Most florists, if they are not working as part of an internet-based flower retailer, carry out their daily responsibilities in an independent shop. In addition to a private area for working on floral arrangements, shops will usually have a large retail display area with a wide array of flowers customers can browse. Depending on the regional area and season, floral designers will maintain this front office space or even a street side display of their offerings. They also maintain one or more coolers, depending on the size of the shop, where flowers are stored to lengthen their useful life.

Along with these responsibilities, florists work with customers in the shop or on the phone to take orders and discuss custom floral designs. Floral designers working in these shops usually have a regular schedule, arriving when the shop is open and leaving at closing time. In some cases, floral designers who also manage the shop must work after-hours, usually to catch up on bookkeeping duties or to fulfill large orders.

Florists employed by larger companies, especially internet-based floral shops, almost always work a traditional 40-hour work week. They usually work in an industrial environment, creating arrangements according to specifications set out by the work orders they receive. These designers may also be responsible for packaging the flowers and preparing them to ship to customers.