Sounds like a fun and worthy thing to do. I hope you get lots of good advice and encouragement here and elsewhere.

Just in case you didn't know about it there is a very helpful Professional Gardener Forum where the pros, and wanna' be pros, ask and answer questions on different aspects of the nursery and landscaping business.

I wish you great success!

Thank you :D

But of course, you don't have to sell from your place. Many people have successful small businesses by selling at flea markets and farmer's markets. In that case it's helpful to have an outgoing friendly personality and know your plants to be able to engage potential buyers in conversation; salesmanship in other words. You can't just put your things on a table and sit in a chair reading a book. You have to stand up and talk! ... LOL

Before growing your own plants to sell you might want to buy plants wholesale and test the market. For that you need an easy to get sales tax permit. You would only need a place to keep what you buy looking good until the next market day. Check out wholesale growers in your vicinity and see what they require to buy from them. Some require a large initial purchase. Some don't. That would still serve to satisfy your instinct and talent for plant care without the time and effort needed to grow your own plants which might not sell.

Another way is to find a niche market; grow something that the big growers are not offering and sell to local nurseries. For instance, years ago I used to buy some unusual native plants from Rainbow Gardens here in San Antonio. One was Pyramid bush. Then once when I asked for it they told me that the small grower they were getting it from had retired and they had no other source for it.

Another way is to sell online such as on eBay. Lots of people are finding their niche there and doing quite well at it.

Again I wish you success in whatever way you find to market the plants you grow, or buy.

Thank you both. I'm not trying to make this work right away, I'm starting a lot of my plants this year in order to have plants for next year. By then I should have acquired enough information to get this rolling. I have an example of what I was thinking, my grand mother was telling me about an older couple who grows a back yard full of various hibiscus plants. A few times during the summer they pull their plants to their driveway and have a big garage sale type event and are quite successful by using craigslist, social media, word of mouth.. etc. In my neighborhood to have a garage sale I just need a permit. In other threads I've read people who do it in that manner don't have the licenses/permits that a full on garden center would have. That's how I'd like to start and maybe after seeing some success grow into something larger and more professional.

Remember that profit, even from a hobby, is TAXABLE INCOME. You should keep track of all expenses, such as the cost of pots, soil and chemicals, to deduct from whatever money you take in. Profit is the difference between cost and revenue.

Also be aware that there may be PLANT PATENTS on specific cultivated varieties. The patents last for 20 years, and while it is less likely a backyard business could be sued, you really don't want to go up against a corporation.

The links above provide some more information. Getting caught up in either of these concerns is more likely to be due to disgruntled neighbors, than government inspectors, but it is sensible to be a good neighbor to avoid complications.

Accidentally deleted my reply.. whoops Thank you for the input mindshift. I will give them a read =)

A couple of years ago, we visited Missouri Wildflowers Nursery. If I remember right (and that's iffy), the owner started in his backyard. He still lives on the property I think. I'm sure he has a staff, but the day we were there, he was a one-man operation. His niche is that he sells only native plants and starts most of them himself. Maybe not the trees, I can't remember if he said. But he goes on trips all the time collecting seed from native plants so he can start new plants. He is in a fairly remote location too, but people come from miles around to buy from him. Going there was out of our way by a hundred miles, but well worth it.

This probably wouldn't be the best time of year to talk to him, but pick a time in the off season and I bet he could give you a lot of pointers. Sorry, I don't remember his name.

Thank you for the advice. That is essentially the idea of what I want to do. I love growing plants and I have the time and dedication to do so.

Remember though that skill with plants and skill with business are two completely different skill sets and you MUST have both to succeed. I think it is a path to a truly happy life to be able to do what you love for a living, and you already have the plant side down, it sounds like. I think Missouribound has a great idea about consulting those who have already done what you are looking to do, they can give the benefit of their experience.

Yeah i was hoping to find someone on here but i'm expanding my search though. going to go to a couple locals as well. My girlfriend and father are business savvy so I will have help along the way.

I know there are areas where you can make good money selling seedlings and saplings of various plants and vegetable starts, but it just doesn't seem to be my area. If your area is like that, then you could certain get going that way.

As you gain equipment and knowledge on what people want, you can get more kinds of plants going.

As for the business and licensing parts, I can't help much there. I just know selling the plants, and even seeds online, can be a good hobby income, provided all the proper rules for plants propagation or business/hobby income are followed.

There's a man here in the San Antonio area that grows plants in his backyard and most Saturdays he puts signs up at the entrance to his neighborhood that he's a having a plant sale that day. What he sells isn't necessarily unusual but many of the nurseries don't carry the plants. Everything Roselee said is spot on.