How to set up a Websta profile as a gardener in Canada

What your Websta profile should contain

Your profile page is where customers in your area see who you are and what you offer. Start with a clear description of the gardening services you provide - whether that is lawn maintenance, planting, garden design, tree trimming, seasonal cleanup, or landscape work. Be specific about what you actually do rather than what you might do.

Add photos of your completed work. Customers want to see gardens you have worked on, before-and-after images if you have them, or close-ups of planting and landscaping details. Use photos that show the work clearly. Blurry or poorly lit images do not help you stand out.

List your services individually on the profile. For each service, write a short description of what is included. This helps customers understand exactly what they are booking or requesting a quote for.

Include a way for customers to contact you. Websta profiles have contact forms where people can send you a message. Some gardeners also use the online booking feature to let customers reserve time slots directly; others prefer quote requests where customers describe the job and you respond with a price. Choose what works for your schedule and the nature of your work.

• Service descriptions: what you do, what is included, what is not
• Photos: at least 5-10 images of your work
• Contact method: booking availability or quote request form
• Your location or service area: which towns or regions you work in
• Languages: English and French if you serve francophone customers

Languages for your profile

Canada has two official languages. If you work in Quebec or serve francophone customers, publish your profile in both English and French. This reaches more people looking for gardeners. If you work only in English-speaking provinces and your customers speak English, English alone is sufficient. You can always add French later if you want to expand your customer base.

How people search for gardeners in Canada

Customers in Canada use Websta by browsing the marketplace at /marketplace/garden, filtering by service (such as lawn care or garden design) and location (their town or postal area). They may also search by the specific task they need done - for example, 'spring garden cleanup' or 'hedge trimming'. Some customers post a task describing what they need, and providers like you can make offers on it.

Having a complete profile with clear service descriptions helps you show up in these searches. A gardener in Toronto and a gardener in Vancouver are searched for separately because customers look for providers near them. Make sure your profile clearly states which towns or regions you serve.

What to sort out as an independent gardener in Canada

Working as an independent gardener in Canada involves business and tax responsibilities that vary by province. You will need to check what applies to you where you work.

Most provinces require sole traders and self-employed people to register a business name if they operate under a name other than their own. Some provinces also have licensing or certification requirements for certain gardening work - for example, pesticide application or tree removal may require a license. Check with your provincial government or local authority to confirm what you need.

For taxes, you will need to keep records of the work you do and the money you earn. Canada Revenue Agency expects self-employed people to report their income. If you earn above a certain threshold (currently 30,000 Canadian dollars, but confirm this with CRA), you must register for GST or HST depending on your province. Each province also has its own provincial tax and potentially other obligations.

Insurance is not always legally required but protects you if a customer is injured or their property is damaged while you work. Many gardeners carry liability insurance.

Payments through Websta go to your own bank account via Stripe. You handle invoicing and payment terms separately from the platform. Make sure your bank account is set up to receive these payments and that you understand any banking fees.

• Check your provincial government website for business registration rules
• Confirm whether your work needs a license or certification
• Register with Canada Revenue Agency and understand your tax obligations
• Check current GST/HST thresholds and registration requirements
• Consider liability insurance for your work
• Set up your bank account for receiving payments via Stripe

What to write in your first hour

Start with the core information: your name, the towns or regions where you work, and a short description of what you do. For example: 'I provide lawn maintenance, planting, and seasonal garden cleanup in the Greater Toronto Area' or 'Spring and fall cleanup, hedge trimming, and garden design in metro Vancouver'.

List three to five services you offer most often. For each one, write one or two sentences explaining what it includes. Do not overthink this - customers want to know what they are paying for.

Add at least one photo if you have one. A photo of recent work, even on your phone, is better than no photo.

Choose whether you want to accept online bookings for available time slots or prefer customers to request quotes. If you pick quote requests, you can respond to each customer individually with pricing.

Write your contact information clearly so customers know how to reach you. Websta profiles display contact details and have a message form built in.

If you work with francophone customers, add French descriptions of your services and a French version of your location or service area.

Growing your profile over time

Your first hour gets the basics live. After that, add more photos as you complete jobs. Regularly updated photos show customers your recent work and keep your profile looking active.

If you use quote requests, respond quickly to customers who contact you. This builds trust and leads to more bookings.

Over time, you can refine your service descriptions based on what customers ask about. If many people ask the same question, add it to your service description so the answer is already there.