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Profit Potential of Hobby Farms

The profit potential of hobby farms varies greatly. The size of the farm, experience of the operator, and the location of the farm can all make a difference. The type of land will affect the profitability of the farm. Is it bare land, grassland, forested land, or wetlands? Government regulations, the weather, and zoning regulations also come into play.

Give careful consideration to all the previous points if profitability is part of your reason for buying a hobby farm.

To determine the profitability of the farm, first look at the market potential for any intended products. The type of clientele in the area and their ability to pay should be considered. It is better to find a product that has a limited number of producers. How far you are from the market affects transportation costs and the ability to manage your product at the marketplace. The closer you can bring your product to the end user, the more profit potential you have. Producing raw materials that require further processing is less profitable.

If the location has not already been determined, this should be the next consideration. If land is needed, the property should meet the conditions needed to produce a quality product. Perhaps an existing set-up is for sale which may be cheaper than building new. Be aware of any zoning restrictions that might affect your business operation.

Setting aside time to produce a quality product is important. With some products, a high-quality product will return twice as much money per unit with no greater input costs. Larger profits may result simply by packaging the product to please the consumer.


Title: Profit Potential of Hobby Farms Number: 981
Script writer: Mary Anderson Source: Univ. of MN Extension Service
Date: 1995/2002 Reviewers: Julie McGrew, Dave Resch, Ward Nefstead, Bruce Schwartau




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