Business plans
Ready-to-use templates
Seven shapes of plan for seven reasons to be writing one. They differ in which sections they ask you for, which is the only difference that matters — so that is what each one shows.
Pick the one nearest what you are doing. You are not locked into it — the sections are the same sections, and a plan written under one template holds its content if an administrator adds a section later.
Standard farm business plan
A complete agricultural business plan, suitable for a lender, a grant application or your own planning.
24 sections in 4 groups.
Farm Profile
- Executive summary
- Business description
- Mission and goals
- Ownership and management
Market Plan
- Products and crops
- Target customers
- Market analysis
- Competition
- Pricing
- Sales channels
- Marketing plan
Operations
- Production plan
- Equipment and infrastructure
- Staffing
- Compliance
- Risks and mitigation
Financials
- Funding needs
- Startup costs
- Operating budget
- Revenue projections
- Cash-flow forecast
- Break-even analysis
- Milestones and next steps
- Supporting documents
New farm startup
For a farm that has not started trading yet. Heavier on what you are setting up and what it costs, lighter on history you do not have.
19 sections in 4 groups.
Farm Profile
- Mission and goals
- Business description
- Ownership and management
Market Plan
- Products and crops
- Target customers
- Competition
- Pricing
- Sales channels
Operations
- Production plan
- Equipment and infrastructure
- Compliance
- Risks and mitigation
Financials
- Funding needs
- Startup costs
- Operating budget
- Revenue projections
- Cash-flow forecast
- Break-even analysis
- Milestones and next steps
Crop expansion
For an operation that already trades and is adding acreage or a new crop. Built around what the expansion changes rather than describing the whole farm again.
17 sections in 4 groups.
Farm Profile
- Executive summary
- What you have done so far
Market Plan
- Products and crops
- Target customers
- Market analysis
- Pricing
- Sales channels
Operations
- Production plan
- Equipment and infrastructure
- Staffing
- Risks and mitigation
Financials
- Funding needs
- Operating budget
- Revenue projections
- Cash-flow forecast
- Break-even analysis
- Milestones and next steps
Diversification
For adding a second enterprise — livestock, agritourism, events — alongside what you already do. Asks how the new one draws on the old one, and where they compete for the same hours.
22 sections in 4 groups.
Farm Profile
- Executive summary
- What you have done so far
- Mission and goals
Market Plan
- Products and crops
- Target customers
- Market analysis
- Competition
- Pricing
- Sales channels
- Marketing plan
Operations
- Production plan
- Equipment and infrastructure
- Staffing
- Compliance
- Risks and mitigation
Financials
- Funding needs
- Startup costs
- Operating budget
- Revenue projections
- Cash-flow forecast
- Break-even analysis
- Milestones and next steps
Value-added products
For turning raw product into something packaged and labelled. Carries the processing, packaging and labelling sections a plain crop plan does not have.
22 sections in 4 groups.
Farm Profile
- Executive summary
- Business description
Market Plan
- Products and crops
- Target customers
- Market analysis
- Competition
- Pricing
- Sales channels
- Marketing plan
Operations
- Processing and packaging
- Production plan
- Equipment and infrastructure
- Staffing
- Compliance
- Risks and mitigation
Financials
- Funding needs
- Startup costs
- Operating budget
- Revenue projections
- Cash-flow forecast
- Break-even analysis
- Milestones and next steps
Direct-to-consumer
For a CSA, a farm stand, markets or online sales. Spends its length on customers, channels and getting the box to the door.
21 sections in 4 groups.
Farm Profile
- Executive summary
- Business description
- Mission and goals
Market Plan
- Products and crops
- Target customers
- Market analysis
- Competition
- Pricing
- Sales channels
- Marketing plan
Operations
- Fulfilment and delivery
- Production plan
- Staffing
- Compliance
- Risks and mitigation
Financials
- Funding needs
- Operating budget
- Revenue projections
- Cash-flow forecast
- Break-even analysis
- Milestones and next steps
Lender-ready plan
The fullest version, with the supporting-documents and repayment sections a loan officer usually asks about. Ask yours what they want before you start — this is a thorough starting point, not a specification anyone has agreed to.
25 sections in 4 groups.
Farm Profile
- What you have done so far
- Executive summary
- Business description
- Mission and goals
- Ownership and management
Market Plan
- Products and crops
- Target customers
- Market analysis
- Competition
- Pricing
- Sales channels
- Marketing plan
Operations
- Production plan
- Equipment and infrastructure
- Staffing
- Compliance
- Risks and mitigation
Financials
- Funding needs
- Startup costs
- Operating budget
- Revenue projections
- Cash-flow forecast
- Break-even analysis
- Milestones and next steps
- Supporting documents