Small children's farm and visitor day out

Parents and grandparents on days out, schools and nurseries on trips, and groups booking birthday parties or holiday activities.

Entry tickets and season passes, school and group workshop fees, party bookings, plus extras like animal feed bags, a small tea hut and seasonal events.

• Good with animals and animal welfare
• Confident with children and families
• Organising safe visitor days
• Basic budgeting and marketing

• Planning permission or change of use for visitors, parking and access, check with your local council
• Animal health and welfare duties, livestock keeper registration and animal movement rules, check with APHA and your local authority
• Whether any of your animals or activities need an animal activity licence or other council licence, as rules vary
• Infection risks such as E. coli, so follow current farm visitor safety guidance on handwashing and separating eating areas
• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire staff or volunteers
• Registering with your council if you serve food or drink
• Seasonal, weather-dependent income, with animal feed and vet costs all year round

Estimates suggest startup costs typically sit around £15,000 to £75,000, depending on the site, animals, fencing, facilities and insurance. Animal feed and vet costs continue all year, so plan for running costs too.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on visitor numbers, pricing, workshops and bookings. Income is seasonal and weather-dependent, while feed and vet costs continue all year.

Check planning permission or change of use with your council, animal welfare and livestock keeper registration with APHA, and whether you need an animal activity licence. Also check visitor safety guidance on infection risks, and insurance.