How to Start a Christmas Tree Farm

Each year, many people decorate their homes and businesses during the holiday season by putting up Christmas trees. A Christmas tree farm grows and sells evergreens for those who want real trees (as opposed to artificial ones) during this time of year. There are 25-30 million real trees purchased each year, and the industry continues to grow. Some reports state that sales for artificial trees peaked in 2007 and have been declining since then, leaving plenty of room for growth in the real Christmas tree industry.

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Start a Christmas tree farm by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your Christmas tree 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 Christmas Tree 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 Christmas tree farm?

The primary startup costs associated with opening a Christmas tree business are:

  • acquiring land (at least 10 to 20 acres)
  • preparing soil
  • purchasing seedlings

Business owners that already have suitable land and a tractor can start up a tree farm for relatively little, as they can use their own land and prepare it themselves.

Owners that don’t have land can keep their initial investment low by purchasing acreage in a rural area where land is cheap. Alternatively, they can enter a sharecropping agreement with a landowner. In such an agreement, nothing is paid initially for the land, but profits are split. In an interview on PTMoney, Gregory Bartels, who has 40 years of experience in the industry, says 50/50 agreements are common.

Owners that don’t have their own tractor can hire a farmer to prepare their soil for them. According to Bartels, farmers generally charge about $1,000 to prepare 20 acres.

Investing in seedlings costs more than planting seeds. Business owners should plan on this expense, though, because seedlings shorten the time to harvest by about 2 years. Seedlings cost around $0.35 each, and business owners should budget for planting 200 per acre each year.

What are the ongoing expenses for a Christmas tree farm?

The ongoing expenses for a Christmas tree business include the costs of purchasing seedlings (200 per acre per year). For a ten acre farm, with seedlings priced at $0.35 each, 200 seedlings per acre per year should only cost $700 per year. Mowing and weed control are additional expenses, but these costs are relatively low for most business owners.

Who is the target market?

Christmas tree farms may sell trees to individuals, wholesalers, or nonprofit organizations, and many farms sell to all three types of customers. Of these three:

  • Individuals will pay the most, but most families and businesses will buy only one tree.
  • Wholesalers might purchase quite a lot of trees, but they frequently pay one-third of their retail price.
  • Nonprofit organizations are often a happy medium, paying above-wholesale prices for several dozen trees that they’ll sell as a fundraiser.

Additionally, Christmas tree farms can sometimes sell one or two large trees at much higher rates than most individuals, wholesalers, or nonprofits will pay. Local governments and a few businesses might be willing to pay several hundred dollars for an especially tall tree. Most farms only have a few (if any) of these sales, but even just one or two sales like this can significantly boost a farm’s annual income.

How does a Christmas tree farm make money?

A Christmas tree business makes money by selling Christmas trees. Trees may be sold already cut (precut), or they may be cut down by the individuals who purchased the tree (u-cut).

How much can you charge customers?

The average price for a u-cut tree is about $46. Pre-cut trees at retail locations sell for significantly more.

How much profit can a Christmas tree farm make?

With 200 trees per acre ready for harvesting each year, a u-cut tree farm could theoretically bring in $9,200 per acre annually. Most farms don’t generate this much revenue, though. Many max out their profits between $15,000 and $20,000 because there is a limited demand for Christmas trees in any one area.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Christmas tree farms can add additional revenue streams and increase profits by growing other plants (e.g. pumpkins) and offering other products. In addition to Christmas trees, many farms also sell wreaths. Wreaths can be sold for up to $100, and it’s possible to make six to eight in an hour.

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 Christmas tree 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 Christmas tree 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.

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 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 a Christmas tree 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.

Labor Safety Requirements

It is important to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements.

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 Christmas Tree Farm needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Christmas Tree 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 Christmas tree farm

The internet makes it easy to promote and market a Christmas tree business. Ads on Craigslist and social media can be used to target potential customers in the area. Additionally, most states have extensions or Christmas tree associations that maintain directories of tree farms in the state. During your business’ early selling years, you can attract new customers by offering coupons or special deals on trees. This tactic will attract them to your business, and their satisfaction will lead them to promote your business to their friends and family.

How to keep customers coming back

A Christmas tree farm can set itself apart from others in the area by planting a pumpkin patch. Selling pumpkins around Halloween will help generate visibility for your tree farm. This exposure to your Christmas tree farm will make them more likely to return to purchase one of your trees during the Christmas season.  

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?

Anyone who enjoys working outdoors and with their hands might enjoy owning a Christmas tree business. Tree farms don’t require a tremendous amount of work, but most of the work involves tending to, cutting, and delivering trees. All of these tasks involve hands-on labor.

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 Christmas tree farm?

A Christmas tree farm is a highly seasonal business, so the day-to-day tasks of a business owner vary greatly with the season:

  • Spring is the time for preparing soil and planting trees.
  • Late spring and early summer is the time for trimming trees (which is done once per year).
  • Summers are spent mowing between rows and applying weed control chemicals as necessary.
  • Late fall and early winter are the time to cut and sell trees.

When selling trees during the Christmas season (primarily Thanksgiving to Christmas), business owners often work long days. Because the season for selling trees is so short, as much time as possible is devoted to cutting trees (for precut), helping customers cut their own trees (for u-cut), and bagging and transporting trees.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful Christmas tree farm?

In order to successfully grow Christmas trees, it’s necessary to be familiar with the agricultural practices that work in a particular region. Business owners who haven’t previously operated farms of any kind should consider taking local agricultural classes and working on a nearby farm for a season. Talking with as many area farmers as possible can also provide insights that come from years of growing crops in the region.

What is the growth potential for a Christmas tree farm?

Most Christmas tree businesses serve a local geographic area. Managing multiple areas in different regions isn’t viable, and transporting fully grown Christmas trees long distances is expensive. Many farms will transport trees to a retail location in a nearby city, but it rarely makes financial sense to ship trees across several states (especially since there are tree farms in all 50 states, including Hawaii).

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 Christmas tree farm?

When designing the layout for a Christmas tree business, it’s important to not forget about accessing the trees once they’re grown. There should be strategically located loading areas, and access points should be located every 12 to 15 rows.

Although a single acre can support 1,500 trees, most tree farms only plant 200 per acre each year. Trees take around 8 years to reach 5 to 7 feet high, which is the most popular height for Christmas trees. (90 percent of trees sold are in this range.) Staggering plantings helps ensure a stable income once a farm is established.

Because it takes eight years for trees to mature, business owners should budget for eight years without any income. During this time, they’ll need to pay for mowing, weed control and more seedlings.

How and when to build a team

A single person is able to manage a small Christmas tree business for most of the year. During the Christmas season, business owners may want to hire laborers so they can maximize the number of trees they are able to sell.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading