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Howdy,
I was in your shoes about a week ago. I've thought and thought about doing my own business and I've only had about 1.5 years of bonafide landscape experience (my other experience from other jobs included cost estimating and running erosion control/stream restoation projects). I spent a whole winter pouring over books and forums..trying to figure out an approach for my own business and learning plants, design, business...all that stuff. I still have ALOT to learn and perhaps not the best person to give advice...BUT...I was real unhappy with the way things were being run at my current job at a landscape business, I couldn't find any creek restoration/environmental jobs, and one day, (yes, sounds corny) I looked in the mirror and said to myself, this s%^t doesn't own me. I quit my job and jumped in with both feet.
I recommend reading "How to Start a Home-Based Landscaping Business" by Owen E. Dell. The author fired me up. Talk to an accountant (I'm lucky in that my wife's dad is an accountant). It sounds like you have the experience after 25 years....you just need to brush up on how to run a business. Learn, learn and learn as much as you can, read books, attend seminars. Have your son help you. Your first year will probably be low on profits, as you find clients...but if you decide to do it...plan on going for it and plan on giving it a few years. If you have the will, it will succeed!
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