Okay, I'm still a hobby beekeeper, but I'm getting interested more and more and I'm interested in starting a sideline business. What do I need to look at in order to start an apiary?
Some questions I've thought of:
1) How do you establish a web presence?
2) How do you get permission to ship Queens and Nucs from the USDA or other government agency?
3) Is there commercial apiary software to look at to help you manage accounts?
4) What kind of state (my state is Washington) requirements do I need to look at?
I am mostly interested in breeding Russian and NW survivor stock bees, but everything else is interesting to me too... I don't want big pollination contracts, but local pollination to small organic farms would be okay. I have limited funds to invest in a business, so "bootstrap" ideas are also very helpful.
What things should I do first, second, third, etc.?
I would like to research everything before I start offering any products for sale, and I appreciate any advice.
Some questions I've thought of:
1) How do you establish a web presence?
2) How do you get permission to ship Queens and Nucs from the USDA or other government agency?
3) Is there commercial apiary software to look at to help you manage accounts?
4) What kind of state (my state is Washington) requirements do I need to look at?
I am mostly interested in breeding Russian and NW survivor stock bees, but everything else is interesting to me too... I don't want big pollination contracts, but local pollination to small organic farms would be okay. I have limited funds to invest in a business, so "bootstrap" ideas are also very helpful.
What things should I do first, second, third, etc.?
I would like to research everything before I start offering any products for sale, and I appreciate any advice.