Building a Sustainable Business


Book Description

"Brings the business planning process alive to help today's agriculture entrepreneurs transform farm-grown inspiration into profitable enterprises. Sample worksheets illustrate how real farm families set goals, research processing alternatives, determine potential markets, and evaluate financing options. Blank worksheets offer readers the opportunity to develop their own detailed, lender-ready business plan and map out strategies" --back cover.




Business Skills Training for Rural Sanitation Entrepreneurs: Trainer’s Guide


Book Description

This book comes out at a very opportune time when the sector is struggling with sanitation marketing that is considered an organic next step for rural communities that have been declared open defecation free. Besides, this publication comes in to address the gaps that face the peri-urban spaces that are facing population explosion and require innovative ways of dealing with mostly non-sewered sanitation services. This guide/manual was developed as part of a training package to support business development skills training for local sanitation entrepreneurs in Kenya. Financial and technical support was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Kenya integrated water and sanitation (KIWASH) project. KIWASH was a five year (2015-2020) project implemented by the Development Alternatives Incorporation (DAI) across nine counties. One of the key goals of KIWASH was to help trigger and activate demand for low cost affordable sanitation technologies in rural and low income communities. The overall objective of this manual is to equip sanitation specialists and public resource persons with the basic concepts and tools, to facilitate entrepreneurship and financial literacy training for start-up sanitation entrepreneurs in rural communities. Specifically, this manual is designed to help participants: 1) Learn the basic concepts of entrepreneurship and characteristics of successful entrepreneurs; 2) Learn and practice essential marketing techniques for sanitation products and services; 3) Develop money management competencies necessary to succeed as a small-scale entrepreneur; 4) Build necessary leadership and management skills to grow successful sanitation enterprises. Overall, the guide/manual is useful in guiding implementation of sanitation marketing projects, and provides concise content for nurturing and building the capacity of local sanitation enterprises/entrepreneurs. Improved business performance by these businesses means timely response to demand from households. This book is a toolkit which incorporates a Training Guide/Manual as well as a Workbook for entrepreneurs.




A Guide to Rural Business


Book Description

The UK rural economy is worth billions of pounds and rural businesses are rapidly changing and diversifying. This is a guide to best business practice in a rural context which provides a clear analysis of opportunities for diversification.




Working Together


Book Description




Doing Business in the Countryside


Book Description

Doing Business in the Countryside is a practical source of advice and reference for rural businesses and those contemplating setting up business in the countryside. This unique publication highlights key issues and solutions for maximizing growth and controlling risks and gives a comprehensive insight into the challenges involved in building a rural business.Often overlooked, the rural business community has its own set of unique problems and concerns. This publication provides expert advice and practical guidance on subjects such as diversification, dealing with the planning authorities, business tenancies, employment duties, finance and funding for rural projects and buying and selling the business. Case studies provide illustrations of real situations.Supported by the Countryside Alliance, Doing Business in the Countryside covers the unique dilemmas facing rural businesses and provides invaluable support.




Building a Sustainable Business


Book Description

"Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses brings the business planning process alive to help today's alternative and sustainable agriculture entrepreneurs transform farm-grown inspiration into profitable enterprises. Sample worksheets lend a practical perspective and illustrate how real farm families set goals, researched processing alternatives, determined potential markets, and evaluated financing options. Blank worksheets help the reader develop a detailed, lender-ready business plan or map out strategies to take advantage of new opportunities"--Publisher's website, viewed December 30, 2013.




Running a Food Hub: Volume Two, a Business Operations Guide


Book Description

This report is part of a multi-volume technical report series entitled, Running a Food Hub, with this guide serving as a companion piece to other United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports by providing in-depth guidance on starting and running a food hub enterprise. In order to compile the most current information on best management and operations practices, the authors used published information on food hubs, surveyed numerous operating food hubs, and pulled from their existing experience and knowledge of working directly with food hubs across the country as an agricultural business consulting firm. The report’s main focus is on the operational issues faced by food hubs, including choosing an organizational structure, choosing a location, deciding on infrastructure and equipment, logistics and transportation, human resources, and risks. As such, the guide explores the different decision points associated with the organizational steps for starting and implementing a food hub. For some sections, sidebars provide “decision points,” which food hub managers will need to address to make key operational decisions. This illustrated guide may assist the operational staff at small businesses or third-party organizations that may provide aggregation, marketing, and distribution services from local and regional producers to assist with wholesale, retail, and institution demand at government institutions, colleges/universities, restaurants, grocery store chains, etc. Undergraduate students pursuing coursework for a bachelor of science degree in food science, or agricultural economics may be interested in this guide. Additionally, this reference work will be helpful to small businesses within the food trade discipline.




How to Hire the Best


Book Description




Start Your Farm


Book Description

A totally modern, all-purpose handbook for today’s agricultural dreamers—covering the challenges and triumphs of launching any successful farm—from two leading lights in sustainable farming Do you dream of starting your own farm but wonder where to begin? Or do you already have a farm but wish to become more sustainable to compete in today's market? Start Your Farm, the first comprehensive business guide of its kind, covers these essential questions and more: Why be a farmer in the 21st century? Do you have what it takes? What does sustainable really mean, and how can a small (as little as one acre) to midsize farm survive alongside commodity-scale agriculture? How do you access education, land, and other needs with limited capital? How can you reap an actual profit, including a return on land investment? How do you build connections with employees, colleagues, and customers? At the end of the day, how do you measure success? (Hint: Cash your lifestyle paycheck.) More than a practical guide, Start Your Farm is a hopeful call to action for anyone who aspires to grow wholesome, environmentally sustainable food for a living. Take it from Forrest Pritchard and Ellen Polishuk: Making this dream a reality is not for the faint of heart, but it's well within reach—and there's no greater satisfaction under the sun!




Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business


Book Description

Running your own small farm is demanding enough, but making it profitable presents a host of further challenges. In this business-savvy guide to farming on a small scale, Sarah Aubrey covers everything from financial plans and advertising budgets to web design and food service wholesalers. Learn how to isolate your target audience and craft artisanal products that will delight and amaze customers. With a solid business strategy in place, you can confidently turn your passion into a productive and profitable venture.