According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, business is "blooming" for workers in green-industry businesses. The greenhouse business is a growth industry in both senses of the word (plant growth and business growth). Landscape installation has tripled from 1998 to 2002, according to the National Gardening Association, and receipts increased for greenhouse and nursery crops by 20 percent from 1998 to 2004, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Finally, according to The University of Georgia (UGA), as of 2009, there is an "insatiable" desire for new types of plants. So starting a greenhouse business can be profitable, but there are some things that you'll need to know and do before setting up shop.
Instructions
1. Get training in horticulture. You can get this through continuing education programs at many schools and universities. Liking plants is not enough. You must know grow plants that will compete in the marketplace.
2. Be prepared to do physical labor, oftentimes in a hot environment. Greenhouses are hot from late spring until early fall. Temperatures can get to more than 120 degrees, according to UGA. Much heavy lifting is involved as well.
3. Decide which types of plants you will produce. Studying your market and knowing your limitations will help you decide. For example, annuals and vegetable plants are usually very popular and easy to grow, whereas orchids and pond plants are riskier. Grow what will sell, not just what you like.
4. Determine if you will sell wholesale or open a retail store. It is easier for beginners to start a wholesale business because with retail, you also have to deal with answering customers' questions. With wholesale, you have to arrange for a delivery method, such as hiring a truck driver.
5. Determine what type of greenhouse to buy. You can have a freestanding greenhouse or one attached to a house. Freestanding greenhouses need a separate heating, electricity and water system. It is easier to control the temperature in a freestanding greenhouse. Attached greenhouses, such as a lean-to, are good if you have limited space; however, temperature control is limited. An Even-span is another attached option if you have more room. It is full-sized, with one side attached to the house.
6. Figure out how much to charge. Include your overhead and insurance costs as well as what the competition charges when figuring price. Labor will be your greatest expense, according to UGA. Marketing will be next, more so for retail operations than wholesale. Supplies such as pots, soil, chemicals and heat are next.
7. Order supplies and obtain a loan if needed. Do this at least six months before you intend to open for business.
8. Contact the Small Business Administration to help you get your business off the ground. They can help with funding, business plans, recordkeeping, and taxes.
9. Check local ordinances for gaining any necessary permits. Most states require you to get a nursery license to protect consumers from insect and disease-ridden plants.
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