Seeking advice or templates drafting a business and marketing plan?

There are many farmer-specific resources for this process, including New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Cornell Small Farms, and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). Some business planning resources geared towards beginning farmers are provided by Farm Commons, New Entry, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)’s MEGA Grant Program.

Incorporating as a business for the first time or rethinking your ownership structure?

Northeast SARE and Farm Commons put together an extensive resource called Farmers’ Guide to Business Structures that can be viewed online for free here.

Curious about e-commerce opportunities and strategies?

Watch a webinar hosted by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture where farmers discuss their experiences with online sales platforms. If e-commerce is right for your farm, view the CSA Innovation Network’s collected farmer feedback on some of the most popular national platforms.

Interested in one-on-one consultation or planning courses?

SEMAP can offer planning assistance through our business assistance program, and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) also offers a business planning course.