So...what are you asking? In what area of the world do you live?

two words: "business plan"

I live in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Bragu: Business plan, right! Ok, let me work on my canvas business project. I want people to be happy and free to enjoy the beauty of flowers, I get seeds for free, planters (reused) free, sun free, compost tea, free, water, almost free...do Mexican people buy hippeastrums online ?? My question, can I start doing it, I mean, small scale?

If you had good prices, I don't see why not. Why not try etsy or ebay to start? I'm not in mexico, but I'd buy from you if you had nice bulbs ;)

Here in the USA a small company can buy bulbs at wholesale prices from the importer for about $3.98 each and freight adds about $0.50. So, for less that $4.50 each you have a named hybrid that is ready to bloom. If you grow from seeds, you will need to wait for years to get them to blooming size, you will need to bloom them out first, and even then your bulbs can not be sold as named hybrids. Also, you will need to prep the bulbs so that they are ready to bloom for your customers. Note that if you are growing species, then they can be self-pollinated and will be "true to name" I think, but people like Mauro sell those as seeds and has a good business.

There are start up costs for websites, domain names, hosting services, and then if you intend to sell at markets the costs of your tables, signage, booth space, etc can really get pretty high. Here in Texas (and likely other states) there are agricultural licenses that can be as high as $180/year or more.

Then to consider, if you have a unhappy customer, there are costs associated with replacement, etc. A bulb doesn't bloom true to what you said it would, it arrives with a spot of rot that then consumes the whole bulb, and other customer service issues need to be dealt with.

On a small scale, you might consider buying bulbs at wholesale prices for a couple of years while you are growing your own (which could then introduces agricultural inspection requirements that can shut you down).

Just some thoughts. I think on a small scale you have to enter into it because you love bulbs and want to introduce people to them.

So many things to consider!, but I have nothing better to do. Thank you all very much for your advice. I am going to start to write down my business model canvas and I am going to talk with my friend that has a nursery to learn what are the legal requirements, permits, taxes....here in Mexico.

Of course, shipping to the US would be illegal unless the importer has an import permit for bulbs and the exporter gets a Phytosanitary Certificate to prove the bulbs are free of disease and soil. People break this law all the time (ebay sellers mostly do not obey the law and get phytosanitary certificates, although some do), but it is something to consider. In theory, anyone in the US that gets caught can be fined up to $10,000 per illegal shipment, but of course they do it all the time and hopefully are not destroying our native plants with their practices. Personally, I wish they would all get caught and fined so that we can get only clean bulbs in to the US or other countries for that matter.

I can say, I imported bulbs for about 10 years to resell and keep for myself which allowed me to pay for my hobby and have a few extra dollars for water, pots, fertilizer, etc. I'd say over that 10 years I moved maybe $100K worth of bulbs, but stopped because frankly it was a pain in the behind and my climate was not good for importing bulbs from places like India and Thailand in February. For very big orders of perhaps 100 Kg I had to get a business to act as my person who would get them through customs/USDA….no business plan at all at my end because I am clueless, just started small (I think it was only 20 Kg or so to start from India), then built a reputation with collectors that knew I could get ahold of nice bulbs for a not horrific price. I do not have your climate so you have a huge advantage, but if you want to ship to the US legally then it is another hassle.

Best of luck, Dan

Dear Dan, I never thought about shipping to the US, or outside my country. I agree, we have the perfect weather here in Mx, but for the very vast majority of the population there is no interest on these beautifull living beings. I am starting to think about starting an Aunt Flora´s Azucena Consevation Movement, azucenas or lirios are how hippeastrum were traditionally called in Mexico,..... and also a Family Orchards Movement, Huertos Familiares, we have to value our avocados, figs, zapote blanco....I read and see about great things done in, for example the UK, the British government registered the DNA of all the the country´s fruit trees, and i just wish....

50 pesos! (and that's also how I'm going to name it) Id better have something really special to offer, otherwise....we have good weather but bad economy. is it like that in Thailand Themmie Swrns? I think your approach for starting this buisness is well planned.