U.S. flag

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

  • Translations |
  • Service Centers |
  • Pandemic Assistance

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

dashboard icon

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

Test image

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.

Cornell CALS - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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

example of a farm business plan

Details of a Small Farm Business Plan

  • Swarthmore College

example of a farm business plan

  • 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.

  • How to Start a Small Farm Business
  • How to Start a Small Farm
  • Starting Your Small Farm from Scratch
  • Best of Green Awards 2021: Eco Tech
  • Best Urban Farming Certifications
  • Tips for Converting Small Farms to Organic Production
  • Small Farm Grants and Financial Assistance
  • How to Grow More in Your Garden With Less Work
  • What Is Ecotourism? Definition, Examples, and Pros and Cons
  • Make Your Garden Passion Project a Reality
  • Rescuer Saves and Rehabs Hundreds of Wild Animals in Peru
  • Why It's Crucial to Establish Goals for Your Garden
  • Frozen Potato Giant McCain Commits to 'Regenerative' Agriculture
  • New Resource Outlines Nature-Based Solutions for Dealing with Flooding
  • How to Create a Better Microclimate in Your Garden
  • How 'Gleaning' Can Help Prevent Food Loss

PlanBuildr Logo

Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

  • Farm Business Plan Home
  • 1. Executive Summary
  • 2. Company Overview
  • 3. Industry Analysis
  • 4. Customer Analysis
  • 5. Competitive Analysis
  • 6. Marketing Plan
  • 7. Operations Plan
  • 8. Management Team
  • 9. Financial Plan

Farm Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your farm business plan.

We have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their farms.

Below are links to each section of a sample farm business plan template. It can be used to create a vegetable farm business plan, fruit farm business plan, agriculture farm business plans or many other type of farm businesses.

1. Executive Summary 2. Company Overview 3. Industry Analysis 4. Customer Analysis 5. Competitive Analysis 6. Marketing Plan 7. Operations Plan 8. Management Team 9. Financial Plan

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Farm Business Plan FAQs

What is a farm business plan.

A farm business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your farm business. Among other things, a good farm business plan outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your farm business plan using our Farm Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Farms?

There are many types of farms. Some have commercial farms that produce crops and agricultural products for sale. Others have cooperative farms owned by people who pool their resources together and share profits among themselves. There are also vegetable farms, dairy, micro, organic, poultry, subsistence, or urban farms.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Farm?

The primary source of revenue for a farm is the sale of its farmed goods such as rice, corn, milk, beef, chicken, depending on the kind of farm a business is.

Some key expenses for a farm are labor expenses, production costs like irrigation, fertilizer, water, and machinery maintenance.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Farm Business Plan?

Farm business plans often receive funding from bank loans. Financing is also typically available from grants offered by local and state governments. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are other funding options. This is true for starting a farm business plan, vegetable farm business plan or an agricultural business plan template.

What are the Steps To Start a Farm Business?

Starting a farm business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Farm Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed farm business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  It should also include your business goals and mission statement. You can quickly complete your farm business plan using our Farm Business Plan Template here .

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your farm business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your farm business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Farm Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your farm business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your farm business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Farm Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your farm business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your farm business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful farm business and farm business planning:

  • How to Start a Farm Business

Where Can I Get a Farm Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free farm business plan template PDF here . This is a sample farm business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Examples logo

Farm Business Plan

Farm Business Plan Examples

Most entrepreneurs are terrified of planning. But this can be a different scenario for you.  A farming business can be more successful if you will develop a farm  business plan . Not only will you set the steps that you need to follow to achieve your goals, but you can also become more prepared with the risks. More so, your  strategic plans  will help you develop a mission statement that will guide you through. So, are you ready for this? Below,we provide you a farm business plan examples that you can look into as a guide.

20+ Farm Business Plan Examples

1. farm business plan template.

farm business plan template

  • Google Docs

Size: A4 & US

2. Animal Farm Business Plan Template

animal farm business plan template

3. Agriculture Business Plan Template

agriculture business plan template

4. Dairy Farm Business Plan Template

dairy farm business plan template

Size: A4, US

5. Vegetable Farming Business Plan Example

vegetable farming business

6. Farm Business Plan Template Example

farm business plan template

  • Apple Pages

Size: 21 KB

7. Farm Business Plan Template

farm business plan template 1

Size: US, A4

8. Partnership Business Plan for Farm Management Example

partnership business plan for farm management example 01

Size: 619 KB

9. Farm Business Planning Model Example

farm business planning model example 01

10. Community Farm Business Plan Example

community farm business plan example 01

11. Small Farm Business Planning Example

small farm business planning example 01

Size: 782 KB

12. Agricultural Business Plan Guidelines Example

agricultural business plan guidelines example 01

13. Organic Farm Business Plan Example

organic farm business plan example 01

Size: 369 KB

14. Farm business Succession Plan Example

farm business succession plan example 011

Size: 3007 KB

15. Dairy Farm Business Plan Example

dairy farm business plan example 011

16. Farm Partnership Business Plan Example

farm partnership business plan example 012

17. Farm Business Planning Example

farm business planning example 011

Size: 736 KB

18. Simple Farm Business Plan Example

simple farm business plan example 01

19. Agri-Business Plan for a Farm Example

agri business plan for a farm example 01

Size: 270 KB

20. Agricultural Farm Business Plan Example

agricultural farm business plan example 01

Size: 515 KB

21. Farm Business Plan Example

farm business plan example 01

Size: 153 KB

What Is a Farm Business Plan?

A farm business plan is an excellent organizational and business material that you can use for a variety of purposes. All you must do is to be familiar with  business plan guidelines  and the basics of farm business management so you can already identify the specific business plan document that you need.

Importance of a Farm Business Plan

Have you ever been to a hotel where you can see each process’s organization from the welcoming of guests up to their check-out procedures? One of the planning documents that provide a contribution to that organization is a  hotel operational business plan . This can be compared to the usage of a farm business plan if you want to ensure that the operations of your farm business are laid out properly. According to a gathered  analysis  published by Noble Research Institute,  the advantages of a farm business plan  includes an easy application to loans. It can also promote solidarity within the farm business’s stakeholders. This is relatively substantial, especially for every small business in the agricultural industry.

How To Create a Farm Business Plan

Creating your farm business plan can be easier if you will refer to helpful agriculture business plan examples. But aside from the items mentioned above, there are still some items that can make it more efficient for you to develop an outstanding, complete, and organized farm business  plan . Some of these tips and guidelines are all listed below.

1. Begin with a Realistic Plan

To begin with, always start by visualizing your ideas. After that, you can now proceed with outlining your goals and objectives. Remember to make it as realistic as possible. Come up with measurable and obtainable plans. This should include  proposals ,  marketing , and budget . Truly, there is no easy business. So, plan long-term, and everything else will follow.

2. Provide an Executive Summary

Next, you have to learn how to write an  executive summary  for your business plan. Especially for farm business startups, an executive summary is one of the parts of the farm business plan that will be first seen by your target audience. Make it as appealing and as presentable as possible so you can already get positive responses and impressions. But remember, don’t make it too long and invite confusion from readers. Make it precise as much as possible.

3. Set an Action Plan

What could be the necessary steps to do in achieving your goals? Here, you have to outline your  action plans . It should be relevant to your objectives. Therefore, they must align. You can also set a  schedule  to follow. This helps you cope with your daily tasks while keeping it on time. Another thing to remember is to make it attainable for everyone in the organization.

4. Present the Values and Benefits

make sure that your farm business plan can present your business values. It should be a reflection of your identity, brand,  mission statement , and image as a business. These characteristics can set you apart from your competition. It can promote memory retention, which is an excellent way for you to remain relevant and memorable in the marketplace where the farm business belongs.

5. Proofread the Plan

Don’t propose it right away. But make sure that you check your content from the cover page down to the last pages. Is your budget for the business plan considerable? Can your members achieve success in no time? It is essential to check it first before using it for actual scenarios. This helps you come up with an excellent  report  later on.

FAQ’s

How much is a typical business plan.

The price of a business plan depends on the agency that creates it. But in most cases, it reaches up to $15,000 for a complete plan.

Is a business plan necessary?

A business plan is a necessity if you take a look at the bigger picture when it comes to finances and projects. This helps you accomplish more than what you imagine for your business.

What are the two primary elements of a business plan?

Among the various elements of a business plan, the executive summary and market analysis are standard.

Again, feeling overwhelmed with everything that you need to consider when developing a farm business plan is normal. However, you should make sure that you will not be carried away so you can focus on the items that can help you give the farm business a boost in productivity, efficiency, sales, visibility, and leads. Be mindful of how you will develop farm planning strategies. Also, see how an effective one can improve your farm business’s overall operations . So, get ready with your  document  and follow the list of steps above.

example of a farm business plan

AI Generator

Text prompt

  • Instructive
  • Professional

10 Examples of Public speaking

20 Examples of Gas lighting

Business Plan for Investors

  • Bank/SBA Business Plan
  • Operational/Strategic Planning Services
  • L1 Visa Business Plan
  • E1 Treaty Trader Visa Business Plan
  • E2 Treaty Investor Visa Business Plan
  • EB-1 Business Plan
  • EB-2 NIW Business Plan
  • EB-5 Business Plan
  • Innovator Founder Visa Business Plan
  • Start-Up Visa Business Plan
  • Expansion Worker Visa Business Plan
  • Manitoba MPNP Visa Business Plan
  • Nova Scotia NSNP Visa Business Plan
  • British Columbia BC PNP Visa Business Plan
  • Self-Employed Visa Business Plan
  • OINP Entrepreneur Stream Business Plan
  • LMIA Owner Operator Business Plan
  • ICT Work Permit Business Plan
  • LMIA Mobility Program – C11 Entrepreneur Business Plan
  • USMCA (ex-NAFTA) Business Plan
  • Franchise Business Plan
  • Landlord business plan
  • Nonprofit Start-Up Business Plan
  • USDA Business Plan
  • Cannabis business plan
  • Ecommerce business plan
  • Online boutique business plan
  • Mobile application business plan
  • Daycare business plan
  • Restaurant business plan
  • Food delivery business plan
  • Real estate business plan
  • Business Continuity Plan
  • Buy Side Due Diligence Services
  • ICO whitepaper
  • ICO consulting services
  • Confidential Information Memorandum
  • Private Placement Memorandum
  • Feasibility study
  • Fractional CFO
  • How it works
  • Business Plan Examples

Agriculture Farm Business Plan Example

JUL.25, 2013

agriculture farm business plan

Agriculture business plan for starting your own business

Farming and agriculture business is not as easy as it seems. An even difficult step is to plan how to write a business plan for agriculture. Whether it is a Christmas tree farm business plan or an organic fertilizer business plan , you need to put real effort into planning each and every aspect of your agriculture business plan . To become successful, you should know the ways to operate your enterprise efficiently. You should know your revenue and cash position. You also need to forecast your crop rotations.

We have here provided a detailed business plan so that you can avoid any inconvenience in making a plan for yourself. No matter if you want to make a fish farm business plan or fountain pepper farm business plan , hydroponics farm business plan , or even an aquaponics farm business plan , this sample business plan agriculture template will help you.

A well-formed business plan of agriculture will help your agriculture business plan grow and generate the revenue that you dream of. It will help in managing your business in hard times and will also improve the chances of getting loans from the government for your business. So, if are thinking of creating a business for a bank loan , check out this template.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

The Old Maple Way will be a registered farm in New York, US. The business will aim to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to its customers. Along with it, we provide high-quality dairy products. Instead of competing with other farms in town, we will mainly focus on the quality and pricing of our products.

In any business plan agriculture project, the aims and goals should be clear. Instead of looking for an online business plan expert , you can write your business plan exact like agriculture business plan examples available online.

2.2 Management of Agriculture

The Old Maple Way Farm will be managed by James Celery. He will look into all the operations going on the farm. For his assistance, three managers will work with him. These managers will be trained for a month before starting their jobs. As per this agriculture business plan pdf, James will hire some highly experienced farmers who will look after the growth and management of fruits and vegetables. James will ensure the quality of production himself.

2.3 Customers of Agriculture

Customers are the backbone of every business. If you know the right audience for your agriculture business , you will be able to achieve your target. You will get the idea of how to run your agriculture business plan if you understand your customers. The main customers for the agriculture business will be the following:

  • Export to Foreign Markets
  • Domestic Hotels and Restaurants
  • Domestic Food Companies

2.4 Business Target

The main goal of Old Maple Way Farm is to produce high-quality products for the people. We do not compromise on the hygiene and our team takes care of it.  The most important thing matter to us is our customers’ satisfaction.

Here are our targets:

  • Our primary target is to become the most loved farm by people within the next 3 years of our launch.
  • Our secondary target is to increase the net profit every month.

Agriculture Bussines Plan - 3 Years Profit Forecast

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

The owner of the Old Maple Way will be James Celery. James had a dream of starting his own agriculture business plan since he was a teenager. He wanted to produce high-quality products that do not contain harmful chemicals.

3.2 Why the farm is being started?

When James was asked why he is interested in starting a farm, he said he wanted to produce chemical-free and organic products for the people. He says that nowadays, it is difficult to find something that is purely organic and chemical-free.

Companies and farms are using harmful chemicals to increase their production. Due to it, they have ignored the quality and only focus on the quantity of production. To produce pure products, he planned to start a farm of his own. He further added that he wants to produce products that are affordable and easy to buy.

3.3 How the Farm will be started?

In a business plan for agriculture, you should mention the steps to start a farm. When you know how to make a business plan for agriculture, your agriculture business  will be successful. The agriculture export business plan includes all the necessary steps needed to start an agriculture business. To start a farm, you need the right techniques and ideas. Before starting a farm, you need to consider these essential steps:

Know your Niche

The first and most important step before starting the agriculture business  is to identify your niche. Without deciding the niche, you cannot start a healthy business.

Research Market

Once you have decided on your niche, you need to do market research. For instance, you have planned to grow a specific fruit, so to make the business successful, you should know who will buy your product. Making research on the market will let you know about your competitors and how will you sell your product.

If you are interested in particular fruit, vegetable or product, first learn more about the local market.

Find the Right Land

Once you have decided what product you are going to plant, you need to take the next step, i.e, deciding the land.

If you are starting at a low budget, you can take land on lease. But if you have sufficient investment to start, you can buy your land. If you start the farm on your land, you will have complete control of your farm. But at the same time, there will be more risk factors of financial loss.

In the sample of an agricultural business plan, you will find more detailed steps on how to start an agriculture business  depending upon the type of farm you want to start.

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Startup Cost

In agriculture service business plan, you should mention all the services and products that your farm will produce. In the business plan agriculture pdf and business plan for agriculture available online. You will find the services that farms offer. Our products include the following:

We will produce fruits that are chemical-free and pure. We believe in producing organic products. Unlike other farms, we do not use any chemical that increases the quantity.

We will produce 100% organic vegetables. Our main focus is on quality and our customer satisfaction.

Cereals & Grains

We will also produce export-quality cereals and grains.

Dairy Products

We will also be offering two dairy products (milk and butter) to further supplement our sales.

20 Highly Profitable Agricultural Farm Business Ideas

If you are an entrepreneur willing to start an agriculture farm business, the following 20 agriculture farm business ideas can come in handy for your business venture.

Growing Mushrooms

Mushroom is a very popular Unlike various other crops, mushrooms can grow in less than a month. It is ready to be harvested in just about 21 days. This is the reason mushrooms have a high profit margin. Often new entrepreneurs are restless to harvest and sell their crops. So, if you too are one such impatient entrepreneur then mushrooms won’t make your wait too long to be ready. You can sell them in 3 weeks time from d date of cultivation.

  • Mushroom farming comprises of 6 stages- first you need to compost; next spawn; case; pin and finally crop it.
  • The soil of your farming land must be suitable for growing mushrooms. If this suits your soil then this is the best crop to grow. Some soils only support specific mushroom cultivation. The environment also plays a significant factor.
  • You can aim to sell the produce in the local markets and also trade them. There are various countries that use mushrooms in their everyday meals. If your land in near such countries, where mushrooms are a favorite among the masses, then this is the best crop to cultivate in your farming land. Also, the convenience of export can take your mushroom business to far off markets as well.

Potato Farming

This is a very common vegetable. Yet, you should consider this as potato cultivation is greatly rewarding in many ways. Potato is consumed in meals almost daily by people both at home as well as in canteens. It is yummy, simple and very nutritious. The demand for potato is so high that even if there are other near-by farming areas growing potatoes, you still can produce it and benefit largely.

  • There are a large variety of potatoes, so check the soil and the market, in order to decide which potato you should cultivate in your land. You can opt for the sweet potatoes or Irish potato farming. They are quite popular across the globe. Furthermore, they can be sold as vegetables directly and can also be sold in the processed form.
  • You can choose bulk potato farming and process them if you have the capital and equipment. Potato chips and French fries are savory snacks loved by all. You can never go wrong with potato business as it ensures a high profit margin.
  • You can also choose to sell potato seeds. This is an excellent money-spinning business idea. Get in touch with local, national and international potato cultivators to sell potato seed tubes and make a flourishing agriculture business out of it.

Spice Production

With the widespread knowledge about the health benefits hidden in various spices, household cooking as well as commercial restaurants have started using spices in their food in daily basis around the world. Furthermore, the boost in flavor and the pleasant aroma that come from adding spices to cuisines has made spices a favorite ingredient in the kitchen. The high demand and being a very costly product, spices are a great option for agriculture farm business plan. Spice cultivation can churn a lot of money making farming a flourishing business opportunity.

  • There are a large variety of spices available such as cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, cumin, etc. You have a lot of agriculture farming options when it comes to spices.
  • You can choose to start farming the spice as per the popularity in your locality.
  • Spices can be used in food either whole, sun dried, powdered, paste or even in liquid form. You can sell the whole spice. You can also extract the oils from the spices and sell it in bottles.
  • You can plan to grow either a single type of spice or multiple ones depending on your soil. There are different spices that grow in different seasons. You can also opt to grow a spice rarely cultivated in your state and reap huge profits.

Cashew nut agriculture production

Cashew nuts a type of dry fruit that is widely popular across the globe. It is consumed mostly as a savory snack with salt and other spices. You can sell them raw, as well as in processed form. Cashew nut processing entails 4 simple stages. It starts with cleaning the nuts, they roasting them, followed by drying and finally removing the peel.

  • Cashew nuts are highly nutritious, boosts energy and fiber in the body. Hence, demand for cashew nuts is quite high globally. You can earn huge capital by producing cashew nuts in your farm land.
  • Processed cashew nut sale can get you high profits if you can ally with wholesalers near your land and draw in a fixed cashew nut supply. Wholesalers will sell you the raw cashew nuts at a low cost. You can process the cashew and make profit.
  • The medicinal value of cashew nuts has made cashew nut farming a highly lucrative business.

Poultry farming

Chicken is the particular poultry bird raised to the highest number. Gone are the days when households had a few chickens in their backyard to serve their need for eggs and meet. Currently, poultry farming is a huge money-making business that has made its mark internationally. Poultry farming being a lucrative venture has led to the birds being injected with harmful chemicals and are reared in large number without proper hygiene. This has resulted in the rise in demand for good quality poultry farms. This can be your opportunity to grab. Strategize to start an excellently well-maintained poultry farm business to give the masses the best quality eggs and meat.

  • Eggs and meat being a high source of protein have notched a vital place in the dietary charts for good health. This has made people from all walks of life add eggs to their breakfast and consume a portion of meat regularly. Hence, a magnificent rise in the sales of poultry farms.
  • Another way of making gains through poultry farming is selling frozen chicken. You would needs some additional tools and storage facilities incorporated in your farm for this sort of business. Get in touch with the local eateries, fast-food joints, restaurants and hotels to deliver them- frozen chicken. This can be a profitable venture when you have some good contacts established.

Bee-Keeping and Honey-Making Business:

Producing honey by keeping bees in the garden was a personal choice earlier. People passionate about making honey who had a little space in their backyard kept bees. But now, it has turned out to become a huge farming industry that a large number of entrepreneurs take interest in pursuing as an agriculture endeavor. With the heightened honey consumption worldwide, the sales margin has also increased drastically. This has drawn more entrepreneurs in bee farming. The reason for such rise in the demand for honey is because people are switching to honey intake instead of sugar. Honey has been proved very healthy, helps in losing weight and is also used in beauty products. If you desire to start agriculture farm business plan, then this is one of the best choices. Bee-keeping does not require a large farming land nor do you need to invest huge capital. All you require is- some knowledge and training on the basics of keeping bees for agriculture business. There are training schools and experts who teach how to start a honey producing business and also how bees should be monitored. Furnished with such skillful training you can conveniently start farming and run a bee-keeping and honey making business. If you produce honey in your farming area, you can have several prospective clients to sell, such as –

  • Sell it to high net-worth person,
  • There are hard-working people, fitness conscious people who prefer honey to sugar
  • You can buy low-priced top quality honey from dealers, bottle it up and sell it in the market, both in the local as well as global arena.

Herb and Flower Plantation

The best part about herbs and flower plantation is that they can be grown in small quantities. You do not need any skills or expertise to grow them. They can be grown indoors as well as outdoors. Moreover, both hers and flower plants have multiple usages. You can even do a profitable business with dry herbs and flowers. Both are easy to grow, high in demand and lucrative ventures. Furthermore, you can grow both herbs and flowers in the same farming land.  Yes, you will need some appropriate apparatus for good quality plantation results. Adequate water supply, proper sunshine, manure and right method must be followed too. Herbs have a wide range of usages-

  • They are a central ingredient in flavoring food
  • Used for making beautiful fragrances
  • Is majorly bought by the Pharma company
  • Are also used in healing centers to help people relax and loose there stress

Flowers too have multiple usages-

  • There are edible flowers used in cakes and various cuisines
  • They are used in beauty products, to make lipsticks, nail-polish, hair color and so on
  • Several fragrances and extracted from flowers, rose, lavender, orchid being popular blooms. In fact, dry flowers are majorly bought by the fragrance company.
  • Extensively used for decorating venues
  • Flower bouquets, for weddings as well as gifting item is always in trend

Aloe Vera Plantation

Aloe Vera is basically a tropical plant but the good thing about this plant is that, it can be cultivated in dry farming lands as well. Aloe Vera is a profitable agriculture business idea because its medicinal value makes it a highly saleable agriculture product. It can be consumed as well as applied externally. It has lots of vitamins and minerals that are good for heart, immune system, digestion, skin ailments and many more.

Aloe Vera crop is most suitable if your farming land is in a dry area where the climate is mostly warm and humid. This plant doesn’t require much rainfall and doesn’t grow is cold regions. Light sandy type of soil is absolutely befitting for the plantation of aloe Vera agriculture crops.

Aloe Vera plants are best suited for selling globally to the-

  • Herbal industry
  • Pharma companies

Bamboo Plantation

Bamboos mostly grow in the hilly areas. This is why we most often see bamboo farming in the mountains. The immense uses of bamboos plants have made it a successful agriculture business plan choice for several entrepreneurs. There is no way you can fail with bamboo farming plan as there are always buyers inclined to purchase the raw product and process it to use in various form.

Some of the uses of bamboo plants may be listed as follows-

  • Bamboos are strong and flexible. Thus, a very useful construction product. Be it to build roofs, floors, fences etc.
  • They are utilized to build various interior decoration items
  • Furniture made from bamboo plants are a modern trend
  • Best writing papers are made from bamboo fiber
  • Various types of musical instruments are also made using bamboos
  • Tender Bamboo tips are used in cooking
  • Several infectious diseases can be cured through the medicine made from bamboo plants
  • In Asia, the chopsticks being used, are mostly made of bamboo

The huge number of uses makes bamboo plantation a very rewarding business.

Coffee & Tea Plantation

Tea and coffee are two drinks that are very popular globally. So, with coffee and tea plantation you can extend your agriculture business plan and earn huge benefits through export. Coffee and tea plantation requires a suitable soil and good amount of rainfall. The rains and dry season must be well defined so that there can be a growing season and a maturing season. You can plan to directly sell the tea leafs and coffee beans or choose to sell the processed product. With the basic plantation and harvesting techniques learnt, and equipped with the processing tools, machinery and staff, you can make flourishing business out of tea and coffee farming. Get in touch with the tea manufacturing industries, restaurants and cafeterias where there is a constant demand for tea leaves and coffee beans.

Cocoa Farming

Take your love for chocolates a step further! Plan on beginning a cocoa agriculture business. It can prove to be a flourishing enterprise. Chocolate is a favorite not only among kids but among all age groups. Relished across the globe, cocoa farming can be hugely profitable agriculture prospect. You can earn huge capital income by exporting the produced cocoa from your farming area. Cocoa is grown mostly in humid tropical region. Its beans are extracted for cocoa solids and cocoa butter. So, in order to begin farming cocoa trees in your land, you first must ensure you have an agriculture land in a humid area, or plan to buy some area. Once you have the suitable soil you can begin with your cocoa plantation business.

  • To satisfy chocolate lovers delight, cocoa is added in all sorts of foods, beverages and even fragrances.
  • Dark chocolates, chocolate ice-cream, cakes, muffin, cookies, various sweets, deserts, etc., are found everywhere.
  • Spas & beauty parlors too use cocoa in their beauty therapies as it’s very good for skin.
  • Chocolate consumption is a very delicious and easy way to counter bouts of stress & depression.

So, you have a farming soil and climate suitable for growing cocoa; prepare yourself to turn your passion into a agriculture business venture. Cocoa crops can land for hundreds of years. So follow the proper methods of farming and you can be very rich soon.

Lettuce Plantation

Lettuce has become a very popular farming vegetable for its fresh flavor. Restaurants add it to their salads, burgers, sides, etc. as consumers enjoy the crunchy fresh texture of this leafy vegetable.Additionally, the health benefits in lettuce have also made it a favorite among those fit and active person who are always on the look-out to incorporate healthy greens to their daily meal. Lettuce can be grown in several types of farming soils. Mostly, it is suitable to grow in soils rich in organic matter. The best soils for lettuce are those that can contain good quality of water and also have well made drainage system. As far as the temperature goes, lettuce grows well in fairly cool weather, about 15 degree Celsius. If your agriculture farm business plan space is in a slightly warmer land, you can grow lettuce crops by building a shade. You can go for a soil test before beginning to work on the farming area.

Lettuce crops cannot be stored for a longer period. So, keep connected with nearest markets and eateries. After harvesting the lettuce, you must sell them fresh. Lettuce farming is a rewarding business idea for start-ups.

Fruit Plantation

Various types of fruits are consumed around the globe. You may opt to begin farming any type of fruit that suits the land and climate of your particular region. When the soil is befitting only then you will get a productive yield out of which you can gain revenue.

Peaches, exotic fruits, papaya, berries, mangoes, apples, jackfruit, oranges etc., are some fruit types. You can grow any of these fruits or any other for your agriculture business endeavor depending on your soil suitability.  Most fruits are used for making juices, added to cuisines, incorporated in meals as fruit salads, and beauty treatments. Since fruits can be consumed raw you may plan to market and export them immediately after you harvest the produce. You may build processing equipments to make fruit juices and pack them to sell them anywhere in the world.

Fruits contain various healthy & healing ingredients. Hence, maximum nutritionists & doctors suggest children, adults and the elderly; to consume fruits regularly. The fruit agriculture business is an opportunity you must definitely try out.

Palm Tree Cultivation

This is the crop that gives the most quantity of oil. Due to it high yielding capacity palm tree farming is considered a money-spinning business idea. If you intend to earn on a monthly basis through agriculture business then palm tree cultivation is the best choice for your start-up venture.

Deep, moist and well-drained soils are best suited for farming palm trees. This particular crop requires a humid tropical climate. Throughout the year an even amount of rainfall is essential. When every aspect is satisfactory for palm tree farming then you should start off with it at the earliest.

Palm tree plantation and selling of the palm oils, can aid you to cut down the sale of other oils , in turn enhancing the sale of your business. Those oils that are imported are costly for the local market, thus your palm oil will sell more. It is a win-win situation for both you as well as your buyers. Thus, your business will flourish.

Cotton & Wool Production

Textile firms need wool and cotton at all times. They need it constantly for manufacturing various types of cloths. Therefore, it’s a lucrative business idea for any entrepreneur.

Cotton flower and sheep give cotton and wool respectively. So for cotton crop cultivation you need a suitable land. There may be some basic agriculture methods to be followed, certain tools and apparatus required. Of course you have to invest at the onset but after harvest you can make high business gains from your sales. You can also opt to rear sheep and get wool from them.

An advantageous factor of cotton flower and wool is that you can export them easily. There is not much critical process attached to attain the cotton from flowers and the wool is just shaved off the sheep. Furthermore, unlike fruits and vegetable, cotton and wool can be stored for as longer time span and exported to far-off countries as they do not get damaged. Thus you can plan to earn good capital by national and global export of your cotton and wool.

Rubber Production

Rubber, a stretchy materiel, is in huge demand in the market. This crop plantation can prove to be very rewarding. The innumerable items made from rubber makes it a very suitable farming product as it is sale-able in the worldwide market. For instance- Tires, Bags, etc are made from rubber.

Rubber plants cannot grow in extremely windy and freezing temperature. It needs 5-7 hrs of sunlight per day and adequate rainfall. Porous farming soil which is somewhat acidic having well-drainage is best suited for rubber plantation.

Rubber trees when taken proper care can survive for generations. So, this is a good agriculture business investment indeed.

Cattle Ranch

A very common and popular livestock raising business that includes animals such as cows, calves, ox, donkeys, bulls, etc., are known as a cattle ranch. You can choose to breed a single type of animal or several ones depending on the capital and land you have. It is best to start off with a single type of animal and slowly progress to rearing more types in your farming area. Actually, each type of animal needs to be well taken care of, with the proper food and hygiene maintained in your farming space.

Cattles are reared for multiple purposes, milk, manure, skin, as well as meat. Having a cattle ranch can instantly place you in the international business market if the quality of milk, meat and manure supplied by you if of good quality. With high sales and recognition in the global market you can easily gain huge profits and grow your agriculture business.

Shrimp Business

If you plan to own a land near the coastal region, or rent a riverside area, you can earn cash through shrimp farming. Earlier shrimp was farmed in a smaller quantity, but the rapid growth of consumption worldwide has turned it into a large scale global industry.

Shrimp is high in protein and contains anti-oxidants. A favorite among a large group of people, this is marketed in bulk in several countries. Japan, US, Thailand and China are some countries where shrimp farming is done is large quantity. You can definitely give shrimp farming a shot as success is guaranteed.

Saffron Cultivation

This costly spice is actually very easy to grow in any type of farming area. The reason for saffron being so pricey is the extensive toil that goes into harvesting the crop. Only a few strands of saffron are acquired from a flower.

Saffron is mostly used in cooking, creating beautiful fragrances and in cosmetic products. If you have a fertile agriculture soil suitable for saffron cultivation and reside in a sub-tropical warm region then saffron is the spice you must opt to cultivate in your farming area.

You can market it across the whole world. This expensive spice can churn huge money.

Rosemary Cultivation

Rosemary shrub can be cultivated across the world. It is best suited for region with cool temperatures. It can also handle frost. You can harvest rosemary 2 times per year. It depends on whether you want to harvest it for the leaves or the oil.

Rosemary is most famous for its oils. It has high commercial value for its medicinal and herbal properties.  This is a lucrative business idea and if you reside in a cold region then get a soil test done and you can start off your rosemary cultivation.

Marketing Analysis of agriculture

To make your agriculture business  successful, you need to keep an eye on the market trends as well. If you run a complete analysis of the market, you will get an idea about many things. Understanding the trends and variables will help you in making decisions for your business. The goal of this market research is to understand and get a general idea of the overall market around your farm and how you can adjust to that ecosystem. The marketing plan for agriculture business includes market trends and market segmentation.

5.1 Market Trends

The agriculture industry is a kind of industry that never goes into loss. It continues to evolve with time. Over the past five years, the agricultural industry has grown at an incredible rate. People are now more attracted to buy organic products that are chemical-free and hygienic.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

In agricultural business ideas and agricultural business proposal, the market segmentation is clearly defined. Besides knowing how to start an agricultural business, you need to make a complete analysis of market segmentation for it.

The most important part of a farm business plan is to have an idea of the expected marketing segmentation. In agriculture start up, you should know about the market segmentation. Here is the market segmentation that will be facing our farm:

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Marketing Segmentation

5.2.1 Foreign Markets

The products that we manufacture will be exported. It will generate the largest part of our revenue.

5.2.2 Domestic Hotels and Restaurants

We will offer our products to restaurants and hotels. Along with fruits and vegetables, we will provide dairy products such as milk and butter to the restaurants in town.

5.2.3 Domestic Food Companies

We will also sell our products to food companies in the domestic markets.

5.3 Business Target

In a community sustained agriculture business plan, the following are our business target

  • Building a trustworthy relationship among customers
  • Providing high-quality products to customers
  • Making an excellent customer care service for our loyal customers
  • Recovering the initial investment within two years of launch
  • Increase the revenue every year by at least 20%.

5.4 Product Pricing

The prices of the products that Old Maple Way provide are comparable to other farms. We will try to provide better products and customer care to our clients. We will satisfy our customers by providing exceptional services to make as much profit as possible.

Marketing Strategy

When you are starting an agricultural business, you should also know the marketing strategy. No business can grow and become successful without a marketing strategy. No matter how many excellent services you offer, if you do not have customers, it is all in vain. The more people know about your farm and its products, the more they reach out to you.

Nowadays, the best way of marketing is social media marketing. Social platforms are strong, and they are accessible to everyone. A good thing about social media marketing is its low cost. You can reach out to millions of people with online marketing. All the business ideas in agriculture explain the importance of social media marketing and how you can use them to reach out to people.

Along with that, you need a competitive analysis to make a strategy that will make your agriculture business plan successful. You also need some agro processing business ideas as well as a perfect understanding of what is an agricultural business.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

  • People are not satisfied with the products manufactured by other farms because of the chemicals they use to increase their quantity.
  • The products that other farms sell are expensive and everyone cannot afford them.

6.2 Our Strategy

  • We will use social media platforms to advertise our products.
  • We will make our online presence so that we can reach out to more and more people.
  • We will use the advertisements channels in the area to reach out to the people.

6.3 Sales Monthly

Agriculture Bussines Plan- Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Unit Sales

Personnel plan

To make your business best agricultural business, you need to make sure that the staff should work as a team. In the agriculture business model, you will find out that the environment of the farm depends on the number and type of staff which should be determined in the initial stages.

7.1 Company Staff

James Celery will be the owner and CEO of the Old Maple Way farm business. The following people will be hired to run the farm:

  • 1 Operations Manager
  • 2 Deputy Managers
  • 8 Farm Workers
  • 2 Packaging Helpers
  • 1 Accountant

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

Proper planning and execution of the finance help you to maintain a stable budget for the upcoming entire year. To execute farming ideas for profit, you need to manage the finances wisely. In agricultural business plans, all the finances are mentioned.

  • Money to buy a land or take it on lease
  • The cost of buying and maintaining animals
  • The salary of employees
  • The cost of buying fruits and vegetables seeds

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 break-even analysis.

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Break-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Profit Monthly

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

Agriculture Bussines Plan - Projected Cash Flow

8.5  Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

  • How do I make an agricultural business plan? When you look out to sample business plan agriculture farm, you will see the steps to write a business plan. Business plan for agriculture company may not necessarily be long but it should be written in an easily understandable way.
  • What is an agriculture farm business plan? It is the farming production, creating a plan for marketing and management of crops and livestock in a profitable way is an agriculture farm business plan. It includes everything such as a detailed business plan for agriculture and an agriculture equipment business plan.
  • Which agriculture is most profitable? One of the most profitable agriculture is an agricultural farm. You can start this business by investing a small amount of money. According to the demand of the local public, you can produce the items and sell them.
  • Is agriculture farming profitable? Agriculture farming is profitable as it offers a stable revenue. It is one of the fastest-growing agricultural businesses all over the world.

Download example agriculture farming business plan pdf

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

example of a farm business plan

Add comment

E-mail is already registered on the site. Please use the Login form or enter another .

You entered an incorrect username or password

Comments (0)

mentioned in the press:

Search the site:

example of a farm business plan

OGScapital website is not supported for your current browser. Please use:

example of a farm business plan

Farm Business Planning

Cover image of the Farm Business Planning Workbook

Planning is essential to any business, no matter how large or small your inventory, payroll, and bank account. To be sustainable and profitable a farm operation must have a clear understanding of production, marketing, finances, and labor. Having these plans mentally is not enough! Taking time to formulate thoughts, evaluate your business, devise a strategy, and anticipate possible problems will help your business be successful. The Farm Business Planning tools on this page will help put you on the right track.

Accompanying Resources

  • Business Plan Worksheets (Microsoft Excel) Financial worksheets required for a business plan. Complete these on a yearly basis for your farm. Before using the worksheet, save a copy on your personal computer.  
  • Greenway Farm(pdf) Greenway Farm Worksheet (pdf)  
  • Hayin Beef Acres (pdf) Hayin Beef Acres Worksheet (pdf)  
  • Fall River Floral Farms (pdf) Fall River Floral Farms Worksheet (pdf) Fall River Floral Farms Worksheet (Microsoft Excel)

For more information about the Farm Business Planning Workbook and resources, contact: Shannon Dill, Extension Educator; University of Maryland-Talbot County  Phone: (410) 822-1244 Email: [email protected]

Download Publication

  • Visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • Apply to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • Give to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Search Form

Six key components of a farm or ranch business plan, cornhusker economics december 19, 2018 six key components of a farm or ranch business plan.

By Jay Parsons

PDF | Markets

Developing a good farm or ranch business plan can have many benefits. In an earlier Cornhusker Economics article, I outlined six good reasons to develop a business plan (Parsons 2015). It helps to get your business organized and moving in the right direction. It lets your lender know you have a plan to succeed, which opens up your access to capital. It also helps you organize your thoughts, clarifying the goals and objectives you wish to achieve. In summary, putting together a written business plan increases the likelihood of your business achieving success (Scarborough 2011).

This is a great time of year to get started on putting together a written business plan for your farm or ranch operation. However, getting started on it can seem like a daunting task. While there is business planning software out there, much of it isn’t well suited for putting together a complete farm or ranch business plan and starting with a blank sheet of paper can be intimidating. So, my goal with this article is to get you started by providing six key components to include in your farm or ranch business plan. Make these six components your headings and start filling in the details as described below. Before long, you will find yourself with a good business plan taking shape and a document you can share with your lender as well as use on a day-to-day basis to help guide your farm or ranch in the direction you want it to go.

1. Introduction

A good introduction contains several key subcomponents of information that summarizes what your business is all about. Even though you may finish writing it last, you should start your document with an executive summary paragraph or two that captures the essence of your business. Provide brief information on the key products or services producing revenue, the qualifications of the people involved in the operation, the land resources and any competitive edge built up over the years. Follow this summary with a mission statement for your operation that captures why you are in the farming or ranching business. The introduction section should also provide an overview of the history of the operation and three to five goals you wish to accomplish in the next five years.

2. Land Resource Management.

Farmers and ranchers rely on the land to make a living. This section should describe the land resources involved in the operation, including maps if you have them available. If livestock and perennial pastures are involved in the operation, a grazing management plan would fit into this section. Farmers may want to describe their cropping rotations on various properties and why they use them. Land monitoring practices and plans for mitigating soil erosion or noxious weeds are among the many important elements that can be added to this section over time. Having pages of this section readily available to print out and show potential landlords or new employees is a great resource for those communications.

3. Equipment and Animal Management

Equipment resources and animal resources are the tools that turn land resources into profits. This section should provide an inventory of equipment resources along with a general overview of maintenance plans and replacement decisions. For livestock operations, an inventory of animals would be included here. Details regarding genetics, breeding plans, nutrition plans, animal handling protocol, and animal health plans including vaccination schedules should be added. Like the land resource management section, this is a section where having pages ready to print out and share with employees is a great communication resource. It can also make it easy to share information with your veterinarian or nutritionist to get his or her feedback on the management plans you have in place for your livestock.

4. Marketing Plan

A good marketing plan can take some time to build but starting one is easy. It starts with identifying the products or services you intend to sell to generate revenue and the goals you wish to accomplish with your marketing plan. You then need to complete the marketing plan by answering several key questions. When will you be selling the products and/or services? To whom will you be selling? Where will these transactions be taking place? How will you get these products and/or services to the customer? What are the tools available to help you get what you want out of these sales transactions and how do you intend to use those tools? Marketing plans don’t have to be complicated to be effective, but there are a lot of things to consider that can be added to this section over time. If you are not marketing a commodity, it is important to identify what sets your products or services apart from your competitors and to clearly identify the size of the market you intend to be selling into. Your banker will want to know that your sales forecasts are realistic and so should you.

5. Human Resources

Personnel management can sometimes be overlooked on a small farm or ranch operation. However, if you want to attract and keep good employees (including relatives) you need to have a plan in place to do it. This section should describe the people involved in ownership as well as the people managing the operation on a day-to-day basis, including their roles and responsibilities. What other personnel are involved in the business and who is responsible for managing them? How do new people get trained within the business? Having a plan in place describing how they will grow in knowledge and ability and who will help them do it is a great motivator for any employee or family member involved in the farm or ranch.  This can include a brief overview of succession plans, too, if you have those available.

6. Financial

The financial section of your business plan includes balance sheets, income statements, projected cash flows, loan schedules, depreciation schedules, and descriptions of contingency or financial risk management plans. Obviously, this section is important. It depends upon having good financial records and discipline in pulling them together into meaningful information on a regular basis. Whereas other sections of your business plan may not need to be updated more than every few years, this section needs updating on a regular basis. This section will be the section your lender will be most interested in seeing, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of the other five sections preceding it.

Business planning is an ongoing process. Business plans need regular updating after they are developed and are never really done. If you don’t have a business plan, now is the time to start one. Use these basic sections to help define your farm or ranch business. Populate each of them with some information now and then build in more detail as you go focusing on a few sections at a time. Enlist the help of others. Business plans are best done as a team as it helps get the best ideas into written form, speeds up the process of getting them done, and helps create buy-ins from everyone to follow through with the plan once it is developed. Getting a business plan down in writing gets you moving in the right direction toward reaping the full benefits of running a successful farm or ranch business.

References:

Parsons, J. 2015. “Why Develop a Business Plan?” University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Cornhusker Economics , February 18, 2015.

Scarborough, N. M. 2011. Essentials of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. 6 th Edition. Boston: Prentice Hall.

Jay Parsons Associate Professor Department of Agricultural Economics University of Nebraska-Lincoln 402-472-1911 [email protected]

More Articles

Growthink logo white

Cattle Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Cattle Farm Business Plan

Cattle Farm Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their cattle farms. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a cattle farm business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

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

Why You Need a Business Plan

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

Sources of Funding for Cattle Farms

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a cattle farm are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes 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 ensure 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 cattle farms.

    Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a cattle farm.

If you want to start a cattle farm or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The example guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your cattle farming business plan.

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 kind of cattle farm you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a cattle farm that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of cattle farms?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

  • Give a brief overview of the cattle farm industry.
  • Discuss the type of cattle farm you are operating.
  • Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
  • Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
  • Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of cattle farm you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of cattle farms:

  • Cow-calf: This type of cattle farming involves using mature cattle to breed calves that are then sold to producers.
  • Backgrounding: This type of cattle farming involves growing feeder cattle that can be sold to producers once they reach a certain weight or age.
  • Finishing: This type of cattle farming involves harvesting cattle to weight in a feedlot, readying them for sale to market.
  • Specific Breed: This type of cattle farming specializes in breeding specific types of cattle such as Angus or Hereford.

In addition to explaining the type of cattle farm you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions 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, the amount of meat sold, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
  • Your legal business structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the cattle farm industry. While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

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

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

The third reason 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 cattle farming business plan:

  • How big is the cattle 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 target market for your cattle 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 cattle farm business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

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

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

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

Finish Your Cattle 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 cattle farms.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of meat farms such as poultry, fish, or pork farms, and meat alternative suppliers. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business 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 types of customers do they serve?
  • What type of cattle farming business are they?
  • 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 make it easier for your customers to acquire your product?
  • Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
  • 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 cattle farm business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of cattle farm company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide live cattle, meat, or dairy products?

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

Place : Place refers to the site of your cattle farm company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your cattle farm located near a city, in a rural area, or adjacent to other farms? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your cattle farm marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Advertise in industry publications and networking events
  • Reach out to local meat buyers
  • Distribute flyers
  • Engage in email marketing
  • Advertise on social media platforms
  • Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

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 cattle farm, including answering calls, feeding and caring for cattle, scheduling employees, billing customers and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to acquire your Xth customer, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your cattle farm business to a new market.

Management Team

To demonstrate your cattle farm’s potential 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 cattle 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 as 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 cattle farm or running a small cattle breeding operation.

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 revenue 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 your farm have 100 cattle on average and will 20% of your cattle be ready for sale every year? 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 cattle farm business, 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 lender 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 ensure 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.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a cattle farm:

  • Cost of farming equipment and supplies
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

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 farm lease or information about the type of cattle on your farm.

Writing a business plan for your cattle farm is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will have an expert cattle farming business plan, cow calf business plan or a beef cattle business plan. You will understand the cattle farm industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful cattle farm.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Cattle 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 see how Growthink’s business plan professional services can help you create a winning business.

Cattle Farm Business Plan FAQs

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

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your cattle farm business plan.

How Do You Start a Cattle Farm Business?

Starting a cattle farm business is easy with these 14 steps:.

  • Choose the Name for Your Cattle Farm Business
  • Create Your Cattle Farm Business Plan
  • Choose the Legal Structure for Your Cattle Farm Business
  • Secure Startup Funding for Your Cattle Farm Business (If Needed)
  • Secure a Location for Your Business
  • Register Your Cattle Farm Business with the IRS
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Get a Business Credit Card
  • Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
  • Get Business Insurance for Your Cattle Farm Business
  • Buy or Lease the Right Cattle Farm Business Equipment
  • Develop Your Cattle Farm Business Marketing Materials
  • Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Cattle Farm Business
  • Open for Business

Learn more about how to start your own cattle farm company .

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Livestock Farming Business Plan

Upmetrics AI Assistant: Simplifying Business Planning through AI-Powered Insights. Learn How

Upmetrics

Business Planning

  • Financial Forecasting

AI Assistance

See how upmetrics works  →, strategic planning, entrepreneurs & small business, accelerators & incubators, business consultants & advisors, educators & business schools, students & scholars.

  • Sample Plans

Business Plan Course

Small business tools.

  • Strategic Canvas Templates

E-books, Guides & More

  • WHY UPMETRICS?

Customers Success Stories

  • Business Plan Builder
  • Canvas Modeling
  • Product Tour
  • Business Consultants and Advisors
  • Entrepreneurs And Small Businesses
  • Accelerators & Incubators
  • Educators & Business Schools
  • Students & Scholars
  • Sample Business Plans
  • business plan course
  • E-Books, Guides & More
  • Success Stories
  • Retail, Consumers & E-commerce

Farming Business Plan

trustpilot reviews

Agriculture is the one industry that consistently does well, irrespective matter the economic conditions of the world. So, for a stable income and career farming business is a great option.

Are you looking to start writing a business plan for your farming business? Creating a business plan is essential to starting, growing, and securing funding for your business. We have prepared a farming business plan template for you to help in start writing yours.

sample business plan

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 Farming Business Plan?

Writing a 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 of the business plan intended to provide an overview of the whole business plan. Generally, it is written after the entire business plan is ready. Here are some components to add to your summary:

Start with a brief introduction:

Market opportunity:, mention your services:, management team:.

Name all the key members of your management team with their duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Financial highlights:

Call to action:.

Ensure you keep your executive summary concise and clear, use simple language, and avoid jargon.

Say goodbye to boring templates

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Plans starting from $7/month

example of a farm business plan

2. Business Overview

Depending on what details of your business are important, you’ll need different elements in your business overview . Still, there are some foundational elements like business name, legal structure, location, history, and mission statement that every business overview should include:

About the business:

Provide all the basic information about your business in this section like:

  • The name of your farming business and the type of business you are running or will run: organic farming, agricultural farming, dairy farming, commercial farming, or something else.
  • Company structure of your farming business whether it is a proprietorship, LLC, partnership firm, or some other.
  • Location of your farm and the reason why you selected that place.

Mission statement:

Business history:, future goals:.

This section should provide an in-depth understanding of your farming business. Also, the business overview section should be engaging and precise.

3. Market Analysis

Market analysis provides a clear understanding of the market in which your farming business will run along with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. Your market analysis should contain the following essential components:

Target market:

Market size and growth potential:, competitive analysis:, market trends:, regulatory environment:.

Some additional tips for writing the market analysis section of your business plan:

  • Use a variety of sources to gather data, including industry reports, market research studies, and surveys.
  • Be specific and provide detailed information wherever possible.
  • Include charts and graphs to help illustrate your key points.
  • Keep your target audience in mind while writing the business plan

4. Products And Services

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

List the products & services:

  • List the products you will produce or sell, such as crops, fruits, flowers, livestock, or value-added products like cheese or jams.
  • Describe each product: Explain the features of your products, such as their quality, variety, and uniqueness. Also, discuss how your products will be packaged and marketed.

Emphasize safety and quality:

Overall, the product and services section of a business plan should be detailed, informative, and customer-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. Operations Plan

When writing the operations plan section, it’s important to consider the various aspects of your business operations. Here are the components to include in an operations plan:

Operational process:

Technologies:.

By including these key elements in your operations plan section, you can create a comprehensive plan that outlines how you will run your farming business.

6. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of the individuals responsible for running the farming business. This section should provide a detailed description of the experience and qualifications of each manager, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Key managers:

Organizational structure:, compensation plan:, board of advisors:.

Describe your company’s key personnel and highlight why your business has the fittest team.

7. Financial Plan

When writing the financial plan section of a business plan, it’s important to provide a comprehensive overview of your financial projections for the first few years of your business.

Profit & loss statement:

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

Remember to be realistic with your financial projections, and to provide supporting evidence for all of your estimates.

8. Appendix

When writing the appendix section, you should include any additional information that supports the main content of your plan. This may include financial statements, market research data, legal documents, and other relevant information.

  • Include a table of contents for the appendix section to make it easy for readers to find specific information.
  • Include financial statements such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. These should be up-to-date and show your financial projections for at least the first three years of your business.
  • Provide market research data, such as statistics on the size of the agriculture industry, consumer demographics, and trends in the industry.
  • Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
  • Provide any additional documentation related to your business plans, such as marketing materials, product brochures, and operational procedures.
  • Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the information they need.

Remember, the appendix section of your farming business should only include relevant and important information that supports the main content of your plan.

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

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

crossline

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

After this, if you are still confused about how to write an investment-ready agriculture business plan to impress your audience, then download our farming business plan pdf .

Related Posts

Farmers Market Business Plan

Farmers Market Business Plan

Organic Farm Business Plan

Organic Farm Business Plan

Small Farming Business Plan

Small Farming Business Plan

400+ Business Plan Template Example

400+ Business Plan Template Example

How to make Business Plan Cover Page

How to make Business Plan Cover Page

Best Business Planning Tools

Best Business Planning Tools

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

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

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

How to get funding for your farming business?

There are several ways to get funding for your agriculture business, but one of the most efficient and speedy funding options is self-funding. 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 many people to invest in your farming business, usually online.
  • Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought options for startups.
  • Venture capital – Venture capitalists will invest in your business in exchange for a percentage of shares, so this funding option is also viable.

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

Where to find business plan writers for your farming business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and idea better than you, so we recommend you write your farming business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your agriculture business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any farming business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software.

About the Author

example of a farm business plan

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

Upmetrics logo

Plan your business in the shortest time possible

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

trustpilot reviews

Popular Templates

bpb AI Feature Image

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 .

Download Farming Business Plan

Preview of the downloaded sample plan asset

Free Download

Agriculture Farm Business Plan Template

Download this free agriculture farm business plan template, with pre-filled examples, to create your own plan..

Or plan with professional support in LivePlan. Save 50% today

Available formats:

Word Icon

What you get with this template

A complete business plan.

Text and financials are already filled out and ready for you to update.

  • SBA-lender approved format

Your plan is formatted the way lenders and investors expect.

Edit to your needs

Download as a Word document and edit your business plan right away.

  • Detailed instructions

Features clear and simple instructions from expert business plan writers.

Money-Back Guarantee

All 100% free. We're here to help you succeed in business, no strings attached.

Get the most out of your business plan example

Follow these tips to quickly develop a working business plan from this sample.

1. Don't worry about finding an exact match

We have over 550 sample business plan templates . So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details.

Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across. So, use this example as a starting point and customize it to your needs.

2. Remember it's just an example

Our sample business plans are examples of what one business owner did. That doesn't make them perfect or require you to cram your business idea to fit the plan structure.

Use the information, financials, and formatting for inspiration. It will speed up and guide the plan writing process.

3. Know why you're writing a business plan

To create a plan that fits your needs , you need to know what you intend to do with it.

Are you planning to use your plan to apply for a loan or pitch to investors? Then it's worth following the format from your chosen sample plan to ensure you cover all necessary information.

But, if you don't plan to share your plan with anyone outside of your business—you likely don't need everything.

LivePlan Logo

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

More business planning resources

Business Plan Template example

Business Plan Template

Group of business people

How to Write a Business Plan for Investors

Woman climbing mountain

How to Write a Business Plan

Variety of icons

10 Qualities of a Good Business Plan

Variety of books

How to Start a Business With No Money

Industrial building

Industry Business Planning Guides

Man stacking bricks

How to Create a Business Plan Presentation

Stacks of boxes

Simple Business Plan Outline

Download your template now

Need to validate your idea, secure funding, or grow your business this template is for you..

  • Fill-in-the-blank simplicity
  • Expert tips & tricks

We care about your privacy. See our privacy policy .

Not ready to download right now? We'll email you the link so you can download it whenever you're ready.

Download as Docx

Download as PDF

LivePlan on a computer

Finish your business plan with confidence

Step-by-step guidance and world-class support from the #1 business planning software

LivePlan pitch example

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

example of a farm business plan

IMAGES

  1. Farm Business Plan

    example of a farm business plan

  2. Agriculture Business Plan Template Free

    example of a farm business plan

  3. Farm Business Plan

    example of a farm business plan

  4. Farm Business Plan Template

    example of a farm business plan

  5. Farm Business Plan

    example of a farm business plan

  6. Farm Business Plan

    example of a farm business plan

VIDEO

  1. Mahila Udyamita Scheme Business Plan Form Fill up _ mukhyamantri udyamita important update

  2. poultry farm business, poultry business, how to start poultry business start up idea @BUSINESSDOST

  3. Poultry Farm Business Plan // Business Plan Form Fill Up // মুৰ্গী পোহাৰ বাবে

  4. business plan

  5. Dairy Farm Business Plan // দুগ্ধ উৎপাদনৰ বাবে // Business Plan Form Fill Up

  6. Finer Details For a Farm Business Plan This Year

COMMENTS

  1. Plan Your New Farm Operation

    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.

  2. 12: Business Plans

    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

  3. Sample Farm Business Plan

    Written by Dave Lavinsky Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a farm. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors.

  4. Farm & Agriculture Business Plan Examples

    Vineyard Bed & Breakfast Business Plan Agritourism Business Plan Agriculture Consulting Business Plans Agricultural Consultants Business Plan Agriculture Products & Retail Business Plans Butcher Shop Business Plan Feed and Farm Supply Business Plan Garden Nursery Business Plan Garden Products Recycling Business Plan Horse Reseller Business Plan

  5. Farm Business Planning

    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.

  6. How to Write a Small Farm Business Plan

    Betsy Petrick Ben Bloom / Getty Images 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...

  7. Free Farm Business Plan Template

    Farm business plans give an overview of the business, including company history, owner/operator backgrounds, products/services, projections, and more. Use this template to quickly create your farm business plan. Executive Summary Operators [Sender.Company] is owned and operated by [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName].

  8. Free Agriculture Sample Business Plan PDF + How to Write

    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.

  9. Farm Business Plan Template & How-To Guide [Updated 2024]

    Written by Dave Lavinsky Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 3,500 farmers create business plans to start and grow their farm businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning.

  10. Farm Business Plan Examples

    Sample Business Plans Farm and Agriculture Farm Business Plans Did you know each of these plans was created in LivePlan? Learn More Agriculture Farm Business Plan Botanical Bounty is working to become a leading producer of botanical plants for the natural supplement industry as well as plant nurseries. Agriculture Fruit Farm Business Plan

  11. Farm Business Plan Template & Sample (2024)

    Farm Business Plan You've come to the right place to create your farm business plan. We have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their farms. You can download the Farm business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here <-

  12. Farm Business Plan

    Below,we provide you a farm business plan examples that you can look into as a guide. 20+ Farm Business Plan Examples 1. Farm Business Plan Template Details File Format MS Word Pages Google Docs Size: A4 & US Download 2. Animal Farm Business Plan Template Details File Format MS Word Pages Google Docs Size: A4 & US Download 3.

  13. Agriculture Farm Business Plan Example

    Agriculture Farm Business Plan Example ( 6 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Article Business Plan Templates Farm & Agriculture Business Plans Table of Content Agriculture business plan for starting your own business Farming and agriculture business is not as easy as it seems.

  14. PDF Writing a Farm Business Plan Introduction

    The goal of this Business Farm Plan Workbook is to provide a straightforward approach to writing a plan. If more in-depth planning is desired, there are many ... It is a clear form of communication for business partners or families farming together. Example: Does everyone working in the farm business share similar values that will affect decisions?

  15. Agricultural Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

    For example, are you a startup, do you have an agricultural business that you would like to grow, or are you operating an established agricultural business you would like to sell? Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. Give a brief overview of the agricultural industry.

  16. Sample Business Plans

    Oregon Flower Farm Business Plan Example. Interval Farm Business Plan Sample. Peach Farm Business Plan Sample. USDA FSA Sample Microloan Application. Small Farms Program Oregon State University Send E-mail Phone: 541-713-5009. OSU College of Agricultural Sciences 430 Strand Agriculture Hall

  17. Agriculture Farm Business Plan Example

    Sales Plan. Botanical Bounty's sales strategy efforts will focus on identifying qualified leads and turning them into paying customers. The main sales effort that Botanical Bounty will undertake is the reinforcement of the fact that Botanical Bounty's plants have the industry's highest percentage of botanicals.

  18. Farm Business Planning

    Planning is essential to any business, no matter how large or small your inventory, payroll and bank account. To be sustainable and profitable a farm operation must have a clear understanding of production, marketing, finances and labor. Having these plans mentally is not enough! Taking time to formulate thoughts, evaluate your business, devise a strategy, and anticipate possible problems will ...

  19. Six Key Components of a Farm or Ranch Business Plan

    Make these six components your headings and start filling in the details as described below. Before long, you will find yourself with a good business plan taking shape and a document you can share with your lender as well as use on a day-to-day basis to help guide your farm or ranch in the direction you want it to go. 1.

  20. Cattle Farm Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

    For example, you might include your farm lease or information about the type of cattle on your farm. Summary. Writing a business plan for your cattle farm is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will have an expert cattle farming business plan, cow calf business plan or a beef cattle business plan.

  21. Farming Business Plan Template (2024)

    Writing a 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 of the business plan intended to provide an overview of the whole business plan. Generally, it is written after the entire ...

  22. Free Agriculture Farm Business Plan Template + Example

    Follow these tips to quickly develop a working business plan from this sample. 1. Don't worry about finding an exact match. We have over 550 sample business plan templates. So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details. Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across.

  23. PDF This example beginning farmer business plan is written by staff from

    Example Beginning Farmer Business Plan The goal of this document is to serve as a sample business plan for an early stage farm business. In this example, the farmers are preparing to finance a new farm purchase.