BUSINESS TRAINING FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS
Set Yourself Up for Business Success
An 8-week online course for landscape designers who want expert guidance, advice + resources
The next course starts on January 21st, 2025!
Class meets weekly on Tuesdays, 2-3:30 EST
"Ask Me Anything" Office Hours are Thursday, 2-3 EST
Live Weekly Online Course Allows Space to Learn & Explore
Assignments to Immediately Integrate Course Content into Your Design Practice
Peer Collaboration for Support & Insight
Accelerate The Learning Curve
Starting and building a landscape design business can feel overwhelming!
Where do you go for expert help?
In this 8-week online course, you'll get expert guidance, advice, and resources.
Plus, all Mardi's insider tips for running a successful landscape design business.
The Foundations of a Landscape Design Business is your roadmap for building, growing
and nourishing a successful landscape design business.
The next Foundations Course starts on January 21st, 2025. Get registered today!
Learn How to Build a Profitable Business in 8 Weeks
The Foundations of a Landscape Design Business course is taught by industry expert Mardi Dover. She’s an award-winning, certified landscape designer with a thriving practice – Gardens by Mardi – in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Foundations course is not a generic business course but one created specifically for landscape designers. Many business courses focus on"what to do"—handing you templates, scripts, or one-size-fits-all solutions. But in a creative field like landscape design, where no two businesses (or clients) are the same, you don't need cookie-cutter advice.
What you need is guidance to help you:
Think strategically about your business decisions.
Build systems that fit YOUR style of working.
Communicate confidently with clients, contractors, and vendors.
Create a framework the evolves as your business grows.
Participate in a weekly class, plus a weekly "Ask Me Anything" hour with Mardi for support and feedback. By the end of this course, you’ll have the tools to design a business that reflects who you are, supports your creativity, and grows with you over time. This is about building a business you love – one that works for YOU!
BONUS:
Graduates of this course are offered exclusive membership in The Community Exchange,
an online coaching community that meets monthly and shares on an online forum, to learn new content and share ideas!
How This Course Helped Students Just Like You
"If you are thinking of starting a business, or you need a tune-up in your landscape/garden design business, then this class is for you! It's packed full of useful and practical information, and it's fun to meet fellow landscape designers from around the country that share their stories. You will feel better prepared and know where to go and what to do to make your business a success.”
D.S.
Landscape Designer, California
“A lot of great information in the course that would have been extremely helpful to me earlier on in my business. Foundation of a Landscape Design Business is the perfect course to offer guidance as you begin or build your business. Community format of the class was enjoyable - hearing about other’s experiences was extremely helpful. Mardi is a great instructor with years of experience and valuable guidance. Her class notes and resources help you implement the topics of the course.”
S.B.
Massachusetts
RELY ON SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN THERE
Building a Landscape Design Business You Love Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Are you ready to build a business that feels as thoughtfully designed as the outdoor spaces you create?
Hi, I’m Mardi! Let me help you transform your landscape design business!
Running a successful landscape design business requires more than talent and creativity. It takes clear systems, a sustainable workflow, and the confidence to adapt as your business evolves. In this course, you’ll learn how to think strategically about all the moving parts of your practice – from your business model and proposals, to managing your time and client relationships.
This course isn’t about handing you a boilerplate template or one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about helping you develop your own unique business framework – one that aligns with your values, vision, and the way you want to work.
By the end of this course, you’ll have the tools to design a business that reflects who you are, supports your creativity, and grows with you over time. This is about building a business you love – one that works for YOU.
My signature annual live course, The Foundations of a Landscape Design Business, starts on January 14, 2025!
Why struggle through the business side of things when you can learn from an expert and get results faster?
Here is what we'll cover in this course:
Week 1- Defining your Core Values: How they impact your business model.
Week 2 - Creating Processes: Systems that will save you.
Week 3 - Defining your Business: The what, who, how, where and why?
Week 4 - The Workday: Schedules, time blocks, tracking work.
Week 5 - The Design Proposal: What to include, determining pricing, invoicing.
Week 6 - Clients: Evaluating fit, maintaining engagement, red flags.
Week 7 - Business Framework: Structure, licenses certification, insurance, accounting.
Week 8 - Creativity: Making time for design work and inspiration, staying motivated, dealing with overwhelm.
Plus, join Mardi during "Ask Me Anything" office hours once a week - to ask questions, get personalized feedback on your assignments, or explore solutions that work for your unique situation.
You will also receive a digital Course Workbook, templates and bonus content that you can integrate immediately into your business. Progress faster to a more profitable and enjoyable landscape design practice!
Sign up for the next course starting on January 21st, 2025. Registration is $1,250 [payment plan available].
Spaces are limited. And this class is only offered once a year.
IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS
Design Your Business So You Can Do More of What You Love
1.
Register for the upcoming 8-week course.
2.
Attend each session and complete the homework.
3.
Have the foundations in place for a thriving business.
Be as confident running your business as you are designing a gorgeous garden.
Sign up for the next session of The Foundations of a Landscape Design Business in January 2025.
How is This Course Structured?
● The course meets for class once a week for 8 weeks via Zoom.
● Each session is 1.5 hours.
● The classes are recorded, although students are encouraged to attend live so they can ask questions and interact with the other students.
● Attend Mardi's weekly "Ask Me Anything" office hours to connect with her one-on-one and get your questions answered, feedback on your assignments, or help with a problem in your business.
● Weekly homework assignments allow you to put into practice what you’ve learned.
● Students have access to an online forum so they can engage with each other and ask questions between the live sessions.
● Approved for 12 CEU hours through APLD and application submitted for LA CES
Is This Course for Me?
Specifically designed for the landscape design industry, you’ll get practical advice and actionable tools for setting your business up for success from the start.
This class is perfect for:
● Students and recent graduates of design programs
● Emerging professionals
● Garden and landscape designers
● Landscape architects
● Design-build professionals
● Current designers who are experiencing overwhelm
● Creative entrepreneurs who want to grow their business
● Designers who are ready to launch their own firm
If you’re launching a landscape design business, this course is a must!
Mardi is an Approved Continuing Education Provider For...
"Many thanks, Mardi, for taking on this course and helping so many of us bring into focus a path to bring our dreams to fruition. I really appreciate your time and attention to detail, and relaying real practical experience."
A.F. Maryland
Bonus:
A Special Invitation to The Community Exchange
Graduates of The Foundations of a Landscape Design Business course are offered exclusive membership in The Community Exchange, an online coaching community.
Everyone who completes the live course can continue to apply everything they learned with the added bonus of ongoing accountability and education.
With 24/7 access to the online forum, you can:
● Stay connected to your classmates.
● Get peer support and accountability.
● Ask questions and interact with Mardi.
● Access bonus content, worksheets and resources.
● Hear from guest speakers on such topics as insurance, marketing and finances.
● Incorporate the course content into your design business.
● Learn from other creative design professionals.
Register for the next 8-week live course, The Foundations of a Landscape Design Business, beginning in January. Then, keep the support, connection and accountability going in The Community Exchange.
Remember, only those who complete the live course are invited to participate in the high-level conversations and additional trainings available in the forum.
-
Who will benefit from this course?Students and recent graduates of design programs Emerging professionals Garden and landscape designers Landscape architects Design-build professionals Current designers who are experiencing overwhelm Creative entrepreneurs who want to grow their business Designers who are ready to launch their own firm
-
What does this course cover?Business courses for designers often focus on what to do—handing you templates, scripts, or one-size-fits-all solutions. But that approach rarely works in a creative field like landscape design, where no two businesses (or clients) are the same. This course goes beyond cookie-cutter advice. It’s about helping you: 🌱 Think strategically about your business decisions 📚 Build systems that fit your style of working 🤝 Communicate confidently with clients and collaborators 🛠 Create a framework that evolves as your business grows Rather than following a rigid formula, you’ll learn how to tailor your business model to your unique strengths, values, and vision. By the end of this course, you’ll have a personalized toolkit to run your business with clarity, confidence, and creativity. This isn’t just about creating a profitable business—it’s about building a business that feels authentically yours. This is how the course Foundations of a Landscape Design Business is set up: Week 1- Defining your Core Values: How they impact your business model. Week 2 - Creating Processes: Systems that will save you. Week 3 - Defining your Business: The what, who, how, where and why? Week 4 - The Workday: Schedules, time blocks, tracking work. Week 5 - The Design Proposal: What to include, determining pricing, invoicing. Week 6 - Clients: Evaluating fit, maintaining engagement, red flags. Week 7 - Business Framework: Structure, licenses, insurance, accounting. Week 8 - Creativity: Making time for design work and inspiration, staying motivated, dealing with overwhelm. Plus, receive a digital workbook, templates and bonus content so you can progress faster in your business. Why struggle to start or build your business when you can learn from someone who’s gone before you? Let Mardi teach you how she has set up her business for maximum profitability – and enjoyment.
-
What is the class format and how long is each class?Classes are once a week for 1.5 hours for 8 weeks via Zoom. Plus, each Thursday at 2 PM EST Mardi offers her "Ask Me Anything" Office Hours to answer questions, give feedback on homework, and provide guidance for student's unique business needs.
-
Does Mardi have office hours?Each Thursday at 2 PM EST Mardi offers her "Ask Me Anything" Office Hours to answer questions, give feedback on homework, and provide guidance for student's unique business situation. These sessions are a chance to connect with Mardi one-on-one for support!
-
Will there be homework?Yes! Completing the homework is key to getting the most from the Foundations Course. Assignments will be directly relevant to the development of your business, and you will be able to implement this information immediately into your business.
-
Will this course be recorded?The course sessions are recorded, although students are encouraged to attend live so they can ask questions and interact with the other students.
-
Are other classes and products available, beyond the Foundation Course?Yes! (see the answer on the on demand Q&A)
-
What is the Community Exchange?The Community Exchange is a private community to support your design business. This membership is offered exclusively to graduates of the Foundation Course, so we are all working from a common base of information about our businesses. Monthly meetings will help you integrate the Foundation Course content into your business. Get behind the scenes glimpses into a garden design practice and access to Mardi's experience and support. Click here for more information.
-
What is the refund policy?If canceled 14 days prior to the start of the first class, your tuition for live classes will be refunded minus a 12% administrative fee ($100 minimum).
-
Terms and ConditionsAll the information in this course belongs to MardiDover.com. You may not republish, reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, display, disclose, distribute to friends, family, or any other third party, or otherwise use any material from the Program or Content for commercial purposes or in any way that earns you or any third party money (other than by applying them generally in your own business).