I keep thinking I have the enthusium,experience in floristry and passion for my trade to make it work, but then I go to work and am surrounded by the words "recession,credit crunch,redundaccies "
AAAGGGHHHH!
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I've been on a steep learning curve last couple of years, like you I've been in the business a reasonable length of time and thought long and hard for years about buying a shop of my own. None I looked at seemed quite right for a variety of reasons and one or two people questioned my commitment and said I was 'just making excuses cos my heart obviously wasn't in it'.
In 2006 however the 'right' shop came along, despite being in a town with 2, now 3, other florist shops. We're doing ok there, nothing startling but building on what we started with and a full wedding book.
Like buses a second shop, this time unopposed, in my home town came available last summer and, although it has been a headache and extremely time consuming...6/7 day weeks and at least 2 out of 3 evenings paperwork, ordering etc....I love it! I've got 8 part time staff, most inherited with the businesses, all good at their jobs, cheerful, and flexible.
If its the 'right' shop go for it...if its not keep looking, dont give up on the idea because with that enthusiam and passion you will know when you've found the shop for you.
And if you can make it work in a recession, as I was told by my bank manager 'things can only get better'!