FREE Tips, Resources & Information To Start Up & Grow Your Own Honey Bee Keeping Business
Bee keeping is one of those businesses that not a lot of people know or talk about where you can make a lot of money
If you are thinking of having a farming business that has low start up cost and that could be fun at the same time….
the honey Beekeeping business could be a great business for you.
I know it might not be the first business that comes to mind… as people tend mostly to associate bees with stinging and honey making…
often missing the business opportunities that the business of bee keeping represents.
Beekeeping for a lot of people is a hobby …
however this is one hobby that can easily turn into a side-business no matter where you live.
Why The Bee Keeping Business?
Not only are the products and services associated with bee keeping a multi-billion pound industry…
it is one business that you do not need a great deal of capital to set up
You only need a limited space to operate the business. The hives that you need for the business can easily be stored in your backyard
The bee keeping business is a scalable business… so you can start the business small and
then grow the business as you grow in confidence and you have more money to invest in the business
There are various opportunities in the beekeeping business to make money …
both in terms of offering a service and also in the products that can be sold
Put it this way… the business is not in the fact that you will be keeping bees..
The business of bee keeping is in the
products you can get out of the fact that you keep bees such as honey and also…
the services that you can offer as a result of you keeping bees
Keeping bees requires a relatively small monetary investment to get started and can turn a profit within a few short years.
There are many non-monetary benefits to keeping bees like better garden yields, fresh honey, and a feeling of self-sufficiency.
What Are The Opportunities To Make Money In The Bee Keeping Business?
Bee Keeping – Products to Sell
- Honey is the one of the first products from the bee hive that comes to mind.
The rich golden liquid is prized by many as the most flavorful and healthiest of sweeteners.
More and more people are using honey as a natural sweetener in the teas and coffee rather than use sugar
In a good year and strong hive can produce about 100 lbs excess honey.
With sugar prices rising, honey is certain to become a more important sweetener.
- Beeswax is another product you can get and sell from your bee keeping business.
Beeswax has long been prized as a candle wax, but it is also used in cosmetics including lip balm, hand cream, and soap. Wax product can be an excellent source of income.
- Pollen provides another hive product that is often over looked. Pollen is used by many consumers for allergies and has other health benefits.
- Propolis, a sticky substance bees produce and use like caulking, has many health benefits including antiviral and anti-fungal properties.
There are also a number of commercial services that you can offer as a bee keeper
Bee keeping – Services to Sell
Bees have a fundamental role in nature which is to help pollinate plants …
that is they help plants grow and reproduce by spreading the pollen grains when they move from one plant to another to collect nectar.
The more bees there are in an area… the more plants tend to grow and reproduce rapidly.
Many crops such as apples, squash, berries, and beans rely on pollinators like honeybees to set their fruit.
Small farms and orchards need bees to pollinate their plants.
If you are a small farmer or gardener, having bees will improve the yield of almost every kind of crop you have.
Some beekeepers, even those with a modest number of hives, tend to rent out their hives to farmers to help pollinate their farm.
Weird as you might think of it… this is big business!!! ….
often even bringing in more money than the amount made from selling honey by the bee keeper
This part of the bee keeping business requires more equipment as you will need to be able to transport the hives to the various locations but it can by itself be a nice money earner for a bee keeper
You will need to work out a contract in writing before agreeing to pollination work.
What Are The Important Things You Will Need To Consider Before Starting Up A Beekeeping Business
Starting up a beekeeping business will require you to carefully plan everything from beginning to end.
The success of running a beekeeping business depends very much on your beehive and having healthy bees.
Do expect some ongoing costs and routine maintenance
Below are some of my tips, resources and tools that I think might be of benefit to you….especially if you are just getting started in the bee farming business.
The resources might also be of benefit if you are thinking of growing your own bee keeping business.
If you require some more information on setting up and running your own bee farming business… you can use the form below to register your interest in getting some more information on the business of bee farming.
Click here now … to join my mailing list and I will send you some information and tips on starting and running a bee farming business of your own
Here are some factors you must know before you start your beekeeping business
The Availability Of A Market For Your Bee Keeping Business
You will need to do your market research to find out if there really is a need for the products you can supply as a result of owning a beekeeping business or
a need for the services you can supply as a result of keeping bees especially in your targetted area of operation.
You will need to find out if the money people are prepared to pay for the service is enough to reward you for the time, effort and money you will need to spend on the business in order to make a profit.
You also need to check the level of competition within the industry in your area
Are there any barriers to entry that you need to know about … such as if you will need to get a licence to operate the business?
Bee Keeping – Legal Considerations
Not all locations are legal for beekeeping.
You will need to check with your local health department or contact your county or city bee inspector to find out if having a beehive is legal for your area or the area you are targetting to have your bee hive.
The Legal Requirements Of Owning A Bee Keeping Business
You will also need to find out if your state needs you to register your bee keeping business before you can commence operations.
Some States want you to register your business.
I guess its a way of the government monitoring that you will be a responsible bee keeper.
Even if you live in an urban area, you might still be allowed to keep bees on your property.
Check with your local health department or contact your county or city bee inspector.
Every state has a bee inspector and they are an excellent resource.
Bee Keeping – Choosing A Location For Your Bee hive
Once you have registered as a bee keeper or got the necessary approval for keeping bees (that is if you need one),…
the next step would be to find the right place you would want to build your beehive.
In locating a good spot for the location of your bee hive… you will need to take into consideration the following:
- Climatic Conditions – You will need to consider the elements of weather and have your beehive safe from rain and heat.
- Terrain of the area – You will need to find a location that is flat and in shady area.
- Safety Issues for People & Your bees – For the safety of the people and local animals; it might be best to have the beehive away from animals and close neighbors. Bees will come out of their hives and will feel threaten if they are harassed.
- Neighbors – Your neighbors will be impacted by your beekeeping. People might object to having a bee farm too close to their area of residence. People are often afraid of bees stinging and there could be health considerations that you need to take into account when siting your bee hive. Remember to keep up the old beekeeping tradition of giving your first jars of honey to your neighbors every year. This helps to keep relations sweet.
If your neighbors complain, listen carefully. Many times this can be a moment to educate others on the importance of bees. Sometimes they have a complaint that is really about wasps or insects other than bees. Help if you can.
If it really is about your bees and the problem is serious, enlist the support of your state bee inspector. They can be a valuable ally when confronted by unhappy neighbors.
Purchasing The Right Equipments For Your Beekeeping
After choosing a good place for your beehive, it is time to purchase the necessary supplies to build your hive and maintain it properly.
You will need good Sources To Buy Your Bee Keeping Products & Resources
Ebay can be a good resource for purchasing used and discounted items.
If eBay, doesn’t work for you, then there are several online shops you can purchase from.
You can also contact the Cooperative Extension office or the Federation of American Beekeepers for more information.
Below are some links to Bee Keeping products that you might find useful
Beeking – Setting Up Your Shop
Starting up your beekeeping business will require you to carefully plan everything from beginning to end.
Now that your beehive is prepared, you are now ready to purchase your bees.
- Stocking Your Bee Hives
It is highly suggested to go to a reputable Apiary, also known as a bee yard. Do require an Apiary to show a current certificate of inspection from the State Department of Agriculture.
Some beekeepers like to purchase their bees around January and February. These orders are usually shipped out in March and April.
- Transporting Your Bees
Bees are customary shipped in two to five pound containers of about 9,000 to 22,000 bees.
It is a common practice for an apiary to ship bees via the postal service in some countries.
Your local post office may require you to pick-up the bees for the safety of their employees and bees.
A vehicle is usually too hot for the bees and while in transit bees should be stored in a cool shady area.
Starting Your Bee Keeping Business On A Low Budget
Many companies offer a starter kit for beekeepers that include the hive, tools, and protective gear and they can cost between $250 and $500 depending on materials and size.
The kits include only one hive (that is the boxes and frames).
Best Selling Bee Hive Starter Kits
Most experienced beekeepers recommend starting with two hives, so consider making a second hive or purchasing two hives.
Usually the bees are sold separately and a package of bees that includes a queen and about three pounds of bees will cost around $75 – $100.
Check with your supplier, not everyone can get bees through the US Postal Service, so you may have to arrange to pick them up.
Step To Take In Setting Up Your Own Bee Keeping Business
1. Make sure you have enough time in your schedule to take care of the bees.
The time commitment is much less as you become more experienced, but at the beginning …
you will need to be spending a fair amount of time in the hives and learning about bees to be successful.
2. Check with your local health department to find out if there are any restrictions on numbers or locations of your hives.
3. Educate Yourself More About Bee keeping – You can go to a beekeepers school.
Check with your local beekeeping organization for locations and times.
Alternatively you can spend some time reading one of these best sellers on bee keeping business
4. Talk to experienced beekeepers in your area.
They are a wealth of information, knowledge and often mentor newbees (a.k.a., new beekeepers).
The local beekeepers can explain when to expect the flowers (food) to be available to the bees, how to provide water to keep the bees from bothering the neighbors, etc.,
and what to do during the season to keep the bees in their best shape possible. Most beekeepers are very gregarious and would be more than willing to help
5. You might also want to join my mailing list – I will arrange to send you some more tips and links that might be of benefit to you if you are starting up your own bee keeping business
6. Join your local beekeeper organization. This is the very best way to stay informed about any changes in regulations regard the bees or selling products. Networking is a important part of community building.
7. Look up The Local Bee keeping Company In Your Areas – Always check to see if there is a beekeeping supply company local to you.
Build a relationship with these people and they will take great care of you.
If you cannot find a local company, there are a number of supply companies online. Some offer webinars to newbees as well.
Bee Farming – what Next?
Still interested in getting more information on setting up and running your own bee keeping business… you can use the form located here to register your interest in getting some more information on the business of bee farming.
Click here now … to join my mailing list and I will send you some information and tips on starting and running a bee farming business of your own
How To Start A Honey Bee Keeping Business
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