pricing as a freelance florist

To the florists who messaged us with SOS on Pricing Help. There were a few of you :)
I need a job as the florist yesterday. I have bills and kids and a new house. This was the message from many that stood out over the past couple days. The best highlights from the Chicago flower and Garden show were meeting some pretty amazing florists who are unfortunately currently going through a freelancers type of hell. They don’t know where the next gig is coming from. They don’t get enough hours. They are currently working at two or more flower shops doing all of this in hopes of getting paid a designer’s hourly wage of 25 or more for 40 hours a week.

These are the florist that are looking for opportunities instead of making them. You could spend the next two weeks, if this is you, looking for a part-time or full-time gig. You may or may not get lucky. Or you can make your own opportunity and learn exactly how to book your next corporate or special event floral design contract. You could easily go off and work in a dusty and dated old flower shop and deal with 'those personalities' so to speak. Or you could put pen to paper create a profit plan decide who you’re going to pitch your packages to design your packages so that you only have to sell 2 to 3 subscriptions and lock in those clients for six months or more each.

What the freelance florist struggle with most is setting their own rates and creating consistency that they desire. That is why most put up with working at multiple shops and different shifts. You don’t have to open a Storefront straight away or go rent a studio just yet if you are starting out.

Just sit down with a pen and notebook to do a little planning.  Will you charge by the hour or per project? Will you charge for labor, delivery, and set up? You can request pricing from the growers, wholesalers, and suppliers you'll be working with with. From there for your fresh products, you can take the costs x3 and you'll have your retail price.

This is for anything "as is". If you are making a bouquet or arrangement then you'll add 10%-20% on for labor. Some florists even go as high as 30% for large scale events/weddings.

Your hard goods get a markup of x2. So a vase at cost that is $25 now will retail for $50.  Some do a 3x markup so it depends on the flower shop.

What are your pricing questions?  Enter them below and let us know if you are having any issues with pricing your work.