Advantages of business in seedlings
Growing seedlings as a business is characterized by a lot of advantages, the main ones of which are:
- A short period of active work. Growing seedlings is seasonal, as they are in demand only in late spring and early summer.
Therefore, the entire working period of the business is 4 months, 3 of which are for planting and caring for seedlings, and 1 for selling. - Possibility of combining business with main job.
- Availability of consumables necessary for organizing a business: soil, containers, seeds.
- Any person can grow seedlings, since this does not require specific skills and knowledge.
- Minimum investment and quick payback.
Tips for selling seedlings
I advise you to grow seedlings of the most common flowers and vegetables. It is better to plant rare and exotic plants in small quantities in order to learn how to grow them and assess the demand for the next year.
List of varieties of flowers and vegetables that it is advisable to plant for sale to a beginner in the first year:
- Tomatoes – All varieties from the table described in the article “ Growing tomato seedlings ”;
- Pepper – Californian miracle, Gift of Moldova, hero. (any spicy, one packet of seeds, for the eyes);
- Cabbage - June, Golden Hectare, Hope, Gift. One grade for storage;
- Cucumbers - Two types, for closed ground at the beginning of trade and for open ground at the end;
- Eggplant – Any one variety;
- Marigolds – Any two varieties;
- Astra – More colors;
- Zinnia - Mixture;
- Snapdragon – Blend;
- Levkoy - Mixture;
- Phlox - Mixture;
- Celosia – More colors;
- Viola – More colors;
- Alyssum – Red, white, lilac;
- Purslane - Mixture;
- Dahlias – Mixture, low growing;
- Petunia – More colors, More varieties;
- Nemesia – Red and blue;
- Victoria – One or two varieties
Grow several types of indoor plants for sale, such as pelargonium. Growing geranium is easy; the flower does not require any special treatment and is happily propagated by cuttings. I recommend buying only elite varieties; they are more profitable to propagate . The cost of geranium on the market is from 150 to 250 rubles . per glass or from 300 to 500 rubles . for the pot.
Periodically harden the plants with changes in temperature, moisture and wind so that the seedlings become stronger and do not become disheveled during trading. To do this, make through windows in the greenhouse near the ground; the ideal option is a bed with a folding film.
Plant seedlings in small containers with little soil. For example, marigolds in 100 ml. cups, cucumbers in 200 ml. and tomatoes in 300 - 500 ml. This way the plants will reach the desired height and stop growing will improve your sales and reduce waste due to stretching.
Deciding on the premises
In order to organize a business with vegetable seedlings, any room with a good microclimate is suitable. The only nuance is the area, since the smaller it is, the fewer seedlings you will be able to grow and, naturally, you will receive less profit. (The exact same rule applies to growing mushrooms for business, which you can read about on our website)
If you decide to get only a small income from seedlings, you can use a glass balcony or window sills. But, in this case, it is necessary to install equipment for additional lighting. For growing seedlings at home, the following are optimal:
- High pressure sodium lamps, which help to stretch seedlings.
- Fluorescent lamps. They can be used at all stages of growing seedlings.
- LED. They are considered the best option for growing seedlings, as they have a full light spectrum and do not dry out the soil.
Salary Fund
The monthly salary fund for 70 employees will be $10 thousand, and it is worth stocking up on this money for the year ahead. In less than a year, simply nothing will grow, and therefore there will be no income. As a result, it turns out that the initial costs, plus maintaining the operation of a 2000-hectare farm for a year, will cost the entrepreneur no less, but approximately $2 million.
Another mandatory element of a successful seed business is cooperation with scientists. The fact is that high-quality raw materials can only be purchased at research institutes. For example, the cost of sunflower seed for sowing 1 hectare fluctuates around $100.
Having rented land and purchased everything you need, including seed, you can begin work. The first result will be visible within a year. With proper business management, you can count on 55% profitability. True, there is one “but”. And this “but” is called the whims of the weather. Therefore, you should not count on a quick refund. Professionals recommend stocking up on funds for at least two years. In parallel with the organization of production, it is necessary to prepare a springboard for future sales. The main clients of seed producers are agriculture. Reputable manufacturers do not need advertising. But the new player will still have to promote its products. The most effective way of promotion is participation in exhibitions.
In general, retail trade in seeds can be distinguished as a separate type of business, and at first glance it is very profitable. For example, a retail bag of seeds costs 1.3 UAH. At the same time, the cost of seeds is 0.2 UAH, the cost of the package is 0.1 UAH, the cost of packaging and paying taxes is 0.4 UAH. It turns out that the income from each package is 0.6 UAH, and the profitability of this business is 100%!
But in reality, not everything is so simple. It should be borne in mind that a huge amount of goods are not sold due to late deliveries and errors in forecasting consumer demand. Experts call a completely different profitability figure—30-50%.
You can sell your products both through your own outlets and through all kinds of trays, stalls and shops and large supermarkets. Although the latter have very high demands on product quality and delivery times, they charge a lot, constantly, and they also comply with financial obligations.
Seedling business: soil selection
You can either buy soil for growing seedlings or find it yourself. One option is to prepare it in advance by going to the edge of a forest or field. There is turf land, which is a light sandy loam, which is optimally suited for growing and selling seedlings as a business. It is best to prepare such soil in the spring, when the ground has thawed to a depth of about 20 cm. It is not recommended to immediately use the collected soil for planting seedlings. To do this you need to prepare it:
- Lay the turf in a pile up to 50 cm high and no more than 1 meter wide.
- Cover the soil with film. It is important that it is opaque.
- In summer, water the turf regularly.
- Disinfect the soil.
- Sift.
As a result of these simple procedures, the turf will rot, and you will get a balanced soil that is excellent for growing seedlings.
If you don’t want to bother with preparing the soil, then you can go the simpler route - buy it at a specialized store. The soil is sold in small bags or large bags and is completely ready for planting seeds. Its only drawback is its versatility, as a result of which, upon further transplantation, seedlings begin to poorly accept the local soil and “get sick” for a long time.
To avoid this, experienced gardeners recommend mixing store-bought soil with local soil and/or compost.
Hot time: sales season
The period for selling seedlings is approximately 40–45 days, depending on the region, from mid-May to the first ten days of July. Moreover, during the first and last week they are practically absent. It is necessary to calculate the readiness of plants approximately by the planting date, for example, cabbage in May, tomatoes in early to mid-June. If you carefully keep sales records for 1–2 years, you will develop a practical sowing schedule for each type of plant.
Below is a diagram schematically showing the most active sales periods in the West Siberian region. It is by this time that growing seedlings for sale should be largely completed. In the southern regions there may be a shift of several days, but the approximate dynamics will still remain. The best days are the second half of the week, closer to the weekend.
The most profitable days for selling seedlings are Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, buyers can only be there in the morning, on the way to their summer cottage. You need to try to sell as many seedlings as possible on peak days, capturing the time from 8 am to 7–8 pm, when people leave work. It is better if other family members or hired workers do this, and the points are located in different places: on busy highways outside the city, city markets, near grocery stores and bus stops.
We purchase seeds for seedlings
The main stage of a home seedling business is the correct choice of seeds. In order for seedlings to be successfully sold, it is necessary to give preference to the most popular options, which include seeds:
- Cabbage;
- Tomatoes;
- Eggplant.
- Cucumbers;
- Pepper;
- Melons;
- Watermelons.
At the same time, it is very important to buy only varietal seeds that produce seedlings acclimatized for a specific region. They will be maximally adapted to the local soil and climate, therefore more predictable in development and yield. The most in demand today, regardless of the region, are the seeds of plants that are resistant to lack of moisture.
Before buying seeds, it is recommended to calculate the required quantity. So, for example, for 25 thousand tomato seedlings, you need about 100 grams of seeds, since there are approximately 250 units in 1 gram. For seeds of other plants, this information can be found on the Internet.
You can purchase seeds for seedlings both wholesale and retail. This is decided according to the size of your business. The main thing is to buy them at specialized points. In this case, you have a better chance of getting high-quality seeds with good germination.
People who have been in the seedling business for a long time often use their own seeds. But for novice entrepreneurs, preparing high-quality seeds may seem like a labor-intensive procedure.
Choosing plants
Most often, experienced entrepreneurs recommend starting a business with early crops, which are quite easy to grow. These include cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, eggplants, and peppers. Mostly these vegetables are in demand in almost every region. But, for example, in southern latitudes you can also grow strawberries, melons, watermelons, etc.
Do not try to immediately conquer the market by offering any unique plant varieties. To stand out among competitors, it is enough to sell high-quality seedlings of the most popular vegetables and at the same time add literally 1-2 rare species.
Seedling distribution channels
The peculiarity of the demand for seedlings is seasonality. Moreover, the sales period is quite short. Therefore, distribution channels must be established in advance. To do this, you need to actively distribute advertising about your business: leaflets, advertisements, small banners, disseminating information through relatives and friends.
You can organize the sale of seedlings on your plot or dacha. In addition, a point of sale in the local market would be a good addition. The most ideal option is to cooperate with farms engaged in growing plant crops, for example, cabbage, tomatoes, etc. In this case, the business will be as profitable as possible, since you will only need to grow seedlings, and the farm will organize sales, saving you from extra costs for advertising and transportation of seedlings.
What to grow
To get a good profit, you need to focus on the needs of the market and take into account which seedlings are in demand. These are mainly vegetable and flower crops.
Most bought:
- cabbage;
- tomatoes;
- cucumbers;
- pepper;
- strawberries;
- flowers.
Melons, herbs, greens, and root vegetables are in less demand. But in some regions there may be consumer fluctuations, so before choosing an assortment, it is recommended to walk through the markets in the spring and analyze the types, quantities and prices of different plants. Such an analysis will help determine the level of competition, as well as the possibility of creating competitive advantages.
Related article:
Growing hot pepper seedlings
Financial plan
The total costs and net profit of a seedling business will directly depend on the availability of premises. If it is not there, then there are costs for a greenhouse made of film or polycarbonate, as well as a heating system. When calculating the size of the greenhouse, keep in mind that 100 roots can be obtained from 1 square meter, and in addition, it must have paths. The useful area of the greenhouse can be increased using multi-level planting technology, which will require additional costs for shelving or a special fastening system. In addition, for the seedling business, you still need boxes in which the seeds will be sown.
We cannot name a specific amount of costs at this stage, since everything here depends on the capabilities of each person. Someone will make the boxes themselves from scrap materials and make do with a film greenhouse, and spend, for example, 3 thousand rubles. But for some, the best option would be a capital thermos greenhouse with a modern heating and air conditioning system, which will cost hundreds of thousands of rubles.
Growing flower seedlings
The flower seedling business can be either a separate line of business activity or combined with the cultivation of vegetable crops and garden seedlings for sale.
The advantage of the business is also its seasonality: three months of cultivation plus a month of sale, and a minimum of cash costs. At the same time, income pays for expenses several times. The main investment is the labor of the entrepreneur. Some owners of summer cottages and garden plots consider making money from seedlings as an extra income.
Everyone clearly points out that there is one disadvantage of business - it is a huge, insanely hard work. Carrying boxes, planting, picking, fertilizing, etc. But at the same time, everyone adds that the work is very interesting and creative.
A home business in flower seedlings can be calculated by selling 2 thousand boxes of flower seedlings. On average, each box (40 x 60 cm in size) contains up to 100 seedlings. The cost of seeds is approximately 6 thousand rubles.
Most businessmen put petunia at the top of the ranking of the most profitable flowers, then aster, and then depending on the region.
The petunia seedling business has its own characteristics. So, bush flowers sell better than cascading ones. This is explained by the fact that cascading ones must be placed in pots or flowerpots in a suspended state. Bush can be planted along garden paths, streets, flower beds, etc.
In a season, you can sell 150 boxes of bush petunias and 100 boxes of cascading petunias, each of which will have 60 seedlings. Professionals sell 30 thousand petunia seedlings per season.
Petunia seedlings
Seasonal prices for seedlings vary from 25 to 10 rubles by the end of sales. The average price is 15 rubles per piece.
Asters sell 100 boxes. The price of asters is more stable, about 30 rubles per dozen.
Seeds are planted in early March. For planting you will need 70 boxes. To carry out the picking, additional labor is brought in, primarily immediate relatives. At this stage, some of the seeds are lost, which must be taken into account.
The soil is prepared in advance in the fall. You can get good soil from abandoned farms by mixing it with residue from last season and adding minimal fertilizer. A place for storing soil is selected in the greenhouse.
Heating a greenhouse with wood will cost 12-13 thousand rubles, plus payment to the fireman for working at night.
Business plan for flower seedlings. To sell such a volume of seedlings, you must hire at least three proven people. Each person's salary is 10 thousand rubles. The delivery of the boxes is organized by the entrepreneur himself, and work in the greenhouse requires his direct participation.
Income from the sale of flower seedlings is approximately the following:
| Name | Quantity | Price, rub.) | Income (RUB) |
| Petunias | 250 boxes (15,000 pcs.) | 15 | 225 000 |
| Asters | 100 boxes (10,000 pcs.) | 30/for 10 pcs. | 30 000 |
| Salvia | 200 boxes (14,000 pcs.) | 60/for 10 pcs. | 84 000 |
| Marigold | 100 boxes (10,000 pcs.) | 30/for 10 pcs. | 30 000 |
| Ageratum | 100 boxes (10,000 pcs.) | 30/for 10 pcs. | 30 000 |
| Celosia | 100 boxes (10,000 pcs.) | 60/for 10 pcs. | 60 000 |
| Verbena | 50 boxes (5,000 pcs.) | 60/for 10 pcs. | 30 000 |
| Total: | 900 boxes (74,000 pcs.) | 489 000 |
Expenses (in rubles):
| Expense item | Amount (rub.) |
| Registration as an individual entrepreneur | 2 300 |
| Cost of 3 trading places on the market | 4 500 |
| Seeds | 9 000 |
| Film for two greenhouses | 12 000 |
| Firewood for heating | 12 000 |
| Payment to the fireman | 6 000 |
| Payment to sellers | 30 000 |
| Gasoline costs | 5 000 |
| Fertilizers | 1 500 |
| Tax 6% on income | 29 340 |
| Total: | 111 640 |
Thus, the flower business will bring net profit for the season: 489,000 - 111,640 = 377,360 rubles.
