Plant Nursery & Garden Center

Plant nurseries and garden centers sell plants (annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, houseplants), gardening supplies, soil amendments, tools, and décor to homeowners and landscapers.

You lease or purchase land with greenhouse/outdoor space, source plants from growers, hire knowledgeable staff, and serve gardening enthusiasts and homeowners.

Success requires horticulture knowledge, understanding local growing conditions, and providing expert advice.

Revenue comes from spring planting season (March-June represents 60-70% of annual sales), fall planting, houseplants year-round, and increasingly landscape services.

Plant margins run 100-200% (doubling or tripling wholesale cost) while hard goods (pots, tools, soil) offer 50-80% margins.

Costs include land/facility, inventory (plants are perishable), watering/maintenance, and seasonal staff.

Successful nurseries differentiate through unique plant selections, expert advice, workshops, landscape design services, and creating beautiful display gardens that inspire customers.

Marketing involves spring advertising, social media showcasing seasonal arrivals, workshops, and building reputation through expertise.

Climate and seasonality significantly impact business model - year-round operations in warm climates versus seasonal in cold climates.

Competition from big-box stores (Home Depot, Lowe's) requires focusing on quality, selection, and expertise.