flower farm business plan template

Cut Flower Farm Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Agriculture Sector

Are you about starting a cut flower farm ? If YES, here’s a complete sample cut flower farm business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE to raise money .

Cut flower farming is known to be a profitable business and over the years, it has evolved from the backyard garden to a global industry in all countries where it’s carried out. Countries in the Caribbean, South America, North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa are known to be in the forefront when it comes to cultivating flowers.

It is important to state that starting such business comes with its own fair share of challenges, but that does not rule out the fact that it is indeed a profitable business venture. An aspiring entrepreneur can either choose to start on a small scale or on a large scale depending on their financial status.

So, if you have decided to go into cut flower farming, then you should carry out thorough feasibility studies and also market survey. Here is a sample cut flower farm business plan template that can guide you to come up with yours within record time.

A Sample Cut Flower Farm Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Cut flower farm business is categorized under the Plant & Flower Growing industry and players in this industry grow nursery plants , such as trees and shrubs; flowering plants, such as foliage plants, cut flowers, flower seeds and ornamentals; and short rotation woody trees, such as Christmas trees and cottonwoods et al. These flower and nursery plants can either be grown under cover or in an open field.

Report published by IBISWORLD shows that the Plant and Flower Growing industry has fared poorly. The report also stated that the influx of low-cost cut flower imports from Colombia and Ecuador has had a staggering negative effect on domestic farmers, decreasing industry revenue.

The report also projected that in the coming years; the revenue generated in this industry will decline, hampered by weak demand from florists and nurseries and by import competition. While the overall US economy is no longer in a recession, weak discretionary spending will continue to strain flower sales throughout the year.

The Plant and Flower Growing industry is indeed a fast growing industry and pretty much active in countries such as united states of America, Columbia, China, Ecuador, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Singapore et al.

Statistics has it that in the United States of America alone, there are about 45,619 registered and licensed plant and flower growing companies responsible for employing about 163,403 people and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $14 billion annually.

The industry is projected to enjoy -0.7 percent annual growth between 2013 and 2018. It is important to state that there is no company with a lion share of the available market in this industry in the United States of America

A recent report published by IBISWorld reveals that on the average, the Plant and Flower Growing industry spends about $0.07 on capital for each dollar spent on labor. This is representative of the industry’s low, but rising, level of capital intensity.

Over time, the industry has become more reliant on machines and technology as opposed to field workers. Although technology is increasingly taking over operations within nursery plant and flower production, the industry is still highly reliant on labor inputs.

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture (latest data available), the average nursery and floriculture establishment spends about $75,155 on machinery and equipment annually, which is lower than the crop farming sector average of $154,425. This is due to the delicate nature of flowers and foliage plants.

One thing is certain about cut flower farming business, if you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies, you are more likely not going to struggle to sell your cut flowers because there is always a ready market for products from this industry.

2. Executive Summary

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC is a licensed plant and flower growing company that will based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and we will have active presence in other cities in and around New Mexico because we know that our products will be in high demand due to the demographic composition of New Mexico.

Apart from cut flowers, Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms will also be involved in growing other plants such as; nursery stock crops, annual bedding and garden plants, potted flowering plants, foliage plants, potted herbaceous perennials, Christmas trees, cut cultivated greens and propagative floriculture materials.

We are well positioned to become one of the leading cut flowers farmers, which is why we sourced for the best hands and resources to run the business with. We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to bringing out the best in this line of business.

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms is a private registered company that is owned by Baroness Roseanne Cephas and her husband Ruddy Cephas. The company will be fully managed and financed by the owners for a period of time.

3. Our Products and Services

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms will be involved in cut flowers farming for the United States’ market. We will ensure that we do all that is permitted by the law in the United States of America to maximize profits and achieve our business goals and objectives.

These are the areas we will concentrate in our cut flower farming business. If need arises we will definitely add more produce to our list;

• Cut flowers and cut cultivated greens
• Christmas Trees
• Nursery stock crops
• Annual bedding and garden plants
• Potted flowering plants
• Foliage plants
• Potted herbaceous perennials
• Propagative floriculture materials

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision is to become one of the top 10 cut flower farmers not just in the United States of America but also on a global stage.
• Our mission statement as a cut flower farm is to go into full – time commercial cultivation of cut flowers and other similar nursery plants and flowers that will not only be patronized in the United States, but also exported to other parts of the world.

Our Business Structure

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farm intends to start small in Albuquerque – New Mexico, but hopes to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading flower growing companies in the United States. We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

We will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Operating Officer

General Farm Manager

Administrator/Accountant

Farm Workers/Field Workers

• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results and developing incentives
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Accountable for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
• Supervises other section managers
• Provides advice on the management of farming activities across all sections
• Ensures that farming goals are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied.
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily farming activities across the various farming sections.
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Accountable for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Serves as internal auditor for the company
• Responsible for carrying out farming activities
• Responsible for pruning, shearing / maintenance of cut flowers and other nursery plants and flowers
• Handles Sod installation / hydro – seeding
• Handles weeding or fertilizer and / or pest control application
• Handles tree care / maintenance services
• Assists in transport working tools and equipment from the office (store) to site and back to the office
• Works closely with the General Farm Manager to achieve the organizations’ goals and objectives

Sales and Marketing Officer

• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding sales
• Documents all customer contacts and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the company

Front Desk/Customer’s Service Officer

• Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s farm produce
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the HR manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to potential clients when they make enquiries.

6. SWOT Analysis

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms intends to conduct a proper SWOT analysis so as to create the foundation that will help us build a standard business that will favorably compete with leading flower growers in the United States of America.

Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC;

Our strength as a cut flower farming company is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players in the industry. We have some of the latest nursery plants and flower farming equipment that will help us grow these plants in commercial quantities with less stress.

Aside from our relationship and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in the cut flower farming business in the whole of Albuquerque – New Mexico under our payroll.

Our weakness could be that we are a new cut flower farming business, and it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from well – established companies in the highly competitive industry. Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to promote our business the way we would want to.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities that are available to us cannot be quantified, we know that a large percentage of the population in the United States of America decorate their houses with cut flowers during festive seasons and that loads of households, religious and corporate organizations plant flowers around their premises. We are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

The influx of low-cost cut flower imports from Colombia and Ecuador has challenged the domestic industry’s price competitiveness, increased efficiency in transportation has led to nationwide price competition and imports will likely continue to hamper the industry.

Also, economic downturn is a threat for our business. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new cut flower farming company in same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

Report published by IBISWORLD shows that the Plant and Flower Growing industry has fared poorly. The report also stated that the influx of low-cost flower imports from Colombia and Ecuador has had a staggering negative effect on domestic farmers, decreasing industry revenue.

It is on records that revenue generated by the cut flower industry has maintained positive growth because a growing number of individuals earned additional income, resulting in high demand. As a matter of fact, external factors such as Demand from florists and Per capita disposable income in the Plant & Flower Growing industry impact industry performance.

Another common trend in the business is that most players are no longer concentrating only on cut flower farming. They now find it easier to add other related plants such as; nursery stock crops, annual bedding and garden plants, potted flowering plants, foliage plants, potted herbaceous perennials, Christmas trees, cut cultivated greens, and propagative floriculture materials.

8. Our Target Market

As you would expect, the end users of cut flowers, nursery plants and also those who benefit from the business value chain of the industry are all encompassing. In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various households and organizations that would need our flowers. Below is a list of the people and organizations that we will market our products to;

• Flower shops
• Funeral homes
• Government agencies
• Landscapers
• Interior and exterior décor companies
• Facility and Estate managers

Our competitive advantage

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms is fully aware that there are competitions when it comes to selling cut flowers, which is why we decided to carry out thorough research so as to know how to take advantage of the available market in Albuquerque – New Mexico.

We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us competitive advantage in the marketplace; some of the factors are effective and reliable farming processes that can help us sell our produce at competitive prices.

Economies of scale, production of premium goods and ability to alter goods and services produced in favor of market conditions are part of what we will be bringing to the table. Also, our competitive advantage lies in the power of team and we have healthy relationships with loads of major players in the industry.

We have some of the latest cut flowers, nursery plants and flower farming tools and equipment that will help us grow these plants in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in the cut flower farming business in the whole of Albuquerque – New Mexico under our payroll.

Another competitive advantage that we are bringing to the industry is the fact that we have designed our business in such a way that we will operate an all – round business that will also engage in nursery stock crops, annual bedding and garden plants, potted flowering plants, foliage plants, potted herbaceous perennials, Christmas trees and cut cultivated greens, and propagative floriculture materials.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms is in the business for the purpose of maximizing profits hence we have decided to explore all the available opportunities within the industry to achieve our corporate goals and objectives. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC;

10. Sales Forecast

From the survey conducted, we were able to discover that the sales generated by an average cut flower farm depends on the size of the farm, and other related plants that they are involved in.

We have perfected our sales and marketing strategies and we are quite optimistic that we will meet or even surpass our set sales target of generating enough profits from the year of operation and build the business from survival to sustainability.

We have been able to examine the industry, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well as the nature of the company that we will be operating.

Below are the projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of running Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC;

• First Fiscal Year: $140,000
• Second Fiscal Year: $300,000
• Third Fiscal Year: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters and unfavorable government policies . Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet the overall business goal of Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms.

Our goal is to grow Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms to become one of the leading cut flower farming companies in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with. In summary, Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms will adopt the following strategies in marketing our cut flower;

• Introduce our cut flower farming company by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to households, landscaping and lawn care companies and other key stake holders in the beautification industry.
• Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations
• List our business on yellow pages’ ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing approach
• Join local chambers of commerce and industries with the aim of marketing our products
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street or the city they are operating from must be willing to utilize every available means to advertise and promote their business. We know that it is important to create strategies that will help us boost our brand awareness and to create a corporate identity for our cut flower farming business.

Below are the platforms you can leverage on to boost our cut flower farm brand and to promote and advertise your business;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote your business
• Install your billboards in strategic locations all around
• Engage in roadshows from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• List our cut flower farm in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our cut flower farm in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles and trucks are branded with our company logo

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Some of the factors that will help you sell your cut flowers at the right price that will guarantee that you make profit is dependent on your strategy while some of the factors are beyond your control. For example, if the climatic condition is unfavorable in the location where you have your farm, then it will directly affect the prices of your farm produce.

If you want to get the right pricing for your cut flowers, then you should ensure that you choose a good location, choose a good breed that will guarantee bountiful harvest, cut the cost of running your farm to the barest minimum and of course try as much as possible to attract buyers to your farm as against taking your farm produce to the market to source for buyers.

One of the easiest means of penetrating the market and acquiring loads of customers is to sell our flowers at competitive prices hence we will do all we can to ensure that the prices of our farm produce are going to be what other cut flower farmers would look towards beating.

One thing is certain, the nature of cut flower farming business makes it possible for farmers to place prices for their farm produces based on their discretion without following the benchmark in the industry. The truth is that it is one of the means of avoiding running into loss. The easier you sell off your harvest the better for your business.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payments options that Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via mobile money
• Payment via Point of Sales Machines (POS Machines)

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for farm produces purchase without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

From all available statistics, we have been able to come up with an estimate of what we intend spending in the bid to establish our cut flower farm in Albuquerque – New Mexico. This is what it would cost us to setup Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms in Albuquerque – New Mexico;

• The Total Fee for incorporating the Business (cut flower farm) in United States of America – $750.
• The budget for key insurance policies, permits and business license – $2,500
• The amount needed to hire business consultants – $2,000
• The amount needed to acquire / lease a farm land – $50,000
• The amount required for preparing the farm land (for cut flowers, nursery plants and flower cultivation and fencing et al) – $30,000
• The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment / machines / flower pots et al – $200,000
• The amount required for purchase of seedlings and mineral nutrients solutions – $20,000
• The Cost of Launching an official Website – $600
• The amount required for payment of workers for a period of 3 months – $100,000
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,000.

Going by this report, we will need an average of $300,000 to start a medium scale but standard cut flower farm business in the United States of America. A cut flower farm does not require an office space, as most people that run cut flower farms operate directly from their farms. But we have decided to open a small liaison office; a place where administrative jobs will be carried out.

Generating Startup Capital for Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms

No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes to starting a cut flower farming business.

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms is a family business that will be owned by Baroness Roseanne Cephas and her immediate family members. They decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources. These are the areas we intend generating our startup capital;

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 ( Personal savings $70,000 and soft loan from family members $30,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $200,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to sell our cut flowers, nursery plants and flowers a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Baroness Roseanne® Flower Farms, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of farm land in Albuquerque – New Mexico: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Startup Capital Generation: Completed
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Printing of Packaging and Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed working tools, machines and equipment: Completed
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Farm land Treatment, Health and Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with key players in the industry: Completed

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How To Become a Master Gardener

Writing a Powerful Flower Farming Business Plan (Template Included)

Are you dreaming of turning your passion for growing beautiful flowers into a thriving business? Starting a successful cut flower farm requires meticulous planning and preparation. One of the most important first steps is creating a comprehensive and powerful flower farming business plan. In this post, I will guide you in writing yours.

A flower farm business plan is a strategic document that outlines every aspect of your intended business operations. It serves as a roadmap for executing your vision, validating your ideas with research, and forecasting finances to ensure profitability. Think of it as the blueprint for building your cut flower enterprise from the seed up.

Having a well-crafted business plan for your cut flower business is crucial for several reasons:

• Solidifying your plans and strategies on paper
• Conducting due diligence on the market and competition
• Identifying potential challenges and risk mitigation tactics
• Determining capital requirements and financing needs
• Attracting investors, partners, or funds if needed
• Guiding execution and measuring performance once launched

Whether you’re just sowing the seeds of your flower farming dreams or ready to turn an existing hobby into a full-fledged business, crafting a business plan is vital. To help you grow, we’ve put together the ultimate template to guide you through all the key components. Before diving into the cut flower farm business plan template pdf, let’s start by explaining what a cut flower business plan is and why you need one.

Table of Contents

What Is a Flower Farm Business Plan?

A flower farm business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the operational and financial strategy for a commercial cut flower growing operation. It serves as a blueprint for starting, running, and expanding a flower farming business profitably.

The key components of a flower farm business plan typically include:

• Executive summary of the business
• Company overview (location, legal structure, team, assets)
• Market analysis of the floral industry and target customers 
• Detailed descriptions of flower products/services and pricing
• Production and growing plans (crop varieties, acreage, techniques)
• Sales and marketing strategies (channels, branding, promotions)
• Operating plan (facilities, equipment, staffing, processes) 
• Financial projections and startup/operating budgets
• Potential challenges/risks and mitigation strategies

Why Do I Need a Flower Farm Business Plan Before Starting a Cut Flower Farm?

There are several crucial reasons why you need a well-crafted business plan before launching a commercial cut flower farming venture:

• Internal Planning: It forces you to thoroughly research and think through all aspects of your farm’s operations, from production logistics to sales and finances. This upfront planning increases your chances of success.
• Securing Funding:  A solid plan demonstrates to potential lenders or investors that you have a viable, profitable business model backed by market validation and financial forecasts.
• Roadmap for Execution: The plan serves as a comprehensive guide for managing cash flow, implementing growing plans, executing marketing tactics, and measuring performance against goals.
• Attracting Talent/Partners: It can be used to recruit experienced staff and advisors or forge partnerships by showcasing your farm’s mission, expertise, and growth potential.
• Legal/Regulatory Compliance: Agricultural businesses (such as flower farms) often require operating licenses and permits and must follow zoning and environmental regulations, which may require formal planning documentation.

Starting a successful flower farming business is not without its challenges, and that’s when our flower farming business plan template will guide you in navigating those obstacles.

Ultimately, a flower farm business plan is an essential tool that forces strategic foresight rather than operating by chance. It lends credibility, identifies challenges upfront, and provides a structured pathway for establishing a sustainable, profitable flower-farming enterprise.

Last but not least, ensure you meticulously identify and claim all eligible deductions for flower farming . This will enable you to retain a greater portion of your well-deserved earnings from the fruits of your labor . I recommend reading my article about Maximizing Tax Deductions for Flower Farming Businesses to explore more than 100 potential deductible expenses when growing cut flowers as a business (whether you’re growing in your backyard or have a flower farm).

Recommended reading: How to Start a Cut Flower Garden: Plan and Layout

Flower Farming Business Plan Template

Here is our comprehensive flower farming business plan template, accompanied by concise explanations for each section, to help you craft a compelling and well-structured plan for your blossoming floral enterprise.

1. Executive Summary

Brief overview of your flower farm business.

Provide a concise summary of your flower farming operation.

Products/services offered

List the products like cut flowers, herbs, and produce and services like bouquets, CSAs, and events that you plan to offer.

Target customers

Describe your ideal customer segments and demographics.

Future vision and growth plans

Outline your long-term aspirations and strategic growth initiatives for the business.

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that evaluates the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of a business or project. Learn How to Do a SWOT Analysis.

2. Company Description

Business name, address, and contact information.

State the official business name, location, website, email, and phone number.

Principal members and their qualifications/experience

Introduce the key owners/founders and highlight relevant backgrounds.

Legal structure

e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, etc. Specify the legal entity your business will operate as.

Company details

Property zoning, existing infrastructure, plans for expansion) (Describe zoning, land, facilities, and future expansion plans.

Human resources plan

Outline staffing needs and plans as the business grows.

List of farm assets

Provide an inventory of current assets like equipment, vehicles, and supplies.

3. Market Research

Industry overview and trends.

Discuss the flower farming industry landscape, market size, and forecasts.

Relevant regulations and licensing requirements

List the licenses, permits, and certifications needed to operate legally.

4. Product/Service Line

Detailed description of products/services offered.

Thoroughly describe each product, such as bouquets, seeds, tubers, bulbs, corms, merchandise (such as t-shirts and hoodies, if you intend to have a brand), and service-like events (tours, agritourism, photography sessions, wedding sessions, or services for celebrations, showers, gift cards, flower bouquet coupons, etc.).

Pricing structure

Explain your pricing model and strategy for each offering.

5. Marketing and Sales

Marketing strategies.

Marketing strategies, including social media, agritourism, networking, etc. Outline your promotional tactics.

Sales channels

Sales channels could be farming stands, farmers’ markets, CSA, local businesses, etc. List the avenues for selling products/services.

Five-year business development plan

Provide a phased growth plan for the next 5 years

6. Financial Projections

Start-up costs.

Estimate one-time costs for launching, like equipment, licenses, and inventory.

Operating expenses

Project ongoing costs for labor, supplies, utilities, insurance, etc.

Revenue forecasts

Forecast potential sales and income over 3-5 years.

Break-even analysis

Calculate the sales volume required to cover all expenses.

Financing needs

Determine funding needed and sources like loans, investors, etc.

7. Appendices

Supporting documents.

e.g., market research data, financial statements, etc. Include key documentation.

List of potential suppliers and vendors

Identify companies from which to source supplies and services.

Tax and legal considerations specific to your business

Discuss tax and legal factors relevant to your operations.

Sign Up and Download your Flower Farming Business Plan Template PDF

Save your pin for later and learn how to write a flower farming business plan. Download your free template pdf to write your cut flower business plan easily.

About Julia Morgan

Julia Morgan is an agronomist and a master gardener. In her previous roles, Julia was an advisor promoting large-scale food growing in urbanized areas, introducing the concept of chemical-free produce. She is an expert in putting her hands in the soil, developing organic foods, and improving production processes for decades. Julia is a natural teacher and encourages every person in her way to grow their own food. She split her days between writing and reviewing for The Garden Style Website and offering assessments to cure edible land. Julia enjoys connecting with The Garden Style Community.

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Business Planning for Flower Farms: The Plan

After carefully considering your goals and the motivations behind those goals, let’s dig right in today to how we build a Business Plan at Triple Wren. This type of planning works best with very specific goals, so as an example I’ll say that my specific goal is to gross $10,000 worth of flowers this season. (Note: This is easier as an example that dealing with net profit goals, but planning for profit is both *essential* for your planning, and easier in my opinion after you have at least a year of farming under your belt.)

When planning, I always start with my goal and work backwards. Start big, work small. 

If my goal is to gross $10,000, then I would take one step back from that and ask, “What are my sales outlets? How much did they each gross this past year?” (Or if it is your very first year, then project what you think each can make.) Let’s say in the previous year, your farmer’s market stand grossed $5,000, your curbside/roadside stand $2,000, your direct-to-florist sales $2,000, and your holiday wreaths $1,000.  If we’re expanding but not changing too much in our production methods, I might choose a pretty modest growth percentage (for example 20%) and mark up your past year to: market $6,000, roadside $2,400, florists $2,400, wreaths $1,200.

After you’ve determined these goals, step back further and look at how many bunches of each crop you sold to achieve the past year’s growth. If you didn’t keep records of what you sold, NOW is the time to start.* If you have the details but they’re not organized, it might take a whole day of flipping back through your invoice book and making a spreadsheet, but planning for growth means you MUST know what you’ve already accomplished. So look back and see how many bunches of sunflowers, cosmos, ranunculus, etc. you sold in the past season and do the math to breakdown each of these. If you sell exactly 20% more of each, you’ll meet your main goal. BUT, you might have reached the point where you’re tired of lugging 30lb buckets of suns, and prefer to sell small, fragrant bunches of pelargonium instead. If that’s the case, in your business plan, aim to sell fewer suns (but keep some to brighten your heart and your stand!) and more of your preferred crops.

Once you know WHAT you plan to sell, take another step back and think about what you have to plant, and when, in order to have steady harvestability for the weeks you want to sell. This is an entire other section of planning in my farm life: I back it up further to plan when and what I germinate or propagate on a very specific schedule. 

It all seems so basic, and simplistic, but this kind of planning is the foundation of what I’ve done to make Triple Wren so successful. If this kind of planning isn’t your cup of tea, I challenge you to find a partner or a friend or hire a VA who is capable of taking your specific goal and breaking it down so that you can work your green thumb magic and grow the right things at the right time and achieve the sales you want. At our Flower Camps this summer, I’m going to break this down in person wayyy further, and explain the details and lead discussion until every single attendee is satisfied that they’re ready to plan for success. If you’d like to dig in deeper, register to come join us for useful business/growing training, design experience, cozy glamping, farm-to-table feasting, and more! (Links in our stories today)

*One more note: I think measuring the profitability of mixed/grocery bouquet is extremely difficult, so I’m working on an explanation of the best way we’ve found to keep those records and will share it here. Keep an eye out. 🙂

How to Start a Small Flower Farm [Part I]: Business Plan + Site Selection

In early 2021 when I was starting my small-scale flower farm , I noticed that it was not terribly easy to find free resources to help me get going. Sure, there were a few I found right away (many of which I mention in this post ), but I wanted someone who had been there before who could walk me through the process and who could tell me about what to expect from this new venture. I did find several paid courses that offered the kind of information I was looking for, but I wasn’t even positive that flower farming would be something I wanted to do long-term, so I was hesitant to drop (even more) money on it.

In the future, I might make a more advanced paid course that gets into the nitty gritty details of small-scale growing and business marketing, but for now, I’m offering this five-part blog series as a free resource to help you to know what all goes into flower farming so you can decide if it’s a good fit for you and so you can go in with both eyes wide open.

Note: There are affiliate links to the books mentioned below.

Why Flower Farming ?

There has been a huge increase in the number of flower farms over the past few years. While the “slow food” movement has been around for a couple of decades and has been largely responsible for the surge in farmer’s markets, farm-to-table restaurants, and the like, “slow flowers” was a little bit behind. While some few flower farmers have been doing it for decades, most have just been flower farming for a handful of years or fewer.

Maybe your interest in the idea of flower farming started with Erin Benzakein of Floret (as it started for so many of us) — thanks to her presence on social media, her information-packed blog, and her recent series on the Magnolia Network, the idea of local flower farms has gained a lot of traction in recent years. Or maybe your interest started when you met someone who already started a small backyard flower farm, or maybe it was social media that clued you in.

However it started, I’m going to hazard a guess that at least some of the following are probably true if you’re interested in flower farming:

1 – You already have a love of growing things in general, or you’ve been drawn to the idea of gardening/homesteading for a long time.

2 – You long for a slower pace of life, or at least a simpler version of it.

3 – You not only seek out beauty, but seem to have a need to be surrounded by it.

4 – You have a seed-buying/plant-buying/bulb-buying problem, and you need to find a way to help pay for your obsession.

You’ll notice that none of the above had anything to do with making a ton of money or becoming rich. Now, I’m not saying it’s not possible with flower farming, but this is no get-rich-quick scheme. With a smart business strategy and enough land, you can definitely turn it into a full-time business…eventually. However, very few flower farmers can start out that way, and many are still working other jobs even after farming for a few years.

I say all this upfront because farming is a volatile profession. There is so much you can’t control, and a whole season’s worth of crops can be wiped out in a single storm, or with a bad pest infestation. Because of the up and down nature of flower farming, you absolutely must be in it for more than the money, or you’re not going to last. Instagram and pictures off of Floret’s website might make it seem like it’s all rosy sunsets and fields upon fields of perfect blooms, but that is simply not the reality most of the time.

Flower farming is hard work, and because you’re working with a seasonal, perishable product, it is extremely hard to take breaks, especially during certain pivotal times of your season. That means you’ll be up sowing seeds even when you’re suffering from a horrendous sinus infection, or that you’ll still be up at 6 a.m. to harvest and arrange even though you were up all night with a sick kid. You have to know that there WILL be sacrifices, and lots of them.

But because I imagine you’re still interested, let’s keep going.

Site Selection

Before you dive into a business plan, you need to do an intense survey of the available land you have for planting. Now, this usually consists of your own backyard, but I’ve seen plenty of people get creative — do you have a neighbor with a large weedy patch they’re not using? Is there an empty lot close by that you could contact the owners to see if you could use it for planting? Do you have a relative or friend who lives close by who would let you use some of their land for your crops? (And I will also note: Once your farm starts to gain traction, you will almost certainly get more and more offers. My first year growing, I had someone offer me their half acre backyard, in addition to my next door neighbor not only offering me space in her raised beds, but also offering to start seeds and grow things for me. Once people know what you’re doing, they’ll often start coming out of the woodwork to offer you space and help.)

Your site doesn’t necessarily need to already have dirt (you can always do raised beds or a version of a no till method) or especially good soil (you can always amend it), but it DOES need to have a good amount of sunlight (ideally at least 6-8 hours a day), and it does need to be easily accessible to you and to a water source.

A few other key questions you need to answer:

While your enthusiasm and big dreams might make you want to rip up every scrap of grass and cultivate every square inch you possibly can, you need to ask yourself how much time you can realistically devote to flower farming, especially in your first year. While in subsequent years, some of the labor will be taken off your shoulders because you will have frontloaded it by planting perennial crops, already having established beds, etc., that first year is such a doozy that you want to make sure you don’t try to take on too much.

My first year, I grew on less than 1,000 square feet, and I was working full-time hours during certain times of my season even with that small of a space (and that was with the help of my husband on most evenings and weekends!). During spring, I easily put in over 40 hours every week to get everything prepped and sown and planted, and then when harvesting started picking up a lot again around August, I probably put in about 30 hours a week. Certain times of the year were slower, like June and July, but I would say that most weeks, I put in a minimum of 20 hours. (Granted, I also have three small children so I’m constantly getting interrupted, which definitely adds to my time; if you don’t have small children underfoot, you can probably get things done faster than I could.)

Keep in mind that it’s not just the farming itself that takes time; your business strategy and marketing plan, your social media upkeep, and your harvesting, arranging, and selling all take significant chunks of time, too. In fact, I’d say that after the spring, the growing is by far the easiest part.

It is beyond tempting to look at pictures of an established flower farm and want to get there RIGHT AWAY. It is beyond tempting to want to buy all the seeds, purchase all the plants, and put in massive bulb orders right from the get go.

Trust me, I know.

And I spent PLENTY of money that I didn’t need to spend in my first year on stuff that I didn’t really need (which you can read all about in the blog post I did on all my first year expenses ).

But the BEST thing you can do for yourself is to not go into debt to start your flower farm. Let me repeat: DO NOT GO INTO DEBT TO START YOUR FLOWER FARM.

Does that mean you will have to forego buying certain plants or seeds or whatnot? YES. Does that mean you might have a more limited variety of what you’re growing? YES. Does that mean you might have to hustle a lot more rather than invest in high-cost time savers like fancy irrigation, flower plugs, and the latest in seed sowing equipment? YES.

But in the end, your real goals your first year should be three-fold: 1) Learn if you actually enjoy doing this, and if it is something you want to do long-term, 2) Learn how to actually grow things effectively, and 3) Learn how to make money doing it. The fact is, no matter how beautiful your flowers are, they will not sell themselves, and if you invest $20K into your farm only to discover that you only sell $1K your first year, you’re going to have a problem. Learn how to grow, and learn how to sell, and THEN worry about sizing up and going big with things like high tunnels, high value crops, and a lot of acreage.

Customer Base

Starting any new business venture requires doing a lot of research, and flower farming is no exception. Before you begin, you need to research what flower farms are already in your area and what they’re selling and whom they’re selling to; you need to research what outlets you might have available to you to sell your flowers (aka, farmer’s markets, grocery stores, florists, etc.), and you need to look up the number of people who live in your area, the average income, if tourism is a big part of the local economy, etc.

I live in rural Utah in one of the poorest counties in the whole state. The fact is, most people in my area can’t afford to buy expensive flowers, which was a very important consideration I had to take into account when developing my business model. I’ve discovered through trial and error that whenever I take my flowers two hours north of me every time I go to visit family up there, my stuff sells much more easily because people up in that area tend to have more disposable income.

I also live in an area where last year, upon starting my farm, I had zero competition. Literally no one else was doing what I was doing. I do have a little bit more competition now, but it’s still pretty minimal, especially as our offerings are pretty different from each other. These are all factors that I had to really think about when coming up with my business model, my price points, and my target customer.

Business Plan

Once you have a really solid idea of all the considerations above, you’re ready to start formulating your business plan. The thing with flowers is that there are a LOT of different directions you can go.

Just to name a few, you can:

• Focus on being a farmer florist and provide custom bouquets and flowers for weddings, funerals, events, etc.
• Sell your flowers at a farmer’s market.
• Offer a bouquet subscription program .
• Post pop up sales on social media.
• Do a “bouquet bar” where people come and assemble their own bouquets and pay by the stem
• Do u-picks at your farm
• Offer education courses, such as bouquet- or wreath-making nights
• Open your farm to photographers for a fee
• Offer seedlings for sale in the spring, dahlia tubers in the early summer, etc.
• Sell your stems to a local florist
• Sell your flowers to a wholesaler
• Create products from dried flowers to sell

Seriously, there are a LOT of options.

However, I highly recommend narrowing down your focus to just a few, not only because if you don’t, you’ll get overwhelmed and hurtle yourself towards burnout, but also because your business plan will entirely determine WHAT you plant as well as HOW MUCH of it you plant.

For example, my main business model is to offer a CSA bouquet subscription, do pop up sales on social media when I start to have a lot of excess, and then sell weekly at the local farmer’s markets for about 5 weeks at the end of the summer. I also do a few small custom orders as they come in, usually at the rate of one or two a week.

For me, it makes a lot of sense to have a lot of variety in my planting since I’m offering bouquet subscriptions and want my customers to have different combos available every week, so I can get away with planting some color mixes and also planting smaller amounts of a lot of different kinds of things.

My first year, I THOUGHT I wanted to sell to florists as a main part of my business strategy. What I didn’t understand was that florists were generally going to want a LOT of the exact SAME thing, which I definitely couldn’t provide them. That first year, I had a florist reach out who wanted 30 Benary’s Giant orange zinnias. While I probably had 30 BG zinnias in different colors, I definitely didn’t have 30 all of one color. The same florist tried again another time with certain white flowers she wanted. While I did have some white flowers, I literally only had a stem or two of each, which just couldn’t work for the funeral she was putting together.

If you’re planning to provide flowers for wedding work, you’ll plant very different colors and flowers than you would if you were mainly doing farmer’s markets. If you’re doing bouquet subscriptions that will last without interruption for the duration of your growing season, you’re going to have different things to consider than if you’re just going to focus on a few main crops that only come up at certain times in the year (like peonies in the spring and dahlias or potted mums in the fall).

This is honestly a huge topic, and it’s one I could go on for many blog posts about. However, what I’ll do instead is direct you to a few books and resources you can check out.

Now, although I own quite a lot of flower farming and flower arranging books, I’ve noticed that not many of them focus that heavily on the business strategizing side of things. The most solid section on business strategy I’ve found thus far is in Lynn Bycqynski’s classic must-own book, The Flower Farmer . While the volume is on the older side for a flower farming book (first published in 1997 and republished in 2008), there is a positive wealth of information in it, and she goes much more into depth about the business side of things than pretty much any other book I can think of.

There are smaller chapters about selling and business strategy in Georgie Newbery’s The Flower Farmer’s Year , but it’s not nearly as extensive.

Honestly, some of the best information I’ve gotten on business strategy has actually come from following my favorite flower farmers on YouTube, which you can find a list of in my Flower Farming Resources Round-Up .

Now, what questions do you have for me?

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How to Start a Farm: Plan Your Operation

Think about your operation from the ground up and start planning for your business.  A good farm business plan is your roadmap to start-up, profitability, and growth, and provides the foundation for your conversation with USDA about how our programs can complement your operation. 

Keep reading about planning your business below, get an overview of the beginning farmer's journey , or jump to a different section of the farmer's journey.

On This Page

Why you need a farm business plan.

A comprehensive business plan is an important first step for any size business, no matter how simple or complex. You should create a strong business plan because it:

• Will help you get organized . It will help you to remember all of the details and make sure you are taking all of the necessary steps.
• Will act as your guide . It will help you to think carefully about why you want to farm or ranch and what you want to achieve in the future. Over time, you can look back at your business plan and determine whether you are achieving your goals.
• Is required to get a loan . In order to get an FSA loan, a guarantee on a loan made by a commercial lender, or a land contract, you need to create a detailed business plan . Lenders look closely at business plans to determine if you can afford to repay the loan.

How USDA Can Help

Whether you need a good get-started guide, have a plan that you would like to verify, or have a plan you’re looking to update for your next growth phase, USDA can help connect you to resources to help your decisions.

Your state's beginning farmer and rancher coordinator  can connect you to local resources in your community to help you establish a successful business plan. Reach out to your state's coordinator for one-on-one technical assistance and guidance. They can also connect you with organizations that specifically serve beginning farmers and ranchers.

It is important to know that no single solution fits everyone, and you should research, seek guidance, and make the best decision for your operation according to your own individual priorities.

Build a Farm Business Plan

There are many different styles of business plans. Some are written documents; others may be a set of worksheets that you complete. No matter what format you choose, several key aspects of your operation are important to consider.

Use the guidelines below to draft your business plan. Answering these kinds of questions in detail will help you create and develop your final business plan. Once you have a business plan for your operation, prepare for your visit to a USDA service center. During your visit, we can help you with the necessary steps to register your business and get access to key USDA programs.

Business History

Are you starting a new farm or ranch, or are you already in business? If you are already in business:

• What products do you produce?
• What is the size of your operation?
• What agricultural production and financial management training or experience do you, your family members, or your business partners have?
• How long have you been in business?

Mission, Vision, and Goals

This is your business. Defining your mission, vision and goals is crucial to the success of your business. These questions will help provide a basis for developing other aspects of your business plan.

• What values are important to you and the operation as a whole?
• What short- and long-term goals do you have for your operation?
• How do you plan to start, expand, or change your operation?
• What plans do you have to make your operation efficient or more profitable ?
• What type of farm or ranch model (conventional, sustainable, organic, or alternative agricultural practices) do you plan to use?

Organization and Management

Starting your own business is no small feat. You will need to determine how your business will be structured and organized, and who will manage (or help manage) your business. You will need to be able to convey this to others who are involved as well.

• What is the legal structure of your business? Will it be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, or other type of entity?
• What help will you need in operating and managing your farm or ranch?
• What other resources, such as a mentor or community-based organization , do you plan to use?

Marketing is a valuable tool for businesses. It can help your businesses increase brand awareness, engagement and sales. It is important to narrow down your target audience and think about what you are providing that others cannot.

• What are you going to produce ?
• Who is your target consumer ?
• Is there demand for what you are planning to produce?
• What is the cost of production?
• How much will you sell it for and when do you expect to see profit ?
• How will you get your product to consumers ? What are the transportation costs and requirements?
• How will you market your products?
• Do you know the relevant federal, state, and local food safety regulations? What licensing do you need for your operation?

Today there are many types of land, tools, and resources to choose from. You will need to think about what you currently have and what you will need to obtain to achieve your goals.

• What resources do you have or will you need for your business?
• Do you already have access to farmland ? If not, do you plan to lease, rent, or purchase land?
• What equipment do you need?
• Is the equipment and real estate that you own or rent adequate to conduct your operation? If not, how do you plan to address those needs?
• Will you be implementing any conservation practices to sustain your operation?
• What types of workers will you need to operate the farm?
• What additional resources do you need?

Now that you have an idea of what you are going to provide and what you will need to run your operation you will need to consider the finances of your operation.

• How will you finance the business?
• What are your current assets (property or investments you own) and liabilities (debts, loans, or payments you owe)?
• Will the income you generate be sufficient to pay your operating expenses, living expenses, and loan payments?
• What other sources of income are available to supplement your business income?
• What business expenses will you incur?
• What family living expenses do you pay?
• What are some potential risks or challenges you foresee for your operation? How will you manage those risks?
• How will you measure the success of your business?

Farm Business Plan Worksheets

The Farm Business Plan Balance Sheet can help gather information for the financial and operational aspects of your plan.

Form FSA-2037 is a template that gathers information on your assets and liabilities like farm equipment, vehicles and existing loans.

• FSA-2037 - Farm Business Plan - Balance Sheet
• FSA-2037 Instructions

Planning for Conservation and Risk Management

Another key tool is a conservation plan, which determines how you want to improve the health of your land. A conservation plan can help you lay out your plan to address resource needs, costs and schedules.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff are available at your local USDA Service Center to help you develop a conservation plan for your land based on your goals. NRCS staff can also help you explore conservation programs and initiatives, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) .

Conservation in Agriculture

Crop insurance, whole farm revenue protection and other resources can help you prepare for unforeseen challenges like natural disasters.

Disaster Recovery

Special Considerations

Special considerations for businesses.

There are different types of farm businesses each with their own unique considerations. Determine what applies to your operation.

• Organic Farming  has unique considerations. Learn about organic agriculture , organic certification , and the  Organic Certification Cost Share Program  to see if an organic business is an option for you. NRCS also has resources for organic producers and offers assistance to develop a conservation plan.
• Urban Farming  has special opportunities and restrictions. Learn how USDA can help farmers in urban spaces .
• Value-Added Products . The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) is a national virtual resource center for value-added agricultural groups.
• Cooperative.  If you are interested in starting a cooperative, USDA’s Rural Development Agency (RD) has helpful resources to help you begin . State-based  Cooperative Development Centers , partially funded by RD, provide technical assistance and education on starting a cooperative.

Special Considerations for Individuals

Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers: We offer help for the unique concerns of producers who meet the USDA definition of "historically underserved,"  which includes farmers who are:

• socially disadvantaged
• limited resource
• military veterans

Women: Learn about specific incentives, priorities, and set asides for  women in agriculture within USDA programs.

Heirs' Property Landowners: If you inherited land without a clear title or documented legal ownership, learn how USDA can help Heirs’ Property Landowners gain access to a variety of programs and services

Business Planning

Creating a good business plan takes time and effort. The following are some key resources for planning your business.

• Farm Answers from the University of Minnesota features a library of how-to resources and guidance, a directory of beginning farmer training programs, and other sources of information in agriculture. The library includes business planning guides such as a Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses and an Example Business Plan .
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers information about starting, managing, and transitioning a business.

SCORE is a nonprofit organization with a network of volunteers who have experience in running and managing businesses. The Score Mentorship Program partners with USDA to provide:

• Free, local support and resources, including business planning help, financial guidance, growth strategies.
• Mentorship through one-on-one business coaching -- in-person, online, and by phone.
• Training from subject matter experts with agribusiness experience.
• Online resources and step-by-step outlines for business strategies.
• Learn more about the program through the Score FAQ .

Training Opportunities

Attend field days, workshops, courses, or formal education programs to build necessary skills to ensure you can successfully produce your selected farm products and/or services. Many local and regional agricultural organizations, including USDA and Cooperative Extension, offer training to beginning farmers.

• Cooperative Extension  offices address common issues faced by agricultural producers, and conduct workshops and educational events for the agricultural community.
• extension.org  is an online community for the Cooperative Extension program where you can find publications and ask experts for advice.

Now that you have a basic plan for your farm operation, prepare for your visit to a USDA service center.

2. Visit Your USDA Service Center

How to Start a Farm with USDA

Get an  overview of the beginning farmer's journey  or jump to a specific page below.

Find Your Local Service Center

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.

Learn more about our Urban Service Centers . Visit the Risk Management Agency website to find a regional or compliance office  or to find an insurance agent near you.

Feb 7 Helpful Tips for Starting a Flower Farm Business from Scratch

Starting a business is a leap of faith.

Have you been thinking about starting a flower farming business? You're not alone!

At the beginning of 2021, I launched a small flower farming business named Hideaway Flowers. I had already been dabbling in the cut flower world as a hobby for a few years, and I loved growing and sharing those flowers so much that it felt natural to transition my hobby into a small floral side-hustle to make some extra cash.

It sounded so simple when I laid out my plan in my head. I'd start an Instagram page, make a website, reach out to some friends and family, and I would be just fine.

I wildly underestimated the amount of work required to launch the business, let alone operate it all season long. But despite my initial naivety, I dove right into the process, successfully launching my business and making it through my first season. I learned so much this first year!

In this article, you'll find a few steps you can take to launch your own business, as well as some of the business lessons I learned from my first season running a flower farm. 

Establish a Flower Farming Business Name 

Choosing a business name for your flower farm will either be a no-brainer for you, or it will be one of the single most difficult tasks you will encounter throughout the entire business creation process.

Finding a unique name that represents you and your brand while appealing to your target audience can be a challenge. If you're having trouble coming up with a name, it can be helpful to write down words or phrases that come to mind when you think of your flower business.

A name is a very personal thing, and you may have your heart set on something particular, but there are two important things that you should consider before committing to a name for your business.

1.) Make Sure Your Flower Business Name Is Available in Your State

Has your business name or something similar already been registered by someone else with your Department of State?

It is important for legal purposes to make sure your potential business name, or even something close to your name, has not already been registered with your state.

When I was brainstorming name ideas, the Pennsylvania Department of State had an easy-to-use business registration online search that could quickly tell me if my potential business name was already registered.

2.) Make Sure a Web Domain Name for Your Business Is Available

Is there a web domain name available that will make sense with my business name?

If you plan to set up a website for your business, it is a good idea to make sure your potential domain name is available. A domain name is the web address that will host your website. Most people choose to use their business name or a shortened version of their business name as their domain name, which is why it's necessary to check domain name availability before settling on a business name.

The most common domain names end in .com, but they can also end in .us, .co, or a variety of other endings. For example, I wanted to make sure www.hideawayflowers.com was available for my business. You can use a search engine like www.instantdomainsearch.com to see if your domain name is already in use.

Search engines like this will also show you variations of your domain name that are available if your original choice is taken. Also, keep in mind that customers are most likely to visit and remember websites with shorter domain names that end in .com.

Registering your business will look different from state to state.

Register Your Flower Farm Business with Your State

Once you have established your business name, the next steps are to register your business with your state and apply for a Federal Tax Identification Number (EIN).

An EIN is a unique nine-digit number assigned to your business by the IRS for identification purposes. The process is different in every state, so I highly recommend consulting a local tax expert before getting started. Your tax expert can also help you decide what type of registration you want for your business (Individual/Sole Proprietor, Limited Liability Company, etc.) based on how you plan to operate your business.

The difference between these business types can be complicated, but based on my business model and discussions with my local tax experts, I chose to register as a Limited Liability Company or LLC. In Pennsylvania, I had to receive an EIN before registering my business entity with the state. Applying for an EIN was a simple process I could do entirely online, and it took less than a day to receive approval.

Registering my business with the Pennsylvania Department of State was also a simple online process. Still, they took about three weeks to process my registration and issue my paperwork.

I't’s also essential at this stage to determine if you are required to pay state sales tax. Again, consult your local tax expert for guidance. In Pennsylvania, I must pay sales tax, so I had to register online for a sales tax number. You will have to sort through and organize a lot of paperwork and registration numbers at this stage, so I recommend establishing a good filing system from the start that will be easy to maintain throughout the year.

Write Out a Budget for Your Flower Farm Business

Creating a budget is one of the most important steps to take when setting up your business and something you should do as early as possible.

This is one of the hardest and most time-consuming steps to accomplish, but creating a solid budget is critical in ensuring financial success for your business, especially during the first few years of operation.

“ Don’t underestimate the worth of your product, especially in this industry where the demand for locally grown flowers is on the rise. ”

It’s easy to get carried away with purchases during the season (I’m looking at you, seed catalogues) and lose track of how much you are earning versus spending, so having something on paper will help keep you on track throughout the year. 

Create a Business Plan

Before you start listing out your expenses and anticipated income, take a moment to consider what your business goals are. Having a clear business plan really helps here. I could dedicate an entire blog post to the details of creating a solid business plan, so I will not get into the weeds now, but I encourage you to determine what your goals are for your first season and the next few years.

What kind of profit are you looking to make? Are you trying to fund an expansion or a new piece of equipment? Nailing down these plans at the beginning will make it easier to establish a budget to meet your profit goals and ultimately create a sustainable business model. 

plan a 15% buffer into your Flower Farming budget.

Make a List of Your Yearly Expenses

After you have determined your profit goals, the next step is to list your anticipated expenses for the year.

If you find it too overwhelming to think about the entire year, it might be helpful to break it up by season.

Make sure you're thinking about all aspects of your business when you list your expenses. You will need the essentials like seeds and seed trays, but there are many more obvious and hidden expenses that you will need to think about.

Questions to consider when determining your flower farming expenses include the following:

Do you plan to supplement your soil with compost and other nutrients? Depending on the size of your growing space, the cost of compost can add up quickly.

Will you need to purchase or rent any specialized tools or machinery to prepare your growing space?

Do you have the equipment necessary to maintain and care for your flowers throughout the season? Hoses, fertilizer, metal stakes, and netting for support are some things to consider.

Will you need additional materials to create your final product? If you are selling market bouquets, you will need items such as mason jars, rubber bands, and craft paper.

One big expense that I missed when I put together my first budget was the fee required to buy my web domain and set up an online store.

There are many expenses to consider, so be as thorough as you can in this step, even if it seems tedious. I also recommend building a contingency of 15% into your budget to help cover those inevitable surprise expenses.

To do this, total up your planned expenses, multiply that number by 0.15, and add the result to your total expenses.

Set an Anticipated Income

After you've planned your expenses for the year, it's time to think about your anticipated income. This step requires a fair amount of market research and some detailed thought on your part.

The sale price of your product will vary depending on location, availability, and demand, which is why it is necessary to do some in-depth research before you set your price.

Check out the prices of other local flower farms and use that as a loose guide to set your prices. Remember that you want to be competitive, but you also want to hit your profit goals.

And most importantly, don't underestimate the worth of your product, especially in this industry where the demand for locally grown flowers is on the rise. 

Estimate Your Sellable Product

The second part of the income equation is estimating the quantity of product you will sell.

Think about how many flowers you can produce in the space available to you and the window in which you can grow, harvest, and sell your product. My approach was to tally each plant in my planting schedule, estimate the flower yield per plant based on past experience or some additional research, and use that information to roughly determine how many flowers I would have available to sell during each part of the growing season.

Since my main product was bouquet subscriptions, I could do some quick math to determine how many bouquets I could sell based on my expected flower yield. While this method sounds very detailed, it turned out to be a valuable tool in setting my budget and a good metric to judge my production during the growing season.

Assess and Reassess Your Flower farm Budget

So now comes the big equation. If you subtract your expenses from your projected income, are you hitting your profit goal? If you are, then proceed full steam ahead!

If not, take a look at your expenses and see if you can make any cuts (maybe you don't need those rose-gold plated snips after all). It's also okay at this stage to reassess your profit goals. It is entirely normal and acceptable for a new business to break even their first year.

The most important part is to make sure you don't land in the red and end up spending more than you earn.

Using a system to track your expenses will help you stick to the budget.

Tips for Following a Cut Flower Farm Budget

Creating a solid budget will set you up for success, but how can you make sure you are following your budget and operating your flower farming business within your margins?

It’s easy to lose sight of your budget and your goals during the busy months of the growing season, but there are a few steps you can take to make sure you stay on track:

Creating spreadsheets to track your sales and expenses is a crucial organizational step to ensure you meet your budget goals. There are many free excel templates available online for these purposes, or you can choose to make your own. Try to stay on top of keeping these updated, even during the busy growing months. It is easy to neglect this part of the business, but falling behind on this step will only make for an overwhelming task at the end of the season trying to track down old sales records and receipts.

Save your receipts! At the end of the tax year, you will submit a record of your sales and your business-related expenses on your tax return. Your business expenses can be used to reduce your taxable income, otherwise known as a tax write-off. You can potentially write off almost all of your traditional business expenses (seeds, equipment, etc.) However, write-offs can also be things like mileage and gas for flower deliveries and trips to the home and garden store for supplies, so be sure you are keeping track of those expenses as well. The tax code is complicated, so be sure to work with a local tax expert to understand your taxes and maximize your profit.

Lastly, set up a business banking account. This will help distinguish personal expenses from business expenses and make tracking cash flow for your business a lot easier. The requirement for opening a business banking account in Pennsylvania is to have an EIN and proof that my business is registered with the state. You should also be able able to apply for a business credit card when you open an account, which could include some added benefits like a cash bonus and free financing for a certain period.

Taking these steps to establish your business can seem overwhelming at first, but I promise you it is worth it.

Starting any business can be an incredibly intimidating venture, requiring a certain level of imagination and ambition. But with a little organization, a lot of patience, and hopefully some helpful tips from this article, it is totally possible for anyone to launch and operate a successful small business.

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