If you are a gardener and want to supplement the money you spend on your hobby, selling plants is a good way to do it. If you wish to grow plants for a living, then you must approach it as a business because that is what it is, just like any other business. There are the same risks, investments, overhead, labor costs, insurance as any other business. Growing plants to make money rarely puts you in contact with plants, but with vendors, delivery truck drivers, labor disputes, hiring, firing and managing. If you want to start or run a plant nursery, here are some things to consider.
Instructions
1. Decide what category of nursery you wish to be. Plant nurseries are agricultural firms which propagate annuals, perennials, and shrubs, and grow them to a marketable size. Most nurseries have greenhouses. Some greenhouses include automated temperature control, ventilation, watering, and feeding systems. All greenhouses require maintenance and are costly to build.
2. Nurseries are very labor intensive businesses. The plants must be cared for and examined each day. Most estimates say that 70% of the nursery expense is the manpower needed to keep it running at its best. As with any business, you must know your demographic. If you are selling to retail outlets, are they willing to pay your price? Can you afford deliveries? Can you deliver what they want when they want it. Can you see that growing plants for money is not really about growing plants at all?
3. Run a retail nursery. A plant nursery sells plants to gardeners and homeowners. Most plant nurseries carry a wide variety of seeds, perennial plants, annual plants, houseplants, potting soil, and gardening accessories, such as tools, containers, and decorative items. Very few nurseries grow their own plants, but buy from a wholesaler and resell the plants. It is just like any other business that needs a marketing plan, potential customers, as well as a financial statement.
4. Learn the business. While plant nursery owners must possess general business skills, there is another skill that is imperative to the success of their business. This is horticultural education and training. Anyone who owns a plant nursery business must know the ins and outs of all kinds of plant life. Get an education from a two or four year program. Learn plants, pests, management, growth habits, propagate, handle seeds. There is much to learn about plants before growing them for money. The most important thing to remember when starting your plant nursery business is that, like any other, it's a business. You may wish to just grow your own divided plants in your back yard and sell them from your front yard. There is very little capital involved and certainly no labor/management problems, delivery problems, or advertising budgets to worry about.
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