Thinking of opening a Nursery

we did $200k first year, still doing about the same. We do container stock only. We are more of a landscape supply yard- mulch,topsoil,stone. Plants are only about 20% of gross the rest is bulk materials.

 

How much of your install business comes from it
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Hard to say, Im not great at tracking leads but we went from $150k to $300k in installs in the first few years we were there.

 

I could sure use a new purse....
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They actually do very well. It brings in another segment of population
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I'm sure it does. A metal sculpture would too. If your going retail you should diversify a bit I would assume. Give someone Something to buy 12 months a year. Right?
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Yup. They have a huge fall festival for families. I'm sure they sell some then.

They sell spices, out door furniture, grills, etc
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Better than a new post-I have been tossing this around too. Ideal for a current established business. In my area I see farms and nursery's going for close to 400k. It could be my area. I'd like something small. A few acres.. Still new to this all. Don't have that kind of cash.. I like to start small and grow.

 

Most landscape companies don't do this because they don't have the knowledge

And in reality most nurseries are just large storage yards for someone else's plants and ate technically just a middle man, a parking lot full of plants and hoses.

75% of landscapers don't have enough knowledge to stay in business mowing lawns never mind growing plants.

The more you get into things like this, the more you realize there is s lot you don't know.

My suggestion is don't do it.
Do you have certifications and training, no?
Then that's your answer.
Plants don't grow and take care of themselves
Especially when they aren't permanently planted.

On the other hand
If growing pot plants in your dark basement is a hobby of yours and you're good at it, then you're a good enough amateur to grow sell and store perennials.

The vast majority of "landscapers" I meet can't name, let alone identify more than five trees and 9 shrubs... IF that, so that's why most don't run nurseries.

 

Look into the fact that there is a tax break for agricultural land.
If you own a decent property and certain amount of it is used to say, grow a crop (like apples or corn) then that land is tax free.
In your case the trees themselves are the crop.

Start with threes.
Find out what's in demand in your area and grow those.
Diversify slightly
2-3 kinds
That's it to start.

Usually won't need more than two acres.