Starting a Floral & Event Design Business (Ask Yourself These 3 Questions Before You Begin!)
When starting any kind of new business it can feel like there are an endless number of details to organize and decisions to be made. When starting a floral and event design business, especially in the luxury market, there are very specific details to focus on that will make a world of difference for your success down the road! Before writing your business plan and working on the legal aspects of setting up your new business, there are three questions you should ask yourself that will influence everything else…
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1. What Type of Floral or Event Design Business Do You Want?
This may seem like a simple question, but there are many different variations in the services you can offer, and they will make a big impact on your business needs and your experience as the business owner. Figuring out whether you want to focus on one niche or be a one-stop shop for all floral and design needs is an important decision to make up front.
Your business can evolve over time so where you start may not be where you end up. You can start small, focused on one aspect of your business and grow into others. Determine if you want to specialize in daily orders, kid’s parties, weddings, corporate functions, funerals, etc. The list goes on and on. You may find you want to do it all and that’s great too, just make the decision so you can plan for your target audience, space, resources and supplies accordingly.
2. Will You Be a Florist, an Event Designer, or Both?
One of the biggest considerations you’ll need to make is whether you’ll work as a florist or an event designer. Or both! In my own business, I work as both, and there is a very clear and large difference between these two roles. To enlist me to do floral work is very different than having me design an event in full.
When making the florist vs event designer decision for yourself, consider the kind of work you’re most passionate about, but also consider the commitment associated with each role and what that will mean for your work-life balance. For example, events, parties and weddings typically take place on weekends. As your business becomes more and more successful you will likely have events (sometimes multiple events) on weekends. Depending on your level of involvement in each event, you will be sacrificing time away from the rest of your life. How will that work for you? Think long and hard about the pros and cons of each type of business and remain committed to the vision you have for not only your craft and business but also your personal life. It will make for a happier, healthier career in the long run!
3. Where Will You Work?
Another important decision is whether to open a storefront, or work from home and use daily rental spaces as needed when you book events. It really depends on the scale at which you want your business to grow. If you choose to have a storefront, consider size and most importantly location, location location! Picking a place that has visibility and foot traffic is important along with accommodations for parking.
Answering these questions for yourself will give you a good foundation that you can refer back to as you take your next steps in business planning.
Not sure what’s next? I’ve gathered everything you’ll need to cover as you start and run your event design business in my online course, Eddie Zaratsian Masterclass: The Business of Luxury Floral and Event Design. It’s divided into 10 modules that are packed with information, downloadable tools and checklists, and video instructions. I’ve poured all the lessons and expertise I’ve gathered over 30+ years in the event business so you can learn fast and find your own success. Check it out!
