How to start a retail and wholesale plant nursery
Run a nursery on leased or owned land selling trees and shrubs to gardeners and landscapers.
- $15k-75k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
NAICS 444220 “Nursery, garden center, and farm supply stores”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A full-time nursery with growing beds, greenhouses or hoop houses and a small sales area, supplying both walk-in customers and landscaping businesses.
Your first three steps
- Visit local landscapers and ask which plants they buy most and what they pay
- Find land with water access that is zoned for agriculture or nursery use
- Start with a small range of fast-selling trees and shrubs and add stock as cash allows
Who pays
Homeowners, landscapers, contractors and sometimes local garden centers or municipalities.
How it makes money
Retail sales of plants, soil and supplies, plus larger wholesale orders to landscapers at lower per-plant prices.
Skills that help
- Growing and plant health knowledge
- Customer service and sales
- Inventory and seasonal planning
- Managing seasonal helpers
Watch out for
- Check with your state department of agriculture about nursery dealer or grower licenses and inspections
- Check county zoning for retail sales on agricultural land
- General liability insurance and workers' compensation once you hire
- Sales tax registration, and resale certificates for wholesale buyers
- Plants take seasons to grow, so cash can be tied up for a long time
- Water rights and irrigation costs
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: retail and wholesale plant nursery
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 plant nursery?
Startup costs for a retail and wholesale nursery are typically around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on whether you lease or own land, how many greenhouses or hoop houses you set up, and how much stock you buy.
How much revenue can a plant nursery make?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your plant range, your mix of walk-in and wholesale buyers, and the season. Plants take seasons to grow, so cash can be tied up for a long time.
What licenses or rules should I check before starting a nursery?
Check with your state department of agriculture about nursery dealer or grower licenses and inspections, and county zoning for retail sales on agricultural land. Also check sales tax registration, resale certificates for wholesale buyers, insurance, and water rights.
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Photo: driesel on Pixabay