This is a guest post by Carrie Spencer of thespencersadventures.net
Are you looking to get away from the timeclock? Have you already invested time and money into your own mini farm and are now ready to take a leap of faith and branch out on your own? If you find yourself, like Jason, founder of Campcraft Outdoors, once did, with very little money but the drive and determination to do the very best for your family, then today’s blog is for you. Here, we will take a look at a few fundamentals to keep in mind as you embark on your journey to use your land and homestead as a way to sustain.
Are You Committed?
Before you begin any type of business, you have to ask yourself if you are committed to the process. If so, how committed? Ask yourself questions such as:
● Do I need to replace my income or do I just need extra money?
● Do I have the skills or am I willing to learn how to perfect my craft?
● Is this something I should get my entire family involved in?
● Am I being called to fill a greater purpose?
Once you know the answers, you can then get down to the practical aspects of starting your business.
Business Formation Tips
Starting a business isn’t always easy. But, there are a few preemptive steps that you can take today to ease the burden tomorrow. These include:
● Doing your research. No matter what you do or sell (more on that below) there’s almost always a competitor out there. You will need to do your diligence so that you can identify who you're competing against. Not only must you have a superior product, but you’ll also need to be priced competitively. This means grabbing your calculator and crunching numbers.
● Establishing a legal entity. Even if you’re simply selling produce from a roadside stand, you’re running a business. For this reason, it makes sense to form an LLC or other legal business entity. Most small businesses choose an LLC. In Kentucky, you’ll have unique rules and regulations that you’ll have to follow, but you can use a formations service and avoid pricey legal fees.
● Get comfortable advertising. Advertising is essentially the process of selling yourself. And, if you’re not used to putting yourself front and center, it can be intimidating. Fortunately, there are many ways to get yourself out there quickly and efficiently. According to Statista, 82% of adults today use social media. This means that you can utilize Facebook and other sites to advertise and draw people in.
Good Or Services
If you’ve gotten this far, you likely already know what you want to sell. But, chances are, there are plenty of complementary products and services that can help you maximize your profits. A few things to consider that you may not have thought of include:
● Dried herbs
● Raw milk
● Potted flowers
● Homemade bread, pies, and pastries
● Apple cider
● Honey
● Beeswax candles
● Fudge
You might also teach homesteading skills like:
● Baking
● Harvesting
● Sewing
● Farm repair
● Canning
● Cheesemaking
● Gardening
Another idea here is that you might also turn your land into a primitive campground or allow people to visit for photography and other purposes by the hour. Regardless of what you do, you’ll also want to have business insurance and the proper permits necessary to do business in your county.
Your land is God’s bounty, and it is there for you to share with the world. If you feel called to start your own business, the above tips can help you get started. The only limits are those that you impose upon yourself. It might be a frightening new adventure, but have faith that you have the skills to make it happen.
If you are looking for more information on self-reliance, visit the Campcraft Outdoors blog, where Jason Hunt, Ph.D. shares insight into the gospel of survival.
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