How to grow in a greenhouse all year round? Receive harvests whole year is possible only during the construction capital winter greenhouses. Structures can be erected on a wooden or galvanized metal frame. for a business, it must have a foundation; its thickness depends on the climatic conditions of the region.

A greenhouse in winter as a business, covered with polyethylene, will cost cheapest. However, film coating has a number of disadvantages: fragility, poor light transmission. The film will have to be replaced every season, which will significantly reduce the profitability of the structure. Film greenhouses are suitable for growing moisture-loving crops: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers. Greens, strawberries and flowers do not need the increased humidity that film creates.

Glazed greenhouses are more durable, but their construction will cost more. For greenhouses, you need not household glass, but tempered industrial glass; it is much more resistant to weather conditions. The downside of glass greenhouses is excess ultraviolet radiation. On hot and sunny days, plants will have to be shaded to avoid burns.

Perfect option– a greenhouse covered with sheets of acrylic or polycarbonate.

They are durable, easy to cut and bend, taking any shape.

Polycarbonate allows sunlight to pass through and is suitable even for the coldest regions.

Suitable for industrial cultivation single-pitch structures.

This shape ensures uniform illumination and prevents snow from lingering on the roof.

It is advisable to make the northern wall of the greenhouse opaque by lining it with timber or cinder blocks. A blank wall will create the effect of a solar panel, allowing you to save on heating costs.

The structure must be equipped with a ventilation system, climate control and automatic drip irrigation. A double door or vestibule is required at the entrance area; this will protect the plants from the cold in winter.

The most important issue for year-round greenhouses is heating in the cold season. To save money, you can combine conventional heating methods with biofuel. For heating you can use wood stoves, fires, electric boilers, infrared cables. Most often, farmers combine several methods.

Industrial greenhouses are of impressive size. The most common area is from 500 sq. m to 1 ha. For strength, load-bearing columns are installed inside the structure. Farmer's greenhouse may have more modest dimensions. For vegetables and flowers, it is worth building structures of 150-200 square meters. m, for greenery greenhouses of 100-120 square meters are suitable. m.

Choosing crops

Experts are unanimous: it is most profitable to grow flowers in a greenhouse. In second place are greens, in third are vegetables. Those who decide to bet on berry crops, primarily strawberries, have good chances.

The choice of a particular crop for cultivation depends on many factors:

1. Level of competition in the region. Before you get started, you need to find out what other entrepreneurs are growing. It is worth considering that in summer and early autumn the profitability of the greenhouse business decreases due to an increase in the supply of soil crops.
2. Consumer preferences. Bet on what is in high demand. Beginning farmers should grow the most popular crops that are easier to sell.
3. Level of initial investment. The cheapest option is to build a small greenhouse for greenery. Growing flowers is much more expensive; they are demanding in terms of heating, lighting, and the size of greenhouses.
4. Climate. The colder the region, the less profitable greenhouse farming is due to high heating costs.

Characteristics of popular crops

What is profitable to grow in a greenhouse all year round? In a greenhouse, they are most often grown, and, or. Let's look at this in more detail.

IMPORTANT! You need to choose varieties cultivated for indoor soil, characterized by a rich taste and the correct shape of the berries, as well as their density and moderate juiciness.

Basic costs

A winter greenhouse as a business requires significant initial investment. These include:

1. Purchase or lease of land. The price depends on the distance. It is worth considering that a farm located far away increases transportation costs.
2. Construction and equipment of a greenhouse. The most expensive option is a fully automated structure with a climate control system, drip irrigation, self-ventilation, fogging and shading.
3. Purchase of planting material. The cheapest option is to buy seeds. Grown seedlings and cuttings for flower rootstocks are more expensive. In the future, you can allocate an area in the greenhouse for the constant cultivation of seedlings for yourself and for sale.
4. Registration of a farm or individual entrepreneur. Necessary for entrepreneurs planning active work with retail and attracting employees. A small greenhouse on its own plot does not require registration, but it limits the farmer’s ability to find buyers for his products.

In addition to one-time expenses, the farmer is also expected to monthly expenses. These include:

• expenses for heating, lighting and plumbing;
• purchase of fertilizers;
• fare;
• employee salaries.

Profitability

Experts estimate the average profitability of a winter greenhouse at 20%.

When breeding flowers and greenery it reaches 30% and higher, profitability vegetable greenhouses – no more than 15%.

Payback periods depend on the size of greenhouses and the level of demand.

To get the maximum benefit from your greenhouse business, you must:

1. Choose the right crop to grow. Undemanding greens are suitable for novice farmers; flowers or strawberries are suitable for more experienced farmers. Vegetables should only be grown in regions with a temperate climate and low competition.
2. Build a quality greenhouse, which will not require annual repairs. Structures made from decommissioned double-glazed windows are not suitable for business.
   Consider the issue of lighting and heating.
3. Choose a growing technology. Soil technologies are too expensive, and consumers do not like crops grown hydroponically. A compromise option is hanging growing or shelving technologies. The soil layers are placed in tiers, each equipped with lighting and an irrigation system. Strawberries can be grown in special mats placed in vertical or horizontal plastic sleeves.
4. Control the composition of the soil. The greenhouse business requires frequent replacement of the soil; with continuous cultivation and dense planting, it is quickly depleted. It is necessary to apply fertilizer every 2 weeks.
5. Use varieties cultivated for growing in greenhouses. They are disease resistant, have a short growing season and excellent yield. It is recommended to focus on the 2-3 most popular varieties, excluding constant experiments with new products.

A greenhouse business can become successful and provide the owner with a constant profit. In order not to be disappointed, it is important to analyze your capabilities long before the start, draw up a detailed business plan and think through the issues of selling products.

Business in Russia. Guides to starting a business in the regions.
700,000 entrepreneurs in the country trust us

* The calculations use average data for Russia

It is no secret that the agricultural sector in our country is going through hard times these days. However, business in this area can be very profitable, especially if the entrepreneur has the necessary knowledge and experience.

Among the most promising areas is the so-called greenhouse business, which is most relevant for the central part of Russia, where there is a shortage of fresh vegetables in the pre-season and off-season.

Profitability of greenhouse business

Competition in this area is assessed as relatively low. The most difficult thing is to accurately assess the profitability of such a business project. This indicator depends on many variables and, first of all, on the geographical location of the greenhouse. On the one hand, as mentioned above, growing fresh vegetables in a greenhouse is more in demand in the middle zone and northern regions of our country than in the south. In the south the competition is much higher and the off-season period is much shorter.

On the other hand, the central part of Russia is characterized by sharp temperature changes and even frosts. In addition, there is a lack of sunlight there. Consequently, additional costs will be required for lighting and heating of greenhouses, which, in turn, will lead to an increase in production costs. Thus, growing greenhouse vegetables, for example, in Moscow and the Moscow region may turn out to be unprofitable due to the high cost of local greenhouse products and taking into account the fact that large quantities of fruits and vegetables are imported into this region from the south at lower prices.

Trending product 2019

Thousands of ideas for making quick money. The whole world experience is in your pocket..

Of course, profitability directly depends on what exactly is grown in greenhouses. Most often these are greens, flowers and vegetables. In addition, experienced agronomists undertake to grow various crops exotic for our country in greenhouses. The latter option is not suitable for a novice entrepreneur for two more reasons: its implementation requires considerable investment, and the business itself is characterized by high risks, which are associated, firstly, with the whimsical nature of such plants, and secondly, with the inability to accurately predict the demand for such products in Russian market.

Flowers are in first place in terms of profitability in the greenhouse business, but investments in the flower business will be the most impressive, since you will need large areas for the construction of greenhouses. But if you do not yet have a large start-up capital or special experience in growing greenhouse plants, experts advise starting with greens (onions, parsley, dill, lettuce, etc.), which are much less capricious to weather conditions and have good “ productivity" and is in constant high demand.

Basic requirements for growing vegetables

If you still intend to start growing vegetables, then it is recommended to pay attention to the so-called eco-direction. Recently, residents of large cities in our country have begun to think about their health and prefer environmentally friendly products. However, in order to In order for your products to be called “eco-friendly”, you will need to issue an environmental certificate for it. An environmental certificate of conformity is a document that confirms the environmental safety of products, including their operation, storage and transportation.

It is issued only after manufacturers have passed the environmental certification procedure, during which the compliance of the entire production process and the product itself with accepted environmental standards is established. Environmental certification is a voluntary procedure, but its completion significantly increases the competitiveness of your products.

For To obtain an environmental certificate, you will need to submit the following documents: application in free form, product specifications, a full package of technical documentation, GOST R certificate of conformity if available, certificate of state registration of the applicant enterprise. This list may change depending on the type of certified product. The procedure for obtaining environmental certification is quite complex and lengthy.

It consists of several stages. First, the applicant company provides the certification center with all the necessary documents, as well as an application for a certificate of environmental safety compliance. Then the certification center analyzes the provided product documentation, gets acquainted with the production process, makes a decision on the submitted application, signs an agreement to fulfill the application, analyzes test reports, audits the production or technical process, selects samples for testing, tests the product and, finally, accepts decision to issue or refuse to issue an environmental safety certificate.

If a positive decision is made, a certificate of conformity is issued and subsequently transferred to the applicant. The cost of completing the environmental certification procedure starts from 55 thousand rubles.

So, let's summarize. Investments in the flower business turn out to be 4-5 times higher than investments in growing vegetables. A growing greens is 4 times more profitable than growing vegetables. However, the final decision about what exactly you will grow on your plot should be made only after conducting thorough marketing research of the region where you live and the local market.

Ready ideas for your business

Pay attention to which products are in greatest demand, what your competitors offer and at what prices, and how they sell their products. Also consider the climatic features of the region and your opportunities for starting a business. For example, if you plan to work only with retail at first, then you should give preference to greens (dill, lettuce, parsley, onions), radishes, and strawberries. In addition, you can increase your profit by growing and selling seedlings of various garden and vegetable crops in early spring.

If you are counting on large incomes and quick payback, then you need to rely on wholesale sales. In this case, experts advise paying attention to tomatoes and cucumbers. Finally, if you already have access to the owners of restaurants and cafes and an agreement with them on direct deliveries, then you can take a risk and start growing more demanding plants, the cost of which, accordingly, will be higher than the cost of common crops.

Ready ideas for your business

Also consider the distance between your farm and potential buyers. The farther your greenhouses are located from the city, the more profitable it will be to grow “light” products (that is, those that will weigh less and will not be too demanding on storage and transportation conditions).

Finally, profitability depends on the chosen process. But here everything is not so simple. For example, the hydroponics method provides maximum yield at minimal cost when growing vegetables. This technology can be used with equal success by both small greenhouse farms and large agricultural enterprises. However, its main drawback is the low taste of the finished product.

Often vegetables grown in this way, although cheap, have virtually no taste. Accordingly, they will not be in great demand either. For this reason, for growing vegetables it is recommended to use, albeit more expensive, but in this case, a traditional system using fertilizers that is quite justifiable.

The industry average profitability is estimated at 15%. In some cases, with the right niche and production technologies, it can reach 25%!

How to obtain documents for growing vegetables

If the land plot for the construction of greenhouses is your property and you do not plan to work on a large scale, hire additional workers and sell finished products to legal entities, then no special documents are required to organize such a subsidiary farm. To sell the harvest, it will be enough to take a certificate stating that the land on which the greenhouses are located belongs to you.

If you are going to attract additional labor, organize larger production and sell your products through stores, retail chains, and also supply them to catering establishments, you will have to register as an individual entrepreneur or organize a private agricultural enterprise. In the latter case, you will be entitled to certain tax benefits, but keep in mind that in practice many of them will not be so easy to achieve.

State registration of peasant farms (peasant farms) is carried out in the same manner as was established for state registration of individuals as individual entrepreneurs. In this case, only the farm manager is registered. To do this, he must submit the following documents to the registration authority:

application for registration (form established by law);

agreement on the creation of a peasant (farm) enterprise (if there is a need for it);

a copy of the main identification document of the head of the farm (passport);

document confirming payment of state duty (original);

copies of documents confirming the relationship/property of members of the peasant farm.

Please note: an application for transition to a special tax regime (USN or tax for agricultural producers) is submitted simultaneously when submitting documents for registration of a farm. Then the selected mode can be applied from the moment of registration of the peasant farm.

Ready ideas for your business

A farm is registered by the authorized body at the place of permanent registration (registration) of the head of the farm. Its deadline is on average five working days from the date of submission of documents. As a result, you will receive a Certificate of state registration of the head of a peasant farm, a Certificate of registration with the territorial tax authority, an extract from the Unified State Register of Individual Entrepreneurs and an information letter from the State Statistics Committee with OKVED codes.

If a farm is organized not by one person, but by several, then an agreement must be concluded between all participants, which provides the following information:

about members of the farm;

on the recognition of one of the members of this farm as the head of the farm, the powers of the head of the farm and the procedure for managing the farm;

on the rights and responsibilities of members of a farm;

on the procedure for the formation of farm property, the procedure for owning, using, and disposing of this property;

on the procedure for becoming a member of a farm and the procedure for leaving a member of a farm;

on the procedure for distributing fruits, products and income received from farming activities.

The list of this information can be expanded. The agreement is accompanied by copies of documents confirming the relationship of the citizens who decided to create a joint farming enterprise. In addition, the agreement is signed by all members of the farm.

What equipment is needed for a greenhouse business?

Regardless of what crops you have chosen to grow in greenhouses, whether the land for their construction is owned or leased, whether you are going to make do with your savings or plan to take out loans, you need to start organizing this type of business by drawing up a detailed business plan -plan.

In it you will be able to assess the situation on the regional market, decide on the format of your future business (it can be either seasonal using cheaper and simpler farm greenhouses, or permanent with the construction of industrial greenhouses with constant heating and lighting), assess sales and search opportunities buyers, calculate costs and profits, sources of financing for the project, etc. The costs of organizing such a business directly depend on the type of greenhouses you will use. The most common types of greenhouses in our country are film and glass. Film or polyethylene greenhouses have a lower cost.

On to the cons This includes the low light transmittance of the film and its insufficient strength, as well as high humidity inside the greenhouse. On average, such greenhouses must be replaced once a season. “Productivity” using film greenhouses will also be lower, because plants will have to be planted in them later, which, accordingly, increases the ripening time of the crop. Glass or winter greenhouses have a more complex design and are more expensive than film ones.

On to the pros These include their durability, relative strength and good light transmittance. Under certain conditions, you can grow vegetables in them even in the winter season. But still, glass is a fairly fragile material, and the cost of replacing broken glass will be higher than the cost of replacing torn polyethylene, which also must be taken into account when drawing up estimates.

Recently, greenhouses of the third type, made of polycarbonate or acrylic, which are more durable than glass and film, have good transparency and light diffusion, have become increasingly widespread. The light level in a polycarbonate greenhouse is twice as high as in a polyethylene greenhouse.

Its additional advantage– no need to make a foundation, as is the case with glass greenhouses. But still, unfortunately, polycarbonate greenhouses are also not perfect and have their drawbacks. First of all, this concerns arched structures, which are the most common. Their popularity can only be explained by the fact that it is more profitable for greenhouse manufacturers to produce just such structures, since a standard polycarbonate sheet measures 2.1 by 6 meters. There are also sheets up to 12 meters long, but they are difficult to transport and inconvenient to work with.

A standard polycarbonate sheet is bent into an arc in such a way that the height of the structure is, as a rule, 3.8 meters and the length, respectively, 6 meters, although these parameters can be increased or decreased if necessary. Such a greenhouse is considered small in size. With intensive cultivation, the soil in it is quickly depleted, so it is necessary to fertilize it regularly. The main disadvantage of a polycarbonate greenhouse arched design lies in the unevenness of lighting and large reflection of light, as a result of which only part of the plants is well illuminated. These shortcomings can be eliminated by increasing the flow of light by making the roof of the greenhouse not semicircular, but flat, and the northern part of the greenhouse opaque.

Plants in polycarbonate greenhouses can be planted directly into the ground, but in this case it will be difficult to maintain the recommended temperature regime. Experts still advise using so-called decking, which is a metal mesh stretched over a wooden frame. Along the perimeter of such a greenhouse there are several rows of flooring, between which a small free space is left to provide access to them.

As in conventional greenhouses, in polycarbonate structures it is necessary to ensure constant air exchange, for which through fans are used. In summer they can be turned off to save costs. One mechanical through fan will cost 6.5-7 thousand rubles.

The hydroponics system mentioned above, with all its shortcomings, allows you to reduce the cycle of growing vegetables to 2-3 weeks (which is 5-10 times faster than with traditional growing methods) with a yield of up to 2-3 tons of products per hectare. To maintain such a greenhouse, 5-7 workers will be required per hectare of usable area.

When calculating the cost of constructing one greenhouse, take into account the following expenses: obtaining design documentation for the greenhouse itself and all its external networks (electricity, water supply, etc.), which must include specifications for all equipment used; purchase of planting material plus funds for operating expenses until the first profit is received.

If you are just looking for a site to locate your greenhouse, then take into account the location of the necessary communications. The further they are located from the site, the higher the costs for supply will be. Pay attention to the area around the proposed greenhouse installation location. It should be level and spacious enough to allow for access roads. If you rent land, opt for prefabricated greenhouse structures. They are more expensive than non-dismountable ones, but these expenses are completely justified, because if something happens, you can easily transfer them to a new place.

A lot of controversy among entrepreneurs working in the greenhouse sector raises the question of the need to invest additional funds in heating greenhouses. Some people believe that there is no need to invest a lot of money in modern expensive equipment. Others believe that higher costs at the first stage are later compensated by higher production efficiency. Whatever your opinion, experts recommend starting to save money from the profits you make and gradually upgrading the equipment you use. Do not forget that heating and electricity account for up to 90% of all current costs of maintaining and maintaining greenhouses.

How much will we spend and how much will we earn?

Among the main expenses for organizing a greenhouse farm are the following: renting a plot, building greenhouses and purchasing the necessary equipment, work tools, purchasing plants, fertilizers, wages for farm workers. Renting a plot of land will cost from 80 thousand rubles per year. For one greenhouse with an area of ​​one hectare with all the necessary equipment, you will need from 300 thousand rubles (the final amount depends on the type of greenhouse). Another 200 thousand rubles will be spent on equipment, seedlings/seeds, and fertilizers.

A large greenhouse will require at least two to three workers to operate. The functions of a farm manager can be performed independently at first. For medium-sized enterprises, about ten workers per hectare of land allocated for greenhouses are taken into account. The use of the latest technologies and modern equipment (with automatic irrigation and heating) will significantly reduce the number of maintenance personnel.

It is very difficult to determine with high accuracy the expected income from greenhouse farming, since, as in the case of profitability, it is directly influenced by several significant factors: region (in some regions it is quite possible to obtain up to four harvests per year, while in others - not more than two), remoteness of the farm from the city (on which transportation costs directly depend), distribution channels, etc. The most realistic payback period seems to be within two to three years.

1414 people are studying this business today.

In 30 days, this business was viewed 48,745 times.

Obviously, the greenhouse as a business is becoming more attractive today for entrepreneurs. Its products are in demand.

Statistics from the Moscow Research Institute of Nutrition claim that the average resident of the country should consume 87.6 kg of vegetables per year. Of this, approximately 13 kg are grown in greenhouses.

According to a report from the same research institute, the share of vegetables in the general diet of the population should be increased by 30%. The experience of many countries testifies to the growing component of greenhouse products in their harvest. This is promising.

Currently, the share of Russian greenhouse production per average resident is only 4 kg. Of course, this is not enough. The remaining 9 kg are Dutch strawberries, Israeli greens, Iranian cucumbers, Turkish tomatoes. The agro-industrial complex is faced with the task of fully providing the population of Russia with domestically produced greenhouse vegetables.

Governmental support

The turning point in the current situation seems to have arrived. Unfortunately, this business has been struggling for more than twenty years. The needs of this business were not previously heard by society in the person of energy suppliers operating with the help of discriminatory quotas.

The necessary adjustments were made by the Russian state program for agricultural development 2013–2020 (Government Decree No. 717 of July 14, 2012). Increasingly, entrepreneurs are interested in the question - where to start a greenhouse business?

Where should greenhouses be built?

Greenhouse farming is critical of the geography of this type of farming. If, for example, in Spain a greenhouse can be built anywhere, then, unfortunately, Russia is characterized by prevailing zoning in the area of ​​increased risk for agriculture.

Severe winters, insufficient sunlight, unstable summers - these factors for indoor business mean increased energy costs. Greenhouse vegetable crops require maintaining a thermal regime for their germination and cultivation. At the same time, the heating of these agricultural buildings must function adequately to external temperature changes.

The business plan of a greenhouse business should minimize energy costs, since they constitute at least 90% of the total costs of greenhouse farms. Therefore, it is possible that the reproaches of Russian farmers to energy workers due to the insufficiently balanced energy prices within the entire national economic complex are fair. So far, minimizing costs, and therefore maximizing the profitability of the greenhouse business, is possible only in the southern regions of the Russian Federation.

Future sales planning

An entrepreneur, preliminary assessing whether a greenhouse business is profitable, monitors the important factor of the availability of water supply, gas and electricity for heating and lighting. In addition, minimizing transport costs plays a certain role. Therefore, indoor business is especially in demand near cities with a population of over a million.

Established direct deliveries of freshly grown products to nearby chain food supermarkets are a priority for entrepreneurs. At the same time, maximum profitability of the greenhouse business is achieved and there are virtually no product losses that occur with longer delivery times.

However, even in the case of significant transport costs, the costs of transporting vegetables grown in Russia from south to north are much lower than the estimated energy costs if the greenhouses in which these fruits were grown were located in the northern regions.

Specialization

Beginning entrepreneurs should not be scattered when choosing a “bouquet” of various greenhouse crops for cultivation. In modern entrepreneurship on closed soil, high productivity is achieved only with narrow specialization. This idea is confirmed by many years of experience of the Dutch, recognized leaders in the issue we are discussing. They say that specializing in two crops is already excessive.

In a word, a greenhouse as a business is created on the basis of common sense and sober calculation. When entering it, amateur activities are not encouraged. First, the market is researched and it is determined which greenhouse crop is most in demand. The usable area is planned in advance, and reasonable yield parameters are laid down (greenhouse agriculture assumes 3–6 harvests per year).

What is more profitable to grow?

However, amateur monitoring is not enough; agronomic knowledge is important. One way or another, before entering agribusiness on closed soil, you will have to hire a technologist with the knowledge of an agronomist. It is with him that the individual entrepreneur clarifies the question: what is more profitable to grow in greenhouses? Even with initial specialization in a particular crop, the agronomist will suggest the right variety.

Here are some recommendations for entrepreneurs on their choice of specialization. If close cooperation with wholesalers is planned, then there is a direct benefit to producing tomatoes - a crop that can be stored for a relatively long time. Greens (parsley, celery, lettuce, dill) are beneficial when an entrepreneur trades directly with retailers. Retail is also interested in “greenhouse” radishes, strawberries, and seedlings (in spring). The cultivation of lettuce can be based on direct agreements with restaurant owners.

In a word, it is important for individual entrepreneurs to understand at the initial stage what is profitable to grow in a greenhouse for sale.

Planning harvest and business parameters

We recommend that even before starting investment activities in the greenhouse business, you decide on the buyers of your future products. We need firm agreements and reliable buyers. Priority should be given, as we have already mentioned, to large chain supermarkets.

Then, in order of priority, you should look for opportunities in wholesale trade. And only then – in retail. Therefore, the answer to the question of where to start a greenhouse business will be your agreements with large guaranteed buyers. The sales system must, in principle, be planned in advance.

To understand how a greenhouse works as a business, let’s imagine a simple calculation. First, you have to draw up an investment project. The very first step for an entrepreneur should be the acquisition of a project. Thus, the entrepreneur determines the preparation of the territory, the purchase of equipment, its installation, the purchase of planting materials, and links the ripening cycle and the timing of product sales with cash flows.

The main guidelines for you should be, on the one hand, the maximum possible profit (which you should strive for), and on the other, the minimum profit that preserves the prospects for business development

Purchased greenhouses

Let's consider a typical business plan for a greenhouse business, built on an industrial basis. It is standard, so it is widely in demand. A plot of land with an area of ​​1 hectare for greenhouses can be purchased for approximately 100 thousand rubles.

Engineering soil preparation is being carried out. Individual entrepreneurs purchase standard sections of industrial greenhouses. The coating is often polycarbonate, less often glass.

A section of such a prefabricated structure has the following parameters: width - 6 m, length - 4 m, height - 3.3 m. It costs 110 thousand rubles. How to roughly estimate the cost of significantly longer greenhouses? It is generally accepted that with an increase in length, every 2 linear meters will cost 30 thousand rubles. Sections are installed in rows, in the direction from east to west.

Heating and watering

The most rational heating system is air (with the supply of heated air through special holes in the air ducts from heat generators).

The preferred irrigation system for the price is drip. The costs are small - a few thousand rubles for supply hoses. Greenhouse lighting systems, fertilizers, and chemicals must be purchased. A warehouse and room for inventory should also be equipped.

Benefits and costs

Is a greenhouse business built using purchased prefabricated greenhouses profitable? Only with a well-drafted business plan and strict adherence to modern technologies. Investments in a greenhouse complex with a useful area of ​​1 hectare will be about $30-35 thousand. Of current costs, about 90% will be on gas and electricity.

The annual salary of a manager, an agronomist and 10 workers will be approximately $55–60 thousand. With proper efficiency of greenhouse farming, the profitability of the business is 15%. Such greenhouse technologies provide a return on investment in 3–4 years.

Briefly about hydroponics

The most cost-effective technology is hydroponics. The cycle of growing vegetables on it is three weeks. The harvest from one hectare with this technology in 1 day is up to 3 tons of vegetables. Household farming in a home greenhouse complex is usually carried out by the family living in the house. If hired workers are involved, then it is 1-2 people, and then only for planting or harvesting (the most labor-intensive period).

It should be taken into account, in particular, that a greenhouse business based on hydroponics is more suitable for growing flowers, because the taste of vegetables will be significantly inferior to garden ones. In this case, consumers often complain about the “plastic” taste of the product. However, the greens “pass” with a bang.

Economy option for greenhouse business

If the funds for the initial investment are still limited, your own plot in front of the house can become a “launching pad” for you.

In this case, greenhouses are usually built on their own: frame greenhouses - 2.5 m in width - and lean-to greenhouses, recessed into the ground.

Let's consider their specialization for cucumbers. This crop, unlike tomatoes, does not require ventilation, which makes growing easier. The most economical option is greenhouses buried in the ground (only 1 m above the surface, in appearance it resembles a greenhouse). The entrance to the greenhouse is inclined, like in a cellar. The frame is made of steel wire, with plastic film on top.

Heating is installed at the edges of the greenhouse - two pipes fed from the home boiler. Water frequently; cucumbers love water. Such structures are erected in the east-west direction along the entire length of the site. Greenhouse technologies, as we see, in the case of household farming are based on maximum efficiency.

Maintaining temperature conditions in home greenhouses

It is important to observe the temperature regime. At a temperature of 25 o C, cucumbers will germinate in 3 days, if at 18 o C - in a week. Further, 18 o C is suitable for germination, but no less, since at temperatures below 14 o C the growth of cucumbers generally stops. The problem arises when temperature changes outside the window are significant. What to do then? The answer is simple. Control and measuring equipment must function in greenhouses. As an option, you can install a relay alarm with an audible signal in your home. Then, according to the “Alarm” signal, the temperature of the home boiler should be increased.

If the owners do not want to use a home boiler for heating their home greenhouses, an alternative option is possible - a stove for greenhouses. Usually this is a small, economical stove-stove of simple design, designed for 20 hours of operation without supervision, insensitive to the type of fuel. It is advisable to include in its design a chimney, a gas seal, an ash drawer, and a stove door. They heat in greenhouses with peat chips or sawdust.

Conclusion

The recently adopted Russian program for the development of the agro-industrial complex has already contributed to the growth of vegetable yields in greenhouses: in 2013, the growth rate was 6.7%. It is significant that compared to last year, the dynamics of crop growth in the Ural region amounted to 28%. The greenhouse business of the Volga District traditionally occupies the leading position - 184 thousand tons of vegetables and herbs. In 2014, it is planned to obtain a harvest of 720 thousand tons.

However, the Achilles heel of greenhouse farming remains its gas and electricity capacity. Suppliers of these energy resources, without taking into account the production characteristics of Russian greenhouse farms, set consumption quotas, penalizing them for exceeding them.

By Resolution No. 717, the Russian state assumed compensation for 20% of the energy costs of greenhouse entrepreneurs. It is planned to modernize existing technical complexes, increasing their traditional productivity by 2 times, as well as to build new ones. By 2014, the total area of ​​greenhouses was increased from 2.6 to 3.0 thousand hectares. And by 2020, the total area of ​​greenhouses will be 4.7 thousand hectares, and the planned harvest will be 1,720 thousand tons. The reserves are obvious; for comparison: the area under closed soil in Spain is 52 thousand hectares.

The most important indicator indicating whether a greenhouse is effective as a business is the vegetable yield per square meter. Due to the introduction of new technologies, it is expected to increase from 18.8 kg/m2 (average level for 2010) to 36.8 kg/m2 in 2020.

As we can see, the general macroeconomic situation demonstrates the growing attractiveness of this business for private entrepreneurs.

Do you dream of building a greenhouse and growing for sale? This is quite possible, no matter where you are and no matter what your starting budget is. It’s easy to build, cover and sow, but to grow it correctly and sell it successfully and on time - that’s where the science lies. Let's understand all the intricacies of this business: how to learn to find good seeds, successfully select a crop, organize seasonal cultivation and find buyers. And what specific concerns await you in the flower and vegetable business.

Pitfalls of the greenhouse business

In Russia, the growing business is developing steadily, mainly on the basis of large greenhouse farms. Now let's explain why.

The fact is that growing indoors significantly increases the cost of production. In addition, in the same summer the market is filled with cheap vegetables from open beds and cheaper imports. And not all buyers try to study quality. That is why, without understanding the intricacies of this business, purchasing an industrial greenhouse with equipment and starting to actively grow cucumbers and tomatoes in it is an absolutely losing option.

Stone No. 1. Ill-conceived business plan

As for monetary investments in this business, there will be a lot of them. You need to purchase a large greenhouse (or even several), good equipment and automation. Perhaps even hire people - after all, you will not be able to sell products if you constantly work with the land. And this is another significant expense item.

We advise you to start with a small one in which you can reap a good harvest. It’s better that you first try to grow not for sale, but for yourself, study the market, get big and find your niche, optimize the sales and growing process. During this time, you will already gain something and will be able to purchase an industrial greenhouse. It’s better to raise this business like this than to immediately take out a large loan and suddenly realize that your entire harvest suddenly died or a hundredweight of champignons could not be quickly sold and they spoiled. After all, for quick and big profits you will need to build a greenhouse farm. Can you imagine the cost of such construction?

That's why our website always has such detailed articles with many step-by-step photos - so that you know all the details! First master the skill, study what will grow best in your climate and what will be taken for sale without any problems - and only then move on to industrial-scale cultivation. Note that in Russia there are special programs to support entrepreneurs.

Here are the most proven technologies for growing in a greenhouse for sale in terms of economy:

Stone No. 2. Lack of demand

For example, in the northern regions of Russia, running a greenhouse business is not at all profitable - the costs are too high. But in other areas there is considerable demand for greens and salads. Naturally, the milder the climate, the greater the benefits from the greenhouse business - after all, in such conditions it is cheaper to grow and transport crops to colder regions.

Thus, in early spring, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers are especially in demand in our country. These plants are good because they bear fruit all year round - and you can even sell them for the new year. Greens are also good because... There is a demand for it; it is growing very quickly. True, it also costs a penny, and therefore it is profitable to sell it only in large volumes. Even roses are no longer as popular as they used to be - today orchids and other exotic varieties are sold more. There is even a demand for greenhouse grapes, especially if they are of an unusual variety:

Each region has its own demand for certain vegetables and fruits - study it. For almost any crop grown in a greenhouse, demand varies from season to season, or to a specific day, such as March 8 or September 1. And plan your entire business perfectly - from purchasing seeds to automatic watering.

Stone No. 3. Poor quality or unsuitable seeds

The first and biggest pitfall that awaits you in the greenhouse business is incorrectly selected seeds. No matter what you do with them later, the harvest will be frail and painful, and the sellers won’t even take it for a penny. There are many detailed articles on our website about how to choose the right seeds for each crop, how to plant and how to harvest a large greenhouse crop. But remember three basic rules now:

• Rule 1. Seeds for open ground are not always suitable for a greenhouse - in a closed ecosystem such plants can get sick.
• Rule 2. What grows wonderfully and is pleasing to the eye in a neighboring region with the same climate will not necessarily become a successful project in your area.
• Rule 3. Take the seed seller at his word - say goodbye to the harvest. They always diligently advertise those seeds that sell the worst - and suitable and verified experienced buyers will choose for themselves.

You have already noticed that the picture on the packets of seeds is always colorful. But often you come across fakes: one variety is indicated, but a similar one grows, but with less valuable parameters. Therefore, before you start working in the greenhouse, select the right seeds:

1. Take the time to study the experience of your neighbors with greenhouses - one climate and one region.
2. Buy seeds only from reputable companies and not in your hands.
3. Take only those seeds that are suitable for your climate zone. If the same persimmon could be grown in greenhouses near Moscow, it would already be growing there. And, unfortunately, the packaging itself does not always indicate that a particular variety is unsuitable for Russia.

And, if there is an opportunity to purchase good, proven seeds from the harvest of a neighboring greenhouse, do not miss it. And it’s not difficult to harden them and prepare them for planting - all the information is on our website, with step-by-step photos.

Stone No. 4. Scammers

Even in this area of ​​business they exist. Their main task is to sell you poor planting material, obtained for pennies, and pass it off as high-quality and expensive. For the simplest example, we will give you the sensational supposedly climbing strawberry, the bush of which reaches two meters in height. Don't believe it. Unfortunately, often those who are interested in making money in a greenhouse start with this option. And the result is disappointing - ordinary bushes grow. The fact is that there are no strawberries on our planet that this advertisement depicts. And, if you look closely at the photo itself, you will notice crude photoshop.

Although, remontant strawberries can really cling to a support with their tendrils, and you can also build something like a bush from it (if you use special supports). But the berries will still not appear in such quantities and in such sizes.

Here's what you really need to grow beautiful and healthy strawberries for sale:

We also invite you to watch a video where one tester finally decided to start a “strawberry” business:

Stone No. 5. Costs exceed profits

Heating, automatic ventilation and watering, electronic remote monitoring of the microclimate - all this can cost you so much that the investment will not be recouped even in a year. Therefore, read our website, look for good ideas for yourself, and develop your entrepreneurial acumen.

For example, today it is considered the most economical technology. It is easy to apply fertilizers, it requires little soil and water, the plants rarely get sick, and the feed goes directly to the roots. The main advantage is that such a greenhouse can be easily built right in a garage or bathhouse due to the light weight of its filling, but the disadvantage is that the vegetables are slightly different in taste. After all, they do not live in the ground, and this gives a lot. This is why it is more profitable to grow greens using hydroponics - they differ little in smell and taste from earthen ones, unlike vegetables. There is also an alternative - hydroponics with peat. It will cost you 3 times more and will cost you 30% more in maintenance.

Stone No. 6. Storage difficulties

After all, the most important thing in the greenhouse business is the presentation of the final product. When we grow strawberries or peppers for ourselves, we understand well that homemade natural vegetables do not always look like those from the covers of a magazine, but overseas products devoid of vitamins and treated with chemicals do. Only the final quality will be different, as will the health benefits. But now you will have to look for varieties that will eventually produce almost doll-sized fruits, beautiful and large, otherwise their sale will be problematic.

Remember how you choose the same oranges at the market? We always take the brightest and juiciest ones, without any spots or wormholes.

Stone No. 7. Sales

Sales of products is another pitfall of the greenhouse business. You can sell everything grown to large retail chains or hire distributors. Usually they use both this and this option.

But this also has its own characteristics. So, wholesalers will pay a little, but you will hand over everything at once, without worrying about storing the products. For beginners in this business, the easiest way to sell grown products is to hand them over to a supermarket.

The subtleties of the business of growing in a greenhouse

Experienced greenhouse owners do this: in the fall and winter they grow vegetables, by spring they grow flowers in the same greenhouse, and by summer and until autumn - or. And always wins. Mushrooms, by the way, are not very difficult to grow, but there is always a demand for them:

Forcing onions and herbs is as easy as shelling pears!

We advise you to start your business with greenery: it is unpretentious to the conditions, feels good at a temperature of 18°C, but only requires additional lighting. Its growth is not high, and therefore it can be grown lengthwise, upward, and upside down throughout the greenhouse. From just one square meter per cut you will get up to 2 kg of greens or onions.

Fresh vegetables for the New Year

Selling greenhouse vegetables is no less profitable if you match the demand. Moreover, you can optionally grow two crops in one greenhouse if you separate them well and create different conditions. As for vegetables, we advise you to start with Chinese cabbage and radishes, which are not difficult to care for and almost never get sick, while being stored for quite a long time.

They grow quickly and: from the day of sowing - only two months. But they will take up a lot of space in the greenhouse and will be demanding of care. The same can be said about tomatoes and peppers - you will sell them more expensive, but you will also invest no less. In addition, tomatoes grow for a long time; in total, there will be no more than two harvests per year. But experienced summer residents call cucumbers capricious. For example, they germinate only at 18°C, and optimally at 36°C. When there is severe frost outside, it will be difficult to achieve such a temperature in the greenhouse.

Another secret: today small cherry tomatoes are purchased much more readily than large ones: they are good for canning and decorating dishes with them.

Growing seedlings for sale

Selling is an exciting process. And, despite the high competition in this business, you can easily find “your” clients - after all, gardeners need not just seedlings, but seedlings that are strong, healthy and of a certain variety.

If you have ever encountered growing seedlings, you understand perfectly well how difficult it is. It is important to get good and healthy seeds, harden them and select them. Then, carefully grow the tender shoots, divide them and replant them. For all this you will need special lighting and precise temperature conditions. It’s easy to ruin seedlings, but you won’t have time to regrow them by the beginning of the sales season. Therefore, if you are interested in this particular greenhouse business, get acquainted with its main pitfalls:

1. Poor quality seeds. Believe me, it’s not so easy to buy good ones today. And the bad ones produce weak plants, or nothing at all. But over time, you will establish your own trusted suppliers.
2. The soil. This is the biggest mistake beginners make: just take soil from the garden or buy it in bags at the store. In the first case, you will immediately introduce all those microorganisms that are not very active in the open air, but have been waiting for a long time for their chance to be indoors; in the second, the seedlings will simply burn out. But in addition to everything, each individual culture needs its own composition! Explore our website - it’s not without reason that we always consider all current issues in such detail.
3. Lack of preparation for sowing.

Just know that your ultimate goal is healthy and beautiful seedlings with a developed root system and a strong stem.

Flower business and diamond days

Flower business is both beautiful and profitable:

The whole year is preparation for one single day. Have you already guessed which one? It is also called “diamond” - so many flowers are given to the fair half of humanity on this day. And to a person inexperienced in this business, it seems that it is not difficult to grow the same ones, especially since they are in closed ground and are not afraid of any weather conditions. But in fact there are many nuances here:

1. The most crucial moment in organizing a business for growing greenhouse flowers is the purchase of bulbs. And here's the problem - they are often infected with scab. In addition, the varieties sold are often different from the real ones - but you can find out too late. Also, sellers of some points add to boxes with bulbs of expensive flowers what is cheaper - for weight. And then not only double tulips grow, but also small hazel grouse between them. And this is a loss of space and revenue.
2. Flower forcing is calculated with an accuracy of one day. So, whether your tulips for International Women’s Day are unripe or overripe, you won’t gain anything, and therefore all the expenses and efforts of the whole year will go down the drain. But any factor can affect it: power outage, overheating, counterfeit variety and much more.
3. Preparing flowers for planting in a greenhouse is quite labor-intensive. If you disrupt the process, the flowers may die.
4. Storing flowers after cutting is also not easy, as is transporting them to the point of sale. And even with experienced greenhouse growers, it happens that roses arrive at the place of sale already withered.
5. The difficulties of selling such a product will also make themselves felt. After all, if you fail to sell mushrooms or tomatoes, for example, you can always roll them into jars and then sell them in that form, but there’s nothing you can do about cut flowers.
6. And the most difficult thing: if you grow flowers to order, their color is important. The fact is that the color of any flowers is directly affected by the chemical composition of the soil and lighting. Believe me, sometimes it is impossible to guess what exactly you will grow. And it’s good if the roses turn out crimson or at least purple - but what if they turn out gray? Dirty brown? Here, of course, experience decides everything. And sometimes unusual colors are even more readily accepted in favor of traditional ones.

Also, remember that the flower market is quite crowded. But, if you love tinkering in the greenhouse and know a lot about flowers, try it, maybe you will develop your own interesting variety that will bring considerable profit. And you will keep the technology secret!

Let us tell you one more secret: by combining different options in the greenhouse, you will achieve new colors for the flowers. And everything interesting is always at the peak of sales!

Summary and conclusions

Business in greenhouses in our country has always been problematic: in Soviet times, you could only grow for yourself, but today there is too much competition. But just don’t forget about the trend of the new millennium - towards everything natural, environmentally friendly and safe. That is why overseas vegetables and fruits can be purchased at a reasonable price in any supermarket, or at three times the price from special communes, which, according to them, fertilize the land exclusively with “their own sweat.”

Believe me, even the poorest strata are willing to pay for such luxury. And, if you grow really tasty tomatoes or peppers in your own greenhouse without any chemicals, your sales will improve very quickly and these will no longer be supermarkets, but restaurants. Just prepare for the fact that you will need to study your business all your life. And it’s a very exciting thing!

Creating a business in the form of a greenhouse farming is not a new idea. However, with proper organization, a “green” business can bring very good income. Where to start a greenhouse business and how to overcome the obstacles that arise on the path of a novice entrepreneur? We will talk about this and much more in this article.

Let's weigh the pros and cons

In greenhouses, greens and vegetables grow quickly; in some regions, 3-4 crops are harvested per year. Therefore, such a business, in fact, cannot be unprofitable. However, in addition to its advantages, it also has a number of disadvantages. Let's look at both of them in the table.

Benefits of greenhouse farming	Business Disadvantages
Greenhouse business is simple. Greenhouses are being built quickly. Launching a business can be done in a couple of months	Selling grown products is very problematic, so a constant search for consumers and markets is required
Opportunity to receive subsidies from the state. For example, the administration of the Krasnodar Territory provides subsidies for starting a business in the field of agriculture in the amount of up to 50%	Seasonality of prices and high competition require careful study of the local market
Business can be established in a small area required for greenhouses. Sometimes 2-3 acres is enough. Saving on rent if you have your own land or rent it far from the city	Decent monthly costs for electricity, water, as well as their installation and connection
Fast payback (from 1 to 2 years) distinguishes any greenhouse business

Where to begin?

For a novice entrepreneur, it is extremely important to have a rough picture or plan of action that will contribute to the success of the greenhouse business. It is important to think through many points related to the organization of greenhouse farming, but first of all it is worth paying attention to solving three primary issues:

1. What to grow? Taking into account weather conditions that are favorable in a small number of regions and price forecasts, it is advisable to grow vegetables and herbs. These plants are very unpretentious, do not require much care, and any greenhouse business will benefit from them. Flowers are the choice of many professionals. Exotic plants and flowers are the most profitable area in the greenhouse business. But it is always associated with risk and high costs. It is recommended for a beginner starting greenhouse farming to practice on greens (onions, lettuce, parsley).
2. Who should I sell to? This is a question that must be resolved before building or purchasing a greenhouse. Before starting all work, it is important to establish contacts with buyers. The more guaranteed points of sale of your products you have, the better, because if one wholesale buyer refuses to purchase what is grown, then another will be found.
3. What type of greenhouse should I install: summer or winter? What materials and in what quantity should I purchase? Many people choose quick-assembled greenhouses. They are more suitable for business, but they are not cheap. Some novice entrepreneurs build from scrap materials, and then update and equip the farm as they earn money. Regardless of how much you plan to invest, it is advisable to plan your budget in advance.

Business specifics

There are three sectors in the greenhouse business: growing vegetables, flowers and herbs; Each direction has its 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 is not lower than -5 degrees. A frosty winter is a serious risk; to avoid it, you will have to invest additionally in the purchase of insulation materials. Losses from the cold winter will be many times greater than the cost of transporting products to the northern regions.

A budding entrepreneur will have to choose a direction: seasonal or permanent greenhouse business. Where to start planning? If you are going to engage in seasonal growing of plants, then a regular one will do. A permanent business is based on special industrial premises with protected soil, with year-round heating and lighting.

It is almost impossible to mentally calculate all expenses and estimated income, think through financial risks, and other significant issues 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 a business plan

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

• Activity overview or summary.
• Description of the business.
• Description of products and services.
• Market and industry analysis.
• Production plan and
• Sales plan.
• Financial and investment plan.

What to write about in a business plan?

We present a detailed justification for the project in the table.

Activity overview or summary	The business plan provides for the opening of a greenhouse farm, which will carry out the cultivation, harvesting and subsequent marketing of agricultural products (greens, vegetables or flowers, etc.). Individual entrepreneur was chosen as the legal form. The advantage of this form is simplified accounting, ease of settlements with counterparties and reduced taxes. The project is assessed as successful, since there is a fairly high demand for agricultural products in the area
Business Description	In this section, it is recommended to describe in detail all the objects that will be included in the greenhouse. The business plan must contain a description and diagrams of future building structures and planned engineering and technological communications. It is necessary to calculate the needs for heating, gas, water. For example, it is planned to open a greenhouse farm consisting of five greenhouses, the total area of ​​which is 600 m2, the size of the greenhouse is 20 x 6 m
Description of products and services	A greenhouse business is created to grow agricultural products and sell them to customers wholesale and retail. At the preparatory stage, it is worth deciding on the future assortment that will be presented in the greenhouse. Most often these are greens and vegetables. At this stage, you have to choose a growing method, traditional or innovative, for example hydroponics. When selecting an assortment, it is important to take into account the demand and general specifics of this industry in your region; for this we are working on the next section
Market and industry analysis	A greenhouse business plan, as a rule, contains detailed characteristics and features of the regional (regional, district) greenhouse market. In addition, it is extremely important for the success of the entire business to find potential wholesale buyers, assess sales opportunities, and report on work with wholesalers. The business plan indicates not only future buyers, but also their planned purchase volumes
Production plan and organizational plan	Acquisition or lease of land. Construction of greenhouses. Carrying out all necessary communications. Recruitment if necessary
Sales plan	Before starting all activities to organize a greenhouse business, it is necessary to draw up a sales plan. It is necessary to think about what the circle of buyers will be, and, if possible, establish connections with agricultural bases, shops, supermarkets, food markets and other contractors
Financial and investment plan	Is the greenhouse business profitable? A financial plan will help answer this question. To calculate the amount of profit and the break-even point, you need to keep records of upcoming income and expenses, understand the features of tax accounting and other indicators

Financial plan

The basis of a financial plan is forecasting upcoming income and expenses; without this, a greenhouse business cannot become successful. In addition, the entrepreneur will have to independently maintain these items, calculate planned and actual profit, net profit, break-even point and other indicators. To create a plan and keep records, it will be convenient to divide all expenses into one-time, constant and variable:

• One-time costs are expenses that will have to be incurred once, as a rule, at the initial stage (purchase of greenhouses, cars, plumbing, electricity, etc.).
• Fixed costs are usually monthly expenses paid by the businessman in equal amounts (land rent, employee salaries, water supply, electricity).
• Variable costs are expenses that arise periodically in different amounts (repair of greenhouses, purchase of fertilizers, fuel and lubricants (fuel) for product delivery).

Based on detailed cost information, we can calculate total costs for each month and for the year as a whole. A table will help simplify your work, in which we will highlight columns for each month and columns for types of expenses.

It is significant that in a number of regions they receive 2-3 harvests per year, and in some, 4 harvests per greenhouse. A business plan allows you to quite simply calculate your planned income. To do this, it is important to know market prices and harvest volumes per square meter. Income will appear only after the sale of the ripened harvest and depends on the type of product and its price on the market.

As an example, let's take a green greenhouse business. Let's make an approximate calculation for green onions. In the supermarket, a bunch of onions costs up to 30 rubles in the spring; 1 kg of onions at the base has about the same cost. From 100 to 120 bulbs are planned to be planted in a greenhouse per 1 m2. You can get from 100 to 120 bunches of onions from 1 m2. So, 1 m 2 of greenhouse will bring up to 3,000 rubles. Subtract expenses from income and get profit. Let's say we have already incurred one-time costs. The remaining expenses were for heating and watering the greenhouse and others, which amounted to 2,500 rubles per 1 m2:

3000 - 500 = 2500 rub.

We multiply the profit from 1 m2 by the total area of ​​150 m2:

2500 × 150 = 375 thousand rubles.

After deducting the amount of taxes, we get a net profit, which will show how successful the greenhouse business is, whether it is profitable to invest your money, time and effort in it. Thus, the payback of a greenhouse business for growing greens, if calculated correctly, can be several months. A constant search for clients will allow the entrepreneur to make a profit in the first year of operation, so the profitability of the greenhouse business is quite acceptable.

Investment plan

The investment plan contains a scheme of investments or investments for all stages of business development, the amount of initial 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 the pieces of equipment cost. It is necessary to plan funds for the construction of greenhouses, connection to networks (electricity, water supply), purchase of equipment and planting material. These investments are included in the production costs that the businessman bears before receiving the first profit from the greenhouses.

Which greenhouse to choose?

Before purchasing a greenhouse, you need to decide on its type. The type of greenhouse depends on climatic conditions, assortment and specifics of the farm:

• Greenhouses of the summer-light type are simple and can be installed in a couple of hours. This type of building can be erected in a few hours. The summer version of greenhouses is mostly used as protection from prolonged rains or pests.
• Winter-type greenhouses that transmit sunlight well will help create and maintain the necessary microclimate. Therefore, they are more suitable for growing any plants, including flowers.

Greenhouse materials

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

• Glass. For a very long time, the greenhouse business at home was built on one of the main materials in this business - glass. It was used to create insulated greenhouses that could be successfully operated until late autumn. Glass transmits up to 90% of light. But it is not suitable for the cold winter months, regardless of whether additional insulation is used. Glass has such a disadvantage as fragility; low temperatures can destroy it. And the cost of glazing will be rather high. Therefore, this material is suitable for temporary use.
• Polyethylene is a material that has been used for a long time in many types of greenhouses. Its advantage is its low price compared to other materials. But a significant drawback is the low bandwidth. Many plants will need additional light sources. The greenhouse will have to be opened during reasonable weather to allow sunlight to reach the plants. The material is characterized by weak strength and low heat capacity, therefore it is suitable exclusively for summer greenhouses.
• It is impossible to imagine a home greenhouse business 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. A greenhouse roof made of polycarbonate with a thickness of no more than 9 mm allows for the greatest penetration of light. The walls may be thicker. When choosing a greenhouse made of polycarbonate, it is important to know that it is available in two types: monolithic and cellular. Cellular polycarbonate has more advantages, since it is much more transparent and warmer than monolithic. For greenhouse business, cellular polycarbonate is recommended.

Conclusion

Greenhouse farming is a business that must constantly develop and improve. High competition in industries reduces profit margins. New technologies are emerging, but at the same time the cost of equipment is rising. Therefore, a businessman must be able not only to sell what he has grown, but to navigate the market, use innovations and expand the business.