Propagate and sell plants, from vegetable starts to ornamentals. Spring seedling sales and year-round houseplant demand create multiple revenue streams.
Consider these related business ideas and specializations:
Propagate and sell plants, from vegetable starts to ornamentals. Spring seedling sales and year-round houseplant demand create multiple revenue streams.
Consider these related business ideas and specializations:
San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:
Test this idea before investing heavily:
Start 200-300 vegetable and herb seedlings in spring using basic trays under lights. Sell at farmers market or through social media.
Which varieties sell fastest? What sizes do customers prefer? How's your timing relative to demand? What price points work?
You sell out of starts in spring and customers ask if you'll have more varieties next year.
Expected startup and operating expenses:
Areas where quality investment pays off:
Garden soil doesn't drain properly in trays and harbors disease—proper starting mix is essential
Good enough: Commercial seed starting mix in bulk; doesn't need to be premium organic
Weak light produces leggy, weak seedlings that won't sell—proper lighting is non-negotiable
Good enough: Shop lights with LED tubes positioned close to plants; doesn't need expensive grow lights
Germination requires specific temperatures—too cold and seeds won't sprout, too hot and they cook
Good enough: Heat mats with thermostat control; space heater backup for cold snaps
Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:
Financial timing and planning notes:
Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:
Join shomby today and start selling to your local community. We provide the platform—you bring the passion.
We build shomby around your business—not the other way around. If there's a feature, integration, or tool that would help your plant nursery & seedlings business succeed, we want to hear about it.
Grow and sell fresh, local vegetables directly to consumers. Even a backyard garden can produce significant income when focused on high-value crops with strong local demand.
Grow beautiful blooms for bouquets, events, and subscriptions. Local flowers offer freshness, unique varieties, and sustainability that imported flowers can't match.
Raise laying hens for fresh, pasture-raised eggs. Local eggs with orange yolks from happy hens command premium prices from health-conscious consumers.
San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:
Test this idea before investing heavily:
Start 200-300 vegetable and herb seedlings in spring using basic trays under lights. Sell at farmers market or through social media.
Which varieties sell fastest? What sizes do customers prefer? How's your timing relative to demand? What price points work?
You sell out of starts in spring and customers ask if you'll have more varieties next year.
Expected startup and operating expenses:
Areas where quality investment pays off:
Garden soil doesn't drain properly in trays and harbors disease—proper starting mix is essential
Good enough: Commercial seed starting mix in bulk; doesn't need to be premium organic
Weak light produces leggy, weak seedlings that won't sell—proper lighting is non-negotiable
Good enough: Shop lights with LED tubes positioned close to plants; doesn't need expensive grow lights
Germination requires specific temperatures—too cold and seeds won't sprout, too hot and they cook
Good enough: Heat mats with thermostat control; space heater backup for cold snaps
Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:
Financial timing and planning notes:
Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:
Join shomby today and start selling to your local community. We provide the platform—you bring the passion.
We build shomby around your business—not the other way around. If there's a feature, integration, or tool that would help your plant nursery & seedlings business succeed, we want to hear about it.
Grow and sell fresh, local vegetables directly to consumers. Even a backyard garden can produce significant income when focused on high-value crops with strong local demand.
Grow beautiful blooms for bouquets, events, and subscriptions. Local flowers offer freshness, unique varieties, and sustainability that imported flowers can't match.
Raise laying hens for fresh, pasture-raised eggs. Local eggs with orange yolks from happy hens command premium prices from health-conscious consumers.