Farm & ranch business plans have a lot in common with business plans for agricultural firms and food producers that don't rely on tillable land for their products. They need to show how funding will be used to grow out salable products, how many people you will need to run the farm and ranch, and when you expect to reach profitability. The farm and ranch business plan should explore the market need for your products (livestock and crops) and estimate the volume of sales you can derive from each. The plan should have a good answer for each of the following prompts:
• What crops will you raise and how does seasonality impact the sales?
• Will you have animals for sale?
• What personnel plan do you envision?
• How will you market the crops and animals you raise?
• What would you say is the market need?
The farm and ranch business plan will need a full financial pro forma which should model out at least three years of projections (provided you need a loan) or five years (if you'll seek venture capital or angel investment). This component of the plan includes estimates for your average sales volume by crop and your operating expenses over the life of the plan. Key tables include the start-up summary, revenue forecast, break-even analysis, cash flow, profit and loss, balance sheet, and the first year in a monthly detail. The business plan also needs a full product description, a write-up on your marketing and management team, and an exit strategy if applicable. MasterPlans can help get your farm and ranch business plan in shape in as little as 2 weeks. Call a consultant today by dialing 877-453-2011.
