What skills and licences do I need to run a plant nursery legally?

On the skills side, you need practical propagation knowledge, raising seedlings, taking and rooting cuttings, grafting and budding for fruit and ornamental plants, plus nursery hygiene, pest and disease control, hardening of plants, and basic business and marketing skill to sell. On the legal side, requirements vary by state, but if you sell seeds or planting material you may need registration or a licence under seed and nursery regulations, and some states require nurseries to be registered or accredited, especially for selling fruit saplings or certified material. Selling certain notified plants or seeds without the proper licence can cause problems. There may also be basic local trade registration. The exact licences differ by state and by what you sell, so do not assume. Check the specific requirements with your state horticulture department and the agriculture or seed certification authority before you start selling. Build the propagation skills first by working at or visiting an established nursery, since quality of plants is what brings repeat buyers.