Backyard perennial and native plant nursery
Grow perennials, herbs and native plants at home and sell them locally to gardeners.
- C$500-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small growing operation in your yard or a small hoop house, producing potted perennials, native plants, herbs and vegetable starts sold direct to local gardeners.
Your first three steps
- Pick 15 to 25 plants that grow well in your hardiness zone and start seeds, cuttings or divisions
- Set up a simple growing area with a bench, watering setup and shade or cold frame protection
- Book a spot at a spring market or post pre-orders on local community groups
Who pays
Home gardeners, community gardens, neighbours and shoppers at local spring plant sales and farmers' markets.
How it makes money
Price per potted plant, sold from home pickup, at markets or through online pre-orders. Sales are concentrated in spring and early summer, with fall sales of perennials and bulbs.
Skills that help
- Plant propagation and care
- Patience and planning around the seasons
- Basic selling and customer service
Watch out for
- Check with your municipality whether you need a home-based business licence or if zoning allows selling plants from home
- Check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and your province about rules on plant pests and restricted or invasive species
- Check whether you must collect GST/HST once sales pass the small supplier threshold
- Winter losses and a short selling season, so plan cash flow carefully
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: backyard perennial and native plant nursery
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a backyard plant nursery?
Startup costs are estimates, typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on how much you invest in pots, soil, plants or seed, and whether you add a small hoop house. Starting small lets you test demand first.
How much can a backyard nursery earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $200 to $1,000, depending on your plant range, how many local sales you reach and your prices. Winter losses and a short selling season mean cash flow needs careful planning.
What rules should I check before selling plants from home?
Things to check: whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or its zoning allows plant sales from home; Canadian Food Inspection Agency and provincial rules on plant pests and restricted or invasive species; and GST/HST once sales pass the threshold.
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