Greenhouse business: where to start? Business plan for greenhouses

Creating a business in the form of greenhouse farming is not a new idea. However, with a competent organization, the "green" business can bring a very good income. How to start a greenhouse business and how to overcome the obstacles that arise on the path of a beginning entrepreneur? About this and many other things we will tell in this article.

We will weigh the pros and cons

In greenhouses, greens and vegetables grow rapidly, in some regions they harvest 3-4 crops a year. Therefore, such a business, in fact, can not prove unprofitable. Nevertheless, in addition to the pluses, he has a number of shortcomings. Consider the one and the other in the table.

Where to begin?

An illustrative picture or an action plan that contributes to the success of the greenhouse business is extremely important for the beginning entrepreneur. It is important to think over many aspects related to the organization of greenhouse farming, but first of all it is necessary to pay attention to the solution of three primary questions:

1. What to grow? Given the weather conditions, favorable in a small number of regions, price forecasts, it is advisable to grow vegetables and greens. These plants are very unpretentious, do not require much care, any greenhouse business will benefit from them. Flowers are the choice of many professionals. Exotic plants and flowers - this is the most profitable direction in the greenhouse business. But floral business is always associated with risk and high costs. A beginner who starts a greenhouse business from scratch, it is recommended to practice specifically on greenery (onions, lettuce, parsley).
2. To whom to sell? This is a question that must be solved before the construction or purchase of a greenhouse. Before starting all work it is important to establish contacts with buyers. The more guaranteed points of sale of products you have, the better, since if one wholesale buyer refuses to purchase the grown, then there is another.
3. What type of greenhouse to put: summer or winter? What materials and how much to purchase? Many choose fast-gathering greenhouses. More suitable for business are industrial greenhouses, but they are not cheap. Some beginner entrepreneurs build from improvised materials, and then update and equip the economy as they earn. Regardless of how much you are going to invest, it is advisable to plan the budget in advance.

Specificity of business

In the greenhouse business three branches are singled out: growing vegetables, flowers and greens; For each direction there are own greenhouses. According to experts, the maximum income from them can be obtained in a fairly hot climate, it is desirable that the winter temperature was not below -5 degrees. Frosty winter - this is a serious risk to avoid it, will have to invest in the purchase of materials for insulation. Losses from the cold winter will be many times greater than the cost of transporting products to the northern regions.

The beginning entrepreneur will choose the direction: seasonal or permanent greenhouse business. How to start planning? If you are going to engage in seasonal growing of plants, then an ordinary farmhouse greenhouse will do . Permanent business is based on special industrial premises with protected ground, with year-round heating and lighting.

Count all the expenses and expected incomes in the mind, think over the financial risks, other significant issues are almost impossible without a business plan. It helps to identify and solve many problems at the preparation stage. How to properly develop a business plan for a greenhouse complex?

Sections of the business plan

A greenhouse business plan may include several sections. It takes into account natural and climatic conditions, all aspects of a particular business:

• Review of activities or summaries.
• Description of business.
• Description of products and services.
• Market and industry analysis.
• Production plan and organizational plan.
• Sales plan.
• Financial and investment plan.

What to write about in the business plan?

Here is the detailed justification for the project in the table.

Financial plan

The basis of the financial plan is the forecasting of future incomes and expenses, without this the greenhouse business can not become successful. In addition, the entrepreneur will have to independently maintain these articles, calculate the planned and actual profits, net profit, breakeven point and other indicators. To create a plan and record keeping it will be convenient to divide all expenses into one-time, permanent and variable:

• One-time costs are costs that will have to be incurred once, as a rule, at the initial stage (purchase of greenhouses, machinery, water supply, electricity, etc.).
• Permanent costs are usually monthly expenses paid by a businessman in equal amounts (rent of land, salary for workers, water supply, electricity).
• Variable costs - expenses that arise periodically in different amounts (repair of greenhouses, purchase of fertilizers, fuel (fuel) for the delivery of products).

On the basis of detailed information on costs, we can calculate the total amount of expenses for each month and in general for the year. Simplify the work of the table, in which we select the columns for each month and the columns for the types of expenses.

It is significant that in some regions 2-3 yields per year are received, and in some, 4 crops per green house. The business plan allows you to calculate the planned revenues quite simply. To do this, it is important to know the market prices and yields from one square meter. Revenues will appear only after the sale of the ripe harvest and depends on the type of products, its prices in the market.

As an example, let's choose a greenhouse business on greenery. Let's make an approximate calculation for green onions. In the supermarket, a bunch of onion costs up to 30 rubles in the spring, about the same cost has 1 kg of onions on the base. From 100 to 120 bulbs are planned to be planted in a greenhouse at 1 m ² . You can get from 100 to 120 beams of onions with 1 m ² . So, 1 m ² greenhouses will bring up to 3000 rubles. We subtract from the income costs and get a profit. Let's assume that we already incurred one-time costs. Remained the cost of heating and watering greenhouses and others, which amounted to 1 m ² 500 rubles:

3000 - 500 = 2500 rubles.

The profit from 1 m ^{2 is} multiplied by a total area of 150 m ² :

2500 × 150 = 375 thousand rubles.

After subtracting the amount of taxes, we get a net profit, which will show how successful the greenhouse business is, whether it is profitable to invest in it own funds, time and effort. Thus, the recoupment of the greenhouse business for growing greenery with the correct calculation can be several months. Constant search of clients will allow the businessman to make profit already in the first year of work, therefore profitability of hothouse business is quite comprehensible.

Investment plan

The investment plan contains a scheme of investment or investment for all stages of business development, the amount of seed capital. The first investment will be a greenhouse. The businessman receives project documentation for it and all external networks. It is important to know how much all parts of the equipment cost. It is necessary to plan funds for the construction of greenhouses, connection to networks (electricity, water), purchase of equipment and planting material. These investments are included in the flow costs that are borne by the businessman before receiving the first profit from the greenhouses.

Which greenhouse to choose?

Before acquiring a greenhouse, it is necessary to decide on its type. The type of greenhouse depends on climatic conditions, range and specificity of the farm:

• Greenhouses of summer-light type are simple and put for a couple of hours. This type of buildings is erected in a few hours. The summer version of greenhouses is used for the most part as a protection against prolonged rains or pests.
• Greenhouses of winter type, which are good for sunlight, will help create and maintain the necessary microclimate. Therefore, they are more suitable for growing any plants, including flowers.

Materials for greenhouses

The creation of a suitable temperature regime for plants is expensive. A cheap greenhouse will not be able to keep the desired temperature for a long time. It is important to consider the choice of material that will be used in its construction. Today the following types of materials are popular:

• Glass. For a very long time, the greenhouse business at home was built on one of the main materials in this case - glass. It was used to create warmed greenhouses, which could be successfully used until late autumn. Glass passes up to 90% of light. But for cold winter months it does not fit, regardless of whether additional heaters are used. Glass has such a disadvantage as brittleness, low temperatures can ruin it. And the cost of glazing will be rather big. In this regard, this material is suitable for temporary use.
• Polyethylene is a material used for a long time in many variants of greenhouses. Its plus - the low price in comparison with other materials. But a significant drawback is a small bandwidth. Many plants will need additional sources of light. The greenhouse will have to be opened in acceptable weather, so that sunlight enters the plants. The material is characterized by weak strength and low heat capacity, so it is suitable only for summer greenhouses.
• Home greenhouse business can not imagine without polycarbonate. It is a product of modern technology, 250 times more durable and 8 times lighter than glass. Its heat capacity is several times higher than that of glass and polyethylene. Only polycarbonate is an ideal material for winter greenhouses. Ensure the greatest penetration of light allows the roof of a greenhouse made of polycarbonate not more than 9 mm thick. The walls can be thicker. When choosing a glasshouse made of polycarbonate, it is important to know that it is available in two types: monolithic and cellular. More pluses are cellular polycarbonate, as it is much more transparent and warmer than a monolithic one. For a greenhouse case, it is recommended that the cellular polycarbonate.

Conclusion

Greenhouse farming is a business that must constantly develop and improve. High competition in industries reduces the rate of profit. New technologies are emerging, but at the same time the cost of equipment is growing. Therefore, a businessman should be able to not just sell grown, but focus on the market, use innovations and expand the business.