Local flower shop with delivery

Local residents buying gifts, families arranging funeral flowers, couples planning weddings, and offices, restaurants and hotels wanting regular arrangements.

Sales of bouquets, arrangements and gifts, delivery fees, and larger event contracts. Standing orders from businesses give steadier income.

• Floral design
• Buying and managing perishable stock
• Customer service and upselling
• Managing a small team or part-time staff

• Commercial lease terms and the cost of rent, utilities and a cooler
• Commercial general liability insurance, property insurance and commercial vehicle cover
• WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff, as rules differ by province
• Check with your municipality whether you need a business licence for a shop, and confirm signage and zoning rules before signing a lease
• Wastage and price swings, especially around peak holidays
• Check GST/HST registration, and French-language rules if you are in Quebec

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your lease, cooler, fit-out, stock, delivery vehicle and insurance. Check rent and utilities carefully, as these are ongoing costs.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on walk-in, online and event orders, your pricing and the season. Wastage and price swings, especially around peak holidays, can affect what you keep.

Check commercial lease terms, whether your municipality requires a business licence for a shop, and signage and zoning rules before signing a lease. Also check liability, property and vehicle insurance, WCB/WSIB coverage when hiring, GST/HST registration, and Quebec French-language rules.