon but I was wondering if there are any online courses, ebooks, or other resources you have seen that really got you excited?

This, in my opinion, would be a cool tool to have in our belts.

Hi Alex,

I recommend you tell everyone you know, friends, and family that you're a landscape design expert. Because you are. You know more than 98% of the population. You're an expert and you want to help people create beautiful, memorable outdoor spaces.

Build your portfolio, make mistakes, fix mistakes, and learn. Always learning and growing. Your reputation is what is most important. Do great work and share it on social media or other channels.

Don't overcomplicate it. Just get out there. Your website is nice.

Good luck!

I'm sorry but I am going to disagree with the last post. I think it is a HUGE presumption to call yourself a "landscape design expert" when you are not even yet graduated from hort school!! Once you have been practicing successfully for a few years and have an established portfolio, perhaps then you may feel confident enough to call yourself an "expert" but not yet! Heck, I've have two degrees, national certification, teach college level classes and have run and operated my own design and consultation business for nearly 25 years and I still don't consider myself an "expert" - skilled and highly competent perhaps but an expert?? No way!!

Of course you know more than the general public - that's the entire point of developing marketable and specialized skills that you sell to the public. Not everyone knows everything and specialists exist for a reason. But to call yourself an expert at this stage of your career is taking hubris to a new level!! And let me just tell you as an aside........folks get offended when approached by self-proclaimed "experts", so keep that in mind as well. By all means, display confidence and project your knowledge and your experience (when you actually get some) gracefully but avoid pushing it into someone's face. THAT's how small service businesses fail!

As to how to succeed on your own merits.........network, network, network!! Join the Association of Professional Landscape Designers/APLD (they have student memberships at a reduced rate), your local professional landscaping association (most states have one) and look to become officially certified in as many areas pertinent to your business as possible, form a group with fellow students to meet regularly to discuss how you are all doing entering the field and share tips and techniques. Visit all the local independent nurseries and garden centers in your area with a flyer about your business and a handful of business cards should they get inquiries for designers. Most nurseries have a resource and referral area or directory for just such reasons.

Finally, do not discount the benefit of working as an intern or starting member of an experienced landscaping contractor or design/build organization for at least a year or two to gain firsthand practical experience in this field......not everything can be learned out of a book :-)) Or hire on as a seasonal employee at a nursery or garden center - you will be amazed at how much more about plants you will learn working with them day after day. Volunteer to set up displays to show off your design and plant combination skills. Sometimes these seasonal jobs can morph into a full time position and a close association with a quality independent nursery can lead to all manner of design and consultation referrals. Once you've developed a history with them, propose they offer suck services to their customers and that you be the one to provide them.

Good luck with all this :-)) But keep humble and work hard and join whatever career related organizations are available to you in your area.........it will all come together.