How to Start Your Own Florist Franchise

Alice Tuffery, writer

Published at 27/09/2018, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min

How to Start Your Own Florist Franchise — Photo © florist-franchises.jpg

Many people dream of opening a flower shop, but you don’t have to risk everything by setting up your own independent business. Here, we take a look at the sector and why you should consider joining a florist franchise.

The UK florist sector is doing well. Between 2014 and 2019, it saw an annual growth of around 0.8 percent, and it’s now worth around £1 billion. Flower shops employ over 20,000 people across the UK, in more than 14,000 different businesses.

There are countless high street flower shops in the UK, but only a tiny percentage of them are franchises. While the franchise model has proven popular in many industries, it's yet to fully take hold in the floristry sector, despite being well suited to this particular type of business. But there are a few fantastic investment opportunities for keen entrepreneurs. Keep reading to find out more.

Reasons to invest in the florist sector

You can offer a range of products – Many florists sell products alongside their flower displays. You could choose to offer vases and plant pots or even balloons, candles and gift hampers. In time, you could also develop your business to offer specialist memorial products and flower arrangements.
You can tap into market developments – Today, there’s a market for all kinds of different products in the florist sector. For instance, many businesses now sell house plants, preserved flowers and moss pictures. Some even create living walls. Also, innovations like petal printing have opened up entirely new opportunities for businesses.
You could supply florists with the products they need – If you don’t want to join a florist franchise, you could always sell products on behalf of those who’ve set up a flower shop. Why not specialise in affordable cellophane, ribbon and packaging materials?
The sector is growing (excuse the pun) – More and more people are coming to understand the importance of nature in combatting feelings of stress and anxiety. It’s not possible for everyone to have a large garden or a home near a nature reserve – but most people can afford to buy flower arrangements and house plants. What’s more, trees and plants that can be kept indoors, such as succulents, are becoming increasingly popular for interior design.

Our top tips for florist franchise entrepreneurs

1. Impress customers by selling exotic flowers

Flower wholesalers source an incredible range of flowers and plants from around the world, and florists can take advantage of this diversity by choosing an interesting selection of stock. You can encourage customers to visit your store if you have plant varieties other local florists are lacking. Make sure you have good knowledge of your flowers and the care they need, as customers will value your service if you come across as an expert.

2. Offer a range of services

You can boost your income if you develop multiple revenue streams. Consider selling arrangements for wedding bouquets and table centrepieces, for example. You’ll be able to generate money by offering consultations with the bride and groom, providing advice and developing plans for the big day.

You could also sell products for other events. Flowers form a significant part of many social occasions, from birthday parties to graduation ceremonies to funerals. By adapting your services for different events, you can widen your potential customer base.

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3. Sell flowers online and deliver

When you become a florist, there’s no need to rent expensive high street premises and shell out for all the costs that go along with it. You don’t even need to hire a team of employees to hold the fort when you can’t be there. These days, people are happy to order a flower product online and get it delivered to their home or a loved one – it’s simple, convenient and often very affordable.

Companies like Freddie’s Flowers and Bloom & Wild have taken advantage of this new flower delivery market. By setting up an online florist and creating bouquets that can be posted through a letterbox, you can work towards the same success these thriving businesses have found.

4. Promote your business with pictures

The main reason people buy flowers is, of course, their beauty. We love looking at them, so use photos of your products to tempt consumers into your store. Take the time to set up business profiles on all the major social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Then, regularly post high-quality images of your stock. Remember, you want viewers to feel inspired and imagine your flowers in their own homes, so be creative and snap your arrangements in a variety of settings.

Join a florist franchise

We’ve listed the details of two plant and florist franchises you might be interested in joining.

Inleaf

Inleaf installs and maintains plant displays for businesses, hotels and homes across the UK, from live walls to moss pictures. Although it works mainly with plants, flowers constitute a large part of the business.

Becoming an Inleaf franchisee: If you’re physically fit and have the ambition to provide a high-quality service to customers across your territory, Inleaf wants to talk to you.
How much you need to invest: You’ll need to raise a total initial investment of £22,750. This will generate an expected revenue of £116,448 after two years and grant you the rights to trade under the Inleaf name and brand image.
What you get for your investment: The Inleaf franchise package includes a detailed operations manual and access to custom-built systems, which will help you produce professional and accurate quotes in minutes. You’ll also get expert training and mentoring throughout the first six months of your franchise journey.

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Endura Roses

Endura Roses is a UK franchise specialising in preserved flowers and plants. Whether sent as a gift or used for weddings, corporate events or special occasions, preserved flowers are an increasingly popular choice among consumers. This is a growing market, so Endura Roses offers a lucrative business opportunity for the right investor.

Becoming an Endura Roses franchisee: Endura Roses is looking for UK-based investors to take its flower shop business to new territories. To get involved, visit its website.
How much you need to invest: To become a franchisee, you'll need to invest £120,000. The franchise offers a great deal of support, including help with selecting and fitting out your store and running marketing campaigns.
What you get for your investment: All franchisees are enrolled in an initial training scheme and benefit from ongoing support.

Find more information

We don’t have many florist franchises on our books at the moment, but why not take a look at our selection of retail franchise opportunities? Alternatively, browse our article catalogue to find out more about a wide variety of franchising topics.