Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business
Small-Farm Success Stories * Financial Assistance Sources * Marketing & Selling Ideas * Business Plan Forms & Documents
Author: Sarah Beth Aubrey
Locally grown produce and specialty farm products are finding eager new customers every season. Farmers' markets sprout up every spring, luring tourists and locals with pasture-raised meats, organic vegetables and fruit, artisanal cheeses, and a seemingly endless assortment of baked goods, handmade condiments, and craft items. Restaurants and grocery stores feature products from regional farms with pride. And direct-to-consumer marketing and selling is a reality for every farmer with an Internet connection. To help farmers position themselves well for the opportunities afforded by today's market, Sarah Aubrey, a successful farm-based business owner, shares her years of research and firsthand experience in "Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business," Here is everything readers need to know about launching a small agricultural enterprise, from initial start-up to consumer marketing. Begin by fine-tuning that bright idea into a viable business plan, and then learn how to go out and sell it. Secure financing, work out the legalities, follow the proper USDA guidelines, and a farming business is born. Aubrey explains every step of the process and even includes samples of the required forms. Every small farmer must also become a skilled salesperson and marketing professional. Aubrey runs through all the selling options — from rural farmstands to Web sites to food service wholesalers — and explains the pros and cons of each. She also explains how to create and stick with an advertising budget, how to develop pricing strategies, and the importance of personal asset protection. Aubrey brings her business advice to life with profiles of farmers successfully crafting and sellingeverything from small batches of wine to exotic animals such as elk and alpacas. Their stories are minicourses in successful farming, sure to inspire every reader.
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Summary
Locally grown produce and specialty farm products are finding eager new customers every season. Farmers' markets sprout up every spring, luring tourists and locals with pasture-raised meats, organic vegetables and fruit, artisanal cheeses, and a seemingly endless assortment of baked goods, handmade condiments, and craft items. Restaurants and grocery stores feature products from regional farms with pride. And direct-to-consumer marketing and selling is a reality for every farmer with an Internet connection. To help farmers position themselves well for the opportunities afforded by today's market, Sarah Aubrey, a successful farm-based business owner, shares her years of research and firsthand experience in "Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business," Here is everything readers need to know about launching a small agricultural enterprise, from initial start-up to consumer marketing. Begin by fine-tuning that bright idea into a viable business plan, and then learn how to go out and sell it. Secure financing, work out the legalities, follow the proper USDA guidelines, and a farming business is born. Aubrey explains every step of the process and even includes samples of the required forms. Every small farmer must also become a skilled salesperson and marketing professional. Aubrey runs through all the selling options — from rural farmstands to Web sites to food service wholesalers — and explains the pros and cons of each. She also explains how to create and stick with an advertising budget, how to develop pricing strategies, and the importance of personal asset protection. Aubrey brings her business advice to life with profiles of farmers successfully crafting and sellingeverything from small batches of wine to exotic animals such as elk and alpacas. Their stories are minicourses in successful farming, sure to inspire every reader.
Description
Running your own small farm is demanding enough, but making it profitable presents a host of further challenges. In this business-savvy guide to farming on a small scale, Sarah Aubrey covers everything from financial plans and advertising budgets to web design and food service wholesalers. Learn how to isolate your target audience and craft artisanal products that will delight and amaze customers. With a solid business strategy in place, you can confidently turn your passion into a productive and profitable venture.
Critic Reviews
“'ŒGreat tips for newbies who need to determine the feasibility of following their dreams, and still helpful to those who have been at it awhile.' ForeWord 'ŒAubrey leads the agri-preneur from business plan to market research, from USDA guidelines to product pricing and into the strange world of marketing'¦.This book will help farm operators find a plans that works for them.' Berkshire Eagle 'ŒHere is everything you need to know about launching a small agricultural enterprise, from initial start-up to consumer marketing.' American Small Farm”
"Great tips for newbies who need to determine the feasibility of following their dreams, and still helpful to those who have been at it awhile."
ForeWord"Aubrey leads the agri-preneur from business plan to market research, from USDA guidelines to product pricing and into the strange world of marketing....This book will help farm operators find a plans that works for them."
Berkshire Eagle
"Here is everything you need to know about launching a small agricultural enterprise, from initial start-up to consumer marketing."
American Small FarmAbout the Author
Sarah Beth Aubrey is the author of Starting and Running Your Own Small Farm Business. She holds a B.S. in Agricultural Communications from the University of Illinois and is the owner of Prosperity Consulting, LLC, a Certified Women s Business Enterprise.
Back Cover
You Can Farm for a Living With entrepreneurial drive, a practical business plan, and some marketing savvy, you can run a successful small-farm business that brings your products to your target audience. The demand for fresh, local, organic, naturally raised, lovingly crafted, or sustainably produced small-farm products is on the rise. With seasoned farmer Sarah Beth Aubrey as your guide, discover how you can make the most of these opportunities. Learn how to: Develop a viable business plan Conduct market research Secure financing Comply with USDA and other food safety guidelines Protect your assets Determine correct product pricing Choose your selling venues: farmers' markets, farmstands, the Web, direct mail, wholesalers Create a marketing plan that tells your story *Adjust and revise your plan as your business grows Throughout, Aubrey includes profiles of successful farm businesses for inspiration, as well as checklists, contracts, and sample forms to keep you on track.
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