self wedding decoration: Working Designer Wednesday: Nursery Floral License

I remember feeling a bit clueless about all the documents and licenses required to start a floral design business when I decided to open one of my own. I worried that I would inadvertently leave one out simply because I wasn’t aware it existed! Most people realize they must secure a DBA (Doing Business As) certificate from the County Clerk Office, but did you know (in Texas) you must also get a Nursery Floral License from the Texas Department of Agriculture? You choose a Class 1, 2, 3, 4 or M depending on what you will be doing with your business. Over the course of my business, I had to change my Class several times as the direction of the business changed. You can find the Dept. of Agriculture Nursery Floral License page here. I’m not sure if a similar license is required in states other than Texas. For quick reference, I’ve included a copy of the Certificate Application Form below:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
NURSERY FLORAL CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
FORM NO. RNF-500
In order to obtain a Nursery Floral License, you must submit a complete signed application along with the appropriate
fees. The license will be issued to the name appearing under Section B of this application. A Nursery and Floral license is
required by each business and at each location where nursery products and/or floral items are sold, offered for sale or
leased, distributed, grown for the purpose of sale or lease, or offered as an enticement to promote the sales or lease of
other items.
SECTION A
1. REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Please check the appropriate box to indicate the type of business classification in which you are applying for.
Class 1 - Allows businesses to sell, lease, or distribute, but not grow nursery products and/or floral items such as garden
centers, stores, landscape contractors, floral shops, interior decorators, and street vendors. Class 1certificate holders may
obtain up to ten event permits at no additional cost to sell, lease, or distribute nursery floral products and/or floral items at
trade shows, garden shows, or other horticultural exhibits.
Class 2 – Allows permanently located businesses to sell, lease or distribute, nursery products and/or floral items and have
a growing area of 435,600 square fee (ten acres) or less. Class 2 certificate holders may obtain up to ten event permits at
no additional cost to sell, lease, or distribute nursery floral products and/or floral items at trade shows, garden shows, or
other horticultural exhibits.
Class 3 – Allows permanently located businesses to sell, lease or distribute, nursery products and/or floral items and have
a growing area of 435,601 – 871,200 square feet (in excess of ten acres to twenty acres). Class 3 certificate holders may
obtain up to ten event permits at no additional cost to sell, lease, or distribute nursery floral products and/or floral items at
trade shows, garden shows, or other horticultural exhibits.
Class 4 – Allows permanently located businesses to sell, lease or distribute, nursery products and/or floral items and have
a growing area 871,201 square feet (over twenty acres). Class 4 certificate holders may obtain up to ten event permits at
no additional cost to sell, lease, or distribute nursery floral products and/or floral items at trade shows, garden shows, or
other horticultural exhibits.
Class M – Allows business to sell, lease, or distribute nursery products and/or floral items at temporary markets such as
flea markets, arts and crafts shows, plant or flower shows, or other temporary markets. Class M registrants must obtain an
event permit for each day nursery products and/or floral items are sold. A Class M license consists of thirty event permits.
An event permit is required for sale or distribution of nursery products or floral items at a temporary location as
indicated above under each certificate type. One event permit equals one day (or any portion of a 24 hour period)
of operation at one location.
Ten (10) Event Permits may be obtained with each Class 1 – 4 license issued at no additional cost. Additional event
permits may be purchased in blocks of 10 permits at a cost of $50 per block. Please refer to the Nursery Floral Event
Permit Block Purchase form and instructions for more information.Instructions for
RNF-500 Nursery Floral Certificate Application
Licensing Department    Revised 10/20/05
Administrative Services Division
Occupational
Page 2 of 4
SECTION B
1. TYPE OF APPLICATION
Check the box that identifies the application type. A new business application is an application for a business that has not
held a TDA license or is a recently established business. A change of ownership application is an application where a
business has been acquired from a previous owner or is an established business changing type (see below). If the most
recent license account number is known please indicate in space provided.
2. BUSINESS TYPE
Check the box that identifies your type of business. Once submitted, this information cannot be changed. If you have to
change in your business type, a new application will be required.
3. CLIENT INFORMATION
This information will be used to generate your license. Enter the full legal business name as it is registered. If applicable,
also enter a Doing-Business-As (DBA) name. For in state businesses (except sole proprietors) a Comptroller Taxpayer ID
is required. For out of state businesses and non-profit organizations a Federal ID is required.
For sole proprietors applying for this occupational license, a social security number is mandatory and required by Texas
Family Code § 231.302. Social security numbers are required to assist in child support enforcement. In the event the
applicant does not have a social security number, an affidavit of no social security number (form OGC-001) must be
attached and a driver license number or state-issued ID number provided. This form is available on our website
www.agr.state.tx.us or by mail. Failure to provide a social security number or an affidavit of no social security number
will result in rejection of your application and a license will not be issued to you.
SECTION C
1. RESPONSIBLE PERSON INSTRUCTIONS (see form)
2. RESPONSIBLE OFFICER, PARTNER, MANAGER, OR OWNER
Indicate name of person responsible for the business. Enter contact information.
3. RESPONSIBLE PERSON MAILING ADDRESS
Enter mailing address for indicated responsible person. If a web address is available for company please provide
(optional).
NOTE: The Person to Contact, named by the business in Section C of this form, is the preferred signatory of this
application. That person may be the Responsible Person.
SECTION D
1. PERSON TO CONTACT FOR LICENSE-RELATED MATTERS
Enter the name of a designated person, along with that person's contact information, who can discuss and answer
questions about license-related issues. Instructions for
RNF-500 Nursery Floral Certificate Application
Licensing Department    Revised 10/20/05
Administrative Services Division
Occupational
Page 3 of 4
SECTION D cont.
NOTE: The Person to Contact, named by the business, is the preferred signatory of this application. That person may be
the Responsible Person.
All correspondence, licenses, and other documents will be sent to the Person to Contact at the mailing address listed
below. If an e-mail address is listed, and e-mail is indicated as the preferred contact method, correspondence will be sent
via e-mail.
In addition, the contact employee will receive, through regular mail, a login ID and password to access TDA's internet
website. The contact employee will then be able to conduct business related to their assigned license(s) online, including
viewing their licenses, making changes to their company information, and renewing their licenses. A business can appoint
one contact person to manage online all of the company's licenses.
2. MAILING ADDRESS
Enter the address at which the Person to Contact receives general correspondence
SECTION E
1. FACILITY INFORMATION
Enter facility name.
2. PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF LOCATION OF LICENSEE, LICENSED ACTIVITIES or EQUIPMENT
Enter the actual physical street address of the licensee, licensed activities or the equipment, including directions to this
location if the address is difficult to locate. Please do not enter a P.O. Box. This information will assist TDA inspectors in
locating your business in the event that an inspection is needed
SECTION F
1. OUT-OF-STATE APPLICANTS ONLY
Check either the Texas Secretary of State or the “Other” box and enter the resident agent’s contact information. Only fill
out the Resident Agent contact information if the Texas Secretary of State box is not checked. If the address provided in
section C is out of state, agent information is required before a license can be issued.
SECTION G
1. PAYMENT
NOTE: Texas Department of Agriculture accepts only checks, cashier's checks, or money orders.
Certificates and fees are NOT transferable.
Class 1 license fee is $75.00
Class 2 license fee is $110.00
Class 3 license fee is $145.00
Class 4 license fee is $180.00
Class M license fee is $180.00Instructions for
RNF-500 Nursery Floral Certificate Application
Licensing Department    Revised 10/20/05
Administrative Services Division
Occupational
Page 4 of 4
SECTION G cont.
License is valid for one year and shall expire on the last day of the anniversary month. For example, a license effective on
November 1, 2005 will expire on November 30, 2006.
Request effective date for license. Check method of payment. Enter check number or money order number. See payment
information above. Enter amount remitted.
Please remit to: Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12076, Austin, TX. 78711-2076.
Additional Information
Each location is required by law to renew its registration annually by the expiration date. Failure to renew will result in
late fees.
Businesses operating with an expired certificate or without registering with the department may be subject to
administrative penalties up to $2,000 for each violation. Each day a violation continues may be considered a separate
violation for penalty assessment.
Anyone making false representation for obtaining a certificate may have a certificate revoked and/or may be liable to the
State for civil penalty of not less than $50.00 nor more than $1,000 for each violation and/or subject to administrative
penalties of up to $2,000 for each violation. Each day a violation continues may be considered a separate violation for
purposes of penalty assessment. (Texas Agriculture Code §12.020, 71.055 and 71.059).
To promote Texas agricultural products and services, the Texas Department of Agriculture may publish the names, license
types, contact persons, addresses and phone numbers of licensed businesses in written form or on the internet. Under
Texas law, TDA may be required to furnish other information contained in our files under the Texas Open Records Act
and Chapter 555 of the Texas Government Code.
SECTION H
1. SIGNATURE
After reading the summary, print and sign your name, and date the form. Your signature here indicates that you have read
the summary and that you are aware of your responsibilities regarding the issuance of the requested license.
SECTION I
1. CHECKLIST
Check all boxes to verify you have completed the application process and attached/enclosed the necessary items (e.g.,
payment, documents, labels, etc).
NOTE: Integrated Pest Management Plan
A nursery or greenhouse grower, in cooperation with the Texas Cooperative Extension or research agencies, may develop
an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM). The plan must be approved by TDA prior to implementation.

Feel free to leave details of license requirements for your state in the comments today…maybe you’ll help a new designer navigate the system a little easier!

And because we can’t go a day without flowers…