How to Start a Nursery or Greenhouse Business
A greenhouse or nursery business is a viable career choice for those who love to garden. Experience working with the soil and the plants is a necessity that will enable you to succeed in this type of business. This business also allows you to build up your career slowly, continuing with your day job until you can support yourself without it. Then you can easily move into working the nursery full-time, earning a decent wage while working for yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- Greenhouse
- Work tables
- Hangers
- Business name
- Business licenses
- Supplies
- Equipment
- Insurance
- Record keeping system
- Composting system
- Seeds
Instructions
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Setting up the Nursery
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1
Decide what type of greenhouse would work best for your business according to your budget and any space limitations; options include greenhouses made of plastic or medium-size portable greenhouses. Find out if their are any zoning laws dictating what type of greenhouse can be erected.
Purchase the greenhouse and set it up. Be sure to add work tables and hangers for plants as needed.
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2
Go to the town hall and discuss any licensing and other requirements regarding your type of business. Ask about filing a business name as well. Fill out all of the paperwork and pay the fees.
Acquire insurance after speaking with numerous insurance companies and choosing the best policy for you. Visit an accountant to find out what you need to do as far as taxes go, and to learn how to keep the financial records.
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3
Research the supplies and equipment that will needed in order to run your business. Purchase the necessary items that will be needed to start, such as grow lights, a watering system and pots. Place everything under the tables in the greenhouse until you begin planting.
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4
Start a composting system by building a bin and adding organic materials to it. Stir the contents up at least once a week in order for it to be ready to use the next year. Add things like dirt, garden refuse and kitchen scraps to the bin. Be sure to add some dry materials as well, such as dried leaves. Start a new bin each of the next two years, and you will always have a bin available with fresh compost.
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5
Begin planting. Use organic soil and seeds to do this. Plant the seeds in small multi-cup planters to begin with, and keep them warm and watered. Start selling when the seedlings are strong and ready to be transplanted. Transplant into larger planters if they outgrow the small ones before they are purchased.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit lovely greenhouse image by Tracy Horning from Fotolia.com
