Dried flower shop on the high street

Local home buyers, gift shoppers, interior decorators, and couples or event planners ordering for weddings.

Shop sales of stems and arrangements, wedding and event orders, paid workshops and online orders for the wider area.

• Floral design and arranging
• Buying stock and managing cash flow
• Customer service
• Marketing through social media and local networks

• Rent, business rates and shop fit-out can be significant, so check lease terms carefully
• Check whether your premises have the right planning use class for retail
• Public liability insurance and shop contents insurance
• Register as a sole trader or limited company, and check VAT once turnover grows
• Sales can be seasonal, so plan cash flow for quieter months
• Dried stock can be a fire risk, so check fire safety rules for your premises

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £35,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and amount of stock. Rent, business rates and shop fit-out can be significant, so check lease terms carefully before you commit to a unit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,500 to £12,000, depending on your location, stock and how much you add through workshops and online orders. Sales can be seasonal, so plan your cash flow for the quieter months.

Check that your premises have the right planning use class for retail, and look at fire safety rules, as dried stock can be a fire risk. Also check insurance, whether to register as a sole trader or limited company, and VAT as turnover grows.