Aquaponics Business Plan

[What-If]

Thanks Gary, wise words, I am aware off the pitfalls you have highlighted & I always listen to any experienced persons, consider their message carefully, I still believe I can pull this off, The only way I could convince you, would be to explain my entire plan & invite you when I finish. This won't make millions, (not yet anyway lol) just a nice living, but anything is possible if you have the Wisdom, inteligence, imagination, determination.
My favourite work saying " Plan your Work, Work your Plan.
What-If

[GaryD]

Hi What If,

I still believe I can pull this off,

And I hope you're right.

If you start off with something relatively small and manageable.....and learn as you go .......you won't do much damage if things go belly up.

The only way I could convince you, would be to explain my entire plan.....invite you when I finish.

As a fellow entrepreneur, I understand your enthusiasm......and I'm certainly no stranger to risky ventures. As a former business advisor, however, I caution people against taking the same sort of risky behaviour that I'd have engaged in as an entrepreneur.

I'm happy to help you in any way that i can......and I look forward to receiving the invitation to visit your very successful operation.

Gary

[What-If]

Thanks Gary,
as in any business, risk management is one of the keys to success, have triple back up systems for any critical eliments of the venture, eliminate or at least reduce potential risk problem areas are other keys.
Never put all your eggs in one basket meaning never, never rely on one product line.
Multiple income streams MUST be Impliment in any sucessful business to cover the "What- if" or "just in case" factors so when things go wrong which will happen, it dosen't destroy the core business but instead is obsorbed & carried by other income streams of the business until the problem is fixed or eliminated.

I am watching farms & farming communities go under every day, always at the mercy of ever changing wheather patterns, their constant relience on one potential income stream, constantly changing government policys, prices dictated by big business or world markets.

This type of farming holds no interest too me, thats like playing Russian roulette with 5 bullets in a 6 barrel gun, no thanks.
Aquaponics offers a much smarter way for small scale farming. I know big job in front of me, I can live with that, what I can't live with is the crap the supermarkets are feeding us all with out regard.
May I ask is there any way we could communicate in a more private medium.

[GaryD]

Hi What If,

May I ask is there any way we could communicate in a more private medium.

You could use the private messaging (PM) system on the forum.

Gary

[boulderdesign]

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,

Hey, don't know if you ever got anything up and running but I am in the process of a commercial startup in pa. I'd love to touch base with you.

[vihalvor]

Hey, don't know if you ever got anything up and running but I am in the process of a commercial startup in pa. I'd love to touch base with you.

Im an MBA student, just made a small marketing paper with enclosed excel sheet for startup ... id love to exchange notes and spreadsheets if you want....

[keith_r]

whereabouts in pa boulderdesign?
i lived outside reading for a few years.. get out that way every now and then, and i'd be interested in seeing what you are doing..

[sepherraziel]

G'day from downunder,

I have recently gone through the process of a business plan and setting up a Aquaponics business in my local area. There is one thing I have learnt and will hammer home till I die.
If you don't have customers you don't have a business.
Get out there and talk to them, ask them, get every ounce of information you can. Nothing, absolutly nothing is more important to your fledgling business as your customers. It is a constant and tiring effort but it will pay dividends in the end. All the research in the world doesn't do squat if you dont have customers. Ask them what it'll take to get their business and do it. If you cant then dont start a business just do it for fun.
You wont make anything in the first year of business, so don't think this is a way to riches.
Don't give up, be tenatious and keep in their faces, eventually someone will cave, even if it is just to shut you up..lol
Look at your competition, they arent just other aquaponics companies they are every other organic grower and supermarket with in your local area. Look at their pricing and products, do they offer delivery? What dont they do you can. The key to sucess is to be better at the things they are bad at and compete in the things they are good at. Ask yourself why will people buy from me and not my competition. The truth is personallity will make friends, not money.
Also consider the costs like insurance, rent, levy's, taxes, cost of production, licences, land rates etc.. all of these are very real expences that you need to consider and cover.
I love what I do, but sometimes I want to pull my hair out, though after a 16 hour day im too tired to..lol
Any way enough ranting.. good luck! You stick it out and you will have one of the most rewarding careers in the world, bar none.

[GaryD]

Hi Sep,

Welcome to APHQ.

I'd be interested to know more about your commercial AP set up......particularly since such operations are rare at this stage.

What system are you using? What do you grow? What fish species? Etc.

Gary

[seadogBill]

I agree with you Murry. With any business venture you should be aware once you established the need then you fine tune it with research and actual practice. I have had a few businesses in my time and I have helped others to start theirs. What I tell them first is what need you are to service, how far is it from your busines. Also to focus first on your local steady customers, because they are the ones that will pay for your overhead. Once they are established and regular you have broke even. Then your move is to cater to those farther out for your profit by bringing them to you or you go to them. Very seldom it is a get rich quick situation even though it has happened.