Over the past year, there has been a massive upsurge in both working from home and running a business from home. People who thought it was at best a secondary option have come to the realization that it can actually be the perfect way to run a company. This has led to people using sheds and cottages as offices disconnected from their house.
But what if you don’t have a shed or the money to build an outside office despite having a big garden? Are there ways to make money from your yard?
Here is how you can run a business from your garden.
Open a nursery
One of the best parts about running your own nursery is that you don’t need all that much space outside of your garden. You can both grow and display your plants in your garden, using a little bit of space indoors to store sensitive items.
Of course, you cannot run a major nursery that provides everything (and especially not with large stocks of accessories). However, you can benefit from selling herbs and vegetable plants, propagating new cuttings every few days to keep your stock self-sustaining.
Make sure to get the best online sunglasses to keep the sun’s glare from driving you insane. When you are outdoors all day, you need protection from the sun, so wear top quality sunscreen, a hat, and gloves too.
Yard Sales
Can you make a business out of yard sales? Well, it depends. Of course, you do not have an endless stock of second-hand clothes and items to sell. However, you don’t have to rely only on your own stock. Rather, buy used goods from neighbors and friends (and anyone who has stuff available) and sell it at a markup over time.
This is unlikely to become a primary source of income, as even on a good day you will have a limited ceiling. But you can use it as a secondary income or side-hustle, especially since you need nothing but a table and a garden to display your wares. You’re not paying for space or employees, and can do other work while your goods sit on display.
Day Trading
While this comes with some risk and initial capital, many private investors have turned to day trading. The stock market has become a free-for-all and those willing to take a leap into the market can have serious pay-outs. There are many strategies to day trade and starting small, then investing only what you earned is a great way to scale up. Online brokerages such as Wealthsimple or Robinhood have opened the door for zero commission trades. These are great solutions while sitting in your backyard or gardening. You can make a few trades a week right from your mobile phone or laptop and check the market periodically as you are working on your garden.
Using a shed
If you have a shed in your garden, you can use it as the headquarters for your new business. By cleaning it up and doing any repairs necessary, it can become a perfect office or store. You simply need to ensure you are not stepping on anybody’s toes.
As is the case with all of these ideas, you should make sure your local Homeowners Association does not have a problem with it. If you’re simply using your shed as an office, this shouldn’t present any difficulties. However, if people are coming and going, the HOA might have something to say.
While HOAs can be difficult, they often simply appreciate being asked first. It is when you go ahead without considering them that they create difficulties.
Opening a business in your garden is not most people’s idea of the perfect HQ, but it can be exactly what you need, especially if you are simply looking for some extra income.
