How to Start a Chicken Renting Service

Chicken rental is a new business which looks to give non-farmers a foray into farming. The chickens will produce eggs for the consumer and the business owner makes sure the chickens are sent with all the necessary supplies to keep them healthy and safe.

You may also be interested in additional unique business ideas.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.

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Start a chicken renting service by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your chicken renting service. 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 Chicken Renting Service 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 chicken renting service?

Much of the costs incurred will come from the initial start up. You will need to purchase:

  • Hatched chicks- depending on the types and if sexed – a 100 count will cost between $150-$250.
  • Materials for building coops and enclosures – $500
  • Chicken food, vitamins, feed, and watering troughs – $350
  • Incubators and heat lamps (for winter storage) – $400

What are the ongoing expenses for a chicken renting service?

Much of the ongoing expenses of a chicken renting business will come from maintenance and upkeep. You will be replacing:

  • Chickens who are too old or no longer produce eggs
  • Rental coops that have been damaged or are worn from age
  • Feed and vitamin supplements for livestock

Who is the target market?

Customers who desire more control over the quality of food they eat or who are of the more adventurous type will be ideal for chicken rentals. Additionally, many families explore chicken renting as a food source and as a teaching/learning opportunity for themselves and their children. The temporary nature of chicken renting is also appealing to those who might not want to commit to the long-term care of chickens.

How does a chicken renting service make money?

Chicken rental businesses create revenue from the customers paying to keep rental chickens in their backyards. Your business can also rent out coops for an additional fee.

How much can you charge customers?

Chicken rentals usually consist of two chickens and the necessary supplies to care for and maintain the birds. Average costs for a two-chicken set-up range between $250-$500, depending on the type of chickens and the amount/quality of the supplies.

How much profit can a chicken renting service make?

This figure will fluctuate, depending on the number of rentals and the period of time they are renting. If an average rental cost is $350 for 6 months and you have 20 rentals, that equates to $7,000 gross.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Consider other livestock for rental, such as ducks, goats, or sheep. More and more backyard farmers are looking to try small-scale farming to see if it’s viable for them. By providing rentals and expert advice, they are able to try their hand with less danger of failure.

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 chicken renting service 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 chicken renting service 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.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation 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 a chicken renting 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.

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 Chicken Renting Service needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Chicken Renting Service.

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 chicken renting service

Look to social media and a business website as your best sources of marketing. Connect with backyard farming communities. Word of mouth is still an effective tool for promotions.

How to keep customers coming back

This type of business relies on the return customer, as many will send their chickens back to the farm during winter months and will rent them again in the spring. Offer loyalty discounts or incentives to continue business with you. Become familiar with your customers and what they want from the rentals. Then, you can consider specializing the types of chickens you rent out. Some chickens will lay more eggs than others, and others even lay eggs of different colors. These factors may be attractive to certain repeat 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?

Individuals or families who have farming experience will find this business rewarding and profitable. Those with knowledge about how to raise and care for chickens will be at a particular advantage. Since you will need to host many chickens and store equipment for setting up coops at your customers’ homes, you will need to have a decent amount of land available.

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 chicken renting service?

This is a seasonal business, so demand for chicken rentals will fluctuate throughout the year. This will also depend on your local climate.

In the fall:

  • Collecting chickens and supplies for winter storage
  • Re-stocking supplies for winter care of chickens
  • Contacting customers who decide to keep chickens through the winter to give details about cold weather care techniques

In the spring:

  • Replying to customer requests for chicken rentals
  • Delivering birds and supplies to customers
  • Incubating, hatching, and rearing chicks to egg-laying adults
  • Contacting supply vendors for re-stocks of customer supplies

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful chicken renting service?

Having experience in farming or raising livestock will prepare you for this type of business. Construction experience, used for building the coops and enclosures, is also a positive. Additionally, being able to communicate with potential customers, both in writing and orally, will serve you well.

What is the growth potential for a chicken renting service?

Renting chickens is a fairly new idea, but is quickly gaining traction and appeal. Customers who want more control over the quality of eggs they eat and have a desire to try farming on a small scale will be interested in the business/rentals.

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 chicken renting service?

Make sure you have experience in raising and caring for livestock, particularly chickens or other foul. There will be a mortality rate from predators, weather, and overall health. You must manage these losses as best you can for continued success. You should also:

  • Research your area to see if it is financially viable. If no one in your area has room or desire to raise backyard chickens, you may want to reconsider.
  • Contact local farmer’s markets and farm-to-table groups to advertise your services.
  • Connect with local food communities and small-scale DIY urban/backyard farmers, as these are often where the majority of your customers will come from.

How and when to build a team

More than likely, you will have a small operation to start with, unless you are already a farmer looking to shift the focus of your business. Care and maintenance isn’t too demanding and can be handled by two or three people easily. Seasonal employment may be necessary, during the spring and fall, when chickens and supplies are being shipped out or returned.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading