Family farm visit center

Local families, grandparents, daycare groups, school field trips and birthday party hosts.

Entry tickets or season passes, paid workshops, birthday party packages, school group rates, animal feed sold on site, and sometimes a small farm stand or seasonal events.

• Comfortable handling farm animals
• Good with children and parents
• Organizing safe, well-run visits

• Zoning, parking, signage and permit rules for visitors at a farm, check with your city or county
• General liability insurance; many states have agritourism liability laws and sign requirements, check yours
• Animal-to-human disease risks: plan handwashing stations, supervised feeding and rules about food near animals, and ask your state or county health department for guidance
• Check whether your state or the USDA requires any permit or license for exhibiting certain animals to the public
• A health department permit is likely if you sell or serve food
• Accessibility (ADA) and fencing, plus background checks for anyone working with children

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on your land, fencing, animals, facilities and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and price out your own site, including handwashing stations and parking, before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your opening days, ticket prices, visitor numbers and extras like workshops or parties. The estimate assumes roughly 20 or more hours a week.

Check zoning, parking, signage and permit rules with your city or county. Check liability insurance and your state's agritourism laws. Ask your health department about animal contact hygiene and food permits, and check USDA or state animal exhibit, ADA, fencing and background check requirements.