Sure, "there's money in orchids", but how much is highly variable, based
upon the market and how you approach it.

The more lucrative businesses in the US have large physical plants, have a
high product turnover, attend lots of shows and orchid fairs as they are the
most concentrated selling opportunities, and have developed targeted talks
that they can present to orchid societies as a way to get their name "out
there", spread the word about their success or expertise, and also to sell
more.

Here, I would speculate that I would need gross sales of about £60,000- to
£70,000 or more to clear £20,000. I don't know what the tax laws are there,
so it could be better or worse, but my number includes the need for health
insurance, which is not an issue for you. Then there's the cost of
heating....

You also have to keep in mind the market: AOS membership is about 1% of the
population, there are a lot of orchid growers that are not members, orchids
are second only to poinsettias in sales, and the American public is a lot
more open to the "impulse buy" than is the typical Brit. You, on the other
hand, have a small immediate market, but do - I believe - have easy access
to the European market as a whole. Here, there is an orchid show or fair
almost every weekend, and there are enough societies out there that there is
usually a speaking engagement to be had, if you can travel. I doubt that
that's so "open" over there.

The bottom line is that you're not likely to get rich as an orchid vendor,
but it is possible to get by, if done right.
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Keith Kent" wrote in message
...
I know there are some growers/sellers here ,those of you that have turned
your hobby into a bussinnes i have a personel Q! Do you make enough
money(profit after running costs) from selling orchids for it to be the
only income? I know this is a broad Q as it depends what income the
individual requires to live to the standard they are happy with. I am
asking this Q as i am hopefully embarking into the selling side,initially
hopefully to cover the heating costs.But my dream would be to be able to
pack my job in and have a fully up and running orchid nursury that is my
nursury/full time job.
I would need £20,000 min wages after tax etc a year to be able to fully
live from it.
But i have no idea what orchid nursuries turn over as obviously this sort
of info isnt normally disclosed.I suspect things are quite tight
financially,but if this is true how are bussineses able to keep running?I
am basing this on the UK ,were i live i feel there is a market here as
there isnt a lot of growers in the UK so choice is very limited .I know
that in other countries like USA choice isnt a problem?
Thanks for any input
Cheers Keith