Office and shop plant care rounds

Small offices, shops, salons, cafés, coworking spaces and small hotels that want greenery without looking after it themselves.

A set-up fee for plants and planters, then a monthly or per-visit maintenance fee on a rolling contract. Plant replacements can be charged on top.

• Knowledge of indoor plants and their care
• Reliable, tidy and good with clients
• Basic sales and quoting
• Route planning

• Public liability insurance, and check whether your policy covers work in clients' premises
• Agree in writing who owns the plants and planters and what happens if the contract ends
• Plant losses and pests can eat into margins, so build replacement costs into your prices
• You will need a vehicle for plants and compost, and check any rules around waste green material
• Lifting heavy planters, so look at your own safety and any access rules in buildings

Startup costs are typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on the plants and planters you buy and the vehicle and equipment you need. These are estimates, so build replacement costs into your prices.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on how many clients you have, how often you visit and the hours you work. These are estimates, and plant losses and pests can eat into margins.

Check public liability insurance, including whether your policy covers work in clients' premises. Agree in writing who owns the plants and planters and what happens if a contract ends. Check any rules on green waste and access in buildings.