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  • Beginning Farmer

Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises

Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises

Business Planning

Big, small, or somewhere in between, farming means business.  Even if profit is not your first motivation, careful attention to planning is critical to the financial sustainability of your operation into the future.  According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: about 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, and about 54% fail within the first 4 years. Unfortunately, inadequate business planning is a leading cause for small business failure.  See resources below to support your endeavors and plan for your success! Check out our Events Calendar for upcoming trainings and find companion information on our Beginning Farmer, Enterprise Budgets and Farm Financing pages.

  • Choosing what Business to Start
    • Farm Business Start-Up Checklist and Resource Guide for Northeast Florida
    • Farm Business Registration and Permit Worksheet
    • Keys to Successfully Choosing Enterprises That Suit Your Small Farm – UF/IFAS 
    • Frequently Asked Questions for Small Business Start-Ups – UF/IFAS
    • Starting a Business in Florida – FDOS
    • Checklist for Starting a Business – IRS
    • Sustainability Assessment of Fruit and Nut Crops in North Florida and North Central Florida – UF/IFAS
  • Writing a Business Plan
    • Business Planning – UF/IFAS
    • The Nuts & Bolts of Great Business Plans – UF Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    • Building a Sustainable Business – A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses – SARE 
    • Urban Farm Business Plan Handbook – Partnership for Sustainable Communities 
    • The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook – Richard Wiswall 
    • Farm Business Planning University of Maryland Extension
    • Using Business Analysis in Ornamental Plant Nurseries (1995) - UF/IFAS
  • Additional Resources
    • Small Business Development Center
    • Find a business mentor – SCORE
    • Florida Department of Revenue
    • Handbook of Florida Agricultural Laws: Environmental and Conservation Regulations – UF/IFAS
    • Statutory Exemptions and Transportation Laws for Agriculture – FFB 
    • Florida Direct Marketing Handbook – UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore
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Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises
P.O. Box 110810 Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-1761

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