How to Start an Animal Husbandry Business

Animal husbandry is the breeding and raising of livestock for agricultural purposes. Consumption is the primary purpose of husbandry, with many farmers using every resource available from each animal. Some invest in cattle for their milk production and/or to make and sell cheese, while others invest in poultry for their eggs. Each region has its own strengths and weaknesses; entrepreneurs considering this field should consult with their state’s animal husbandry department to come up with a strategy that would work best in their region.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

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Start an animal husbandry business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Animal Husbandry Business
  2. Form your Animal Husbandry Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Animal Husbandry Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Animal Husbandry Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Animal Husbandry Business
  7. Get Animal Husbandry Business Insurance
  8. Define your Animal Husbandry Business Brand
  9. Create your Animal Husbandry Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your animal husbandry business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Animal Husbandry Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening an animal husbandry business?

As mentioned, aspiring animal husbandry business owners need to conduct thorough research regarding land availability. The size of your land, soil, and natural feed will all play an important role in the types of animals you can successfully raise. Each type of animal requires a different type of fencing, amount of land, and grass to graze on. Your county’s local extension can assist you with any prior land information that is on file. When choosing your land, it’s also important to consider future goals. While you may decide to start out small, with just a few animals, quality and quantity will define your overall success and profits. Make sure your business plan and land investment match prior to making any commitments.

Start-up costs vary depending upon a number of factors and is, therefore, difficult to define. Land and labor costs will consume the bulk of your budget, both initially and ongoing. Once you have purchased your farm, there are a few items you may need, depending upon the livestock you raise:

  • Tractors, fertilizer, heavy duty mower, plows, and herbicide equipment – To reduce initial start-up costs, consider purchasing used. Research will determine the specifics of which equipment is needed for your husbandry venture.
  • Fertilizer and herbicide
  • Animal feed
  • Animal feed bunks/troughs and watering facilities
  • Your land must be properly irrigated and must have enough facilities to handle the business’ operations
  • Insurance
  • Refrigeration and storage for goods prior to shipment
  • Website
  • Marketing supplies

Managing a farm requires a great deal of running capital. Business owners are urged to explore every option when it comes to funding. Many have found success through grants and CSA programs.

What are the ongoing expenses for an animal husbandry business?

Ongoing maintenance of a farm can prove quite costly at times, while other years your maintenance budget could be slim. Fences and buildings should be properly maintained, as should your land’s natural resources. Routine maintenance on machinery and vehicles will help reduce costly breakdowns and should be regularly budgeted for. As the business grows and needs change, some buildings may require costly renovations. For farms that raise cattle, feed costs comprise over 25% of an annual budget. Payroll expenses and insurance are also important budgetary costs that must be considered.

Who is the target market?

Target markets for animal husbandry businesses vary depending upon a number of factors. When developing your business plan, conduct thorough research to identify local market needs. Approach markets, restaurants, and health food stores. Speak with individuals in the area. What is your region lacking and how can you fulfill those needs? Can any of your products be sold online and shipped? If so, this significantly expands your potential client pool. How will you reach each of these groups?

How does an animal husbandry business make money?

Animal husbandry businesses make money through the sale of their farm raised livestock and/or the resources the livestock produces.

How much can you charge customers?

Again, there are a number of factors that go into determining your product prices. Your fees should be based on three data points: cost of production, required profit margin, and what the market will bear.

How much profit can an animal husbandry business make?

While many farmers enter this industry to turn their passion into a business, profits can be significant. Annual profits depend upon a number of variables, including animals raised, products offered, region, size of farm, and market needs.

How can you make your business more profitable?

In addition to raising livestock and selling goods, many farms have found success holding farm tours, “family” dinners, and classes that include everything from cheese making to butchering and cooking. Before taking this on as part of your business venture, be sure to discuss this with your attorney and insurance agent to protect yourself against potential liability.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your animal husbandry business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your animal husbandry business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate an animal husbandry business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

An animal husbandry business is generally run out of a farm or plot of land. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to an animal husbandry business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your animal husbandry business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Animal Husbandry Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Animal Husbandry Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market an animal husbandry business

As part of your marketing efforts, you will need to get out in the “field” and approach various businesses that would benefit from your products. This includes: farmers markets, community supported agriculture, metropolitan buying clubs (MBC’s), retailers, wholesale selling to distributors, and restaurants. Network within the community and work to foster mutually beneficial relationships throughout.

In addition to pounding the pavement, one successful farmer suggests implementing a marketing strategy during the building phase of your business. Build a website and start a blog. This is an opportunity to reach potential customers and gives them a chance to get to know you on a deeper level. With the right strategy, they will feel like they know you before your doors are even open and you will have a loyal client base from the start.

How to keep customers coming back

One important piece of advice shared by many successful farmers is that you must match your land and product. If this is done properly, you’ll be able to consistently deliver quality products. Your brand will have a positive reputation and you will have a loyal tribe of customers.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Have you ever dreamed of running your own farm? Of providing nourishment for your family and others in your community? Do you enjoy working with your hands and being at one with nature? Is the freedom that comes with being your own boss something you’ve thought about repeatedly throughout the years? While animal husbandry requires hard work, it is an exceptionally rewarding and fulfilling career.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at an animal husbandry business?

This industry encompasses a broad spectrum of goods and services. The specifics of your day will vary depending upon the types of animals you raise and the goods you intend to offer. Goats, horses, sheep, pigs, cattle, and chickens are just a few of the animals raised on farms throughout the country. Each of these animals require their own type and amount of land, fencing, cleaning, and food. Your days will be spent ensuring both the land and the animals are well-maintained and that equipment is kept in running order. Equally as important will be your marketing and networking efforts and administrative duties. A meticulously written business plan is critical for your farm’s long-term growth and profits. Conduct thorough research to ensure your land’s resources align with the animal’s needs and that there is a market for the goods and services you plan to offer.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful animal husbandry business?

As with every business venture, your success is reliant on your vision and drive. As a livestock farmer, you must be hardworking, dedicated, and knowledgeable about the animals you are raising. Long-term growth and success requires a proactive nature and a passion for learning. Due to the intricacies of this industry, one’s ego must be set aside, with entrepreneurs embracing the knowledge other farmers have to offer.

Additionally, it is critical that business owners treat their farm as a business, rather than a hobby. If you lack the skills to market and/or manage a business of this magnitude, consider attending classes at your local college or seeking the help of a professional. The Small Farm Nation Academy offers members access to a number of resources that can help new farmers build a successful animal husbandry business.

What is the growth potential for an animal husbandry business?

For as long as humans exist on this Earth, there will be a need for food. The two primary sources of food are animals and crops. Out of the various divisions of the agricultural industry, animal husbandry is the most profitable. Growth is reliant on acreage and market need, with many farmers opting to expand their businesses across multiple states.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting an animal husbandry business?

Successful animal husbandry business owners across the globe offer the following advice:

  • Identify and clearly market your competitive advantage before your business opens. Each decision and investment you make should be with this advantage in mind.
  • It’s important to remember that some facets of this industry have seasons. Research and prepare to ensure maximum profitability.
  • Many farmers urge those just entering the industry to abandon the thought of trying to define the “ideal” customer. Instead, identify various customer types that will be drawn to your farm products and determine how you will reach those customers.
  • Start marketing your products before you open your doors.
  • Start small and do your best to stay out of debt. Farm maintenance one year may be slim, while the next year could require tens of thousands of dollars.

How and when to build a team

Unlike many businesses, trying to manage a farm alone is not advisable. It requires long hours and hard work. Carefully consider each prospective employee. What experience do they have? Are they passionate about the work? What knowledge can they offer that you currently lack. Depending upon the specifics of your work, required labor may be more seasonal. Take this into consideration and be honest and upfront with team members you are considering.