Small commercial greenhouse grower

Local cafes and restaurants, greengrocers, farmers markets, box schemes and direct customers.

Sell produce by the kilo or bunch to regular buyers, plus market and farm gate sales. Steady supply of a few crops usually works better than many varieties.

• Crop growing and pest management
• Planning plantings through the year
• Dealing with wholesale and restaurant buyers

• Council planning approval and zoning for agricultural structures, check before you buy
• Water access and any licences or rules for taking water, check with your state water authority
• Food safety expectations from buyers, some may ask for a food safety program or certification
• Workers compensation insurance if you hire help, and public liability insurance
• Heating, cooling and power costs can eat into margins, and a heated glasshouse with irrigation and benching costs much more than a basic unheated polytunnel

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $130,000, depending on the size and type of structure. A heated glasshouse with irrigation and benching costs much more than a basic unheated polytunnel. Treat these as estimates and get local quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your crops, scale and buyers. Heating, cooling and power costs can eat into margins. Plan for at least around 15 hours a week.

Things to check: council planning approval and zoning for agricultural structures before you buy, water access and any rules for taking water with your state water authority, and whether buyers expect food safety certification. Also check public liability and workers compensation insurance.