Business and Financial Planning

The following section includes information on creating a business plan and financing a farm business. Additionally, if your farm will have employees, or even volunteers, you should learn about related labor laws.

Business Planning Guides and Templates

• Urban Farm Business Plan Handbook
• Urban Farm Business Plan Worksheets 

University of Minnesota

• Ag Plan (an online farm business planning program)

Oregon State University Growing Farms

• Successful Whole Farm Management Planning Book: Think It! Write It!

CA FarmLink

• Create A Farm Business Plan                 

SARE/Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture

• Building a Sustainable Business                                                                  

UC Davis

• Cost and return studies for fruit, vegetable, field, tree and vine crops                                                                 

NCAT

• Business Planning and Management Resources (Check-list, budget templates, etc.)

UC Santa Cruz-CASFS

• Teaching Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability: Unit 2 Small Business Planning (includes sample/blank cash flow spreadsheets and business plan templates)

Loans, Grants, and Financing

CA FarmLink

• Getting a Farm Loan

NCAT

• Financing Your Farm - Guidance for Beginning Farmers (info on loan applications)