How To Become A Florist

What Does A Florist Do?

Florists make our lives more beautiful! The work they do is called “floristry” and includes all elements of floral care, floral design, merchandising, display, and even delivery.

You may be a key part of a couple’s wedding day, or bring some light to a dark day at a funeral. You might work in a hotel creating arrangements to wow the guests or work in a restaurant to bring some life to the environment.

No matter where you work, you will bring beauty to those around you. So, for that – it is a great career.

Unfortunately, it falls short in the benefits and salary department.

While some florists can make a good living, most fall short making it hard to build a good life with this career. If you are looking for a side hustle or are looking for a job you love where a great salary is not really needed – then a florist can be a good career.

Some of the things a florist might do on a day-to-day basis might include:

Buying flowers from supplies
Answer phones and assist customers
Paperwork
Recommend flowers to customers that work within their budget and location
Determine the needs of customers for various events to create displays that enhance their events.
Cleaning and organizing
Creating flower arrangements

Floral designers are also one of our top jobs for dyslexics, who by nature do really well in creative careers!

Wondering how to become a florist with no experience?

Well, thankfully it is easier than you think! Becoming a florist can happen in a few simple steps!

1. High School Diploma or GED

Obtain your high school diploma or GED

2. Shadow A Florist

Offer to work at a local florist. Sweep floors, handle social media, and do whatever is needed to gain floral experience and business knowledge.

3. Education

Attend a vocational school or certification program for florists. Watch videos, take online courses, and of course practice!

4. Certification (recommended)

It is recommended you become a Certified Floral Designer with the American Institute of Floral Designers.

5. Career Path

Once you have experience and education, you can work for a prominent florist, or hotel, or start your own floral business!

1 | Education

A high school diploma or GED will typically be required for those that want to work in a floral shop.

It is also highly recommended that you invest in a floral-related vocational or certification program. These courses will include flower and plant classification identification, floral design concepts, hands-on greenhouse training, and courses to help you with the business side.

Having knowledge of the various plants and greenery will be critical for making the right suggestions to customers. Reading various books and resources on all the different classes of flowers will help you be a better artist.

2 | Certification

There is no required certification for florists, but there is a certificate available through the American Institute of Floral Designers, which is the Certified Floral Designer Credential.

Certified Floral Designers (CFD^®) is the industry standard for proving your experience and knowledge as a florist.

There are a couple of ways you can become certified.

Option 1 for floral design certification:

Take floral design programs through any of the American Institute of Floral Designers’ educational partners, approved state floral association, or student chapter of AIFD (SAIFD). You can view the list of partners here.
Once you complete the courses and your instructor finds your work worthy of that of an AIFD certification you will receive an invitation to apply for certification. Your instructor will need to send your information to AIFD.
Once you have been invited, you will complete your application and pay the certification fee. This fee was $164 at the time of this writing.
After your paperwork is processed you will be provided the information you need to take the online test. Applicants have to take to test within 2 weeks of receiving access and get at least an 80% to pass.

Option 2 for floral design certification:

There is another option to obtain your CFD, which requires obtaining Your CFD® through an AIFD® Professional Floral Design Evaluation® (PFDE®).

You will need to still pass the online test with an 80% or higher before applying as a candidate. Once you pass then you can take part in a four-hour hands-on design evaluation. Five designs will be created and judged and your score will determine whether you are qualified to obtain your CFD®. This

This is the same process applicants take to get an AIFD designation.

Accreditation does require annual fees and continuing education to keep their certification active. It is also highly recommended to sign up for a professional organization for networking and validation of your craft.

3 | Internship or Apprenticeship

Learning from others that have been in the business is a huge opportunity for you to escalate your skills quickly. If you attend a vocational school, they may be able to assist you with placement for an internship.

If not, you can reach out to local florists to see if you can work alongside them. While it may not be a paid position, it can bring a lifetime of goodness! And do not be picky about an opportunity! If they need someone to clean the shop, take it. If they need help with social media, take it.

Your time in a floral shop – no matter what you do will benefit you in the long term.

4 | YouTube

There are so many amazing videos out there that can help you understand the principles of great floral design. Below are a few that are worth watching to help you improve your flower designing skills!

Pros + Cons Of Being A Florist

There are so many things to love about a floral career, but that does not mean it is all “rosy”. There are some “thorny” sides to being a florist too. The pros and cons of being a florist are important to consider before diving into this career.

PROS

Opportunity to be self-employed
Be as creative as your mind allows
Every day is something different
Advanced degrees are not necessary

CONS

Salaries can be low
Can be stressful at busier times of the year
Limited opportunity for growth
Physically demanding

Where Do Floral Designers Work?

This is one of the cool things about being a floral designer, opportunities to work in so many different places! While you may be thinking your work will take you into a floral shop, there are many other places you may not have thought about as well.

Floral shops in local communities
Flower department in a supermarket or other general retailer
An event company that supplies floral arrangements for parties and weddings
Hotels where flowers may be used for decor or for events
Restaurants where flowers may be used for decor or ambiance
Self-employed in their own shop, on a floral cart, or on a farm

How To Get Hired As A Florist?

The best way to get hired as a florist is to show them a portfolio of your work and bring along client testimonials. If you have previous experience it will be helpful to land a job.

But, what if you are looking for florist jobs with no experience?

Finding a job in floral design may seem hopeless. But it is not!

Offer to work as an apprentice so you can show your value to the business. Create a “pseudo portfolio” of work and design. If you have not had a real job or clients, create some unique displays on your own that you can share with a potential employer. You can donate these sample designs or offer to do a project on your own for free.

The key is to put yourself out there, do not be afraid to hear the word “no”, and most importantly – do not give up!

How Much Do Floral Designers Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for an experienced floral designer is only $29,880.

Salary.com shows an average salary of $53,369, so earnings can vary greatly.

Of course, there are some factors that will impact how much you can earn.

Location. You will make much more near a city than in rural areas.
Business Owner. You will typically make more as a business owner than as an employee.
Creativity. The more creative your floral designs – the better chance you can earn more. What can you offer that other floral designers do not?

Now, let’s also talk about the fact that the BLS number is from 2021, and that was reflective of a pandemic year. It also does not include the fact that many florists are in fact self-employed and can make much more per hour.

Looking at websites like Indeed.com or Salary.com show much higher wages than what the BLS is reporting.

Here are some great threads on working as a florist!

Reality of floristry as a career – Reddit
I have a job interview tomorrow at a florist – Reddit

Future Outlook

The floral industry is estimated to bring in roughly $6 billion dollars annually, but there is not a lot of growth in the industry.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a large decline in floral job opportunities by as much as 21%.

The growing use of online floral delivery services and warehouses is squeezing out the local florist shops in many areas.

Starting Your Own Floral Business

One of the great things about going into the floral design industry is the opportunity for you to be your own boss with no formal education.

If you decide you want to start a floral design business, the most important thing to consider is the demand for a flower shop in your local area.

Starting a floral business will not be easy, but can be exciting, and challenging, and bring success if you are a good marketer and can create unique floral designs. We would not recommend that you even think about starting your own business until you have several years of work experience.

Business and economics classes are highly recommended to help you learn to run your business.

We listed more formal educational needs above, but there is also another opportunity to earn a basic certification and learn important business skills.

IAP Career College (which is not really a college!) offers an online certificate program for florists. The course length is 6 weeks (but you can complete it in 4-12 weeks to fit your schedule). This course includes everything you need to understand the duties of a florist, how to market a floral shop, and build your skills as a business owner.

Read our review on IAP Career College which is largely based on real user experiences.

Would I Make a Good Florist?

If you are asking this question, then it is safe to say you have the right attitude! What makes a good florist is natural talent for color and design, knowledge of the horticulture of flowers, and exceptional customer service skills. Becoming a florist is easy, but staying in the industry requires hard work – and a unique creative eye so customers can spread the word for you.

If you are quick to learn, want to continue educating yourself, and have a knack for going above and beyond; then yes, you would make a great florist!

Resources

Final Thoughts

If passion and beauty or more important than money and benefits, then yes you should become a florist if that is what your heart is set on. But, if you are looking for a career that will pay well and offers good benefits, then being a florist may not be the best option.

If you have the means and drive to open your own floral design business, that will be your best chance at earning a great living as a florist. But sadly, most other jobs do not pay as well.