Start Your Own Florist Shop and Other Floral Businesses

Book excerpt: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays . . . with so many occasions appropriate for flowers, a florist shop is an enticing business to start. If you have a love for everything green and a desire to forge your own path, starting a floral business is ideal for you. Perfect your floral-arranging and customer service skills with a traditional florist shop; brighten others’ days with an office plant-care service; or encourage creativity with a pick-your-own-flowers establishment. This guide gives you advice on everything you need to start out right, including: • Selecting the right type of floral business • Finding flower wholesalers and growers • Anticipating demand and stocking the most popular flowers • Caring for your flowers • Stocking profitable sidelines, like greeting cards and balloons • And more! With the essential information inside, you’ll be turning greenery into greenbacks in no time.