I'm speaking from experience. Mind you, I live in the subtropics, so 'winter' is quite mild. But most plants still go through a dormancy period. If you want to defeat Nature, you'll definitely need a greenhouse, and it will probably need to be heated. That gets very expensive. I used to buy a lot from the bigger wholesalers or 'traders nurseries', but even that gets expensive. A lot depends on how advanced the plants are when you sell them. I got around the problem by selling quite small plants (100ml pots), which meant that I could sell them sooner, even though they were cheaper than more advanced plants. I sold more, that way, and could generally keep up supplies in winter.

I strongly suggest, if you haven't already done so, that you get some horticultural training, and that you thoroughly research your market so you know exactly what people want. I sold to the general public, relying heavily on 'herb collectors' and the curious. That meant that I had to have a HUGE range of herbs. Still, I sold a lot of the old standbys - parsley, basils, mints, thymes etc. I dealt in both culinary and medicinal herbs. You might find it easier to stick to, say, a dozen or so if you're doing the restaurant trade.

I can safely advise that you won't get rich this way! Mine was more a hobby for pocket-money that anything else, but it was a lot of hard work and expensive to set up. I was fortunate that I was able to 'borrow' the resources of a commercial nursery - hothouses etc. I would not have succeeded otherwise. I never ceased to be amazed at just how much space is needed. You've got X number of plant varieties, all in various stages of development from seeds to ready-for-sale and everything in between, and you've got a lot of each! That's thousands of trays, pots etc. All of which you have to buy. Not to mention the growing medium, fertilisers, growth retardants, stands, watering system etc.

Thanks for all that info. I am very much in the preliminary phase. I really would like to have ye olde herb shoppe - a cottagy type place with herbal soaps, teas, etc. I was trying to figure out where the bulk of the income (if any) would be and if it could truly be viable. Still just in the planning phase and great minds must think alike because I plan to have a lot more education in herbs and horticulture before I embark on anything.

I started out with similar grandiose plans! And I learned from observation on visiting such 'cottage-y places' that you can't do both. Either you grow the herbs and sell them, or you make the soaps etc and have them as gift-items on one side of your little eatery. One part will also suffer from neglect, otherwise. You might be able to do it if you have plenty of human help and megabucks, but it will be virtually impossible alone. Of course, you can always buy the soaps etc from an outside source instead of trying to create them yourself. I know of one place which is ostensibly a herb nursery (that part is fading fast), but which has opened up a little eatery with herby goodies, and which also has the gift things on the side - but they are ALL lavender things and not produced on site. It seems to be surviving OK, but I wouldn't say 'thriving', as such. It's the place I go to for my culinary dried lavender, and I occasionally buy a jar of lavender honey (because it's a PITA to make my own!). I've also been there for morning tea with a friend, once or twice, but it's overpriced. The thing that keeps me going back is that they have a collection of antiques that are used in the decor - old butter churns, ancient lawnmowers and such - that I find interesting. Mostly they just sit around gathering dust, but that adds to their appeal, for me.

Still - don't let me stop you giving it a try! They say 'where there's a will, there's a way'!

I started my herb business 17 years ago. I sold my property in North Carolina simply because I didn't want to do something different during the winter months. Here in North Florida, the Winter is actually ideal for most herbs. Some advice I might give you...
1. Definitely follow your dream
2. If you plan on growing herbs...study horticulture, become familiar with your climate zone.
3. Know your market ahead of time! I visited reatail nurseries in a 75 mile radius and discussed the potential of them buying herbs once I got set up and had a list of potential customers before I started.
4. Learn about costs of goods sold. Keep good records.
5. Keep following your dream
6. Focus on one area of expertise first. As daisyd said, you can become to scattered and wind up neglecting too many areas. If you like growing, learn to grow first. If you enjoy the cottage shoppe idea, look up suppliers, costs and determine if there is a market in your area for your products.
I found in my 17 years with my business that people came to my nursery for herbs. I have a quaint store and for years made and sold everything herbal as well as bought in items because I loved the stuff, but in the end people wanted my herbs and i had to focus on that and let the store fade away.
7. Consider festivals in your area as well as farmer's markets. They are a great place to start out and get your products known to a lot of people.

Be patient, Be assertive, Be wise and be prepared and by all means follow your dreams...it has made my herb business a success and a source of satisfaction and pleasure and I am still always coming up with new ideas. Good Luck

Here is a link that might be useful: The Herb Garden

Is that your business? That is really my dream. This is really inspiring me.

Yes it is...it was a passion of growing herbs since 1970 and long term planning...and then putting the dream into reality! Glad you like the site...Herbal podcasts are coming this fall!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Herb Garden

wow - that's beautiful daddyj.

Inspirational as well.

I have a local friend who grows sweet Basil in a hydroponic setup. She has a huge greenhouse. She cuts and sells the bunches to a single buyer, and makes money at it. The plants continue to grow.

Sticking w/ a single herb is sometimes the key if you want to sell to resturants or big buyers like Wild Oats.

I have a small business selling plants at Farmer's Market, and hope to sell herb starts when the season starts next May. That means I will have to plant seeds as soon as possible next Spring. I foresee that it could take me 3 years to get to the place I want to be as far as growing. I do hope to get a greenhouse with a Grant, and have a business plan w/ all the attendant features (P&L, Cash-Flow, Cost of Goods Sold details, etc).

Your Small Business Administration and local Ag Agent can be of great help. Master Gardener's and a near-by University can also be great resources.

Some questions:
Do you want to sell potted or cutted herbs?
If you want to have a herb cottage why do you want to sell to restaurants (delivery/growing /selling in the same time?)
Who looks after your herbs when you're ill in holidays or away?
And daddy - your herbs farm makes a living - it does not seem that you have another job as well, it's very professional.

A lot of good info here. I've been growing herbs as a hobby for years and have been dreaming of a little cottage-based business someday as well.
Daddyj, I'm familiar with Seminole Springs and see you participate in their Herbal Faire. Love their setup and would love to see your place next time I'm in FL. Are you far from SS Herb Farm?
Rosemary