Beekeeper
What will I be doing ?
Beekeepers raise and manage bees for honey and pollination services. Honey production is obvious, but what is pollination service ? Many agricultural crops, such as fruits, require pollination. this service is done by bees. During the appropriate time of the year the orchard owners call you to have bee hives placed near trees. The bees do the rest.
“Wait a minute”, you say. “what if I live in the city ?” Can do. You can manage a small hive from a large lot or you can keep hives on a nearby farm.
What will I need to start ?
You’ll need bees. Besides that, you’ll need a home for them-hives. You’ll also need bee-handling equipment and a way of transporting the bees to farmers’ fields. You’ll also need some knowledge of bees and some experience handling them.
Where can you get these supplies and knowledge ? Start by checking regional telephone books under “Beekeepers’ Supplies” and related headings. They can help you get books and training on beekeeping as well as offer ideas on making your business work.
Who will my customers be ?
Customers for your beekeeping service include retail and wholesale honey sellers as well as orchard owners and other agricultural enterprises. You can find them through local beekeeper supply houses, the Department of Agriculture extension offices and the phone book.
How much should I charge ?
Your fees as a beekeeper will vary depending on the products you sell and the services you provide. Most beekeepers sell honey by the pound and charge by the day or week for pollination services. Your hourly rate will range from $25 to $50. You will charge by the pound depending on the honey’s floral source (clover, etc.), geographical source and the difficulty in collecting it. Retail honey prices can range from $2 to $3 a pound or about $15 to $20 a gallon. The smaller the package the higher the per-pound price. Your price in the city may be double that of your price in the country because of supply and demand.
How much will I make ?
You will be able to charge for your time in working the hives for honey and for picking up and delivering hives to pollination sites. Most beekeepers don’t make more than about $20,000 a year with this enterprise, and some much less. Instead, they use bees to supplement income from other sources. The exception is a full honey operation that includes packaging and marketing honey for wholesale and retail accounts. This venture can bring a net income of $40,000 a year or more once it is established.
How can I get started ?
To start your beekeeping business, first learn as much as you can about bees. Find books, take courses and tap into other resources for expanding your knowledge. Then, if you can, start small with a hive or two, learning how to manage bees. Simultaneously, begin looking for ways to sell your services. Talk with retailers about selling your honey. Speak with local farmers and orchard owners about pollination. Visit noncompeting bee handlers to learn what you can.
The SIC code for beekeepers is 4812-06.
From the book of Dan Ramsey, Title : 101 Best Home Businesses, CAREER PRESS, 3 Tice Road, P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, 1-800-CAREER-1, 201-848-0310 (NJ and outside U.S.), FAX : 201-848-1727
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