Pick-Your-Own farm with a farm stand

Families, tourists, local groups and school trips, plus regulars who come back every season.

Produce sold by weight or container, optional entry or activity fees, and sales at the farm stand such as pre-picked produce, jams, baked goods and seasonal items.

• Growing several crops through the seasons
• Managing seasonal helpers
• Marketing and customer service

• Land is the biggest cost. Estimates assume a lease and cover equipment, planting, a stand, fencing, parking and insurance; buying land would raise costs well beyond this range
• Tree fruit such as apples takes several years to bear, so a lease needs to be long enough to earn back your investment; check lease terms carefully
• Farm liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire seasonal staff
• Zoning, agritourism and parking rules, and any rules on public restrooms; check with your county
• A health department permit if you sell prepared or baked food, and state rules for selling jams or other processed goods
• Weather, pests and low-yield years, so keep cash in reserve

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $30,000 to $150,000, assuming you lease land. This covers equipment, planting, a stand, fencing, parking and insurance, depending on your crops and site. Buying land would raise costs well beyond this range.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your crops, the season and visitor numbers. The estimate assumes at least about 30 hours a week. Weather, pests and low-yield years can hurt, so keep cash in reserve.

Check farm liability insurance, workers' compensation once you hire seasonal staff, and your county's zoning, agritourism, parking and restroom rules. Check lease length, especially for tree fruit. A health department permit may apply to prepared or baked food, and states have rules for jams.