What should I ask about a florist’s part-time holiday helpers and drivers?
Ask who the helpers and drivers are, how they were found, how they are paid and whether they come back each season. The holiday rush depends on them, so a shop that rebuilds its team from scratch every time carries more risk than one with a reliable group. Also ask who trains them and what happens when someone fails to show.
Holiday weeks can account for a large part of a flower shop’s year, and part-timers carry much of the work. Ask for a list of last season’s helpers and drivers, what each one did and whether they are willing to return. A group that comes back reliably is an asset. A group that changes every year is a recurring cost of hiring and training.
Next, look at how they are engaged. Are they employees, contractors or casual helpers paid in cash? Ask your accountant and lawyer how each arrangement is treated, since a poor setup can become your problem after you buy. Check what the shop requires of drivers, including what they use to deliver, and ask your insurance adviser about coverage when someone drives for the shop.
Finally, ask about the season itself. Who trains new helpers, how long does it take, and what goes wrong most often? Is there a written guide? What happens when a driver is absent on the busiest day? The answers tell you whether the season runs on a system or on the owner’s long hours. Ask also about the weeks around the busiest days: how many extra people were needed, how many failed to appear, and how the owner coped. A plan that depends on the owner doing the delivery run personally is not a plan you can inherit.
Key takeaways
- Get last season’s list of helpers and drivers, and who is willing to return.
- Ask how each person is engaged and have professionals review it.
- Learn who trains the team and what happens when someone does not appear.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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