How to Start a Flower Framing Business Growing for Market

If you have a green thumb, you can do more than maintain a beautiful garden at home. You can also grow flowers for profit. Because flowers are easy to grow and mature quickly, and because all you really need to get started is soil, seeds and your hands, this can be a profitable hobby or full-time business.

Step 1

Grow your flowers, choosing those you think will be in higher demand. Roses may be a no-brainer, but snapdragons, peonies, sunflowers and larkspur are also commonly purchased flowers. You may grow them in pots or in the soil in your backyard. It really doesn't matter. Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may be able to plant year-round or have to plan your crops around the weather. Start small, so you can grow according to what you learn along the way about consumer demands.

Step 2

Find ways to distinguish yourself. Start by giving your business a unique and descriptive name. Create marketing materials that tell potential customers what makes you stand apart from the competition, whether this is your prices, the method you use to grow your flowers, or your amazing arrangements.

Step 3

Create a price list for your flowers and bouquets. Go to area florists to determine reasonable prices. Try to offer better prices. At the same time, consider your growing costs when pricing your flowers. On the Profitable Plants website, grower Linda Tobey recommends aiming for a yield of $2 for every square foot of plants in your garden.

Step 4

Check with your county government to see if you need a license to sell flowers, even if you're just supplying a florist. Each county is different, but a call to your county government office can give you the answer. Often, all that's required for getting a business license is a fee, and you will usually need at least that.

Step 5

Contact area flower shops and farmers' markets about supplying them with flowers or selling your flowers at a stand. These two avenues are your best bet because they come with little to no overhead costs, unlike starting a flower shop.

Step 6

Provide shipments on a timely manner if supplying to a local florist, or man your booth or stand if working at a farmers' market during hours when it's open. Jot down how many flowers, and of what varieties, you are going through. Tracking this can help you determine if you need to grow more or less of certain varieties. Sales records are also important for tax purposes.

Step 7

Grow your business by planting more flowers so you can offer greater supply or greater variety. Invest some of your earnings back into your growing operation, whether that's finding more land to grow flowers on or purchasing gardening tools and equipment.

Things Needed

References (4)

About the Author

Cynthia Gomez has been writing and editing professionally for more than a decade. She is currently an editor at a major publishing company, where she works on various trade journals. Gomez also spent many years working as a newspaper reporter. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northeastern University.

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013