Aquaponics Business Plan

[fuzvulf]

Don't know how decent the professors are in your area but you can check with the local community college. Most of them offer classes in business plans. The ones here are pretty decent and will work with you if you take their classes. Ours are offered free at the local library and are a little hectic, but a bottle of peach schnapps got some personal time with the prof.

[Deorge]

Does anyone know of an Aquaponics or Aquaculture commercial scale business in Pennsylvania, Maryland, or New Jersey? I'd like to connect with someone local who actually has a commercial scale system up and running.

Anyone on this board from there?

Tx,

[SwampCreek]

I am also looking to do the same thing down here in south Georgia. Seems through my research no one is doing it here, or they are doing it and keeping it secret from their competition.

I'm looking to do about 1000 gallon FT or more, I have plenty enough space on the farm. As far as touring an AP nursery, nothing is available here. I would just like to make a few extra dollars a week. Instead of canning for my family and friends, giving it away, start selling it.

I have been looking into grants from the agriculture dept. Talked with farming neighbors around the county and they say there is money to be made, and they like the idea of AP. It's just going to take one hell of a fool proof plan to convince the gov. for a grant. I am young, and do not have it in my pockets.

I see this post has been one year ago, maybe you have had success. I'd like to hear about what has been going on with your situation.

Where there is a will, there is a way

[hellbent]

Hi,
I wrote my own business plan years ago for a loan for an icafe. I was able to secure a loan and ran the shop for 4 years before it was shut down. It took me 5 months to do the research on the business plan. Each business plan is unique to its local and I think there are companies that do this for alot of money. Writing your business plan is a great tool to focus your ideas and solidify your concept. Where will you get the hardware, fish, plants, etc? How long til you get make back your money? What will you do in event of some kind of disaster and how will you prevent it?

I could be wrong, but I do not think anyone will share their business plan with you, especially if its in the same state, after all, why would they want competitors? This may be obvious to you and I, but during the time I ran my icafe, I got several visits from people asking how I did it, that they wanted to do it to. (open an internet cafe)

my $0.02 (USD)

[CarolynAllen]

How about "fish years" There are many tales about the "old fish" that was so smart it couldn't be caught... ie: Golden Pond movie sub-plot. I forget what it was called, I think it was "Walter"... but could be an interesting marketing slant.

[What-If]

HI, I haved the same Idea as you & have been researching for 12 months, I come from a marketing & planning back ground, may I ask you;
1/ What is you target Gross income from this business?
2/ What is your target Nett Personal income for the hours you work & being Open for business.
When you know that then the next stage
3/ Is their enough useable land to achieve your target income?
4/ Do you have enough money for set-up cost to achieve your dream.
Once these questions are answered,
Next stage
Who going to buy my produce?
Wholesale? (subject to market purchase price, 7,14 or 30 day accounts) or Retail? (Instant & Daily Cash Return, that's your bread butter income)
Can you guarantee the quanities required daily for a restaurant?, this can be very large demand, High risk.
Restaurant's fail every day, me personally, I would require a Bank Guarantee to do business with any restuarant in my country, No matter what happens, I get Paid, Min business risk Good business practice.
Next option I felt is safer;
Controlled growth through setting up new form of Veg Retail Shop you could charge a premium price then you can look at others options.
Promoting Guarantee Freshest Fish & Vegies on the market, Chemical Free, Grown On Site so customers can see the Fish, plus feeding times(to get customer interaction) & Vegies growing & coming into season, Self-Pick shopping 21st Century Vegie Shop in a city, I wish I had your land.
This does have potential, what do you think.
My Idea involves larger land, but pretty well the same option, but with-in 1 hours drive to my commercial market & locally open to general Walk-in, Drive-up market.
Let us know what happens.
regards
What-If

[SoapySophia]

Promoting Guarantee Freshest Fish & Vegies on the market, Chemical Free, Grown On Site so customers can see the Fish, plus feeding times(to get customer interaction) & Vegies growing & coming into season, Self-Pick shopping 21st Century Vegie Shop in a city, I wish I had your land.

Now there's an idea! Ever been to a zoo during animal feeding time? Crowds are huge! If you have the time and space for it, providing customer interaction with the fish (ie, feeding) and self-pick produce would probably draw quite a few people, especially families with children. But, working with people that closely does have its downfalls. If you were going to do a set-up like that, you'd want to make sure you could handle children. Personally, I enjoy teaching opportunities, and would relish such a situation, but not everyone wants to be in that situation.

If you could make that work though, that could really find its marketing niche.

[What-If]

Thanks,
it will work,
I agree with your observation about the children, but, I feel if a child is going to eat the odd vegi while there, this action will only encourage the parents to buy more & return, every business has a wastage factor but don't forget the beds are raised, The fish are always protected. The rest will come together. Good luck with your venture.

[kellenw]

We have discussed commercial AP quite a bit on the APHQ forum.

Here's a pretty lengthy discussion regarding commercial AP as well as a fair amount of discussion regarding the Friendly Aquaponics business and operational model.... http://www.aquaponicshq.com/forums/s...-of-Aquaponics

[GaryD]

Hi What If,

it will work.

A wide-ranging discussion on the thread to which Kellen has linked, revealed that commercial aquaponics is (as things currently stand) a very risky business proposition.

I think aquaponics stands a better chance as part of a broader range of integrations....but it would still require sound business skills and a substantial chunk of luck.

For those who are really committed to the idea of an aquaponics business, my advice would be to adopt a modular approach.....starting with just one system (upon which you cut your teeth) and adding subsequent modules as you are able to afford them......and as your market expands. This achieves a number of important outcomes:

• You are not risking money.....yours or anyone else's.
• You get to learn as you go.....making small and inexpensive mistakes (rather than larger and much more expensive ones).
• If you decide that you don't really like the work, or how it impacts your lifestyle, you can pull out without loss.
• You will still be able to produce clean fresh food for your family.....selling the surplus to your extended family and friends.

At the end of the day, if you can't run a small system successfully, you won't be able to run a larger one.

Gary