- 1). Check with your city or county clerk's office to find out what type of license and permit you need to sell container trees. If you plan to sell trees regularly you'll need a business license, but you might also need a resale license if your state charges sales tax. You may need a permit to operate a nursery, even if you plan to sell just container oak trees. Your city or county clerk's office can help you determine what you need before you can sell and can advise you on the application process.
- 2). Apply for the required permits and licenses and pay any necessary fees, which will vary by your location. Wait to receive the proper documentation before you sell your trees.
- 3). Care for your container trees. Offer them water when the soil is dry until it becomes saturated. Give them shelter from the wind if you're in a windy locale. Set the containers in full sun. Until you sell the trees, manage them as if they were your own. Watch for pests and diseases and treat any problems that arise. Apply a slow-release fertilizer in the spring to boost tree size.
- 4). Visit local nurseries to see how much oak trees sell for in your area. Price check your type of oak tree at small nurseries and big chains alike. Jot down data on the age and size of the container oak trees, along with their price.
- 5). Set your own price, using your research as a guide. If you're just starting out, you'll want to be competitive with local growers to make sales.
- 6). Advertise your business locally to get interested customers. Post flyers at local garden shops, community gardens, supermarkets and other stores. Create a website and get business cards made that feature pictures of the tree, if possible. Get your name out there to attract potential buyers. You can even place a classified ad in the newspaper listing the container oak trees and a price.
- 7). Close the sale with potential buyers. Answer any questions they might have about tree care, tree size and so on. Show them the trees and let them pick the ones they want.