Making money (profit) your 1st year cut flower farming: How to crunch the #'s b4 the season starts

[@fionavietje2430]

I love that you don’t shy from the financial aspect of flower farming!

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

If you have the ability, do a flower stand in front of your home. It is surprising how much a humble flower stand can bring in with no man power, just an honour cash box. For example. My first year I grew 60 dinnerplate dahlias only. I purchased a garden wagon with sides, an umbrella stand and umbrella. Poster board for signage and asked my friend for all their empty drink cans. I put 8 plastic buckets into the wagon with 4 drink cans inside each bucket. Each drink can held 1 dinnerplate dahlia cut flower for a maximum total of 32 flowers, although it was usually less as that became too crowded. I sold the single stems for $4 each or 3 for $10 and marketed them as organically grown so the recycled drink cans made sense as a low impact container. In the 3 months the dinnerplates where blooming I brought in $3200 from these single stem sales. It is important to note that dinnerplate dahlias are huge and worth the money. They are also not sold at florists and while so many people say the vase life is really short, my customers said they got an average of 6-8 days which is perfect for weekly sales AND I don't bother with the expense of flower food.

[@bareflowerfarm]

It’s definitely something I plan on doing if we have extra flowers. The only consideration is whether it can be an unmanned stand. My husband seems to think people will take advantage but I have more faith in humanity!! (And obviously others have done it). Congrats on also being intentional, picking a winner of a variety (and one that few others grow bit for florists), and getting those stems moving!

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

@@bareflowerfarm One thing I do that seems to keep most thieves at bay is I purposefully keep my roadside stand humble looking. People respond to it as though I am doing them a favour by making my dahlias available to them - and often thank me profusely and often I get tips. A lot of the time, anyone who buys a single stem pays $5 not the required $4 but most sales are $10 or $20 and sometimes even more. The tips make up for the small amount of theft. Most folk haven't a clue that I actually make money off of the stand. Last year I added potted tulips and dafs at 3 bulbs per pot for $10 - better revenue and less work than stems. I sold out and am doubling that inventory for this year. I will say the stand is a favourite purchasing point for men who don't like to go to a store to buy flowers and their thought process seems to be, the bigger the flower, the better.

[@laurieclarkson9180]

@@EvelynM-vlogs That's awesome! I've heard that some stands have a business card with their website address to their e-commerce store, so customers go to the site and then they somehow scan a QR? code on the biz card to checkout their flowers either at the stand or when they get home and that way there is never any money at the stand or at least not a lot. But I wonder how many ppl just take the flowers and forget to pay.

[@vintiquity]

This is what most new cut flower farers don't think about. Hence why we hear so much about them still working their 9-5 jobs. This is my 1st year flower farming and my other business is fronting the costs, plus a little bit of help from my friends. (ie: free land to grow it on and word of mouth). I also decided to sell some of my extra seedlings, because yeah, I am a seedaholic, but I can grow stuff so before I can even plant out I have sold $500 in seedlings of only 2 varieties. Word of mouth, letting people know what you are doing. I have 3 businesses that are wanting cut flower bouquets to sell in their shops. I have spent maybe $2000 so far but I am a hustler and super frugal. And just in 15 CSA's /wk / 17 weeks I am bringing in over $5000 for the season. It can be done but don't grow faster than you should, especially if you have never grown plants before

[@bareflowerfarm]

This here!! Not only are you controlling costs but you’re building your customer base so that you have demand before you have supply. Kudos!! In some ways I think growing more than what you can sell can be good for someone who can figure out how to move stems but there are a lot of people who buy so many seeds they never even get to start them!

[@TVyVan]

Thanks for talking about the financial aspect of things. Too many flower farmers on KZbin are showing seed hauls that could get FOMO buyers get into debt before even starting. I liked and subscribed to your videos. ☺️ Also, Happy Lunar New Year 🧧! 🎉

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha we are on the same wavelength!! I avoid seed haul videos bc I don’t want to be tempted to overspend 🤣. And happy lunar new year to you too!! 🥳

[@allisons9260]

This video is so good! Thanks for breaking down the financials for flower farming. I'm currently not selling my flowers, but this was helpful in just planning my garden budget. I wish you a ton of luck!

[@SweetKingsGarden]

Hi Jessie - new subscriber here. Just wanted to commend you on doing a great job sharing your journey! My husband and I will be growing cut flowers for the first time this year and your videos have been helpful so far! I’m also a new mom (baby girl is now 9 months) with a passion to see read awareness of sustainability. It’s refreshing to “meet” someone of similar interests and in a similar season of life. Take care! Lydia Sweet Kings Garden

[@bareflowerfarm]

This is so great to hear! Congrats on the baby, our littles are close in age! I love how similar our aspirations are. I wish you and your husband the best of luck. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions! (Instagram is the best way to get ahold of me 🙂)

[@45jessiemad]

Ok..OK... where were you when I was getting started!?! 😅 Yep.. I spent waaayyyy to much my first year. Enjoyed your video. 🙂

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha! Girl, watch me eat my words in a year. It’s so hard to keep costs down even when you’re on a budget 😬. I love your videos and have already made several changes based on your learnings- you mentioned you got Kraft sleeves from Johnny’s and hated them. I realized that I’m assuming I can grow a certain stem length but if I can’t, then those sleeves are a waste! Based on that, I’m going to just use a roll of Kraft paper until I have consistency. Thank you and looking forward to more of your content!!

[@Relaxits2024]

Brilliant video

[@littleredflowerfarm]

Thanks so much for addressing this almost taboo subject. The practicality of it is vital to be successful!

[@ashleighhathaway1389]

I found this video very helpful. Thank you.

[@martiee6882]

Hey I have to tell you ... my local bakery grocery store was more than happy to give me there white buckets. I was so shy to ask, but after thinking of how much $ it would cost not to ask -- I did and I was so happy. They pails are so nice!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Yes!! I ended up asking Trader Joe’s yday after Mother’s Day and scored some buckets 😁

[@martiee6882]

I am so grateful you made this video ... I can not wait to see more. I would love to learn about any experience you have selling to florist also and pricing ideas.

[@bareflowerfarm]

Not yet to florists! I would recommend going on rootedfarmers.com, looking for local sellers and seeing how much they are selling stems. Another suggestion is to look at the Boston ornamental terminal pricing sell sheet and use that as a basis

[@Willow_and_Sage]

You are an angel, no one breaks it down like this, which is what I was doing in a gsheet XD

[@Willow_and_Sage]

I have changed my mind, you are a Godsend and I am not religious XD I just found your other videos. Subscriber for sure!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha! Thank you, appreciate the kind words ☺️

[@Willow_and_Sage]

@@bareflowerfarm Would you be willing to either work with me or on your own making those spreadsheets into work sheets?

[@hortonsflowerfarm5098]

Hey, I just started my upick flower farm last year and it all added up quickly to over 5 figures. If you need extra help I found that Facebook gardening groups in my area ppl were willing to trade their service for bouquets. For example, this weekend I am having 8 people help me plant in my annuals. Some I am paying but some just want a bouquet in return. I also had a couple people willing to help out without any compensation, there are kind people out there! Good luck with your farm!

[@bareflowerfarm]

That’s a great idea, thank you for sharing!

[@SacredTouchASMR]

This is such good info! I love how your brain works & breaks this all down.

[@LifeatSycamoreRidge]

new subscriber! really enjoying this first video i stumbled across! love your realistic approach and how you are breaking this down. last year was my first year technically with a business and i wasn't taking it seriously - this will be my first year including flowers at the farm and im pumped! thank you for breaking this down. my bookkeeper thanks you ;)

[@bareflowerfarm]

Glad this was of help! Best of luck to you, I’m sure you learned so much in year 1 to help to succeed even more in year 2!!

[@Thingys-Jill]

Very well done. Jessie at Living on a Prayer Flower Farm says herself that it is ridiculous how much money she spent. I would like to add that the costs you mention are variable according to the size of the property being cultivated for the farm. You might want to reconsider your use of "sleeves" and instead get the squares. Those are easier to work with and can be sized for your bouquet. You can buy them in bundles of 500 at quite a few places (Johnny's is one). I thought I was going to spend about $1500, but then I splurged and got raised beds rather than dump on the ground. Another cost many people don't factor in is licenses and permits. Most states require an Agricultural license ($165), which gets renewed annually. Many also require a florist license and possibly State and City licenses. Those can easily add up to $500 annually.

[@bareflowerfarm]

100% to everything you raise!! I find that the most profitable "farms" are the small ones who do intensive growing and can sell in small scale outlets. And I actually realized from one of Living on a Prayer Flower Farm videos that I shouldn't buy sleeves right now. I'm assuming I will grow a certain stem length if I do that!! Valid point on licenses & permits too- even LLC fees which I did not include but should!

[@belowthetamaracks]

Thank you for mentioning booth fees! So many great points.

[@jeanettehawkins7472]

My farmers market is only $75 for the year! Whoo hoo!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Omg you win!! 🤣🤣 that’s awesome though! Glad they make it very affordable for local small farms to participate!

[@emmyhusfloen]

Love how you talk about the financial part of Flower Farming... I am just looking forward to growing, eventually selling.. I'm nervous to start but everyone needs a starting point, Right..

[@bareflowerfarm]

💯!! What part are you nervous about? The growing or making money? If it’s the making money part, starting small is often the key. If it’s the growing part, time and experience are the greatest teachers!! I have already made mistakes from seed sowing and it hasn’t been a month 🤣

[@sheilahurford5931]

Thankyou for this . It certainly concentrates the mind .

[@Debbiesbackyard]

Finally got it to work. Love your videos

[@rushellrousseau9197]

This is great!!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Thank you 🙂

[@NatalyaBerezneva]

Good content and very important side of any business of what you can profit now, not a five years from now. There are expenses “ must have” and “ nice to have”. I think that you will double your estimated revenue projections :)

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha I think I overestimated revenue and need to double cost at this point. Random but necessary things pop up 😬

[@shannongoshen8982]

Also business fees, licensing, insurance, etc. really can be costly too!

[@janehilbery6596]

Such a good video,

[@tatiananotami1861]

making your own compost would be a great cost saving, you can utilise your kitchen scraps, any green waste from the farm, all pruning, etc. you can get wood chipping dumped by tree surgery companies, can collect manure from stables very cheaply or free. councils produce compost and sell it cheaply. also don’t overlook collecting your own seeds and not buying seeds, majority of annual flowers have viable seeds and tons of it, one zinnia flower will give you near hundred seeds. just need to make sure its not F1 hybrid.

[@drtlovr11]

Thank you for sharing your numbers and knowledge. My day job is as a financial assistant and I am analytical by nature. How many acres will you be farming on?

[@bareflowerfarm]

Hey there! While we have 3 acres with 2 in the back, I only cleared a 40x90 ft plot which technically is half growing space when you count the walking pathways. I’m “taking it easy” this first year and my only planned sales outlet is a farmers market every other Sunday. Love that your are numbers oriented 🤓

[@patriciakeys4873]

Thank you so much for your financial aspect of growing a flower farm. Most people do the "growing" videos really well but not so much about the money/accounting side of it. Do you have any about accounting? Most of us can grow but we like it outside rather than inside diligently entering all of our numbers (how dull)!

[@bareflowerfarm]

Haha unfortunately I don’t have much for accounting. It was my worst class in college so my husband laughs that anyone would ever want my opinion 🤣. But I will say that the app “expensify” which I use to forward my receipts to, is a lifesaver because I can sync it to quickbooks. It’s $10 a month and totally worth it once you start having weekly expenses!! I don’t love quickbooks but it’s a pain to migrate and learn a new system. The best thing to do is probably just hire a book keeper if you are doing 5 digits in sales 🙂

[@Morgandvanzo]

Would you do bouquets on door dash ? I keep seeing the ad lol

[@yolandafonda4059]

I might have missed this but do you plan on using landscape fabric for planting and if not do you have a secret to deal with weeds? I think weeding will take so much time!

[@bareflowerfarm]

I’ve been going back and forth on this, primarily bc I expect to direct seed quite a few beds. Given this, I may just do landscape fabric on a couple of beds!

[@cbak1819]

I have seeds that are from 2019 and have 100 % germination.. every issue I have had is user error.

[@Sullivan_Owen]

you seem so passionate about business but I have to tell you as someone with over a decade in flowers and 20 years of major retail business experience, you are greatly overestimating sales. The reason so few flower farms make money is that while the idea of becoming a flower farmer sells well, the demand for flowers doesn't align with the idea. I do wish you all the best and hope you'll find other outlets to sell your flowers but it is a very hard thing to do profitably.

[@bareflowerfarm]

You're absolutely right. I am dubious I can move 50 bouquets/market and perhaps understated how "optimistic" the revenue assumptions were. I do genuinely think there is enough demand, but you have to be focused in who you want to cater to (ie florist vs end consumer) and tailor your growing to that plan. I also think that there's alot of opportunity for profitability in the shoulder seasons/winter months where there is less competition. We shall see what happens!

[@Debbiesbackyard]

Video isn’t streaming

[@bareflowerfarm]

It just loaded so not sure if that was the issue. Should be streaming now!

[@tammiobryan6285]

What is a csa?

[@bareflowerfarm]

It stands for "community supported agriculture". You can think of it as a subscription where the customer pays upfront in exchange for goods (flowers, produce) throughout the season. The intent is for the grower to not only receive income upfront to help pay for costs they incur to grow the product, but to also share the risk. For example, if there is a flood and the crop is washed out, customers in a true CSA model would also bear some of that risk by not getting any product. The upside is that if there is a bumper crop, they get more!