Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a love of fresh flowers? Is floral arrangement one of your passions?
If so, a flower business idea would be the perfect business for you!
Of course, opening a flower shop will require a certain amount of work and research. And if you are new to small-business ownership, you might not know where to start.
Read on to discover these 5 key tips on how to start a florist business.
Quick Tips On Starting a Flower Business
1. Research Your Location and Potential Customers
Before you commit to your florist business ideas, spend some time looking at location. Some brainstorming becomes an essential part before you make and execute your plan of action.
Is a brick and mortar shop sustainable in your area, or is it already saturated with florists? Know the kind of client that exists in your locality and what lifestyle they carry as this may directly affect your day to day walk-in. Maybe an online business run out of your home is more workable.
While choosing a shop consider things like how far it is from the market, is it easily accessible, and on-road shop with some traffic is beneficial for a regular walk-in.
Ask yourself what kinds of products would make your florist business unique.bring some new and innovative flower business ideas that will help you to create your brand image and think, How can you stand apart from supermarkets and other florists?
Know the economic makeup of neighborhoods around you and beyond. With this knowledge, you can better target potential clients, especially those with discretionary funds to spend on flowers.
You can also think about tying up and taking bulk contracts with event planners, decorators, interior designers for regular supplies.
2. Develop a Business Plan
Once you’ve determined the feasibility of a flower shop in your locale, put together a business plan. You will need a business plan to apply for a small business loan to get your shop started.
A little study and research is never a bad decision when starting a flower business. Study about the interest rate and other possible sources of funds before you apply for a small business loan to get your shop started.
But a flower business plan is also essential for mapping out your strategies for setup, marketing, and daily operations. Take the time to get your plan to paper, then follow the steps in order to build your operation.
Related: Fantastic Gifts Ideas for Giving Farewell to Your Loved One
3. Determine the Costs in Opening a Flower Shop
In accounts, there is a famous principle which states “do not anticipate any profit but provide all the possible lose” i would add provide possible expenses to no matter if it is a large one or a small Floral shop starting costs include your building, equipment (such as clippers, wire cutters, coolers, and buckets), furniture/fixtures, a computer with a POS (point-of-sale) system.
It also includes wrapping papers, decorative accessories. It is important to keep a variety of papers, tags and decorative items and bring new according to trends so that everyone could get something of their choice with multiple options.
Even though your flower business is new, you might need a helping hand for a day to day task so estimating his/her salary is important.
And, of course, the flowers.
Ordering flowers from a wholesaler is one of your greatest expenses, taking up 40-50% of your sales. But it’s important to have the best quality flowers for your florist business and even at the best price.
For example, roses are the most popular flowers sold. A solid relationship with a quality dealer of wholesale roses will be invaluable to your business. It’s well worth the research and investment.
4. Wire Services and Florist Advocates
Wire services, such as FTD and Teleflora, assist in processing orders from clients to the florist and on to delivery. This allows florists business to fill orders made from and delivered to long distances.
But these services come at a high cost and may eat into your profits.
So, have your florist business plan ready from first phase. You can also do this on your own by creating your own setup and putting some amount in advertising so that you can make some connections and grab some good clients.
Become a member of a florist advocacy organization where you can learn more about your business, as well as the pros and cons of using a wire service.
5. Marketing Your Flower Shop
No matter the location, your flower business will need promotion on many levels. An online presence is a must, and don’t forget to be active on social media. Make sure you encourage reviews on Google, Yelp, and other like websites.
For the initial stage of starting a florist business, to make people aware of your brand you can use boosting features too. This will help you in reaching out with a huge no. of people.
Partnering with churches, wedding venues, and funeral homes will help you corner some of the biggest markets for flower arrangements. The free marketing that comes from word-of-mouth at these locations is priceless.
Related: Best Sites for Sending Flower Gifts
Get Started on Your Dream
Take these steps when starting a flower business shop, and get your dream business going!
Spread the word, sell a great product, and your florist business will thrive.
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