If you are growing non-perennial stock, and if you are not planning on interstate commerce, you may not need a nursery inspection certificate. IOW flower and veggies don't qualify as nursery stock. If you are going to grow perennial woody or herbaceous stock, you probably shall need it. First thing you do is call your state department of agriculture and ask. In my state, one can grow forced, perennial stock out of season without a nursery inspection certificate. i.e. easter lilies in bloom. There are different types of nursery licenses. Nursery stock dealer certification, truck vending, inspection certificate. Your state department of ag can advise you once you know what you what to sell and where to sell it. They'll send you brochures with all the regulations in it.

In my state, they want to know when you need to be inspected, and prefer you let them know the year previous to that inspection, so they can get you in the system. They are good about bending a bit, however, and you can likely expedite that.

I had a stock inspection certificate and that was my license. I was a grower and on that were various classifications as to what and where I'd be growing and selling. Like I was certified and inspected to do brambles, woody and herbaceous stock, trees, bulbs and mums. The annuals I grew in seperate facilities and they didn't need inspected, because I did not ship or sell out of state.

I got my vendor's license first, before I starting ordering anything. It makes you legal and then the wholesalers will deal with you to get your equipmemt and supplies. There will be all sorts of forms for credit lines with each vendor. Maybe you can charge it, but when you get big enough, they want you to establish accounts. Paper, paper, paper. Then I started building my structures and set up accounts with hardgood and plant brokers. Got the structures inspected with the utility companies and my plants started arriving. In that timeframe, I purchased commercial insurance.

If you are a sole proprietor, you don't need a tax ID #, your social is your number. There are advantages to being an LLC as far as liability. You may want to discuss that with your legal advisor.

Make aquaintances with your local ag extension department. They are there to help agribusinesses succeed, just like other farmers. If you've had a business before, you know the rest of the dance, governement forms like unclaimed funds.......ect. You may also have to send in a different type of income tax form. I was obliged to file farm forms.