Over the last several years, an increasing number of states have voted to legalize and/or decriminalize cannabis, with several opting to make it fully legal. A mobile grow op, also known as “a marijuana grow room,” grows this legal cannabis in a facility, which handles everything from germination and trimming to processing and distribution.
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Start a mobile grow operation business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Mobile Grow Operation Business
- Form your Mobile Grow Operation Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Mobile Grow Operation Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Mobile Grow Operation Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Mobile Grow Operation Business
- Get Mobile Grow Operation Business Insurance
- Define your Mobile Grow Operation Business Brand
- Create your Mobile Grow Operation Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your mobile grow operation 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:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is very important. Read our detailed guide on how to name your business. We recommend checking if the business name you choose is available as a web domain and securing it early so no one else can take it.
What are the costs involved in opening a mobile grow operation business?
Because there is a lot to consider when setting up a grow op, a well thought-out business plan is advisable. Once you have determined the scope of your business, you will need to submit a state application for licensure. Application fees range from $150 to $20,000, with an average of $5,000. Most states require proof of a minimum of $250,000 in liquid capital.
As a mobile grow op, your business’ crop will be grown in an indoor space. Whether you choose to rent or purchase a facility, the space should provide an environment that ensures proper lighting, ventilation, water, and nutrients. Recent studies indicate indoor grow spaces average $75 per square foot.
Additional startup purchases include:
- Permits and contractor expenses for facility buildout
- Climate control and ventilation systems
- Lighting
- Plumbing fixtures
- Proper soil and/or hydroponic equipment
- Employee training
- Waste removal system
- Packaging and transport
- Security
- Legal fees
- Insurance
This article is an excellent resource for calculating your lighting and insulation needs.
What are the ongoing expenses for a mobile grow operation business?
Ongoing expenses for an indoor cannabis grow facility are higher than you might expect. In addition to high taxes and lack of write-offs, you will need to consider costs such as business licensing fees, insurance, payroll, equipment maintenance, security, rent, cleaning, and utilities. In fact, one northwest power company suggests the average grow facility consumes between 2,000 and 3,000 kilowatt hours of energy per pound of product.
Who is the target market?
Some grow ops choose to include dispensaries as part of their business plan, while others stick to growing and distribution. Regardless of which path you take, your mobile grow op’s target market is anyone who purchases cannabis, whether for medical or recreational use.
How does a mobile grow operation business make money?
As a mobile grow op, your customers will be the dispensaries you have partnered with. They act as the middleman, selling your business’ cannabis to consumers.
How much can you charge customers?
According to a Confident Cannabis study, wholesale flower prices average anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 depending upon quality and location. Perhaps you could expand this paragraph by mentioning other products that can be produced, such as CBD preparations, concentrates, and edibles, along with pricing.
How much profit can a mobile grow operation business make?
The average producer yields a profit of over $1 million annually, with top producers reaching profits of over $200 million.
How can you make your business more profitable?
With high start-up and ongoing expenses, entrepreneurs looking to maximize profits are encouraged to invest in money-saving strategies at the organization’s inception. Industry leaders have found success through solar power, closed-circuit desalination (CCD), reverse osmosis water systems, rainwater collection and storage, and energy-efficient facilities.
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 mobile grow operation 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 mobile grow operation 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.
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:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
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 Mobile Grow Op 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.
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 mobile grow operation business
As previously mentioned, it is critical that every member of this industry become involved on both a state and federal level. This not only ensures your voice is properly represented, it offers unique networking opportunities along the way. Additionally, since both the dispensaries’ and your organization’s successes go hand-in-hand, it is critical that you partner with retailers whose missions align with yours.
How to keep customers coming back
In this industry, the product promotes itself. Ensuring customer retention means consistently producing quality products and offering both new and returning customer discounts.
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: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, 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?
While the cannabis industry is a rapidly growing industry, it does require specific knowledge, time, motivation, and resources. Ideally, a mobile grow op business owner should have significant investment capital. Extensive knowledge regarding the grow process and a passion for helping to ensure the industry continues to gain traction and support would also prove beneficial.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a mobile grow operation business?
To ensure healthy crops, the facility’s plants and all grow equipment will need to be checked daily. The success rate of each strain should be analyzed and additional strains considered. When ready, the crops are harvested, trimmed, tested, and packaged for distribution.
While the health of your business’ crops is critical, there is much more that needs to be done to ensure success. Because cannabis is heavily taxed and regulated, industry participants must communicate regularly with state and local representatives, growers across the states, marketing representatives, suppliers, and vendors.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful mobile grow operation business?
Most entrepreneurs who enter this industry do so because they have a true passion for the plant and its benefits. They possess extensive knowledge on the subject and genuinely enjoy educating others. As a mobile grow op business owner, you will need to be well versed in all aspects of the growing process. Experience with lighting, as well as exhaust and watering systems is also critical to your crop’s success. Additionally, this niche business requires general advertising and business knowledge. Successful entrepreneurs spanning every industry have one thing in common – they recognize their strengths and weaknesses and surround themselves with a strong team of support.
What is the growth potential for a mobile grow operation business?
Already a multi-billion dollar industry, the legal cannabis industry has created over 300,000 jobs. While still in its infancy stages, this rapid growth is expected to continue, with an estimated worth of $26.3 billion by 2025. As more states opt to legalize marijuana, the growth potential for mobile grow ops is significant.
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 mobile grow operation business?
Because this is a highly regulated industry, with specifics varying from state to state, industry leaders reiterate the importance of a well-rounded, thought-out business plan. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to be well-funded, aiming for more liquid capital than is required by the state. This not only increases your chances for success, it helps solidify your application.
How and when to build a team
Unlike many new small businesses, you will require an educated and passionate team to support you. The first to join your team should be an attorney who understands both state and federal cannabis laws. Visit the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) database for a list of cannabis lawyers in the United States.
As part of the application process, the state will require that you show proof that your team consists of reputable, quality individuals who are dedicated to serving the community. New business owners are encouraged to consider hiring physicians, engineers, horticulturists, security experts, and administrators whose knowledge and experience can help fill in your knowledge gaps.