Flower farming, should I really?

[Guest]

Well in light of MrsW lifestyle change, I thought I would post my next one and see what grapes think and any advice, points I haven't considered etc. (Please )

Since I had my girls I always knew I would go back to work but part-time. However the nearer it gets the less it appeals to me to go back to a strict, regimented routine where I feel bad if I can't go in because my girls need me and the being looked down on for being a Mum and the fact I seem to attract all the complete bum-hole bosses. I have tried to think what I could do from home but none really gelled, until this last month.

I am looking at becoming a flower farmer (artisan/micro farmer) and offering gardening services but the later doesn't seem very promising. In a 10mile radius there are over 50 competitors I have no doubts it will be full-time but a part-time wage which is fine by me. The flower side doesn't overly daunt me but the trying to sell and at a fair price does. I have never been self-employed so there are probably lots of things I am not thinking of.

I have this year to research and convince myself one way or other as my youngest won't start pre-school till later in the year year.

So, what ya reckon?

Thanks as always

[mrswadders]

not being the greatest flower grower i'm not sure that I could give you any advice. However in light of all the encouraging comments that i've had from the wonderful people on here, i'd say if you've done your research and really want to make a go of it then you've absolutely nothing to loose! Good luck!

[happyhumph]

I went self employed with gardening to fit around children as well and it's great - gives you that flexibility you need.

Look on the HMRC website - loads of info there re company structure / sole trader /accounts etc - make sure you register correctly.

Do a bit of market research. You might be able to combine the two. What services do competitors offer and what can you do differently? We have have an awful lot of men with mowers/hedge trimming /tree surgery etc, but a lot of customers are happier with a woman who can do the stuff like weeding, border maintenance, propogation, fruit and ornamental pruning etc.

Be prepared for quiet periods - I'm busy from March - December (too much work from April till October ) but Jan and Feb are very quiet so you'll need to plan your finances accordingly.
Have thought about cit flowers myself but don't have the space.

Look for outlets to sell your produce, & consider advertising a monthly bouquet delivery service. Work out how much you'll need to invest before you can turn a profit.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[ESBkevin]

Carols daugther in law worked for a flourist B.C. (before children) and told us that 'love in the mist' is highly prized by flourists. It grows easily here, well we grow it anyway. But I'm sure there must be some highly valued or rare plants/flowers that bring good returns rather than having Daffs when everyone else does. Selling flowers against the likes of supermarkets at £2.99 bunch must be a tough call, but selling to weddings/flourists the niche stuff (you'd need to ask them what they really wanted) could reap better overall rewards from small plots.
Sorry I'm at work and have my sensible business head on, i promise not to be sensible anymore today.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

NG, have a neb at this.

https://ruralgardener.co.uk/garden-photos/

A couple who did something very similar a good few years back, but growing and selling plants and shrubs, not making a killing, but getting by rather nicely.

[mothhawk]

We need more flower farmers in Britain. If I could I would always buy British flowers. I don't have enough room to grow many of my own, and like to leave them in the garden. Where are the sellers of cut delphiniums, anemones, larkspur, stocks, peonies, the wonderful big blousy chrysanthemums, poppies, forsythia, all the wonderful English cottage garden flowers? I would buy some every week if there was someone near me.

I think you do need to be sure you have an adequate market though. Flowers are perishable, after all. No good having a huge crop of flowers ready to cut and nowhere to sell them. (Though I bet they'd go down a bundle at farmer's markets)

[Guest]

Thank you all. It is nice not to just have this in my head. My hubby didn't really get the flower farming till I showed him a couple of sites, but I think he still sees the gardening services as the more promising.

[QUOTE=Deano's "Diggin It";1511294]NG, have a neb at this.

https://ruralgardener.co.uk/garden-photos/ [QUOTE]

This is a very refreshing, honest site. I have looked at so many lately that quite a few were starting to look the same. Highly polished, airy and expensive looking.

I think you do need to be sure you have an adequate market though. Flowers are perishable, after all. No good having a huge crop of flowers ready to cut and nowhere to sell them. (Though I bet they'd go down a bundle at farmer's markets)

Unfortunately the farmers markets are a touch too far away. The one I had hoped on stopped running last year However, I have already thought about gluts and wastage (I can't bring myself to compost endless decent flowers) and I have a lovely large garage to dry them in so out of season I can do Christmas fairs with dried flowers and flower craft. It is just a thought. I can only find 2 companies online that specialise in dried flowers and that may be for a very good reason.

[veggiechicken]

I think its a great idea NG and perfect for you!
I've had the same sort of ideas over the years - including growing flowers for drying rather than fresh.
Or selling seedlings/plants that are suitable for drying.

Another idea - grow wildflowers for bouquets and funerals. So much more natural than the roses and carnations that are normally use. I've seen wildflowers used in this way and they're lovely.

[Elfeda]

NG, whatever idea you choose, test it adequately among your actual coverage area before deciding.

[vixylix]

Fab idea NG, and at this stage you have nothing to lose by giving it a try!

I'd love to get out of the rat race - but I can't take the financial risk.

Best of luck to you - I'd buy them!

[Potstubsdustbins]

In my opinion the key word in going self employed is flexibility or as my mom used to say 'owt to earn a bob'.

When I first went back into my trade plumbing and heating as self employed I would do anything to turn a penny, I did all my local Makro stores plumbing maintenance but when they wanted a gardener to keep the grass short etc I was first in the queue. That annual contract paid £2500 a year for the outlay of a big mower and a sprayer.

Do your books regularly and keep it as simple as possible. I use an Evrite 707 as my main book plus folders for purchases and invoicing, don't be led by accountants who will try to sell you 3 or 4 ledgers they are unnecessary for a small business. I've only had one tax investigation and they ended up sending me a £186 refund.

Remember you pay charges on a business account so check if your bank will issue you with a 'business card' for purchase's that way you pay 30p a month to clear the card instead of 30p a cheque. Only pay in cash if you have to, they will charge you to so much per £100 to pay in and then charge you again to take it out Nat West charge 70p per £100 for over the counter withdrawals and 35p to use an ATM for any amount. And be prepared to argue with your bank manager for a better deal after all its people like you who pay his wages, I never pay more than £15 a quarter in bank charges.

Having given you the bad news I have to say I wouldn't swap being self employed for anything, I love it like today when a client rang me up to sing the praises of my two lads who had just installed her heating system.

I would like to help with growing flowers but you could write what I know about that on a very small stamp................

[ESBkevin]

Another chap I'm reminded of was told he couldn't do woodworking for money after giving up work. He put photos of his first project on FB and had orders within hours, he just repeats the process and people bring work to him. Social media might connect you with customers but beware of selling retail if you want the local flourist to buy bulk from you for the same market! You need to supply what people want rather than what you want to supply if that makes sense.

In terms of gardening services, what about design? That way you are the ideas and planning person and the other local contractors do the grunting and digging while you flit about placing pots and plants, or not!

[Guest]

NG, whatever idea you choose, test it adequately among your actual coverage area before deciding.

Sorry to pick on you as I may have just read that wrong, but anyone else reading and taking advice from here be careful how much you 'test the market'. If it looks like a business and official bodies are informed then you may end up with more than you bargained for.

[roitelet]

Ten years ago my daughter was made redundant. She has a degree in science and she couldn't find employment in her area and with children to consider she couldn't move. So, she put a few adds around offering gardening services. No grass cutting or landscaping, just weeding, pruning and lighter work. She is now so busy that she is having a problem keeping up with it. She finds that being a lady Gardner she has a lot of elderly ladies on her books. They feel more comfortable with her than a man.

I don't know anything about flower farming but wish you the best of luck.

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^^^^^^Going with the above here in Nottingham we have Polyplumb, not the pipe and fittings but a plumbing company with just lady plumbers, very successful from what I know. There are many ladies who prefer to employ other ladies to work for them and in this day and age who can blame them.