Home orchid grower selling online and locally

Orchid collectors, gift buyers, home decorators and members of local orchid societies.

Sales of blooming plants and seedlings through your own website, online marketplaces, plant shows and local pickup, with higher prices for rare or well-grown varieties.

• Patience and attention to detail
• Plant care: watering, light, humidity and pest control
• Photography and simple online selling
• Packing live plants for shipping

• Check with your state department of agriculture whether you need a nursery license or plant dealer license to sell plants
• Shipping plants across state lines can have restrictions, check your state's rules and the destination state's rules
• Some orchid species are protected under international wildlife trade rules (CITES), so buy only from reputable sources and check before selling
• Check zoning, HOA or lease rules before building a greenhouse at home
• Check whether you need to register for sales tax with your state
• Heating and power costs and plant losses can eat into profits

Estimates are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your greenhouse or grow room setup, starting plants, and shipping supplies. Heating and power costs and plant losses can also affect your budget.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $200 to $1,500, depending on how many plants you grow, the varieties you sell, and whether you sell online or locally. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check with your state department of agriculture about a nursery or plant dealer license, and rules for shipping plants across state lines. Also check CITES-protected species, zoning or HOA rules for a greenhouse, and sales tax registration.