How to Start a Pumpkin Farm

Also called a pumpkin patch, a pumpkin farm is a place to harvest pumpkins. Pumpkins are priced by weight, and a lot of pumpkin farms sell other seasonal products like corn, apples, and Halloween decorations. Other pumpkin patches offer entertainment, like corn mazes and hayrides.

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Start a pumpkin farm by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your pumpkin 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 Pumpkin 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 pumpkin farm?

You’ll need to pay about $300 per acre, for harvesting costs. As for starting capital, expect to pay as much as $3,000 per acre for maintenance, harvesting, and growth. If you’re starting a small patch, however, the costs will be much lower.

What are the ongoing expenses for a pumpkin farm?

You’ll need to spend about $10 for a bag of pumpkin seeds. Aside from this, your ongoing expenses aren’t too critical. Your land’s rent is determined by its size. Expect to pay about $200 per month for equipment servicing, water, and other materials.

Who is the target market?

A pumpkin farm’s best customers are seasonal. As a pumpkin farm owner, you’ll need to focus on Halloween pumpkin shoppers. Other valuable customers include locals who make food with pumpkins. All in all, most pumpkin farm customers are the same. That said, customers should be careful around a farm’s pumpkins. While pumpkins are pretty durable, customers can accidentally ruin them. Children and animals require extra attention.

How does a pumpkin farm make money?

Pumpkin farms make money by selling pumpkins. Normally, pumpkins are sold by size or weight. Some pumpkin farms may offer hayrides or corn mazes for entertainment. Others may sell pumpkin carving stencils and tools. Get creative! Most pumpkin patches are similar, so those offering unique products can become local favorites.

A few pumpkin farms may want to sell other grown goods. Corn, squash, and other vegetables are great to sell. They can be grown easily, and  can even be grown in the same plot as the pumpkins.

How much can you charge customers?

Customers can be charged about $5 for a soccer-ball-sized pumpkin. You can sell small, hand-sized pumpkins for as little as $1. Charge customers about $10 per person for hayrides, and use competitive prices when selling other products.

How much profit can a pumpkin farm make?

The average, small pumpkin farm can make about $30,000 per year. Profit varies greatly, however, as all farms are different sizes. Farm tourism is a multi-million-dollar industry in the United States, so location matters a lot.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Differentiate your patch as soon as possible. Around Halloween, a ton of pumpkin patches will pop up. Offer hayrides or other services, and offer competitive prices. Your location, too, should be thought out. Sell to families, and make your farm visible to schools.

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 pumpkin 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 pumpkin 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 pumpkin 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 pumpkin 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 pumpkin 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 pumpkin farm business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Health Regulations

If you plan to sell food at your pumpkin farm business, 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 inspection can be found here.

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 Pumpkin Farm needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Pumpkin 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 pumpkin farm

Promotion and marketing should happen at the local level. First, figure out your market. Then, cater to shoppers who may want to avoid Big Box stores, or even grocery chains. These providers offer cheap pumpkin prices, and they’re your biggest competition.

Reach out to schools, carnivals, and small businesses. Ideally, you should be well-known around Halloween time. If you offer hayride services, games, and other amenities, market your business on Facebook for special events. It’s a good idea to promote your patch through carnivals and other events, too, keeping your customers informed through multiple providers.

How to keep customers coming back

Customers will be attracted by good prices and quality pumpkins. Because pumpkins don’t have much diversity, offering competitive prices is your best bet. Differentiate your pumpkin patch by being incredibly available, offering pumpkins year-round or by offering unique products.

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?

The pumpkin farm business is great for farmers, Halloween-lovers, and those with a “green thumb.” If you like planting and selling crops, a pumpkin patch is a great business to own. Owners should be people-oriented, and they should love bargaining. A good pumpkin patch owner will also have a love for Jack-O-Lanterns and everything else Halloween-oriented.

Growing pumpkins isn’t too hard, and it’s a rewarding career. Even if you don’t have much experience growing or maintaining pumpkins, you can learn quickly.

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 pumpkin farm?

Pumpkin farm owners have several responsibilities. First, they need to plant pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin patch owners need to determine sunny, fertile areas. They also need to take care of drainage and watering. Soil needs to be tended to, and weeds need to be removed. 

The patch needs to be fertilized, and disease needs to be warded off. Beetles, aphids, and bugs need to be protected against. Year-round, a pumpkin patch owner focuses on keeping their grounds safe. During autumn, they focus on selling pumpkins to people. Pumpkin farm owners must also pay hired hands, market their products, and reach out to the community.

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

To run a successful pumpkin farm, you’ll need to make sure your crops are properly maintained. Learn to grow, maintain, and harvest pumpkins before starting a farm business. An important part of crop maintenance is keeping away the various bugs and pests that can ruin your pumpkins, so you will need to know how to successfully keep them away from your crops . A pumpkin farm owner will need to understand seasonal growing cycles, harvesting techniques, and mildew prevention.

On the production, marketing, and management end of things, a pumpkin farm owner needs to understand the ins and outs of local marketing. A lot of a pumpkin farm’s business comes from local buyers, so having a good handle on the local economy can help, too. Pumpkin farm owners should be able to manage a few workers, talk with customers, and make a welcoming environment.

What is the growth potential for a pumpkin farm?

Most pumpkin farms are small. Some, in fact, are only seasonal. If your pumpkin farm has a long-standing history, however, it can get assistance from supporting groups. A lot of resources are available, and a successful pumpkin patch can easily become a local attraction.

To become a preferred pumpkin farm, however, you’ll need to connect with your area’s farm association. Farmer’s market associations, market cooperatives, and food associations are your friend, as they can help your business succeed and expand. A very successful pumpkin farm can even sell pumpkins to local grocers. While rare, some pumpkin patches may expand to providing pumpkins to large-scale produce providers.

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 pumpkin farm?

Integrate with local schools and institutes. You should enter the market from a fun perspective. For this reason, you should connect with younger audiences. Keep track of your number of customers, and scale up based upon profit alone. Also, learn to gauge your farm’s average pumpkin yield, annually. You should compare this yield to your area’s other providers. By tracking these metrics, you’ll be able to price your pumpkins better. Record all sales, and use any data to plan for future years.

How and when to build a team

You should build your team as soon as possible. Your pumpkin patch should have between two and three extra hands from the get-go. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to run a pumpkin farm—labor-wise. If you have a larger farm, however, you’ll need a team of three to five before completing an entire growth season.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading