A flower shop sells bouquets, arrangements, funeral wreaths and loose flowers, to walk-in buyers and for delivery. Most start as a small shop near a church, market or funeral homes, with a flower chiller and one florist. Flowers spoil fast, so the money is made on buying close to orders, steady funeral and church orders, and the big days: Valentine's, Mother's Day, graduations and All Souls' Day.

This guide walks through what it takes to start a flower shop in the Philippines: the capital, the monthly costs, the permits and the first 90 days. The peso figures are sample estimates for a small flower shop in Cebu as of October 2026; get your own quotes before you decide.

How much capital you need

The sample comes to about ₱345,950 including one month of fixed costs kept as a cash buffer. It splits into equipment (₱134,500), shop setup (₱51,000), permits and deposits (₱53,400), opening stock (₱36,500), launch (₱5,000) and working capital (₱65,550). Other ways to start: home-based online florist at ₱80,000–₱150,000 and event and wedding florist at ₱800,000–₱1.5 million.

Monthly costs and break-even

Fixed costs in the sample are ₱65,550 a month; the biggest are florist and helper (₱31,200), shop rent (₱15,000) and electricity (₱4,500). Each order sold earns about ₱358 after its own costs, so the break-even is 6.2 orders a day, and the startup capital takes about 11 months to come back at full sales.

Permits and registration

Register the business name with DTI (or SEC or CDA), then get the barangay business clearance, the Mayor's permit through the city or municipal BPLO, and BIR registration; register with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG once you hire. A flower shop also needs: sidewalk or display permit (ask) and market stall lease (if in a market). Requirements and fees differ by city, so ask each office for its checklist first. DTI Negosyo Centers help for free.

Where to set up

  • Near a church or chapel with daily masses
  • Close to funeral homes and memorial chapels
  • Near a cemetery, for All Souls' Day and visits
  • In a market or busy street with walk-in buyers

Mistakes to avoid

  • Flowers wilt before they sell. Buy close to confirmed orders, keep a chiller, and turn older stems into small bouquets.
  • Stem prices jump on the big days. Order early, take pre-orders with down payments, and price the big days separately.
  • Late or wrong deliveries. Confirm the address and time, photograph each order, and keep a backup rider.
  • Unpaid event orders. A down payment on booking and the balance before the event.

Plan it with the starter kit

The Flower Shop · Negosyo Starter Kit has every worksheet behind this guide in a 26-page PDF, plus an Excel calculator: type in your own quotes and it works out your capital, break-even, profit and payback month. It costs ₱349 and downloads right after payment.