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How to Start a Gardening Business in Teams

What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Teams and the wider Gateshead area.

Open the Gardening Business Launch Kit to see everything included — £22

Before taking on your first client as a gardening business in Teams, it's worth separating what's a hard legal requirement from what's just good practice. Here's the breakdown for Teams and Gateshead.

What the rules say

There's no blanket licence for being a gardener. The real rules sit around specific tasks: carrying away a client's garden waste yourself likely triggers waste carrier registration with your relevant national agency, while chainsaw/tree work and pesticide application each require their own certification. Public liability insurance isn't legally required for a sole trader, but most clients expect it regardless.

Quick answers

Do I need to register as a waste carrier to work in Teams?

Likely yes, if you take clients' garden waste away yourself as part of the job anywhere in the UK, including Teams. Confirm directly with the Environment Agency, SEPA or Natural Resources Wales depending on where Teams sits.

How do I find my first gardening clients in Teams?

Many new gardeners in Teams start with a handful of regular maintenance rounds built through local referrals and a simple online presence. The Gardening Business Launch Kit covers how to structure and grow a round from scratch.

Do I need insurance to start a gardening business in Teams?

Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement as a sole trader, but it's widely expected by clients across Teams and Gateshead. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you take on any staff.

Do I need a chainsaw licence to work in Teams?

There's no single government licence for chainsaw use, but adequate training is a legal duty under PUWER 1998, whether you're working in Teams or anywhere else. A recognised competence certificate (commonly NPTC or Lantra Awards) is the standard way to evidence this.