We expanded this year to 20 hives and want to go to 100. I've read you need to diversify; nucs, queens, honey, etc. How about some stories on how you did it? Ok, we had 600 pounds of honey this year, still have about 200 left. What will we do next year if we get over 1k pounds - how do you market it? How did you diversify - so you made some extra nucs - how'd you get the word out and sell them? All in all, how did you grow yourself into a successful sideliner?
BooneCtyBeek
sounds like you are off to a good start. you would do best to specialize in one area such as honey. nucs and queens would be a waste because you need all the increase for yourself. build your bees up early for increase but make the most honey possible for your cash flow. let the bees pay for themselves and stay away from debt. It is hard to do and may take a little longer but your chances of success are increased. buy nothing that will not pay for itself. best of luck
"nuts"? Do you mean NUCs, perhaps? Maybe a few more years under your belt would be a good idea.
Ok, ok...I caught the first one, but not the second. Autocorrect spelling changes nucs to nuts. Perhaps I am nuts to think I could build the business to make some extra retirement cash!
How have you expanded your market to sell the honey? My partner's family and my family are selling. We're using Craigslist, have a web site (which could use some work, but, hey, we're just a couple of nuts), a stand by my house, a magnetic sign on my truck, but it feels like we've maxed out.
How have you expanded your market to sell the honey? My partner's family and my family are selling. We're using Craigslist, have a web site (which could use some work, but, hey, we're just a couple of nuts), a stand by my house, a magnetic sign on my truck, but it feels like we've maxed out.
Okay, seriously, don't quit your day job.
Spend the next 5 years building your hive count and honey production. Selling your honey to packers in barrels. And smaller lots in buckets.
Then, if you really want to get into packing and selling jarred honey, build up a wholesale clientelle. Time spent sitting at Farmers Mkts is time you should be working your bees.
Get a Business Degree. Even if it is just a two year certificate from local community college.
I don't know if the way I did what I did in going from small scale to sideline to fulltime beekeeper is necassarily the way anyone should go, or could go. My life cercumstances probably aren't replicable.
Got the bee bug while working at an 18th Century Museum in VA.
Went to two years of school in OH, earning an AAS Degree in Commercial Beekeeping.
Moved to NY and went to work as an Apiary Inspector. Seasonal employment.
Found someone who wanted to sell their 200 hives, equipment, twp pollination contracts and two honey outlets.
Found another outfit wanting to sell too.
Bought both thru FSA Loans.
Inherited another pollination contract from a friend wanting to stop poillinating.
Got another contract on my own for 200 cols.
During much of that time slowly building wholesale honey customer base.
All while working seasonally for NYS.
Got into migratory beekeeping, going to SC from NY.
The final step was not fully my choice, but I'm glad I chose the way I did. The choice was, stay an Apiary Inspector and give up the bees. Or, go fulltime w/ the bees and give up Inspection.
I recall what a friend once said about the two. "A bad year of beekeepimng beats a good year of Apiary Inspection."
So, that's more or less how I went from 12 colonies to 200 to 400 and eventually up to 800 for a cpl years and now more like 400 or 500 the last 5 years. I can work as hard as I wish to and should probably work harder.
W/ this years crop failiar I should have more beework time than honey packing work, which should be a good thing. Which may also lead to alot less honey packing. Time will tell.
Please turn of the Autocorrect. We'll tell you if you spell something incorrectly, if it is important or your meaning isn't clear. Or if we just feel like poking fun atcha.
Spend the next 5 years building your hive count and honey production. Selling your honey to packers in barrels. And smaller lots in buckets.
Then, if you really want to get into packing and selling jarred honey, build up a wholesale clientelle. Time spent sitting at Farmers Mkts is time you should be working your bees.
Get a Business Degree. Even if it is just a two year certificate from local community college.
I don't know if the way I did what I did in going from small scale to sideline to fulltime beekeeper is necassarily the way anyone should go, or could go. My life cercumstances probably aren't replicable.
Got the bee bug while working at an 18th Century Museum in VA.
Went to two years of school in OH, earning an AAS Degree in Commercial Beekeeping.
Moved to NY and went to work as an Apiary Inspector. Seasonal employment.
Found someone who wanted to sell their 200 hives, equipment, twp pollination contracts and two honey outlets.
Found another outfit wanting to sell too.
Bought both thru FSA Loans.
Inherited another pollination contract from a friend wanting to stop poillinating.
Got another contract on my own for 200 cols.
During much of that time slowly building wholesale honey customer base.
All while working seasonally for NYS.
Got into migratory beekeeping, going to SC from NY.
The final step was not fully my choice, but I'm glad I chose the way I did. The choice was, stay an Apiary Inspector and give up the bees. Or, go fulltime w/ the bees and give up Inspection.
I recall what a friend once said about the two. "A bad year of beekeepimng beats a good year of Apiary Inspection."
So, that's more or less how I went from 12 colonies to 200 to 400 and eventually up to 800 for a cpl years and now more like 400 or 500 the last 5 years. I can work as hard as I wish to and should probably work harder.
W/ this years crop failiar I should have more beework time than honey packing work, which should be a good thing. Which may also lead to alot less honey packing. Time will tell.
Please turn of the Autocorrect. We'll tell you if you spell something incorrectly, if it is important or your meaning isn't clear. Or if we just feel like poking fun atcha.
Many years ago, when I wanted to get serious about bees and was beginning to make some serious money, I had around 20 hives. I had a stand in my driveway on a nicely traveled road.
I doubled to around 45 the next year, then spent the year after that really figuring out what 45 hives takes. I had enough honey to start the farmer's market, and believe me, getting into the market is not as easy as showing up and dropping the tailgate. These markets are protected by a complex series of entry gates...and fees. But that's another story. If you can get in, it's a great way to retail honey but these markets take a lot of time filling bottles, labeling, chit-chatting with customers...but I love it.
I expanded to around 60 hives the next year, then spent another year figuring out how to take care of those extra yards. Then a grocery store called me wanting to wholesale my honey to them. Then I didn't have enough honey to take care of these commitments so I was buying buckets of honey from some larger producers.
So I bumped up to around 100 hives...and spent the next year adjusting to this new demand. All this time I've kept my day job. Much of the equipment I needed for expansion came from used equipment I managed to find and I made a bunch of boxes from scrap lumber I picked up for free. I had no debt. I made my own splits. I catch a number of swarms every year.
Today I run around 150 hives. I sell retail at two farmer's markets and wholesale through three grocery stores and a health food store. I still have the stand in my driveway. I still keep my day job and I'm about maxed out on time. I still need to buy some honey to carry me over from year to year.
I ponder dropping one of my farmer's markets next year. It really is a lot of time I need elsewhere. I've given thought to queens and nucs, but selling these requires more time. I've been raising my own queens but haven't produced enough to sell the extras above my needs those guys are calling me for queens.
I've pondered early retirement at 55, but wife reminds me I've still got two kids in college. She didn't grow up with the uncertainty full-time agriculture brings. She encourages me to keep my day job...and it's a job I still like!
Diversify? I think the way to make money is to find a niche and become very good at it.
Grant
Jackson, MO
I doubled to around 45 the next year, then spent the year after that really figuring out what 45 hives takes. I had enough honey to start the farmer's market, and believe me, getting into the market is not as easy as showing up and dropping the tailgate. These markets are protected by a complex series of entry gates...and fees. But that's another story. If you can get in, it's a great way to retail honey but these markets take a lot of time filling bottles, labeling, chit-chatting with customers...but I love it.
I expanded to around 60 hives the next year, then spent another year figuring out how to take care of those extra yards. Then a grocery store called me wanting to wholesale my honey to them. Then I didn't have enough honey to take care of these commitments so I was buying buckets of honey from some larger producers.
So I bumped up to around 100 hives...and spent the next year adjusting to this new demand. All this time I've kept my day job. Much of the equipment I needed for expansion came from used equipment I managed to find and I made a bunch of boxes from scrap lumber I picked up for free. I had no debt. I made my own splits. I catch a number of swarms every year.
Today I run around 150 hives. I sell retail at two farmer's markets and wholesale through three grocery stores and a health food store. I still have the stand in my driveway. I still keep my day job and I'm about maxed out on time. I still need to buy some honey to carry me over from year to year.
I ponder dropping one of my farmer's markets next year. It really is a lot of time I need elsewhere. I've given thought to queens and nucs, but selling these requires more time. I've been raising my own queens but haven't produced enough to sell the extras above my needs those guys are calling me for queens.
I've pondered early retirement at 55, but wife reminds me I've still got two kids in college. She didn't grow up with the uncertainty full-time agriculture brings. She encourages me to keep my day job...and it's a job I still like!
Diversify? I think the way to make money is to find a niche and become very good at it.
Grant
Jackson, MO
Don't just think about it...doit do it do it.
Then kick yourself in the butt because you grew too fast with out enough knowledge. Then spend the next two years playing catch-up on the inner workings of commercial/sideliner beekeeping and paying down debt at the same time as looking for a packer to take your excess honey, only to find out you need to be inspected, need barrels, barrel gaskets, weigh scales, and a good heavy duty truck.
Find a good ag accountant and possibly go work for a commercial guy for a year or two. Amazing the difference just in the mentality aspect of a hobbiest to a sideliner...pick up some tricks "you will young Skywalker"
Then kick yourself in the butt because you grew too fast with out enough knowledge. Then spend the next two years playing catch-up on the inner workings of commercial/sideliner beekeeping and paying down debt at the same time as looking for a packer to take your excess honey, only to find out you need to be inspected, need barrels, barrel gaskets, weigh scales, and a good heavy duty truck.
Find a good ag accountant and possibly go work for a commercial guy for a year or two. Amazing the difference just in the mentality aspect of a hobbiest to a sideliner...pick up some tricks "you will young Skywalker"
Get Grant's ebook... http://www.25hives.homestead.com I got it, and with it and with my experience, it has been easier to get into a profitable "sideliner" business.....but, I didn't quit my day job....and I don't like being a wage slave. Agriculture is a tough business....so, be emotionally and financially prepared. Good luck.
copied from another thread I recently posted to:
I am blessed with a full time job, when we decided to get back into the bee business I had one goal "build it debt free". We started with 22 nucs and caught some swarms. I allotted a portion of my "personal paycheck" to support the business the first year with the plan to reduce that amount as the business grew. 2nd year we hit some of those unforeseen stumbling blocks but the business did produce some income and we continued to grow as well as reduce my personal contribution. Our business is now at 300 plus hives via splits and a few swarms, this year I did not contribute any personal money to the business, It has supported itself and its growth. We own all of our equipment outright, except the new/used f350 flatbed I just purchased, with the business making that payment also. We are poised to go into 2012 and hopefully the business will support the growth to between 800-1000 hives. I can make that many from 300, but the business is going to pay for or its not gonna happen, we will only grow as big as the business will support.
I considered a business or farm loan when we started, but I'm glad we built it debt free. Slower for sure, but very rewarding to end a year with money in the bank to continue the process and growth next year.....and nobody is holding a note over my head.
I was able to skip the "work for a commercial beekeeper" reccomendation as my dad is my partner. Dad and my uncle grew up working for commercial guys and both had commercial operations in the past...i had great mentors and have a great partner...that being said the amount of work and knowledge needed to make it happen on a larger scale cannot be ignored. Find a sideliner/commercial guy and be their shadow for a while....there is a lot more to managing 100 plus hives than you could ever imagine...especially if you want it to be profitable.
I am blessed with a full time job, when we decided to get back into the bee business I had one goal "build it debt free". We started with 22 nucs and caught some swarms. I allotted a portion of my "personal paycheck" to support the business the first year with the plan to reduce that amount as the business grew. 2nd year we hit some of those unforeseen stumbling blocks but the business did produce some income and we continued to grow as well as reduce my personal contribution. Our business is now at 300 plus hives via splits and a few swarms, this year I did not contribute any personal money to the business, It has supported itself and its growth. We own all of our equipment outright, except the new/used f350 flatbed I just purchased, with the business making that payment also. We are poised to go into 2012 and hopefully the business will support the growth to between 800-1000 hives. I can make that many from 300, but the business is going to pay for or its not gonna happen, we will only grow as big as the business will support.
I considered a business or farm loan when we started, but I'm glad we built it debt free. Slower for sure, but very rewarding to end a year with money in the bank to continue the process and growth next year.....and nobody is holding a note over my head.
I was able to skip the "work for a commercial beekeeper" reccomendation as my dad is my partner. Dad and my uncle grew up working for commercial guys and both had commercial operations in the past...i had great mentors and have a great partner...that being said the amount of work and knowledge needed to make it happen on a larger scale cannot be ignored. Find a sideliner/commercial guy and be their shadow for a while....there is a lot more to managing 100 plus hives than you could ever imagine...especially if you want it to be profitable.
The first thing a sideliner must be is a salesman. The second thing is you must work on an extracting and bottling setup. Third thing is apiary locations, you will need at least 3 and preferably 5 to run 100 colonies.
100 colonies of bees in your area should produce roughly 10,000 pounds of honey per year if intensely managed. Some years will be nearly double, other years half, on average about 10,000 pounds. That works out to about 830 gallons of honey and pretty much means you need a dedicated extracting facility.
Selling nucs is a relatively easy way to add spring revenue. It requires a ton of manipulation to have the bees ready and it requires queen rearing skills. My suggestion is to get to 100 colonies on honey production and then branch into sales of bees.
DarJones
100 colonies of bees in your area should produce roughly 10,000 pounds of honey per year if intensely managed. Some years will be nearly double, other years half, on average about 10,000 pounds. That works out to about 830 gallons of honey and pretty much means you need a dedicated extracting facility.
Selling nucs is a relatively easy way to add spring revenue. It requires a ton of manipulation to have the bees ready and it requires queen rearing skills. My suggestion is to get to 100 colonies on honey production and then branch into sales of bees.
DarJones
Maybe I am crazy, but I really do not see that much changed for me between hobby and commercial/sideliner. We work the bees the same. All honey is sold wholesale. Everything else is a matter of scale.
The answer may come in the fact that our family had 4 generations of commercial history.
The conclusion I draw is that a hobby can be run as a commercial operation, but that commercial beekeeping may not work well if run as a hobby.
Crazy Roland
The answer may come in the fact that our family had 4 generations of commercial history.
The conclusion I draw is that a hobby can be run as a commercial operation, but that commercial beekeeping may not work well if run as a hobby.
Crazy Roland
Sidelining means that you do have a day job that's supplying the main income to your wallet. My advise is to keep it simple and use your income from the bees to increase to the size you want to be. The best way to market your honey will be through a packer who will take all your honey at once and preferably the one who'll give you the best price. I've known beeks that sidelined 25 hives and a few who did 600 and anywhere between. As you grow, make sure you have the room to grow too and the supers for honey enough so you don't run out if the flow really turns on.
one change when going larger is a system. with a few hives you can just add a super when needed. when one has more bees it is very important to start the season with the bees being as equal as possible. that way the same action can be done to all hives. again you are going to a system that does not duplicate work. there is less time to work each hive.
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