Full-Time wholesale nursery with shadehouses

Garden centres, landscape contractors, councils, developers, revegetation projects and retail chains.

Wholesale sales by the tray, pot or pallet, plus contract growing for larger projects. Revenue grows with the range, volume and number of regular accounts.

• Plant production planning
• Pest, disease and irrigation management
• Selling to trade customers
• Managing staff and stock

• Check with your local council about planning permission and zoning for a commercial nursery
• Check your state rules on plant health, nursery accreditation schemes and moving plants between states
• Check water access, licences and any restrictions on your supply
• Workers compensation insurance if you hire staff, plus public liability and property insurance
• Large upfront costs and long growing times mean you need enough cash to cover months before income
• Weather, pests and disease can wipe out a crop, so plan for losses

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $100,000 to $350,000, depending on your site, shadehouses or polytunnels, irrigation and potting areas. Large upfront costs and long growing times mean you need enough cash to cover months before income.

Check with your local council about planning permission and zoning. Also check your state rules on plant health, nursery accreditation schemes and moving plants between states, plus water access, licences and any restrictions on your supply.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your range, volumes and trade customers. Plan for at least about 35 hours a week, and allow for crop losses from weather, pests and disease.