The business in one offer
Who it serves
Families in nearby neighborhoods who want to pick a fresh tree close to home and get help loading it onto the car. Buyers who live in apartments or have small cars value delivery and setup, and many groups such as churches or schools prefer to buy from a lot that supports a community cause.
What to sell first
A curbside tree lot with about 150 fresh-cut Fraser and Douglas fir trees in three height bands, priced by height, with free fresh trunk cut, netting and loading. Local delivery and stand sales are add-ons. Excluded: live potted trees, wreath making, flocking and any guarantee of how long a tree will last.
Three height bands and two species let you post simple prices on one sign, and staff can explain the choice in seconds. A modest order of about 150 trees limits the risk of leftover stock while still filling the lot enough to look like a real place to shop.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Order of 150 fresh-cut trees from a grower | $4,200.00 |
| Lot lease for the season | $1,500.00 |
| Fencing, lights, stands and a netting funnel | $600.00 |
| Signs and banners | $300.00 |
| Insurance and permit allowance | $700.00 |
| Part-time helper pay for peak weekends | $1,200.00 |
| Example total | $8,500.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes a pickup or trailer for setup, your own saw and basic tools, and that the lot owner provides power or allows a generator. It does not include security service, a trailer office, grower delivery charges beyond the quote, disposal fees or owner pay. Get the grower and lot terms in writing.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $75.00 per tree and $32.00 in direct costs, contribution is $43.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 0.5 all-in working hours per unit, that is $86.00 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $2,400.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 5 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Approach a shopping center, church or school with a large lot in summer and propose a revenue share or lease. A partner with its own community gives you a first group of buyers.
- Put up a sign at the lot two weeks before opening with the opening date, species and price bands, so drivers know when to come back.
- Offer delivery and setup to nearby apartment buildings, and ask property managers if they would share your flyer with residents who opt into building news.
- Keep a simple tally of trees sold by height and species each day, and note which sizes sell out first. Use that record to set next year's order.
What to validate before spending more
- Ask the city about temporary use permits, fire department rules for lights and generators, and sign rules for the lot before signing a lease.
- Get two grower quotes with a firm delivery date, payment terms, tree grades and what happens if trees arrive dry or damaged.
- Ask the lot owner about insurance requirements and whether they need to be named on your policy, then get a quote that covers buyers on the lot.
- Estimate sales per day from the lot's traffic by counting cars on a late November weekend, and size the order to sell out by mid-December.
The operational catch
Trees left after about December 20 sell slowly and are often worthless after the holiday, yet you may still pay to dispose of them. At the same time, a cold snap or a late grower delivery can cut your first weekend. Keep the first order small, agree on delivery dates in writing, and plan a firm markdown schedule and disposal option before the lot opens.
A practical way to fund the first step
Negotiate a deposit with the grower and pay the balance on delivery, and ask the lot owner for a revenue share instead of flat rent. Partnering with a school or church group that provides volunteers in exchange for a donation per tree can reduce staffing costs.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
How many trees should I order the first year?
Size the order to your site's traffic and your staffing, not to a goal. A smaller first order that sells out leaves you a profit and real sales data. Next year you can order more and adjust the mix of heights and species.
How do I keep trees fresh on the lot?
Store them upright, shaded and out of wind where you can, and re-cut the trunk for each buyer so the tree takes up water at home. Ask the grower how and when the trees were cut, and avoid stacking them in the sun for days.
Can I run a lot with only volunteers?
Some nonprofit lots do, but you still need someone experienced on site each shift to handle cash, netting and loading safely. Check whether volunteers are covered by your insurance and treat any paid helpers as employees unless they clearly qualify as contractors.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
Square publishes its processing fees and notes that rates differ between in-person and online card payments. Square: Understanding Our Fees.
SBA notes that business licenses and permits depend on what the business does and where it operates. U.S. Small Business Administration: Apply for licenses and permits.
The FTC's small business advertising FAQ says ads must tell the truth and not mislead buyers. Federal Trade Commission: Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small Business.
- Understanding Our FeesSquare · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Apply for licenses and permitsU.S. Small Business Administration · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small BusinessFederal Trade Commission · Reference checked September 8, 2026
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