Small market garden on rented land

Local restaurants and cafes, farm shops, veg box customers and shoppers at markets or a farm gate stall.

You sell produce by weight, bunch or box, through regular weekly orders, markets or subscriptions. Income follows the growing season, so plan cash flow for the quieter months.

• Growing and crop planning
• Physical stamina
• Selling to local customers
• Organising weekly harvest and delivery

• Land tenancy length and terms, since you will invest in soil and equipment
• Planning permission may be needed for polytunnels, sheds or a sales point, so check with your local council
• Training or certificates may be needed to use certain crop protection products, so check before buying any
• Selling fresh produce and veg boxes may need food business registration and labelling checks with your council
• Weather, pests and a bad season can hit income, so keep a cash buffer

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on your land rent, polytunnels, tools, seeds and any sales point. Check the tenancy length and terms, since you will invest in soil and equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on your crops, the land you have and who you sell to. Weather, pests and a bad season can hit income, so keep a cash buffer.

Check with your local council whether you need planning permission for polytunnels, sheds or a sales point, and whether selling fresh produce or veg boxes needs food business registration and labelling checks. Also check if training or certificates are needed for crop protection products.