Retail

How To Become A Florist | Open A Florist Shop

Grow Your Future

Everyone loves flowers and plants because of their beauty and fragrance. Flowers are the ultimate gift for many occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, recovering after an illness or surgery, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and so on. But the golden era of gifting flowers is gradually slowing down. Data from the Dept of Labor & Statistics reveal that the floral industry will see a significant decline in the next decade and is unlikely to reach the peak seen two decades ago. Some of the reasons for this downhill trend are rising costs, growing industry regulations, and the shortened lifespan of flowers.

Opening A Flower Shop

Wholesale flowers can be expensive and only retain their beauty for a few days. Plus, anyone who wants to set up a florist business in the era of Covid 19 must consider the changing climate. Flowers are not considered essential, and with rising costs, many consumers opt for other practical, durable, and cheaper gifts. But, If you remain interested in the florist business, please, let’s read on.

Is There A Demand For Florists?

Unfortunately, data from the Department of Labor indicate that there will be a gradual decline in the florist business. There are many reasons for the drop in business, but one reason may be that the public has many other choices of durable and less expensive gifts readily available online. Plus, maintaining the freshness of flowers is a costly undertaking.

Do I Need A Certificate To Open A Florist Business?

No, there is no need for any certification to open a florist business. However, suppose you do not know anything about the floral industry. In that case, getting some education is probably a good idea. Online courses provide knowledge about different flowers and the industry’s business aspects.

How To Become A Florist

It is essential to have several other skills:

Be creative
Know how to make designs with flowers
Photography to help market your business
Business skills like accounting, marketing, and bookkeeping
Excellent interpersonal and professional skills

Here are a few online Certified Floral Designer CFD courses

Should I Buy An Existing Flower Shop?

Most would recommend purchasing an existing and profitable flower shop instead of starting from scratch. However, you will need to have an accountant review your potential business’s tax filings and receipts over the past two years to ensure that the finances are in order. You will also have to do a background search on the owner and shop to ensure no legal issues come back to haunt you later. Finally, before you sign on the dotted line, visit the florist several times over 7-14 days to determine the foot traffic, active hours, and deliveries. Your research should give you some idea of the investment’s potential.

Florists For Sale

Avoid being locked into long-term contracts, no matter which service you choose (e.g., mobile phone, rent, transport, vendors, etc.). Making long-term commitments is risky when you have a florist business because the business is so seasonal.
Keeping track of inventory, bills, and expenditures is imperative to determine if you are losing or making money. The earlier you notice a negative trend, the faster you can take action to prevent further loss.
Because flowers do not remain fresh for long, it is crucial not to buy them in bulk. If you purchase a large quantity, incorporate your inventory with other florists- this way, you can share the costs and maintain a decent supply of fresh flowers.
Do not sign a long-term contract when you purchase flowers from a wholesaler. If you do, then read the fine print about early termination fees.
Invest in Florist Software: Several florist POS systems on the market with inbuilt marketing programs will save labor and time and increase efficiency with work orders.
Because many florist websites look similar, making yours a unique website is vital. Browse the internet to see what type of designs you prefer.

Here is a list of services advertising businesses for sale

Can I Run A Florist Business From Home?

You can run a florist business from home as long as you have space to work and cold storage. You’ll have inventory delivered by your vendor, which you can process and decorate for sale to your clients. However, you will face other issues when running a business from home, like delivery, homeowners association or condo rules, zoning laws, etc.

Starting a flower shop at home is the cheapest option as there is less overhead, but marketing your brand can be difficult. Plus, if your home is small, you can only conduct a limited amount of business. If you want to make a decent living, you will need to work long hours, which can be challenging from home.

How Will I Fund My Florist Business?

If you do not have your own capital, then you might want to look at funding your business in the following ways:

Go to a bank or private lender. It would help if you also had a business plan, a good credit score, and at least a 20% down payment. However, florist businesses carry a high risk of failure, and not many lenders will immediately jump on board with an offer.
Another option is a credit union, but these lenders do have high administrative fees.
Small business loans are available, but the loans are small, and the application process can be extensive.
Try crowdfunding
Seek a venture capitalist

Here are a few of your funding options for your florist business

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration, SBA has a program to fund new startups and is worth a look

How Much To Start Florist Business

To start a florist business, you will need to consider the following costs:

Rent space $4,000-$8,000 a month
Utilities $400-$1,000
Insurance $300-$500
Supplies $1,000-$2,000
Computer & POS $500-$2,500
Furniture & fixtures $1,000-$5,000
Equipment (Storage) $4,000-$30,000
Business registration $400-$1,000
Inventory $1,000-$5,000
Employee salary $15-$20 per hour
Marketing $500-$1,000

On average, you will need anywhere from $50K to $100K to start a flower business.

LLC Business Incorporation

Check out these few companies that can assist you in getting your LLC started.

Here are a few government links you might want to visit

Merchant Services

Because credit cards are synonymous with business transactions, selecting the correct merchant account is essential. The pricing of processors does vary, and choosing the right one can help save money.

Running A Flower Shop

Unpack flowers, gift cards, and wrapping paper that arrive from the vendor
Large floral arrangements
Food florist
Arrange, design, and place flowers for sale
Price the flowers
Water and condition the flowers
Take orders from clients
Communicate with clients who have placed orders
Invoice clients for the orders
Prepare flowers for significant events
Ensure prompt delivery of flowers
Run a sales campaign by announcing discounts
Manage customer issues and complaints

A Modern Florist Shop

Today, customers want digital confirmation of the purchase price and delivery time without question. So you should invest in an automated system that sends out text confirmation to the customer. This technology is now considered routine customer service in the florist business.
Because the florist business is seasonal, keeping track of orders, sales, returns, and inventory is vital to predict future business trends better. For example, flowers are in demand on Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Xmas, etc. You should be prepared ahead of time for these social and religious events. Also, keep a record of the weather, prices, and sales to know when not to order flowers in bulk.
Always keep track of the competition. You may have to check local florists’ websites to determine what discounts or special services they offer, and you may have to match them or offer something unique.
The key to maintaining the lifespan and freshness of your product is organization. You must keep the pots clean, change the water regularly, and recut any unsold flowers 2-3 days after arriving in your store.
In the florist business, customer grievances are widespread, so you must develop a universal action plan for the staff that delivers a warm and comforting message. The last thing you want is for the customer to post a negative review online, which can seriously affect your business.

Is The Florist Business Difficult?

Yes, the business can be challenging for the following reasons:

Intense competition
Demanding customers
Can be very busy during Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Xmas leading to delays in delivery
Continual pressure to meet deadlines- most customers want flowers delivered ASAP.
Last-minute orders for funerals, birthdays, or other occasions
Last-minute cancellations
Flowers demand meticulous care and gentle handling

What Should I Do With Unsold Flowers?

The Achilles heel of most florists is unsold flowers. You can recut some flowers and sell them the next day, while others may be too old for resale. Some of the options for unsold flowers include:

Offer large discounts
Distribute them to nursing care homes, senior homes, or local hospitals
Donate to a charity, church

How Can I Improve My Florist Business?

Deciding on a name can be one of the most challenging aspects of opening your flower shop. Choose carefully because you will live with this choice hopefully for many years.
Speak to your suppliers and ask them for ideas on how to improve sales
Always check the invoices to determine if the price of the flowers matches the delivery. Many flowers look very similar, but the pricing can vary.
Communicate: It is vital to communicate with your suppliers. If you do not receive a satisfactory product or the delivery is late, let the vendor know. Developing a professional relationship early on will gain you respect.

How Can I Increase The Profits Of My Florist Business?

Because the florist business is seasonal and event-based (e.g., Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc.), you should diversify to increase business all year round. Some of the things you should consider will include:

Chocolate Sales
Large flower arrangements
Florist supplies online
Mobile florist
Floral arranging supply
Food florist
Large flower arrangements
Offer home floral decoration services.
Sale unique planters
Offer fragrances and perfumes.
Sell or manufacture candles
Greeting cards
Souvenirs

Profit Margin Florist Business

Success depends on the location and volume of flowers sold. Data from the Society of American Florists indicate that, on average, a retail florist business will have annual revenue between 200K to $350K per year. However, your inventory is expensive, the profit margins are thin, and most will make a net profit between $60K-$100K per year. What these figures do not reveal is the number of florists who fail.

Flowers require continuous care and gentle treatment.
It is costly to bring flowers to market.
Flowers are often grown in other countries and flown in.
Because flowers are delicate, they often have to be hand-cut and prepared for transport, requiring enormous labor and time.
Flowers need particular environments for storage, or they will rapidly wither and look tired.

My Florist Website

Create a webpage, showcase your flowers, your services, and prices(e.g., Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Weebly)
Participate in social media sites. Showcase your floral designs and decorations
Interact with other small florists on florist forums to gather more business knowledge and how to attract clients
Always maintain pleasant communication on the Web.
Start email marketing by sending coupons and offering discounts every month to regular customers
Create a youtube video showcasing your floral arrangement skills

Your domain name protects your website address on the internet. You can register a domain name with the hosting company you choose to buy it.

Some of the common domain registrars include:

Here is a list of some options for building a regular website.

Here is a list of drag-and-drop page builders for WordPress.

My Florist Location

The location needs to be central with heavy foot traffic
It should be away from other competitors
Should be easily accessible by both vendors and customers
Ideally located in a plaza with many shops, businesses, and restaurants nearby
Have ample free parking
The front of the store should be appealing

Here is a list of some popular commercial real estate companies:

Florist Employees / Staff

Because the active hours of a florist business do vary, it is essential not to overhire staff but use part-time employees for flexibility.

Unlike regular retail staff, employees who work in your florist shop are specialists and will require a better pay structure; the reason is that designing and packaging flowers for an order does require care, creativity, and time.

Staffing agencies that you may want to use:

Florists Supply / Florist Supplies Wholesale

Many wholesale vendors sell flowers to retail stores. However, to run a successful florist business, you should purchase assorted flowers from several different vendors. Don’t carry the same kinds of flowers all the time. No matter whom you buy the flowers from, ensure that the vendor accepts returns on all damaged inventory.