Can I start a fruit bouquet business from home?

A fruit bouquet business is a flexible concern and you can really locate it anywhere - at home, retail or local market.

 Regardless of your location you can also sell over the internet or face to face – or a combination of these methods.

Wherever you locate your fruit bouquet business, you will need to have registered with your local environmental health department.  I would suggest that you need to get yourself a health and hygiene certificate (this can be done online to save time and money).   In the UK, I suggest you get a level II health and hygiene certificate for retail catering.  This qualifies you extensively for a low-risk business such as fruit bouquets.

Start a profitable fruit bouquet business from home

 If your goal is a large company with several employees and big income, you will need a retail location.  I would caution you setting up JUST a fruit bouquet business and instead, look to compliment it with another day-to-day business, perhaps in the catering sector, or a juice bar, for example.

If you want to create a small business, then you can successfully work from home.  But, as I've just mentioned, you need the appropriate licence/permission from the local authorities to work from your home environment -  fruit bouquet businesses are very similar to running a low risk catering business.

If you decide to work from home, inventory can be stored in existing storage spaces within your home and garage. You may have to add some shelves for proper storage, but these can easily be constructed with very little expense.

 Most homes already have some of the equipment needed for business use - a phone, a computer, and a printer. If your phone isn't equipped with an answering machine, you should get one since orders may come in while you are out making deliveries.  However, you may want to invest in some sort of file cabinet, cash box, and a fax machine.

You'll also need adequate record keeping equipment as well as stationery, envelopes, business cards, sales slips, invoices, containers, labels and other miscellaneous items.  Most of these items can be purchased at local office-supply stores. Again, don't go overboard. Buy only what you need.

If you operate your business from home, call your local authorities as you will need to register with them and if you're in some countries, such as the USA, you will also need to apply for a licence.   If you are renting/have a mortgage you should also consult your landlord or mortgage lender so that you can legally set up your business at home.

You could also rent a space or office in your community. Specialty shops are good locations for a fruit bouquet business a "special" service. Renting or subleasing space in an existing shop can be beneficial to both parties involved. 

You will be getting adequate workspace for your business while paying a percentage of the owner's monthly rent.

Instead of renting a space in specialty shops, you can choose to sell on consignment through these shops. A consignment is an agreement between you and a shop owner who agrees to display and sell your fruit bouquets/gift baskets for a percentage of the sale. The consignment percentage varies from 10 to 30 % depending on your area.  Of course, you'd need to supply them with a branded industrial display fridge. 

Another way to get started in the fruit bouquet industry is to rent market stall, or you could simply sell your fruit bouquets through your website.

A very important concept, a new fruit bouquet business owner should realise is that starting slow, with a small inventory is the most prudent and safest way to begin.

It is a good idea to keep your day job when you start your business. It may take one or two years for a new business to become established.

After that amount of time and experience, the owner should be able to determine what sells best as well as monthly sales and inventory turnover. With this information, the owner can decide how much inventory to carry. If the business is to be profitable, it is essential to have the proper amount of inventory without the excessive outlay of cash.

For more information on how you can set up your own fruit bouquet business, visit: www.tooty-fruity.com