Cultivating Success Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Business Planning is an in-depth farm and food business planning course that will walk you through the necessary steps to create a business plan for an existing farm-based business or a completely new enterprise. Join weekly online classes with a statewide cohort of new and beginning farm businesses, hearing from a full line-up of guest experts and farmer speakers, and engaging in regional groups for more networking and community-based support.
Course Details:
- Winter 2027 January 19 – March 9
- Class meets weekly on Tuesdays from 6-8pm
- Online course classroom through Zoom with regional in person opportunities
- $200 course registration per farm (up to 3 participants). Scholarships are available for anyone for whom the course fee is a barrier.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key aspects of small business planning and management, as informed by the experiences of local farmers and resource providers
- Access available resources, tools and support networks for sustainable small farmers in WA
- Initiate a peer-to-peer network of other farmers
- Develop a farm business plan for use in an agricultural enterprise
Course Topics:
- Intro to Business planning and structure
- Value proposition: Product and Industry description
- How & where to sell: Market Channel Analysis
- Customer relations: Marketing and Branding
- Business analysis: Key activities, resources
- Farm Record Keeping Basics
- Financial Management
- Enterprise Budgets and Operational Budgeting
- Operational risk management
- Labor Management & Paid employees