NAICS 459310 Quarterly Industry Report
Florists
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 459310Sector: 45Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 459310 industry report draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[4] Annual Retail Trade Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] employment statistics for floral retail workers, and Small Business Administration[6] size standard tables. Fair Market Value analysts supplement these federal sources with floral industry trade data and wedding market research to deliver quarterly updates. Each NAICS 459310 report revision captures employment trends, seasonal purchasing patterns, and competitive dynamics across the retail florist sector.
Industry Definition & Overview
Florists (NAICS 459310) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in retailing cut flowers, floral arrangements, and potted plants purchased from growers and wholesalers. Retail flower shops, wedding florists, funeral floral providers, and floral departments within grocery stores that operate as separate establishments all fall within this classification. Businesses range from single-location neighborhood flower shops to multi-store operations with delivery fleets and online ordering platforms.
The U.S. Census Bureau[4] distinguishes florists from nursery and garden retailers (444240), which sell live plants, shrubs, and garden supplies, and from floriculture production operations (111421), which grow the flowers and plants that retail florists purchase. Product offerings include loose-stem flowers, custom floral arrangements, corsages, wreaths, dried and silk flowers, decorative plants, and gift baskets. Holiday periods such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas generate pronounced revenue spikes that shape staffing and inventory planning across the industry.
Wedding and event floral services represent a high-margin segment that requires design consultations, on-site installation, and venue-specific logistics. Wire services and online order aggregators such as FTD and Teleflora connect local florists with distant customers through relay networks, though commission structures reduce per-order profitability for fulfilling shops. Independent florists increasingly sell direct through their own websites and social media channels to capture full retail margins and build direct customer relationships in their local markets.
What's Included in This Industry
- Retailing cut flowers and loose-stem arrangements through specialty flower shops
- Creating custom floral arrangements for weddings, funerals, and special events
- Selling potted plants, orchids, and decorative greenery at retail florist locations
- Providing floral delivery services within local and regional markets
- Operating floral wire service relay fulfillment for distant customer orders
- Selling dried flowers, silk arrangements, and permanent botanical displays
- Creating holiday wreaths, garlands, and seasonal floral decorations for retail sale
- Offering gift baskets, balloons, and complementary gift items alongside floral products
- Providing consultation and design services for wedding and event floral installations
- Retailing corsages, boutonnieres, and prom flowers through neighborhood flower shops
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | 459 |
| Industry Group | Florists | 4593 |
| NAICS Industry | Florists | 45931 |
| National Industry | Florists | 459310 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 111421 | Nursery and Tree Production | Nursery and floriculture production operations grow the cut flowers, potted plants, and ornamental greenery that retail florists purchase through wholesale distribution channels |
| 424930 | Flower, Nursery Stock, and Florists' Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | Flower and nursery stock merchant wholesalers distribute fresh-cut flowers and plants from domestic growers and importers to retail florist shops |
| 444240 | Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers | Nursery and garden center retailers sell live plants, shrubs, and gardening supplies through formats that overlap with florist product categories |
| 459420 | Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers | Gift and novelty retailers compete for the same occasion-driven consumer spending on birthdays, holidays, and celebrations that drives florist revenue |
| 561910 | Packaging and Labeling Services | Packaging and labeling services support florist gift wrapping, arrangement packaging, and delivery presentation needs for retail and event orders |
| 459999 | All Other Miscellaneous Retailers | All other miscellaneous retailers sell candles, home decor, and decorative accessories that complement the floral and plant products offered at flower shops |
SBA Lending Summary
1,184
Total SBA Loans
$314.8M
Total Loan Volume
$266K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.28%
Average Interest Rate
6,904
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The Small Business Administration[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 459310 at $8 million in average annual receipts. Most retail florists operate as small, independently owned shops well below this threshold. SBA 7(a) loans[8] can finance cooler equipment, delivery vehicles, inventory purchases, and seasonal working capital needs. The SBA 504 program[9] supports real estate acquisition and major buildout investments for owner-operated floral retail locations.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National Bank | 120 | $40.1M | $334K |
| 2 | Frost Bank | 24 | $32.4M | $1.3M |
| 3 | US Metro Bank | 16 | $23.2M | $1.5M |
| 4 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 48 | $18.4M | $384K |
| 5 | Live Oak Banking Company | 40 | $16.9M | $422K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What businesses are classified under NAICS 459310?
NAICS 459310 covers retail flower shops, wedding florists, funeral floral providers, and establishments retailing cut flowers, arrangements, and potted plants grown elsewhere. Wire service fulfillment shops also qualify. The U.S. Census Bureau[4] provides the official classification.
How does NAICS 459310 differ from garden centers?
Florists (459310) retail cut flowers and floral arrangements purchased from growers, while garden centers (444240) sell live plants, shrubs, seeds, and gardening supplies. The Census Bureau[10] separates these based on the primary product type and whether plants are grown on premises.
What is the SBA size standard for florists?
The SBA sets the size standard at $8 million in average annual receipts for NAICS 459310. Most independent flower shops fall well below this threshold. Current standards appear in the SBA table of size standards[6].
Which NAICS codes relate most closely to 459310?
Key related codes include 111421 for flower growers, 424930 for floral wholesalers, 444240 for garden centers, and 459420 for gift retailers. Each represents a different point in the floral supply chain or a competing retail channel for occasion-driven gift purchases.
What industries interact with retail florists?
Flower growers (111421) and floral wholesalers (424930) supply fresh inventory, garden centers (444240) compete in potted plant sales, and gift retailers (459420) vie for the same holiday and celebration spending. Wedding and event planners also drive significant demand for floral design services.
What activities does NAICS 459310 include?
Activities cover retailing cut flowers and arrangements, creating custom wedding and funeral florals, selling potted plants and decorative greenery, providing delivery services, and fulfilling wire service orders. The Census definition[4] lists the full scope.
Can florist shop owners get SBA loans?
Florists with receipts under $8 million qualify for SBA 7(a) loans covering cooler equipment, inventory, delivery vehicles, and working capital. The 504 program funds real estate purchases. Details are at the SBA funding programs page[11].
Where are florists concentrated in the United States?
Retail florists distribute across all regions, with higher densities in urban areas and affluent suburban communities. States with large wedding and event markets including California, New York, Florida, and Texas support the greatest numbers of floral retail establishments.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]SBA 504 program sba.gov
- [10]Census Bureau census.gov
- [11]SBA funding programs page sba.gov
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