How to open a flower business. Where to start a flower business. Average flower shop




The business of selling flowers is one of the most profitable and promising, because its profitability is guaranteed by a series of regular events that are guaranteed to occur in the life of every person. Weddings, holidays, awards and even funerals... the list goes on and on. According to experts, the annual turnover of Russian flower shops is more than one and a half billion dollars. Isn't there a reason for aspiring entrepreneurs to take a closer look at this field of activity from a large list of different business ideas? It is also safe to say that our dear women will enjoy this type of activity.

Flower business pros and cons

Of course, selling flowers as an income is not ideal - it also has its own advantages and disadvantages that should be voiced.

pros

  • Low threshold for entry - it is quite possible to start a flower business with 6-8 thousand dollars, which is quite reasonable prices for trading business. Moreover, the costs are recouped very quickly.
  • A large markup is a flower that can be purchased in some Holland for a purchase price of one dollar, then can be sold for two, three or even five dollars. The main thing is to feel the right moment.

Minuses

  • Living goods quickly deteriorate, so there is a certain deadline for sales that must be met in order not to incur a loss (it is even customary for florists to immediately take into account the percentage of products that cannot be sold).
  • In a transported batch of flowers there is always a certain proportion of defective goods that cannot be sold in any way.
  • Earnings from the flower trade have a pronounced seasonality - flowers sell well in the summer and on holidays, but in winter there is a serious decrease in demand.

Flower business business plan

Opening a flower shop is not such a simple process as it might seem at first glance. To achieve success, you should calculate every step before starting, take into account a number of nuances and little things. Let's try to figure them out.

Registration

The first thing you need to do, otherwise your income will not be legal and may entail a bunch of fines and other problems. It is best to choose an individual entrepreneurship model and a simplified taxation system. All received documents must be certified by a notary, making several additional copies.

Selecting a location

This issue is on the priority list, as it significantly affects the success of your enterprise even before its official opening. It is necessary to select a place that is sufficiently crowded, with a large number of pedestrians passing by. It is most profitable to be located near metro stations, on the outskirts of markets, near railway stations and other transport hubs. It would also be nice to grab a “tidbit” near some registry office, but such places have all been occupied for a long time. If your budget is very limited and there is not enough money for a real retail outlet, I advise you to start by organizing your activities online. Create an online flower delivery store, fill out the price list and start selling. I'm sure it will be in demand.

Selecting a room

It all depends on your entrepreneurial ambitions, initial capital and goals. For some, a small store about eight meters long will be enough, but you need to understand that in this case you will have to sell narrow-profile products. Others, on the contrary, will want to expand by 30-40 meters, providing their customers with a wide variety of assortments. Be that as it may, know that a separate colorful pavilion will be much more attractive for buyers than rented space on the ground floor in some building.

Staff

If you decide to devote yourself entirely to organizational issues, but do not want to engage in sales yourself, you should take care of hiring a qualified sales florist with experience in arranging bouquets. It is desirable that he be hired officially and have a completed sanitary book with the appropriate assurances from the sanitary and epidemiological station.

Equipment

Yes, you can’t do without special equipment in the flower trade. You need to take care of the safety of flowers - buy a refrigerator, special flowerpots and containers, as well as their appearance, creating the right lighting in your store (it’s not without reason that they say that goods always look better on a shelf than in your home). The list of costs also includes several stands, shelves, counters and all kinds of consumables. It will be impossible for a large retail outlet to do without a cash register.

Advertising

Without using this engine of progress, you are unlikely to be able to reach an acceptable level of income. The more people you tell about your offer, the better its competitiveness will be (especially at the start of the enterprise). You can make a beautiful sign, hand out advertising brochures near the subway, and use a lot of other marketing tricks, but the best way to advertise your product is the product itself. If you place your best products so that they can be seen from the street, potential buyers will certainly want to take a closer look at them, and then the sale will be close.

Creating a flower business from scratch: costs

Now that we have briefly examined each step of launching our flower business, it’s time to calculate how much it will all cost and how much you can earn from it in the future.

  • Registration of individual entrepreneur – 3000 rubles
  • Renting a small area (for example, a kiosk) – about 20 thousand rubles
  • The first batch of goods – 100 thousand rubles
  • Equipment – ​​10 thousand rubles (at first you can do without refrigeration units and other expensive equipment, and be content with only flowerpots and stands)
  • Salesperson salary – 12 thousand rubles

As a result, to start you will need a little less than 150 thousand, that is, approximately 4 thousand dollars. The costs will pay off in the next 5-6 months (the net profit of a small flower retail outlet is approximately 30 thousand rubles per month).

What do readers think about it?

Indeed, on February 14 and March 8, people are very active in buying flowers, but the rest of the time it can be a little tight with customers. Therefore, think three times whether it is advisable to take large volumes and open a large retail outlet. Sometimes a small stall in a busy place will be enough.
By the way, it is not necessary to sell flower corpses - you can sell live plants in pots, seeds and seedlings for the garden.

The business is profitable, but very competitive. It will be very difficult to get in here; seasoned flower sellers, I think, won’t let you turn around. Personally, in our market where they sell flowers, there is no place at all. Well, it’s true that the market is not big.

This whole business, in essence, boils down to the scheme “bought in one place cheaper - sold in another and “in time” (March 8, September 1 and other dates) and more expensive.” 6 thousand bucks as starting capital is even a lot for him: from the experience of selling flowers to a friend, I can say that 25-30 thousand rubles are enough to buy a batch of flowers, plus transportation costs and food on the road - another 7 thousand rubles. The total amount received from the sale of these Krasnodar flowers in Tver is about 100 thousand rubles. The “exit” is very good, but, as a friend himself says, it is only possible once a year, so it’s unlikely that it will work as an extra income or as a permanent business...

And the product is perishable. The best way is to grow it yourself and sell it to order. However, again, flowers are a seasonal product; there is no stable demand throughout the year. If you have extra money, you can try, if you have borrowed money, definitely not

AlexUkr, this business is one of the most profitable. Flowers are selling out quickly, the main place. And it doesn't matter what season. Both in winter and in summer, in short, people always have weddings, every day thousands of women have birthdays, young people buy a lot of flowers for their girls every day. What seasonality are you talking about?

I also don’t consider this business to be seasonal. There are certain months, or rather days, when the revenue is simply crazy, this applies to holidays. But if you create a good name for your flower shop, that is, so that you constantly have a high-quality product and, accordingly, a beautiful one, you can gain a very large number of regular customers.

Flower business has seasonality. Flowers are bought well on holidays and in summer, with a decline in winter. Price policy also has its own characteristics. The times when the profitability of flower sales reached 300% are long gone. Now profitability fluctuates between 100-140% and it is “eaten up” by possible defects, broken flowers and fluctuations in trade

AlexUkr, aren’t people celebrating holidays every day? What a seasonality, every day someone has a wedding, birthday, etc. Guys buy flowers for their girls on dates, both in winter and summer. Of course, on March 8 you will sell more flowers, but this is simply not a big bonus. It is profitable to trade flowers, and it is simply stupid to argue with this.

And you think that a profitability of 100-140 percent is small. I think that many people would like to receive such profitability. I completely agree with Yura123 that people have a reason every day to buy flowers at any time of the year.

I agree that 100% good profitability, but this does not take into account defects, flowers that were not sold in time, rent, salaries, taxes. In general, I think this business is very risky. If you are ready to suffer losses and then possibly earn something, then try it

An interesting idea for a business, of course. It's worth even taking a closer look at it. But I watched a program on TV in which there were 20-year-old businessmen and millionaires, and there were also adults there. One adult man, quite respectable and not stupid, failed in this flower business and became bankrupt, so with this idea you need to be more careful and carefully calculate and plan everything.

Apparently you don’t yet know what smart seasoned flower sellers do with marriage. I personally know that, for example, flowers whose leaves have fallen are taken and simply glued together, and the top is covered with ordinary varnish with glitter so that they keep their shape. Many may have seen when buying flowers that there are some with sparkles, so similar flowers are made in a similar way.

Well then, these are swindlers and not sellers who live one day at a time. You should not look up to them because they are not businessmen. There is an unspoken rule: a client will tell four friends about a good purchase, and ten people about a bad purchase (having bought low-quality flowers). So such would-be businessmen won’t work for long

Well, you've already gone in the wrong direction. This is a business, and in business all means are good. You think only in the business of selling flowers, but no, in every business they try to sell marriage. Even in those stores, spoiled chicken is rolled in various spices, marinated, and sent to barbecue, and then this kebab is calmly sold without remorse.

The flower business is very profitable only if you know a lot about flowers, or you can hire a very high professional in this field. Here you need to understand rare plants, you need to sell not only flowers, but also planting material, as well as flowers in pots, and most importantly, minimize leftovers.

Well, we are not talking about knowledge, it is already clear that if you decide to start any kind of business, you must be well versed in this area and know a lot of various nuances. The main question now is different: the flower business is profitable at any time of the year, or only on holidays.

I think you can make money from this; you won’t even believe it, I once worked in almost this field. In my youth, together with my mother, I worked in a greenhouse, where we grew roses, there were also orchids, but they were looked after by a specific person who rummaged through them, so I realized there that this business was really profitable.

I saw online flower shops that deliver a bouquet of roses right to the house of your beloved girlfriend, wife, mother and any other female person.) Let's say you live in one country, and your former classmate (well, as an example) in another - and here An online flower shop with payment via PS couldn’t come at a better time. Just a flower shop - banal.

We need to support the flower business, and make it mandatory for all guys to buy flowers for their girlfriends every evening. Otherwise, sometimes they show up without flowers, and business suffers.
But seriously, according to my observations, this is a very profitable business. Flower shops all around. There are not only fresh flowers, but also indoor flowers in pots, and they also cost a decent amount, and, what’s important, they don’t fade.

Experienced businessmen who have achieved some success often say that they don’t care what they trade. The flower business is different in that you will have to sell a very beautiful product, and the profitability of such a business, if organized correctly, is quite high.

At the same time, if counterparties violate contractual obligations, losses can be quite significant. At the same time, experts predict high rates of development of the flower business in Russia in the coming years. That is why it is not too late for those who want to start working with flowers.

How to open a flower business?

Before you seriously start selling flowers, you need to carefully consider how to organize a flower business. Of course, flowers are a sought-after product, but at the same time they are quite perishable, so their sale must be carried out as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the flowers will simply wither and it will no longer be possible to revive them.

Therefore, retail outlets for the sale of such goods should be located in busy places, preferably near the business center. The fact is that in any organization it is customary to celebrate the birthdays of employees, and on these days it is customary to give flowers. If you are starting a flower business from scratch, then first you need to register as an individual entrepreneur and rent a tent at the market. Remember that registration of activities is a prerequisite, otherwise you may be fined for illegal business.

Flower business business plan

Any business begins with thinking through a business plan. It can be drawn up on paper, or it can just be in your head, but in any case it is necessary to think through a plan for organizing a business.

When compiling it, they usually start from the costs of purchasing the main products - flowers, then it is necessary to take into account all the mandatory payments that need to be paid to the budget and extra-budgetary funds, as well as other necessary expenses (rent, wage employees with accruals and other expenses).

At the initial stage of the business, the selling price of the product, which will generate flower business income, must be set taking into account the prices of competitors; sometimes, in order to attract customers, their level may be even lower. However, pricing in flower shops and salons is carried out on a slightly different principle than in kiosks and markets, since the price of the product also includes the cost of the service - which is why it must be well-established.

To increase profits and create additional convenience for customers, most flower salons practice accepting orders over the Internet and delivering bouquets directly to the buyer; some of them have established cooperation with wedding salons.

The flower business is seasonal, and the provision of additional services allows you to compensate for the drop in revenue during the low season.

Business plan for a flower shop

If you have some capital, it is best to open a flower shop or salon. By expanding the range and selling related products, such a business will have higher profitability. However, for this you will need to rent or purchase (which is quite difficult) a premises with an area of ​​at least 50.0 square meters. meters.

In addition to the sales area, there must be a storage area. The presence of a split system that maintains optimal temperature conditions is also necessary. Freshly cut flowers are best stored in a deli refrigerator. The trading floor needs to be equipped with shelving, and do not forget about the need to purchase simple office equipment.

If you are not experienced in arranging flower arrangements, then it would be a good idea to consider a florist’s workplace. In addition, you will need a variety of packaging materials to decorate your bouquets.

All these costs must be carried out from your own funds, since banks practically do not provide loans for starting a new business. As for planning activities, of course, you can spend money on a ready-made business plan for a flower shop, but it is not so difficult to draw it up yourself, having thought through all the details of this business.

Example of a flower shop business plan

For clarity, we will show you how to draw up a business plan for a flower shop. So, we need a room with an area of ​​at least 50.0 square meters. meters. The minimum list of equipment required to open it includes the following:
No. Name of equipment | Quantity | Price per one. (RUB) | Total price (RUB)
1. Gastronomic refrigeration chamber 3 42500.0 127500.0
2. Shelving 20 2800.0 56000.0
3. Split system Fujitsu Genera" 2 20800.0 41600.0
4. Rack 1 5600.0 5600.0
5. Office chair 3 2900.0 8700.0
6. Ergonomic office table 2 3200.0 6400.0
7. Computer desk “Classic” 1 3050.0 3050.0
8. System unit, monitor, printer 29000.0
9. Specialized workplace florist1 12500.0 12500.0
10. Vases, specialized flower stands, consumables 25000.0
Total 315350.0

Thus, the initial minimum capital costs for the purchase of equipment for a flower shop will be 315.4 thousand rubles. The amount is not that big, but do not forget that the main expenses will be on the purchase of goods and operating expenses.
Let’s assume that there are 3 people working in the salon-shop (1 salesperson, 1 florist, 1 contract accountant). The owner of the business acts as the manager.

With a markup of 90.0% (which is the average in such a business) and an average daily revenue of 34.2 thousand rubles, the gross monthly income will be 855.0 thousand rubles.
Now let's calculate the average monthly expenses:

  • purchase of goods – 450.0 thousand rubles;
  • salary with accruals – 97.5 thousand rubles;
  • rent – ​​120.0 thousand rubles;
  • utility bills (including average annual heating costs) – 56.0 thousand rubles;
  • consumables for current needs – 15.0 thousand rubles;
  • taxes (UTII) – 15.0 thousand rubles.

Total costs – 753.5 thousand rubles.
The salon's net monthly profit will be 101.5 thousand rubles. Thus, the profitability of the flower business will be 11.9%. (The calculations assumed the minimum income that an unpromoted flower shop and salon could receive and real expenses).

Flower kiosk business plan

A flower kiosk, unlike a store, has a smaller sales area, does not provide a florist, and the range of goods is less wide. If a store, in addition to flowers, may provide for the sale of related products - potted plants, souvenirs and gifts, ceramics, soil, then the kiosk, as a rule, sells only the main product.

The profit of a flower kiosk is completely dependent on turnover. In general, drawing up a business plan for a flower kiosk is no different from drawing up a business plan for a flower shop, only the numbers, naturally, will vary.

With the same revenue, the profitability of the kiosk will be significantly lower due to much higher costs and rather large losses. It is also obvious that organizing the work of a flower kiosk will require less investment.

Buying a flower business

Sometimes you can see advertisements of the following nature: “I will buy a ready-made flower business,” which is not surprising given its high profitability. If you are already engaged in a certain business, have experience and, most importantly, considerable capital, then you can buy a ready-made flower business.

However, in this case, you will have to evaluate it, which means finding out all suppliers, terms of delivery of goods, average monthly income and expenses, main buyers, relationships with the tax office, creditors and debtors, and many other nuances.

Buying a flower business in Moscow, and a successful one at that, is quite a rare thing, so without knowing the real reasons for its sale by the owner, the transaction should not be completed.

However, if you carefully study the state of affairs in the flower business that is proposed for sale, you can thoroughly reduce the price, and the purchase transaction can turn out to be very profitable.

Sale of flower business

Flower businesses are sold for completely different reasons: unprofitability, disputes between co-owners, the need to obtain Money to pay accounts payable, repay bank loans. Today on the Internet you can often see advertisements for the sale of a flower business in Moscow.

When making such transactions, it is very important that the real estate where the shops or salons are located is owned by the business owner. In this case, the transaction price increases many times over.

This happens because rents in the capital are unusually high and are increasing every year. As a result of this, the flower business in Moscow in some cases may even have negative profitability, which is one of the reasons for its sale.

Flower business from home

If you live in a private house with a fairly large plot of land, love flowers and understand them, then the best option would be to organize a flower business at home. Some of the most common flowers grown in the garden are roses, dahlias and asters.

Such a business will be quite profitable, because you only bear the cost of purchasing seeds, tubers or seedlings; however, you can obtain seeds and tubers yourself, but rose seedlings must be purchased from nurseries.

In order to run a flower business at home all year round, you need to have a greenhouse, the construction costs of which will not be so high.

True, this will increase energy costs, but, as practice shows, they will more than pay for themselves. The main thing is to find buyers: they can be flower kiosks, shops, or you can also sell flowers yourself.

One of my friends, growing flowers at home, changes foreign cars every year.

So think about it: is the flower business profitable?

Interesting video “How to make money on flowers”!

The financial condition of society is to some extent determined by the demand for flowers and this is a fact proven by the results of research. Economists say that the richer the region or city, the more flowers sold per capita. But still, this statement cannot be called one hundred percent, since mentality plays a certain role in this issue.

It should be noted that the sale of flowers is among the top five most popular types of business in the world. This phenomenon is not surprising, because flowers are needed in many life situations; they are a kind of art that gives people positive emotions, joy, and smiles.

Is this flower business profitable, what are the reviews?

Naturally, for a business to generate income, it is necessary to understand the intricacies of caring for and growing flowers. If a person loves to tinker in his garden, grows magnificent indoor plants and knows a lot about high-quality seedlings, he needs to turn his hobby into a business.

This means that the personal preferences of the entrepreneur play a huge role, because when an activity brings spiritual pleasure to a person, then family budget is steadily replenished.

To answer the most important question, is the flower business profitable, we should remember the rush during the holidays, for example, before Valentine's Day and before International Women's Day. These are not all holidays, so if everything is organized correctly, you can make good money.

In addition, flower arrangements are popular as gifts for relatives, friends, loved ones, and business partners. They are purchased not only on major holidays, but also on weekdays for decorating bars, restaurants, hotels, and spas. Without flowers, a wedding celebration will not be complete, and they are extremely popular at anniversaries.

On the eve of the holiday, the cost of flowers increases, for example, if we consider March 8, prices increase on the sixth day, and on the immediate day of the holiday they reach their apogee and bouquets cost 2-3 times more.

Therefore, we can confidently say that flowers are a hot commodity, and according to financiers, the turnover of this market in Russia last year amounted to more than a billion dollars.

Many people starting a flower business do not create it from scratch, but buy a ready-made one. This, if the business being purchased is “working”, in some cases it is even better than starting from scratch. To do this, you need to look for a suitable option on various resources for private and business advertisements.
Search the Internet for something like:

— I will buy a flower business;
— opening a flower shop business plan;
— buy a flower business;
— sale of flower business;
— selling flower business;
- cheap flower shop.

There are many offers and you will definitely find something that suits you. But we repeat once again: you need to be careful here, check everything carefully before purchasing, so as not to buy a pacifier! Or problems instead of profits.

Flower business from scratch. Retail flower business formats

Of course, selling flowers is a profitable and risky business. Creative people who understand botany open retail outlets, wanting to simultaneously realize their abilities and earn money.

But not everything is as smooth as it might seem at first glance, because in addition to the positive aspects, that is, aesthetics and profitability, there are also unpleasant ones, such as the fragility of products and associated losses.

The retail flower business is conventionally divided into four formats:

  • — pavilions located near the metro and in passages;
  • — small shops that are located in shopping centers, in crowded places;
  • — specialized boutiques located on the busiest streets of the city center;
  • - in addition to the existing flower shop, it is advisable to open an online store - virtual reality is extremely relevant today.

Flower pavilion – huge competition

Today, small flower pavilions are found literally everywhere, because there are such retail outlets near every metro and in all passages. True, there are many potential buyers, since these are very busy places.

A good location is considered an important key to the development of such a business, because flowers are a perishable product, so good turnover is extremely necessary.

The basis of sales in the small pavilion are cut flowers, the assortment of which amounts to 15-20 items. But packaging acts as an additional percentage of income.

Flower shop – great opportunities

Unlike a small pavilion, a flower shop has a good sales area, that is, the range of products offered here is wider.

In addition to cut flowers, the store can organize the sale of composed compositions, potted plants, souvenirs, gifts, as well as various soils and similar related products.

Due to the fact that the assortment includes not only perishable goods, business owners can reduce costs, and this is already a significant argument.

As for profit, it does not depend solely on turnover, because you can sell a smaller number of flowers, and receive the rest of the income from the sale of ceramics and potted plants.

Of course, if a store is being organized, great attention should be paid to personnel selection. Friendly, competent sellers who understand flowers will be able not only to sell the product, but also to give the buyer advice on this or that issue. The ethical component is also important, because just by praising a client for his excellent taste, he can turn from a casual customer into a regular one.

A flower shop requires significant investments, which cannot be compared with opening a small pavilion. It pays off more slowly, but the undoubted advantages of this format include stability, and all thanks to the rich assortment and the presence of regular customers.

Florist boutique - a newfangled trend

Florist salons are truly a wonderful type of business, because absolutely everything here is beautiful: the design of the room, the flower arrangements created by real masters, and the aura in such a room is special. Competent salespeople are also relevant, because profitability depends on them.

To open a store of such a high level will require a tidy sum of money, but despite the high costs, you can receive an excellent percentage of income in the future. This is a promising business, because having a florist boutique, you can reach corporate clients.

For example, the design of just one corporate banquet brings in a profit that is comparable to a week of work at a flower shop. Alternatively, in the future, when the business is established, you can open a whole network of salons, covering all areas of the city.

Online store - modern business or flower shop around the clock

Today, life moves very quickly, so many people do not want to waste their precious time going to flower shops and specialized boutiques. For this reason, nowadays it is impossible to do without an online store.

The costs of opening it are not very large; for example, the simplest online store will cost a thousand dollars. But, as they say, the game is worth the candle, because clients can, without leaving the office or at home, place an order for flowers in a boutique or in a store.

This is a wonderful sales channel, thanks to which income increases significantly. But you also need to be aware of additional shipping costs and take into account the very possible possibility of returning the goods.

And also, if there is no regular store selling flowers, you should not open an online store, because this is a very risky undertaking, the goods are perishable, and at the initial stage there will not be many customers.

Subtleties of opening a flower pavilion

There is always a demand for flowers: someone is in a hurry to go on a date, someone is rushing to a birthday... To open a flower pavilion, you need to consider the following important points:

  • — register yourself as an entrepreneur;
  • — hire one or two salespeople;
  • — the pavilion must be placed in a “active” place: transitions, stops;
  • - have contacts with flower suppliers.

Now let’s look at these points in more detail to present a clear picture of the opening of a small flower pavilion. Basically, create In this case, a legal entity is not necessary, that is, registration as an individual entrepreneur is quite sufficient.
This process is carried out at the tax office at the place of registration.

If we talk about sellers, their payment can consist of either a salary and a percentage of sales, or entirely from a percentage of sales. It is also necessary to understand that the flower trade has a specific nature, so the pavilion should open early and close closer to midnight, because people buy flowers at any time. This fact indicates that it is necessary to hire two workers, not one.

An important factor in the success of any small retail trade is the choice of location: on the one hand, it should be accessible (close to a bus stop, metro station), and on the other hand, there should be no competitors nearby. As for the pavilion itself, it can be purchased or rented.

Contacts with suppliers are equally important. Alternatively, you can negotiate supplies with a flower greenhouse. But to keep your risks minimal, it is better to conclude a deal like this: the seller pays for the flowers that were sold, and the unsold goods are returned to the supplier.

When opening a pavilion, you should remember that flowers in such places are bought by people with low salaries, so they always want to save the money they earn. Thus, it turns out that you should not buy professional stands, expensive decorative shelves and other delights, because due to their insolvency, this category of the population does not like “pretty”.

You don’t need to invest a lot of money, all your strength and soul into the pavilion, because then it will look like a real store. This will not lead to a good result: buyers will think that they are charging exorbitant prices for unnecessary beauty, that is, they will not buy flowers.

Starting your own business with a high-quality online store franchise is the best solution for beginners:

The optimal design option for a flower pavilion: wooden shelves, ordinary plastic buckets, vases, table-counter, racks for bouquets. The buyer will immediately see that the people here are friendly and there are no exorbitant prices. The assortment must be dealt with accordingly; it should not be too multifaceted, since buyers cannot afford rare and expensive flowers.

For example, you can offer clients the following choice: 5-7 varieties of Colombian roses, 2-3 types of medium-sized Dutch roses, 4-6 varieties of chrysanthemums, and, of course, lilies, gerberas, irises, tulips and some greenery. There should also be 5-6 ready-made bouquets available, several of which are in red and white colors.

And one more important point - you don’t need to keep flower vases half empty. The point is that clients think very unconventionally: many believe that a product in demand has long been sold and the most unclaimed flowers remain.

And some people think that a half-empty vase is evidence of the insolvency of the owner of the pavilion, because the vases are not bursting with flowers (of course, the buyer will take flowers from the most filled vase). This mistake should not be made, so you need to resort to tricks by mixing the ending flowers with other varieties and removing the empty containers away.

Yes, finding a good place for a store today is difficult, since the best places are already occupied, and if it becomes vacant, you need to be prepared for high rental rates.

Of course, setting up a store and choosing an assortment is a more complex task than designing a pavilion, but knowing the subtleties and nuances, you can do everything as correctly as possible, providing yourself with a normal profit.

general information

A flower shop should look cozy, comfortable, attractive, and it should also have modern renovations. In addition, you should purchase neat floral stands, display tables, exquisite shelves made of wood veneer, chrome, hanging racks for packaging, metal or glass vases/flasks for flowers.

In addition, you need to have:

  • — coolers;
  • - knives and pruners;
  • - computer, printer, internet.

There should also be business cards on the table (not necessarily the best ones, inexpensive instant printing is also suitable), it is advisable to equip the entrance with a warm curtain, and the store should have air conditioning and a glass refrigerator.

It should be said that clients of flower shops are completely different buyers: people come to the store because they no longer accept pavilions and are ready to pay money for sellers to adapt to their tastes.

Naturally, these are still far from being clients of florist boutiques, because buyers study price tags, choose and demand something.

As for the assortment, it should be extensive and varied. For example, this option is good: ten to fifteen shades of roses, eight to ten types of chrysanthemums, four types of lilies, gerberas and a wide selection of spring flowers.

Exotic and tropical flowers, such as orchids, strelitzia, hydrangeas, anthuriums, are welcome, but they need to be purchased in small quantities. This is due to the fact that customers want to have choice, demand it, but still rarely use it, preferring traditional colors.

As already mentioned, you should diversify your assortment with potted plants, soils, ceramics and similar products. For example, if we consider potted plants, the business should be developed in two directions: plants that bloom in the appropriate season, and more unpretentious plants (ficus, cacti, dracaenas, monstera).

Choosing a name for the store is the main point

As one famous cartoon character said, “whatever you call the yacht, that’s how it will sail.” This statement is beyond doubt, so this aspect needs to be given special attention.

The name of the store should give people joy, it should sound beautiful and somehow flowery. Also, the name should be easy to remember and not be associated with things that are inappropriate for the topic: jewelry, perfumes.

Plus, you should conduct a thorough analysis of the consumer category, observing competitors near your outlet. After the age of potential buyers has been determined, you should filter out previously invented names, leaving only those that will attract people from the target audience.

A short step-by-step guide to opening a flower shop

So, to summarize the above and supplement it with new arguments, you can draw up the following action plan:

  • — to begin with, it is advisable to get a basic education in the field of flower business: for example, enroll in florist courses. You also need to read specialized literature, do not forget to monitor news on the Internet in order to keep abreast of events and understand modern trends;
  • — business registration – if knowledge in this area is not enough, you can turn to a law firm for help. Employees of such an organization will, for a fee, provide competent advice and help prepare a package of documents;
  • — the store premises must be located in a place with a high degree of traffic, and it must also be open to view;
    — acquisition of necessary equipment and tools;
  • — the choice of suppliers is no less important. At this stage, you need to study the lists of organizations from which you can purchase flowers (greenhouses, agricultural farms). You should also inquire about the quality of the products, find out the terms of delivery and look for reviews about the supplier;
  • — equipment and decorative design of the store. Here you can use your imagination and knowledge acquired in florist courses. IN mandatory the window must be attractive so that people passing by will want to enter the store;
  • - additional benefits will always come in handy - this can include delivery, creation of creative and original congratulations. Such options have a positive effect on expanding the audience of buyers;
  • - the advertisement is engine of the trade. This rule has not been canceled, because it is extremely effective.

Anti-wilting remedies are a separate topic

A guide to starting a flower business would be incomplete without mentioning special products that are added to water and prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria.

Belgian powdered probiotics, as well as antibacterial preservative additives, are often used to combat harmful microorganisms. As for the cheapest options, these are old and, one might say, “penny” remedies: acetylsalicylic acid, potassium permanganate, citric acid.

If you have big plans to develop a promising business and want to acquire regular customers, you should not get carried away with special products, that is, preservatives and probiotics, because such substances disable the plant’s immunity to bacterial background.

The result is obvious - the buyer brings flowers home, puts them in ordinary tap water, the bouquet is extremely quickly affected by bacteria and fades.
Fast-fading plants are best used to create floral paintings and dry bouquets, rather than imitating a living appearance until the minute of sale, deceiving the client.

Florist boutique - the pinnacle of the flower business

What do you need to do to open a flower salon?

The very first step is finding a suitable location. But now you should take into account not only the location, but also be guided by the possibility of carrying out repairs and radical redevelopment.

It is much better if the premises are owned or, as a last resort, it can be rented for a long time. The fact is that a florist boutique is a promising business, but its development will require a certain period of time.
The basic principles to be applied in practice are:

  • — careful maintenance of customer databases, confidentiality;
  • — the owner of the boutique must regularly attend exhibitions and read a lot of literature;
  • — flowers are purchased only from trusted suppliers, even despite high prices;
  • — it is necessary to hire only professional florists with a name and good work experience;
  • — the owner of the salon is obliged to understand all the details himself, starting with the storage conditions of certain varieties of flowers and potted plants, and ending with the intricacies of creating unusual compositions.

Florist salon

- This is not only the sale of flowers, but also the provision of a wide range of additional services: for example, working with exotic plants that are brought to order. In a word, the salon knows each client by name, serves him tea/coffee, takes into account tastes and wishes, and sells these services for big money.

It should also be noted that there is no need to deceive customers - if it is not possible to deliver a specific type of flowers on time, it is better to say so directly, since customers of this kind primarily value the level of service.

As for the actual design of the room, everything should be thought out to the smallest detail. For example, a separate room is needed to store auxiliary materials, and packs of unprocessed flowers in buckets do not need to be displayed.

To equip a mid-range boutique you should purchase:

  • — good floral stands;
  • - glass refrigerator;
  • - a couple of tables, chairs;
  • — it is advisable to hang tulle and curtains on the windows, avoiding the use of blinds;
  • - at least one computer and a full set of office equipment. As for the program, the most preferable option is 1C, because it is ideal for the needs of an accountant, storekeeper, and client manager.

Thus, we can make an unambiguous conclusion: the salon should be decorated stylishly, but only in a non-minimalistic way, because it sells emotions and, of course, flowers...

But what about the assortment? It should satisfy any request, striking in breadth and variety. Suddenly a client wants purple roses, and the answer is “we’ll bring it from Holland soon, don’t worry.”

A significant advantage of a florist boutique is the fact that there is no need for wholesale purchases of large quantities of flowers. The reason is clear - buyers understand what the “bring to order” service means, since they encounter similar procedures every day.

For example, you can buy flowers in a pack, but there must be at least fifty species. In addition, the ratio of roses to other flowers is significantly reduced, because the assortment includes Dutch gladioli, lilies of the valley, and daffodils.

But this is not all the advantages of a business of this format, because clients do not require long-lasting color durability. If the bouquet lasts for three days, that will be enough for them. What does this give? The secret is that it opens up great opportunities in terms of performing various weaving and stringing techniques.

It turns out that although the bouquet will not last long, it is a real work of art, original and unique.
When opening a high-level flower boutique, you should remember that the more services you offer, the better. People buy houses and apartments, and the task of florists is to create a pleasant atmosphere there, conducive to relaxation. These can be freshly cut flowers, potted plants, candlesticks, vases. All taken together creates a special microclimate in the room, improving mood and filling a person with vital energy.

The same applies to office workspaces, because people spend a lot of time at work. For example, you can decorate the walls with paintings or magnificent panels of dried flowers. Here the flight of imagination is unlimited; if you have talent, then the business will go up.

In addition to creating bouquets and compositions, designers design events, developing an individual approach to each client. Today, floristry has reached its peak, since flowers can be used to make unimaginable compositions on walls, garlands, and stunning wedding bouquets. It is also possible to create combined flower baskets, for example, from dried flowers and living plants.

You can look for clients for a florist salon either on your own, or you need to establish connections with wedding firms and interior design organizations. Of course, you will have to deduct a certain percentage from each order received, but there will be no shortage of customers, that is, the business will actively develop.

Concerning winter period, at this time of year there are fewer holidays and celebrations, but this is not a reason for relaxation. For example, in winter you can be busy with interior design, selling accessories, and flowers in pots.

Creating an online store is a rational solution

It's a new century, web resources are in great demand today, because they are the future. For this reason, you should seriously think about creating your own online store based on a functioning business.

For example, if a flower shop is already open, you need to look for sources of direct sales. Not every entrepreneur can open an entire chain of stores, but one a store does not always provide a sufficient number of clients. What to do? How to find buyers? Some business owners prefer passive actions, relying on third-party factors:

  • - quality;
  • - service;
  • - attractive price of the product.

This is the wrong path that you should not follow if you need to achieve certain heights and earn good capital. Innovative technologies Nowadays they are developing rapidly and it is difficult to do without them. This means that opening an online store is not a whim, but an urgent necessity.

If an online store was created on the basis of a florist boutique, you should simply promote it and make a profit. In addition, the site must be reliably protected so that competitors do not copy photos of your works and then pass them off as their own. But it is advisable to supplement the business card website with video recordings of master classes on making flower arrangements.

You can go even further, because such master classes can develop into floristry courses. Such courses today are in incredible demand both among those who want to grow professionally and among those who simply want to master a beautiful hobby. That is, by creating such a resource, you can not only increase income, but also prepare potential employees.

It is unlikely that you will be able to create a highly profitable online store on your own, because absolutely all aspects must be taken into account. For example, if you consider a design, you can order an individual version or use a ready-made template. The main thing is that it is attractive, inviting, and memorable for buyers. As for excessive decorativeness, it is important not to overdo it so that the client does not forget why he came to the site.

As for the choice of hosting, it all depends on the space that needs to be allocated for the store - there is no need to save on content, because you will have to place a lot of photos of bouquets and arrangements. One of the main indicators of the good operation of an Internet resource is its availability at any time of the day, and this requires high server speed.

The domain name should not only match the activity, but also be easy to remember. It’s great if the number of characters in it is minimal. In fact, it is difficult to find a suitable option, but there is no need to give up, because the domain name is chosen for a long period.

In a word, the process of creating an online store is a painstaking task, so it is much better to take the help of qualified professionals so that everything works like clockwork.

We understand that to create a successful business: “Law Agency” you need to have special education and experience. But you might be interested in the guide:
Creating a successful business is important, but achieving success in your personal life is equally important: Read more >>

It is also possible to do business in such a way that an online store does not have a basic foundation. How does this actually happen?
The bottom line is that a bouquet workshop is being equipped that sells bouquets exclusively via the Internet. This approach to doing business has its advantages, because you don’t need to:

  • - look for a landlord;
  • — hire staff;
  • — spend money on repairs and equipment of the store;
  • — buy equipment;
  • — to wage a zealous struggle with numerous competitors.

In principle, clients do not visit such a workshop, but still the possibility of such meetings should be provided for, for example, if a large customer comes across. From a financial point of view, the best option is to rent an office in an inexpensive building.

The office should have a reception area, combined with an office containing equipment, and, of course, a workshop: florists work there and couriers await orders.

There is no doubt that the office must have a well-thought-out communication system, both mobile and local, since several calls can be made at the same time - each of them is very important, because this is the only source of income.

To be honest, in Russia this way of doing business cannot be called highly effective, so it is better to have retail outlets and create a virtual resource on their basis.

We think it’s wrong to create an online store that sells exclusively flowers. The online store also sells other related products very well. For example, you can create an online store for indoor flowers, an online store selling flowers in pots, an online store for artificial flowers, an online store for flower seedlings, an online store for flower vases, etc.

There are a lot of related products and even flower directions for which you can create several small online stores or combine them all into one mega online store.

The main secrets of competent organization of a flower business

If you are ready to open a profitable but risky business, familiarize yourself with some important aspects, which, in fact, will be discussed further.

Thorough study of the nuances of the market

There shouldn’t be any special problems in starting a business: you need to rent a retail outlet, fill out the necessary documents, order flowers from suppliers and you can begin your development. But still, first you should think through everything carefully, analyze the situation, find out whether there are many competitors and how strong they are.

Formation of the most popular assortment

Large turnover is the most important component of the flower business. Alternatively, the assortment can be traditional: roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, gerberas, tulips. Due to this “gold reserve”, the owners of this business cover monthly expenses, that is, taxes, rent of a retail outlet, and staff salaries. Why are roses the most profitable to sell?

Here we are talking not only about the subjective preferences of clients, but also about economic and biological factors. In simple words, this is easily explained: a rose bush blooms without replanting for several years, but chrysanthemums have to be planted every year.

For a novice businessman, such knowledge will be very useful, because economic efficiency depends on it.

Good place for a retail outlet

The profitability of the flower trade directly depends on the location of the pavilion, store, or salon. Retail outlets near the metro, in underground passages and other places with a high degree of traffic are the fastest to pay for themselves.

Also, flower trade to some extent is of a momentary nature: a man walked past a store, saw flowers of extraordinary beauty, went in and bought them, although he had no intention of doing so.

Correct storage conditions for flowers

Flowers are a specific product; they will not wait long for their buyer and will simply wither. The period for their implementation is not very long, so in a short period of time they must go from the supplier to the client’s apartment.

The path begins with the fact that freshly cut flowers are cooled to a temperature of 0-8 degrees - this slows down chemical processes, plus, the flowers can be treated with drugs that slow down the rotting process. They are also placed in a nutrient solution of ascorbic acid or glucose, carefully packaged and delivered to the airport (of course, if we are talking about overseas deliveries).

While the plane is in the air, a customs declaration is completed; after arrival, the cargo is inspected by customs officers and phytosanitary services, and after their approval, the flowers are released for free circulation.

In the first stages of doing business, proper organization of supplies and sales are the main tasks of a novice entrepreneur. This is where the main drawback of the business lies, since the maximum sales period for most types of flowers is a week. This means that the entrepreneur must calculate possible risks and order only the volume that will be sold on time.

Flexible pricing policy

Offering clients exclusively expensive and exotic flowers is inappropriate, because not everyone has the same financial capabilities. It’s good when the client can purchase a cheaper option, for example, buy flowers wrapped in wrapping paper. But richer people buy arranged bouquets, and then pay additionally for the services of a florist designer.

The fruits of activity must be visible

What does this mean? Of course, we are talking about participating in various exhibitions: on the one hand, you show what you are capable of, and on the other, new clients are attracted.
If the business is already well developed, you can act as a sponsor at some event - designers decorate the hall, make bouquets for presentations, thereby advertising their skills.

Flower business– a serious activity that requires maximum attention, knowledge, and skills. Practice shows that the costs pay off in about a year and a half, so with a sound mind, you can achieve good results. Luck favors brave and determined people, and those who don’t take risks don’t drink champagne, this is a well-known fact.

You might be interested: Video - THE ART OF BUSINESS: Making money on flowers:

Today, the flower business is very popular among novice businessmen. Many people are interested in where to start a flower business, the profitability of a flower shop and the possibility of creating this business from scratch in small town or at home.

You can start it with a minimal investment, or enter “in a big way” by investing a tidy sum. The cost of a flower business depends on the city, the chosen format, the features of the product range and services. Based on this, it is impossible to write a general business plan and calculate the profitability of a flower shop so that it reflects reality. In this article we will look at the nuances and risks, pros and cons of a flower business from scratch, depending on its chosen form, which will help the reader get a general idea, form their own opinion and individually predict the profitability of the flower business.

No one will dispute the fact that there are very few people in the world who are completely indifferent to flowers. And, passing by the window of a flower shop, we involuntarily slow down and stop to admire the bright buds of flowers, baskets with flower arrangements, and ready-made bouquets. Many people, especially women, dream of working as a florist or having their own small flower shop, or maybe a large salon, or an online store. After all, giving people a holiday every day is wonderful! Where to start a flower business?

If you decide to engage in this type of activity, first of all you need to get acquainted with its three risky features, without taking into account which many entrepreneurs quickly lose money and close down:

Seasonality.

Flowers do not grow with the same consistency and do not have a fixed price all year round. In order to correctly compose the assortment in the store and calculate the costs of subsequent purchases, you need to study the varieties of flowers and the periods of their appearance in the markets. Thus, a universal flower is the rose, which is popular and available for purchase all year round. But you can’t fill the counter with just one rose. In the spring, you should focus your assortment on all sorts of tulips, and buy carnations closer to May. In summer, the greatest variety of seasonal flowers is chamomile, gladiolus, alstroemeria, which allows you to expand the assortment. Also in summer it is necessary not to miss peonies, the season for which is extremely short, but the demand is quite high. In autumn, in addition to the chrysanthemums that have appeared, you should purchase soil, fertilizers, and pots, since this is the time to replant indoor flowers. Winter is the most expensive period for purchases; frost-resistant callas, lilies, and orchids are purchased. It is better not to plan the launch and opening of your business for the winter if you are starting from scratch.

Orientation and sufficient knowledge of information is a necessary aspect that will help you be competitive in the market, especially in a small town.

Dependence on holidays.

“Golden” days for flower gardeners are generally accepted holidays, such as February 14 (Valentine's Day) and March 8 (International Women's Day). If the business is not built competently, then the flower shop survives solely on such celebrations and makes about 10% of its annual turnover on such days. This is especially felt in a small town with the presence of a stronger competitor store.

The inseparability of flowers from holiday traditions is a big plus in favor of the flower business. Thus, a family can save on a new backpack for a child to go to school, but will not send it to the teacher on the first of September without flowers, and a bride can rent a wedding dress instead of buying, but will never refuse a wedding bouquet.

You should also not forget that the presence of a rush during the holidays also has several pitfalls: prices at wholesale bases increase in advance, deliveries of goods may be disrupted, and poor work of sellers and couriers distributing your goods can lead to dissatisfaction, negative reviews and subsequent customer outflow. Therefore, business owners should be especially on alert and keep everything under strict control, and novice businessmen should open from scratch not before the holiday itself, but a little in advance in order to establish a work pattern.

Perishable goods.

Flowers are an extremely short-lived product. The average lifespan of a flower at the right temperature is about twenty days. Since the majority of the goods come from abroad, the cut flower lives most of its remaining life on the way to the store (especially if the store works with resellers and not with direct deliveries). There are several technologies for transporting flowers and options for receiving them from a wholesaler: buying dried flowers and then “soldering” them or flowers in water, which are immediately ready for sale, but will last much less.

Once it reaches the seller, there is no guarantee that the flower will be bought quickly. Today there are no fixed expiration dates for flowers and the return of spoiled goods, as in the grocery sector. The testimony of working businessmen regarding the amount of damaged goods written off ranges from 10% to 50% of the total amount of goods. The profitability of a flower shop directly depends on this indicator.

There are the following ways to solve this problem:

  • reducing the price of flowers that have a short life left, and, as a last resort, selling at cost. It's better to go to zero than to go negative. An additional advantage of this option to resolve the situation will be the availability of goods and, accordingly, attracting new customers. The main thing is to teach your sellers to honestly warn about the fragility of the purchased goods instead of assuring them of their freshness, so as not to tarnish the reputation of their store;
  • the use of probiotics, preservatives, citric acid and other additives. These products really help the flower look fresh and last until it is sold, but they kill the natural immunity of the flower itself. After the buyer puts flowers in ordinary water at home, bacteria from it will quickly defeat the flower, which can also have a bad effect on the store’s reputation.

How a novice businessman can choose the required format of a flower business

There are several options for the format of a flower business. It is necessary to determine what initial capital you have. Flower trading requires certain investments. The format of flower trade will depend on this.

Flower business at home from scratch.

It involves making and selling bouquets yourself.

Flower business at home - where to start? First you need to master the art of floristry, having previously completed florist courses (of which there are a lot on the Internet), read a certain amount of literature about flowers and the rules of composition, color combinations, methods of arranging bouquets, practice and get your hands on. After mastering the necessary skills, you can start making bouquets for your relatives, friends, and colleagues at work. Having shown taste and imagination, having invested your soul, you give a bouquet. In case of high-quality execution, it will be remembered not only by the person to whom the gift is intended, but also by the guests, after which word of mouth will do its job. To promote a home-based business, it is mandatory to use social networks (Vkontakte, Instagram, Facebook). It is necessary to create pages dedicated to your works, fill them with quality content, make photo reports and advertise to the required audience. The more people see your masterpieces, rate them and write comments, the better.

This format has its pros and cons.

The advantage is that you build your own work time, you are at home, compositions and bouquets are made to order. Such a business does not require large start-up capital, equipment and premises, or hiring staff. You can allocate a shelf in your home refrigerator for flowers, and store them on the balcony in cold weather. There is no need to purchase an assortment in advance, which, in turn, insures you against their write-off, taking into account the fact that flowers are a perishable product.

However, this also entails disadvantages - flowers are bought at retail, which automatically reduces profits and profitability when selling bouquets. Only confident Internet users can become customers, which makes the profit from the work inconsistent. Your customer will not be able to preview and touch the product being purchased, which increases the risk of returned orders. Therefore, this format of flower business is more of a hobby that brings in minimal income. Although, with diligence and diligence, your hobby can bring a good profit and become a “training field” before releasing your products offline, if, having accumulated some experience and gained experience in arranging bouquets, your desires and ambitions push you to develop further.

Flower stall/kiosk/pavilion.

The most common flower business format is small retail space with a small range of goods. The main role in the profitability of this form of flower business is played by the choice of location. It should be crowded and passable. Location options: passage, stop, metro station, market, that is, places where people constantly gather. You should target buyers with average or below average incomes. Products are purchased mainly from intermediaries and local producers and are mainly rose, chrysanthemum and seasonal flowers. The cost of the flower and packaging should be low, which affects profitability.

This format also has its pros and cons.

Plus - no large investments are required. Thus, a small volume of goods and minimal equipment are purchased. Rent for a modest premises is also usually not high. During the holidays, there is a sharp increase in demand for goods, which helps to gain profit and recoup investments.

But the rest of the time the profitability of such a stall is 25-30%. The owner is his own caretaker, seller, and accountant. You can hire a salesperson. Hiring a professional florist, given the limited range of flowers, does not make sense. A very small share of the profit comes from flower packaging.

The competition is very strong. If you set out to start a flower business from scratch in a small town, you should beat your competitors with quality, the right choice of place for trading, and the maximum expansion of the range of services. The main thing to strive for is the opening of a network of such pavilions. This will help make your services recognizable, expand your range and start purchasing goods in large quantities from direct suppliers, which will affect the freshness and price of flowers.

Flower shop.

The main difference between a flower shop and the above forms of business is the presence of a large area. Accordingly, the answer to the question “how to start a flower business” in this case will involve large investments.

The first thing to do is to draw up a business plan and choose a busy place, purchase refrigeration equipment where vases with cut flowers will be stored, tables on which bouquets will be collected and packaged, racks for related products, computer equipment, etc.

The shop implies the presence of a florist. Whether he will simultaneously perform the function of a salesperson, or whether they will be two different people – it’s up to you to decide. Recruitment should be taken very seriously. The reputation of the store, and therefore sales and the accumulation of regular customers, will depend on the quality of services provided by employees.

The profitability of a flower shop increases due to the sale of additional products. These can be not only cut flowers in a bouquet, but also compositions, boxes and baskets of flowers created by a florist, flowers in pots, seedlings, empty pots, all kinds of fertilizers, soil, seeds, decorative stands for flowers and much more. Also, the presence of a large area makes it possible to introduce related services: gift wrapping, sale of all kinds of souvenirs, postcards, production of helium balloons. This will significantly increase sales volume.

The disadvantages of such a store include the fact that it requires large costs and investments and, accordingly, pays off more slowly. But due to the large number of related products and a wider assortment, the store provides a fairly stable profit.

Flower boutique.

Opening a flower business in a boutique format requires significant investments and costs. But the return is much higher, due to the work of professionals and the solvency of clients. After all, such bouquets belong to the “Premium” class and are created for wealthy people.

You should find a room on the main street or in a large mall. It must be properly formatted. It's better if it's a design project. Mandatory attributes are a beautiful name and a tastefully decorated display case, expensive custom-made furniture, industrial and high-quality refrigeration equipment.

It is not enough for the seller in the flower shop to be smiling and inviting. What is needed is a professional florist with a variety of skills, who not only has a good understanding of flowers and knows how they are combined in color, but also delves into traditions and subtleties. Namely, which plants are not customary to put in one bouquet, which bouquets are suitable according to etiquette for a child, a young girl or woman, a man, a friend or a boss, which bouquet is appropriate to give depending on a specific event, and so on. When choosing this format, the assortment should include exotic, rare flowers, the losses when written off are naturally much higher.

Products purchased in a boutique must have the label of the place on them, because the buyer acquires not only the flower, but also the prestige that goes with it.

If the main question for you is how to start a flower business from scratch, then this flower business option may not be suitable due to the large investments.

Corporate orders in the flower business.

Regardless of what format of the flower business you choose, corporate orders can bring big profits, which include small bouquets of compliments to employees, huge baskets of flowers for an event, or room decoration for any event.

A flower boutique and store has a much higher chance of finding a large corporate client than a pavilion, or a person who has opened a flower business at home. But it's worth making the effort to search.

It could be small cafe, where your small bouquets will be placed on the tables by agreement on mutually beneficial terms, or a large wedding agency will regularly involve you in decorating tables, rooms and wedding arches with flower arrangements.

Work with corporate client can bring in profit at one time, which you cannot get in a month by selling bouquets at retail.

Equipment for flowers

As we can see, different forms of running a flower business determine the list of equipment. Let's look at the most common items that are needed:

Cooling equipment.

No one wants to receive a rose as a gift, even the most beautiful one, on a long stem, but with dried petals and withered leaves. Therefore, when opening your own flower trading business, you need to take care of equipment that will be designed to preserve the freshness of the flower for as long as possible. In a home-based business, you can use a home refrigerator.

In other cases, the room can be equipped with an air conditioner that maintains a certain temperature. The power of the air conditioning system depends on the size of the room. These systems can work both to cool the air and to heat it. But the air conditioner keeps the temperature at 16 degrees, and cut flowers are best stored at temperatures up to 6 degrees.

The best solution, although the most expensive, is refrigeration chambers, which allow you to create the optimal temperature for storing the flower. They come in different capacities, single-chamber or double-chamber (more spacious). The main criterion when choosing is the ability to create and maintain the optimal temperature for storing the flower.

  1. Racks and showcases for flowers. They can be of any shape. Stepped, pyramidal or slide-shaped. The main thing is capacity and stability. But, since flowers are constantly watered and sprayed, the material for the rack must be strong and moisture-resistant.
  2. Tables. These are jobs for a seller and a florist. A table is necessary for packing bouquets and creating flower arrangements. It must be made of high-quality material, be smooth and stable. The optimal parameters for a table are 120 by 80, height - 75 cm. It is advisable that the table is in the field of view of customers. By observing the florist at work and the process of creating bouquets, visitors evaluate the professional skills of the workers, and for potential buyers, the creation of a beautiful bouquet serves as advertising.
  3. Equipment that can be added.

The store can also be equipped with a thermal curtain. It is usually located at the entrance to the store. Used to ensure that the weather outside does not affect the climate in the store.

For southern light-loving plants, it will be useful to purchase phytolamps. They will warm flowers at any time of the year.

In addition to all of the above, when starting a flower business you need spatulas, pruning shears, sprinklers, watering cans, plastic flower vases and much more. Also, when opening a store, do not forget about decorative elements, wrapping paper, bags, baskets, ribbons, etc.

All materials and equipment must be of high quality. After all, the conditions for storing flowers and their comfortable maintenance will ensure an increase in the duration of storage. And this will entail an increase in profits and profitability, a decrease in the payback period of the business.

Discount cards.

It is worth taking care of preparing discount cards for clients in advance. This will ensure that customers contact you again and develop a database of customer phone numbers. In the future, they can be notified by SMS messages about the availability of promotions, the arrival of fresh goods, new products, as well as congratulations on the holidays and under other pretexts to remind them of themselves.

When opening a flower pavilion, store or boutique, you need to choose the right retail equipment. The dimensions of all installations depend on the area of ​​the room. The commercial equipment market is very diverse. Furniture can be purchased either ready-made from specialized companies or made to order. Whether you use industrial refrigeration chambers or regular refrigerated counters, like in supermarkets, to store food depends on your financial capabilities.

How to organize a flower business in terms of hiring staff for the store

The organization of the personnel structure directly depends on the chosen form of flower business, as well as on your willingness to directly participate in the work or exclusively control the work of the hired personnel.

Let's consider the basic units of frames:

Florist.

This is the designer and creator of your bouquets. He must be in love with his work, have a delicate taste, understand coloristics (the science of combining colors), master the methods and generally accepted rules for composing bouquets, and be interested in new products and fashion trends in the world of flowers. Today, the position of “florist” is an officially registered specialty. There are a huge variety of courses on floristry, including those that take place online. You should not thoughtlessly hire a florist who has many certificates of completion. You should double-check on the Internet the conditions for obtaining them and the reputation of the institutions that issued them. Since a florist is a creative profession, it requires talent and intuition, and not exclusively acquired knowledge. During an interview, it is worth testing the employee’s abilities in practice, place an order for him, give him several requirements, like a real buyer, and evaluate the actual performance of the work and the taste of the applicant.

In his free time from composing compositions, the florist must also care for the goods, take care of the fresh appearance and long life of the plants.

Salesman.

There are creative people and sales people. A florist is not always a good seller. Depending on the size of your business, it may be advisable to hire a separate unit - a salesperson who will communicate with visitors, count customers, and answer phone calls. He must be able to attract the client’s attention and persuade him to buy the product. To increase the incentive to bring profit to your store, it is recommended to hire a seller on the terms of a small rate and a percentage of the revenue received.

In most cases, the seller plays the role of accountant and administrator. If a business has pages on the Internet, it is the seller who posts the product range online, responds to comments and accepts online orders.

Courier.

Today there are almost no flower shops that do not have a delivery service. This is an integral part of the flower business. Depending on the scale of the business created, either a separate unit is hired - a courier with his own car, who delivers bouquets, or an agreement is made with a driver. For example, with a taxi driver who is ready to deliver flowers according to the meter, or if this is a market and there are several pavilions with flowers in a row, by agreement you can hire a common driver for everyone.

Accountant.

Floral accounting is subject to general rules for commercial enterprises; the sale of flowers in a store is regarded as retail. It can be maintained either by the owner or seller (by prior agreement), or by a hired accountant. Typically, accountants run several businesses, so payment for their work occurs under a contract and does not require a high monthly salary.

Security guard.

Don't forget about the costs associated with taking the store under security. If the store is 24 hours a day, the night salesperson performs the security guard function.

The flower business can be called one of the most profitable in the middle segment, if it is properly organized and you understand its nuances. A small business will not bring in much income, but will be a good starting point for subsequent expansion. On the other hand, it can bring losses. To start earning good money and not lose your investment, let’s look at the question of how to open a flower shop from scratch and run a successful business. First, let's determine the scale of the future trading enterprise. It could be:

    salon or store with an average area of ​​60-80 sq. meters;

    a small point on the street under a canopy or a kiosk of 8-20 sq. m;

    department in a shopping or entertainment center 10-25 sq. m.

If you have free funds, it is better to invest them immediately in a store, since with the right location it will bring more than 100,000 rubles a month, while a small outlet will give no more than 50,000 rubles. The point here is not the quantity of fragrant goods sold, but the status of the salon, assortment and prices.

A kiosk or street point focuses on cut flowers collected in bouquets. A flower shop can provide the buyer, in addition to freshly cut flowers, with floral arrangements, collecting bouquets to order, decorating premises, holding master classes, exhibitions, competitions, offering designer decorations for interiors along the way, and selling indoor plants. In addition, wealthy customers interested in expensive products will never go to a kiosk or tent, but will go straight to the showroom. Thus, the most profitable business would be to open a flower shop rather than a kiosk.

Investment size

Step-by-step instruction

Having decided to open a flower shop, you need to look for a suitable place and carefully study the scope of your future activity: popular goods, suppliers, terms and conditions for the existence of live goods, the presence of competitors and their assortment. The close proximity of competitors will be unprofitable, but it’s worth learning from them. A new store with a salon of a similar type should be separated from yours by at least 2 blocks. However, by looking at them, you can see and determine not only the cost of goods, but also your future audience. If the pavilion is replete with expensive offers, and competitors are not sitting idle, then the demand in this area is for expensive, premium goods.

Repair and decoration of premises

Having figured out the location, suppliers, and competition, you can start looking for suitable premises and setting up your business. If there is financial opportunity, a store or trading platform It’s better to purchase property without fear that the tenant will change his mind and ask to vacate the premises. Renting is an option for more budget-friendly promotion. In any case, the inside and sometimes the outside of the store will need to be redecorated.

Note that the simplicity of the interior when targeting the premium segment will spoil the first impression of wealthy clients who enter there. Even when selling medium-priced and cheap goods, it is necessary to maintain the spirit of beauty and artistry. Then, even if the freshness is not the first, a simple flower product will be perceived by the buyer as quite acceptable for the middle class. Do not disdain architectural decor, glass, mirrors, large chandeliers, lamps, lighting. Due to the need to maintain a certain temperature for the well-being of plants, it is worthwhile to provide a climate control system.

Equipment for a flower shop

    Racks, showcases.

    Stands, shelves, racks.

    Work tables, counters.

    Buckets, containers, vases.

    Light boxes, lighting.

    Refrigeration equipment.

    Tools for cutting stems.

Selection of assortment

It is not recommended to buy rare and unfamiliar flowers at the beginning; it is better to do this later, when the flower business gets on its feet and develops a client base. Even if you are subsequently going to trade Flowering Palms, Cussonias and Oleanders, it is better to start with the most popular ones, which include:

    carnations,

  • chrysanthemums,

    garden daisies,

  • hyacinths,

To decorate floral arrangements and bouquets, it is advisable to have a supply of fern, Umbrella, Asparagus, Nephrolepis or other decorative additions to add to bouquets. In winter, the paws of coniferous plants will come in handy. They will allow you to create magnificent New Year's combinations. Let's add to this foil, packaging film, ribbons, baskets, boxes, pots, flowerpots, vases and other paraphernalia necessary for packaging, maintaining and displaying flowers. Domestic and imported manufacturers are chosen as suppliers. This will greatly affect the cost and assortment.

Hiring

The boutique will require at least 2 salespeople working in shifts, a florist and an administrator. You will need to hire a cleaner. At first, the entrepreneur himself can act as an administrator. His duties will primarily involve accepting applications in person, by phone or through the website, if available. Payment to sellers will be 15-20 thousand rubles per month. Experts recommend giving employees a minimum salary and assigning a percentage of revenue. This will help to maximize the interest of staff in selling the product.

The cleaning lady is paid 5-7 thousand a month, she can be a visiting person. Many send staff to special courses in design and floristry, which cost from 10 to 40 thousand rubles. You don’t have to hire a florist in the first months of work, since his services are quite expensive. Later, you can either hire a separate specialist or train your employees.

Choosing a building in which to locate a store is not easy. In addition to the lack of competition nearby, there are many nuances to consider. When choosing, calculations must be made either for high cross-country ability or for the level of residents. If the area is prestigious, with elite buildings, you can count on a sufficient number of “dear” clients.

It is necessary to take care of the accessibility of the future store. It is necessary to provide good access roads for cars and free parking. You will probably have to improve the nearby area: lay paving slabs, make comfortable stairs, a ramp, plant flower beds, and perhaps sow a small lawn. The vegetation in front of a flower boutique should be of the highest level, because it is the business card of the store, along with shop windows and signboards.

Documentation

Mine new business you need to register as an individual business or limited liability company (IP or LLC). To begin with, it is quite appropriate to choose an individual entrepreneur and register it according to the OKVED category 52.48.32. You can choose the taxation system: simplified tax system or UTII. You must purchase and register a cash register. If you open an LLC, you will need a stamp, which must be ordered and registered with the tax authority. To open a flower shop, you will need to collect the following documents:

    Certificate of opening of an individual entrepreneur or LLC with statutory documents.

    Permit to trade.

    The conclusion of the SES that the premises can be used as a store.

    Permission from the fire inspectorate.

    Packing list.

    Book of complaints and suggestions.

Accounting and tax reporting can be outsourced by contacting a consulting company or a private accountant. It is not profitable to have a full-time accountant for accounting, preparation and sending of reporting documents.

Opening checklist

Is it profitable to open

The flower industry is a fairly profitable business, despite fierce competition and high financial and time initial costs. With a well-chosen assortment, location and organization of uninterrupted supplies of high-quality, fresh goods, this activity brings florist salons more than 6 million rubles a year. The main profitable days are public holidays; on other days flowers are bought for personal or corporate purposes. Orders for decoration of anniversaries, weddings and other celebrations will bring significant profit to the salon. The costs of its maintenance are quite reasonable:

    Rent of premises - 80,000 rubles.

    Employee salary is 75,000 rubles.

    Utility bills - 8,000 rubles.

    Purchase of flowers and other goods - 200,000 rubles.

    Taxes - 5,000 rubles.

    Accounting services - 5,000 rubles.

    Additional expenses - 10,000 rubles.

Total: 383,000 rubles.

With an average markup of 70%, you can get 140,000 net profit per unit of goods. Let’s add the services of making bouquets, which increase the cost by 10%, making arrangements, bringing another 50%, and we’ll get a very pleasant amount of average income per month. Holidays and weekends will increase daily revenue by 2 or 3 times.