How to Start a Florist Business for Stay at Home Moms

Jennifer McLean

Are you a stay-at-home mom who wishes to venture into a new business endeavor? Do you like arranging flowers and have an eye for aesthetics? Then opening a home-based flower shop may be just the thing for you. 

If you are new to the floral industry and don’t know how to start a home business, we have you covered! Use the following guide as your blueprint for launching your startup flower shop.

How Much It Costs To Start a Flower Shop

You’ll be pleased to know that it doesn’t take much capital to start your own home-based flower shop. 

When you operate an online business, you avoid rental costs and have more to spend on inventory and furnishing. The list of equipment you need to run a flower shop is fairly short and it won’t break your bank. Also, taking care of maintenance and repairs isn’t much different from basic home organization, 

The biggest initial cost will be for refrigerated cases and coolers. 

They are must-haves. Colling gear increases shelf life of flowers and thus allows you to upkeep delicate species in your inventory. 

Also, keep in mind the money you’ll spend on transportation. If you want to expand your business and provide flowers for weddings and other events, then consider investing in a delivery van to transport both merchandise and equipment.

Other costs to consider are the expenses on display items and flower arranging equipment. You’ll need: 

  • Tables; 
  • Flower buckets; 
  • Vases; 
  • Ribbons; 
  • Cards; 
  • Pruning equipment.

These are all usually minimal in cost. In the end, the initial costs may vary between $5,000 – $15,000.

Pros and Cons of Being a Florist

Pros:

  • You will be your own boss;
  • Floristry is a timeless industry;
  • You will bring joy and happiness into your life and other people’s lives;
  • You have the option to open an online store and work at home;
  • You get to use digital systems to streamline your ordering, marketing, and customer communication.

Cons:

  • Flower business comes with a lot of stress, especially on holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day;
  • You have an inconsistent schedule – early mornings, late nights, working on the weekend;
  • There is little room for growth in the flower business.

Step 1: Floral Home-Based Business Knowledge

Starting a business is no child’s play and it takes an ample amount of hard work and dedication. Learn the trade of a florist by going through a community college program or apprentice with a florist. 

There are certificate programs for floral designers and floristry through the Society of American Florists (SAF) and the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), but most people get their start while on the job. You will learn most efficiently while working/apprenticing with a florist because you will get a taste of the dynamic of the job first-hand. You’ll get an understanding of cost-saving measures and secrets of floral designs that aren’t in the books.

Moreover, when working with a florist, you’ll stay updated on the latest trends in the flower industry, unlike someone whose knowledge is limited to the academic sphere.

Step 2: Designated Floral Area

To start your business, you need to choose a working area in your home. If you don’t plan to receive customers in your home-based floral shop, then you are free to create a space pretty much anywhere in your abode – studio, spare room, garage, or the attic. 

However, if you decide to receive customers in your home, then you should have a separate entrance and a more welcoming, spacious area.

Your working space must have easy access to a water source. Also, it should have enough room to accommodate the counter-height work table, the cooler, and foot traffic. 

Remember to leave room for a stand to display silk pieces, ribbons, and cards. 

Step 3: Florist Shop Website

It is essential to create an online shop to have a successful home-based floral business. Look at your website as a customer’s first impression of your brand. The site can make you or break you, so it must be perfect down to the last detail! If you are not qualified in website programming and designing, hire professionals to do it for you. 

Next, purchase a domain name. Keep in mind that your business name must be the same as your domain. After that, add content to your site and upload pictures of your merchandise. The florist industry is a highly competitive field, so you must show creativity in order to stand out from the competition. 

Make sure that what you present is perfect since this is the only basis for your customer’s choice. According to experts and professionals at the Bouqs Company, you should indicate the prices of your bouquets and arrangements, as well as delivery options.

Step 4: Social Media & Search Engines

You might ask yourself: “Okay, I have an online shop, where are the orders?”. 

It’s important to understand that when a domain is new to search engines like Google, it will have to index in order to rank. So you will need to make sure your website Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is on point. If you hired an expert to design your site, call them again to help you put together a robust SEO strategy as well.

A blog with informative posts about flowers will also help you gain popularity.
Read more here: How to Start and Make Money with a Blog For Beginners. 

Another tried-and-true strategy is to sign up for as many social media platforms as you can (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.) to increase interaction with customers. The idea is to build credibility in your brand with search engines as well as getting backlinks to your floral website; this is vital for maximizing your SEO.

Step 5: Marketing

Marketing is the blood of the business and is what keeps customers coming to you. You must take things up a notch and implement different strategies to fight the competition and stay on top of your game. 

Try the following:

  • Pay-Per-Click Advertising – Use Google AdWords to get traffic to your website before your SEO takes off.
  • Business Cards and Brochures – Distribute these around your local community.
  • Newsletters – Send out newsletters on floral offerings.
  • Testimonials – Maximize your credibility with Google My Business reviews. Remember to post testimonials on your website.

Final Words

Know that setting up a home-based flower business involves a lot of hard work and persistence, so prepare your mind and body for this one-of-a-kind experience. We hope our guide helps you achieve your dream of becoming a florist entrepreneur and build a successful business at home.