How to Start a Berry Picking Farm

A berry farm can operate in one or both of the following ways: it can sell its berries to a distributor, such as a farmers market, or it can let customers into the field to pick the berries themselves, charging by the weight of the berries that the customers picked.

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Start a berry picking farm by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your berry picking farm. 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 Berry Picking Farm 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 a berry picking farm?

Before opening your farm, there are a number of large items you will need to invest in.

  • Land – A PYO farm requires a larger plot of land that is close enough for consumers to come and visit, with ample parking.
  • Liability insurance – Because customers are visiting the farm, liability insurance is often higher for PYO farms.
  • Tractors – Two 70– 80 hp tractors are recommended. Budget for approximately $65,000, if purchased new.
  • Heavy duty mower – $1,000
  • Fertilizer spreader – $1,200
  • Herbicide sprayer – a 200 gallon sprayer will cost approximately $2,000
  • V-bladed sweep plow – $2,000
  • Drain runner (spinner) – $2,000
  • Land clearing – Average cost is $3,000 per acre
  • Ditching & drainage – Average cost is $120 per acre
  • Forming beds – $25 per acre
  • Plants – You will need approximately 1210 per acre at a cost of $0.50 per plant
  • Irrigation pond – The required number of irrigation ponds is determined by the size of your farm.
  • Irrigation well
  • Sprinklers, pipes and valves – Average cost is $120,000
  • Pumps – Cost is $9,500 per pump
  • Website
  • Marketing supplies

What are the ongoing expenses for a berry picking farm?

Until you’ve completed your sixth year, you will have purchases that must be made on an annual basis. For example, your second year, you will need to invest in an airblast sprayer, which will set you back approximately $7,600 and farm trailers for transporting picking trays. Experienced farmers recommend budgeting for four trailers at $1,000 a piece. In years three through six, your budget should include between $50,000 and $200,000 in additional equipment.

Additional ongoing expenses include:

  • Labor
  • Weed, disease, and insect control – costs will include labor and materials
  • Irrigation
  • Land lease or mortgage

Who is the target market?

Restaurants or wholesale food distributors will make up the bulk of your commercial berry business. You will be dealing with seasonal high volume sales. For the you-pick farm, your clientele will be more adventurous consumers who enjoy the time spent harvesting their own fruits. This customer will be looking for high quality berries and an inviting atmosphere from the owner and staff.

How does a berry picking farm make money?

Berry farms generate revenue from the sale of their produce. If selling to a wholesale retail buyer, the pricing is by flat. You-pick sales are by the fruit and by the pound.

How much can you charge customers?

The average price for a flat of berries at market is $14. Pick your own customers are charged per pint or by the pound. The average price for a pint is $4.78. Per pound prices average between $3.48 per pound and $4.92 per pound.

How much profit can a berry picking farm make?

There are a number of factors that affect your berry farm’s profitability. For instance, how you structure your business, the health of your soil, the type of berry you grow, the weather, and your irrigation system all affect your annual profits. The average berry farmer reports a loss for the first few years. After that, however, average profits are reported at between $1.3 million and $2.8 million.

How can you make your business more profitable?

There are a number of strategies you can implement to increase your farm’s profitability:

  • Bake, can, freeze, and/or dehydrate your berries.
  • Open your farm to the public for entertainment, particularly during the holiday season. This could include – petting zoos, hayrides, and holiday festivals.
  • Offer educational tours and seminars
  • If you have enough land, grow corn and host a corn maze during Halloween.

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 berry picking farm 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 berry picking farm 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.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a berry farm 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

A berry farm business is generally run out of a 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 a berry farm 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 berry farm business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Food Regulations

When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections

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 Berry Picking Farm needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Berry Picking Farm.

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 a berry picking farm

Your marketing strategy will be defined by the type of berry farm you decide to open. For a PYO farm, well-displayed road signs are recommended as the best form of marketing. Word-of-mouth will ensure a steady influx of both new and returning clients. Experienced farmers indicate that billboards, radio, and television ads are often not effective.

Regardless of which type of farm you open, the Internet will also serve as an effective marketing tool. Make sure your farm is listed in online registries such as Yelp and Google Business. Active social media accounts are also a great way to reach new and current customers, keeping them apprised of the latest news. Many farmers have also found success advertising through county fairs and craft shows. Opening your farm to elementary school classes for field trips is another great way to let the public know what you offer.

How to keep customers coming back

As a general rule, 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customer base. To ensure a positive word-of-mouth, make sure your farm is safe and clean. Your staff should be friendly and knowledgeable.

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?

Individuals with farming experience and the acreage to grow berry bushes and plants will be some of the best fits. Having experience or training in agricultural management and business is also a desired skill set. If you choose to open a pick your own (PYO) farm, experience in customer service and public speaking can also prove beneficial.

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 a berry picking farm?

Since you are running a farm, much of the day-to-day activities will consist of tending to the fruit trees and plants. There will also be some amount of time marketing and selling your produce. And, if customers are picking fruit in your farm, customer interaction will be an important part of your routine. In particular, you will be:

  • Feeding, mulching, and planting crops
  • Pest control and pruning
  • Monitoring and repairing irrigation systems
  • Routine maintenance and upkeep on farm equipment
  • Ordering fertilizer and re-stocking supplies
  • Interacting with customers on social media or a website
  • Interacting with you-pick customers
  • Marketing and promotions
  • Harvesting and packaging produce
  • Managing your staff

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful berry picking farm?

Being well-versed in agriculture techniques and trends, particularly for fruit-bearing plants, is usually necessary. Some berries will demand an attentive farmer to thrive. Being-detail oriented in your farming and business dealings will be equally helpful in your success. You must also be a determined and hard-working individual. Farming requires equal parts intelligence and elbow grease. It is also necessary to understand the business of farming and how to read and predict consumer trends.

What is the growth potential for a berry picking farm?

Generally, berry farms are popular, as many consumers enjoy fresh fruits. The you-pick market has become particularly popular as of late. Farming can be an all-consuming endeavor, but berry farms can be modest in size, yet still give profitable returns. For many larger farms, they not only offer fresh produce, but also job opportunities to many local and regional workers.

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 a berry picking farm?

The following are some tips from established berry farmers:

  • Keep in mind that many crops take between one and three years before they start producing enough to really turn a profit. Strawberries, raspberries, and ground cherries produce heavier harvests. Blueberries and blackberries are easier to grow.
  • It’s important to keep in mind that PYO farms are considered “seasonal,” as they do not do as well when the economy is up. This is happening less now though, as people are becoming more conscious of the preservatives that go into fruits and veggies that are pre-packaged.
  • Because weather is also a factor, experienced farmers urge you to consider having a farm that offers a mixture of both services. That way, if weather is bad one weekend, you don’t lose out on one-fourth of your business.
  • For a PYO farm, be sure to have a phone number dedicated to your business, with a voice mail that provides information regarding your prices and hours of operation.
  • Weekends and summer holidays will be your PYO’s busiest times, so make sure you are open.

How and when to build a team

To build a successful farm, you will need to assemble a team from the start. PYO farms require longer hours, but a smaller staff, as the sorting and packaging is done by the customer. Farmers cite labor costs at an average of $8 per hour, per employee. This will vary, depending upon your region.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading