Are you about starting a goat farm? If YES, here is a complete sample goat farming business plan template & feasibility study you can use as a beginner for FREE.
Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a goat farming business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample goat farming marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for goat farming businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.
If you are looking to start a goat farm, then you may want to consider it because of the following reasons. Are you considering going into goat farming business? You really should because of the following facts; Goat meat is in high demand. People love goat meat especially in Africa. So, you won’t have a hard time selling your goats.
Goats also have other uses apart from consumption of the meat. The skin of goats is a very good source of leather which can be used to make bags, shoes and other leather materials. Goat milk is also very nutritious and good for consumption.
It is also used in the cosmetic industry to make body creams. Goat offal is also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Goats are cheaper and easier to feed, making you spend very little on feeding them. Goats can feed on grass and other cheap food items.
You could also manage them quite easily as they require very minimal supervision. Goat droppings are also a very good source of manure for people interested in buying organic manure.
Lastly, you can raise goats on very little capital compared to chicken or poultry farming. Goat farming is very easy and also very profitable but it is important to get enough information before you delve into this business to avoid mistakes and losses. This is a very quick guide on how to start goat farming.
A Sample Goat Farming Business Plan Template
1. Industry Overview
The agricultural industry of which livestock farming or better still goat farming is a subset of is no doubt among the leading industry in most countries of the world; it is the industry that produces food for the populace and raw materials for industries.
Because of the significant role the agriculture sector plays, the government of most countries ensures that they go all the way to subsidize seedlings, fertilizers, and farming implements and machinery for farmers and also encourage entrepreneurs to go into various kind of farming including goat farming.
There are several business opportunities available in the agricultural industry and one good thing about the industry is that there is market for all the produce from the industry. Goat farming is of course a thriving and profitable business because usefulness of goat meat and other by products from goats.
People eat goat meat, drink their milk, and use their fur and skin. With goat milk, cheese can be made, along with other dairy products.
Some farmers use goats for weeding farmland. Other times, the goats are used to keep grasses and other plants from getting too tall. The diet of the domestic goat includes eating grass, leaves, shrubs, root vegetables, and other kinds of plants.
Goats come in different breeds with each breed having its own unique specifications and uses. Some goat breeds known as ‘dairy goats’ are raised mainly for the milk that they produce while some other breeds can grow very big and fat, hence, they are raised for meat purposes.
You must first decide on why you want to raise goats and then select a breed that is most suitable for that purpose. You could also raise both dairy goats and regular goats if you can afford to feed and care for them. The livestock production industry includes companies that mainly provide support services for raising livestock.
Livestock is a term used to describe domestic animals, such as cattle, goats, hogs, horses, poultry and sheep, which have been domestically raised for meat, milk, wool and work. Other services in the livestock production industry include breeding services, pedigree record services and vaccination et al.
The Livestock Farming (Goat Farming) industry is indeed a large industry and pretty much active in countries such as United States of America, Israel, Egypt, China, Germany, Turkey and Nigeria et al. There is no single livestock farming company that has dominate market share in the industry hence smaller goat farming business can successfully make profits.
Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone, there are about 51,712 registered and licensed livestock farming business responsible for employing about 67,814 and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $5 billion annually. The industry is projected to enjoy 1.4 percent annual growth.
If you are looking towards leveraging on the agriculture industry to generate huge income, then one of your best bet is to start goat farming business. Goat farming business is all about mass – breeding of goats for the sole aim of making profits. In most cases it is referred to as livestock farming business.
One thing is certain about goat farming business, if you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies, you are more likely not going to struggle to sell your goats because there are loads of people out there we eat goat meat, drink goat milk and industries that make use of byproducts from goats in manufacturing their products.
Over and above there are few barriers to entry into the livestock production industry. Usually, all inputs are readily available. In the nearest future, players in this industry may face the highest costs associated with accessing technology, especially in relation to genetic modification engineering in livestock breeding.
So also, intellectual property rights protecting new inventions and technology may mean that new entrepreneurs coming into the industry will need to pay license fees and this of course will cause increase in the start – up fee for starting a livestock breeding business.
2. Executive Summary
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is a registered and licensed livestock farming company that will be based in the outskirt of Dallas, Texas – United States. We have done our detailed market research and feasibility studies and we were able to secure a hundred hectares of land to start our livestock breeding business.
Our livestock breeding business is a going to be standard one hence will be involved in commercial breeding of goats and other livestock. We will be involved in boarding services, breeding services, dairy support services, livestock health services, farrier services, and shearing services et al.
In the nearest future, hopefully within the first five years of officially running Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd, we will start our meat processing plant and also start exporting our products to other parts of the world.
Which is why aside from the fact that we’ve secured the required farming land for breeding goats in commercial level, we have also hired some key employees who are currently undergoing training so as to be able to fit into the ideal picture of the 21st century livestock breeding workforce that we want to build.
We are in the goat farming business because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities available in the livestock farming industry, to contribute our quota in growing the U.S. economy, in national food (meat) production, raw materials production for industries, to export agriculture produce from the United States to other countries and over and above to make profit.
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is well positioned to become one of the leading goat farming business in the United States of America, which is why we have been able to source for the best hands and equipment to run the business.
We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to livestock breeding / goat farming processes and meat processing and packaging as required by the regulating bodies in the United States of America.
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is a private registered livestock farming company that is owned by Jonah Livingston and family. The company will be fully and single handedly financed by the owner – Jonah Livingston and his immediate family members at least for a period of time.
Before starting Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd, Jonah Livingstone has worked with some of the leading livestock farms in the United States of America. He has worked in the industry for well over 10 years before resigning to start his own goat farming business.
3. Our Products and Services
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is a licensed livestock farming business that is committed to goat farming and meat processing and packaging for both the United States’ market and the global market. We will also produce related raw materials for industries in commercial quantities.
We will also ensure that we operate a standard food processing plant as part of our complimentary business offering. These are the areas we will concentrate on in our livestock farming business. If need arises we will definitely add more related animal breeding services to our list;
- Boarding services
- Breeding services
- Dairy support services
- Livestock health services
- Farrier services
- Sale and export of cotton wool and other dairy products
- Sale of Cattle and milk (Including goats, sheep, grass – cutters, pigs and rabbits et al)
- Sale of processed meat (beef) / can – beef (Processed Diary foods, and can beef et al)
- Shearing services
- Livestock farming related consultancy and advisory services
4. Our Mission and Vision Statement
- Our Vision is to become one of the leading livestock farming brands not just in Dallas – Texas, but also in the United States of America.
- Our mission is to sell our produce (goats), byproducts and processed meat in commercial quantities both locally, nationally and internationally.
- We want to build a livestock farming business that can favorably compete with other leading livestock farming brands in the United States of America.
Our Business Structure
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is a livestock farming company that intend starting small in Dallas – Texas, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading livestock farms in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.
We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands in and around Dallas.
At Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, dedicated, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).
As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the management of the farm. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;
Below is the business structure of Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd;
- Chief Operating Officer
- General Farm Manager
- Administrator / Accountant
- Cattle Ranch Manager / Supervisor
- 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; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
- 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
General Farm Manager
- Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
- Supervise other section manager
- Ensure compliance during project executions
- Providing advice on the management of farming activities across all section
- 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
- Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks 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.
Administrator / Accountant
- Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks 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
- 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 the commercial breeding of goats and other livestock.
- 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; participates in the structuring and financing of new business
- 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
- Develop, execute and evaluate new plans for expanding increase sales
- Document all customer contact and information
- Represent the company in strategic meetings
- Help increase sales and growth for the company
Field Workers / Contract Staff
- Responsible for feeding goats and other livestock as instructed by the supervisor
- Responsible for cleaning the cattle ranch
- Change the water in fish ponds as instructed by the supervisor on a regular basis
- Handles farm implements and machines as instructed by the section manager / supervisor
- Assist in handling the breeding of goats
- Carries out task in line with the stated job description
- Assist in transport working tools and equipment from the farm and back to the designated store room
- Handles any other duties as assigned my the line manager
Client Service Executive / Front Desk Officer
- Welcomes guests and clients 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
- Manages administrative duties assigned by the manager in an effective and timely manner
- 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 my the line manager
6. SWOT Analysis
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd do not intend to launch out with trial and error hence the need to conduct a proper SWOT analysis.
We know that if we get it right from the onset, we would have succeeded in creating the foundation that will help us build a standard goat farming business that will favorably compete with leading livestock farms in the United States of America and in the rest part of the world.
As a goat farming business, we look forward to maximizing our strength and opportunities and also to work around our weaknesses and threats. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd;
- Strength:
Our strength as a livestock farming business is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the livestock farming industry; both suppliers and buyers within and outside of the United States.
We have some of the latest livestock farming machines, tools and equipment that will help us breed goats and other livestock in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in livestock farming industry in our payroll.
- Weakness:
Our weakness could be that we are a new livestock farms in the United States and we may not have the required cash to pump into the publicity of our business. We are aware of this and from our projection will overcome this weakness with time and turn it to a major advantage for the business.
- Opportunities:
The opportunities that are available to us cannot be quantified, we know that there are loads of homeowners, and industries that will source for goats, goat meat, and milk and also industries that will source for the raw materials from our livestock farms both in the United States of America and other parts of the world.
- Threat:
Some of the threats and challenges that you are likely going to face when you start your own livestock farm are global economic downturn that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), unfavorable government policies and the arrival of a competitor (a commercial farm that rear same animals) as our livestock farms within same location.
There is hardly anything you can do as regards this threats and challenges other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for your good.
7. MARKET ANALYSIS
- Market Trends
One of the common trends in the commercial livestock farming line of business is that most players in the industry are no longer concentrating only on farming a particular species of livestock or just livestock / goat farming alone.
They now find it easier to run both livestock farming and crop cultivation. Some even go ahead to include meat processing and packaging business alongside their product offerings; it helps them maximize profits in the agriculture industry.
Despite the fact that commercial goat farming / livestock farming has been in existence since time immemorial, that does not in any way make the industry to be over saturated; commercial goat farmers are exploring new technology to continue to improve goat farming processes and also meat preservation and packaging process.
The fact that there is always a ready market for commercial goat farming makes the business evergreen. As a matter of fact, one of the new trends in livestock farming industry is that with the recent advancement in technology livestock farmers can now improve the various breeds of the animals they are breeding.
As a matter of fact, it is now easier for livestock farmers to comfortably import the kind of breed of domestic animal they want to breed from any country of their choice and also advancement in technology has made it easier to cross – breed different animal.
8. Our Target Market
Naturally, the target market of those who are the end consumer of livestock farm produce and also those who benefits from the business value chain of the agriculture industry is all encompassing; it is far – reaching.
Every household consumes produce from livestock farms be it goat meat, goat milk, and the skin (leather) used for bags, belts and shoes production et al. So also a large chunk of manufacturing companies depends on livestock farms for some of their raw materials. In essence a goat farmer should be able to sell his or her farm produce to as many people as possible.
We will ensure that we position our business to attract consumers of agriculture produce not just in the United States of America alone but also other parts of the world which is why we will be exporting some of our farm produce either in raw form or processed form to other countries of the world.
Our Competitive Advantage
It is easier to find entrepreneur flocking towards an industry that is known to generate consistent income which is why there are more commercial farmers in the United States of America and of course in most parts of the world.
For example, Statistics has it that there were 2.2 million farms in the United States of America, covering an area of 922 million acres. These goes to show that there are appreciable numbers of farmers in the United States of America but that does not mean that there is stiffer competition in the industry.
As a matter of fact, entrepreneurs are encouraged by the government to embrace commercial farming / livestock farming. This is so because part of the success of any nation is her ability to cultivate her own food and also export food to other nations of the world.
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is fully aware that there are competitions when it comes to selling livestock and meats all over the globe, which is why we decided to carry out thorough research so as to know how to take advantage of the available market in the United States and in other parts of the world.
We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us competitive advantage in the marketplace; some of the factors are effective and reliable livestock farming processes that can help us sell our livestock and processed meat at competitive prices, good network and excellent relationship management.
Another competitive advantage that we are bringing to the industry is the fact that we have designed our business in such a way that we will operate an all – round standard commercial livestock farms that will be involved in diverse areas such as animal rearing and meat processing and packaging plant. With this, we will be able to take advantage of all the available opportunities within the industry.
Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be amongst the best in the industry meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our objectives as a standard commercial livestock farms with a meat processing and packaging plant.
9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY
- Sources of Income
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is in the livestock breeding industry for the purpose of maximizing profits hence we have decided to explore all the available opportunities within the industry to achieve our corporate goals and objectives.
In essence we are not going to rely only on the sale of our livestock to generate income for the business. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd;
- Sale and export of cotton wool and other dairy products
- Sale of Cattle and milk (Including goats, sheep, grass – cutters, pigs and rabbits et al)
- Sale of processed meat (beef) / can – beef (Processed Dairy foods, and can beef et al)
- Boarding services
- Breeding services
- Dairy support services
- Livestock health services
- Farrier services
- Shearing services
- Livestock farming related consultancy and advisory services
10. Sales Forecast
From the survey conducted, we were able to discover that the sales generated by a commercial livestock farm depends on the size of the farm, the network of the farm.
We have perfected or sales and marketing strategies and we are set to hit the ground running and we are quite optimistic that we will meet or even surpass our set sales target of generating enough income / profits from the year of operations and build the business from survival to sustainability.
We have been able to critically examine the agriculture industry cum commercial livestock farm business and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well with respect to the nature of commercial livestock farm that we run.
Below are the projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of running Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd;
- First Year-: $200,000
- Second Year-: $450,000
- Third Year-: $700,000
N.B: This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), and unfavorable government policies.
- Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy
We are quite aware that the reason why some commercial livestock farms hardly make good profits is their inability to sell off their livestock to a larger market. In view of that, we decided to set up a standard meat processing and packing plant to help us maximize profits.
Over and above, we have perfected our sale and marketing strategies first by networking with agriculture merchants and companies that rely on raw materials from the livestock farming industry who are likely to refer become our customers.
In summary, Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd will adopt the following strategies in marketing our commercial farm produce;
- Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stake holders in the agriculture industry, companies that rely on the livestock farming industry for their raw materials, hotels and restaurants and agriculture produce merchant et al.
- Advertise our business and livestock farms in agro – allied and food related magazines and websites
- List our commercial livestock farms on yellow pages ads (local directories)
- Attend related agriculture and food expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
- Leverage on the internet to promote our business
- Engage in direct marketing
- Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)
11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy
Any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street or the city they are operating from must be ready and willing to utilize every available means (both conventional and non – conventional means) to advertise and promote the business. We intend growing our business which is why we have perfected plans to build our brand via every available means.
We know that it is important to create strategies that will help us boost our brand awareness and to create a corporate identity for our commercial livestock farming business. Below are the platforms we want to leverage on to boost our commercial livestock farm brand and to promote and advertise our business;
- Place adverts on both print (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 business
- Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Dallas – Texas
- Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
- Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
- Contact corporate organizations and residence in our target areas by calling them up and informing them of Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd and the farm produce we sell
- List our commercial livestock farms in local directories / yellow pages
- Advertise our commercial livestock farms in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
- Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles and trucks are well branded with our company logo et al.
12. Our Pricing Strategy
Some of the factors that will help you sell your farm produce at the right price that will guarantee that you make profits is dependent on your strategy while some of the factors are beyond your control. For example, if the climatic condition is unfavorable and if there are natural disasters in the location where you have your commercial livestock farm, then it will directly affect the prices of your livestock.
Over and above, if you want to get the right pricing for your livestock, then you should ensure that you choose a good location for your commercial livestock farm, choose a good breed that will guarantee steady and multiple breeding (prolific breeds),
Cut the cost of running your farm to the barest minimum and of course try as much as possible to attract buyers to your farm as against taking your livestock or even your produce to the market to source for buyers; with this, you would have successfully eliminate the cost of transporting the goods to the market and other logistics.
We are quite aware that one of the easiest means of penetrating the market and acquiring loads of customers for all our agriculture produce is to sell them at competitive prices hence we will do all we can to ensure that the prices of our livestock and processed and packaged beef are going to be what other commercial livestock farmers would look towards beating.
One thing is certain; the nature of commercial livestock farming we are involved in makes it possible for farmers to place prices for their livestock / farm products based on their discretion without following the benchmark in the industry.
The truth is that it is one of the means of avoiding running into loss. The easier you sell off your livestock when they are mature the better for your business.
- Payment Options
The payment policy adopted by Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd 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 Nicolas Zebedee and Farms Limited will make available to her clients;
- Payment via bank transfer
- Payment with cash
- Payment via online bank transfer
- Payment via check
- Payment via bank draft
In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for farm produces purchase without any stress on their part.
13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)
When it comes to calculating the cost of starting a commercial livestock farm, there are some key factors that should serve as a guide. The most important expense is the construction of the cattle ranch / cages / fencing as the case may be.
For example, the start – up cost for a fish farm is different from the start – up cost for mechanized crop farming, so also the start – up cost for poultry farming is different from the start – up cost of cattle ranch (dairy farm) et al.
As a matter of fact, if you choose to start a mechanized crop farming, then you should be willing to raise huge capital base to start the business. This is so because some cultivation machines / equipment can be pretty expensive. Below are some of the basic areas we will spend our start – up capital in setting up our commercial livestock farm;
- The Total Fee for incorporating the Business (aquaponics commercial farm) 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 – $50,000
- The amount required for preparing the farm land (for construction of cattle ranch and cages / fencing et al et al) – $70,000
- 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 goats and other livestock – $50,000
- 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 $350,000 to start a standard commercial livestock farming business in the United States of America.
Generating Funding / Startup Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd
No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes to starting a business such as greenhouse commercial farming.
No doubt raising startup capital for a business might not come cheap, but it is a task that an entrepreneur must go through.
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd is a family owned business and it will be financed by the owners of the company – Jonah Livingston and family. These are the areas where we intend sourcing for fund for Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd;
- Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
- Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
- Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).
N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 (Personal savings $80,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $250,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.
14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy
The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.
One of our major goals of starting Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd 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 sell our farm produce (livestock and processed beef) a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.
Jonah Livingston and Family Farms Ltd 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 organization’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.
As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as determined by the management of the organization. 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 various banks in the United States: Completed
- Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
- Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
- Application for business license and permit: Completed
- Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
- Leasing of farm land in Dallas – Texas: Completed
- Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
- Start – up Capital Generation: Completed
- Writing of Business Plan: Completed
- Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
- Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
- Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / 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 key players in the industry (agriculture farm produce merchants and transporter / haulage): Completed