Artificial plants for offices, hotels and shops

Office managers, hotels, restaurants, estate agents, salons and retailers who want to dress their premises.

You sell products at a mark-up and add a fee for design, delivery and installation. Repeat orders, seasonal changes and refresh visits bring regular income.

• Eye for design and display
• Sales and building relationships
• Measuring and planning a space
• Reliable delivery and setup

• Fire safety: check whether businesses need plants that meet flame-retardant standards, especially in hotels and public areas
• Public liability insurance when working at customers' premises
• Late payment from business customers: agree terms and consider deposits for larger jobs
• Check whether you need a van or can use courier delivery for large items
• Register as a sole trader or limited company and check when VAT applies

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on how much stock you buy, whether you need a van and the size of your first jobs. These are estimates, so build your own budget from supplier quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £5,000, depending on how many business customers you win, how often you return to refresh displays and the size of each job. Treat this as an estimate, not a promise.

Check whether businesses need flame-retardant plants, especially in hotels and public areas. Also check public liability insurance, payment terms and deposits for larger jobs, whether you need a van, and when to register and when VAT applies.