Greenhouse farms. Greenhouse business plan

Greenhouse business: list of documentation + “pros and cons” of greenhouse farming + types of greenhouses + 4 crops that will quickly pay for the business + 3 growing methods + calculation of costs and profitability of the business.

Capital investment in greenhouse farming: 775,000 rubles.
Payback time for greenhouse farming: 1-2 years

Find greenhouse business plan It’s quite difficult on the Internet. This is due to the wide variety of growing methods, as well as the choice of crops.

This article contains all the key points that you can use to fully plan your own business.

In Russia, the greenhouse industry is developed quite heterogeneously.

Such businesses in our country began to reach the European level with advanced technologies and highly qualified workers only ten years ago.


This type of business activity is quite profitable, so it is popular. Let's look at a structured plan for starting a greenhouse business.

Greenhouse business plan: collecting documentation

In some cases, you will not have to collect any special documents for the farm.

For example, if a plot of land for growing products is the property of an entrepreneur, and he does not plan to sell goods in particularly large quantities, hire personnel and sell products to legal entities.

When it comes to growing something other than “for yourself and a neighbor,” it becomes necessary to register an individual entrepreneur or peasant farm. How to do it?

How should I register an IP?

It is necessary to register the activities of a farm as an individual entrepreneur if the goods will be sold with the involvement of employees and on a large scale:

• in small shops;
• hypermarkets;
• restaurants;
• cafe.

Assigning the status of an individual entrepreneur makes it possible to have certain benefits for running a greenhouse business.

To get them, you will need to register (which is not that difficult even for a beginner).

You will need to collect and submit the following documents to the tax office:

• registration application in form P21001;
• a photocopy of the passport of the founder of the farm;
• a receipt confirming payment of the state duty;
• photocopy of the document on assignment of TIN (if available).

After five days you can pick up documents confirming registration.

For current information and detailed information, see the Federal Tax Service website: https://www.nalog.ru/rn77/.

How to register a peasant farm?

The process of registering peasant farms contains the same stages of registration as the registration of individual entrepreneurial activity.

To register a peasant farm, you will need to collect a package of papers and take it to the tax service:

• application for registration of a farm, which must be certified by notary services;
• a photocopy of the passport;
• a receipt confirming payment of the state duty;
• list of selected codes according to OKVED-2;
• photocopies of documents confirming family ties of other people with the founder (this data may be needed to search for a person if he decides to hide from the law).

Detailed and up-to-date information on the registration of peasant farms is available on the website of the state tax service: https://www.nalog.ru/rn77/related_activities/registration_ip_yl/registration_fh/order/.

If a greenhouse farm is founded not by one, but by several members, then a contract is drawn up between the partners.

It states the following points:

• contact phone numbers;
• the founders must choose one person to head the greenhouse enterprise, the business plan of which is developed by all members;
• the rights and responsibilities of all founders must be clearly defined;
• the procedure for admitting and exiting members of the greenhouse business into the society;
• Photocopies of all passports are also attached.

To clarify the list of documents, you must consult a notary or lawyer.

Unlike registering an individual entrepreneur, this procedure is quite complicated, so it is better not to take risks, but to trust the specialists.

Greenhouses are not subject to licensing. The only “but”: if you decide to sell the goods to wholesale buyers, you will need to undergo mandatory sanitary control.

Also, if you are installing greenhouse heating for your household, the condition of the systems must be checked by a fire safety inspection.

Only after completing the appropriate documentation can you begin to implement the business plan.

Greenhouse business: two sides of the coin

Before starting each business, you should determine its strengths and weaknesses. This will allow you to assess the feasibility of bringing the idea to life.

Advantages of greenhouse business

• minimal investment to start your own business;
• a greenhouse business will quickly pay for itself if implemented correctly;
• high profitability of the idea;
• the ability to use your own product for your needs.

Disadvantages of a business idea

• you will have to pay a large sum for using electricity every month;
• greenhouse business is a seasonal type of trade;
• You will have to resolve issues with transportation and storage of products before they hit the shelf.

Every business may encounter certain problems that require a lightning-fast solution. But with experience, the head of a greenhouse enterprise develops the skills to quickly resolve issues, and he will be able to significantly expand the farm.

Therefore, you should not be afraid of the above-mentioned shortcomings if you are determined to bring the idea to life.

Having found out all the nuances that are associated with paperwork and the pros and cons of business, you can move on to the practical part.

Types of greenhouses for organizing a greenhouse business

The greenhouse business today offers the use of 3 types of structures:

This greenhouse material requires no effort to install.

But even if many years of experience with it are not needed, this does not mean that polyethylene can be treated without special care.

For example, if the greenhouse material was poorly stretched and secured, the next morning you can find only torn parts from the overall fabric.

This can happen due to a strong gust of wind that was blowing inside the greenhouse structures. But if you do not allow air to enter the greenhouse, the plants will overheat and die!

Therefore, there is only one way out: securely fasten the material and monitor the condition of the farm.

After choosing one of the types of greenhouses, you can begin to develop a business plan for a greenhouse farming, taking into account the crop culture.

Greenhouse business plan: crop choice

There are many crops and plants that can be grown on the farm. The profitability of the greenhouse business really depends on your choice.

We will not analyze absolutely all types of vegetation available for cultivation.

Better yet, we will provide 4 categories that ensure maximum business profitability.

1. Growing vegetables

Such a greenhouse will bring good profits during the cold season.

You can grow:

• cucumbers;
• pepper of different types;
• tomatoes;

Which culture is considered the most popular is clearly shown by the graph:

Of course, doing such a business in the summer will not be profitable. But if trade is carried out during the cold season, then the prices displayed on the shelves for vegetables will compensate for all costs.

In addition, the greenhouse business can be combined with outdoor cultivation.

The main costs of growing vegetables are related to heating the greenhouse, lighting, watering and, in some cases, heating the soil.

2. Berries in a greenhouse

What berry do you think is especially valued in winter?

The greatest profit from the greenhouse business comes from growing.

The demand for this berry remains consistently high throughout the cold season, so there should be no problems with the sale of goods.

3. Greenhouse greens for sale

A greenhouse business plan developed for the cultivation of dill, parsley or similar crops will quickly pay for itself, since this product always remains in demand among consumers.

Greens on the table are not only good for health, but also a tasty and beautiful decoration for any dish.

4. Growing flowers in a greenhouse

The greenhouse business, the business plan of which is based on breeding and growing flowers, is considered the most profitable area.

The best-selling flowers that will quickly help recoup the investment in the implementation of the business plan:

• roses;
• orchids;
• tulips;
• lilies.

Of course, growing roses and exotic varieties will cause quite a lot of difficulties. But after selling the goods and receiving the proceeds, the founder will be satisfied - this is guaranteed.

When starting to create a greenhouse business plan, you need to study the market, product sales statistics and set priorities.

The founder must realistically assess his capabilities and determine whether he is capable of growing products that are in demand among consumers.

Methods of growing products in greenhouses

1) Hydroponics

The least expensive and most common method is hydroponics.

The process of plant growth in this way is automated, so vegetables, berries and fruits grow much faster than in natural conditions.

The crop, which will subsequently be sold, grows in a container. Water, saturated with various mineral compounds and fertilizers, flows there with the help of special tubes.

But such a quick method contains a rather significant disadvantage in the sales market - it is the watery and unnatural taste of the product.

The buyer will immediately distinguish a bunch of greenery grown in a garden bed from a bunch that was sprouted using the hydroponic method.

However, numbers are an inexorable thing. Statistics say that 92% of the products on the shelves are grown in this way.

2) Intermediate option

There is also an intermediate method that is between growing crops hydroponically and in the ground.

It consists in adding peat and natural soil to nutrient solutions.

The advantage of this method is that the plants will not have a watery, but already familiar “earthy” taste. The downside is the additional costs of providing growing conditions.

Using this method, the entrepreneur receives a significant competitive advantage - a more “lively” taste, which is appreciated not only by retail customers.

This criterion is important for selling products to cafes and restaurants.

3) Mobile beds

A greenhouse business, the business plan of which was developed on the basis of growing on mobile beds, makes it possible to obtain products of the highest quality with maximum proximity to the natural taste.

An aspiring entrepreneur must choose a crop and growing method, and then draw up the financial section of a greenhouse business plan. The estimated estimate below will serve as an example.

You will learn about the advantages and prospects of the greenhouse business from the issue of the Agronomics program:

Greenhouse farming: business plan with financial calculations

The main costs of farming: rent of land, construction of greenhouses, purchase of inventory, equipment, plants, wages, fertilizers.

Greenhouse expenses

This greenhouse business plan did not include the salary of the manager, only the auxiliary workers. This is due to the fact that at first the founder can handle this work himself.

If a manager wants to grow crops on 1 hectare of land, then he needs to hire about 11 workers to carefully control the farm. But if the greenhouse business is based on advanced technologies and the latest equipment, then the number of service personnel can be reduced.

Greenhouse payback

It is quite difficult to give an accurate estimate and payback period for a farm, since it depends on many factors:

• With the territorial placement of greenhouse farming in some regions, it is possible to obtain more than four harvests per season. And in others - one or two.

The location where the greenhouse business is located is also of great importance.

When creating a business plan, it is necessary to take into account transportation costs and calculate how much gasoline will need to be poured into the car to deliver goods from greenhouses to points of sale.

According to average statistics, greenhouse farming will be able to pay for itself in 1-2 years.

The article outlined the main nuances, based on which you can plan your own greenhouse business.

If done correctly, the payback period can be reduced to a year.

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Here we will look at greenhouse farming as a home business.

Not yet in the distant past, most of the population of our country lived in the countryside and its main activity was somehow connected with agriculture. During the 90s, collective farms in the country were almost completely destroyed, as a result of which some people began to degrade, and those who were quicker moved to the city to earn money or opened their own business. Now the situation is gradually becoming positive, although not obvious, but gradually the entire rural business is beginning to gain strength, including the greenhouse business, the plan of which is presented below

Risks of greenhouse business

They mainly relate specifically to the process of growing at home and industrially. In general, many farmers involved in the greenhouse business do not use greenhouses all year round, but from February to November, because... the rest of the time, more significant heating costs are required. Even with prolonged frosts, you can generally lose the entire harvest.

As for pests. You should not forget about them either, because... various mites and microorganisms can also destroy everything.

You also need to remember that many plants like completely different levels of humidity and temperature, even tomatoes and cucumbers.

What can you grow for trade?

In general, the most profitable thing is to grow greens, especially dill, because... it is the most unpretentious of all, but you can also add parsley, basil, green onions, radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, salads. These are the main crops.

You can also, of course, grow flowers.

Video for an example of a simple tomato harvest at home:

Let us note right away that these are just approximate data, because expenses and income may vary, especially expenses, because in some places you can rent land for literally pennies, etc.

Business plan

So, let’s look at a free, ready-made example of a greenhouse business plan.

Summary

It is planned to create a farm that will consist of six greenhouses. It is assumed that the greenhouse will be engaged in growing herbs and vegetables for their subsequent sale to wholesale and retail customers.

Market analysis

Here you will need to independently analyze the demand for these products in your locality. You will also need to indicate possible wholesale buyers of your greenhouse business's products, as well as maximum sales volumes. Potential buyers could be agricultural farms, shops, food markets, medical institutions.

Sales planning should be carried out taking into account the frequency of harvesting.

Organizational plan

It would be best to choose an individual entrepreneur as an organizational and legal form, because Thanks to this, you can take advantage of tax benefits. In addition, in this case the process of conducting mutual settlements with customers will be simpler.

Production part

For a greenhouse business, it will be possible to either buy a plot of land for agricultural purposes or rent it. We can’t tell you anything about prices here, because... they vary greatly depending on the region and area - somewhere 1 hectare costs 10 thousand rubles, somewhere 1 hectare costs the same (or even cheaper), and somewhere a hectare costs 90 thousand rubles. Somewhere you can generally get it almost for free.

Expenses

It is practically impossible to count them, because... in each example they will be individual, because heating methods, like the greenhouses themselves, are different, and this very significantly affects the price. Here are some points and equipment that you will need for your greenhouse business:

1. Registration of individual entrepreneurs - if not independently, then 3000-4000 rubles; if you do it yourself, then only 800 rubles for paying the state duty.
2. Purchase of a prefabricated greenhouse. An industrial one made of polycarbonate, 6 m wide, 3.3 m high, 4 m long, costs at least 110 thousand rubles. With the same dimensions, but 6 meters long, it costs 140 thousand rubles, i.e. every additional 2 meters in length costs 30 thousand. A cheaper option would be polyethylene, but, of course, it is not so durable, and it holds heat much worse.
3. Heating equipment. The most productive option is, as a rule, air heating. Its meaning is that an air duct with holes is installed along the perimeter of the greenhouse, through which heated air will be supplied by supplying air from heat generators. Some produce additional heating of the soil.
4. Irrigation systems. If you take drip irrigation, it is very cheap - a system with a 20-meter hose costs about 1,000 rubles.
5. Seeds.
6. Fertilizers.
7. Lighting systems.
8. Chemicals. Not necessary for pest control. All vegetables and herbs spoil very quickly and lose their presentation. It is for this purpose that they are coated with special substances, thanks to which their life can be significantly extended. This is not only your interest, but also that of the store that will buy your product, because if it quickly deteriorates, it will suffer financial losses.
9. Employee salaries, if any.
10. Warehouse and inventory.

Creating a business that generates a stable income is the dream of every independent person who cares about his future and does not want to work under someone else all his life. Some good ideas for starting a business include the production of exclusive souvenir products or development. The first is more suitable for a creative person accustomed to urban living conditions; the second is for people who want and know how to work with their hands, outdoors or indoors.

Unfortunately, farming, including growing agricultural products in greenhouses, cannot be classified as. In addition, the dependence of an individual entrepreneur on the location of the greenhouse and the surrounding conditions, including temperature changes and insect infestations, is too great. Still worth a try; where to start, which target crops to choose and how to properly equip a greenhouse - see below.

Greenhouse as a business - profitability

In any business, from development to growing roses or strawberries in a greenhouse, the most important thing is profitability, or, more simply, the profitability of the enterprise. No one will work to their detriment, and creating a high-quality greenhouse requires serious financial investments; Therefore, a farmer who is thinking about creating his own greenhouse business needs to sensibly assess the likelihood of generating income before going to the bank or looking for investors.

Advice: Today, in the conditions of a permanently deteriorating domestic economy, even the most experienced economist or businessman cannot do this with an absolute guarantee. The possibility of not only going broke, but also remaining in the red is incredibly high, which means you should not only assess your chances as modestly as possible, but also leave a “safety cushion” - an emergency reserve that will help you not die of hunger, and, ideally, pay off main debts in case of project failure.

Unlike more risky and labor-intensive ideas like, the profitability of greenhouse farming with the right approach to business can exceed 50% - an excellent indicator not only for agriculture, but also for other real sectors of the economy. As evidenced by living examples of farmer-businessmen, the creation of a semi-industrial greenhouse costing 1.5 million rubles pays off in less than two years; The owner begins to receive his first profit with the first harvest.

Important: in some cases, the profitability of greenhouse farming, like , can be 70–80%. To achieve such an indicator, the business owner will have to not only work twice as hard, but also attract large investments per square meter of greenhouse.

Advantages of arranging a greenhouse:

1. It is possible to develop a greenhouse with minimal investment. As just mentioned, with this approach you can’t count on instant and impressive results, but there will be a starting income - and then the aspiring businessman can decide whether to develop in this direction or look for other sources of income.
2. Available . To achieve support, you need to try, but the amount transferred to the farmer’s account will allow him to cover part of his debt obligations or purchase new, better and more economical equipment for the greenhouse - and sometimes rare crops for cultivation.
3. Fast payback. The business owner receives income with each new harvest, and the better he organizes the process, the more money he will ultimately have in his account - therefore, the faster the farmer will be able to repay loans and pay off investors.
4. Guaranteed demand. People always need vegetables, herbs and flowers, so the owner of a greenhouse, unlike an entrepreneur who decides to take on more risky projects like, will always have the opportunity to make money. Agricultural products can be sold not only to ordinary buyers, but also to local retail outlets, and even to arrange supplies for the largest retail chains: it all depends on the will and imagination of the entrepreneur.

Disadvantages of greenhouse farming as a business:

1. Profitability strongly depends on the region where the greenhouse is located, the weather and many random, unpredictable and uncontrollable factors - the farmer cannot fight them, and he will only have to wait them out. As you might guess, the greatest profits will come from greenhouses installed in the southern regions of the country with their mild climate and the predominance of above-zero temperatures throughout the year. But setting up greenhouse farming in the northern regions, unless we are talking about an industrial scale, is inappropriate: the entrepreneur will either not be able to receive income at all, or it will become cyclical in nature - in late autumn, winter and spring, the purchased equipment will simply stand idle.
2. To select a location, materials and equipment, you must have sufficient competence - otherwise the money invested in a seemingly profitable enterprise will go to waste.
3. It is imperative to first think through a scheme for the collection, storage and sale of agricultural products, otherwise the perishable harvest will be lost, not bringing any income to the owner and forcing him to spend money on waste disposal.
4. The operation of even a small greenhouse requires a large amount of electrical energy. The entrepreneur most likely will not be able to produce it on his own, which means he will have to regularly pay hefty bills - however, with a properly run business, income from the sale of the harvest will significantly exceed current expenses.

Advice: In order not to make a mistake in the process of developing a greenhouse business and not to burn out at the very beginning, it is better for a beginning farmer who does not have sufficient knowledge to turn to a professional - an economist or a marketer - to draw up a business plan. Their services, of course, are not cheap, but using them is guaranteed to pay off, and the entrepreneur himself will be freed from the constant fear of ruin.

What can you grow in a greenhouse?

Theoretically, a greenhouse as a constantly heated type of greenhouse with an autonomous water supply system is suitable for growing any crops - from traditional cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes to bananas and pineapples.

In practice, in accordance with domestic climatic conditions and consumer preferences, most greenhouse farms specialize in the production of:

• vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, radishes, turnips, potatoes and others; the first place in demand in this segment is occupied by tomatoes and cucumbers;
• all types of herbs and spices: dill, green onions, parsley, celery, basil, rosemary, mint, sage, lettuce, lettuce, garlic, spinach, arugula, sorrel and others; the most popular among Russian buyers are dill, parsley and onion shoots;
• colors: roses, tulips, orchids, lilies, carnations, asters and so on; demand for most of them arises periodically, with the exception of the most popular - roses and orchids;
• mushrooms: oyster mushrooms, less often - champignons and more whimsical varieties; there is a demand for them at any time of the year;
• berries: most often these are strawberries and wild strawberries; in addition, technologies for breeding berries “in captivity” are best developed specifically for them.

Advice: In order to avoid mistakes and not go broke at the very beginning of the development of a greenhouse farming, the farmer is recommended to combine several types of crops grown. For example, instead of focusing solely on vegetables or herbs, he might dedicate one quarter of the greenhouse to cucumbers and tomatoes, another to roses, a third to green onions and dill, and a fourth to mushrooms.

Flowers

The profitability of growing flowers in a greenhouse can reach a record 200–300% if the business owner provides a sufficient flow of investment and makes efforts to further develop the project. Don’t get carried away and breed all available plant species at once; It’s better to concentrate on three or four options, because otherwise the owner will have to either provide his own breeding conditions for each species, which will incredibly complicate the technological component, or put up with constant losses, which is extremely sad due to the high cost of the starting material.

The easiest way to grow in greenhouse conditions is:

1. Chrysanthemums. These are heat-loving plants that, subject to proper temperature conditions, bring profit all year round. The basis for cultivation is a mixture of sand and humus. The buds ripen for about four months; The recommended temperature for the whole year is approximately +18°C; during blooming it is recommended to reduce it to +10°C. In addition, in winter, flowers need additional lighting.
2. roses. The most popular flowers in domestic conditions, the demand for which continues throughout the year, and periodically, a few days before and after significant holidays, increases several times. Roses are mostly unpretentious, can grow in winter without specially equipped lighting and, which is especially nice for a business owner, do not require annual soil renewal. The only difficulty is the need to organize the propagation of flowers through grafting and layering - labor-intensive and time-consuming operations.
3. tulips. The soil preferred by plants is ordinary soil, into which ash and mineral fertilizers are added. The first buds ripen approximately three months after the bulbs are planted. During ripening, the temperature in the greenhouse (or in the sector reserved for tulips) should be increased from +2°C to +21°C. In addition, growing shoots need bright artificial lighting.

Greenery

It is most logical for a greenhouse owner to grow the most popular and at the same time unpretentious types of greens and herbs - dill and green onions:

1. Dill. The most versatile variety of greens, in constant demand throughout the year. There is a slight seasonality, but the owner of the greenhouse does not need to be afraid of ruin - it is almost impossible not to be able to sell fresh and well-grown dill. In order to reduce the stretching of the stem, which leads to a decrease in taste, the soil used for cultivation should be maintained at constant moisture; The easiest way to achieve this is by regular hand watering. The best temperature for growing greens is about +15°C; in one summer you can get up to 3-4 harvests of dill, which allows you to cover the need of buyers for it throughout the year.
2. green onion. When growing, it is necessary to take care not only of timely moistening of the soil and illumination of the shoots, but also of organizing the packaging process: the more carefully the feather is collected, the longer it will be able to maintain its presentation and, therefore, the fewer losses the entrepreneur will have to endure. With proper organization of the process, up to 60 kg of products per month can be obtained from 10 square meters of greenhouse.

Vegetables

Vegetables are the most unpretentious crops: they can grow in almost any soil without fertilizers and even in the absence of normal lighting. True, we should not forget that improved conditions lead to increased productivity - the more an entrepreneur invests in greenhouse farming, the sooner the investment will pay off.

Most often, cucumbers and tomatoes are grown in domestic greenhouses - all varieties, sizes and ripening periods. For full growth of rocks, it is necessary to ensure normal soil moisture and looseness, in the autumn-winter period - high-quality daylight and an acceptable temperature of about +20°C. Even the most inexperienced businessman does not have any difficulties with cultivating tomatoes and cucumbers, and the products can be sold both directly to people and to nearby stores or retail chains.

Advice: a business owner can use additional funds to organize the canning of vegetables and sell the finished product in jars.

Berries

Strawberries are most often cultivated in greenhouses due to their unpretentiousness, attractive taste and traditionally high demand among the population. To grow it, it is necessary to ensure normal soil moisture, the presence of all the necessary microelements and natural alternation of light and shadow - then the crop can be harvested all year round, not limited to one season. You can grow raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and other berries in greenhouses, however, while remaining semi-wild, they are much more demanding on cultivation conditions, and it will be extremely difficult for a novice businessman to immediately provide everything necessary for good growth and rapid ripening of the berries.

Mushrooms

Growing mushrooms is a difficult task and is not recommended for a novice entrepreneur. Moreover, for normal growth of mushrooms, it is necessary to provide artificial “twilight” and high humidity in the cultivation area, which makes it difficult to combine with other agricultural crops. The substrate must be constantly sprayed with water, and to automate the process, sprayers or humidifiers must be installed.

Oyster mushrooms can be grown both on stumps and in hanging bags. In the first case, the fertilizer is placed on top of the mycelium and the film covering it; in the second - directly into the container. Champignons are usually grown in tubs, optimally in semi-basement or basement conditions. Otherwise, these mushrooms are unpretentious; they easily tolerate a temporary decrease in humidity and even an insufficiently balanced soil composition.

How to choose a place for greenhouses?

If for development it is necessary first of all to determine the target audience, then to create a greenhouse farm the most important thing is to organize a place for the premises. There is no need to talk about choice in this case: few novice entrepreneurs are so lucky that they can choose one plot of land over another without harming themselves.

It is easy to arrange the area for a greenhouse, observing the basic requirements:

1. The area after treatment should be completely flat, without hills or depressions. An exception can be made if you plan to devote the entire room to growing mushrooms: creating natural shading and corners of high humidity will only benefit the entrepreneur.
2. The greenhouse must be protected from strong gusts of wind by installing special fences, shields and other protective elements. In addition, during the cold season, they will prevent the formation of snow drifts, which will give the greenhouse owner the opportunity to get into it without unnecessary effort.
3. Even if high humidity in a greenhouse is technologically necessary, when arranging it, it is imperative to provide a ventilation and drainage system: otherwise the building itself will soon collapse from constant rotting, corrosion and the proliferation of fungus and bacteria. If the area allocated for the greenhouse itself is characterized by high humidity, it should be at least slightly dried before constructing the structure.
4. To the site where it is planned to install the greenhouse, it is necessary to ensure the installation of power supply lines, water supply and drainage, and, if conditions permit, heat supply lines.
5. If an entrepreneur plans to grow crops on existing soil, it must be checked for fertility with the help of a professional. And if the indicators are unsatisfactory, it is worth carrying out work in advance to eliminate the problem - or think about bringing new soil and fertilizers to the site.

Features of greenhouse equipment

A professional or semi-professional greenhouse should be equipped with the following elements to make life easier for the farmer:

1. Ventilation system. For normal growth of most crops, it is necessary to ensure indoor air circulation. Since it is impractical to ventilate the greenhouse, and even impossible in winter, the owner should install at least the simplest air conditioner, or better yet, professional equipment that will allow achieving good results already with the first harvest.
2. Lighting equipment. Greenhouse plants lack sunlight, and in order to avoid painful stretching of stems and a decrease in fruiting rates, it is necessary to provide them with artificial light that is as close as possible to natural light. For this purpose, you can use simple incandescent lamps, plasma or halogen lamps - the latter, however, will have to be selected according to the spectrum for each stage of plant growth.
3. Heating appliances. No matter how cold-resistant a plant is, it needs warmth. In summer, this need is satisfied naturally, and in winter, in order to avoid the death of sprouts or rhizomes or to achieve constant fruiting, artificial heating should be used - from standard heating devices to special industrial complexes.
4. Microclimate support system, including irrigation equipment. It would be better if such a system allows you to simultaneously create different conditions for different corners of the greenhouse; otherwise, the entrepreneur will have to install several complexes, which will lead to an undesirable complication of the greenhouse structure.

How to register a greenhouse business?

The easiest way for a greenhouse owner is to register as an individual entrepreneur; for this you should:

1. Submit the following documents to the Federal Tax Service office:
   • application according to the unified form P21001;
   • passport of a Russian citizen (plus a photocopy);
   • taxpayer identification number (plus a copy);
   • other papers as required by the inspector.
2. Immediately after registration, open a current account in any bank registered in the country.
3. Register with the Social Insurance Fund and the Pension Fund of Russia.
4. If you plan to sell retail, have a cash register.

Another option is to organize a peasant farm. In this case, the owner of the greenhouse is not registered as an individual entrepreneur, but he can conduct business within the framework established by the legislator.

How many staff will you need to hire?

To operate a small (up to 100 square meters) greenhouse, the owner will need to attract a maximum of one or two assistants who will monitor the growth of crops in shifts, remove dead leaves, prevent the appearance of pests and monitor the operation of all systems. The larger the area and the more complex the layout of the greenhouse, the more people will be needed to ensure its smooth operation; As the business grows, the entrepreneur will need to attract more and more employees, the number of which in other cases can reach 20–30 people.

How to organize an advertising campaign for a project?

• submit advertisements to paper and electronic media, including television and radio broadcasting;
• order the installation of billboards and banners in your home town and surrounding areas;
• promote natural food from the greenhouse on social networks;
• organize the distribution of handouts: leaflets, business cards and discount offers.

Activities are best carried out simultaneously, modified and repeated from time to time; this will ensure a constant influx of customers and, as a result, an increase in the entrepreneur’s income.

Summing up

Greenhouse farming is a profitable type of business; its minimum profitability is 50%. The advantages of the project are quick payback and the possibility of receiving subsidies from the state; disadvantages - strong dependence on the geography of location, weather conditions and random factors. It is best for the owner of a greenhouse to register as an individual entrepreneur; Another option is to create a peasant farm.

In greenhouses you can grow not only vegetables, herbs and flowers, but also berries and mushrooms. For each cultivated breed, it is necessary to select optimal conditions, allocating it its own angle. The greenhouse must be equipped with lighting, ventilation, microclimate maintenance, water supply and drainage systems; The higher quality the purchased equipment is, the sooner the business owner will receive his first decent income.

What will people buy in any crisis? The answer is simple - food. And if almost everyone starts saving on delicacies sooner or later, then vegetables, fruits and greens are well sold all year round. That is why greenhouse farming as a business — profitable and promising undertaking. Absolutely anyone can do it, including those far from agriculture. The main thing is the ability to effectively build a business, solve emerging problems and not be lazy.

Who can do this kind of business

There are no restrictions - it can be anyone. But the agricultural and greenhouse business has its own nuances. You must understand that you will have to devote a lot of time to plants or hire specially trained people.

A small greenhouse can be built even in the yard

In the case of equipping a “home” greenhouse, it is necessary:

1. Ventilate your greenhouse at least once a day to avoid overheating and effectively remove excess moisture.
2. Take temperature and humidity measurements regularly to adjust fertilization and watering.
3. Make sure that the structure is not damaged by wind, hail, snow in winter.
4. Spray plants regularly against pests and diseases.
5. Weed the earth from weeds, thin out plants.
6. Handle harvesting and marketing.

Note: the ideal option is the location of the greenhouse near the house. The business of growing vegetables and herbs is more suitable for residents of the private sector than for residents of the metropolis.

Where is it profitable to engage in greenhouse farming

The answer is simple - where the cost of its maintenance will be minimal. In the southern and western regions of Russia, the temperature is quite high - this allows you to grow vegetables and fruits without creating a full-fledged heating system. A long southern daylight hours will save on lighting and speed up the process of plant growth.

It has been proven that it is easier to bring vegetables from the south than to create the necessary conditions for growing and spend resources on heating greenhouses. It is possible to grow vegetables in Siberia, but their cost will be much higher than imported ones. But the composition of the soil practically does not affect the greenhouse business.

Keep in mind that you cannot choose a site in an open field for a greenhouse - you will need to supply electricity to it, provide high-quality entrances.

Organization of heating and drip irrigation in the greenhouse

A greenhouse as a business pays for itself well on its own summer cottage or residential area. Why? There are several reasons:

1. You will not need to pay rent.
2. You will be constantly present near the greenhouse.
3. You can connect the greenhouse to the mains.
4. The entrances to your house are probably already established.
5. A home business is easier to run than an industrial one.

Another important reason is the possibility of breaking the contract with the landlord. Situations often arise when the owner of the land, seeing that a new business is successfully operating on his site, begins to demand an increase in the amount of rent or refuses to lease the land at all, deciding to “take over” the business for himself. This issue is regulated by article No. 46 of the Land Code of the Russian Federation. The tenant may legally terminate or change the terms of the agreement due to:

1. Decrease (actual or apparent) level of soil fertility.
2. Damage to the land, its irrational use.
3. Environmental degradation.
4. Lack of recultivation or actions aimed at soil protection.

That is, in fact, the landlord can almost always freely terminate the contract. Therefore, either create a greenhouse on your land, or work with those who are guaranteed not to take your land away after a couple of years of successful work.

How to build a greenhouse

There are two options here:

1. Order a ready-made greenhouse according to the given dimensions. This option is the fastest and easiest - a trained team will assemble even a large structure in 3-4 days and you can start growing.
2. Assemble the greenhouse yourself. This option will cost you less, but you will need to spend time on calculations, studying information and the work itself.

Note: You do not need any permits to build a greenhouse on your site. It is not recognized as real estate because it does not have a permanent foundation.

Quality seedlings are the key to a successful business

What are these structures made of? Typically used:

1. Glass 6-8 mm thick.
2. Polycarbonate.
3. Reinforced film.
4. Polyethylene.
5. Polypropylene.

Read also: How to start a business selling potatoes

The frame is usually made of metal or wood. Winter greenhouses are additionally well strengthened on the ground and calculated in such a way that they can withstand a layer of snow and ice.

In the late spring - summer period, heating for the greenhouse is actually not needed - it warms up well due to the sun. But year-round greenhouses are usually heated with hot air or heaters that emit infrared radiation. For irrigation, it is most advisable to use drip irrigation technology (it can also be used for fertilization).

What exactly to grow

So, you have decided to enter the greenhouse business: what is profitable to grow and what is the most profitable to do? We list the main options:

1. Various decorative flowers for cutting and seedlings.
2. All kinds of greenery.
3. Classic vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini).
4. Strawberries, strawberries and other berries.

We recommend that you do one thing, and not be scattered in several directions at once. It would be more correct to first master one direction, and only then take on the next, understanding the ways of its development and promotion. You should also take into account local characteristics and the level of competition, so as not to end up with unsold goods.

Flowers

Flowers in greenhouses are considered the most promising option - they bring maximum profit and pay off very quickly. But caring for flowers is quite complicated, and the competition in the market is great. Think about what will be bought in your area and what you can sell in large quantities. There are the following gardening options:

1. Cut flowers for bouquets.
2. Fresh flowers (houseplants).
3. Seedlings and roots.

Slice trading is seasonal and poorly predictable, but it brings very good profits. Usually the peak of the cutting season is in the spring - February 14, February 23, March 8. During these holidays, it is quite possible to recoup all costs, if everything is properly organized.

Fresh flowers are in fairly even demand - they are bought in spring, autumn, winter, and summer. But their sales volumes are much less than those of the cut.

Flowers are a great option for growing in a greenhouse.

Seedlings and roots are usually purchased in the fall and spring, but are easy to grow and store. Investments in this type of business are minimal, and the return is quite tangible.

How exactly to trade flowers? This is where large volumes are important. Therefore, at first it is best to work with wholesalers who buy large quantities of goods at low prices. Then, when you already understand the market, you can open your own store, or even a whole network, while continuing to hand over the surplus.

Greenery

Despite the seeming cheapness of greenery, it is very profitable to engage in it. This is generally an ideal option for beginners, since the greens grow quickly, do not require large investments and special care. The most popular greens are:

1. Green onions.
2. Wheatgrass.
3. Parsley.
4. Dill.
5. Basil.

People buy these products year-round, even in summer, when they can be grown in the garden. This greenery can be bred even in racks, placing it in 3-4 tiers. The average yield varies by the following indicator - up to 1.5 kg is cut from 1 square meter of surface. quality greens for 1 harvest. In a year in a quality greenhouse, you can grow 10 crops, that is, 1 m2 will bring you 15 kg of greenery per year.

Note: in one greenhouse you can grow various greens - they combine well with each other and grow quickly. A large assortment of greens will allow you to sell more according to the Paretto principle.

Vegetables

The third most profitable option for earning money in the greenhouse economy is the cultivation of various vegetables. What is the most profitable thing to do? In the middle lane, Beijing cabbage, cucumbers and radishes are usually grown. In more southern regions, tomatoes grow well. The classic cultivation of cucumbers in a greenhouse as a business brings very good income to the farmer. The natural season for cucumbers is very short - in the gardens they ripen in July, and in August they already depart. But there is always a demand for them, and especially in spring.

Tomatoes can be sold all year round

Ripe cucumbers can be stored for quite a long time, they are convenient to store and transport - this is an excellent commodity for mass trade. Tomatoes usually ripen a little later than cucumbers, and their storage conditions are somewhat more complicated. Tomatoes also require better lighting and heating. But it is very easy to grow radishes and cabbages - they practically do not get sick, do not require special conditions and grow easily even in an unheated greenhouse almost from April to October.