Introduction
Labor is the most undercharged element in wedding floristry. Many florists carefully markup their flowers but forget to charge for the hours spent designing, processing, delivering, and setting up. This guide shows you how to calculate and charge for your labor accurately.
Step 1: Determine Your Hourly Rate
Your hourly rate should cover your desired income plus the realities of being self-employed:
Formula: (Desired Annual Income + Self-Employment Costs) ÷ Billable Hours Per Year
| Factor | Example |
|---|---|
| Desired annual income | $65,000 |
| Self-employment taxes (15.3%) | $9,945 |
| Health insurance | $6,000 |
| Retirement savings (10%) | $6,500 |
| Total needed | $87,445 |
| Billable hours (30 hrs/week × 48 weeks) | 1,440 |
| Hourly rate | $60.73 → $60/hr |
Most wedding florists charge $35-75/hour depending on experience and market.
Step 2: Track Time Per Arrangement
| Arrangement | Design Time | Processing | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridal Bouquet | 45-90 min | 30 min | — |
| Bridesmaid Bouquet | 30-45 min | 20 min | — |
| Boutonnière | 8-15 min | 5 min | — |
| Low Centerpiece | 20-35 min | 15 min | 5 min |
| Tall Centerpiece | 40-75 min | 20 min | 10 min |
| Ceremony Arch | 90-180 min | 60 min | 45-90 min |
Step 3: Include Non-Design Labor
Do not forget these billable hours:
- Client consultation: 1-2 hours per wedding
- Proposal creation: 1-3 hours (without software)
- Flower ordering: 30-60 minutes per event
- Flower processing: 2-4 hours per event (stripping, hydrating, conditioning)
- Delivery and setup: 2-4 hours per event
- Breakdown and cleanup: 1-2 hours per event
- Admin and follow-up: 1-2 hours per event
A single wedding can require 15-25+ hours of total labor.
Step 4: Calculate Labor Per Proposal
Example: 150-guest wedding
| Task | Hours | Cost at $50/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | 1.5 | $75 |
| Proposal creation | 1.0 | $50 |
| Ordering | 0.5 | $25 |
| Processing | 3.0 | $150 |
| Design (all pieces) | 6.0 | $300 |
| Delivery | 1.5 | $75 |
| Setup | 2.0 | $100 |
| Breakdown | 1.0 | $50 |
| Total Labor | 16.5 hrs | $825 |
Reducing Labor Time
- Use templates — Standardize your proposal process
- Build recipe libraries — Reuse proven arrangements instead of starting from scratch
- Invest in tools — WPro.AI reduces proposal creation from 2-3 hours to 30-45 minutes
- Batch process flowers — Condition all flowers at once, not arrangement by arrangement
- Hire help for setup — An assistant for 4 hours costs less than your time
Conclusion
Your labor is your most valuable resource. Track it meticulously, charge for it consistently, and invest in tools that reduce it. Every hour saved on admin is an hour you can spend designing or booking new clients.
Related: The Florist Markup Formula | How to Price Wedding Flowers | Wedding Florist Software
