How to Start a Floral Design Business or Open a Flower Shop
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The floral business can be very profitable simply because you have holidays and events all year long that
involve flowers. Yet, if you don't have the funds or desire to open a flower shop, but still like working with
floral arrangements and have a creative flair, you have options. You even can work from home!
To get started, you'll need the items used to create your arrangements and a few basic tools. If you make
deliveries, you'll need a vehicle. Office supplies and computer equipment are all start-up costs you need to
consider when launching your floral business. You can always start from home and open a flower shop later.
People need floral arrangements for holidays, birthdays and special events like weddings and graduations -
but don't forget longer-term contracts with churches, hotels, restaurants and other businesses who need flowers
delivered or arranged on a regular basis. Besides a consistent monthly income, it can be a simple way of
showcasing your designs to more prospective flower buyers.
How to Start Your Own Flower Shop
You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to
learn to be a florist. A good way to get started with your own business is to have an expert in floral
design field draw up a blueprint for you to follow, so you know exactly what to do step-by-step.
That's what Professional Florist Alisa
Gordaneer has done. She has over 20 years of experience and has helped several other florists
succeed with their businesses.
See what you get >>
- Essential skills: how to teach yourself floral design and set up a business plan
- Step-by-step how to create stylish flower arrangements
- A list of tools, equipment and supplies you'll need and where to get them
- Managing your floral design business and day-to-day operations
- Marketing your business, including hospitals, government, funeral homes, corporations, hotels
and restaurants - plus - how to set up floral displays and promote sales
- Free Samples Included: price lists, invoices, contracts, proposals, order forms and more
- Get it Risk-Free >> Start a Floral Design
Business
rated by customers
- Get this too >> Free
Report: 21 Plants that are Easy to Grow & Sell Like Crazy!
Starting a Floral Shop Business Checklist:
- Obtain the necessary business licenses. Check with your local government office to find out which licenses and permits you need for
your floral business and how to apply.
- If you plan to operate your flower shop business out of your home, check with your local government office about zoning ordinances and possible land use
restrictions
- Set up a business bank account with your local bank. Make sure that the bank is FDIC is
insured. It is important to keep your floral business and personal finances separate, and often your
banker can help with small business loans or financing.
- Arrange a meeting with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways to maximize your business tax deductions. You can get referrals from other business owners you know
or sometimes your banker.
- File your fictitious business name with the county clerk, or if you want to form a corporation, find
out how to incorporate your business
- Meet with an insurance agent to discuss insurance you may need for your flower business. The
IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) is a good place to
start. You can also get free quotes online for business insurance
- Set up your business phone system. Whether you use a toll-free 800 phone number, a multi-line phone system, VoIP or simply add an
additional phone number to your existing service, you'll want a designated line to establish a
professional business image.
- Order business cards. One of the cheapest ways I know of to advertise a business. See how you can
design your own professional business cards online, plus simple tips for increasing your sales >>
Free Business Cards
- Get a website. Save money by creating your own website with simple online design programs, or outsource the job
to an affordable website designer. Whether you sell flower products online - or you use a
website to display information about your floral design services, it's important to take advantage of
this low-cost marketing resource that can help you get more customers.
- Need Clients for your floral
business? Don't worry! Marketing Expert David Frey shows you how. I used his advice to get my own
clients Click Here to subscribe to
his free newsletter or find out more about his step-by-step customer-getting system.
Other Floral Business Plans:
If you want to know how to organize and plan your business, using a professional business plan "template" is
the easiest way to get started. Here are some other plant-related businesses that may interest you:
Flower Shop Business Resources:
Wholesale Floral Equipment and Supplies:
Find wholesale merchandise and suppliers through the Go Wholesale Search Engine. Search for any
wholesale items and find a variety of companies who have what you want. Compare offers to get the best price.
No membership required. Plus, learn about industry trends and the best bargain sources in their wholesale
forum. Get Deals on Wholesale Floral Supplies & Equipment See also Wholesale Floral for wholesale flower shop supplies - including vases, packaging
supplies, balloons, candles and more.
Hire Help the Easy Way:
Easily find a team of experts to help you build your business - virtually. Save money in overhead
costs, get work done more quickly and eliminate payroll hassles.
- Website Designers and Software Developers
- Marketers, Salespeople and Telemarketers
- Accounting and Bookkeeping Assistants
- People to handle Customer Service and Administrative Tasks
- oDesk makes outsourcing easy and affordable so you can grow your business faster.
- Get a Free Tour, Post a Job
29 Ways to Get More Clients for
Your Floral Business
Take the guesswork out of finding customers by picking up the best marketing guide I've found. You'll find
out free and extremely low cost ways to attract new clients to your business with very little effort -
saving you tons of money.
Marketing Expert David Frey shows you how to implement these strategies right away, for immediate
profit. Find out how >> The Ultimate Small Business
Marketing Resource
T I P : Advertise your business simply by driving your vehicle Free Car Door Custom Magnet
Get Free Publicity - You can write one yourself for free and send it to your
local newspaper and ever submit it online for free. Your story can be picked up by several sources and
published for free.
Your press release doesn't have to be long or complex. Keep it under one page and provide newsworthy
information about your upcoming event. If you can, create intrigue and curiosity and encourage your reader to
take action - whether it be to purchase an event ticket or find out more information.
Print Brochures
Showing Your Services and Expertise
Don't just tell people about your floral design business - show them! Pictures are worth a thousand words, and
brochures can present a professional company image - while selling your services to potential clients at the
same time.
You want to use quality materials and photos if you can, but company brochures don't have to be expensive.
You can use programs online to design your own brochures, and have them automatically
printed for you at a discounted price.
How to Choose the Perfect Place for Your Flower Shop Business
A flower shop is the perfect place for flower and flower arrangement marketing and
those who work here - florists, flower artisans or flower designers - can offer you qualified and useful pieces
about flowers and carrying them.
To choose the best place for your expectant flower shop business, we give some advices for you to follow, if
want to.
Flower Shop
The most important for a flower shop business to be a profitable one is the place as a position, like we
said before, (it has to be a main road or a free trade zone, however a place in front of which are passing a
lot of people, who can visit and admire your flower shop and maybe buy a flower, or a bouquet or a flower
arrangement) and as a functional space, because the florist need the appropriate conditions to make high
quality things.
A functional flower shop space has to be well proportioned, a corporate from doorway, shop window, selling
space, working space, storehouse, social rooms. Our opinion is that you have not to dispense with one of those
spaces. When you visit a possible space, you need to mind and distribute it in accordance with material
conditions.
The doorway and the shop window are the strongest points for a business, especially for a flower shop. The
doorway includes the exterior wall, the doors and the outdoor advertising elements. People has to admire and
hold back the doorway, it has to inspire them hospitability and quality. Thus a looker can become a visitor and
maybe a client. On the sign board you have to write "FLOWER SHOP" and the name of course, that has to be short,
in evidence, noticeable and easy to hold back.
Put the coming door behind the shop window, so this one can take the entire image.
The shop window is a must, letting the light to come in and its arrangement is very important for the
visitors to enjoy and want the same decoration at their places too. A beautiful shop window reflects the
neatness, subtlety, imagination, professionalism of the florist.
Tricks and advices for you to create the decorations for the shop window:
- The looker must have a general vision on the shop window
- Put the flowers you want to sell quickly under the client's eyes, on the same level.
- The shop window has to be a small exhibition of numerous types of flower that there are inside.
- The flower arrangements have to be fresh that you can sell if someone wants.
- Don't associate the natural with artificial flowers. That is a "not to do!".
- Don't you prefer the artificial flower for its resistance, decorate the shop window only with natural
flowers. Consider that it's an investment for your flower shop to be noted. As we said before, the flower
shop business needs time and money to be on top.
- Create a point of much interest, with color contrast (a yellow flower, like freesia or daffodil in
center of a lot of violet, represented by iris) or best color combination (a joyful flower arrangement made
by yellow, green, orange roses).
- Choose a theme of decoration than find and use the elements that compose it (freshness can suggest even
a fruits and flowers combination arrangement; the spring will be recomposed with lilac, peony, daffodil;
for autumn, choose to present a dry flowers, leafs and nuts arrangement).
- Put your imagination to the proof to create the most sophisticated flower arrangement for the shop
window. That is a step for you to select yours clients.
- Illuminate it. For the flowers to maintain the natural colors, is important the light to be warm. You
have to avoid the white and cold nuances of the light.
Aura Surcel is a Romanian floral designer with many ideas of natural decorations, freelance writer of
nature, flowers and plants, traditional treatments and of the flower shop business. She also loves nature,
flowers and to make floral arrangements. | For more information, visit http://www.flowersgrowing.com
Buying a Flower Shop? What to Consider
You've always liked flowers and you think the idea
of turning emotions into floral expressions sounds like tremendous fun. You are between careers and have
been investigating business opportunities in your community.
Yesterday, while perusing the real estate magazine in your county, you notice that the family owned,
downtown flower shop is for sale. The ad says it's a turnkey operation. This is your lucky day. Or is it?
Let's look before we leap, OK? Here are some factors to consider:
What is the current state of health of this business?
You should be able to see the financial records and consult professional help if needed.
What is the reputation of this business in the community?
If there are negative feelings about the business in the community, you need to consider a name change and
making a big show of the change in management. Factor in the cost of a face-lift on the facade of the physical
facility.
What assets are included in the selling price?
If you are buying the building, equipment, coolers and inventory, you need to carefully assess the age,
condition and viability of these items. For example, there may be $10,000 worth of inventory in the store, and
the seller may be able to document the value by showing invoices.
However, if the inventory is shop worn, out of date or not in keeping with your business plan, the value of
that inventory to you may be quite a bit lower than that $10,000.
Are you also buying the Accounts Receivables as an asset? If so, you should do some serious research into
the exact state of these accounts. Many traditional florists have struggled with house accounts. They have
extended credit as a matter of tradition, rather than good business sense and have found themselves in extreme
cash flow trouble.
What liabilities are you buying?
You'll need to be very clear about any debt or bills you will be taking over. Be sure that you hire
professional help to outline any such debt in your sales agreement. Because of seasonality of the flower
business and the existence of house accounts, many retail florists have difficulty with cash flow; you should
avoid any situation where you will be paying bills run up by the previous owner.
Also, you should take time to consult with the Wholesalers that you will be buying from. Discuss your
payment terms and lay the groundwork for a healthy business relationship with a reputable Wholesaler or
two.
What about the business name?
If the name of the business is valuable in your market, you probably won't want to change the name of the
business. In any case, consider a clause in the bill of sale limiting the use of the name by the previous owner
in the future. This can be very sticky in the case of an owner's own name, for example "Smith Florist".
Will you need to hire all new staff?
It's an extreme analogy, but think about the difficulties in
open adoptions between birth and adoptive parents. Everyone has their own style and it can be difficult to
accept change or let go of something you have worked very hard to build.
That being said, many valued staff members at successful florists have weathered the change in ownership of
their place of employment. Do make every effort to retain good people. Just be sure to be clear about your
expectations so that the separation can be as painless as possible should that become necessary.
What is the correct timing?
Take the holidays into account when you plan your purchase of a flower shop. Valentine's day is the single
largest day, but Christmas is more of a marathon. Mother's Day, weddings, proms, graduations and anniversaries
team up to make the spring months a nice busy time. Depending upon your market, the summer can be a difficult
time to make ends meet.
Ideally, you'd take over a shop with enough time to get your feet wet before a holiday, but not with so much
down time that your funds dry up before you can get going.
What other opportunities exist, and at what cost?
Here's the acid test. Take the time to sort out the options. Let's work on the assumption that you WILL own
a flower shop in the next year. Take a big sheet of paper and draw a line down the center. At the top of the
left column, write "Buy and Existing Flower Shop". In the Right column, write "Open a New Flower Shop".
Now draw a line through the middle of the paper, so you have a top and bottom. The top is for pros and the
bottom is for cons. Fill in the grid with as many items as you can figure.
Ask your trusted business friends and floral professionals for help. You'll be considering such items as the
finances and the marketing plan of your business. When you have completed this exercise, you should have two
things. One is a good tool to help you make a decision. The second is the beginnings of a business plan.
Whatever your decision, a business plan is essential. It is your roadmap for success and will be necessary
for a business loan. It is worth the extra time at the onset of this journey to compare the options and make
the best decision you can.
About the Author Karen Marinelli is a Floral Industry Professional with nineteen years of experience
in the academic, retail and wholesale sectors of the industry. She believes the common goal should be to sell
more flowers to more people, more often. For information on How to Open a Flower Shop, visit http://openaflowershop.com. To order flowers online, visit
http://send-flowers-online.ws.
More Articles:
Florist Associations
Retail Florist Association
The Retail Florist Association is a non-profit association helping independent floral retailers generate more
business within their local markets.
Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association
WF&FSA is a dynamic business organization uniquely positioned to provide their members with the
information, services and support they need to remain competitive in today's constantly changing
market.
Independent Florists' Association
IFA is a florist-owned association dedicated to improving the profitability of retail florists.
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