Deciding to be a florist might just be one of the best decisions in life that you’re going to make. Arranging and selling flowers can be financially rewarding and it opens many doors for career growth. Aside from that, it’s quite easy to become a florist as it doesn’t require formal education; you just need passion and a handful of floral equipment.
Florist Knife
First things first, you will need a florist knife. This equipment is absolutely essential for every floral designer out there because it is an effective and efficient tool, mainly when working with stems.
Basically, you should look for a sharp stainless florist knife. Do not use your kitchen knife as it’s dangerous and inappropriate for use with flowers. You can source them from other flower businesses, knife stores, some grocery stores, and online. You can get a florist knife on Amazon for as low as $10.
Branch Cutters

The next thing you’ll need as a florist is a branch cutter. Essentially, this floral equipment does what scissors and knives can’t do: cut much thicker stems and branches. I strongly suggest you check out Tabor Tools’ Branch Cutter with 1.25-inch Clean Cut Capacity, it does wonders when cutting branches. Nonetheless, you may still find other branch cutters that best fit your budget and, most especially, your hand.
Floral Tape
A florist should also have floral tapes, which are non-sticky and pressure-sensitive tapes that can hold flower stems together. Available in a range of colors, these tapes are very useful for covering the cables and other components used in flower arrangements. They may also be used to decorate vases and bouquets with line designs.
Thorn Strippers

A thorn remover is yet another piece of essential gear for any florist. It is utilized to efficiently remove leaves and thorns, particularly from roses. These thorn removers are available in various shapes and styles. For instance, grip steel strippers, which are the most common kind of stripper, and rubber strippers are both available. I highly recommend you get a FloralVax Thorn Remover since it works really well and makes removing thorns painless.
Flower Foam
Another indispensable piece in a flower shop is flower foam. Essentially this spongy foam can help in stabilizing the flowers, as well as significantly extend the life of your flowers owing to the simple fact that foam can absorb water.
Flower foams in a variety of sizes and shapes are simple to acquire on Amazon. For instance, if you need to make a flower arrangement in the shape of a heart, you can easily get a heart-shaped foam from Amazon.
Floral Frog

Yes, a florist needs a floral frog and to be clear, I’m not referring to actual frogs. It is a piece of machinery that serves as an anchor for floral arrangements, enabling florists to arrange and put flowers in thoughtful ways. It comes in many forms and sizes and if you want something worth the price, a great option would be Willbond’s Set of 3 Flower Frogs as it’s very sturdy and has the right height for flowers.
Florist Wires
Another piece of equipment that is essential to a florist’s daily activities is the versatile florist wire. It can be utilized when trying to maintain the heads of flowers looking upright or in a given orientation. It may also be used to support accentuated embellishments, hold together arrangements, and make bows.
Flower Cages

Last but not least, a florist needs flower cages, which are strong cages that are often constructed of plastic. These cages are wonderful for sympathy, weddings, and other large floral arrangements and are very useful in making more stable flower arrangements. If you want to save money, I advise looking into Patioer’s 6-Pack Flower Cage, which is available on Amazon for $42.99.
Conclusion
All in all, the eight must-have pieces of equipment for a florist are as follows: 1) a Florist knife, which is made specifically for floral arrangements, 2) Branch cutters, which are used for cutting thicker branches and stems, 3) Floral tape, which is used in many ways, particularly in grouping flowers, 4) Thorn strippers, ideally grip steel type, 5) Flower foam which is used for stabilizing and extending the life of flowers, 6) Floral Frog, which serves as an anchor, 7) Florist wires, which is commonly used for putting the flowers in any fixed position, and 8) Flower cages, which are used for larger floral arrangements.
To learn more on how to start your own flower shop business check out my startup documents here.
Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.

Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Flower Shop Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online floral business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a floral business owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location, or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to obtain and retain clients, and finding good employees all while trying to stay competitive. That’s why I created Flower Shop Business Boss: I want to help flower shop business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.