farm tourism business plan

Creating an Agritourism Business Plan

Written by Dan Moore, AIANTA’s Agritourism Consultant 

Previously, we highlighted key obstacles to overcome and pitfalls to avoid when building an agritourism program. In this article, we will go a bit deeper into the importance and practice of building out a business plan.

No matter how great the prospective market, available resources, or the people in your community, without a comprehensive and nimble business plan, the most effective and efficient path to creating a successful agritourism business can be hard to find. While most agritourism programs are diversifications of existing businesses, it is still necessary to create a separate plan for the agritourism venture. Building out a solid business plan upon inception will ensure that you start on the correct path and “cross bridges” early on while you still have the opportunity to turn back without too much loss. Potential hidden costs and other obstacles will also become more apparent when planning.

When writing your business plan, consider the following:

Always Start with the Story

Gather together everyone you plan to work with on building your business – your family, business partner(s), community. First, define who you are; what is your story? What is your core purpose, or mission? Who do you want to serve? Then determine what success looks like. What do you hope to accomplish by opening this business? Identify a clear understanding of your goals and how you expect to achieve them. Work to refine these down to one statement that you keep handy and refer to for both marketing and operations. This statement will help keep you on track, and serve as a guide to achieve your long-term goals & objectives.

Capture the Overview of Your Business and Business Needs

To create an overview of your business, first concisely describe your agritourism idea including the products and / or services you will be offering. Then, write a description of your operation with more specifics. What is the size and location of the operation(s)? What activities will take place on the land? What facilities will be used? Do you currently have enough acreage to carry out your vision, or will you need to acquire more land? Then match up your current and needed assets with your financial resources. Will you have the money needed to open your business right away or will you need to borrow money? You will also need to determine your time and labor needs. Building a new business takes a lot of work, and it likely will require learning new skills and multitasking. Finally, at this stage, it will be important to examine safety, legal and accessibility concerns. For example, are their dangerous areas to which you will need to restrict access? How do you plan to address sanitation needs (restrooms, hand-washing, etc.)? What are the local regulations in relation to the activities you plan to offer? Do you need special permits or licenses? Is what you want to offer legal? What insurance do you need to obtain? It is your responsibility to address these issues prior to opening up your property to visitors.

Goals and Objectives

Goals and objectives allow you to define your vision further. When considering this vision, think of goals as broad accomplishments you hope to achieve; and objectives as the measurable steps you need to take to achieve those goals.

Here’s a simple tribal agritourism example:

Goal: To develop an agritourism program that builds local interest in learning how to harvest traditional foods that will be incorporated in the menus of local restaurants.

Objective: By August have 10 youth sign up and participate in a foraging club that will gather traditional foods.

In the example above, the goal is a bigger picture outcome. It helps guide our program development. The objective on the other hand is measurable – 10 youth signed up by August harvesting traditional foods. The outcome of your objective should give you a clear idea of your successes. Keep in mind that your goals and objectives need to be attainable. Saying you will have your entire program up and running in six months is unlikely, while completing stage one in six months is doable. Setting goals and objectives will help you determine what those stages are.

Conduct a Market Analysis

You are not the first to start an agritourism business. It is important to learn about who else is out there, and what you can learn from their experience. What businesses are doing well and why? What trends in the industry are you responding to with your business and how will you differentiate? Researching other agritourism businesses in your area is important in getting to know your competition, and also to find potential partners. Note, your “competition” could actually be potential partners, as you both have a similar objective of attracting customers to your area. Competition is actually a good thing if you offer complimentary services. You can team up with other businesses to market to a larger customer base and create an attraction that inspires people to travel from further away and to stay longer.

Build out an Operation and Management Plan

After you determine what your business or program is, and you define what success looks like, it is now a good time to create a plan for how you will run, or operate, this business. In creating this plan, consider the following questions: What is the legal structure of the enterprise? Will you need additional insurance than what you currently have? Who do you plan to hire and for which positions will you hire them? What are the skills and responsibilities required for the personnel involved in the operation? How will you find and attract these people? It is important at this stage to consider how the business might scale. You may not need as many people to assist you when you first begin, but in the middle of a growth phase you will not want to go back and rewrite your operation plan.

Identify Your Marketing Strategy

Your marketing strategy is where you harness the story you outlined in step one, and determine how you are going to disseminate this story to prospective customers. The first step here is to determine who your desired customer will be. Will they be from nearby towns or cities, or will they be coming from out of state? Will they be traveling with families, or are you hoping to attract only adults? Once you know what kind of traveler you are seeking you can delve into determining this customer’s general needs and interests, and make sure what you are offering meets these needs and interests. Next, determine how you plan to reach this traveler. There are plenty of paths to take: online, print, travel agents (resellers), media. Not all channels are going to work for all demographics, and choosing incorrectly can be a costly mistake. One way to reduce this cost is to collaborate with other local businesses that offer a similar or complimentary experience. It can also be useful to be a part of marketing efforts carried out by DMO’s (Destination Marketing Organizations) or associations (Chambers of Commerce, trade groups). This strategy will provide the blueprint for a Marketing Plan, which you (and your marketing team) will create prior to getting your business off the ground.  Here’s a helpful resource for creating your agritourism marketing plan: https://www.uvm.edu/~snrvtdc/agritourism/agchecklists/AgritourismMarketing.pdf . The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also offers a helpful guide and sample template for when you are ready to create your marketing plan ( https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage/marketing-sales-plan-payment#section-header-0 ).

Develop Your Financial Strategy

Your financial strategy is basic to making management decisions and obtaining financing. In this section, you will identify sources of existing debt and financing needs. You will also develop financial statements including a profit-loss statement, a balance sheet and a cash flow projection that includes sales projections. It is important to understand what your costs will be, and have a projection for where your break-even point is. To get up and running there will likely be some upfront costs. How do you plan to finance the operation? If you do not have the cash on hand are there sources that you could seek funding from – loans, grants, assets? For example, USDA offers value-add grants as well as loans. If your program has community development aspects (job training, youth employment, sustainability, cultural perpetuation) consider researching foundations with programs in these areas. You could also reach out to your current financial institution to see what kind of assistance they could provide.

This section especially highlights the diverse knowledge required and might seem more foreign to those without a business background. While extremely important, the learning curve is quite attainable, compared to the much more difficult task of coming up with a great idea to base your business on. There are plenty of resources available to get you up to speed on these terms and concepts.

First Nations has an Indian Agriculture Curriculum that might be helpful.  The first four Modules of the Participant Workbook provide a useful guide ( http://www.firstnations.org/knowledge-center/foods-health/biz-of-indian-ag ).

Create an Executive Summary

At the completion of all the components of your business plan, create a one page summary of your venture that includes the business description; mission statement; the market and it’s potential; an overview of your management team; and your financial analysis. This summary will be useful when seeking investors / funders, partners, employees, etc., who may be less likely to read your entire report.

A successful agritourism program has great potential to positively impact your community while also providing you with financial benefits. Few to none of these outcomes will be achieved if there is not a solid business plan to back up the program. Answering these questions early will save a lot of time and energy by avoiding foreseeable issues, and offering the time to develop a successful and valuable product.

This project was funded by the Food and Farm Communications Fund

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Native American Agriculture Fund

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Bureau of Land Management

National Endowment of the Arts

National Park Service

United States Forest Service

• Sample Business Plans
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Agritourism Business Plan

If you are very much grounded with nature and want diverse income in a rural area, then starting an agritourism business is one of the best ideas.

Anyone can start a new business, but you need a detailed business plan when it comes to raising funding, applying for loans, and scaling it like a pro!

Need help writing a business plan for your agritourism business? You’re at the right place. Our agritourism business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write an Agritourism Business Plan?

Writing an agritourism business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

• This section may include the name of your agritourism business, its location, when it was founded, the type of agritourism business (E.g., farm tours & farm stays, u-pick farms, farm-to-table restaurants, wine or brewery tours), etc.

Market Opportunity:

Products and services:.

• For instance, you may include farm tours, agricultural workshops & classes, farm products & crafts, etc as some of your products & services.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your business. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

• Farm tours & farm stays
• Farm-to-table restaurants
• Wine or brewery tours
• Educational workshops and classes
• Rural accommodation
• Nature & adventure activities
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

• Additionally, If you have received any awards or recognition for excellent work, describe them.

Future Goals:

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

• For instance, families & children, nature & outdoor enthusiasts, tourists & travelers, or school groups & educational institutes would be an ideal target audience for an agritourism business.

Market size and growth potential:

• For instance, the agritourism industry was valued at USD 5.95 in 2021, so it is crucial to define the segment of your target market and its growth potential.

Competitive Analysis:

Market trends:.

• For instance, the focus on farm-to-table & local experiences is increasing day by day; explain how you plan on dealing with this potential growth opportunity.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your agritourism farm business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Highlight your offerings:

Mention the agritourism products & services your business will offer. This list may include

• Farm activities
• Workshops & Classes
• Farm-to-table experiences
• Accommodation
• Special events
• Organic farm products

Describe each service:

• For instance, for farm activities – describe the different interactive activities that guests can take part in, such as gathering fruit and vegetables, feeding animals, milking cows, riding horses or tractors, or helping out on the farm.

Additional Services:

In short, this section of your agritourism plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

• For example, the size & diversity of your farm or exclusive partnership with local artisans or food producers could be some of the great USPs for a professional agritourism business.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your agritourism business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your agritourism business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

• Explain how these technologies help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your agritourism business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

• It should include, senior management, and other department managers (e.g. operations manager, hospitality manager, customer services manager.) involved in the agritourism business operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the industry.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

• So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your agritourism business, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

• This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.

Financing needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your agritourism business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample agritourism business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful agritourism plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our agritourism business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need an agritourism business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful agritourism business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your agritourism business.

Where to find business plan writers for your agritourism business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your agritourism business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your agritourism business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any agritourism business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

How do I write a good market analysis in an agritourism business plan?

Market analysis is one of the key components of your business plan that requires deep research and a thorough understanding of your industry.

We can categorize the process of writing a good market analysis section into the following steps:

• Stating the objective of your market analysis—e.g., investor funding.
• Industry study—market size, growth potential, market trends, etc.
• Identifying target market—based on user behavior and demographics.
• Analyzing direct and indirect competitors.
• Calculating market share—understanding TAM, SAM, and SOM.
• Knowing regulations and restrictions
• Organizing data and writing the first draft.

Writing a marketing analysis section can be overwhelming, but using ChatGPT for market research can make things easier.

Can a good agritourism business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted agritourism business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

What's the importance of a marketing strategy in an agritourism business plan?

Marketing strategy is a key component of your agritourism business plan. Whether it is about achieving certain business goals or helping your investors understand your plan to maximize their return on investment—an impactful marketing strategy is the way to do it!

Here are a few pointers to help you understand the importance of having an impactful marketing strategy:

• It provides your business an edge over your competitors.
• It helps investors better understand your business and growth potential.
• It helps you develop products with the best profit potential.
• It helps you set accurate pricing for your products or services.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Agro Tourism Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Tourism & Hospitality

Do you want to start an agro tourism company and need to write a plan? If YES, here is a sample agro tourism business plan template & feasibility report.

An agro tourism agency is a good business to start in the United States because, aside from Israel, the United States can boast of having some of the best inventions when it comes to the agricultural industry. As a matter of fact, the united states is among the top destinations for foreigners looking for countries to understudy new breakthroughs in agriculture.

Agro tourism receives massive support from the government because it gives farmers and other stakeholders in the industry opportunity to generate additional income and an avenue for direct marketing of their produce to consumers. Aside from that, agro tourism provides educational opportunities to the public, helps to preserve agricultural lands, and allows states to develop business enterprises.

If you are sure this type of business is what you truly want to do after you must have conducted your feasibility studies and market research.

The next step to follow is to write a good business plan; a detailed blueprint of how you intend raising your seed capital, setting up the business, managing the flow of the business, sorting out tax and marketing your services. Below is a sample agro tourism business plan template that will help you write yours with little effort.

A Sample Agro Tourism Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The travel and tourism industry of which agro tourism belongs to is a big and profitable industry in the United States of America and in most developed countries with known breakthroughs in the agriculture industry. Agritourism or agro tourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch especially for the purpose of understudying.

Agro tourism is a booming line of business in the United States. Agro tourists can choose from a wide range of activities that include picking fruits and vegetables, riding horses, tasting honey, learning about wine and cheesemaking, or shopping in farm gift shops and farm stands for local and regional produce or hand-crafted gifts.

According to the USDA Cooperative State, Education and Extension Service, “Tourism is becoming increasingly important to the U.S. economy. A conservative estimate from the Federal Reserve Board in Kansas, based on 2000 data, shows that basic travel and tourism industries accounted for 3.6 percent of all U.S. employment.

Even more telling, data from the travel industry Association of America indicate that 1 out of every 18 people in the U.S. has a job directly resulting from travel expenditures”.

According to the Small Farm Center at the University of California, “Agricultural tourism or agritourism, is one alternative for improving the incomes and potential economic viability of small farms and rural communities. Some forms of agritourism enterprises are well developed in California, including fairs and festivals.

Other possibilities still offer potential for development”. The UC Small Farm Center has developed a California Agritourism Database that “provides visitors and potential entrepreneurs with information about existing agritourism locations throughout the state.

The Tourism industry that agro tourism business is a subset of is a thriving sector of the economy of the United States and the industry generates over $970 billion annually from more than 443,165 tourism companies (strictly agro tourism agencies inclusive) scattered all around the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for the employment of over 5,546,023 people. Experts project the industry to grow at 1.0 percent annual rate. The market for the tourism industry is open to all stakeholders because no tourism agency has the lion market shares in the industry

A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that in the last five years, the Tourism industry has experienced relatively steady growth.

However, despite increasing consumer sentiment, declining unemployment and an increase in the number of trips domestic and international travelers were taking in the United States, revenue growth was sluggish early during the period amid heightened competition and unstable commodity markets.

Nevertheless, consumer spending continued to increase over the past five years, due to rising disposable income and positive consumer sentiment, benefiting industry operators.

Some of the factors that encourage entrepreneurs to start their own agro tourism business could be that the business is easy to set up and the startup capital is indeed affordable; you can actually start your own agro tourism business from a small farm.

But you must ensure that you have things in place or activities that will compel people (tourists) to travel from far and wide to pay to tour your farm.

2. Executive Summary

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is a registered commercial farm with strong bias in generating additional income from agro tourism. The farm will be located in a farming community in Steamboat Springs – Colorado.

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is a 500 – acre family – owned and operated farm that hosts over 40 attractions and activities for visitors between May and their Harvest Festival in October. Our visitors (tourists) have the opportunity to feed their baby animal addiction by visiting during the Baby Animal Days, or they can can participate in our many festivals, such as the Sunflower Festival.

From activities such as apple cannons and pig races, there are many different opportunities to entertain the entire family all the while learning about farm life. We will also offer agro tourists the chance to work on cattle ranches, and sometimes participate in cattle drives.

We are aware that while revenue and education are often primary drivers for farmers to diversify and invite guests onto their property, we will ensure that safety is always a top priority to us.

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is a client-focused and result driven agro tourism business that provides excellent treatment and broad-based experience at an affordable fee that won’t in any way put a hole in the pocket of our clients.

At Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc., our client’s best interest would always come first, and everything we do is guided by our values and professional ethics. Which is why our visitors are greeted with a beautiful building that houses a café and souvenir shop.

We also have in the visitor center area an agriculture-themed escape room and interactive stations for people of all ages to learn about the agriculture industry and our farm, from what farmers do. We will ensure that we hire professionals who are well experienced in the industry.

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a firm, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is founded by Frank Tyson and his immediate family members. He has over 15 years’ experience working at various capacity within the agriculture industry and of course the travel and tour industry in the United States of America.

3. Our Products and Services

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is going to offer varieties of services within the scope of the agro tourism line of business in the United States of America. Our intention of starting our agro tourism business is to make profits from the industry and we will do all that is permitted by the law in the United States to achieve our business goals. Our business offerings are listed below;

• Giving visitors (tourists) first hand experience of farm life
• (Accommodation services) – Renting out our agriculture-themed escape room and interactive stations
• Food services and drinking place services
• Donkey, Cart and Horse rental
• Travel agent and tour arrangement services
• Sell our farm produce to visitors (farm market)

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to build an agro tourism brand that will become the number one choice for clients who are seeking to visit Steamboat Springs – Colorado or any commercial farms in the United States for the purpose of agro tourism.
• Our mission is to provide the most ideal environment, ambiance and activities that will encourage people to visit our farms.
• We will position the business to become the leading brand in agro tourism in the whole of Steamboat Springs – Colorado, and also to be amongst the top 20 agro tourism destinations in the United States of America within the first 10 years of operation.

Our Business Structure

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. will build a solid business structure that can support the growth of our business.

We will ensure that we hire competent hands to help us build the business of our dream. The fact that we want to become one of the leading commercial farms that is also engaged in agro tourism in the United States makes it highly necessary to build a well – structured business from the onset.

We will make sure that we hire people that are qualified, honest, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our member of staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Operating Officer

General Farm Manager

Administrator/Accountant

• Cattle Ranch Manager/Supervisor
• Agro Travels and Tours Consultant
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Field Employees
• Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
• Supervise other section managers
• Ensure compliance during project executions
• Providing advice on the management of farming activities across all sections
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Using IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of the growth of crops, fishes, birds and animals
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and sale of farm produce after harvest
• Represent the organization’s interest at various stakeholders meetings
• Ensures that farming goals desired result are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied. Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversee the smooth running of the daily farming activities across the various farming sections.

Agro Travel and Tour Consultant

• Responsible for booking flight tickets, securing transit visas, booking for shuttle buses/taxi cabs, car rentals, hotel bookings amongst many other agro tour services
• Liaise with clients (potential agro tourists) to identify their needs and to ensure customer satisfaction
• Conduct market research, gather information and negotiate contracts prior to closing any deals
• Provide feedback and periodic reports to stakeholders
• Propose ideas to improve provided services and agro tourism quality
• Ensure compliance with insurance, legal, health and safety obligations
• Cooperate with marketing and PR to promote and publicize agro related events
• Conduct pre- and post – agro events evaluations and report on outcomes
• Research market, identify agro tour opportunities and generate interest
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Serves as internal auditor for the company

Cattle Ranch and Animal Manager/Supervisor

• Responsible for managing boarding services, breeding services, dairy support services, livestock health services, farrier services, and shearing services et al.
• Work closely with the General Manager to achieve the organizations’ goals and objectives

Sales and Marketing Officer

• Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with company policy
• Responsible for handling business research, marker surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Document all customer contact and information
• Represent the company in strategic meetings
• Help increase sales and growth for the company especially as it relates to attracting agro tourists from within and outside of the United States of America.

Field Workers

• Serve as tour guides within the farm settlement
• Responsible for feeding cattle and other livestock as instructed by the supervisor
• Responsible for cleaning the cattle ranch
• Change the water in the water trough / trench as instructed by the supervisor on a regular basis
• Handles farm implements and machines
• Carries out task in line with the stated job description
• Handles any other duties as assigned by the farm manager

Client Service Executive/Front Desk Officer

• Welcomes visitors (agro tourists) by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the company’s products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients
• Receives parcels/documents for the company
• Distribute mails in the organization
• Handles any other duties as assigned by the manager

6. SWOT Analysis

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist the firm in building a well – structured agro tourism business that can favorably compete in the industry.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc.;

The fact that we have a standard commercial farm, with vast land and facilities that will meet the needs of visitors (agro tourists) from within and outside the United States and also good working relation with travel and tour agencies gives us edge over our competitors.

We have a team that can go all the way to give our visitors value for their money; a team that are trained and equipped to pay attention to details when executing their jobs. We are well positioned and we know we will attract loads of visitors (agro tourists) from the first day we open our facility to visitors.

As a new agro tourism business, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from corporate clients who are looking for highly mechanized farms to visit; that is perhaps our major weakness.

• Opportunities:

This industry relies on the number of domestic day trips and overnight stays. The more consumers travel domestically, the more likely they are to spend on tourism-related activities. Domestic trips by US residents are expected to increase in the coming year, presenting a potential opportunity for the industry.

Outbound US resident travel results in a loss of potential revenue to the local industry due to purchases made overseas. However, some industry segments such as international airlines and travel agents, may still receive income from bookings. International trips by US residents are expected to increase in the coming year, posing a potential threat to the industry.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

In recent time, agro tourism has become a necessary means for many small farms’ survival. By diversifying business operations, farm operators are able to ensure a more stable income. This is because agritourism activities can occur during times of the year that crops may not be in season, and they provide a completely separate stream of income.

Some studies have found that agritourism operations often benefit their surrounding communities by drawing tourists to the area. The economic boost by the increase in traffic can be beneficial to rural areas in need of diversified streams of income.

The agro tourism line of business is in a continuous state of evolution and as such, ground breaking strategies and ideas that are once highly successful are no longer as productive as they were in time past.

Close observation of the trend in the industry reveals that the past few years has seen the rise and proliferation of social media and new tech tools. The trend also extends to increased attention paid to engagement and new market segments, adopting eco-friendly measures and sustainability when planning agro tours events.

As a matter of fact, social media has now become one of the most important tools agro tours agencies leverage on to disseminate information about their events, interact with clients, solicit feedback, and create year-round engagement with their target audience. Furthermore, new software apps and emerging technology have made it easier for agro tours agencies to gather all the needed data and information that will help them plan and project for the future.

Lastly, people have become more interested in how their food is produced. They want to meet farmers and processors and talk with them about what goes into food production.

For many people who visit farms, especially children, the visit marks the first time they see the source of their food, be it a dairy cow, an ear of corn growing in a field, or an apple they can pick right off a tree. Farmers and ranchers use this interest to develop traffic at their farm or ranch.  

8. Our Target Market

The market for agro tourism is usually divided into two groups; those who are looking to understudy a farm and the processes that are involved in the farm especially as it relates to farming techniques and of course those who are just looking for a farm settlement to tour and engage in fun-filled activities.

These groups of people cut across different divides in the community. In essence we will ensure we position our business to attract the following visitors (agro tourists);

• International tourists
• Family and household
• Newly wedded couples
• Research institutions

Our Competitive Advantage

The level of competition in the agro tourism line of business depends largely on the location of the business and of course the capacity of your farm especially as it relates to the activities and facilities you have on ground. If you can successfully create a unique brand identity for your agro tourism business or carve out a unique market, you are likely going to experience less competition.

For instance, if you are one of the few agro tourism farms in your location that owns a farm – themed guest house, you are sure going to be making monopolize the market. Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. might be a new entrant into the industry in the United States of America, but the management staffs and owners of the business are considered gurus.

They are people who are core professionals and licensed and highly qualified agro travels and tours experts in the United States. Our farm, varieties of activities, our facilities are what agro tourists will pay to visit. These are part of what will count as a competitive advantage for us.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the business and we are going to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis. Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. will generate income by offering the following agro related services;

• Food and drinking service
• Travel and tour arrangement services

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be individuals, families and corporate organizations who would travel on a daily basis within the United States and to other parts of the world basically for agro tourism.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in the U.S. and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income/profits from the first six months of operation and grow the business and our clientele base beyond.

We have been able to examine the agro travel and tour market, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. Below are the sales projection for Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc., it is based on the location of our business and the wide range of agro services that we will be offering;

• First Fiscal Year (FY1): $350,000
• Second Fiscal Year (FY2): $550,000
• Third Fiscal Year (FY3): $750,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and natural disasters within the period stated above. There won’t be any major competitor offering same agro tourism activities as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there are stiff competitions amongst commercial farms that are also engaged in agro tourism in the United States of America, hence we have been able to hire some of the best business developers to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited base on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of the organization.

We will also ensure that our excellent job deliveries speak for us in the marketplace; we want to build a standard agro tourism business that will leverage on word of mouth advertisement from satisfied clients. Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to corporate organizations, schools, travel and tour agencies, households and key stake holders in all around the globe.
• Advertise our business in relevant agro and travels and tours magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
• List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local agro travel and tours expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of visitors (tourists) in order to work with their budgets and still deliver quality experience and services to them when they tour our farms
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to take the industry by storm which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our agro tourism business.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc.;

• Place adverts on both print (international agro and travels – based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events/programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
• Install our Billboards in strategic locations all around Steamboat Springs – Colorado.
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Ensure that all our workers wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company’s logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

At Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. we will keep our fees below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance.  In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to some clients, nonprofits, cooperatives, and small social enterprises seeking to visit our farm settlement.  

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for all our services and accommodation without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

Below are some of the basic areas we will spend our startup capital in setting up our commercial farms and agro tourism business;

• The total fee for incorporating the business in United States of America – $750.
• The budget for key insurance policies, permits and business license – $2,500
• The amount needed to acquire/lease a farm land – $150,000
• The amount needed for the construction and furnishing of farm settlement lodges / accommodation – $200,000
• The amount required for preparing the farm land (for construction of cattle ranch and cages / fencing et al et al) – $100,000
• The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment / machines / fencing et al – $50,000
• The amount required for purchase of the first set of cattle (cows, oxen, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers and calf et al) – $150,000
• The cost of launching an official Website – $600
• The amount required for payment of workers for a period of 3 months – $100,000
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,000

Going by the report from detailed research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need an average of $750,000 to start a standard agro tourism business in the United States of America.

Generating Funds/Startup Capital for Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc.

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is a private registered business that is owned and financed by Mr. Frank Tyson and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital to 3 major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $250,000 (Personal savings $150,000 and soft loan from family members $100,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $500,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our agro tourism services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Frank Tyson® Commercial Farm Settlement, Inc. will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the startup capital from the founder: Completed
• Applications for Loan from our Bankers : In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Purchasing of farm land and construction of farm settlement accommodation: In Progress
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Printing of Packaging and Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Building /construction of cages and fence et al: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed working tools, machines and equipment: Completed
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Farm land Treatment, Health and Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with travels and tours agencies, institutions, vendors and key players in the industry: In Progress

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How to Start an Agrotourism Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Updated:   February 22, 2024

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The agrotourism industry has reached $4,290.62 million in 2022. With urban populations seeking authentic rural experiences, the sector is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.09% from 2022 to 2028. Agrotourism offers city slickers a taste of the farming lifestyle.

As rewarding as the role of farm owner can be, the prospect of pivoting to hospitality can feel daunting for long-time producers. Building this new branch requires strategic planning, investment, and learning the ropes of the tourism industry.

The following guide breaks down everything you need to learn how to start an agrotourism business. Explore how to register an EIN, set up accounting, market your brand, and provide top-notch customer service when opening your farm doors to the public.

1. Conduct Agrotourism Market Research

Jumping into community-supported agriculture requires careful examination of your regional visitor demographics and tourism infrastructure. Market research will help you develop a thorough marketing plan and business plan.

Start by identifying key visitor segments drawn to agritourism. Data shows the top brackets include families with young kids, baby boomers, and millennial foodies. Geotourism studies reveal that 60% of travelers now seek authentic cultural experiences while vacationing.

When assessing your local area visitor profiles, also consider accessibility from metro hubs and proximity to national parks, wineries, hiking trails, or other complementary activities. Farms strategically located near existing tourism infrastructure and attractions tend to fare better with agritourism (e.g. lavender farms are a highly popular agrotourism choice that you could benefit from).

Next, conduct an inventory of agritourism offerings in your region. Research direct competitors, but also hospitality providers catering to the same target demographics. This could include dude ranches, food tours, cooking classes, harvest festivals, farmers markets, and more.

In particular, look for gaps in accessibility and inclusion. Data shows that 71% of travelers believe it’s important destinations offer accessible options for disabled guests. Consider building this into your market research criteria as you assess area competition.

Consumer surveys can provide additional insight into visitor interests. Reach out to tourism boards, hotels, and tour operators to see if existing local data is available. If not, create a short questionnaire for your informal focus group research.

2. Analyze the Competition

Getting a clear picture of local agritourism businesses establishes key strategic advantages as you build out new offerings. Start by identifying farms in the region providing comparable hospitality and experiential programming. Document their offerings, pricing, property attributes, volumes, and visitor profiles.

Pay attention to the stories competitors tell through their branding and marketing materials. Note their communication channels, value propositions, and any apparent specialties. Then scrutinize reviews on Google , Yelp , and TripAdvisor to gauge customer satisfaction levels.

Look beyond the farm level to evaluate broader tourism players as well. For example, analyze what sets vineyards, B&Bs, and glamping tents apart if targeting the luxury bracket. For budget-focused families, balance your positioning relative to campgrounds, state parks, music festivals, and seasonal events instead.

Factor in barriers to entry created by complicated regulatory requirements, resident attitudes towards tourism, zoning implications, or other political dynamics specific to agriculture and hospitality. These structural issues influence market competition significantly.

A thorough online presence analysis is essential too. Research how other agritourism providers rank in local Google search results and claim placement on travel review and booking platforms. Study competitor website optimization and functionality.

3. Costs to Start an Agrotourism Business

Launching an agritourism venture requires careful financial planning and the establishment of ample operating capital. Between land preparation, facilities, staffing, and insurance, costs add up quickly. Weigh these major expenditure categories as you craft your budget.

Startup Costs

For existing farms adding agritourism components, dedicate $15,000-$30,000 upfront for any necessary property enhancements. Key investments may include:

• Safety and accessibility-focused projects – $5,000-$10,000
• Bathroom and septic upgrades – $5,000-$15,000
• Paths, signage and parking – $2,000-$5,000
• Barn, cabin, or kitchen remodels – $3,000+

If purchasing or leasing a separate agritourism-specific property, land and construction costs inflate exponentially based on the buildings required. Budget minimum of $50,000 for raw land acquisition alone.

Ongoing Costs

Staff will likely represent your largest ongoing operational expenditure. Determine essential full-time, part-time, and seasonal hiring needs based on projected visitor volumes and service offerings.

At a minimum, plan for:

• 1 dedicated general manager – $45,000-$65,000/year salary
• 5 seasonal agriculture and hospitality workers – $15/hour

This totals nearly $170,000 annually for baseline staffing. Fluctuate up as visitation expands.

Protect yourself and your patrons with ample commercial general liability coverage. Expect to invest $4,000-$8,000 annually at minimum. Review policy terms to ensure adequate coverage for common hospitality mishaps like guest injuries, food-borne illnesses, or property damage.

Allocate 5-15% of total operating costs for marketing strategy efforts like social campaigns, travel trade partnerships, and local tourism advertising. This equates to $10,000-$50,000 annually for small to mid-sized operations.

Additional overheads like bookkeeping, direct sales commissions from online booking platforms, and website hosting tallies between $300-$1000 monthly.

4. Form a Legal Business Entity

When establishing an agritourism operation, you must form a legal structure. There are four main business entities to choose from when starting an agritourism business, including:

Sole proprietorship

Sole proprietorships offer ease of setup but no personal asset protection or special tax considerations. Any lawsuits or debts tied directly to the business become your responsibility. Sole proprietorships are best suited for a single owner or a married couple.

Partnership

Partnerships allow you to share ownership with others, yet still expose owners’ home values, retirement savings, and more to court judgments. Partnerships are a good option for a family business, but still leave your assets vulnerable.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Registering an official LLC costs between $50-$500 depending on your state filing fees. It limits legal vulnerability by separating your farm’s financials and obligations from your own. This appeals greatly to lenders if you need to take out loans for additional agritourism development as well.

LLCs also provide tax flexibility not offered by traditional corporations. You can file taxes as a pass-through organization with income and losses reported directly on your returns. This makes an LLC ideal for a working farm and other businesses working with agricultural products.

Corporation

A corporation is the most advanced and protective form of entity to create. While it protects your assets much like an LLC, it is more complex and expensive to form. For a small business, a corporation entity doesn’t usually make sense.

5. Register Your Business For Taxes

With any commercial enterprise, formally registering with state and federal tax authorities ensures full compliance from Day 1 while unlocking key financial perks. An employer identification number (EIN) functions like a Social Security number for your business specifically.

The EIN allows you to open dedicated checking accounts, process payroll, apply for pertinent licenses and permits, build company credit, and complete other administrative functions. The IRS requires all LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and nonprofits to obtain one regardless of staff size.

Sole proprietors without employees can use their personal Social Security number instead. But again, opting for an official EIN better segments personal and professional finances while protecting assets in lawsuits.

The entire application process occurs online through the IRS website and only takes minutes to complete. Simply:

• Visit IRS.gov and navigate to the EIN Assistant.
• Answer a short questionnaire about your entity type, ownership structure, and reason for applying.
• Provide key details about your farm operation and its activities.
• Obtain EIN immediately upon submitting your details.

You’ll also need to register with your Secretary of State for the collection of state sales tax applied to goods and services sold on-site to visitors. State filing officers then share this data with the IRS too. Filing frequency and thresholds for remittances vary based on location and income levels.

Research specifics based on the structures, products, and experiences outlined in your agritourism offerings. State departments of revenue also typically require tourism businesses to complete separate one-time registrations outlining hospitality activities happening on agricultural land.

6. Setup Your Accounting

Meticulous financial tracking provides the foundation for agritourism success. Investing in organizational accounting habits from the outset shields you from painful IRS audits, penalties, and reporting mishaps down the road.

Accounting Software

User-friendly platforms like QuickBooks simplify otherwise complex accounting processes. Connect your business bank and credit card accounts so transactions automatically download into preset categories. QuickBooks even invoices customers and facilitates payroll should you choose to activate those features.

Hire an Accountant

Supplement with an accountant well-versed in agritourism’s unique tax considerations across hospitality services, farm production activities, and applicable tourism incentives. Expect to invest around $1,000 annually for an advisor to optimize financial tracking accuracy, prepare and file annual tax paperwork, and ensure full regulatory alignment.

Open a Business Bank Account and Credit Card

Opening a dedicated business checking account and credit card also streamlines accounting. Never commingle professional and personal finances. A separate business credit card earns rewards points on necessary farm purchases while keeping expenses easily traceable.

7. Obtain Licenses and Permits

With the flurry of agritourism development nationwide, states race to install regulatory frameworks protecting visitors on private farmlands. Find federal license information through the U.S. Small Business Administration . The SBA also offers a local search tool for state and city requirements.

Determine if your state or county requires specific agritourism operator licensing above typical business registration. These programs commonly mandate liability insurance minimums, safety protocol training, and community engagement promises before approving a conditional use permit.

For example, Vermont’s Rooms and Meals Tax program categorizes farm stays and tourism activities to collect occupancy surcharges akin to hotels. Beyond validating your legitimate operations, enrollment often makes proprietors eligible for regional promotion assistance and specialty “farm-friendly” highway signs too.

Any meals, snacks, or beverages served on-site require county health department inspections and consumables provider licensing regardless of free or paid status. Again, fees fluctuate but expect $100-$250 annually.

Common forms include Temporary Food Service permits for one-off events or seasonal concessions and Commercial Kitchen registrations for year-round hospitality from a dedicated agritourism kitchen. Inspections verify proper build-outs, appliances, sanitation procedures, and storage.

8. Get Business Insurance

Opening private land to public hospitality exponentially increases liability risk. Business insurance delivers financial protection if a visitor is injured falling off a hayride, develops a foodborne illness during dinner, or otherwise experiences harm on the premises.

Imagine the financial devastation if:

• A child sustains third-degree burns attempting to make s’mores at an unsecured fire pit then sues for $250,000 in medical bills.
• Salmonella sickens a family who purchased cheese samples from your creamery and then reports symptoms to the health department.
• An elderly couple slips on loose gravel and breaks both hips necessitating permanent at-home care costing $75,000 annually.

Now envision paying legal fees and court judgments completely out of pocket. Business insurance defends against and covers what often amounts to millions in liability claims over an agritourism operation’s lifespan.

• General Liability – Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage
• Product Liability – Protects against flaws in food products or farm goods
• Professional Liability – Shields advice given during workshops/classes
• Umbrella – Extra coverage for massive incidents
• Workers Comp – Protects staff injuries/incidents

Obtain quotes through an independent insurance broker . Expect to pay $5000+ depending on your policy stipulations, cover limit preferences, staff size, risk level, and deductible selections. This security blanket facilitates peaceful agritourism development free of catastrophic bankrupting scenarios.

9. Create an Office Space

Carving out administrative space streamlines daily operations and external communications necessary for agritourism excellence. Whether a simple home office or a more elaborate commercial lease, designating real estate for business administration.

Home Office

Converting a spare bedroom or basement corner into a basic desk setup maintains intimate owner oversight while providing workflow privacy. Expect costs of around $2,000 for supplies like a computer, filing cabinets, phone line, and booking management software applicable from any location.

Coworking Space

Nearby WeWork outposts offer move-in ready offices for small business owners seeking professional communal amenities without major financial risk. Open desk rentals start around $350 monthly. Private offices with doors for confidential calls bump to $600 on average.

Retail Office

Properties with customer-facing storefronts like farm stands may warrant customer-facing office nooks on-site allowing sales processing, product pickups, and hospitality service bookings all in one spot. This convenience must be weighed against frequent visitor interruptions and noise that can reduce productivity, however.

10. Source Your Equipment

Outfitting an agritourism operation with the necessary gear to facilitate immersive guest experiences requires strategic spending. Evaluate new purchases against used and rental options to secure exactly what your farm needs cost-effectively.

Splurging on shiny new fixtures and supplies guarantees flawless function with warranty support and sometimes financing assistance for costly investments. Key essentials like commercial kitchen equipment, tractor wagon shuttles, ATVs, or professional photography backdrops can run tens of thousands of new but last years.

Buying Used

Scour local classified listings through Facebook Marketplace , Craigslist , and leaflet boards at feed stores for steeply discounted gear in quality shape. Repurposed machinery like apple presses, hand tools, or bird-watching scopes often surfacing second-hand offer great guest programming potential at a fraction of retail prices.

Hefty investments like commercial bounce houses, professional barbecue rigs, or sound systems for agritourism events make infinitely more financial sense to rent only when needed. Peer-to-peer rental platforms like Fat Llama connect you with special event companies willing to loan specialty items.

If cash flow is tight opening year one but essential harvesting equipment or swanky guest cabin materials remain necessary, explore leasing options spreading costs over monthly installments rather than one crushing new buy. This eases cash flow demands substantially.

11. Establish Your Brand Assets

Cultivating a distinct brand personality helps emerging agritourism establishments stand out amid fierce regional competition while aligning offerings with target visitor values for enhanced loyalty. From logos to websites, these visual touchpoints inform consumer impressions.

Getting a Business Phone Number

Toll-free numbers lend legitimacy to bookings and customer service unavailable through personal cell phones. Cloud-based virtual phone services like RingCentral forward calls automatically from one centralized business line and ring endless devices simultaneously for reliable access and professionalism.

Creating a Logo and Brand Assets

Hire a designer to craft custom logo visuals reflecting the heritage, location, or specialty crop of your farm. Brand recognition likely requires keeping the main name but refreshing slogans. User-friendly DIY design platforms like Looka generate loads of polished options

Creating Business Cards and Signage

Business card exchanges establish professional first impressions with regional tourism partners, vendors, and media. High-quality cards like those printed through Vistaprint run about $20 for 250.

Purchasing a Domain Name

Secure exact match domain names like FarmNameAgritourism reflecting the brand through registrars like Namecheap for roughly $15 yearly. If taken, adjust slightly with hyphens or abbreviations as available.

Building a Website

Self-service platforms like Wix facilitate quick DIY websites packing in loads of visual appeal to convey the agritourism vision vibrantly. Or hire an expert web developer through freelance networks like Fiverr starting around $300 to craft a completely custom site architecture showcasing offerings in the best light possible.

12. Join Associations and Groups

Expanding professional networks through local and national associations secures indispensable mentorship and peer support as the complex agritourism industry continues maturing. Tapping collective knowledge around risk management, marketing, and operational efficiency steers new entrants toward profitability faster.

Local Associations

State-level alternative agriculture groups like the California Agritourism Association and regional collectives like the Appalachian Agritourism Association offer troves of niche insights, forums for idea exchanges advocacy assistance, and disaster relief programs. Memberships run $50-$500 annually depending on scale.

Tourism boards also harbor useful training webinars, promotion opportunities on “farm trail” apps like BookingNinjas, and eligibility for placement in roadside visitor center guides.

Local Meetups

In-person conferences and hands-on workshops facilitate more intimate sharing around overcoming recurring stumbling blocks like securing adequate event insurance, perfecting evening bonfire experiences, or licensing on-farm stores legally. Local networks surface through platforms like Meetup .

Facebook Groups

Massive national communities centralized around key activities prove invaluable for troubleshooting and inspiration gathering too. For example, agritourism, Farm Tourism, Heritage, and Eco-Tourism offer searchable idea banks from thousands of proprietors navigating bathroom builds, artisanal cocktail receptions and so much more.

13. How to Market an Agrotourism Business

Spreading the word about your agritourism offerings requires an integrated digital and traditional promotional strategy maximizing local networks and direct visitor engagement. Balance targeted paid platforms with community cultivation for sustained success even amidst seasonal tourism lulls.

Personal Networking

Start close to home. Satisfied visitors become your best brand evangelists when delighted by farm experiences. Entice sharing through discounts on next visits, gift card bonuses, or complimentary take-home merchandise when posting social reviews.

Digital Marketing

Paid platforms efficiently target hyperlocal travelers while optimizing visibility in wider search traffic. Some digital marketing options include:

• Launch Google Ads campaigns geo-fencing nearby metro areas using keywords like “day trip orchard” + city name with ad copy conveying your differentiators.
• Sponsor seasonal event posts within community Facebook Groups already discussing topics like “best pumpkin patches ” and list on localized directories like Tripadvisor and Yelp encouraging customer reviews.
• Run Instagram and Facebook ads featuring striking photography boosting conversions.
• Allow self-service online booking through tools like FareHarbor streamlining planning.

Traditional Marketing

Double down on traditional tactics cementing friendly neighborhood ties. Some tips include:

• Distribute simple flyers at local hotels, B&Bs, bars, and farmers markets.
• Schmooze tourism bureaus, guides, and hotels to suggest or highlight offerings in regional “things to do” promotional materials as their trusted country getaway.
• Sponsor booths at busy county fairs or festivals cross-promoting to similar family-based audiences.
• Offer farm tours so farm visitors can see what you’re all about.
• Pitch multi-farm partnership packages to motorcoach companies drawin​g on farm visitors from competing farms.

While digital proves more measurably converting, well-rounded campaigns reminding locals of your presence across channels ensure top-of-mind recall when seeking weekend plans. Delighted past visitors still reign supreme enticing similar friends on each visit.

14. Focus on the Customer

In an increasingly noisy tourism sector, thoughtful customer service emerges as the competitive differentiator. Prioritize memorable care through policies facilitating seamless planning, farm transparency, and individualized attention exceeding expectations.

Simplify FAQ sections on your website detailing:

• Precise locations
• Average tour times
• Accessibility provisions
• Weather backup protocols

Send email reminders ahead of trips mentioning weather forecasts, packing checklists, and arrival procedures too. On arrival, wow families with complimentary snacks or gifts for the kids. Follow up post-visit with satisfaction surveys and exclusive early access to seasonal activities for the best reviewers.

When issues inevitably arise like allergy miscommunications in the kitchen or bee sting reactions while visiting beekeeping locations around the orchard , respond swiftly and caringly. Offer generous refunds or rainchecks along with the sincerest apologies to turn frustration into future loyalty. Document occurrences privately to amend practices proactively.

Striving relentlessly each day to showcase your farm’s unique warmth, charm, and personality forges bonds reaching far deeper than surface-level amenities alone ever could. Word spreads quickly when finding a countryside escape focused wholly on welcoming strangers like old friends.

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April 9, 2024

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• Human Nutrition and Food Safety
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AgriTourism

Agritourism is a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining or educating the visitors while generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner.[National Agricultural Law Center.  Agritourism - An Overview [nationalaglawcenter.org] .]

Selected Resources

Agritainment [psu.edu].

Opportunities and considerations for starting an entertainment venture on your farm.

Agritourism [agmrc.org]

Identifies agritourism businesses; discusses management, marketing and risk management issues; and provides related resources and links.

See also: Best Management Practices in Agritourism [agmrc.org] .

Come and Get It! What You Need to Know to Serve Food on Your Farm [misa.umn.edu]

A toolkit and roadmap to help farmers start an on-farm food service venture.

Growing Your Brand [msstate.edu]

Training modules, tools and guides to help you understand your market and create a marketing plan.

A Guide to Successful Agritourism Enterprises [uvm.edu] [pdf, 15 MB]

A comprehensive guide for starting an agritourism program, including information on assessing resources, creating a business plan, goal setting, record keeping and finances, as well as safety and risk management and marketing.

Vermont Agritourism Collaborative [uvm.edu]

An extensive collection of material pertinent to all aspects of agritourism including guides and factsheets, videos, tools, information contacts, funding resources, and more.

Key Tools and Products

Extension training for agritourism development.

The program teaches how to minimize farm safety risks, manage liability, mitigate financial risk, and improve marketing strategies.  It features workshops, webinars, web-based resources, videos and factsheets.

Agritourism - An Overview

The National Agricultural Law Center defines agritourism and provides background, examples, and related legal issues.  

Alternative Crops and Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification

Information about how to grow diverse crops, raise multiple animal species, or employ other techniques to minimize the risk of any farming endeavor.

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Marketing Your Agritourism Business

Image of a U-PICK sign: bigstockphoto.com/travismanley

What is Marketing and a Marketing Strategy?

Marketing encompasses everything you do to communicate with and meet the needs of an identified consumer group.  Marketing requires that you understand your target consumer group(s), their needs, how your product or service meets their needs and developing a strategy to reach those consumer groups.

A marketing strategy is your plan for the actions you will take to communicate and meet peoples' needs, how you will allocate budgetary funds to those activities, and how you will evaluate your actions.  Your marketing strategy will serve as a link between your business goals and sales.

What Are You Marketing?

Agritourism is a broad umbrella including a variety of business types, from corn mazes and pumpkin patches, to farm stays, u-pick, and educational events/activities. Image 1 illustrates the five categories of agritourism – education, direct sales, entertainment, outdoor recreation, and hospitality – as well as showing how activities are tiered as either core or peripheral.

Image 1. Categories of Agritourism. Source: Chase, et al. 2018

Understanding how different activities can be categorized can guide you as you develop the marketing strategy for your agritourism business.  For instance, while you may sell tangible products (apples, jams, pumpkins, etc.) to visitors, overall, the "product" you're often offering to consumers is the experience. 

Consumers are looking for the experience.  Forbes reported in late 2018 that according to TripAdvisor data, 67% more travelers chose outdoor activities in 2018 than in 2017, there was a 61% increase in bookings for classes such as cooking, and "59% more travelers decided they'd rather engage in a cultural excursion or an historically themed tour" (Taylor).

For some agritourism businesses that have been particularly successful in marketing their experiences, the core, agricultural activity of the farm may be only a small portion of the enterprise, with a majority of their income coming from their experiential offerings. In other words, the "corn maze" may bring in a lot more revenue than the corn field it replaced.

Many agritourism businesses are seasonal in nature resulting in the challenge that consumers will not be routinely visiting or purchasing from you throughout the year.  Perhaps you have a business that consumers may only visit once a year such as a u-pick experience or a Christmas tree farm.  Or, you may have an agritourism business where you are offering an experience that people want, but it may be a once-in-a-lifetime (or hopefully every few years) experience such as a farm stay or hunting excursion. With these types of agritourism businesses, it is important to ensure that you provide them with a memorable experience they will share with friends and families through word of mouth and social media.

Differences across types of agritourism make it critically important to understand the drivers for consumers to visit and purchase your products, services, or experiences and then to develop a marketing strategy unique to your business.

Who Are You Marketing To?

Success in marketing requires that you understand your customers, both existing and potential. You should be able to describe who you envision coming to, or engaging with, your agritourism business. 

Who are the people that make up your target market?

Consider how can you classify, or group people based on the following common demographic characteristics:

• Employment status
• Family status

Some resources for collecting demographic information include the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census data, and PA County Profiles .

Where are these people located?

• In what area (country, state, city, etc.) do they live?
• Do they live in a rural, urban, or suburban setting?
• How transient are the people you want to target?
• What is the population density and growth rate where your target market lives?
• How do you anticipate the population to change in the coming years?

What do they think?

What are the values of customers and what motivates them to visit your agritourism business?

• What are the consumers' opinions and values?
• What are their interests and lifestyles?
• What attitudes do they have about agriculture, your product(s), events or services?
• What needs do they have that compel them to purchase your product(s) or engage in on-farm activities?

What do they do that makes them unique (as a group) from others?

• What products do they typically use?
• What benefits do they look to get from the products they purchase?
• What experiences are they looking to have?
• How often do they use types of products that you offer?
• How sensitive are they to price changes?
• How loyal are they to their preferred brands?
• How are the products usually purchased and from where?

Using this information, develop customer profiles to describe the general person that characterizes each group you have identified through these questions.  A customer profile is a general description of the type of individual that makes up your target market.

Your Marketing Mix

Four aspects – product, place, price, and promotion – are commonly referred to as the Four P's and make up the marketing mix for your marketing strategy.  Your effectiveness in accurately identifying your target consumer characteristics and matching those with your product mix will significantly determine success for your agritourism business. 

Products/events/experiences offered must fit what your target customers are looking for.

• How would you describe your products/events/experiences?
• How will customers/visitors benefit from your products/events/experiences?
• What makes your farm experience unique?
• What product-related services do you provide the customer, such as recipes or pairings?
• What are the attributes of your product(s) that your customer values?
• Is there anything new or different about your product(s) that set you apart from the competition?
• How much of your product is available?
• How many events of each type will you offer?

How will customers access your product(s), service(s), and/or experience? Many types of agritourism exist in rural areas, part of their appeal. However, you need to be cognizant of the distance your target consumers will need to travel, as well your business's proximity to other destinations.  You should also consider the placement of items on and in your physical location.  Aspects to consider include:

• How and where will product(s) be marketed? Direct-to-consumer marketing outlets include on-farm markets, farmers' markets, online stores, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, and home delivery.
• Will customers have to come to your farm or a farmers' market to purchase? If you will sell via a CSA (community supports agriculture) model, will you have drop-off locations, delivery, and pick-up at your farm? How accessible, convenient, and when are those locations open?
• What is your location like?  How accessible is it from main highways? What is your proximity to other points of interest? Is visitor parking suitable? Are buildings, trails, and other areas that visitors would occupy safe and well maintained?
• Merchandising. Consider displaying items that complement each other to create a package or creating a theme display.
• Signage. If you are offering an on-farm activity do you have a display that conveys pricing and information?
• Displays. Are your displays highlighting your feature products? Consider creating storefront window displays, showcase displays, or found-space displays. 

Setting prices first requires an understanding and knowledge of your costs to produce products or offer events. Keys to setting profitable prices include:

• Knowing your fixed costs
• Understanding your variable costs
• Understanding opportunities for charging fees for activities, experiences
• Performing a breakeven analysis to know breakeven price or quantity
• Performing sensitivity analyses to understand how changes in production or sales quantities or changes in price impact
• Adjust based on product characteristics, a specific pricing strategy, customer price sensitivity, customer values, and other factors.

Price contributes to the perception of your product, that is, when consumers see a product price it sends signals to them about quality, match with the market outlet, expectations for assistance, etc.

Customers learn of your business, product(s), and events through promotional activities. A thorough understanding of your customers will allow you to implement the most effective promotional tactics.  Consider how you will communicate, interact, and engage with both your customers and non-customers. You'll need to determine they promotional tactics you'll utilize, the messages and information you'll share, and how often, or the schedule, you'll engage in promotional activities.

Examples of Promotional Tactics

• Signs along the highway
• Brochures/flyers at visitors' centers, community centers, etc.
• Charity/local event donations
• Event sponsorships
• Speaking engagements
• Booth at events
• Social media presence and activity
• Press releases to local media
• Publish a blog
• Distribute a newsletter (electronic and/or mailed/paper)
• Social media promotions (ads & boosted posts)
• Word of mouth
• Coupons/discounts

Marketing in the Digital and Social Media Age

With 90% of the U.S. adult population online and 72% using social media as of January 2019, having a digital and social media marketing strategy as a component of your overall marketing strategy is essential (Pew Research Center). As of February 2019, the four most widely used social media sites in the U.S. were:

Social media is often the first place many people now turn to when looking for ideas on what to do or researching places or businesses to visit.  While consumers are engaged in their decision-making process, as a business, you want your online presences, content, and messaging to be up to date, accessible at all times, and aligned across all platforms.  The perception of your business should be the same whether the consumer is interacting on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog.

Digital & Social media best practices

• Regularly update your website with current business information, prices, pictures, etc.
• Ensure your website is easy to navigate
• Regularly post to your social media accounts
• Develop a mix of content types (promotional, information, entertaining, etc.)
• Use photos and videos to engage your online community
• Set measurable goals and objectives for your digital marketing activities.
• Be responsive to questions and comments

How Are Your Employees Telling Your Story?

Your employees can significantly impact the success of your agritourism business in several ways. For agritourism businesses that rely on employees to interact with consumers, it is important for those employees to be familiar with the history of your farm and agritourism business, what makes your business unique and be skilled at conveying that to customers. Through stories, employees can develop a stronger association and deeper understanding of the message from their employers.

Having this understanding of farm history creates a sense of loyalty and pride which can trickle down to your customers. The success of your agritourism business can be dependent on customer experience. Recent research by Harvard Business Review , found emotionally connected customers are more than twice as valuable as a highly satisfied customer. An employee who is informed and engaged will boost customer experience.

Some ways to determine how well your employees have been integrated into your business 'family' include:

• Having a sense of their communications about your business. For example, do employees complain about their job on social media?
• Do they know the history of your business and share that with customers?
• Their demeanor on the job
• Their attentiveness to and interaction with customers

Collaborative Marketing

Another approach that agritourism businesses may want to pursue, and find benefit from, is to develop collaborative marketing relationships with other businesses in their local or regional area that each believe are targeting the same consumer segments. This sort of approach is typically common at an industry promotion level – think wine, beer, ice cream trails – but research has shown that consumers visit multiple businesses/places when they travel to a location. Consumer knowledge about the destinations available to visit en route to your location, as part of a trail, or from your location if it is a base (such as a farm stay) can entice consumers to make the decision to visit.

Some ideas on how to work with your peers include:

• Developing packages
• Having lists of complementary businesses that can be shared with customers/visitors
• Developing "trails"
• Developing group events, festivals, etc.
• Partnering with community groups i.e. schools, churches, prisons, hospitals to cross-promote events and activities
• Becoming involved with your local Chamber of Commerce and other civic groups

Evaluating and Learning from Your Marketing Successes (and Failures)

A vital aspect of marketing that is often overlooked is evaluation. Consumer needs and desires change, people move or experience life changes, and marketing tools (such as digital and social media platforms) evolve. Identifying evaluation metrics and collecting data on each of those metrics is essential.

Evaluation tools include:

• Transaction data
• In-person communication

Possible evaluation metrics include

• Customers/participants
• Sales quantities
• Number of events held

Managing Risk in Marketing

Marketing risk exists in many forms. It may be from prices, market access, or changing consumer demographics and/or trends. Continually assessing current trends in agritourism and the type of consumer that different activities or products appeal to is essential. For instance, while pumpkin patches and corn mazes have existed now for some time, there is a growing trend in the offering of classes for consumers to experience how products are made (such as cheese) or how to use what is purchased (such as cooking or flower arranging classes).

External events such as natural disasters, economic or health crises have the potential to impact your business substantially and quickly.  Offering diverse opportunities such as in person and online "experiences" can help eliminate risk.  Internal events can also create marketing risk.  A disgruntled employee, for instance, could spread falsehoods or rumors that impact public perception of you or your business.  Ability to assess the environment, pivot, adapt, and respond can determine how your business weathers marketing risk.

Action Steps for Addressing Marketing Risk

• Research your target customers
• Develop customer profiles
• Determine your marketing mix (products/events/experiences and 'product' mixes, prices, placement, promotional activities)
• Develop a marketing plan   --  Define metrics and assessment methods   --  Include contingency plans across all aspects

References and Resources

Chase, L. C., Stewart, M., Schilling, B., Smith, B., & Walk, M. (2018). Agritourism: Toward a conceptual framework for industry analysis . Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(1), 13–19.

George, H. and E. Rilla. 2011. Marketing Strategies for Agritourism Operations . University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.  Publication 8444.

Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet . Pew Research Center. Washington, D.C. June 12, 2019.

Singh-Kights, D. and C. Martel. (2016). Innovation and Collaboration in the Agritourism Supply Chain – Cluster Development and Implications for Marketing. ANREP/NACDEP Conference, Burlington, VT June 26-29, 2016.

Lottridge, S. (n.d.). Winery Branding: Attract More Customers by Telling Your Story .

Share of U.S. adults using social media, including Facebook, is mostly unchanged since 2018 .  Pew Research Center. Washington, D.C. April 10,2019.

Social Media Fact Sheet . Pew Research Center. Washington, D.C. June 12, 2019.

Taylor, Peter. (December 2, 2018). Big Data Mining Previews 2019's Hottest Vacation Trends And The Future Of Online Travel . Forbes.

Zorfas, A., & Leemon, D. (2017, April 24). An Emotional Connection Matters More than Customer Satisfaction .

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28588. Northeast Extension Risk Management Education US Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA)

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Best Management Practices in Agritourism

Revised August 2019

Best Management Practices for an agritourism business include:

• Providing an authentic farm or ranch experience
• Providing an educational experience
• Providing excellent customer service
• Providing adequate public facilities
• Maintaining a safe and accessible environment
• Creating good community relations
• Planning for your financial future

When starting an agritourism business or assessing your existing operation, consult the available resources and consider the following best management practices:

• Authentic Farm or Ranch Experience - An agritourism business can be defined as any person, farm, or corporation actively engaged in the operation, management, or promotion of an agriculturally-related tourism business open to the public. This business provides visitors with an educational experience aside from one that is solely commercial. It is important to keep in mind that your farm/ranch is often the “face of farming and ranching” in your community, region, or state. A product you offer to visitors may be the experience of farm or ranch living. It is also important to understand what aspects of agriculture your local associations (agricultural, tourism, and marketing) emphasize in your region so that you can develop your own niche in coordination with other farms and attractions nearby.
• Educational Experience - Farms and ranches can offer an agriculturally-oriented educational experience suitable for different ages. Food and fiber production, land stewardship, and history of agriculture are common topics that visitors enjoy learning about.  Another way to diversify your operation and educate guests maybe on-property recreational activities (e.g., fishing, hunting, trail riding, cross-country skiing, or hiking).
• Customer Service - This should be an integral part of your business planning. Training your staff to interact with customers in an appropriate way will ensure a safe and high quality experience for customers. It also ensures these customers will return and tell other potential customers about your business.
• Adequate Public Facilities - Your farm/ranch needs to have sufficient capacity (staff and infrastructure) to provide basic services such as parking, transportation, signage, customer assistance, education, and roads. In order to maintain a safe and customer friendly business, provision of services and facilities like restrooms becomes necessary.
• Safe and Accessible Environment - You should ensure that your property and facilities are maintained and in compliance with zoning, health, food safety, and environmental regulations. It is useful as well to create a risk management plan for your farm/ranch. In addition, depending on your type of business, consider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which mandates equal customer access to certain facilities (entrances, exits, and bathrooms).
• Community Relations - To create good community relations, it is important to regularly provide opportunities for organized groups and individuals in your community to visit your property (e.g., schools and business associations).
• Planning for your Financial Future - Regularly review your business plan and appropriately add value (price) to all farm/ranch services, products, and experiences in order to provide for the long-term sustainability of your business.

The following is a listing of available resources related to best management practices in agritourism:

Vermont Agritourism Collaborative , University of Vermont Extension

State Resources Your State’s: Department or Agency of Agriculture, State Agritourism Organization, Department of Marketing or Tourism, University Cooperative Extension Service, and directories from the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils , and Natural Resources Conservation Service . Authentic Experience National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations On-Farm/Ranch Education Agriculture in the Classroom Farm-Based Education Association Financial Planning Small Business Administration   Health and Safety Guidelines National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (NIOSH) . Toll-Free: 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348 NIOSH Agricultural Research Centers National Safety Council Farm safety & workplace fact sheets (scroll down for Agricultural Safety) 800-621-7615 The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety Under Resources

Farm Commons Accessibility Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act 800-514-0301 (voice) 800-514-0383 (TTY)  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.

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Farming and agriculture are complicated businesses. To be successful, you need more than a green thumb and the willingness to get your hands dirty. You need to know how to operate your agricultural enterprise efficiently and not just forecast your crop rotations, but your cash position and revenue. To do that, you need a business plan.

How can a business plan help your farm or agriculture business?

A good business plan will help your farm or food production business grow. It can improve your chances of receiving government grants or loans, help you manage your business through hard times, and identify additional forms of revenue like tourism or consulting. Most lenders or investors require a business plan before they even consider funding a project. When you add in the numerous elements of running an agricultural business, and the factors like weather and government regulations that are often beyond your control, a business plan becomes an essential tool for effective management, strategic planning and communication across all the key stakeholders in your business.

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Tourism | ‘It’s great for Orlando’: $17B Disney World…

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Tourism | ‘It’s great for Orlando’: $17B Disney World development plan gets final approval

‘this agreement provides us a lasting, sustainable and prosperous future,’ board member says .

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s board voted unanimously in favor of the 15-year plan, garnering praise from business leaders who say it will generate jobs and draw more visitors to the region.

“Walt Disney World is inextricably intertwined with the fabric of the state of Florida,” said Brian Aungst Jr., a member of the state’s tourism oversight board. “The success of Walt Disney World is the success of Central Florida and vice versa. This agreement provides us a lasting, sustainable and prosperous future.”

Disney likewise praised the deal in a statement.

“This new development agreement paves the way for us to invest billions of dollars in Walt Disney World Resort, supporting the growth of this global destination, fueling the Florida economy, and allowing us to deliver even more memorable and extraordinary experiences for our guests,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort.

‘A huge kiss and make up:’ Disney World, Florida leaders plot major expansion

Disney has not released specifics on what it intends to build, but speculation has abounded it could be planning a fifth theme park.

The agreement includes a commitment of an $8 billion investment during the first 10 years and up to $17 billion over 20. In return, the district committed to road and other infrastructure projects to support the growth.

Robert Earl, founder of Planet Hollywood and other restaurant chains, attended the meeting and praised the deal. He said he doesn’t know Disney’s master plan but expects it will be significant.

“They don’t do anything small, and lots of other attractions are expanding,” Earl said after the vote. “I am sure that they have some great ideas they haven’t shared yet. It’s great for Orlando — for all of us.”

Disney’s competitor, Universal Studios Orlando, is planning to open a new theme park, Epic Universe, next year.

The agreement covers about 17,300 acres owned by Disney, according to a summary of the deal. It authorizes a maximum of five major theme parks, one more than Disney operates in Central Florida now.

It also allows a maximum of five minor theme parks, such as a water park, nearly 1.3 million square feet of office space, 1.7 million square feet of restaurant/retail space and 53,467 hotel rooms.

Other highlights include a $10 million commitment by Disney to fund affordable housing projects, along with a pledge to launch a “buy local initiative” with at least half of construction dollars going to Florida businesses.

The proposal marks a new chapter in the relationship between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis. A Disney-DeSantis feud erupted in 2022 over the company’s opposition to what critics called the “don’t say gay” bill, which limited classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The dispute then entered the courts with lawsuits filed over who would control what was then called the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which oversees roads and other government services for Disney World.

In February 2023, DeSantis sacked the district board’s five Disney loyalists and replaced them with his political allies. Lawmakers renamed Reedy Creek the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

In March, Disney and the DeSantis-appointed district board settled a lawsuit in state court over development agreements.

Charbel Barakat, acting chairman of the tourism oversight board, thanked DeSantis and his team after the deal was approved, calling it a “monumental step.”

“The governor’s tireless efforts bore major fruit today and will pay dividends for this district and the Central Florida community for years,” he said.

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"Common types of coverage include trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage protection, coverage for medical care if you get sick or hurt during your trip, and emergency medical evacuation," says Angela Borden, a travel insurance expert and product strategist for travel insurance company Seven Corners.

Travel insurance plans offer nonrefundable payments and other trip-related expenses. While monetary compensation is a primary benefit, there is another valuable perk of travel insurance. It can provide peace of mind.

Your specific travel insurance plan (and its terms and conditions) will determine the minutia and specifics of what is covered. As with most other forms of insurance, a general rule of thumb is the more you spend, the better your coverage.

"Travel insurance can be confusing, so it's best to research a reputable company that specializes in travel insurance and has a long history of successfully helping travelers all over the world," says Borden.

Trip cancellations and interruptions

A travel insurance policy can reimburse you for a prepaid, nonrefundable trip if it is canceled for a covered event, such as a natural disaster or a global pandemic.

Trip interruption insurance covers you if you're already on your trip and you get sick, there's a natural disaster, or something else happens. Make sure to check with your travel insurance providers to discuss any inclusions, coverage, and more.

Travel delays and missed connections

Travel delay insurance coverage provides reimbursement for any expenses you incur when you experience a delay in transit over a minimum time. Reimbursements can include hotels, airfare, food, and other related expenses.

Medical emergencies and evacuations

Typically, US healthcare plans are not accepted in other countries. So travel insurance with medical coverage can be particularly beneficial when you are abroad. Medical coverage can also help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities.

Medical transportation coverage will also pay for emergency evacuation expenses such as airlifts and medically-equipped flights back to the US. Out of pocket, these expenses can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Certain plans may even transport you to a hospital of choice for care.

Travel insurance generally does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions. That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver, which we will talk about later.  

Baggage and personal belongings

Most airlines will reimburse travelers for lost or destroyed baggage, but be prepared for limitations. Travel insurance plans will typically cover stolen items, such as those stolen out of a hotel room. This may not include expensive jewelry, antiques, or heirloom items. Typically, airlines have a few days to recover your bag.

In the meantime, you can make a claim to pay for items like certain toiletries and other items you need to pick up. If your bag is truly lost or you don't get it for an extended period, you can file a true lost baggage claim.

A major perk on several travel credit cards is embedded credit card travel insurance . Typically, you will need to use the specific card for the transaction (at least with partial payment) for travel coverage to kick in.

Each card has specific rules on what exactly is covered. But one of the industry leaders is the $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Here's a snapshot of what is covered with this specific card:

• Baggage delay: up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days if a passenger carrier delays your baggage by more than six hours.
• Lost and damaged baggage: up to $3,000 per passenger per trip, but only up to $500 per passenger for jewelry and watches and up to $500 per passenger for cameras and other electronic equipment.
• Trip delay reimbursement: up to $500 per ticket if you're delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection: up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical evacuation benefit: up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation when on a trip of five to 60 days and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Travel accident insurance: accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $100,000 (up to $1,000,000 for common carrier travel).
• Emergency medical and dental benefits: up to $2,500 for medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when on a trip arranged by a travel agency and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Rental car coverage: primary coverage for damages caused by theft or collision up to $75,000 on rentals of 31 days or fewer

More protections are included with cards with an annual fee, but there are exceptions. The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex, for instance, includes up to $1,500 per person (and up to $6,000 per trip) in trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.

However, there are some differences between credit card travel coverage and obtaining coverage from a third party.

"Credit card coverage does not typically provide travel medical benefits," Borden says. "For protection if you get sick or hurt while traveling, you'll want a travel insurance plan with medical coverage."

Whether you get your travel insurance in a standalone policy or through a credit card, it's important to review your plan details carefully. In either case, there may be exclusions and other requirements such as deadlines when filing a claim, Borden notes.

Knowing what travel insurance doesn't cover is as important as knowing what it does cover.

"Travelers should understand that travel insurance benefits come into play only if a covered reason occurs," Borden says. Most standard travel insurance plans won't reimburse you for the following:

Cancel for any reason (CFAR)

Cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance covers a trip cancellation for any reason, not just a covered event. your standard benefits won't kick in unless it's a covered event. For instance, you'll be reimbursed simply for changing your mind about taking a trip.

That said, CFAR travel insurance is not without its downsides. For one, it's more expensive than traditional insurance, and most CFAR policies will only reimburse you for a percentage of your travel expenses. Additionally, CFAR policies aren't available for annual travel insurance . 

You can find our guide to the best CFAR travel insurance here.

Foreseen weather events

Sudden storms or unforeseen weather events are typically covered by standard travel insurance plans. There are exceptions to be aware of. For example, an anticipated and named hurricane will not be covered.

Medical tourism

If you're going to travel internationally for a medical procedure or doctor's visit, your travel insurance plan will not cover the procedure itself. Most medical travel plans also won't cover you if something goes wrong with your procedure.

Pre-existing conditions and pregnancy

Those with specific pre-existing conditions, such as someone with diabetes and needing more insulin, will not be covered by most plans. In addition, pregnancy-related expenses will likely not be covered under most plans.

That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver for stable conditions. In order to obtain a wavier, you will need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time frame from when you booked your trip, usually two to three weeks, depending on your policy.

Extreme sports and activities

Accidents occurring while participating in extreme sports like skydiving and paragliding will typically not be covered under most plans. However, many plans offer the ability to upgrade to a higher-priced version with extended coverage.

Navigating claims and assistance

When a trip goes awry, the first thing you should do is document everything and be as specific as possible with documentation. This will make the claims process easier, as you can substantiate and quantify your financial losses due to the delay.

For example, your flight home has been delayed long enough to be covered under your policy, you'll want to keep any receipts from purchases made while waiting. For instances where your luggage is lost, you will need to file a report with local authorities and document all the items you packed.

Cancellation protection also requires meticulous attention to detail. If you're too sick to fly, you may need to see a doctor to prove your eligibility. If an airline cancels a flight, you'll also need to document any refunds you received as travel insurance isn't going to reimburse you for money you've already gotten back. 

Part of the benefit of CFAR insurance is the reduced paperwork necessary to file a claim. You'll still need to document your nonrefundable losses, but you won't have to substantiate why you're canceling a trip.

Each plan should be personalized to meet the insured party's needs. Some travelers prefer to stick to the bare minimum (flight cancellation benefits through the airline). Others want a comprehensive plan with every coverage possible. Before you buy anything, set your destination. Are there any travel restrictions or changes pending? Does your destination country require emergency or other medical coverage?

If the destination airport is known for lost or delayed luggage, travelers should keep important items in carry-ons. Lost or delayed luggage coverage protects insured parties in the event of a significant delay or total loss.

Second, check current credit card travel benefits to avoid redundancies. Savvy travelers don't need to pay for the same coverage twice.

Finally, consider your individual needs. Do you have a chronic medical condition, or do you feel safe with emergency-only medical coverage? Keep in mind, this does not include coverage for cosmetic surgery or other medical tourism. Do you have a budget limit for travel insurance? Asking and answering these important questions will help every traveler find the right product.

Most travel insurance plans are simple, and Business Insider's guide to the best travel insurance companies outlines our top picks. Remember, read your policy and its specifics closely to ensure it includes the items you need coverage for.

No one likes to dwell on how a trip might not go as planned before even leaving. However, at its core, travel insurance provides peace of mind as you go about your trip. While the upfront cost may seem significant, when you compare it to the potential expenses of a canceled flight, emergency evacuation, or a hefty medical bill, it's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

Coverage for pandemics vary from policy to policy. Some travel insurance companies have specific provisions for pandemic-related cancellations, while others may exclude them entirely.

Sports injuries are often covered under travel insurance, but high-risk or adventure sports might require additional coverage or a special policy.

Travel advisories have different effects on your travel insurance depending on your policy. Traveling to a country already under travel advisory may invalidate your coverage, but if you're already traveling when a travel advisory is announced, you may be covered.

Travel insurance usually covers the cost of emergency medical evacuations to the nearest suitable medical facility, and sometimes back to your home country, if necessary.

Many travel insurance policies provide coverage for the cost of replacing lost or stolen passports during a trip.

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