Table of Content

    Do you want to start hydroponic farming business?

    Are you looking for a type of business that will have immensely increased demand in the near future? Well, you might like to start a hydroponics farm, if you are a person with a knowledge of plants and if you can invest what is required for this hydroponic farming business plan.

    Hydroponics farm business includes growing plants, greenery, flowers, herbs, etc. by providing them the optimal environment and essential nutrients without indulging yourself in the draining and actual lengthy procedure of growing plants in soil. If you want to know more about hydroponics farm and how to start it, you can take help from this sample hydroponics farm business plan of a startup named, ‘Alice Agritech’.

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    Executive Summary

    2.1 The Business

    Alice Agritech will be a registered and licensed hydroponics business owned by Alice Grainger. The business will be started in New Orleans and will include growing greenery and plants by using the latest techniques of growing more nutritious food by providing optimal medium required by plants.

    2.2 Management

    The first step before you start a hydroponics business is to make a detailed hydroponics business plan. As hydroponics business will involve establishing an indoor area usually a greenhouse, providing plants the essential nutrients, establishing the whole system of power, and drainage alongside packaging and selling the grown foods. Therefore, in order to manage all these tasks, you have to devise a detailed management plan before you take a startup.

    2.3 Customers

    Our customers will mostly be the departmental stores, food companies, hotels, and restaurants and some individual buyers, residing in New Orleans.

    2.4 Target of the Company

    Our primary target is to grow and sell tastier and more nutritious food to our customers in whole New Orleans creating an example of standard and quality. Our financial business target is as follows:

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - 3 Years Profit Forecast

    Strategic/Operational Business Plan
    This deliverable will contain a business development road map that will help the company achieve its goals and become a market leader.

    Company Summary

    3.1 Company Owner

    Alice Grainger will be the owner of Alice Agritech. Alice has a Master’s degree in Horticulture from Cornell University. From gardening as a hobby to starting hydroponic farming business plan, she is solely driven by her passion about plants and agriculture and the urge to run her own company.

    3.2 Why the Business is being started

    It is not wrong to say that Alice is passionate about plant-related fields, but the reason why she is starting this hydroponic farming business plan is to turn hydroponics business opportunities into money. Nowadays the concept of rural areas and agricultural farms is terminating due to the high labor and time required to grow plants in soil.

    Hydroponic plants are easy to grow and maintain. In a hydroponic farm, not only their quantity and growth rate would increase but also their nutrition content and taste will be much more craving than the traditionally grown outs. Considering the importance of producing good food in bulk these days as well as in the coming days, Alice has decided to start a hydroponics farm.

    3.3 How the Business will be started

    All the details of how Alice Agritech will be started, are provided in this hydroponic farming business plan sample. So, if you too are looking for how to start your own hydroponics business you can take help from here.

    The hydroponics system will be installed in an indoor facility bought in New Orleans. The plants will be kept in trays and buckets and provided with growth-promoting environment by supplementing them with the proper nutrient intake as told by specialists. Proper light, heat, drainage, and cutting of plants will be insured by Alice and her dedicated staff.

    The detailed start-up information is given below:

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - Startup cost

    Start-up Expenses
    Legal $55 300
    Consultants $0
    Insurance $32 750
    Rent $32 500
    Research and Development $32 750
    Expensed Equipment $32 750
    Signs $1 250
    TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES $187 300
    Start-up Assets $220 875
    Cash Required $332 500
    Start-up Inventory $32 625
    Other Current Assets $232 500
    Long-term Assets $235 000
    TOTAL ASSETS $121 875
    Total Requirements $245 000
    START-UP FUNDING
    START-UP FUNDING $273 125
    Start-up Expenses to Fund $151 875
    Start-up Assets to Fund $123 000
    TOTAL FUNDING REQUIRED $0
    Assets $23 125
    Non-cash Assets from Start-up $18 750
    Cash Requirements from Start-up $0
    Additional Cash Raised $18 750
    Cash Balance on Starting Date $21 875
    TOTAL ASSETS $373 125
    Liabilities and Capital $0
    Liabilities $0
    Current Borrowing $0
    Long-term Liabilities $0
    Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $0
    Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0
    TOTAL LIABILITIES $0
    Capital $620 125
    Planned Investment $620 125
    Investor 1 $0
    Investor 2 $0
    Other $0
    Additional Investment Requirement $0
    TOTAL PLANNED INVESTMENT $620 125
    Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) $313 125
    TOTAL CAPITAL $251 875
    TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES $251 875
    Total Funding $255 000
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    Products of hydroponic farming business

    It will be really helpful for you in future if you include your products and services in your hydroponics business plan template. Predetermining the services will help you in making the proper arrangements and hoarding the required nutrient supplements. The services Agritech will be providing are enlisted here:

    • We’ll be producing healthier and tastier leafy green and other vegetables and some fruits including potatoes, mint, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green beans, spinach, fenugreek plant, lemons, green chili, bell peppers, strawberries, blueberries, and cherries.
    • We’ll be growing all types of greenery and flowers used for decoration.
    • We’ll also be growing some herbs hydroponically including coriander, mint, basil, thyme, chives, and sage.
    • We’ll be having an Edible Bar for the people to visit us, watch our extraordinary system and try our foods.

    Marketing Analysis of Hydroponics Farm Business

    If you are going to start a hydroponic farming business plan, you are fortunate enough in the case of the target market and marketing trends. Nowadays the concept of growing plants in soil is terminating and people are searching for an approach by which they will be able to grow plants speedily and efficiently in large quantities without compromising on their quality.

    Note

    The only thing you have to worry about is finding a perfect location for your hydroponic farming business plan with a less or no number of existing hydroponic farms. Do research on how to open a hydroponics business and devise a plan to go ahead.

    Franchise Business Plan

    5.1 Market Trends

    The market trends of the hydroponics business are extremely satisfying. There are currently 3 thousand hydroponic farms running in the United States generating a revenue of $891 million annually, and their number is expected to increase over the next years. IBISWorld has reported a 1.2 percent growth rate for the hydroponic farming business plan.

    As it is a business that remains active round the year, you will be able to supply your products to your buyers throughout the year making a considerable profit. This is the right time to enter this venture, but before looking for how to start a hydroponic farming business plan, make sure that you have studied the market thoroughly in which you will be serving.

    5.2 Marketing Segmentation

    The target group of customers as identified by Alice Agritech are given here in detail.

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - Market Segmentation

    5.2.1 Restaurants and Hotels

    The biggest target group availing our services will comprise of the hotels and restaurants running in New Orleans. By our hydroponics system, we’ll be able to supply them our packed, high-quality vegetables and herbs in bulk quantities on a daily basis.

    5.2.2 Departmental Stores & Food Companies

    We’ll contact various departmental stores and food companies located near to us to supply our products to them. As they are also expected to buy our products in bulk, so we’ll be offering several discounts in order to get introduced to them.

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    5.2.3 Individual Buyers

    The last group of our target customers will be the residents of New Orleans who are expected to purchase our packed products, decorative plants, and to visit our edible bar. They will surely like our edible bar where they can experience the taste of our products and watch our procedures.

    The detailed market analysis of our potential customers is given in the following table:

    Market Analysis
    Potential Customers Growth Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 CAGR
    Individual Buyers 32% 11 433 13 344 16 553 18 745 20 545 13,43%
    Restaurants and Hotels 48% 22 334 32 344 43 665 52 544 66 432 10,00%
    Stores and Food Companies 20% 12 867 14 433 15 999 17 565 19 131 15,32%
    Total 100% 46 634 60 121 76 217 88 854 106 108 9,54%

    5.3 Business Target

    Our aim is to become the most recognized and most visited hydroponic farm in the whole city. Our financial goals to be achieved are:

    • To balance the startup costs with earned profits by six months of the launch
    • To earn a profit revenue of $10k per month by the end of the first year

    5.4 Product Pricing

    After considering the market demands and running our hydroponic farming business plan without compromising quality, we have priced all our products in similar ranges as of our competitors.

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    Strategy

    After analyzing the target groups and market trends, it is time for you to make a business strategy services to gain your target customers after which you will be able to meet your hydroponic farming business plan targets. In this hydroponics farm business plan pdf format you can know about the competitive edges Alice Agritech will have over her competitors. This hydroponic farming business plan sample also enlist some of the advertisement techniques followed by Alice Agritech.

    6.1 Competitive Analysis

    Our biggest competitive advantage is the variety and quality of the products we’ll be offering. We’ll be producing fresh, healthier and tastier food for our customers. We’ll be using pure organic nutrients to supplement our plants in the supervision of certified nutrition specialist. Secondly, only we in the whole New Orleans are having an Edible Bar where people can sit, enjoy and eat vegetables and fruit by plucking them with their own hands. Lastly, our advertisement plan to get introduced to major restaurants, departmental stores and companies will also be our competitive advantage.

    6.2 Sales Strategy

    Alice Agritech will be advertising her services by adopting these means.

    • We will advertise our services by posting effective billboards and banners.
    • We will print business card template hydroponics and send them to the food companies, departmental stores, and restaurants near to us.
    • We’ll offer free transport of our packed products to the food companies and restaurants for the first three months of our launch.
    • We will get our website developed by expert developers and run a campaign through our website and social sites.

    6.3 Sales Yearly

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - Sales Yearly

    6.4 Sales Monthly

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - Sales Monthly

    6.5 Sales Forecast

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - Unit Sales

    Sales Forecast
    Unit Sales Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Vegetables & Fruits 1 887 030 2 680 320 2 588 240
    Flowers 802 370 815 430 823 540
    Herbs 539 320 770230 1 002 310
    Edible Bar 265 450 322 390 393 320
    TOTAL UNIT SALES 3 494 170 4 588 370 4 807 410
    Unit Prices Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Vegetables & Fruits $140,00 $150,00 $160,00
    Flowers $600,00 $800,00 $1 000,00
    Herbs $700,00 $800,00 $900,00
    Edible Bar $650,00 $750,00 $850,00
    Sales
    Vegetables & Fruits $2 149 800 $2 784 000 $3 383 200
    Flowers $120 050 $194 500 $268 500
    Herbs $50 110 $71 600 $93 000
    Edible Bar $139 350 $194 600 $249 850
    TOTAL SALES
    Direct Unit Costs Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Vegetables & Fruits $0,70 $0,80 $0,90
    Flowers $0,40 $0,45 $0,50
    Herbs $0,30 $0,35 $0,40
    Edible Bar $3,00 $3,50 $4,00
    Direct Cost of Sales
    Vegetables & Fruits $989 300 $1 839 000 $2 679 700
    Flowers $66 600 $119 900 $173 200
    Herbs $17 900 $35 000 $52 100
    Edible Bar $19 400 $67 600 $115 800
    Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales $1 294 100 $1 699 400 $2 104 700
    Any questions? Get in Touch!

    Personnel plan

    If you are going to start up a hydroponics business, you must hire your staff after rigorous testing and train them well, as hydroponics farm need proper understanding, to be maintained.

    7.1 Company Staff

    Alice will supervise all the tasks by herself, the staff she will hire is listed here with a little job description.

    • 1 General Manager to manage the overall operations of the farm
    • 2 Accountants to maintain financial records
    • 2 Engineers for operating and maintaining the hydroponics system
    • 1 Technician to deal with technical issues at any time
    • 10 Field Employees for operating farm
    • 1 Store Manager to manage and maintain the retail store and edible bar
    • 1 Nutrition Specialist to ensure the quality of products
    • 2 Sales Executives responsible for marketing the hydroponic farming business plan
    • 2 Drivers to transport products to various retail locations, hotels, and restaurants

    7.2 Average Salary of Employees

     Personnel Plan
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    General Manager $85 000 $95 000 $105 000
    Accountants $145 000 $152 000 $159 000
    Engineers $152 000 $159 000 $166 000
    Technician $50 000 $55 000 $60 000
    Field Employees $550 000 $650 000 $750 000
    Store Manager $145 000 $152 000 $159 000
    Nutrition Specialist $50 000 $55 000 $60 000
    Sales Executives $187 000 $194 000 $201 000
    Drivers $85 000 $95 000 $105 000
    Total Salaries $600 000 $705 000 $810 000

    Financial Plan

    If you want to start a hydroponics farm, make a rough estimation demonstrating whether you can invest the required amount for this business or not. You will have to buy land and install greenhouse as well as hydroponics systems to initialize your hydroponic farming business plan. Not only this you will need a lot of staff to maintain your hydroponics farm. So, if you are looking for how to start a hydroponics business keep in mind the expenses and investments group for business plan you will have to do.

    Considering the importance of an accurate financial plan for this hydroponic farming business plan, Alice had decided to get this task done by a financial expert. Her sample financial plan showing that how she will balance the startup costs by the profits earned is given here for your help. But still, it is strongly recommended to get this important task done by a professional according to your services, market, expenses, and investment.

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    8.1 Important Assumptions

     General Assumptions
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Plan Month 1 2 3
    Current Interest Rate 10,00% 11,00% 12,00%
    Long-term Interest Rate 10,00% 10,00% 10,00%
    Tax Rate 26,42% 27,76% 28,12%
    Other 0 0 0

    8.2 Brake-even Analysis

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - Brake-even Analysis

     Brake-Even Analysis
    Monthly Units Break-even 5530
    Monthly Revenue Break-even $159 740
    Assumptions:
    Average Per-Unit Revenue $260,87
    Average Per-Unit Variable Cost $0,89
    Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost $196 410

    8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

     Pro Forma Profit And Loss
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Sales $309 069 $385 934 $462 799
    Direct Cost of Sales $15 100 $19 153 $23 206
    Other $0 $0 $0
    TOTAL COST OF SALES $15 100 $19 153 $23 206
    Gross Margin $293 969 $366 781 $439 593
    Gross Margin % 94,98% 94,72% 94,46%
    Expenses
    Payroll $138 036 $162 898 $187 760
    Sales and Marketing and Other Expenses $1 850 $2 000 $2 150
    Depreciation $2 070 $2 070 $2 070
    Leased Equipment $0 $0 $0
    Utilities $4 000 $4 250 $4 500
    Insurance $1 800 $1 800 $1 800
    Rent $6 500 $7 000 $7 500
    Payroll Taxes $34 510 $40 726 $46 942
    Other $0 $0 $0
    Total Operating Expenses $188 766 $220 744 $252 722
    Profit Before Interest and Taxes $105 205 $146 040 $186 875
    EBITDA $107 275 $148 110 $188 945
    Interest Expense $0 $0 $0
    Taxes Incurred $26 838 $37 315 $47 792
    Net Profit $78 367 $108 725 $139 083
    Net Profit/Sales 30,00% 39,32% 48,64%

    8.3.1 Profit Monthly

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - PROFIT MONTHLY

    8.3.2 Profit Yearly

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - PROFIT YEARLY

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    8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - GROSS MARGIN MONTHLY

     

    8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - GROSS MARGIN YEARLY

    8.4 Projected Cash Flow

    Hydroponics Farm Business Plan Sample - Projected Cash Flow

     Pro Forma Cash Flow
    Cash Received Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Cash from Operations
    Cash Sales $40 124 $45 046 $50 068
    Cash from Receivables $7 023 $8 610 $9 297
    SUBTOTAL CASH FROM OPERATIONS $47 143 $53 651 $59 359
    Additional Cash Received
    Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received $0 $0 $0
    New Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0
    New Other Liabilities (interest-free) $0 $0 $0
    New Long-term Liabilities $0 $0 $0
    Sales of Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0
    Sales of Long-term Assets $0 $0 $0
    New Investment Received $0 $0 $0
    SUBTOTAL CASH RECEIVED $47 143 $53 651 $55 359
    Expenditures Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Expenditures from Operations
    Cash Spending $21 647 $24 204 $26 951
    Bill Payments $13 539 $15 385 $170 631
    SUBTOTAL SPENT ON OPERATIONS $35 296 $39 549 $43 582
    Additional Cash Spent
    Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Paid Out $0 $0 $0
    Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0
    Other Liabilities Principal Repayment $0 $0 $0
    Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment $0 $0 $0
    Purchase Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0
    Purchase Long-term Assets $0 $0 $0
    Dividends $0 $0 $0
    SUBTOTAL CASH SPENT $35 296 $35 489 $43 882
    Net Cash Flow $11 551 $13 167 $15 683
    Cash Balance $21 823 $22 381 $28 239

    8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

     Pro Forma Balance Sheet
    Assets Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Current Assets
    Cash $184 666 $218 525 $252 384
    Accounts Receivable $12 613 $14 493 $16 373
    Inventory $2 980 $3 450 $3 920
    Other Current Assets $1 000 $1 000 $1 000
    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS $201 259 $237 468 $273 677
    Long-term Assets
    Long-term Assets $10 000 $10 000 $10 000
    Accumulated Depreciation $12 420 $14 490 $16 560
    TOTAL LONG-TERM ASSETS $980 $610 $240
    TOTAL ASSETS $198 839 $232 978 $267 117
    Liabilities and Capital Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Current Liabilities
    Accounts Payable $9 482 $10 792 $12 102
    Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0
    Other Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0
    SUBTOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES $9 482 $10 792 $12 102
    Long-term Liabilities $0 $0 $0
    TOTAL LIABILITIES $9 482 $10 792 $12 102
    Paid-in Capital $30 000 $30 000 $30 000
    Retained Earnings $48 651 $72 636 $96 621
    Earnings $100 709 $119 555 $138 401
    TOTAL CAPITAL $189 360 $222 190 $255 020
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL $198 839 $232 978 $267 117
    Net Worth $182 060 $226 240 $270 420

    8.6 Business Ratios

     Ratio Analysis
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 INDUSTRY PROFILE
    Sales Growth 4,35% 30,82% 63,29% 4,00%
    Percent of Total Assets
    Accounts Receivable 5,61% 4,71% 3,81% 9,70%
    Inventory 1,85% 1,82% 1,79% 9,80%
    Other Current Assets 1,75% 2,02% 2,29% 27,40%
    Total Current Assets 138,53% 150,99% 163,45% 54,60%
    Long-term Assets -9,47% -21,01% -32,55% 58,40%
    TOTAL ASSETS 100,00% 100,00% 100,00% 100,00%
    Current Liabilities 4,68% 3,04% 2,76% 27,30%
    Long-term Liabilities 0,00% 0,00% 0,00% 25,80%
    Total Liabilities 4,68% 3,04% 2,76% 54,10%
    NET WORTH 99,32% 101,04% 102,76% 44,90%
    Percent of Sales
    Sales 100,00% 100,00% 100,00% 100,00%
    Gross Margin 94,18% 93,85% 93,52% 0,00%
    Selling, General & Administrative Expenses 74,29% 71,83% 69,37% 65,20%
    Advertising Expenses 2,06% 1,11% 0,28% 1,40%
    Profit Before Interest and Taxes 26,47% 29,30% 32,13% 2,86%
    Main Ratios
    Current 25,86 29,39 32,92 1,63
    Quick 25,4 28,88 32,36 0,84
    Total Debt to Total Assets 2,68% 1,04% 0,76% 67,10%
    Pre-tax Return on Net Worth 66,83% 71,26% 75,69% 4,40%
    Pre-tax Return on Assets 64,88% 69,75% 74,62% 9,00%
    Additional Ratios Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Net Profit Margin 19,20% 21,16% 23,12% N.A.
    Return on Equity 47,79% 50,53% 53,27% N.A.
    Activity Ratios
    Accounts Receivable Turnover 4,56 4,56 4,56 N.A.
    Collection Days 92 99 106 N.A.
    Inventory Turnover 19,7 22,55 25,4 N.A.
    Accounts Payable Turnover 14,17 14,67 15,17 N.A.
    Payment Days 27 27 27 N.A.
    Total Asset Turnover 1,84 1,55 1,26 N.A.
    Debt Ratios
    Debt to Net Worth 0 -0,02 -0,04 N.A.
    Current Liab. to Liab. 1 1 1 N.A.
    Liquidity Ratios
    Net Working Capital $120 943 $140 664 $160 385 N.A.
    Interest Coverage 0 0 0 N.A.
    Additional Ratios
    Assets to Sales 0,45 0,48 0,51 N.A.
    Current Debt/Total Assets 4% 3% 2% N.A.
    Acid Test 23,66 27,01 30,36 N.A.
    Sales/Net Worth 1,68 1,29 0,9 N.A.
    Dividend Payout 0 0 0 N.A.

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