Home bonsai nursery selling online

Hobbyists building a collection, gift buyers, and beginners wanting a first tree with care guidance.

Sales of finished and starter trees, plus add-ons such as pots, bonsai soil, wire and tools. Well-trained trees sell for much more than young stock, but take years to develop.

• Plant care and bonsai styling
• Patience for slow-growing stock
• Photography and writing product listings
• Careful packing of live plants

• Selling plants in the UK has plant health rules, so check the current requirements with the government plant health service before importing or selling certain species
• Importing trees from abroad often needs plant health documents, so check before ordering from overseas
• Check whether your home, landlord or mortgage lender allows trading from the property
• Public liability and product insurance are worth checking, along with cover for stock losses
• Live plants can die in transit, so plan for losses and a clear returns policy
• Good trees take years to train, so early income may come mostly from supplies and young stock

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on your growing space, the stock you buy and your equipment. These are estimates. Live plants can die in transit, so it is sensible to plan for some losses.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on your stock and sales channels. Good trees take years to train, so early income may come mostly from supplies and young stock rather than mature trees.

Check the current plant health rules with the government plant health service before importing or selling certain species. Importing from abroad often needs plant health documents. Also check whether your home, landlord or mortgage lender allows you to trade from the property.