Floral Design Career - Where to Start? | Floral Design Institute (2024)

The Most Popular Certifications and Workshops at Floral Design Institute

So often I get asked, "Can I make a living as a florist?". Good question! Working with flowers sounds like a fun and glamorous profession. It's no wonder many want to pursue floral design as a career. And, yes, to answer the question, you can make a living as a florist. The choice is yours and the earning potential is all in how you approach the career. Are you a hobbyist, an amateur or a professional? Which do you strive to be? That answer will be the deciding factor in whether or not you can make a good living as a florist. The difference between the three categories is all in the education and the commitment.

Floral Design Career - Where to Start? | Floral Design Institute (1)

For the hobbyist, playing with flowers is grand fun. And it should be! Gather your flowers, arrange them as you like and enjoy! If you want to explore design, learn how to make the flowers last longer and expand your artistic style, we have Free Online Videos just for you. Visit the Farmers Market, visit the grocery and plant a cutting garden. The world of flowers is yours to enjoy. No, you won't be able to make a living as a florist with the perspective of a hobbyist but, you will have lots of fun!

Floral Design Career - Where to Start? | Floral Design Institute (2)

For the amateur florist, you need to go a step further. Making the statement that you are more than a hobbyist demands responsibility. You must know how to care for flowers for longevity and the proper mechanics for design stability. Take time to experiment with a variety of blooms. Yes, you have the assignment of buying flowers, taking them home and studying them. Take Floral Design Classes and get personal instruction to expand your skill library and educate yourself on working with the floral medium. Your goal should be validation as a Floral Design Institute Certified Floral Designer. This is the foundation for becoming a professional florist and yes, the amateur florist can make a living working in the world of flowers.

Floral Design Career - Where to Start? | Floral Design Institute (3)

The professional florist…this is quite different from the hobbyist and the amateur. As a professional, you are fully competent in a variety of design styles. You have mastered the mechanics of floral design and you understand the artistic elements and principles of design. But, this is is not the end...the professional florist is constantly learning; attending Advanced Seminars, seeking out new materials, studying the trends and practicing new techniques. Each new bit of knowledge expands the skill set and makes you a more valuable member of the floral industry. The ultimate goal of the professional florist is validation with the title, Accredited in Floral Design through the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).

Floral Design Career - Where to Start? | Floral Design Institute (4)

Now you know, to make a living as a florist, you need to commit to being a professional florist. You get the joy of working with flowers and you also accept the responsibility of working with flowers. In combining the two, you have the basis for a wonderful, lifetime floral design career. If you would like to discuss the career of floral design and employment opportunities, feel free to pop off an e-mail to me ~ Leanne@FloralDesignInstitute.com ~ I'm happy to chat about all things floral.

The Most Popular Certifications and Workshops at Floral Design Institute

Back to Leanne's Blog

For Gabrielle – Hello Gabrielle! Thank you very much for reaching out to us about floral design as a career. Selling bouquets is an excellent way to do that, and it’s something we teach our students how to do in our program. There are so many amazing aspects to floral design and we cover all of them in our Basic and Advanced Floral Design courses. Depending on where you live and what works best for you, we offer these courses both on-line and/or in-person. The on-line course is self-paced so you can work on it whenever you have time to do so, and it is fully teacher supported so if you need assistance along the way, our teachers are here to help you. If you would like more information about the courses, you can find it here: https://www.floraldesigninstitute.com/pages/classes If you would like to chat with one of our teachers about your floral journey, please do reach out to our office at 1-503-223-8089 or e-mail rose@floraldesigninstitute.com. We would love to help you get started with your floral education, and we’ll be glad to assist you as needed. Wishing you all the best and looking forward to seeing you soon!

So I really want to make a career selling flower bouquets although I do know how to make other flower arrangements.

Para Kamila Rios Rivera

¡Hola Kamila y gracias por su pregunta! Nos encantaría que estudiara diseño floral con nosotros en Floral Design Institute. Nuestra escuela está ubicada en Portland, Oregon y ofrecemos clases en inglés, tanto on-line como en persona. El primer curso es Diseño Floral Básico (Basic Floral Design) , y puede encontrar más información al respecto aquí: https://www.floraldesigninstitute.com/collections/basic-floral-design-certification

Si desea hablar con alguien sobre nuestros programas, no dude en llamarnos al 1-503-223-8089 o enviarnos un correo electrónico a rose@floraldesigninstitute.com. ¡Nuestros mejores deseos para Ud. y que tenga una semana maravillosa!

Me gustaría aprender más sobre el diseño florar

Floral Design Career - Where to Start? | Floral Design Institute (2024)

FAQs

How to start out in floristry? ›

To gain experience, individuals could (this list is not exhaustive): Apply for a floristry assistant or junior florist role and learn on the job. Work in a retail environment to gain experience working with customers.

Can you make a living from being a florist? ›

Working with flowers sounds like a fun and glamorous profession. It's no wonder many want to pursue floral design as a career. And, yes, to answer the question, you can make a living as a florist. The choice is yours and the earning potential is all in how you approach the career.

Where do most floral designers work? ›

Most floral designers work in retail businesses, usually flower shops and grocery stores.

Where do florists make the most money? ›

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Florist Jobs
CityAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
Renton, WA$39,924$3,327
Santa Monica, CA$39,622$3,301
Severn, MD$39,459$3,288
New York Metro Area, NY$39,298$3,274
6 more rows

Can you learn floristry online? ›

By studying this online floristry course, you will develop the skills you need to flourish as a florist. Whether you want to join an existing organisation or start your own flower business, the course could be your ticket to success. Students will study 10 engaging modules within the course.

Are florists in high demand? ›

CareerExplorer rates florists with a F employability rating, meaning this career should provide poor employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 2,000 florists. That number is based on the retirement of 5,600 existing florists.

Is floristry an expensive hobby? ›

Unlike many other hobbies, with flower arranging you don't need a lot of expensive equipment. You can often use flowers and foliage from your own garden, or you can buy flowers at a good price at a market.

What is the difference between a florist and a floral designer? ›

While florists typically arrange flowers in retail shops and sell to individuals, and floral designers arrange flowers for weddings and other special events, developing design skills is essential for both careers. If you have a passion for flowers and an eye for design, you are already on your way to success!

Where do most florists get their flowers? ›

Florists can purchase flowers from wholesalers like BFS, who offer a wide range of fresh cut flowers and floral supplies. Some florists also prefer to source their flowers directly from floral growers, while others prefer to buy from local flower markets.

What are the top three industries that employ floral designers? ›

Industry profile for Floral Designers:
IndustryEmployment (1)Percent of industry employment
Florists29,08045.15
Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers7300.38
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only)1,4400.27
Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only)7,3500.24
1 more row

How profitable are florists? ›

Most flower shops aim for a profit margin of 70% on the cost of flowers and supplies. This goal can vary. Profit Margin variations depend on the floral business owner's decision to sell more flowers at lower prices or to sell fewer flowers at higher prices.

How do I become a local florist? ›

How to Get Started:
  1. Personal Assessment. ...
  2. Take The Relevant Classes In School. ...
  3. Develop Basic Floristry Skills. ...
  4. Learn The Basics Of Flowers. ...
  5. Optional Formal Training. ...
  6. Get Certified. ...
  7. Seek Hands-On Experience. ...
  8. Practice, Practice, Practice.
Mar 19, 2023

How to start a freelance floral business? ›

Here's how to get started as a freelance florist:
  1. 1.Create a business plan. This doesn't have to be as big and scary as you think! ...
  2. Define your target market. It's important to know exactly who your audience is so you know who you are creating for and selling to. ...
  3. Market research. ...
  4. Sales tax license for your city and state.
Jul 1, 2022

How much money does the floral industry make? ›

Statistic 1. "In 2020, global sales of flowers and plants amounted to approximately 52.4 billion U.S. dollars."

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6526

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.