How to open your own business growing strawberries in greenhouses: useful tips

We offer you a detailed business plan for growing strawberries with calculations, step-by-step algorithm, market analysis and possible risks.

Strawberries are a tasty, juicy and popular berry, eaten raw or used to make jam, cakes or other dishes. She acts as the personification of summer and joy, sun and lightness. It is in demand not only among children, but also among adults, so it is always in demand. Strawberries in a greenhouse all year round as a business are an interesting, profitable and reliable business. However, before starting work, it is recommended to draw up a business plan for growing strawberries and study the main features of the process to ensure the feasibility of its implementation in a particular region.

General description of the project

Strawberries are truly one of the most popular berries. It is in high demand not only in the summer, but even in winter, as it allows you to feel the taste of summer, as well as enjoy the unusual aroma and taste.

Important! Statistics show that every year the demand for berries grows by 50%, which will ensure a truly profitable and stable business.

If you initially establish good sales channels, then after each harvest all the strawberries will be sold. It is important to understand the features of its cultivation. It is a perennial crop, propagated by mustaches, so initially healthy and strong seedlings are purchased, from which strawberries are then grown independently.

Goals and objectives

The goal of starting a business is to obtain a large and stable business that generates high income throughout the year. To achieve this goal, the following tasks are performed:

• there is an optimal place to work, remote from the city and roads;
• warm, well-ventilated and illuminated greenhouses are equipped throughout the day;
• healthy seedlings are purchased;
• they are provided with proper care all year round;
• Sales channels are being established.

When these goals are achieved, profit from the work is guaranteed.

Variety selection

Strawberries are presented in several varieties, and they all have their own characteristics, so when choosing, it is advisable to ensure that the grown berries are large, juicy, sweet and beautiful. The varieties most often selected for cultivation in greenhouses are:

• Kama;
• will;
• Elsanta;
• Cambridge.

In addition to choosing a variety, it is important to decide on the method of growing it, since various unique technologies are used for this.

Choosing a growing method

For strawberries, choose one of several growing methods:

Thus, the choice of method depends on the financial capabilities of the entrepreneur, as well as on the planned volume of strawberries grown.

Reviews about the strawberry business

Many farmers prefer to engage in profitable projects. So, according to entrepreneurs, the strawberry business has a 75% profitability. As a result, the project pays for itself very quickly and can bring significant profits within a year.

However, farmers note that such a business requires serious knowledge and real interest in growing plants.

Industry Analysis

To assess the feasibility and profitability of the planned work, industry research should be conducted. Information about competitors and possible risks will be obtained.

Region Analysis

Before starting work, you should study the market to determine:

• presence and number of competitors;
• target audience;
• expected demand for products;
• the cost of strawberries at different times of the year.

Based on this information, the feasibility of the planned work is assessed.

Competitor analysis

In almost every region of the country there are entrepreneurs involved in growing strawberries. Therefore, you should decide:

• how many competitors are there in the market;
• what methods do they use to grow strawberries;
• who acts as their regular customers;
• whether they work all year round or only in the summer.

After assessing your competitors, you have the opportunity to take advantage of their shortcomings.

Risk analysis

It is important to assess the risks and benefits of the activity , which include:

The activity has quite a lot of advantages, so if it is organized correctly, it will be a source of high and constant income.

Marketing methods

Considering the fact that strawberries are a perishable product, it is extremely important to organize the correct collection and marketing of products. The ideal option is if, after picking, no one touches the berries anymore, since you cannot mix different varieties of strawberries or spoil their presentation. That is why it is best to pick the berries directly into the boxes in which the sale will take place.

As for sales, strawberries can be sold both fresh and frozen. Several implementation options allow each businessman to choose the best one for him.

Sales through retail outlets

Own retail outlets are a great option to sell strawberries. They can be installed in markets and crowded places. In addition, you can consider the option of placing a small trading area in a grocery supermarket.

To sell strawberries, a point with an area of ​​up to 8 square meters with electricity will be sufficient. The rental cost will be about 500–700 rubles per square meter. If there are several points and it is not possible to deal with each one independently, then you will have to take into account the costs of the implementer. Profit also depends on the season, because strawberries cost much more in winter than in summer, but in the hot season the demand is much higher.

Sales through stores

If it is not possible to organize your own retail outlets or the scale of strawberry cultivation is so large that it is not possible to cope on your own, then you can attract shops and supermarkets. Profitability will be lower since the product must be offered at a wholesale price.

Home delivery

The home delivery service for strawberries will be relevant in large populated areas and can be used as an additional sales method to the first two. Supermarkets that offer grocery delivery usually don't focus on strawberries, so a well-thought-out marketing campaign is needed.

Regardless of the chosen method, to sell strawberries you will need to draw up an agreement and obtain a number of permits:

• on compliance with GOST;
• phytosanitary certificate provided by Rosselkhoznadzor.

Marketing plan

Strawberries are a highly perishable product, so even before harvesting, it is necessary to establish distribution channels. For this, the following features are taken into account:

• it is allowed to sell it not only to individuals, but also to various companies involved in the creation of confectionery products;
• Strawberries are sold not only fresh, but also processed (more information about the business idea for producing jam can be found at the link -);

• you can organize your own small points of sale;
• Contacts are being established with shops, restaurants and other catering establishments.

Important! The demand and profitability of the activity depends on a well-established sales system.

Costs, income, profitability

The average strawberry yield in Russia is 20–25 tons per hectare.
But there are varieties that can increase this figure many times over. Article navigation

• Business plan for growing strawberries
• How much can you earn from strawberries?
• Growing methods
• Growing equipment
• How to choose a strawberry variety
• Productivity
• Marketing methods
• Sales through retail outlets
• Sales through stores
• Home delivery
• Profitability
• conclusions

Strawberries are a well-known berry that is popular not only in the domestic market, but also abroad. Like most other berries, strawberries can be sold fresh or frozen, which expands the opportunities for entrepreneurs.

A strawberry business at home can be started even from an ordinary garden plot. To sell the first batches, there is no need to fill out documents or submit reports, since the products are sold from personal farms. It will be necessary to register as an individual entrepreneur, fill out tax returns, etc. when industrial volumes appear.

You should promote your home business selling strawberries using specialized stores and stalls, as well as offering small quantities to resellers.

Production plan

An important point in effective work is the search for land for work, as well as planting material. High-quality equipment and inventory are selected and purchased.

Required areas

Initially, it is determined how the strawberries will be grown. For large businesses, it is important to purchase or lease a significant plot of land. It is desirable that it be located away from the city, factories and roads.

Greenhouses with the necessary equipment for work are being installed on the site.

Equipment and inventory

Growing strawberries all year round using greenhouses is considered the most profitable. To do this, follow these steps:

• greenhouses are purchased or built independently, with glass or polycarbonate structures considered the most popular;

• since the work will be carried out in winter, equipment for heating, ventilation, watering and lighting is purchased;
• a security point is created if necessary;
• equipment for excavation work is purchased, for example, a shovel, hoe, etc.

Seedlings and other materials

For year-round work, it is advisable to choose varieties that produce several harvests in one year.

Important! Only frost-resistant varieties that are resistant to pests or various diseases are selected.

Ready-made seedlings are purchased from a proven and reliable nursery, and further propagation by mustaches will be carried out on their own. One seedling in a nursery costs from 40 to 80 rubles.

Additionally, you should buy fertilizers or other chemicals to increase productivity.

Pollination and berry care

If you understand the rules for caring for strawberries, then growing them will be a simple and understandable process:

• the soil is prepared, for which it is loosened;
• mineral fertilizers are applied;
• seedlings are planted;
• Fertilizers are applied every two weeks;
• prevention of various diseases is carried out regularly;
• Plants are watered as needed, with drip watering considered optimal;
• During the flowering period, it is important to have time to pollinate the bushes artificially, for which pollen is transferred with a brush from the stamens to the pistils, and this is done over each bush every morning.

Proper care guarantees a high-quality and good harvest.

Buying and planting seedlings

Ready-made seedlings can be purchased at the nursery. You should not buy seedlings in markets or through advertisements on the Internet. Since there is no guarantee that a beginning farmer will be sold the desired variety. You can start a strawberry business by sowing the seeds of the plant. In this case, the payback period of the project increases. Technology of planting seedlings:

• The soil is watered abundantly and kept for at least 24 hours. During this time, a certain microclimate is formed in the beds.
• For 1 sq. per meter, no more than 35 g of superphosphate and 18 g of potassium are added.
• Within 3 days, the seedlings are hardened in a room with a temperature of 12-14 degrees.
• The bushes are planted in pre-prepared holes. And the growth point is leveled with the ground surface.
• Then the soil is moistened and compacted.

Strawberries begin to bloom 1 month after planting, and bear fruit after another 30 days. Strawberry varieties for business can produce the next harvest in 3-4 weeks.

Organizational plan

Large businesses will require reliable and qualified workers. It is important to officially register the business, as well as calculate the expected schedule for opening the business.

Required Personnel

If at the first stages of work a small area is sown with strawberries, then you can take care of it yourself. It can also be sold independently by an entrepreneur.

As your business develops, it is important to hire assistants, and you can also open your own retail outlet where a hired salesperson will work. An individual entrepreneur is registered to operate, and a simplified taxation system is selected, so the entrepreneur himself can cope with the documentation for the first time.

Business registration

It is important to work officially, for which business registration is carried out. For this purpose, the Unified Agricultural Tax is also selected.

If the farm is small, then it is allowed to work without registration, but in this case it will not be possible to cooperate with various catering organizations or other large buyers.

Opening schedule

Opening this business is quite simple, which will take about three months:

• search for a land plot – 1 week;
• business registration – 2 weeks;
• purchase and installation of greenhouses – 3 weeks;
• purchase and installation of equipment for greenhouses – 2 weeks;
• search for employees – 1 week;
• purchase of seedlings – 1 week;
• planting seedlings – 1 week.

After completing the actions, you need to wait for the harvest, selling which ensures a high profit.

Home cultivation - indoor soil

Indoor cultivation is a Dutch technology, thanks to which the Netherlands is the largest supplier of berries in Europe. The peculiarity of obtaining a harvest throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.

We recommend you study! Follow the link:

Greenhouse as a business

Before planting bushes, you need to prepare the soil.

To achieve this, the following activities are carried out:

• the soil is saturated with peat and manure;
• a complex of fertilizers is added to the soil.

The latter are added before planting to help the plant adapt to new conditions. Strawberries in greenhouses all year round as a business for Holland are just as profitable as growing tulips.

You can either buy or grow seedlings yourself. In the first option, it is important to purchase bushes from trusted gardeners; for this you should look at their yields and the quality of the berries. In the second case, it will take more time, but the result is guaranteed to be good.

Financial plan

To organize a business based on growing and selling strawberries, you will need 592 thousand rubles:

• rent of land per month – 40,000;
• purchase of greenhouses and equipment for them – 300,000;
• purchase of seedlings and fertilizers – 250,000;
• business registration – 2,000.

Monthly expenses are equal to 138 thousand rubles:

• land rent – ​​40,000;
• purchase of fertilizers – 30,000;
• employee wages – 45,000;
• utility bills - 15,000;
• taxes - 8,000.

In winter, 1 kg of strawberries costs about 600 rubles, and in summer 250 rubles. On average, net profit per month can reach 150 thousand rubles, which is considered a good result of entrepreneurial activity. The investment pays off literally in one harvest. To avoid problems with greenhouses, it is recommended to hire security guards.

Thus, a business based on growing strawberries is an interesting and promising activity carried out by any entrepreneur. It can become a source of good profit if you carefully understand it and immediately establish distribution channels so that the grown berries are immediately sold to customers.

Profitability

Profitability is the ratio between the cost of strawberries and the profit received from its sale. The cost in this case includes the following expenses:

• cost of planting material and soil mixture;
• costs for heating, lighting, water supply, etc.;
• rental of greenhouses and equipment;
• transportation and sales costs.

Of course, self-sufficiency depends, first of all, on how much harvest will be obtained from each square meter. That is why for good profitability it is important to choose the right berry variety and planting technology.

The profitability of a business also depends on the time of year. In winter, it is profitable to grow strawberries for sale, since the products are more expensive, so the money invested in reliable equipment quickly pays off.

Due to the fact that it is difficult to get such berries out of season, an entrepreneur can set any prices. For example, the average cost of a kilogram of strawberries in winter is $6. New technologies make it possible to achieve a yield of 50 tons per hectare, so the net income can be very high.

Documentation

To open a business, permission from the SES and fire inspection is required. It is also necessary to conclude an agreement with the owner of the land, suppliers of seedlings and other contractors. An employment contract is drawn up with each farm employee, taking into account the interests of both parties.

It is also necessary to choose a tax regime. This is determined by the organizational and legal form of the economy. For example, the simplified tax system is suitable for an individual entrepreneur or LLC. Farms pay a single agricultural tax. Business does not require special permits or licenses.

Dutch technology

The Dutch method involves growing berries in several layers. At the initial stages, 10 m2 is enough. You can get about 300 kg of fruit from them. The main point is that the soil needs to be replaced with bags. They provide nutrition and hydration. Growing bushes using this method is not financially expensive. There is no need to rent an additional plot of land. Typically, the technology is used in a greenhouse.

Greenhouse - protected ground

The advantages of growing strawberries in a greenhouse are based on the following aspects:

1. A chance to create your own microclimate, not subject to weather changes.
2. Placing strawberries on racks, which saves space and increases the yield.
3. Receiving berries all year round.

Caring for plants in a greenhouse is easier because, firstly, you do not need to constantly weed the soil and clear weeds, and, secondly, it is possible to organize an autonomous watering system.

The basic types of greenhouses include:

• frame - covered with film, simple and cheap, but not suitable for year-round cultivation;
• glass - common in industrial cultivation, they allow the organization of heating and lighting systems, but are expensive;
• polycarbonate - have all the qualities of glass, but are more flexible and durable.

When creating a greenhouse, it is worth considering that the costs will not be limited to installing the tent itself.

When organizing a room where plants grow and bear fruit twelve months a year, you will need greenhouse equipment:

• beds - on the ground or on shelves;
• heating – “warm floor” system and water heating circuit;
• lighting – installation of phytolamps;
• watering - either manual format or installation of a ready-made system is acceptable, the choice depends on the size of the greenhouse;
• ventilation - vents and climate control.

The greenhouse must be organized in such a way that it is easy to reach every corner of the room. Heating and lighting are aimed at recreating natural conditions.

Growing strawberries as a business is similar to all types of agriculture. The lands of summer farmers are excellent for business activities.

Organization of watering

To grow strawberries, a business entity needs to create a drip irrigation system. This requirement must be met, since this type of berry does not tolerate waterlogging. Also, strawberries do not like it when moisture gets on its leaves when watering.

The drip irrigation system has the following design:

• a container in which the water should be (it should be installed above the level of the beds);
• rubber tubes with microscopic holes made in them (each hole should be located opposite one strawberry bush).

Optional equipment

The business plan may include a section on the costs of purchasing additional equipment. Whatever the production volume, appropriate business organization requires the purchase of packaging equipment and refrigeration units.

Thanks to modern packaging machines, berries can be placed in special plastic containers coated with cling film. For variety, other types of packaging can be used. For example, in winter, strawberries are often bought as a gift. Therefore, plastic containers are placed in gift baskets. This simple method will help increase the competitiveness of the product.

The buyer cares about the presentation of the product. Therefore, the business plan must indicate the use of refrigeration equipment. It will help cool the products, increasing the shelf life to 10 days.

The best varieties

When organizing production, you need to choose the best varieties that rarely get sick and survive under various conditions. Their self-sufficiency is high.

Remontant varieties of strawberries

Remontant strawberries are those that are capable of bearing fruit several times per season. Thanks to such bushes, a home business will quickly pay off. Remontant strawberries can produce crops both constantly and in waves.

The most popular varieties:

1. Lyubava. The fruits are juicy and large. By weight, one berry can grow up to 25-30 g. There is a light strawberry aroma.
2. Elizabeth – 2. An excellent option for a temperate climate.
3. Countess. This is a beardless variety.

All subspecies have both their advantages and disadvantages.

Early varieties

You can start a business with early varieties. Already at the end of spring you can harvest the first harvest. Both domestic and foreign varieties are popular. Popular varieties include:

1. Alba. The first harvest can be harvested in mid-May. The berries are sweet with a slight sourness.
2. Kama. The bushes are compact. Ripening occurs in mid-May. From one bush you can collect up to 1 kg.
3. Marvelous. The berries are oblong. The pulp is sweet and vaguely resembles strawberries.

Early varieties will produce a good harvest only with proper care.

Large-fruited varieties

If you want to open a profitable strawberry business, then it is better to choose large-fruited varieties. They are the most popular among buyers. The best large-fruited varieties include:

1. Roxana. An excellent option for the Urals and Siberia.
2. Elsanta. The berries can grow up to 60 g each.
3. Marshmallow. Variety Grown in the southern regions.

The main thing is to follow the breeder’s recommendations when growing.

Which OKVED is suitable?

When registering a legal entity or individual entrepreneur, their type of activity is determined and assigned a code according to OKVED. Growing strawberries is an agricultural production.

Registration of peasant farms is mandatory for cultivation on areas larger than 1 hectare.

On smaller plots of land private farming is carried out. Income from the sale of products grown on a personal farmstead is not subject to taxes. The general OKVED code for agricultural crops is 01. The clarifying subclause 01.13.21 applies to strawberries.