How to Start a Profitable Flower Business
Starting a profitable flower business requires the right touch of product awareness and relationship development. In other words, it helps to feel passionate about flowers, and passionate about people. Flower businesses can thrive even in tough economic times because of how well-established the product is with holidays and personal relationships. Anyone can sell flowers. However, few can stand out from the competition.
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Things You'll Need
- Store or sales location
- Refrigeration system
- Flowers
- Plants
- Floral Supplies (see Resources)
Instructions
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Flower Business Tips
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Get business-ready. According to Becky Ruby, flower-shop entrepreneur and owner of Lilly Lane Flowers, it is important to approach flowers as a business and not as a side job. "Choose a business name and incorporate as an LLC or other business," Ruby says. "Even if you're only doing things out of your home, having everything in a separate account is crucial for protection and professionalism." Ruby suggests that you get, "at the very least, a liability insurance policy. Glass vases break. People have allergic reactions to flowers. Be prepared. Along the same lines, be sure that your client contract contains a release-from-liability policy in the event that someone is injured at an event that you have done flowers for."
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Decide what you will sell. Determine if you want to be a full-service floral provider, or if you would prefer to specialize in certain events. Weddings, funerals and banquets differ from small-scale deliveries for holidays and special occasions. Experiment to see what you enjoy. Inventory will change depending on your areas of expertise. Common requirements include vases, ribbons, baskets, floral foam, wreaths, frames, stands and scissors. All areas will require a system of refrigeration, which, depending on your size, can be handled by anything from a kitchen refrigerator to specialty floral coolers.
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Get inventory. For Ruby, who has quickly grown her company to over 40 clients in just 2 1/2 years, making nice with wholesalers was key. "They'll set you up with customer representatives who will (if they want your repeat business) take the time to answer your questions and get you started. They are the ones who will make or break you." Some wholesalers focus simply on accessories. Some specialize in flowers. Larger outlets may provide both. Ruby suggests using a one-stop shop if possible. Check directories in the Resource section for more information.
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Plan ahead. Some holidays, such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, require a generous amount of time and inventory. Make sure your clients understand order and delivery policies for these special periods. If you can't make rush deliveries, be upfront. In the beginning, outsourcing delivery to a local driver could be more financially beneficial than purchasing a company vehicle. However, over time it pays to take care of this crucial element in-house.
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Start small, and advertise! For Ruby, a slow start was the key to her success. "Grow when you need to. Just like you wouldn't put a 4-inch houseplant in a 26-inch container, don't get ahead of yourself. If you can, start your business from your home, garage, kitchen or a small studio space. Build up a loyal client base and be sure to get written referrals from them. When you are ready to take on more clients, start advertising." Flower businesses depend on local relationships. Make sure your advertising reflects this. Get the word out to schools. Hand out business cards, run special offers and purchase ads in local publications.
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Tips & Warnings
Get a website, even if it is just registering a space on a free hosting provider.
Include photos on your website.
Avoid overextending yourself. Offering too many options instead of the ones you are good at can lead to a diminished reputation for quality.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Bouquet image by Kimprebble from Fotolia.com
