I am a 20 yr old student who would love to open up a flower shop as soon as possible but I want to know more about how I could do so before jumping into it. I know I’m very young but it’s been my passion to open one up. Since 10th grade of high school I’ve always wanted my own shop. I would like to ask you for some advice on what i should be looking for into doing so. Owning my own flower shop has always been my dream. I have so many ideas into what I want in my shop but you know you have to start on step one to move on.
Thank you for your email and positive feedback. I encourage you to follow your passion while making good decisions for your financial security.
Passion is a great place to start any venture. However exciting the thought of a flower shop is, it is still a job. It is there 365 days a year, and when you head out on your own, there’s no paid vacation or benefits until you earn them. You need a reason to get out of bed and get to the shop every morning. Passion for the floral industry can be one of those reasons. For others, there is a drive to create business, to grow finances, to connect with customers, to interact with employees, to work with family, and thousands upon thousands of other motivations. Not one of which is more correct than another.
So, if flowers are your passion, and you want to use that passion to make your living, I’d say you’re ahead of the curve in planning your future.
Imagine you’ve got a cooler full of flowers, the perfect container, and all the time in the world to create the most beautiful flower arrangement. Go ahead, create the design. Now, stand back and take a look…Fabulous! Has the design paid your mortgage or your health insurance? No, sitting there on your counter, it certainly has not. We’ve put the flowers before the horse! Back up several steps and start with the first one as you mention in your question. As Dr. Seuss would say, the best place to start is in the beginning. Be sure to do your research. I recommend starting with the top 3 or 4 sections of my site… Floral Industry, Market Research, and Business Plan being very important! When you have formed a business plan (it doesn’t have to be 100% complete and detailed), seek out some outside help. This help can come from a teacher, a banker, the Small Business Association, a mentor, your local chamber of commerce, or another business owner who is willing to help. I also offer consulting services for a fee which can take place by email or over the telephone. Best wishes to you. The floral industry is a wonderful place to be!