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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.  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 other information on our Beginning Farmer, Enterprise Budgets, and Farm Financing pages.

  • Choosing what Business to Start
      • 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

     

  • Writing a Business Plan
      • Business Planning – UF/IFAS
      • Building a Sustainable Business – A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses – SARE 
      • The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook – Richard Wiswall 
      • Farm Business Planning University of Maryland Extension

     

  • 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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