small scale farming business plan template

• Sample Business Plans
• Retail, Consumers & E-commerce

Small Farming Business Plan

Want to transform your small land into a farming business? Indeed, a brilliant business venture to undertake. After all, all sorts of farming businesses enjoy a vast market.

Anyone can start a farming business. However, a detailed business plan is essential to drive this business to its desired potential and secure funding if required.

Need help writing a business plan for your small farm? You’re at the right place. Our small farming business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write A Small Farming Business Plan?

Writing a small farming business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

• This section may include the name of your small farming business, its location, when it was founded, the type of small farming business (E.g., vegetable farming, bee farming, aquaculture, organic farming), etc.

Market Opportunity:

• For instance, you may include fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices as products and mention organic produce, exotic fruits, and local produce as some of your USPs.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

• Vegetable farming
• Bee farming
• Aquaculture
• Organic farming
• Describe the legal structure of your small farm, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

• Additionally, If you have received any awards or recognition for excellent work, describe them.

Future Goals

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

• For instance, farmers’ markets, specialty retailers, and local customers would be an ideal target audience for smart farming businesses.

Market size and growth potential:

• For instance, the global smart farming market is expected to reach 53 billion dollars by 2032, so it is crucial to define the segment of your target market and its growth potential.

Competitive Analysis:

Market trends:.

• For instance, agrotech and automation have a booming market; explain how you plan on dealing with this potential growth opportunity.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your small farming business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Describe your farm products:

Describe the type of products your small farming business will offer. A vegetable farming business may include a detailed description of crops and their varieties here.

Mention products:

Provide a list of products that will be available at your small farm. This list may include,

Value-added services:

Quality measures:.

• This may include quality control processes, clear service standards, regular maintenance, and training.

Additional Services

In short, this section of your small farming plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

• For example, organic and sustainable practices, fresh local produce, and exotic products could be some of the great USPs for a vegetable and fruit small farm.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your small farming business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your small farming business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

• Explain how these technologies help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your small farming business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

• It should include, key executives(e.g. COO, CMO.), senior management, and other department managers (e.g. farm manager, sales manager.) involved in the small farming business operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the farming industry.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

• So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your small farming services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

• This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the small farming industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your small farming business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample small farming business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful small farming plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our small farming business plan pdf .

Related Posts

Farming Business Plan

Organic Farm Business Plan

Guide to Effective Customer Analysis

Business Plan Outline Crafting Guide

Business Plan Table of Contents Example

Business Plan Example Template

Frequently asked questions, why do you need a small farming business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful small farming business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your small farm.

How to get funding for your small farming business?

There are several ways to get funding for your small farming business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

How do I write a good market analysis in a small farming business plan?

Market analysis is one of the key components of your business plan that requires deep research and a thorough understanding of your industry. We can categorize the process of writing a good market analysis section into the following steps:

• Stating the objective of your market analysis—e.g., investor funding.
• Industry study—market size, growth potential, market trends, etc.
• Identifying target market—based on user behavior and demographics.
• Analyzing direct and indirect competitors.
• Calculating market share—understanding TAM, SAM, and SOM.
• Knowing regulations and restrictions
• Organizing data and writing the first draft.

Writing a marketing analysis section can be overwhelming, but using ChatGPT for market research can make things easier.

How detailed should the financial projections be in my small farming business plan?

The level of detail of the financial projections of your small farming business may vary considering various business aspects like direct and indirect competition, pricing, and operational efficiency. However, your financial projections must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate a complete view of your financial performance.

Generally, the statements included in a business plan offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.

What key components should a small farming business plan include?

The following are the key components your small farming business plan must include:

• Executive summary
• Business Overview
• Market Analysis
• Products and services
• Sales and marketing strategies
• Operations plan
• Management team
• Financial plan

Can a good small farming business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted small farming business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

Plan your business in the shortest time possible

No Risk – Cancel at Any Time – 15 Day Money Back Guarantee

Create a great Business Plan with great price.

• 400+ Business plan templates & examples
• AI Assistance & step by step guidance
• 4.8 Star rating on Trustpilot

Streamline your business planning process with Upmetrics .

An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know

• Translated Resources |
• Service Centers |
• Local Dashboard

Farmers.gov is not optimized for this browser. Please use the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, or Safari for the best experience. Dismiss

Find your state/county's agriculture data and USDA resources on your farmers.gov Local Dashboard !

How to Start a Farm: Plan Your Operation

Think about your operation from the ground up and start planning for your business.  A good farm business plan is your roadmap to start-up, profitability, and growth, and provides the foundation for your conversation with USDA about how our programs can complement your operation. 

Keep reading about planning your business below, get an overview of the beginning farmer's journey , or jump to a different section of the farmer's journey.

On This Page

Why you need a farm business plan.

A comprehensive business plan is an important first step for any size business, no matter how simple or complex. You should create a strong business plan because it:

• Will help you get organized . It will help you to remember all of the details and make sure you are taking all of the necessary steps.
• Will act as your guide . It will help you to think carefully about why you want to farm or ranch and what you want to achieve in the future. Over time, you can look back at your business plan and determine whether you are achieving your goals.
• Is required to get a loan . In order to get an FSA loan, a guarantee on a loan made by a commercial lender, or a land contract, you need to create a detailed business plan . Lenders look closely at business plans to determine if you can afford to repay the loan.

How USDA Can Help

Whether you need a good get-started guide, have a plan that you would like to verify, or have a plan you’re looking to update for your next growth phase, USDA can help connect you to resources to help your decisions.

Your state's beginning farmer and rancher coordinator  can connect you to local resources in your community to help you establish a successful business plan. Reach out to your state's coordinator for one-on-one technical assistance and guidance. They can also connect you with organizations that specifically serve beginning farmers and ranchers.

It is important to know that no single solution fits everyone, and you should research, seek guidance, and make the best decision for your operation according to your own individual priorities.

Build a Farm Business Plan

There are many different styles of business plans. Some are written documents; others may be a set of worksheets that you complete. No matter what format you choose, several key aspects of your operation are important to consider.

Use the guidelines below to draft your business plan. Answering these kinds of questions in detail will help you create and develop your final business plan. Once you have a business plan for your operation, prepare for your visit to a USDA service center. During your visit, we can help you with the necessary steps to register your business and get access to key USDA programs.

Business History

Are you starting a new farm or ranch, or are you already in business? If you are already in business:

• What products do you produce?
• What is the size of your operation?
• What agricultural production and financial management training or experience do you, your family members, or your business partners have?
• How long have you been in business?

Mission, Vision, and Goals

This is your business. Defining your mission, vision and goals is crucial to the success of your business. These questions will help provide a basis for developing other aspects of your business plan.

• What values are important to you and the operation as a whole?
• What short- and long-term goals do you have for your operation?
• How do you plan to start, expand, or change your operation?
• What plans do you have to make your operation efficient or more profitable ?
• What type of farm or ranch model (conventional, sustainable, organic, or alternative agricultural practices) do you plan to use?

Organization and Management

Starting your own business is no small feat. You will need to determine how your business will be structured and organized, and who will manage (or help manage) your business. You will need to be able to convey this to others who are involved as well.

• What is the legal structure of your business? Will it be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, or other type of entity?
• What help will you need in operating and managing your farm or ranch?
• What other resources, such as a mentor or community-based organization , do you plan to use?

Marketing is a valuable tool for businesses. It can help your businesses increase brand awareness, engagement and sales. It is important to narrow down your target audience and think about what you are providing that others cannot.

• What are you going to produce ?
• Who is your target consumer ?
• Is there demand for what you are planning to produce?
• What is the cost of production?
• How much will you sell it for and when do you expect to see profit ?
• How will you get your product to consumers ? What are the transportation costs and requirements?
• How will you market your products?
• Do you know the relevant federal, state, and local food safety regulations? What licensing do you need for your operation?

Today there are many types of land, tools, and resources to choose from. You will need to think about what you currently have and what you will need to obtain to achieve your goals.

• What resources do you have or will you need for your business?
• Do you already have access to farmland ? If not, do you plan to lease, rent, or purchase land?
• What equipment do you need?
• Is the equipment and real estate that you own or rent adequate to conduct your operation? If not, how do you plan to address those needs?
• Will you be implementing any conservation practices to sustain your operation?
• What types of workers will you need to operate the farm?
• What additional resources do you need?

Now that you have an idea of what you are going to provide and what you will need to run your operation you will need to consider the finances of your operation.

• How will you finance the business?
• What are your current assets (property or investments you own) and liabilities (debts, loans, or payments you owe)?
• Will the income you generate be sufficient to pay your operating expenses, living expenses, and loan payments?
• What other sources of income are available to supplement your business income?
• What business expenses will you incur?
• What family living expenses do you pay?
• What are some potential risks or challenges you foresee for your operation? How will you manage those risks?
• How will you measure the success of your business?

Farm Business Plan Worksheets

The Farm Business Plan Balance Sheet can help gather information for the financial and operational aspects of your plan.

Form FSA-2037 is a template that gathers information on your assets and liabilities like farm equipment, vehicles and existing loans.

• FSA-2037 - Farm Business Plan - Balance Sheet
• FSA-2037 Instructions

Planning for Conservation and Risk Management

Another key tool is a conservation plan, which determines how you want to improve the health of your land. A conservation plan can help you lay out your plan to address resource needs, costs and schedules.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff are available at your local USDA Service Center to help you develop a conservation plan for your land based on your goals. NRCS staff can also help you explore conservation programs and initiatives, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) .

Conservation in Agriculture

Crop insurance, whole farm revenue protection and other resources can help you prepare for unforeseen challenges like natural disasters.

Disaster Recovery

Special Considerations

Special considerations for businesses.

There are different types of farm businesses each with their own unique considerations. Determine what applies to your operation.

• Organic Farming  has unique considerations. Learn about organic agriculture , organic certification , and the  Organic Certification Cost Share Program  to see if an organic business is an option for you. NRCS also has resources for organic producers and offers assistance to develop a conservation plan.
• Urban Farming  has special opportunities and restrictions. Learn how USDA can help farmers in urban spaces .
• Value-Added Products . The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) is a national virtual resource center for value-added agricultural groups.
• Cooperative.  If you are interested in starting a cooperative, USDA’s Rural Development Agency (RD) has helpful resources to help you begin . State-based  Cooperative Development Centers , partially funded by RD, provide technical assistance and education on starting a cooperative.

Special Considerations for Individuals

Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers: We offer help for the unique concerns of producers who meet the USDA definition of "historically underserved,"  which includes farmers who are:

• socially disadvantaged
• limited resource
• military veterans

Women: Learn about specific incentives, priorities, and set asides for  women in agriculture within USDA programs.

Heirs' Property Landowners: If you inherited land without a clear title or documented legal ownership, learn how USDA can help Heirs’ Property Landowners gain access to a variety of programs and services

Business Planning

Creating a good business plan takes time and effort. The following are some key resources for planning your business.

• Farm Answers from the University of Minnesota features a library of how-to resources and guidance, a directory of beginning farmer training programs, and other sources of information in agriculture. The library includes business planning guides such as a Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses and an Example Business Plan .
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers information about starting, managing, and transitioning a business.

SCORE is a nonprofit organization with a network of volunteers who have experience in running and managing businesses. The Score Mentorship Program partners with USDA to provide:

• Free, local support and resources, including business planning help, financial guidance, growth strategies.
• Mentorship through one-on-one business coaching -- in-person, online, and by phone.
• Training from subject matter experts with agribusiness experience.
• Online resources and step-by-step outlines for business strategies.
• Learn more about the program through the Score FAQ .

Training Opportunities

Attend field days, workshops, courses, or formal education programs to build necessary skills to ensure you can successfully produce your selected farm products and/or services. Many local and regional agricultural organizations, including USDA and Cooperative Extension, offer training to beginning farmers.

• Cooperative Extension  offices address common issues faced by agricultural producers, and conduct workshops and educational events for the agricultural community.
• extension.org  is an online community for the Cooperative Extension program where you can find publications and ask experts for advice.

Now that you have a basic plan for your farm operation, prepare for your visit to a USDA service center.

2. Visit Your USDA Service Center

How to Start a Farm with USDA

Get an  overview of the beginning farmer's journey  or jump to a specific page below.

Find Your Local Service Center

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.

Learn more about our Urban Service Centers . Visit the Risk Management Agency website to find a regional or compliance office  or to find an insurance agent near you.

Free Agriculture Sample Business Plan PDF + How to Write

Elon Glucklich

6 min. read

Updated February 7, 2024

Free Download:  Agriculture Business Plan Template

As a farmer, you’re in the business of putting food on the table. Agriculture is one of the world’s oldest professions.

Today it accounts for over 5% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product, and 1 in 10 American workers are in agriculture, food, and related industries.

But starting a new agriculture business requires intensive planning and upfront preparation. If you’re looking for a free, downloadable agriculture sample business plan PDF to help you create a business plan of your own, look no further.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to find a sample business plan that exactly matches your farm. Whether you’re launching a larger agricultural business outside a bustling city or a smaller organic operation, the details will be different, but the foundation of the plan will be the same. 

Are you writing a business plan for your farm because you’re seeking a loan? Is your primary concern outlining a clear path for sales growth? Either way, you’re going to want to edit and customize it so it fits your particular farm. 

No two agriculture farming businesses are alike.

For example, your strategy will be very different if you’re a dairy operation instead of a soybean farm. So take the time to create your own financial forecasts and do enough market research for your specific type of agriculture so you have a solid plan for success. 

• What should you include in an agriculture farm business plan?

Your agriculture business plan doesn’t need to be hundreds of pages—keep it as short and focused as you can. You’ll probably want to include each of these sections: 

1. Executive summary

An overview of your agriculture business, with a brief description of your products or services, your legal structure, and a snapshot of your future plans. While it’s the first part of the plan, it’s often easier to write your executive summary last.

Brought to you by

Create a professional business plan

Using ai and step-by-step instructions.

Secure funding

Validate ideas

Build a strategy

2. Business summary and funding needs

Details about your farming operation, including how much capital you will need and the types of funding you’re considering. Include your business history, your current state, and your future projections. It should also cover your business location, the equipment and facilities needed, and the kinds of crops or livestock you plan to raise.

3. Products and services

Provide details on the types of crops, farming methods, and any value-added products you plan to offer, such as finished goods or even  agritourism offerings .

4. Marketing plan

Compile your market research findings, including the demand for your products or services, your target customers , and your competitors. It should also outline your marketing strategy—how you plan to attract and retain customers. 

5. Financial plan

Your revenue projections, cost estimates, and break-even analysis. Your financial plan and forecasts should demonstrate that your business has a path to profitability.

• Building on your farm business plan sample

With a free agriculture business plan template as your starting point, you can start chipping away at the unique elements of your business plan.

As the business owner, only you can speak to aspects of your agriculture operation like your mission and core values.

You’re putting in the long hours to start a thriving farm business, so aspects of your mission – like a commitment to sustainable farming practices – will be best explained in your own words. Authenticity will help you connect with a growing market of consumers who value transparency and environmental stewardship in their food sources.

As for more conventional aspects of business planning , you will want to take on things like your marketing and financial plans one at a time. Here are a few specific areas to focus on when writing your business plan.

Invest time in market research

Starting an agriculture operation requires significant startup costs. When you throw in the unique land use considerations involved, it’s crucial to conduct thorough market research before investing hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of dollars into a farm business.

Start by researching the types of farms operating in your locality and wider region, and the specific crops or livestock they specialize in. You will need to understand seasonal trends, including crop yields and livestock productivity.

Note the demographics of the local community to understand their buying habits and preference for local produce. Also, be aware of the competitive landscape and how your farm can differentiate itself from others. All of this information will inform your service, pricing, marketing, and partnership strategy.

From there, you can outline how you plan to reach your target market and promote your farm’s offerings.

Craft your agriculture go-to-market strategy

One of the things that makes an agriculture farm business plan different from some service-based business plans is that you might decide to work only with one or two businesses that purchase your goods.  

You may offer different tiers of products to different types of buyers, such as produce for an organic farmers market, and corn for another farm’s animal feed. If that’s the case, make sure you include ideas like setting aside land for organic growth and maintenance.

Discuss your advertising and promotional strategies, emphasizing channels relevant to your target market. Also, consider how partnerships with local businesses, farmers’ markets, and other industry stakeholders can enhance your visibility.

Include your pricing strategy and any special promotions or loyalty programs. Also, consider public relations and media outreach efforts that can raise awareness about your farm and its sustainable practices.

Prepare for unique farming challenges

Running an agricultural business comes with its own set of challenges, including weather-related disruptions and market volatility. Your business plan should identify these potential risks and present contingency plans to address them.

Include a plan to mitigate weather-related risks, such as crop diversification, employing weather-resistant farming practices, investing in appropriate infrastructure like greenhouses or drainage systems, or taking out insurance to cover weather-related losses.

Detail the operational aspects of your business , including land ownership, employee status, farm maintenance, and safety requirements. Also, illustrate your strategies for managing crop production, livestock care, land stewardship, and regulatory compliance.

Plan for the future

Contingency planning is important in all businesses.

But the unique challenges in agriculture of changing market dynamics, regulatory changes, and climate impacts make it especially necessary to plan for the future. Detail how you’ll measure success, and how you will be prepared to adapt your offerings if you need to change the focus of the business due to factors outside your control.

Also, be ready to discuss opportunities for scaling your business over time, such as introducing new crops, expanding farm operations, or opening additional locations.

• Get started with your farm business plan sample

There are obviously plenty of reasons farm owners can benefit from writing a business plan — for example, you’ll need one if you’re seeking a loan or investment. Even if you’re not seeking funding, the process of thinking through every aspect of your business will help you make sure you’re not overlooking anything critical as you grow.

Download this  agriculture farm sample business plan PDF  for free right now, or visit  Bplans’ gallery of more than 550 sample business plans  if you’re looking for more options.

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

Table of Contents

Related Articles

8 Min. Read

How to Write a Trucking Business Plan + Example Templates

7 Min. Read

How to Write a Cleaning Service Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

11 Min. Read

How to Write a Business Plan for a SaaS Startup

5 Min. Read

How to Write a Personal Shopper Business Plan + Example Templates

The Bplans Newsletter

The Bplans Weekly

Subscribe now for weekly advice and free downloadable resources to help start and grow your business.

We care about your privacy. See our privacy policy .

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

Farm Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Farm Business Plan

If you want to start a successful farm or expand your current farming business, you need a business plan.

Fortunately, you’re in the right place. Our team has helped develop over 100,000 business plans over the past 20 years, including thousands of farm business plans.

The following farm business plan template and example gives you the key elements you must include in your plan. In our experience speaking with lenders and investors, the template is organized in the precise format they want.

You can download our Farm Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.  

Example Business Plan For Farm Businesses

I. executive summary, business overview.

[Company Name], located at [insert location here] is a new, 500 acre organic dairy, beef, and wheat farm providing food products to regional distributors. [Company Name] is headed by [Founder’s Name], an experienced farm manager.

[Company Name]will sell high-quality beef cuts, wheat by the bushel, and whole milk. The products will be certified organic as growth hormones, fertilizers and pesticides will not be used in production.

Customer Focus

[Company Name] will primarily serve regional distributors of dairy, beef, and wheat products. Some products may be sold directly to manufacturers in the local area for the production of other products from these ingredients.

These businesses typically gross $5 million to $50 million in annual revenues and source their supplies from farms within a 100 mile radius of their facilities.

Distributors and manufacturers of food products in the region see growth in interest in organic products and are in need of organic ingredients for suppliers. Consumers show increased demand for these organic products at stores.

Management Team

[Company Name]’s most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, [Founder’s Name]. [First name] has been a farm operations manager for the past 15 years. He has spent much of his career working with Blue Ridge Farms, where he oversaw dairy, meat, and grain production.

[Company name] will also employ an experienced salesmanager to sell to distributors and manufacturers. This will be a skilled salesperson trained in farm sales by [Founder’s Name]. An assistant manager will manage day-to-day operations of the farm.

Success Factors

[Company Name] is uniquely qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:

• [Company Name] will fill a specific market niche in organic foods. In addition, we have surveyed the regional distributors and received extremely positive feedback saying that they explicitly want to buy our products when launched.
• Our location is within 100 miles of numerous potential distributors and contains hundreds of acres of arable land.
• The management team has a track record of success in the farming business.

Financial Highlights

[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $683,200 of debt capital to open its farm. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing expenses and working capital.

Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

II. Company Overview

You can download our Farm Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Who is [Company Name]?

[Company Name], located at [insert location here] is a new 500 acredairy, beef, and wheat farm providing food products to regional distributors. [Company Name] is headed by [Founder’s Name], an experienced farm manager. 300 acres of its land will be devoted to growing wheat and the remainder will be for dairy, beef, and office facilities.

While [Founder’s Name] has been in the farming business for some time, it was in [month, year] that he decided to launch [Company Name]. Specifically, during this time, [Founder] met with a former friend and fellow independent organic farm owner in South Dakota who has had tremendous success. After discussing the business at length, [Founder’s Name] clearly understood that a similar farm would enjoy significant success in his hometown.

Specifically, the customer demographics and competitive situations in the South Dakota area of his friend and in his hometown were so similar that he knew the business would work. After surveying the local market, [Founder’s name] went ahead and founded [Company Name].

[Company Name]’s History

Upon returning from South Dakota, surveying the local customer base, and finding potential land to start the farm, [Founder’s Name] incorporated [Company Name] as an S-Corporation on [date of incorporation].

The business is currently being run out of [Founder’s Name] home office, but once the land is purchased and [Company Name]’s facilities are finalized, all operations will be run from there.

Since incorporation, the Company has achieved the following milestones:

• Found land and negotiated rate
• Developed the company’s name, logo and website located at [website]
• Determined building, equipment and fixture requirements
• Begun recruiting key employees

[Company Name]’s Products

[Founder’s Name] will be able to provide customers with the following products:

• High-quality organic beef cuts
• Organically-grown wheat by the bushel
• Organic whole milk

III. Industry Analysis

The American commercial farming industry continues to be subsidized by the government to bolster low food prices. This is a volatile and difficult industry in the United States, with small and medium-sized farms increasingly being bought by large farms or struggling to survive on their own.

However, for organic foods, trends are positive. Organic foods sales are projected to increase 18% per year over the next three years and were estimated at $23 billion last year, according to the Organic Trade Association Market Survey. This sector is said to represent 3% of overall food and beverage sales. Global demand for organic foods increases by over $5 billion per year.

The farming industry includes multiple segments including poultry meat, beef, dairy, grain crops, vegetables, fruits, and more. Many businesses focus on only one specific segment, while some produce multiple types of crops in order to hedge against price changes in any one segment.

Recently, Horizon, the largest US organic food brand, dropped the term “organic” from its dairy products choosing instead to use the term “natural”. Critics noted that the term “natural” has no regulatory meaning and shows Horizon’s attempt to lower the cost of production by not meeting the requirements for the organic label. This shows a concern in the market about the meaning behind labels and highlights the importance of regulation to create common definitions.

Organic.org published the following list of reasons to support organic foods and beverages:

• Reduce the toxic load: Keep chemicals out of the air, water, soil and our bodies
• Reduce if not eliminate farm pollution
• Protect future generations
• Build healthy soil
• Taste better and truer flavor
• Assist family farmers of all sizes
• Avoid hasty and poor science in your food
• Eating with a sense of place
• Promote biodiversity
• Celebrate the culture of agriculture

Trends in the industry include the following:

• Meat and fish that are organically produced are becoming more popular
• Organic dairy, bread, and grain are becoming more popular
• Organic-only supermarkets are becoming more popular
• Traditional supermarkets are increasing organic purchases to keep up with these competitors.

IV. Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

[Company Name]will primarily serve regional distributors of dairy, beef, and wheat products. Some products may be sold directly to manufacturers in the local area for the production of other products from these ingredients.

These businesses typically gross from $5 million to $50 million in annual revenues and source their supplies from within a 100 mile radius of their facilities.

Customer Segmentation

The Company will primarily target the following two customer segments:

• Regional Organic Distributors: Organic food distributors source organic meat, dairy, and grains from medium and large farms, and sell them to food manufacturers who process, package and sell the products.
• Organic Dairy Manufacturers: Small manufacturers that process organic dairy products, such as butter, cream, and cheese work directly with local farms to keep costs low whenever possible.

V.Competitive Analysis

Direct & indirect competitors.

The following twoorganic farms operate within a 100 mileradius of [Company Name]. These, and other smaller organic farms like them, are the direct competitors of the business. Indirect competitors include non-organic dairy, beef, and grain farms.

Nature’s Bounty Farm

Nature’s Bounty Farm is a five-year old farm which produces vegetables and grains for organic distributors. They operate a 1000 acre farm, producing a high volume of goods.

However, Nature’s Bounty Farm does not offer organic dairy and meat, which are up-and-coming products.

Thompson Organics

Thompson Organics is a small, 300 acre, ten-year old farm which produces organic grains and bakes organic breads. They sell all of their products at farmer’s markets and directly at retail stores. This distribution strategy requires Thompson to have skilled customer service and sales employees, as well as facilities for baking and packaging.

Because Thompson avoids selling through to distributors, its brand is known directly by consumers who look for organic foods and it can command a premium. However, they, like Nature’s Bounty Farm, do not offer organic dairy and meat. They also have a high cost structure because of their small scale and operations.

Competitive Advantage

[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:

• Client-oriented service: [Company Name] will have a full-time sales manager to keep in contact with customers and answer their everyday questions. [Founder’s Name] realizes the importance of accessibility to customers and will instruct the sales manager to proactively solicit feedback from customers.
• Management: [Founder’s Name] has been extremely successful working in the farming business and will be able to use his previous experience to assure clients of the care that [Company Name] will take to create the best organic products. His unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than [Company Name’s] competitors.
• Transparency: To continue to assure customers and the government of the organic quality of [Company Name]’s products, operations can be inspected by customers at a moments notice, and a guide to the operations will be created to detail all of the steps in the production process for each crop.
• Product Line: By offering wheat, dairy, and meat, [Company Name] will seek to hedge against price volatility in any one of these commodities.

VI. Marketing Plan

[Company Name] will use several strategies to promote its name and develop its brand. By using an integrated marketing strategy, [Company Name] will win customers and develop consistent revenue streams.

The [Company Name] Brand

The [Company name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:

• High-quality, organic milk, beef, and grains
• Service built on long-term relationships
• Transparency of operations to achieve customer assurance of organic quality

Promotions Strategy

Targeted Cold Calls

[Company Name] will initially invest significant time and energy into contacting potential customers via telephone and then by visiting their facilities. In order to improve the effectiveness of this phase of the marketing strategy, a highly-focused call list will be used; targeting distributors and manufacturers with an expressed interest in organic products. As this is a very time-consuming process, it will primarily be used during the startup phase to build an initial customer base.

Industry Events

By attending regional farming conferences, association meetings, and symposia, [Company Name] will network with industry leaders, and seek referrals to potential customers. [Founder’s Name] will often attend with the company sales manager, but both may attend separately in the future as they gain experience in this networking.

[Company Name] will invest resources in two forms of geographically-focused internet promotion—organic search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising. The Company will develop its website in such a manner as to direct as much traffic from search engines as possible. Additionally, it will use highly-focused, specific keywords to draw traffic to its website, where potential clients will find a content-rich site that presents [Company Name] as the trustworthy, high quality producer of organic foods that it is.

Pricing Strategy

[Company Name]’s pricing will be competitive compared with Nature’s Bounty Farm. Pricing will be about 50% lower than retail prices to allow for wholesalers and retailers to earn their margins.

VII. Operations

[Company Name] will carry out its sales operations through phone calls and visits to customer offices. The sales manager will increasingly direct sales activities, although [Founder’s Name] will be heavily involved at first.

The assistant manager will run the day-to-day operations of the farm, including scheduling and assigning the work of farm hands, sourcing and purchasing supplies and basic equipment, keeping the company’s books, maintaining legal licenses, handling insurance and insuring that the company meets government regulations. He will contact specialists for equipment repairs when needed and veterinarians to care for the cows when they require medical attention.

Field work by the farm hands will be from sunrise to sunset, with indoor work during the hottest parts of the day and after dark. Field work will include preparing fields for planting, the planting process, tending to planted fields, harvesting, and packaging grain into bushels. Work with the cows will include feeding, taking them in and out of the pasture, and running the milking equipment. It will also include slaughtering and dressing the cows for beef when directed.

[Company Name]’s long term goal is to become the highest quality farmer in the [city] area. We seek to do this by ensuring customer satisfaction and developing a loyal and successful clientele.

The following are a series of steps that will lead to this long-term success. [Company Name] expects to achieve the following milestones in the following [xyz] months:

VIII. Management Team

[First name] is intimately familiar with the operations requirements for a farm producing the same products as [Company Name]. He has received organic training certification to become an organic food producer.

[Company name] will also employ an assistant manager to manage operations. This will be an experienced operations manager who will be trained in farm operations by [Founder’s Name]. Furthermore, a sales manager will be hired to focus on marketing, sales, and customer service to distributors as manufacturers for [Company Name] products. These two individualswill either have undergraduate business degrees or years of relevant operations or sales experience.

Hiring Plan

In order to launch the business we will also hire the following additional employee:

• Farm Hand: (1 full-time to start) Additional farm hands will be hired if capacity increases or if another farm is started.

The hiring process will be managed by the assistant manager who will be directly responsible for the farm hand, with oversight and approval by [Founder’s Name]. This individual must be in top physical condition, have experience in physical labor, and have great mechanical facility and care for the quality of his work and products.

The assistant manager and [Founder’s Name] will provide back-up support for the farm hand in the busiest times and when he is out sick or on vacation.

IX. Financial Plan

Revenue & pricing.

[Company Name]’s revenues will come primarily fromsale in three product areas.

The price of beef is only an average per cow, and individual cuts are sold at market rates depending on the quality of the cut of meat.

Prices are expected to fluctuate with market volatility on the rise, although they are expected to rise consistently, on average.

Key Cost Drivers

As with most services, labor expenses are the key cost drivers. The staff of four will earn competitive salaries allowing [Company Name] to hireexperienced workers. Furthermore, the costs of the mortgage and its interest for the land will be significant.

The major cost drivers for the company’s operation will consist of:

• Marketing expenses (associations, events, internet marketing).

Capital Requirements and Use of Funds

• Build-out of farm and equipment purchases: $273,200
• Initial marketing expenditure: $10,000
• Property down payment: $100,000
• Working capital: $300,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even

Key Assumptions & Forecasts

The following table reflects the key revenue and cost assumptions made in the financial model.

5 Year Annual Balance Sheet

5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement

Comments are closed.

12: Business Plans

What is a business plan.

A business plan is a document that helps you to organize and succinctly summarize the vision you have for your business. The plan contains the operational and financial objectives of a business, the detailed plans and budgets showing how the objectives are to be realized.

A good business plan will contain the following:

• Your business vision, mission statement, key values, and goals
• Description of the product(s) you intend to produce
• Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats the business may experience are described
• Production plans
• Marketing plans
• Estimated start-up costs
• Information on your legal structure and management team
• Current financial statements or projected financial statements.
• Resume or brief explanation of your background and relevant experience
• Less than 10 total pages so that people actually read it

Helpful Publications for Writing a Business Plan

General Business Resource Publications:

• Starting an Ag-Business? A Pre-Planning Guide http://publications.dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extensionpdf/2004/Cornell_AEM_eb0408.pdf
• Business Transfer Guide: Junior Generation http://publications.dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extensionpdf/2016/Cornell-Dyson-eb1605.pdf
• Producing a Business Plan for Value-Added Agriculture http://publications.dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extensionpdf/2007/Cornell_AEM_eb0708.pdf
• Business Planning for the Agriculture Sector: A Guide to Business Plan Development for Start-up to Mid-size Operations http://publications.dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extensionpdf/2010/Cornell_ pdf
• Building a Sustainable Business (Sustainable Agricultural Research Education (SARE)Publications) sare.org/publications/business.htm 280 pages of education and practical exercises to guide you through the financial, management, and interpersonal skills needed to start a successful farm business. Order hard copy for $17 or download PDF online for free.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Publications for Specific Commodities:

• Landscape Business Planning Guide http://publications.dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extensionpdf/2003/Cornell_AEM_eb0313.pdf
• Writing a Business Plan: A Guide for Small Premium Wineries http://publications.dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extensionpdf/2002/Cornell_AEM_eb0206.pdf
• Writing a Business Plan: An Example for a Small Premium Winery https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/122203/2/Cornell_AEM_eb0207.pdf

Getting Help Writing a Business Plan

Farm Business Plans

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Cultivate your agricultural ambitions with our comprehensive collection of farm sector business plan examples. Perfect for farmers, agripreneurs, and agronomists, this resource provides information, from small-scale organic operations to expansive agribusiness ventures. Navigate the complexities of the agricultural industry with these detailed plans, designed to help you grow a thriving, resilient, and profitable farming enterprise.

Farm Business Plan Templates

Agricultural Business Plan Template

Aquaponics Business Plan Template

Cattle Farming Business Plan Template

Dairy Farm Business Plan Template

Farm Business Plan Template

Fish Farm Business Plan Template

Goat Farming Business Plan Template

Hemp Farm Business Plan Template

Honey Bee Farm Business Plan Template

Hydroponics Business Plan Template

Livestock Farm Business Plan Template

Microgreens Business Plan Template

Mushroom Farm Business Plan Template

Pig Farm Business Plan Template

Poultry Farm Business Plan Template

Solar Farm Business Plan Template

Tree Farm Business Plan Template

Worm Farm Business Plan Template

Details of a Small Farm Business Plan

• Swarthmore College

• Ohio Wesleyan University
• Brandeis University
• Northeastern University
• Urban Farms
• Planting Guides
• Indoor Gardening

Writing a farm business plan can be a tool for you to plan your farming business. It can also be a requirement of securing grants and loans for your farm business. The process of writing a farm business plan may seem overwhelming and intimidating at first, but if you break it down into its component steps, it becomes much more manageable.

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a roadmap for your small farm . It is both process and product. During the writing of a farm business plan, you'll develop an overall vision and mission for your business. You will think about your short- and long-term goals. You'll define the steps needed to achieve those goals. You'll set the direction for your business to develop over the next five years.

If you're already an established business, your new business plan will show where you're going next. A good business plan should be:

Mission Statement

Your farm’s mission statement is your overarching purpose for your business:

• Why does your farm exist?
• What purpose does your farm serve?
• Where is your farm headed?

This is beyond “make money.” This mission statement is based on your values and your core identity as a small farm.

The goals in your business plan are the specific, measurable “things” you will achieve with your small farm. Short-term goals are defined as those that you will complete within one year. Long-term goals are those that take longer than one year to complete.

SMART Goals are:

• Rewarding, and have a

Background Information

In this section of your business plan, take inventory of what you have right now:

• Where are you located?
• How many acres of land are you farming?
• When did you begin farming?
• How are you currently operating?
• What general practices do you use for such things as conservation, tillage, environmental impact, and marketing?

Farm Strategy

This is where your business plan gets to looking forward. You are going to formulate your farm strategy from now into the next five years or so.

• Gather information and research markets. Make sure that your farm plan fits into the general market in terms of supply and demand. Investigate and analyze industry trends, identify competitors, and define buyers.
• SWOT Analysis. This is an analytical tool that can be used in making decisions. SWOT stands for: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. As a business, analyze your internal strengths and weaknesses. Then look externally at what opportunities and threats exist - competitors, new markets, government regulations, economic conditions, and so forth.
• Create alternative strategies. Looking at the information you've gleaned and the analysis you just did, think through options for your farm strategy. Don't rely on price alone; economies of scale are challenging on the small farm level.
• Don't jump to one conclusion immediately. Really spend some time fleshing out the specifics of some of the strategies and looking at their advantages and disadvantages. Try to find options that combine your internal strengths with opportunities in the external environment.
• Look at all your strategies, then reread your mission statement. The ideal farm plan will fit your mission best.
• Write an implementation plan. This is where you write a plan that will make your new strategy happen.

Marketing Strategy and Plan

In the next part of your farm business plan, you develop and outline a marketing strategy for your products and services. This can build on the research you did in the previous step. For each product, include ​the price, placement, and promotion ideas. Consider how you will convey real and perceived value to your customers.

Management Summary

This part of your business plan details your farm business’ structure. Everyone who is involved in the management of the business should be listed here. External resources are listed here as well.

Financial Analysis

In this section, you will need to detail the financial aspect of your farming operation. List your current finances in detail, including all income and operating expenses. Referring to your new strategy, you will forecast what is needed for future growth and to meet the goals you have outlined in terms of capital. Include what your future operating expenses will be.

Pulling It All Together

Writing a farm business plan is a big project. Don’t let that put you off. Your plan can be as simple as it needs to be for right now. Begin with your mission statement and goals. Do your homework by analyzing markets and researching competitors and trends. Have fun brainstorming alternative strategies and let them marinate a while. Take it one step at a time.

• Starting Your Small Farm from Scratch
• How to Start a Small Farm Business
• How to Start a Small Farm
• Best Urban Farming Certifications
• How to Buy Land for a Homestead or Small Farm
• The 7 Best Small Farm Magazines
• Tips for Converting Small Farms to Organic Production
• Is Freezing or Canning Better?
• 8 Steps for Using a Paper Planner Effectively
• Why Are Earth-Observing Satellites So Important?
• How to Keep a Nature Journal
• How Can I Live Rent-Free?
• The 10 Best Gardening Books, According to a Garden Expert
• Best of Green Awards 2021: Sustainable Travel
• How to Keep Farm Records
• How to Make a Sun Map of Your Garden

Farm Business Planning

Farm Business Planning is key to beginning farmer success.

It helps beginning farmers :

• Plan for the economic sustainability of a new farm enterprise.
• Obtain funding to purchase land, equipment and other resources from lending institutions, investors and/or grant making agencies.
• Articulate what their farm will look like.

On this page, we compiled free farm business planning resources to help you understand what a formal business plan is, and how to start planning your farm business. Sections include:

• Developing a Farm Business Plan
• Enterprise Budgeting

Enterprise budget resources are included on the farm business planning page because such tools are usually essential in helping you to develop your business plan.

Planning your farm business involves more than is outlined on this page alone. You’ll probably also be interested in funding (loans/grants) , farm incorporation , and risk management . Our  starting a farm page is worth visiting first. Also, you might find the following article helpful, because it touches on many farm business planning topics: Farm Products, What to Charge: Marketing, Price, Calculating Costs, Strategy and Much More .

1. Developing a Farm Business Plan

A  business plan  is a decision making tool that takes the form of a formal document. It states your business goals, why you think you can achieve them, and lays out your plan for doing so. Farm business planning is also a process, not an end product. A business plan is a work in progress, which farm business owners or operators will want to revisit regularly. 

Planning and Funding Your Farm Business  from the Cornell University Small Farms Project has lots of important and useful farm business planning resources.

Rural Businesses  is a web and print publication from the Minnesota institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA).

Building a Business Plan for Your Farm: Important First Steps  is a 20 page farm business planning publication that discusses the initial steps to help you move toward writing a formal business plan.

The Center for Agroecology has a Small Farm Business Planning publication that goes over many of the basics in a step by step format.

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses is a farm business planning publication available from SARE.

Do I need a Business Plan for my Farm? is a web resource from the New England Small Farm Institute. It’s a great place to get started.

AgPlan  from the University of Minnesota helps rural business owners develop a business plan for free, while also offering sample business plans for ideas, and a way to print or download your plan.

Developing a Farm Business Plan includes several helpful resources from the USDA National Agricultural Library’s Rural Information Center.

Organic Farm Business Planning Page  from North Carolina State University features a number of publications and links related to financial planing for organic farmers.

Agricultural Business Planning Templates and Resources   is an ATTRA publication most relevant to smaller-scale or alternative agricultural entrepreneurs.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Resources offers comprehensive resources on Bookkeeping and Other Basics ; Cash Flow Budgeting and Managing Debt ; Small Farm and Ranch Income Taxes , and more.

Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business  has educational resources to explore, such as the New Ventures in Food and Agriculture in Indiana , which offers business planning assistance.

Purdue University Cooperative Extension offers strategic farm business planning tools for commercial farm producers.

Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences has many Business Planning tools and information.  Penn State Cooperative Extension has a Developing a Business Plan page. Penn State also has a Farm Business Plan Template that allows you to plug in your information and create a basic business plan.

The U.S. Small Business Administration  works with local partners to counsel, mentor and train small businesses. It is worth getting to know their programs and connect with your local office.

The Martindale Center Reference Desk has an extensive  compilation of links to calculators, applets, spreadsheets, courses, manuals, handbooks, simulations, animations, videos and more. Martindale’s Agriculture Center can be of great use to farmers making business plans.

2. Enterprise Budgets

Enterprise budgets project costs and returns for a particular farm production practice. You can use enterprise budgets to make smart business management decisions, and to help you develop a viable business plan.

Enterprise Budgeting Tools of all sorts from the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, including organic crop budgeting tools, many vegetable budgeting tools, the crop conversion tool for side-by-side crop comparisons, specialty crop and livestock budgets, hydroponics budgets, wind calculators, composting calculators, manure calculators, distillers grain budgets, biomass calculators and specialty foods calculators.

Introduction to Farm Planning Budgets for New and Beginning Farmers (Virginia Tech)

Importance and Use of Enterprise Budgets in Agriculture   (University of Nevada)

Enterprise Budgeting (Kerr Center)

Organic Specific Enterprise Budgets

• Enterprise Budgets and Production Costs for Organic Production (ATTRA)
• Organic Crop Production Enterprise Budgets and Information   (Iowa State)
• Organic Enterprise Budget (Kansas Rural Center)

More Enterprise Budget Pages and Information

• Enterprise Budgets List (Virginia Cooperative Extension)
• Dairy Sheep Enterprise Budget (Center for Integrated Ag Systems, UW-Madison)
• Crop Budgets (University of Maryland)
• Farm Management Enterprise Budgets (Ohio State)
• Alabama Enterprise Budget Summaries (Alabama A&M and Auburn) 
• Start developing your business plan with the resources at   https://www.beginningfarmers.org/farm-business-planning/
• You can find more gr eat farming resources at   https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/

Apply     MyCAS

• In the News
• Upcoming Events
• Online Classes
• Agricultural Tourism
• Beginning Farmers
• Dry Farming
• Olive Research for Oregon
• Whole Farm Management
• Start Your Business Plan
• Refine Your Business Plan
• Business Planning Resources

Sample Business Plans

• Berries & Grapes
• Biodiversity & Pest Management
• Harvest & Handling
• Herbs & Flowers
• Nursery Crops & Greenhouses
• Tree Fruits & Nuts
• Winter Farming
• Disaster Relief and Resiliency Programs
• Dry Farming Research
• Community Support Agriculture
• Farmers' Markets
• Marketing Your Farm
• Meat & Eggs
• Raw Agricultural Products
• Value Added
• Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculators
• Hay Production
• Irrigation & Fencing
• Mud & Manure Management
• Nutrient Management
• Pasture and Grazing Management
• Weeds, Poisonous Plants, & Other Pests
• Soil Testing
• Soil Surveys
• Improving Soil Quality & Cover Crops
• Agricultural Composting and Water Quality
• Water & Irrigation
• Business Planning

Below are examples of different farm business plans and a loan application:

Oregon Flower Farm Business Plan Example

Interval Farm Business Plan Sample

Peach Farm Business Plan Sample

USDA FSA Sample Microloan Application

Feb 28 How to Create a Solid Business Plan for Your Flower Farm

So, you want to start a flower business. You have a name picked out, you know you want to sell flowers, but maybe you're a little unsure how to get started. Don't panic!

A new business startup can be an overwhelming and confusing process. But there is one key thing you can do at the very beginning of starting your business that will not only help you get organized, but will also set you up for success in your first year and all the years that follow.

That key ingredient is a solid flower farming business plan.

Creating a florist business plan is essential in establishing a foundation of success.

What is a business plan? 

A business plan is a written document that outlines what your company does and how it operates.

Essentially, it’s a roadmap for your business that helps you accomplish your business goals.

Developing a solid flower farming business plan takes time, patience, and a willingness to scrap and start over.

However, the time invested in developing your business plan is absolutely worth it, especially when the insanity of the flower world comes closing in and you need something to help you refocus in the middle of the chaos.

Why is a flower farming business plan so important? 

For starters, a plan gives some structure and organization to your business, especially in the startup phase, and helps you determine your goals.

A business plan also helps you develop your target market and what you're selling. It will keep you on track financially too. Business plans can also be used to apply for funding or find potential business partners.

Sound overwhelming? It can be hard to know where to start when developing a flower farming business plan. There are many online templates and even services that will help develop your plan for you. Though, many of these are geared toward bigger companies with many products and employees and large amounts of financial data.

And if you're like me, you are probably starting your flower business with only a couple of products and one employee (you).

“ It can be hard to know where to start when developing a flower farming business plan. ”

In the sections below, I share some information on how I created my business plan from a small-scale flower farming perspective. Keep in mind that there is no set template for a business plan, and you can make yours however you see best.

Also, business plans can and should be fluid as your business grows or your goals change. But hopefully, this article can help you understand the most important aspects of a business plan and help you start writing your own.

My floral business plan is broken into the following sections—and I will go into more detail on each of them in the following paragraphs:

Company Description

Products and services, marketing plan, operations plan, financial plan.

This section in your plan should start by listing your company name and the date it was founded.

You can also mention your legal structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.) and why you chose that structure.

Then it should include your mission statement. Why does your company exist? What does your company value? This can be hard to develop, so a helpful exercise is to write down what comes to mind when you think about your flower business.

You might write things like "beauty" and "happiness," but also try to think a little deeper about why you want to start your flower business in the first place.

“ My mission for my business became that I wanted to provide my customers with sustainably and locally grown flowers. ”

For me, I kept coming back to "sustainable" and "local" because those are two things I really value. So my mission for my business became that I wanted to provide my customers with sustainably and locally grown flowers.

This section of your floral business plan should also briefly touch on what products or services you are planning to sell.

You will go into more detail on this in your Products and Services section, but providing a short description of what you intend to sell will give the reader context for your business operations and your goals.

Your business plans should include several sections, including goals—both short and long term.

The next part of this section should list your short-term and long-term business goals.

This section is essential because it defines how you want your business to grow and progress.

Setting goals also forces you to focus on what you want to get out of your business. Goals should follow the SMART principle:

Specific: Define a clear, specific goal.

Measurable : Give yourself the ability to track your progress by determining a metric you want to hit.

Attainable : Be realistic. Think about your constraints (budget, time, etc.) and make sure you can realistically hit your goal.

Relevant: Make sure your goal aligns with your mission and your values.

Time-based: Give yourself a timeline for achieving your goal to encourage yourself to stay motivated.

Here are a few examples of SMART goals that are relevant to a flower farming business:

I will have 3 contracts with local florists in place by the end of year 4.

I will save $3500 of my net profits to fund the construction of a greenhouse in April 2023.

I will sell 30 bouquet subscriptions during my first year of business.

Remember that your flower farming business plan is fluid, and your goals will change as your company grows. Visit this section of your business plan often—not only to keep yourself moving toward your goals, but also to determine if you want to set new goals as your business grows.

You should also write briefly on your industry and target market in this section, but you will have an opportunity to go into more detail on these items in your Marketing Plan section.

Discuss if your industry is growing or stable and how you will take advantage of the available market space. How will you be competitive? What sets you apart?

You can always come back to this section of your company description after you've done the research to develop your Marketing Plan, which we will talk more about later.

In this section of your flower farming business plan, you’ll go into detail on what products or services you will sell.

It might sound simple (flowers—duh), but how exactly will you sell those flowers? Will you sell wholesale to florists? Are you going to create your own bouquets to sell yourself or at a place like a farmer's market? Will you offer other floral services like wedding work or host flower-arranging workshops?

List each product or service, and then describe how that product will be created or how the service will be executed.

For the bouquet subscriptions I offered during my first year in business, I listed the following:

How often each bouquet would be offered (weekly)

How the bouquet would reach my customers (delivery)

How long the subscription would run (6 weeks)

How many stems would be in each bouquet (20 stems)

What the bouquets would be transported in (mason jars)

How far I was willing to travel to deliver the bouquets (30 miles)

The last piece of this section is to list each product or service's price and briefly describe how that price was determined.

“ List each product or service, and then describe how that product will be created or how the service will be executed. ”

I find it helpful to come back to this piece after completing the Marketing Plan section, where you will research your target market and your local competitors, and the Financial Plan section, where you will set your budget and profit goals.

Knowing your competition will inform your business decisions.

This section is where the bulk of your research will be done, and I think it is best to complete this section pretty early in creating your business plan.

Chances are, if you've decided to start a flower-farming business, you already know a little about the flower-farming industry.

However, you should still do some in-depth market research to truly understand the industry and what you are getting into.

Overall, the demand for locally grown flowers is increasing, but what is the demand like in your local area, or within your target market?

If you are planning to supply to local florists, research the latest trends in floral design to understand what their needs and demands are like. 

Researching your local competition is an important part of your marketing plan and will also help you determine current demand in your area.

If there are well-established flower farms in your area, check out their website or social media pages to see what products and services they are offering and what their prices are like.

This will help you determine whether you can be competitive with your products and what price you should set for those products to get a portion of the market share.

“ You should view your other local flower professionals as an opportunity for collaboration and learning. ”

Something important to remember is that, although we use the word competitor in the context of target markets and business planning, you should view your other local flower professionals as an opportunity for collaboration and learning.

The flower-farming industry is open and welcoming. It is full of valuable knowledge that you will miss out on if you close yourself off and treat your other local businesses as competition.

When you start your own flower farming or floral design business, reach out to other local flower farms or floral professionals on social media or even in person. I can almost guarantee you will find a network of fantastic, like-minded people willing to collaborate and share ideas.

Back to your Marketing Plan, though—you should also list the risks associated with your business and product offerings. What could happen that would keep you from reaching your goals?

Unfortunately, in an industry that relies heavily on mother nature, a lot can go wrong. Disease, pests, and extreme weather are all major risks.

Burnout is another risk. Farming is hard work with long days, especially if you launch your flower business as a side-hustle to a typical day job. How will you overcome the challenges associated with these risks?

We will talk more about risk mitigation in our Operations Plan, but listing your potential roadblocks in your business plan and thinking ahead of time about how you will address them will help you be prepared when they inevitably occur.

Lastly, your Marketing Plan should also describe your target customer:

Who do you think will buy your product?

Where will they want to shop for it?

Do you need an in-person location, or can you just open up an online store?

How will your advertising reach them?

Will social media pages be sufficient to reach your target customer, or will you need a website or an ad in the local paper?

Your Marketing Plan is a crucial piece of your business plan that will help you determine what you are selling, who you are selling to, and how much you can anticipate selling.

The next section, your Operations Plan, will determine how you make your product and operate your business.

You’ll also need to detail out how your business will operate to accomplish your goals.

In this section, you should outline how your business will operate on a day-to-day basis. Start by describing how you will produce your product.

What kind of supplies and equipment will you need to create your product from start to finish?

In the flower production industry, this is everything you will need to start seeds, support growing seedlings, create an outdoor environment where your plants will thrive, harvest healthy flowers, and create your final product.

It also includes what you will do in the off-season to continue supporting your business. Thinking through the entire growing process—and really what an entire year looks like for your flower farming business—will help you spot potential hiccups in the process.

Listing out the necessary supplies and equipment to accomplish your operations will also help you develop a budget for your Financial Plan section of your business plan.

For my bouquet subscriptions, my list looked something like this:

Seed starting supplies: Seeds, seed trays, grow lights, heat mats, seed starting mix, vermiculite

Preparation of outdoor growing space: Compost, soil additives, tiller, landscape fabric, gardening gloves, shovels

Supporting healthy plants: Hoses, drip irrigation system, fertilizer, Neem oil for disease and pest control, backpack sprayer, support stakes, trellises, netting

Flower harvesting: Snips, pruners, buckets and vessels, flower preservative

Bouquet creation: Rubber bands, mason jars, paint, stickers, kraft paper

When you list these items, you should include what you anticipate being able to reuse and what will need to be purchased new each year.

If you have certain suppliers in mind, create a section to list your suppliers and their contact information.

Next, you should think about what else will be required to run your flower business.

Some things to consider include:

Will you need to buy/rent a brick-and-mortar space to sell your product? How will you maintain this space on a daily basis?

Will you need to create and maintain a website and online store? How often do you plan to update your webpage?

Will you have social media pages, and how will you manage posting to those pages? How often do you plan to post new content?

How will you track your expenses and your income?

How will you deliver your products or services?

Will you require help from others? How will they be compensated?

Lastly, think about the risks you outlined in your Marketing Plan. What can you do in your day-to-day operations to mitigate those potential risks?

For example, I planned to mitigate the risk of disease and pest damage by implementing weekly applications of Neem oil to my plants.

Don’t forget to create a financial plan! Budgeting is vital.

The last section of your flower farming business plan should cover the financial aspect of your business.

Many finance terms and confusing references to different "projections" and other phrases can surface when you start looking at the nitty-gritty of financial planning.

I have never had the brain to understand the deep world of finance, so reading about these terms made me feel completely overwhelmed. However, I do understand the importance of budgeting and that money management is the most critical factor in running a successful business.

So I pushed aside all those confusing terms and just started with the basics of creating a budget: expenses vs. income. I encourage you to start the same way. You can always return to this section and add more detail as your business grows and you have access to more financial data.

Luckily for you, by developing the other sections of your business plan, you've already done the bulk of the work for estimating your expenses and projected income.

Take a look at the lists you made in your Operations Plan for the supplies and equipment that will be required to operate your business. These are your anticipated expenses.

Then circle back to your Products and Services section, along with your Marketing Plan. What are you planning to sell, how much of that product are you planning to sell, and at what price? This is your projected income.

Your total projected income minus your total projected expenses result in your net profit. Look at this number—how does it align with your goals? Are you just breaking even, or is your profit enough to cover that greenhouse you wanted to fund?

If this number does not allow you to achieve your goals or encourage sustainable business growth, where can you make adjustments to the rest of your business plan?

“ It’s vital to be patient and take the time to set yourself and your business up for financial success.  ”

Should you charge more for your product or try to sell a larger volume to increase your income? Can you make any cuts in your spending to bring your total expenses down? If you can't make changes to either of those, you may need to adjust your goals to be more attainable. 

This part of your business plan development can be frustrating, but don't be afraid to be flexible and make changes. It can also be helpful to work through this portion with an accountant. They can also help you navigate the tricky tax laws that you will want to factor into your financial plan. It's vital to be patient and take the time to set yourself and your business up for financial success. 

What’s next after creating your flower farming business plan?

Now that you've made it through every section of your new business plan, read through it all again.

Is there anything you missed in your research or in listing out your day-to-day operations? Do you still feel strongly about your goals? It's okay to make changes until you feel like you've got it all right. 

After your first year of operation, and every year after that, revisit your business plan and make any necessary changes to it to continue reaching your goals and growing your business.

Remember that this is your business, your goals, and your dream. Create a plan that fits you and your values. Stick to your plan, and set yourself up for success. And don't forget to have fun and enjoy the ride!

Mar 3 The Beauty of a Business Partnership with Amanda Vidmar Design

Feb 24 Identifying and Meeting Floral Needs with Rachael Ellen Events

Related posts.

Feb 7 Helpful Tips for Starting a Flower Farm Business from Scratch

Apr 18 How to Set Up a Florist Website and Online Store

May 16 How to Project Your Flower Farm Sales as a New Farmer

Broiler Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Agriculture Industry » Livestock Farming » Poultry » Poultry Business Plan

Are you about starting a broiler farm? If YES, here’s a complete sample broiler farming business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE to raise money .

There are loads of business opportunities in the poultry industry and broiler farming is one of them. Broilers are chickens that are specifically raised for meat. These chickens are typically white and are farmed to produce meat for consumers.

Why Start a Broiler Farm?

Broiler farming is known to be a profitable business and has evolved from small scale to a global industry in most countries where it is carried out.

Countries like Nigeria , United Kingdom, Brazil, Greece, Philippines, China, Japan, Thailand, Caribbean countries and even South American Countries have been farming broilers on a large scale for a long while. united states is not far from the trade as there are a lot of people who are making huge fortune from farming broilers alone.

If you are looking to go into the poultry farming business, the good news is that you can’t get it wrong with the broiler farming business. It is easy to start, cheap to maintain and it takes a short time to get a good return on your investment if you know the ropes.

Starting a broiler farming business comes with its own fair share of challenges, but that does not rule out the fact that it is indeed a profitable business venture. An aspiring entrepreneur can either choose to start a broiler farm on a small scale or on a large scale depending on their financial status.

So, if you have decided to go into broiler farming, then you should ensure that you carry out thorough feasibility studies and also market survey. This will enable you to properly locate the business in a good location and then hit the ground running.

Business plan is yet another very important business document that you should not take for granted when launching your own business. Below is a sample broiler farming business plan template that can help you to successfully write your own with little or no difficulty.

A Sample Broiler Farming Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The chicken and turkey meat production industry that broiler farming is a subset of is indeed a large and profitable industry. Most often than not, broiler chickens are raised in large, open structures called houses, where they are allowed to freely roam, explore, eat and commune with other chickens.

Some (including free-range chickens) have varying access to the outdoors, based on the farmer preference and of course their safety. The Chicken and Turkey Meat Production industry includes poultry farms that raise turkeys and chickens basically for meat production.

Downstream meat processors and food producers supply farmers with turkeys, chicks, feed and payment, according to contractual agreements. Poultry farmers provide growing facilities, bird care and agricultural expertise. Revenue is recorded in the final prices that poultry farmers receive per average weight of live turkey or chicken.

The Chicken and Turkey Meat Production industry in recent time has experienced positive trends in demand for turkey and chicken meat. Of course, increasing health consciousness among American meat consumers has boosted consumption of white meat such as turkey and chicken, which is also more affordable than beef or pork.

Going forward, the industry will continue to enjoy appreciable growth and turkey and chicken farmers will keep smiling to the bank. Falling input prices will enable turkey and chicken farmers to increase production volumes; on the other hand, many farms will consolidate to gain the benefits of economies of scale.

In the United States of America, most poultry farmers have been functioning for more than ten years. They are often family enterprises passed down from one generation to another. The major barriers facing new entrants into the industry include the competitive nature of a contract based income system, the medium level of investment required and of course compliance with various environmental regulations.

The Chicken and Turkey Meat Production industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much thriving in all parts of the world. Statistics has it that in the United States of America alone, there are about 38,065 licensed and registered chicken and turkey meat production companies directly responsible for employing about 56,306 employees.

The industry rakes in a whooping sum of $34 billion annually with an annual growth rate projected at 2.7 percent. It is important to state that there are no establishments with a lion share in this industry; every turkey and chicken farm can compete favorably.

Statistics also has it that an estimate of about 35 companies are involved in the business of raising, processing and marketing chickens on a commercial level; they export live chickens, processed chickens and eggs to other countries of the world.

It is on record that Americans consume more chicken than anyone else in the world – more than 90 pounds per capita in 2015 – the number one protein consumed in the United States. So also, in 2015, almost 9 billion broiler chickens weighing 53 billion pounds, live – weight, were produced. More than 40 billion pounds of chicken products were marketed, measured on a ready-to-cook basis.

The United States has the largest broiler chicken industry in the world, and about 19 percent of egg and chicken produced were exported to other countries in 2015. Research conducted shows that the top 5 broiler producing states in the US are Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi.

If you are looking towards leveraging on the agriculture industry to generate huge income, then one of your best bet is to start a broiler farming business.

One thing is certain about starting a broiler farming business, if you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies, you are more likely not going to struggle to sell your broiler cum chicken meat because there are always food processing companies and consumers out there who are ready to buy from you.

2. Executive Summary

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is a world – class poultry farm company with strong bias for rearing broilers. Our poultry farm will be based in the outskirt of Santa Fe, New Mexico – United States. We have done our detailed market research and feasibility studies and we were able to secure hundred hectares of land to start our poultry/broiler farm and chicken meat production business.

Our broiler farm is going to be a standard commercial poultry farm and will be involved in raising, processing and marketing broiler – chicken meat on a commercial level; we will export live broiler – chickens, and processed and packaged chicken meat to other countries of the world.

We are in the commercial broiler farming and chicken meat production line of business because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities available in the agriculture industry, to contribute our quota in growing the U.S. economy, in national food production, and also to export live broiler – chicken and processed and packaged chicken from the United States to other countries of the world.

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is well positioned to become one of the leading commercial broiler- chicken farms in the United States of America, which is why we have been able to source for the best hands and machines to run the company with.

We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to commercial poultry farming, chicken meat processing and packaging as required by the regulating bodies in the United States of America.

At Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC, our customer’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living.

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is a privately registered commercial poultry farm and chicken meat processing and packaging company that is owned by Mr. Teddy Bright and his immediate family members. The poultry farm will be fully financed by the owner – Mr. Teddy Bright and his immediate family members at least for a period of time.

Before starting Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC, Mr. Teddy Bright gathered robust experience working for some of the top brands in the poultry farms industry in the United States of America. He is of course well experienced and highly qualified to run this type of business.

3. Our Products and Services

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is a standard commercial poultry farms and broiler – chicken meat processing and packaging company that is committed to raising chickens (broiler) for both the United States’ market and the global market.

We are in the commercial poultry farms and chicken meat production line of business to make profits and we are going to do all we can to achieve our business goals, aim and objectives. These are the areas we will concentrate on in our commercial poultry farms. If need arises we will definitely add more poultry produce to our list;

• Raising, processing and marketing broilers (chickens) on a commercial level; we export live chickens (broilers), and processed and well packaged chicken meat to other countries of the world.  

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision is to become one of the leading commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production brands not just in the United States of America but also on the global stage.
• Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is a world class and registered commercial poultry farms and chicken meat production company that is committed to raising broiler-chickens and producing chicken meat for both the United States’ market and the global market.
• We want our live broiler-chickens and well processed and packaged chicken meat to flood the nooks and crannies of the United States and other countries of the world.

Our Business Structure

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is a privately owned and managed commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production business that intend starting small in Santa Fe – New Mexico, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading commercial poultry farms and egg production companies in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, and creative, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all stakeholders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Operating Officer

General Poultry Farm Manager

Human Resources and Admin Manager

• Accountant / Cashier
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Field Employees
• Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization.
• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
• Supervises other section managers
• Ensures compliance during project executions
• Providing advice on the management of farming activities across all section
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Using IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of the growth of chickens and other birds
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and sale of poultry farm produce
• Represent the organization’s interest at various stakeholders’ meetings
• Ensures that broiler farming goals desired result are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied. Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversee the smooth running of the daily office

Accountant/Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides management with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC
• Serves as internal auditor for Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC.

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Manage external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Model demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develop, execute and evaluate new plans for expanding increase sales
• Create new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empower and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Field Workers/Contract Staff

• Responsible for feeding chickens and other birds as instructed by the supervisor
• Responsible for cleaning poultry and the entire environment
• Change the water for the broilers as instructed by the supervisor on a regular basis
• Handles poultry farm implements and machines (hatchery) as instructed by the section manager/supervisor
• Assist in handling the chicken and other birds et al
• Carries out task in line with the stated job description
• Assist in transport working tools and equipment from the poultry farm and back to the designated store room
• Handles any other duties as assigned by the line manager

Front Desk/Customer’s Service Officer

• Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person, online or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the creative director in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information are supplied to clients when they make enquiries.

6. SWOT Analysis

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC do not intend to launch out with trial and error hence the need to conduct a proper SWOT analysis.

We know that if we get it right from the onset, we would have succeeded in creating the foundation that will help us build a standard commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production company that will favorably compete with leading commercial poultry farms and egg production companies like Cal – Maine, Land O’Lake, Inc., Michael Foods and Rose Acres Farms in the United States of America and in other parts of the world.

We engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production company that can favorably compete in the highly competitive commercial poultry farms and chicken meat production industry in the United States and the world at large.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC.

Our strength as a commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production company is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the industry; suppliers of poultry feeds and medications and buyers of live broilers (chickens) and chicken meat within and outside of the United States of America.

We have some of the latest commercial poultry farming tools and equipment that will help us raise and produce broilers in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in Santa Fe – New Mexico in our payroll.

Our weakness could be that we are a new commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production company in the United States, and perhaps it might take us sometime to attract big time customers in the industry. We are aware of this and from our projection will overcome this weakness with time and turn it to a major advantage for the business.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities that are available to us as a standard commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production company cannot be quantified.

We know that there are loads of households and businesses such as grocery stores, hotels and fast food restaurants that can’t do without a daily supply of live chicken and processed chicken meat. We are well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity.

Some of the threats and challenges that we are likely going to face when we start our own commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production company are global economic downturn that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), unfavorable government policies and the arrival of a competitor (a commercial farm that engages in the rearing of chickens and other birds) within same location.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The Poultry and Chicken Meat Production industry has greatly benefited from campaigns advertising the health benefits of chickens and eggs as a good source of protein.

No doubt, the increased demand of chicken and eggs from households and food related businesses and of course the growing popularity of specialty and processed chicken meat have rapidly improved revenue growth for the industry. In the face of this growth, profit margin has suffered from rising feed costs and also regulations regarding animal welfare.

8. Our Target Market

Indeed, the target market of those who are the end consumer of commercial poultry farm produce and also those who benefit from the business value chain of the poultry farming and chicken meat production industry is all encompassing; it is far – reaching.

Every household consumes produce from commercial poultry farms be it chicken or egg. So also, almost all hotels and fast food restaurants sell meals made with chicken and eggs. In essence a commercial poultry farmer cum broiler farm should be able to sell his or her chickens to as many people as possible.

In view of that, we have positioned our business to attract consumers of chickens not just in the United States of America alone but also other parts of the world. We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that we meet and surpass the expectations we set for the business.

Below is a list of the people and businesses that we will market our live chickens and processed chicken meat to;

• Individuals
• Restaurants
• Fast food eateries
• Agriculture merchants

Our competitive advantage

It is easier to find entrepreneur flocking towards an industry that is known to generate consistent income which is why there are more commercial poultry farmers in the United States of America and of course in most parts of the world.

For example, Statistics has it that there are 2.2 million farms in the United States of America covering an area of 922 million acres. These goes to show that there are an appreciable number of farmers in the United States of America but that does not mean that there is stiff competition in the industry.

As a matter of fact, entrepreneurs are encouraged by the government to embrace commercial farming cum poultry farming and egg production business. This is so because part of the success of any nation is her ability to cultivate her own food and also export to other nations of the world.

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is fully aware that there are competitions when it comes to selling commercial farm produce all over the globe, which is why we decided to carry out thorough market research so as to know how to take advantage of the available market in the United States and in other parts of the world.

We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us competitive advantage in the marketplace; some of the factors are effective and reliable poultry farming and egg production processes that can help us sell our produce at competitive prices, good network and excellent relationship management.

Another competitive advantage that we are bringing to the industry is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the industry; both suppliers of poultry feeds and medications and buyers of live chicken and processed chicken meat within and outside of the United States of America.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is in the poultry farms and chicken meat production line of business for the purpose of maximizing profit hence we have decided to explore all the available opportunities within the industry to achieve our corporate goals and objectives. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC;

• Raising, processing and marketing broilers (chickens) on a commercial level.
• Exporting live chickens (broilers), and processed and well packaged chicken meat to other countries of the world.

10. Sales Forecast

From the survey conducted, we were able to discover that the sales generated by a commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production business depends on the size of the poultry farm, the types of birds available in the poultry and of course the size of their marketing network.

We have perfected our sales and marketing strategies and we are quite optimistic that we will meet or even surpass our set sales target of generating enough income/profits from the first year of operation and build the business from survival to sustainability with the shortest period of time.

We have been able to critically examine the poultry farms and chicken meat production business, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast.

The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well with respect to the nature of commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production business that we run. Below are the projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of running Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC;

• First Fiscal Year-: $250,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $600,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $900,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), and unfavorable government policies. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are quite aware that the reason why some commercial poultry farms and chicken meat production companies hardly make good profit is their inability to sell off chicken meat as at when due.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the poultry farming and chicken meat production industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC.

Over and above, we have perfected our sales and marketing strategies first by networking with agriculture merchants and businesses that rely on daily supply of live chicken and processed chicken meat from poultry farms and chicken meat production industry who are likely to become our customers.

In summary, Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC will adopt the following strategies in marketing our commercial farm produce;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stakeholders in the agriculture industry, grocery stores, households, hotels and restaurants and agriculture produce merchants et al.
• Advertise our business in agriculture and food related magazines and websites
• List our commercial poultry farms and chicken meat production business on yellow pages ads
• Attend related agriculture and food expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing
• Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street or the city they are operating from must be ready and willing to utilize every available means to advertise and promote the business. We intend growing our business which is why we have perfected plans to build our brand via every available means.

We know that it is important to create strategies that will help us boost our brand awareness and to create a corporate identity for our commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production business. Below are the platforms we will leverage on to boost our commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production brand and to promote and advertise our business;

• Place adverts on community based newspapers, radio and TV stations
• Encourage the use of word of mouth publicity from our loyal customers
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Badoo, Google+ and other platforms to promote our business
• Ensure that our we position our banners and billboards in strategic positions all around Santa Fe – New Mexico
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas in and around our neighborhood
• Contact corporate organizations, households, landlord associations and grocery stores by calling them up and informing them of Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC and the poultry produce we sell
• Advertise our business in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site
• Brand all our official cars and trucks and ensure that all our staff wear our branded shirt or cap at regular intervals.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

If you want to get the right pricing for your live chicken and chicken meat, then you should ensure that you choose a good location for commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production business, choose a good breed of broiler that will guarantee bountiful harvest, cut the cost of running your poultry farm to the barest minimum

And of course try as much as possible to attract buyers to your poultry farm as against taking your live broilers – chickens to the market to source for buyers; with this, you would have successfully eliminated the cost of transporting the goods to the market and other logistics.

We are quite aware that one of the easiest means of penetrating the market and acquiring loads of customers for all our chickens is to sell them at competitive prices hence we will do all we can to ensure that the prices of our poultry farm produce are going to be what other commercial poultry farmers would look towards beating.

One thing is certain, the nature of commercial poultry farming makes it possible for poultry farmers to place prices for their live chicken based on their discretion without following the benchmark in the industry. The truth is that it is one of the means to avoid running at a loss.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards/Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer
• Payment via bank draft

We have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make payment for our live chicken and processed chicken meat purchase without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our live broilers and processed chicken meat.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting/leasing a big facility, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a commercial poultry (broiler) farm and chicken meat production business; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. Below are some of the basic areas we will spend our start – up capital in setting up our commercial poultry (broiler) farm;

• The total fee for incorporating the business (commercial broiler farm) in United States of America – $750
• The amount needed to acquire/lease a farm land – $50,000
• The amount required for preparing the farm land (poultry fencing et al) – $30,000
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services software, P.O.S machines and other software – $3,300
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580
• The total cost for hiring a business consultant – $2,500
• The total cost for payment of insurance policy covers (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $9,400
• The amount required for the purchase of the first set of chickens – $10,000
• The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment/machines/hatchery et al – $50,000
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
• The cost of launching an official Website – $600
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,000

Going by the report from detailed research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need an average of $500,000 to start a standard commercial poultry farm and chicken meat production business in the United States of America.

Generating Funds/Startup Capital for Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC

No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes to starting a business such as commercial poultry farming.

No doubt raising start – up capital for a business might not come cheap, but it is a task that an entrepreneur must go through.

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is a family business that is solely owned and financed by Teddy Bright and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partners which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B:  We have been able to generate about $150,000 ( Personal savings $100,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $350,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need of injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to retail our live broiler – chickens and processed and packaged chicken meat a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on a lower profit margin for a while.

Teddy Bright® Poultry Farms, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.

We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of farm land and building of standard poultry (cages): In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Application for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party/launching party planning: In Progress
• Compilation of our list of products that will be available in our store: Completed
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – key players in the industry: In Progress

Related Posts:

• Poultry Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Free Range Chicken Farm Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Layer Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Fish Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Tilapia Fish Farm Business Plan [Sample Template]

• Start free trial

Start selling with Shopify today

Start your free trial with Shopify today—then use these resources to guide you through every step of the process.

Free Business Plan Template for Small Businesses (2024)

Use this free business plan template to write your business plan quickly and efficiently.

A good business plan is essential to successfully starting your business —  and the easiest way to simplify the work of writing a business plan is to start with a business plan template.

You’re already investing time and energy in refining your business model and planning your launch—there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to writing a business plan. Instead, to help build a complete and effective plan, lean on time-tested structures created by other  entrepreneurs and startups. 

Ahead, learn what it takes to create a solid business plan and download Shopify's free business plan template to get started on your dream today. 

What this free business plan template includes

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Products or services offered
• Market analysis
• Marketing plan
• Logistics and operations plan
• Financial plan

This business plan outline is designed to ensure you’re thinking through all of the important facets of starting a new business. It’s intended to help new business owners and entrepreneurs consider the full scope of running a business and identify functional areas they may not have considered or where they may need to level up their skills as they grow.

That said, it may not include the specific details or structure preferred by a potential investor or lender. If your goal with a business plan is to secure funding , check with your target organizations—typically banks or investors—to see if they have business plan templates you can follow to maximize your chances of success.

Our free business plan template includes seven key elements typically found in the traditional business plan format:

1. Executive summary

This is a one-page summary of your whole plan, typically written after the rest of the plan is completed. The description section of your executive summary will also cover your management team, business objectives and strategy, and other background information about the brand. 

2. Company overview

This section of your business plan will answer two fundamental questions: “Who are you?” and “What do you plan to do?” Answering these questions clarifies why your company exists, what sets it apart from others, and why it’s a good investment opportunity. This section will detail the reasons for your business’s existence, its goals, and its guiding principles.

3. Products or services offered

What you sell and the most important features of your products or services. It also includes any plans for intellectual property, like patent filings or copyright. If you do market research for new product lines, it will show up in this section of your business plan.

4. Market analysis

This section includes everything from estimated market size to your target markets and competitive advantage. It’ll include a competitive analysis of your industry to address competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Market research is an important part of ensuring you have a viable idea.

5. Marketing plan

How you intend to get the word out about your business, and what strategic decisions you’ve made about things like your pricing strategy. It also covers potential customers’ demographics, your sales plan, and your metrics and milestones for success.

6. Logistics and operations plan

Everything that needs to happen to turn your raw materials into products and get them into the hands of your customers.

7. Financial plan

It’s important to include a look at your financial projections, including both revenue and expense projections. This section includes templates for three key financial statements: an income statement, a balance sheet, and a cash-flow statement . You can also include whether or not you need a business loan and how much you’ll need.

Business plan examples

What do financial projections look like on paper? How do you write an executive summary? What should your company description include?  Business plan examples  can help answer some of these questions and transform your business idea into an actionable plan.

Professional business plan example

Inside our template, we’ve filled out a sample business plan featuring a fictional ecommerce business . 

The sample is set up to help you get a sense of each section and understand how they apply to the planning and evaluation stages of a business plan. If you’re looking for funding, this example won’t be a complete or formal look at business plans, but it will give you a great place to start and notes about where to expand.

Lean business plan example

A lean business plan format is a shortened version of your more detailed business plan. It’s helpful when modifying your plan for a specific audience, like investors or new hires. 

Also known as a one-page business plan, it includes only the most important, need-to-know information, such as:

• Company description
• Key members of your team
• Customer segments

💡 Tip: For a step-by-step guide to creating a lean business plan (including a sample business plan), read our guide on how to create a lean business plan .

Benefits of writing a solid business plan

It’s tempting to dive right into execution when you’re excited about a new business or side project, but taking the time to write a thorough business plan and get your thoughts on paper allows you to do a number of beneficial things:

• Test the viability of your business idea. Whether you’ve got one business idea or many, business plans can make an idea more tangible, helping you see if it’s truly viable and ensure you’ve found a target market. 
• Plan for your next phase. Whether your goal is to start a new business or scale an existing business to the next level, a business plan can help you understand what needs to happen and identify gaps to address.
• Clarify marketing strategy, goals, and tactics. Writing a business plan can show you the actionable next steps to take on a big, abstract idea. It can also help you narrow your strategy and identify clear-cut tactics that will support it.
• Scope the necessary work. Without a concrete plan, cost overruns and delays are all but certain. A business plan can help you see the full scope of work to be done and adjust your investment of time and money accordingly.
• Hire and build partnerships. When you need buy-in from potential employees and business partners, especially in the early stages of your business, a clearly written business plan is one of the best tools at your disposal. A business plan provides a refined look at your goals for the business, letting partners judge for themselves whether or not they agree with your vision.
• Secure funds. Seeking financing for your business—whether from venture capital, financial institutions, or Shopify Capital —is one of the most common reasons to create a business plan.

Why you should you use a template for a business plan

A business plan can be as informal or formal as your situation calls for, but even if you’re a fan of the back-of-the-napkin approach to planning, there are some key benefits to starting your plan from an existing outline or simple business plan template.

No blank-page paralysis

A blank page can be intimidating to even the most seasoned writers. Using an established business planning process and template can help you get past the inertia of starting your business plan, and it allows you to skip the work of building an outline from scratch. You can always adjust a template to suit your needs.

Guidance on what to include in each section

If you’ve never sat through a business class, you might never have created a SWOT analysis or financial projections. Templates that offer guidance—in plain language—about how to fill in each section can help you navigate sometimes-daunting business jargon and create a complete and effective plan.

Knowing you’ve considered every section

In some cases, you may not need to complete every section of a startup business plan template, but its initial structure shows you you’re choosing to omit a section as opposed to forgetting to include it in the first place.

Tips for creating a successful business plan

There are some high-level strategic guidelines beyond the advice included in this free business plan template that can help you write an effective, complete plan while minimizing busywork.

Understand the audience for your plan

If you’re writing a business plan for yourself in order to get clarity on your ideas and your industry as a whole, you may not need to include the same level of detail or polish you would with a business plan you want to send to potential investors. Knowing who will read your plan will help you decide how much time to spend on it.

Know your goals

Understanding the goals of your plan can help you set the right scope. If your goal is to use the plan as a roadmap for growth, you may invest more time in it than if your goal is to understand the competitive landscape of a new industry.

Take it step by step

Writing a 10- to 15-page document can feel daunting, so try to tackle one section at a time. Select a couple of sections you feel most confident writing and start there—you can start on the next few sections once those are complete. Jot down bullet-point notes in each section before you start writing to organize your thoughts and streamline the writing process.

Maximize your business planning efforts

Planning is key to the financial success of any type of business , whether you’re a startup, non-profit, or corporation.

To make sure your efforts are focused on the highest-value parts of your own business planning, like clarifying your goals, setting a strategy, and understanding the target market and competitive landscape, lean on a business plan outline to handle the structure and format for you. Even if you eventually omit sections, you’ll save yourself time and energy by starting with a framework already in place.

• How to Start an Online Boutique- A Complete Playbook
• How To Source Products To Sell Online
• The Ultimate Guide To Dropshipping (2024)
• How to Start a Dropshipping Business- A Complete Playbook for 2024
• 6 Creative Ways to Start a Business With No Money in 2024
• What is Shopify and How Does it Work?
• What Is Affiliate Marketing and How to Get Started
• How to Price Your Products in 3 Simple Steps
• 10 Common Small Business Mistakes to Avoid
• How to Turn a Hobby into a Business in 8 Steps

Business plan template FAQ

What is the purpose of a business plan.

The purpose of your business plan is to describe a new business opportunity or an existing one. It clarifies the business strategy, marketing plan, financial forecasts, potential providers, and more information about the company.

How do I write a simple business plan?

• Choose a business plan format, such as a traditional or a one-page business plan. 
• Find a business plan template.
• Read through a business plan sample.
• Fill in the sections of your business plan.

What is the best business plan template?

If you need help writing a business plan, Shopify’s template is one of the most beginner-friendly options you’ll find. It’s comprehensive, well-written, and helps you fill out every section.

What are the 5 essential parts of a business plan?

The five essential parts of a traditional business plan include:

• Executive summary: This is a brief overview of the business plan, summarizing the key points and highlighting the main points of the plan.
• Business description: This section outlines the business concept and how it will be executed.
• Market analysis: This section provides an in-depth look at the target market and how the business will compete in the marketplace.
• Financial plan: This section details the financial projections for the business, including sales forecasts, capital requirements, and a break-even analysis.
• Management and organization: This section describes the management team and the organizational structure of the business.

Are there any free business plan templates?

There are several free templates for business plans for small business owners available online, including Shopify’s own version. Download a copy for your business.

Keep up with the latest from Shopify

Get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

popular posts

The point of sale for every sale.

Subscribe to our blog and get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

Latest from Shopify

Jun 11, 2024

Jun 10, 2024

Learn on the go. Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business.

Try Shopify for free, no credit card required.

[Pdf Sample] Business Plan For Farming In South Africa Docx

In today’s fast-paced world, the farming industry continues to play a vital role in providing food security and economic stability. South Africa, with its rich agricultural resources, offers numerous opportunities for aspiring farmers and entrepreneurs to establish successful farming businesses.

[Pdf Sample] Farming Business Plan Proposal In South Africa Docx

To write a business plan , here is a breakdown of how it should be structured and what should be in each category. After this instruction, I will provide you with a sample of one I wrote for my farm , let us go:

Executive Summary

Introduction to farming in south africa.

In this section, we will discuss the agricultural landscape of South Africa , exploring the diverse range of farming opportunities available. We will delve into the climatic conditions, soil types, and regional considerations that influence farming practices in the country . Additionally, we will highlight the government’s support and incentives for the agricultural sector, providing valuable insights for aspiring farmers.

Identifying Target Market and Products

Market analysis and competitor research.

Conducting a comprehensive market analysis is essential for assessing the viability of your farming business . This section will delve into market research techniques, including primary and secondary data collection methods. We will also explore competitor analysis, identifying key competitors in the market and determining strategies to gain a competitive edge.

Farming Methods and Techniques

Equipment and infrastructure.

Investing in the right equipment and infrastructure is essential for efficient farming operations. In this section, we will guide you through the process of selecting appropriate machinery, tools, and infrastructure based on the specific needs of your farming venture. We will also discuss maintenance and operational considerations to maximize the lifespan and performance of your assets.

Human Resources and Management

Financial projections and funding.

Developing accurate financial projections is crucial for securing funding and managing the financial aspects of your farming business . This section will guide you through the process of creating a financial plan , including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections. We will also discuss funding options and strategies for approaching investors or financial institutions.

Marketing and Sales Strategies

Risk assessment and mitigation.

Running a farming business involves inherent risks, including weather fluctuations, pest infestations, and market volatility. This section will guide you through the process of conducting a risk assessment and developing mitigation strategies. We will discuss insurance options, contingency plans, and diversification techniques to safeguard your farming business against potential risks.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Sustainability and environmental impact.

Sustainable farming practices are gaining significant importance in today’s agricultural landscape. This section will explore various sustainability initiatives and environmentally friendly farming practices that you can adopt. We will discuss water conservation , soil health management, and biodiversity preservation techniques to minimize your farm’s environmental impact.

Implementation Plan and Timeline

Monitoring and evaluation.

Monitoring and evaluating the performance of your farming business is essential for making informed decisions and identifying areas for improvement. This section will delve into key performance indicators (KPIs), data tracking tools, and periodic evaluation methods. We will guide you in setting up a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to measure the success of your farming operations.

How long does it take to create a farming business plan?

Are there any specific government incentives for farming businesses in south africa.

Yes, the South African government offers various incentives and support programs for the agricultural sector. These include funding opportunities, training initiatives, and tax incentives. It is advisable to consult with local agricultural authorities or business development organizations for detailed information.

What are some key risks involved in farming businesses?

Can i start a farming business with limited capital.

Starting a farming business with limited capital is possible, but careful financial planning and resource management are essential. Consider alternative funding sources, such as government grants or loans, and explore cost-effective farming techniques to optimize your initial investment.

How can I market my farming products effectively?

Share this:, author: adewebs, you may also like:, [pdf sample] business plan for pig farming docx, starting a poultry farm with limited resources in ghana: a comprehensive guide for new farmers, how to register agribusiness company in kenya (see full guide), starting a poultry farm with limited resources in nigeria: guide for new farmers, one reply to “[pdf sample] business plan for farming in south africa docx”, leave a reply cancel reply.

Pig Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their pig farms. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a pig farm business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Pig Farm Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your pig farm as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Pig Farm

If you’re looking to start a pig farm, or grow your existing pig farm, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your pig farm in order to improve your chances of success. Your pig farm business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Pig Farms

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a pig farm are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for pig farms.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

If you want to start a pig farm or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your pig farm business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of pig farm you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a pig farm that you would like to grow, or are you operating pig farms in multiple markets?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the pig farm industry. Discuss the type of pig farm you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of pig farm you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of pig farms:

• Farrow-to-finish pig farm : this type of pig farm involves breeding and farrowing sows, and feeding the offspring until they reach a market weight of about 280 pounds.
• Farrow-to-feeder pig farm: this type of pig farm involves breeding and farrowing sows and then selling the piglets to finishing operations when they weigh 30 to 60 pounds.
• Feeder-to-finish pig farm: this type of pig farm buys feeder pigs when they weigh 30 to 60 pounds and feed them to market weight.

In addition to explaining the type of pig farm you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews, reaching X amount of customers served, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the pig farm industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the pig farm industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your pig farm business plan:

• How big is the pig farm industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your pig farm? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your pig farm business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: grocery retailers, families, and individual buyers.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of pig farm you operate. Clearly, families would respond to different marketing promotions than grocery retailers, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Finish Your Pig Farm Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other pig farms.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes grocery stores, farmers markets, pork alternatives (vegan), etc.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other pig farms with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be pig farms located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What type of pig farm are they?
• What areas do they serve?
• What types of customers do they serve?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide pig farm products that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will your pigs be raised in a better facility?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a pig farm business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of pig farm that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific services you will be offering. For example, in addition to pig farm products, will you provide a petting zoo, chicken or cow products, and any other services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your pig farm. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your pig farm located in a rural setting, on the outskirts of a metropolitan area, the countryside, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your pig farm marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Commercials
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising
• Word-of-mouth

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your pig farm, including cleaning and maintaining the pig farm and pigs, buying and/or selling pigs, preparing the pigs for slaughter, marketing, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to obtain your XXth customer, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your pig farm to a new location.

Management Team

To demonstrate your pig farm’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing pig farms. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a pig farm or a large profitable farm.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you start with X number of pigs or will you expand your pig inventory slowly? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your pig farm, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a pig farm:

• Cost of pig farm construction and barn build-out
• Cost of pig farm supplies, pigs, and equipment
• Cost of marketing the pig farm
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your list of products your pig farm will offer, types of customers you will be targeting, and the areas your pig farm will serve.

Putting together a business plan for your pig farm is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the pig farm industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful pig farm.

Pig Farm Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my pig farm business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Pig Farm Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of pig farm you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a pig farm that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of pig farms?

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Pig Farm business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to learn about Growthink’s business plan writing services .  

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates