If you are thinking about where to start a flower business, you first need to decide what format your future store will be and estimate the amount of investment.

To open a small flower shop from scratch you will need about ten thousand dollars. You may be able to save money, but it’s still better to include exactly that amount in your expenses.

Calculate all the costs of starting a store and draw up a business plan. Having described all financial model work, you can calculate how much product needs to be sold for the store to start making a profit. Assess whether sales can reach this level. Think about how you can cut costs and increase flower sales.

You also need to decide from the very beginning whether you will work as individual entrepreneur, or open a limited liability company. Registration legal documents You can do it yourself, or you can entrust this task to professionals. It is better to trust a company that specializes in preparing documents for starting a business, especially since the difference in costs is quite small.

Once you have written a business plan and registered your company, you can begin searching for suitable premises and suppliers.

How to find a suitable premises

When searching for premises, it is important to have a good understanding of the so-called map of the trading area. It is preferable to open a store near a large business center; it is better if there are two or three of them nearby. This will attract corporate clients who often place large orders for large quantity employees. In this case, you won’t have to think about how to attract additional clients before the holidays. Several corporate orders can bring in as much profit as you make in an average month.

For a flower salon, a room with an area of ​​eighteen to thirty square meters will be sufficient.

In addition, due to its proximity to the business center, your store will more clients in a day. If people order your bouquets and arrangements for their companies because they like them, they will start ordering bouquets for themselves, for their wives, relatives, etc.

However, you need to take into account that renting premises located near a business center is much more expensive than renting in a residential area. And one more thing: it is always difficult to find a parking space near the business center.

But in any case, if you can rent a room in such a place, it is a great success, because the location of the salon at the intersection of many human flows is most advantageous. Life is in full swing during working hours, people buy more expensive bouquets for work-related occasions, but for themselves, as a rule, they take something cheaper.

Of course, you can open a store in a residential area. You will benefit significantly from renting premises; moreover, if the residential area is very large, there will be a certain circle of regular buyers living in your area. But you need to pay attention to customer flows Special attention. The ideal option is to draw a map of the area before choosing a room, see where the school is located, where are the large stores, grocery centers, etc.

If there are any offices nearby, analyze which way people go to work and which way they go from work. Even if you have already rented a room, you will still need a trading map of the area. With its help you need to plan your future work.

Before renting a room, you need to pay attention to one more very important point. Consider whether your store will be easy for customers to find. If you rent premises in the courtyards, most likely you will have problems with the flow of clients. Of course, there will be regular customers, but you shouldn’t count on a continuous influx of new visitors. A beautifully decorated shop window on a thoroughfare street is best advertising for a flower shop.

Before opening the salon, the premises need to be renovated. Nowadays there are many magazines about interior design, in which you can get a lot of ideas on how to make renovations with minimal resources, even if the room is in terrible condition.

How to choose suppliers

Now suppliers offer a very wide range. Flowers that ten years ago could only be seen in catalogs or that were brought only to order are today always available for free sale. There are many suppliers, you can choose those whose conditions are most suitable for you.

When you are just starting your business, it is better to choose suppliers who have minimum bulk purchases. This will make it possible to purchase goods more often and in small quantities. This way you can avoid buying expensive refrigeration equipment for storing flowers, and you can also determine which flowers sell better and which don’t sell as well.

What equipment will you need?

It is advisable to have a refrigerator in a flower shop, so when opening, you need to include its average cost in your expenses. At first, you can do without a refrigerator, because there are now a lot of flower supply companies, and you can buy flowers in small batches. While there are few orders, you will not need a refrigerator. But when your business is sufficiently developed, you will be able to afford a refrigerator, and you will need it.

But if you still decide to buy a refrigerator, you don’t need to place it inside the cabin, this makes an unpleasant impression on the buyer.

It is very important to properly equip trading place. Even in the arrangement of colors there are many subtleties. You can arrange the flowers so that it visually seems like there are a lot of them. You need to be able to choose the assortment in such a way that the effect of volume is created in the salon. You will need racks and containers for flowers.

To organize normal work in the salon, at least one computer is required. A scanner, copier and fax are also needed, but they can be located at the store manager’s home, i.e., your own resources can be used to the maximum.

How to select staff

The ideal option is to hire four florists who will work in shifts. Two florists working one shift will be able to serve customers faster and fulfill more orders. Of course, you can start with two, but working alone is inconvenient. If the florist is alone in the store, he cannot go anywhere during the day. After all, he cannot close the store during his absence, so four employees is the most optimal number.

If it is not possible to hire so many employees at once, you can invite an assistant florist; his work is paid at least twice as cheap. An assistant may not work in the salon all day, but only during the time the manager is absent from the store. Students work in such positions with pleasure; they count and process flowers. You can invite assistants on weekends when store management is on vacation.

How to plan an assortment

It is necessary to carefully study the range of your competitors and understand what they are mainly selling. If some flowers are sold, it means that there is a demand for them, this must be taken into account. At the same time, there is no need to be afraid to bring something new to the business, make original offers to customers, always slightly exceed their expectations, offer more than others.

Walk around your area and see what your competitors are selling. This way you can understand what is in demand for what.

Each flower has its own lifespan and costs a certain amount of time. When a salon is just opening, you can only guess what flowers will be in demand, even if you have analyzed what your colleagues in the area are buying. Therefore, in the first months of work it is better to purchase flowers that last a long time. This will also ensure that your store is well stocked and will create the impression of abundance and a wide range. Anthurium remains fresh for a week, orchids last a very long time, especially cymbidium and dendrobium, phalaenopsis in flower pots can generally last for several months. Flowers in pots can be sold along with it, and cut for a bouquet. People willingly buy chrysanthemums both for home and as gifts, so chrysanthemums can also be purchased in large quantities. Also, the assortment must include roses and gerberas.

To start a flower shop, it is better to form a basic assortment of flowers that do not lose their presentation for a long time: anthurium, orchids, chrysanthemums.

It is very important to ensure that the assortment is wide not only in names, but also in color palette. You definitely need to buy flowers white. This White Rose, white chrysanthemums, white gerberas, white orchid. It’s more difficult with spring flowers; there must be tulips and daffodils.

Initially, you can sell bouquets in one range to see which colors will be in demand. It is also useful to come up with standard bouquets, decorated in a certain way, for a given amount, which will always be on sale. Gradually, as you build up a customer base, you will study demand, compare your sales with what flowers are sold by your competitors, and make adjustments to the cost of your bouquets and colors.

The assortment must include inexpensive indoor plants.

At first, when you are still limited in funds, you can purchase indoor plants that can be sold individually or used in combination with fresh flowers. There are many such plants. For example, variegated begonia looks impressive in bouquets; speciphylum gives good volume, which can last in a bouquet for several months. Bouquets that combine indoor plants and cut flowers always look very voluminous and expensive.

You can organize an exhibition of ready-made bouquets in the salon and make a special markup for each bouquet for the design.

It is very important to correctly arrange flowers in the salon. They should not be on the same level. In addition, when arranging great importance has a smooth color transition. Let there be pink flowers next to the red ones. It is important to create the impression that there are many flowers. To do this, you can add additional indoor plants and branches; they provide volume and height. The arrangement should be stepped. You should also try to ensure that roses and any other flowers are the same length.

The idea of ​​opening own business, probably visited every person. And the flower trade is considered a relatively profitable business, because it’s hard to imagine the holidays without them. What is selling flowers? A business plan must take into account even the smallest details. So how to start trading and make it profitable?

Selling flowers: business plan

Of course, first you need to sort out some little things. In particular, you need to draw up an accurate and detailed business plan:

• Research the sales market.
• Choose a place to purchase goods.
• Complete the necessary documents.
• Find a place to rent.
• Purchase necessary equipment and goods.
• Hire staff.
• Calculate the amount of starting capital.
• Conduct an advertising campaign.

If you are interested in how to start selling flowers, then you should know that when creating any business, every little detail is important. This is the only way to make it truly profitable.

What documents are needed to trade plants?

It should be noted right away that a license to sell flowers is not required. Therefore, you just need to register either an LLC or an individual entrepreneur with the tax service. Sole proprietorship is suitable for you if you intend to work exclusively with individuals. This option has some advantages, in particular a simplified system accounting, as well as lower taxes.

If you are not the sole owner of a store and plan to expand your business and cooperate with different companies, it is better to register a Limited Liability Company.

Where to rent a room?

If you are planning to start a flower selling business, you should know that the location of your store is extremely important. Therefore, it is best to rent a room somewhere in a busy place, for example, in the central part of the city, in a tourist area, in mall etc.

Naturally, premises in a busy area will cost more. But a favorable location largely determines the success of trade.

After all, quite often people buy flowers impulsively, without planning it in advance. Therefore, it is important that your store is on the path of a person who is going to purchase a beautiful bouquet.

As for the store itself, it is desirable that it be spacious. Then buyers will not have to crowd into a tiny room.

Try to arrange the flowers so that they are visible from anywhere in the store - this way the client will have the opportunity to independently choose the best plants.

What equipment do you need to get started?

As already mentioned, flowers are a product that quickly deteriorates. Therefore, you need to raise money in advance for necessary equipment. After all, without it, selling flowers is simply impossible. The business plan should include the purchase of the following materials:

• To begin with, you will need a refrigerator, since in the hot season it is important to keep the flowers fresh.

• But in the winter months, the main threat to the product is cold. Therefore, you need to purchase a special thermal curtain.

• A store full of flowers must have an air conditioning system, which will help create optimal temperature conditions at any time of the year.

• Don’t forget about stands, tables for florists and other furniture necessary for creating bouquets of furniture.

• Most likely, in addition to fresh-cut flowers, you will sell some other products - these will also require furniture, such as racks and shelves.

• To preserve flowers, buckets, vases, sprayers and some other devices are needed.

• By the way, make sure there is enough water in the store.

• You will also need a cash register. By the way, as your business develops, when there are more and more regular customers, you will probably need a computer and a special software. They will facilitate the process of tracking sales, and also simplify the work of the accountant.

This is a list of basic purchases. You can buy the rest of the things you need for work after the store opens.

Basic consumables: what to buy?

Naturally, the main thing in your business is fresh, fresh-cut flowers. Today, their market in our country is sufficiently developed; only 45% of products come to us from abroad. You just need to find a company that grows or delivers flowers and draw up an agreement with it. By the way, many organizations use a flower franchise.

Many novice businessmen ask what plants to buy. According to statistical research, the most popular are roses.

Chrysanthemums take second place, and carnations take third place. Therefore, these flowers must be present in your store’s assortment.

Naturally, you can purchase almost any plants that are useful for creating bouquets. And don’t forget about the so-called seasonal ones - for several weeks (or even days) a year, snowdrops, anemones and tulips become especially popular.

Of course, selling flowers is a profitable business. But in order to increase your income, you should think about creating compositions. For this purpose, it is best to hire an experienced, talented florist. He will create original bouquets from ordinary flowers - compositions are usually more expensive. In this case, you will need some materials: gift wrapping, paper, ribbons, bows, rhinestones and other decorations.

By the way, selling flowers in pots is interesting and profitable idea. Such plants are more expensive, but with proper care they can be preserved for months. In addition, indoor flowers are popular gifts because, unlike cut flowers, they do not fade.

We hire workers

A flower selling business can become truly successful, but only with the right approach. It's no secret that the effectiveness of trading largely depends on the quality of service. Therefore, when interviewing future employees, first of all pay attention to such qualities as communication skills and politeness.

To begin with, you will need a seller, and a little later, a florist. If you cannot do accounting, you will have to hire someone for this position (perhaps on a part-time basis). Additional staff may be needed when expanding a business such as selling flowers. The business plan in this case has its own characteristics.

About some nuances

As already mentioned, the sale of plants is often seasonal. Naturally, people buy bouquets every day, but there are times when flowers are in great demand.

This is mainly observed in special and holidays, for example, the first and last call, prom, March 8 (don't forget to buy tulips, snowdrops and other spring flowers), as well as Valentine's Day, etc.

Always be prepared for such holidays, buy more flowers, create inexpensive bouquets in advance, and offer discounts. In short, do everything to attract customers.

Weddings are another source of good income. Let your florist create bouquets for the bride. Boutonnieres for the groom and bridesmaids made from fresh flowers are becoming increasingly popular - offer this service too.

Ideas for additional income

Selling cut flowers and original bouquets is a profitable business. But business, and therefore profits, can always be increased by new level. For example, over time you can create a flower delivery service. This service is very popular among people who do not have time to go shopping, as well as among buyers who want to surprise a loved one.

Along with indoor plants You can always sell pots, fertilizers and other small items. Quite often, flower shops offer customers souvenirs. These can be figurines, boxes, photo frames, paintings, watches, artificial flowers and other gifts.

Selling flowers: advantages and disadvantages

When you start a new business, it's always a little scary. Therefore, many people are interested in the question of whether it is profitable to sell flowers. Yes, there are a number of significant disadvantages in this matter. To begin with, it should be noted that flowers are a product that deteriorates relatively quickly, so if the trade is not very successful, losses can be quite high. And the flower business is seasonal.

On the other hand, there are also important advantages. In particular, some stores sell flowers with a markup of 200 or even 300%. In addition, such a business does not require large start-up capital, any specific skills or extensive experience. With the right approach, selling flowers can become a truly profitable business.

Where to start a flower business: how to open and register flower shop, what is needed for opening (advertising, equipment, associated costs), premises and location, assortment policy and the intricacies of purchasing goods.

 

This is not just business. Over time, it turns into a way of life. It fascinates, enchants, and captivates. How? Constant contact with nature. The permanent feeling that you bring a piece of beauty into the world and give joy to people. An activity filled with emotions. Those who once plunged into the flower business part with it only due to force majeure circumstances.

However, we will talk about the mentioned correct approach, which will allow you to get the maximum possible profit from trading such a complex product.

Procedure for opening a flower shop

Let's consider the question of where to start and how to properly organize the flower trade.

Registration

The registration process is perhaps the easiest thing in the flower business. Register individual entrepreneurs in accordance with 52.48.32 OKVED " Retail flowers and other plants, seeds and fertilizers.” You have to choose a taxation system (UTII or simplified tax system).

After registering the enterprise, it is necessary to purchase a cash register, and also register the cash register with the tax office. Self-registration will take about two weeks. It’s easier to use the service offered by cash register sellers. In this case, the registration process with the tax office will take a maximum of 3 days.

Mandatory documentation

At a retail outlet (regardless of its size), a package of documents must be present, and most of them must be available to customers. This includes:

• Permit to trade (obtained from the government in accordance with N 381-FZ).
• Conclusion of the SES on compliance.
• Book of complaints and suggestions.
• Price (optional).
• Packing list.

It is also preferable to keep the remaining documents (lease agreement, KKM registration certificate, cash register) at the point of sale. Sellers and florists must have medical records, as well as badges with full name and photo.

Certification

Certification is not required, but there is a caveat. This document inspires confidence and costs the business owner the cost of a photocopy. Most reputable suppliers undergo voluntary certification. All you have to do is take a copy from them when purchasing the product.

What do you need to open a flower business?

Advertising

on four sides. The box itself costs about $1000, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. The main expense is approval from the appropriate authority, which can cost $10 thousand (Moscow time). In the regions, these figures are much lower, but they cannot be ignored (a significant expense item).

Equipment for a flower shop

You can't open without a refrigerator. cooling chamber may be ready, but it is extremely inconvenient. It is preferable to do it “for yourself”. At the same time, there is no need to immediately turn to the “masters of cold”. First you need to build the “room” itself (more profitable). One side of the refrigerator should be “blank”. It's good if it's a wall. The rest are plastic “windows” made to individual measurements.

A door is required, or better yet several (depending on the size). After the chamber is built, a cassette split system or monoblock is installed in it (possibly when there is another “blind” wall). Together with all the work, the refrigeration chamber will cost from 120 to 200 thousand rubles.

In tonars or small pavilions, a standard split system with a winter option is installed. Accordingly, this is the cost of a typical air conditioner installation.

Flower stands and flowerpots are required. Large chambers are usually equipped with shelves and glass vases. In tonars and small pavilions these are special designs (about 4 thousand one) and plastic flasks (from 80 to 150 rubles each) for them.

Cash machine

Price cash register varies in the range from 9 to 15 thousand rubles.

Purchasing a cut for a small pavilion will cost about 40 thousand rubles (Moscow time). To completely fill a large store with goods: from 300 to 400 thousand.

Related costs

Flower packaging is required. To begin with, you can not get too carried away with the color scheme, buy universal shades: mesh, felt, matting, sisal, ribbon. Transparent cellophane - No. 1. Always needed. This is the most popular type of packaging. In addition, you will need: wire for gerberas, tape, adhesive tape, and a glue gun. Tools: pruning shears, scissors, floral knives, wire cutters. All together will cost about 5 thousand rubles.

Premises for a flower shop and its location

A store or retail outlet may be located:

• In the tone. A small room on wheels. Essentially a car trailer.
• In the pavilion. Small rooms, modular designs.
• In a separate room (rare, almost unrealistic luck).
• On the ground floor of a residential building (first line only).
• In the mall.

The lowest rents are in shopping centers. Then - tonars and pavilions.

Separate line: online store. It is worth opening it with a fully established business. It cannot exist separately.

Territorial location of the flower shop (IMPORTANT!)

From the right choice The location of the premises intended for a flower shop of any level depends, quite a bit, on the “fate” of the business.

The proximity to a metro station is not always a big advantage. It is important where the exit from the station goes: people come home or leave home. But this is not the main thing. Main thread - highway. It gives a large flow.

If you choose a place on the highway closer to the city center, then the most powerful traffic will be where the movement is towards the region, and vice versa: when located in residential areas, you need to be directed towards the center.

If the store is located near the metro, but there is no road nearby, you may not expect large daily sales. Of course, if the professionalism of the staff is at its best top level, and the assortment is always full, including rare exotic flowers and plants, sooner or later the enterprise will work at full capacity, but this will take at least three years. Plus, you will have to constantly make financial investments in advertising, pay for a highly qualified florist and maintain the assortment at the proper level. This arrangement of a flower salon is too long a ruble.

There are nuances. Not every track guarantees a quick start. Purchasing power is reduced by 50% if the store is located:

• on highways, on the sides of which cars are prohibited from stopping.
• On a track with backups.
• Directly next to a public transport stop, where parking is also impossible.

"Pitfalls" of rent

If they refuse rental holidays, you should be wary. There can be no urgency. Vacations are a standard need for everyone trade organization. At a minimum, it is necessary to arrange the premises, bring in equipment, goods, and decorate display cases. In most cases, this takes a week. If you need cosmetic repairs or some alterations, it will take a month. The landlord's refusal to comply with the standard requirement serves as a reason not to rent the premises. Most likely, there are either no rights, or there will be difficulties with taxation.

The requirement for two months' advance payment is justified only for shopping centers. However, in Lately Even they don't practice it.

When drawing up a lease agreement, you must clarify whether the monthly payment is included in the amount communal payments. Tariffs for electricity and housing and communal services for commercial enterprises differ significantly from consumer tariffs. Electricity bills can reach $300 per month. Price garbage removal also significantly higher. In addition, it is necessary to clarify whether the lessor has this agreement at all. If not, then there is a risk of being left without the opportunity to get rid of packaging containers and other rubbish, of which there will be quite a lot.

When renting in a shopping center or residential building, you must immediately check availability outdoor advertising opportunities. It could easily not exist. In this case, it is reasonable to abandon the premises and find another one. This rule also exists for pavilions. There are situations when the height of the room is such that outdoor advertising cannot be placed due to inconsistency with the architectural plan of the area.

In general, when concluding a contract, you should seek the help of a lawyer. It’s not that expensive, but it can save you from a lot of troubles, even to the point where the landlord’s land allotment period is running out. It will be extremely unpleasant if in a couple of months the building is demolished.

Features of the assortment, what colors to sell

For small areas the best option is a trade in fresh cut flowers. Potted crops and related products are extremely rarely sought in such places. Products in this category take up precious space, which can and should be used to increase the range of cuts.

Assortment for toner

The assortment is minimal. The area does not allow maintaining any serious level.

• Carnation ( several colors: red, white, variegated).
• Bush carnation ( several colors: white, pink, variegated).
• Single-headed chrysanthemum ( white, yellow, lilac).
• Chrysanthemum bush ( white, yellow, motley).
• Rose ( burgundy, white, pink, yellow, motley).
• Shrub rose (pink, white).
• Gerbera (mix).
• Tulip ( from February to June: white, yellow, pink).

Assortment for the pavilion

If the area of ​​the pavilion is about 10 sq.m., then the assortment is practically no different from that in the tone. Starting from 18 sq.m. you can already purchase: orchids, anthuriums, irises + increase the number of varieties of roses.

Assortment for the store

Starting from a 30-meter area, it already makes sense to sell potted crops, soils, pots, boxes. On a 50-meter area the assortment will be complete:

• All possible cuts, including exotics, in a large refrigerator.
• Artificial flowers. Dried flowers. Potted crops, including large ones.
• Pots of all types: plastic, clay, ceramic.
• Soils, fertilizers and other preparations.
• Vases: from ordinary glass to original works.
• Postcards.
• Various decor for home and garden.
• Thematic literature.

In a large store, you can and should organize gift wrapping. The production of designer postcards is encouraged. Everything is used: dried flowers, beads, beads, ribbon, colored paper. The main thing is the florist’s imagination.

How to purchase goods

The main immutable rule is never lock yourself into one supplier, even if he has a super product. Some kind of force majeure and you can be left not only without profit due to the lack of goods, but also incur unforeseen expenses associated with wages personnel. Additionally, rent should also be taken into account.

The ideal option is to select three main suppliers. The following countries are widely represented on the market: Holland, Ecuador, Russia. This means you need to choose three wholesalers. If something happens to one, two thirds of the ordered goods will be received in any case.

Colombia is very widely represented in Russia. This product is only suitable for pavilions. It needs to be sold quickly. The price is relatively not high. Russian flowers are definitely more expensive. Potted crops - Holland and Russia.

For small additional purchases that will definitely be required at the beginning, the best supplier is " 7 colors V". These are affordable prices, a wide selection, and a flexible approach. Contact the manager and all restrictions will be lifted ( tested). This is a Dutch, international company. As for other suppliers, you will have to choose yourself, based on their prices and the quality of the goods supplied.

1. Main purchase

In the process of work, the main assortment will be formed - items and their quantities, which are sold in any case. This will be the main purchase. You will need to place a pre-order for it from all suppliers in order to be guaranteed to receive the goods in certain days. It is preferable to place such an order on Wednesday. First, it will have to be re-registered several times, then the main purchase will take place automatically.

2. Additional purchase

This is a rather subtle point that requires experience. Flowers are purchased here and are expected to be sold. It is almost impossible to create a stable list. It should be taken into account that additional purchases are always more expensive, since discounts apply to the main purchase.

3. Holiday shopping

On February 14, a double purchase is made. Moreover, the main + additional purchase. The product must be ordered three weeks before the holiday. Some wholesalers may require orders to be placed one month in advance of delivery. Their demand should be satisfied.

Orders for March 8th are made a month before the 1st. This purchase is tenfold. An advance payment of at least 30% will be required. When planning the movement of funds, this aspect must be taken into account, as well as the fact that prices are rising quite seriously.

Trying to negotiate payment after the fact with suppliers can lead to their agreement and disastrous results. Risk of being left without goods on the most trading days of the year it is too big. The suppliers' demands are more than justified. They pay for flowers from their own funds, which are simply not enough for the holiday volume. At auctions and plantations, flowers are not sold on credit.

Pricing

The standard markup is 200%. However, for a product that looks more expensive, the price should be set higher, since it periodically decreases for a fresh cut. In addition, when determining the cost of freshly cut flowers, you should start from the maximum price tag of the product, that is, from the cost of flowers purchased for additional purchase (it is more expensive than the main one). This is done for stability. Customers don't like surge pricing. Buyers tend to look for flowers in advance, several days before the intended purchase. If the selected product suddenly becomes more expensive, the person will buy it, but will not come to this store again.

Price reduction

In the flower business, this process is mandatory and must be carried out on time. Flowers are stored in the refrigerator for quite a long time, but the price for them should not be reduced appearance, and by date of purchase. You shouldn't wait for the presentation to be lost. This will happen immediately and irrevocably. If the flowers are not sold within a week, their price should be reduced by mandatory. The florist should put them to work first.

Seasonality and holidays

Flower trading is a fickle process, but very predictable. The decline is observed in the following periods:

• The first two weeks of January due to holidays.
• Lent. Weak trading for all 49 days, excluding March 8.
• May holidays (vacations).
• Last two weeks of August. This is due to the preparation of children for school.
• September, starting from the second week. Cause: the Velvet season.
• The last two weeks of December. Everyone is preparing to celebrate the New Year.

In addition to these standard “failures,” the flower market reacts to sudden changes in exchange rates and collapses on securities exchanges. The reasons are difficult to identify, but the trend is visible. If business is conducted correctly, this does not have a significant impact on the state of affairs.

The main holiday is March 8. Intense trading has been observed for almost a week. The main rush occurs on March 6, 7, 8. The 4th, 5th and 9th can be compared to less significant holidays. Then in descending order: February 14, September 1 (double main purchase), New Year, Teacher's Day, Tatyana's Day.

When the store is located in the city center, Saturday and Sunday are “quiet” days. Trade comes to a standstill. In residential areas it’s the other way around: Saturday is the busiest trading day of the week.

Summary

The most advantageous option in all respects would be to choose a large area located on the ground floor of a shopping center, as close as possible to the central entrance group. Of course, the location of the shopping center itself must be optimal and meet the above requirements. This will be a quick start.

A few immutable rules

• You can't feel sorry for old flowers. An illiquid product spoils the display case and brings much greater losses than getting rid of it.
• Money for the purchase of sold related products must be set aside immediately. If you postpone it “for later,” you may end up with an empty store.
• Personnel must be made directly dependent on profits. The salary is minimum. The rest is a percentage of revenue. The more the florist earns, the higher the store's profit. The dependence is direct and very tough.

It is necessary to ensure that the florist is happy. This is creativity. Too much depends on him. However, one must also not lose vigilance. Organizing video surveillance is the best solution. You can pay a lot, but you cannot allow yourself to be deceived. Unfortunately, a flower business cannot be built on trust, no matter how much one would like it to be so. Otherwise, the store owner risks that his profit will be lower than the salary of the seller.

Is it worth opening a flower shop as a franchise?

One of the options for opening a flower shop is to purchase a franchise of an existing store. With this option, you get a ready-made business model, with detailed description where to buy flowers, how to store them and answers to many other questions that arise during the operation of the store. But you have to pay for this information (as you know, free cheese is only in a mousetrap, and even then only for the second mouse).

Let's look at the example of the Mnebouket franchising offer, what buying a franchise gives in comparison with opening a store from scratch.

comparison table opening a store by franchise and independently (according to the Mnebuket presentation)

Opening from scratch

Franchise "Mnebuket"

Selling flowers is a fairly popular activity. However, not everyone who tried to do this interesting thing, got the desired result. So is it profitable? And how to properly organize the work of your own flower shop so that it brings profit and not losses?

A flower shop is profitable!

Flowers are a product that is in great demand. According to statistics, their sales volume in Russia in 2012 amounted to more than $4 billion. And this is quite a considerable amount. Mostly imported products are sold. The average markup in a store ranges from 100 to 300%.

Of course, it is worth considering possible risks. After all, every business faces this. But a flower shop is a special business. The risks here are quite high. Flowers are a very capricious and finicky product. Weather changes, careless handling, various force majeure - all this can lead to their damage and significant financial losses.

Another enemy of flower shop products is time. After all, its shelf life is very short, and no one will buy wilted flowers. If you want to open such a store, then you will have to work very organized and efficiently. And in this case, your efforts will pay off, and the flower shop will become profitable.

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How to open a flower shop and organize its work

Before you open your flower business, analyze the market.

Choosing a location for a retail outlet is a very important decision that needs to be made without haste and wisely. Choose a place where there will always be large flows of people. This could be an area near a large metro station in the city center or the intersection of crowded streets near any entertainment establishments, office centers, etc. It is desirable that the place be easily accessible for both motorists and pedestrians. An additional advantage will be the opportunity to open a retail outlet next to the civil registry office. Weddings take place every day, and thanks to this, the number of your clients will constantly grow.

In addition to the location, you will need to choose a room. The size of the average flower shop is about 30 square meters. m. This is the case if you want to sell not only flowers, but also related products (pots, fertilizers, etc.). If you do not have such an opportunity, then you can open a flower pavilion and limit yourself to 5-8 square meters. m.

As with starting any business, you need to register it. One of the most popular ways is to register as an individual entrepreneur. Select the desired tax system and prepare the documents necessary for registration. In addition to the standard package, you will need a permit from the sanitary and epidemiological station and a medical examination of personnel.

Be responsible when recruiting staff. Do not hire people who are far from the flower business. Search good specialists in floristry. It is desirable if they can not only show a document confirming the relevant education, but also have sufficient experience as florists. Your employees should not only be able to care for products and make flower arrangements, but also competently advise customers. If you plan to carry out flower delivery in addition to traditional sales, then you should take care of the staff who will deal with this. Choose responsible and polite couriers. As mentioned above, all of your employees should undergo a medical examination. Therefore, you should not hire people who have any problems with documents.

In order to do this, you will need to find suppliers. It is better if there are several of them, because working with only one is very risky. Some unforeseen circumstances may arise and you will have to slow down your business. Carefully inspect the products of potential suppliers. It should be fresh and without any blemishes.

Before opening a store, consider the product range. You should not immediately focus on too expensive and unusual types of flowers. To begin with, select the most popular products, and then replenish them, monitoring fluctuations in demand. Do not purchase too large quantities, even if it is the most popular product. After all, the average shelf life of flower products is about 20 days, and it is quite difficult to immediately calculate sales volumes.

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Equipment and decoration of a flower shop

You shouldn't skimp on equipment for your store. Even though it will cost you a pretty penny initially, the investment will pay off in the future. Lighting plays a special role. Consult with experts about which lamps are best to choose. Flowers perceive light differently than humans, and a certain range of radiation is useful for them. Besides, different types prefer flowers different temperatures. Therefore, it makes sense to install local heat sources.

An important element is climate control equipment and ventilation. The room should not be too cold or hot. This can have a detrimental effect on the safety of your products. Make sure that the equipment copes with regulating the optimal humidity level. Don't forget to purchase a refrigerator for flowers. It will be difficult for you to live without it. You don’t have to buy too big to begin with and limit yourself to medium dimensions. If your room is small, then place the refrigerator as a display case. This way you will save space.

Many entrepreneurs have made a fortune selling flowers, but it is not an easy business. How to open a flower shop from scratch to a store quickly paid for itself and began to bring in stable income? It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of this field of activity. The specificity of a flower shop is perishable goods - unsold, withered flowers bring losses. Competition in the flower trade is high, but demand is constant. There are several directions of this business: flower kiosk, salon or online store.

The article is devoted to the flower business: opening and design, financial expectations in the form of a business plan and secrets of success.

Legalization of business

This entrepreneurial venture is not burdened with excessive paperwork. What documents are needed to open a flower shop:

• Registration of individual entrepreneurs and extract from ERGUL.
• Tax registration: OKVED code 52.48.32 (trade of flowers, seeds and fertilizers).
• Choice of taxation system: UTII or simplified tax system (6% of income or 15% of income minus expenses).
• Registration of a cash register with the tax office (on your own - 2 weeks, order a paid service from the sellers of these machines - 3 days).
• Obtaining permission to trade from the administration.
• Lease agreement or documents of ownership of commercial premises.
• Conclusions of the SES and State Fire Supervision on compliance with standards.

In the sales area you need to set up an information stand with a book of complaints and suggestions, as well as product certificates (optional).

Premises and place for selling flowers

Many people ask the question “I want to open a flower shop, what do I need for this?” The amount of investment required depends on the store format. There are many options - from a trailer on wheels to a salon in a solid room

Room type

Opening a flower business from scratch is attractive because it does not require large premises.

Choose one of the options:

1. Cheap segment : A commercial trailer on wheels (tonar) is a profitable investment. In case of an unprofitable place, the trailer can be transported, and in case of failure of the flower business, it can be re-qualified (coffee/tea, hot dogs, etc.) or sold at a profit. The price of a used toner is ≈ 110 thousand rubles.
2. Middle segment : a modular pavilion with an area of ​​10 m2 is a convenient option, which can also be re-qualified and sold at any time. The price of a new pavilion for 10 m2 is ≈ 90 thousand rubles, the rental price per month (10 m2) is ≈ 7 thousand rubles.
3. High segment : renting premises in a shopping center means a lot of traffic from wealthy people and the opportunity to sell at good prices. Rent per month (10 m2)≈ 10 thousand rubles.
4. VIP segment : the first floor of a residential building is a suitable option when located in an advantageous area. Such options are suitable for a flower boutique/salon. Rental price for premises from 40m2 ≈ from 50 thousand rubles per month.

Note! An online store can be opened as an addition to any of the options.

Selecting a location

The future of a flower shop depends on how many people pass through the place in which it is located. Choose options near the highway where you can park your car. A busy person will park, find your store a few meters away and buy flowers.

• downtown – on the side of traffic from the center to the periphery;
• in a residential area – on the side of traffic towards the city center;
• place near the metro, in a pedestrian crossing .

Note! You can buy a ready-made flower business at a price of 250 thousand rubles.

Equipment purchase

What you need to open a flower shop from scratch:

• trade equipment: counters, racks, plastic flower vases (20 pieces), table, and 2 chairs;
• refrigerator display cases for flowers;
• air conditioner;
• computer;
• cash machine.

In total you will need about 110 thousand rubles.

Refrigerators are a must, otherwise the products will wither. The trailers already have built-in refrigerators and air conditioners, if this is a specialized flower toner. In this case, you will need much less investment - up to 50 thousand rubles.

When calculating how much it costs to open a flower shop, include repairs in the estimate - from 350 thousand rubles above.

The right assortment is the key to profit

The main task is to satisfy the needs of everyone entering your store. A poor assortment will force the client to look at flowers from others or change the idea of ​​a bouquet for another gift.

To open a flower shop from scratch, be sure to study the displays in the main flower spots in the city.

Diversification of the assortment depends on the format of the outlet:

• Store trailer (minimum assortment): carnation - 3 colors, single chrysanthemum - 3 colors, spray carnation - 3 colors, rose - 5 colors, spray rose - 2-3 colors, gerbera - mix, tulip (seasonal) - 3 colors.
• Modular pavilion for 10 m2 you can add a variety of colors of roses, and for an area of ​​15 m2 you can add callas, irises and orchids.
• Shop in a shopping center always has additional goods that bring profit and do not spoil. These are flowers in pots, beautiful pots, soil mixtures and fertilizers, postcards, vases, accessories and more.
• VIP class flower salon includes an exclusive assortment, exotic flowers, fittings and accessories.

Eustoma has become popular lately - it is inexpensive, delicate, has beautiful colors, and lasts a long time.

Accessories for packaging: transparent film, cone packaging for 1, 3 and 5 colors, corrugated paper, non-woven fabric, colored tape, tape, etc.

The markup on flowers is 200%, on flowers of excellent quality 250% or more. Flowers that are not sold during the week should be sold at a discount, and those that are severely wilted should be thrown away, otherwise it will be a negative reputation.

The most important secret success is a commodity type of flowers. A small store involves purchasing from a supplier for pick-up, which allows you to check all the goods directly at the base.

You need to cooperate with two or three suppliers so that in the event of a holiday emergency you will not be left without goods and excess profits. Main suppliers: Holland, Ecuador and domestic representative. The best product, prices and approach are from a Dutch supplier.

The purchase should be divided into categories:

• "star" assortment — this is the main purchase, constituting 100% of the current assortment, purchased on an ongoing basis;
• additional purchase – this is an order above the main one, which is determined by an experienced seller or owner, depending on the need;
• holiday shopping : an order for February 14 is made on January 23-25 ​​in double quantity, for September 1 an order is made on August 9 in double quantity, for March 8 an order is made on February 1 in tenfold quantity.

Note! Please note that for purchases on March 8 you will need to make an advance payment in the amount of 1/3 of the order or more, taking into account the increased prices.

Advertising

First of all, you need a bright sign in the form of a light box that will be visible at night. The inscription should give an understanding of the product “Your bouquet”, “Million Red roses" etc. The cost of a box 2 meters long, 0.7 meters high is ≈ 16 thousand rubles.

Order the creation of your own website with flower delivery. For delivery, enter into a partnership agreement with a taxi driver. Advertise your website and store for free (social networks, sales sites) or for a fee.

A must: make a batch of beautiful business cards and give them to those who make purchases of a decent amount. Good idea with a discount for those who purchased over 1,500 rubles.

Staff

Hiring a professional florist from the start is difficult and expensive. It is better to choose a beginner specialist, since such an employee will not have to pay much. It is important to approve the initiative of a creative approach - this is the positive attitude of the florist himself and your profit.

A flower salon or boutique with a VIP clientele needs professional florists. This is an absolute necessity if you want to work with corporate and VIP clients.

Staff remuneration should be made up of a minimum rate (10 thousand rubles) and a percentage of sales. In this case, sales will be stimulated, since the florist seller will be interested in sales directly.

Flower shop business plan

The business plan is designed to guide the entrepreneur in the necessary investments and the speed of their payback. This will give an understanding of whether it is profitable to start such commercial activities. Especially when it comes to risks when money for a business is borrowed.

According to minimum forecasts, sales will amount to 3-4 thousand rubles per day. It should be taken into account that during the holidays this figure will be 2-10 times higher, so monthly sales will be adjusted.

Table. Expenses (average)

Monthly calculation	Store trailer	Rented pavilion
Revenue	132 000,00	132 000,00
Product cost	66 000,00	66 000,00
Rental costs	—	7 000,00
Communal payments	8 000,00	8 000,00
Salary + salary tax	20 000,00	20 000,00
Other expenses	3 000,00	3 000,00
Taxes	7 000,00	7 000,00
Net profit	28 000,00	21 000,00
Profitability calculation:	27%	19%
Invested funds
Purchasing premises	110 000,00	—
Purchase of equipment	50 000,00	110 000,00
Illuminated advertising box	16 000,00	16 000,00
Total invested	176 000,00	126 000,00
Payback period, months	6	6

The payback in both cases was six months, but it is worth considering that the trailer store does not need to pay rent and in the future will bring in at least 7 thousand rubles more than a pavilion with rent.

Before opening a flower shop, you should know some nuances:

• Flowers should be marked down after 7 days, but not after they begin to fade.
• The landlord is obliged to provide rental holidays (without payment) for 1-2 weeks to equip the premises.
• Be sure to check whether utilities are included in the rental price.
• Consider a franchise option.

Unusual approaches to bouquet design will add prestige to your services. Let you have stylish and original bouquets - clients are always happy with this approach. An example of an idea: decorated in paper that imitates newspaper pages, it looks intriguing and unusual.