Hobby to business

[Dottie]

The thing you have to remember Dottie is that there will be no salary going into your account at the end of the month, or any month. The only money going in will be what you have earned. Have you worked it out ? Can you do it ?
What is the minimum you need every month ?
Can you do that ?
It's a tough world but good luck if you decide to go for it.

As I mention in an earlier post, I'm not working or earning due to ill health, so professional wage and benefits are out the window. Hence why I'm looking at options that most of us wouldn't consider when all is well, scraping the barrel comes to mind.

Just looking at ideas at the mo, and like Kev's woodwork photo's you have to find a niche market within the field. No point just doing loads of veg modules, as there are lots of folk providing that and other folk like us, growing their own. Plus the mark up would be too low, for the space and time required for financial success.

[BFG]

Go for it! What have you got to lose?

Kev, have you thought about making bee hives? They're in demand at the moment and are very expensive to buy normally.

I want a top bar bee hive and could be tempted to buy a reasonably priced, well made one, rather than make/bodge it myself.

And the same for a small decoy hive, for the hope that a wild/escaped swarm turns up and takes residence.

And you'd be helping the bees!

Also bat/bird/toad/hedgehog/insect boxes. They usually cost a fortune for what they are and should allow you to be reasonably priced, but still profitable.

[Lovage]

The best nurseries are those started and run by people who are enthusiastic or even passionate about plants - so different from the purely commercial.

Check out Dove Cottage Nursery in the current 'Garden' magazine

[Dottie]

I think the Bank Manager may want to see an itemised business strategy also..............unless you don't need to borrow start up money from him.

If you're already in employment you could always start in a small way and 'Test the water' so to speak?

If I give it a go I wouldn't be taking any loans out, it would be just case of spending more on compost and stuff. Start small, grow a few sell a few and re-invest the money.

Not in employment, but starting small and "testing the water" always makes the best sense when it comes to business and finance. "In my view", suddenly thought I'd best add that to save getting replies arguing the opposite.

It's not like it's always being a big ambition of mine, with big plans and money needed for land and greenhouses etc. No, it's just a case of seeing if I could make some money from extending what I already do for pleasure. However as gardening is very seasonal in terms of selling, then I've not chosen the best time to consider the idea.

[Rocketron]

If I give it a go I wouldn't be taking any loans out, it would be just case of spending more on compost and stuff. Start small, grow a few sell a few and re-invest the money.

Not in employment, but starting small and "testing the water" always makes the best sense when it comes to business and finance. "In my view", suddenly thought I'd best add that to save getting replies arguing the opposite.

It's not like it's always being a big ambition of mine, with big plans and money needed for land and greenhouses etc. No, it's just a case of seeing if I could make some money from extending what I already do for pleasure. However as gardening is very seasonal in terms of selling, then I've not chosen the best time to consider the idea.

I would say it's the ideal time to consider,evaluate and plan for the year ahead.

[Dottie]

The best nurseries are those started and run by people who are enthusiastic or even passionate about plants - so different from the purely commercial.

Check out Dove Cottage Nursery in the current 'Garden' magazine

I've not seen the article, but I would agree that whenever I've visited nurseries, chatting to the grower is often worth the price of the plants you buy and yet you still go home with the plants.

I went to call around a local father and son place yesterday, and was very disheartened to see the sign "opens 1st Oct for viola etc". I was going to sound out the idea with the son who I've chatted to before, but as they pay for a location with large greenhouses and stuff then it did rather bring it home that the money only comes in at certain times of the year.

I'm only going to use my allotment and a small space at home for raising seeds, so not on a grand scale at all. The idea is that I shouldn't be holding on to stock once it's ready, ha!

I've already decided to dig up my rhubarb (9 established plants) split them into small crowns and sell them on. Wyevale had small crowns sprouting 2 leaves for £4.99 on Friday, I certainly could do a much better price than that. Last year I gave away 5 huge crowns for free, just think how many I could have split them into and sold on?

[Alice]

I don't want to be a damp squid Dottie, but how many plants could you have split your rhubarb crowns into, what would you have charged for each, where would you have sold them and what would your month's income be - even if you had sold them all.
I think it's easy to look at the price of plants and say WHAT? They are seeding all over my garden. But you have to look at how you will grow them on and how you will market them.
It might be possible to make a few pounds just selling stuff at the gate if you go for an honesty box system, but running it even as a small business requires a lot of thought and organisation.
Hope it goes well for you.

[Dottie]

I would say it's the ideal time to consider,evaluate and plan for the year ahead.

Yep it sounds like a good time to be rational about the whole idea, see and speak to small nurseries in the lean times.

[Sue]

Dottie
Just a thought
I've had to start buying veg plants this year due to lack of time and space. What you can't do is buy the particular varieties you might want. What would be wonderful is if you could specify particular varieties, tomatoes especially.
The other area is, including tomatoes, the ones you have to grow at home. I don't have enough space with good light so am always struggling with the likes of tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers etc. And light isn't the only problem, lose a lot to cat damage as well.
As a potential buyer would be quite happy to send the seed (and payment)and get the plants back when I want them.
I know you said there wasn't the money in veg plants but I seem to have spent a fair bit of money on them this year!
Herbs especially parsley and basil which you need loads of.
Flowers too, especially if you concentrated on insect attracting plants.

Hope it goes well for you
Sue