If you love the idea of going to botanical gardens or nurseries and indulging in the different types of plants and seeds available, and you want to start a business, then maybe a plant nursery business may just be the thing for you. Plant nurseries hold the future of the world when it comes to planting propagation. Usually, they sell their products to retailers which then sell them to the general public. However, a plant nursery can also sell directly to the public depending on the plant and business type at play.

Here’s how to start a plant nursery business.

Learn about botany.

One of the first things you should do is learn about the product that will drive your business, which is, in this case, plants. If you want, you can sign up for botany courses or even an undergraduate degree like an associate’s degree in nursery management, greenhouse management, landscape management, and horticulture. These programs will prepare you for the business side of the nursery as well as in-depth knowledge about plant care, gardening, and agriculture.

Choose the types of plants you want to sell.

Moreover, you can choose the types of plants you’re going to sell in your nursery. This can vary depending on your location and climate. You can sell anything from flowers to trees, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. In case you’ll be selling seeds, you can purchase eco-friendly yet durable packaging from EarthwisePackaging.com in bulk so you can have a sustainable business. These containers are made from sugar cane and are available in various dimensions so you can choose your ideal packaging option.

Create a business plan.

Next, you’re going to want to develop a business plan which will help you define the details of your business. It will include an executive summary, company description, your products and services, and your market analysis. It will also include your strategy and implementation, organization and team management details, financial plan, and projections.

Research common business practices.

Furthermore, you can research common business practices in the plant nursery industry. This can include common contracts with retailers, partnerships, working culture, and goals. The idea here is to prepare yourself for success by understanding how other successful plant nurseries run their businesses. You can even go the distance and contact an already established plan nursery and gather tips and tricks on their processes if they’re comfortable sharing that information.

Choose a location for your nursery.

Next, you want to rent or buy a location for your nursery. Ensure the soil is rich for growing your preferred type of plants, and that you have a building to process your sales, keep your pots and indoor plants, and manage other business details. You can install greenhouse rolling benches to maximize your growing space, control your nursery’s environment, and evenly distribute your light throughout the nursery. These rolling benches can also increase the overall yield of smaller spaces by 40 percent when combined with adaptable airflow, irrigation systems, and moisture control.

Start hiring employees and buying materials.

Next, you’re going to want to start hiring employees and buying the materials needed to run your business. Your employees should at least have basic knowledge of agriculture or horticulture so they can properly care for the plants and help your clients choose the best plants based on their interests. As for your materials, you will want to invest in sustainable soil, compost, sand, gardening tools, among other things. Don’t forget to also invest in a point of sale (POS) system designed for agriculture to process your sales and generate accurate accounting reports.

Market your nursery business.

Lastly, be sure to market your business before its grand opening so people can show up as soon as the doors open. You can market your plant nursery via social media, word-of-mouth, local media, and other methods. Likewise, you’ll want to create promo codes and reward programs to attract repeat or loyal customers.