subject: What to Do Before Starting Your Own Beekeeping Business [print this page] What to Do Before Starting Your Own Beekeeping Business
A lot of people are quite happy with just having beekeeping as a fun hobby, but the ones that really get into it usually try to take it to the next level. They want to start their own beekeeping business.
Even if it's just done as a hobby, beekeeping can be exciting and rewarding, but if you plan on making a business out of it then that takes a certain kind of person. You need determination and you have to be someone that not only loves beekeeping, but also doesn't mind planning and maintaining a business. This has to be looked at as a real business if you have any chance at being successful with it.
If you already do this as a hobby then you're a step ahead of the game. Don't worry if you're not, though. It doesn't take long to learn the ropes and start producing honey. The best thing you can do for yourself is learn absolutely everything you possibly can about honey bees and beekeeping.
To start things off, you need to see if beekeeping is legal in the place you plan on keeping your hives. It would be a terrible disappointment to get everything set up and have to start all over again because you didn't check out the local laws.
Then comes the learning part of the job. Plan on doing a lot of reading and asking question. It's great if you know someone in the beekeeping business that can help, but that's usually not the case. You're best option if you're going it alone, is to find an online program or course that teaches you everything you need to know about keeping bees, from start to finish.
There's quite a bit to learn so this is usually the easiest route. You'll cover things like placement and construction of bee hives, behaviors of honey bees, the tools and safety clothing you'll need, and of course how to harvest the honey.
If you're still determined to start your own beekeeping business, then don't waste another minute. Start learning and more importantly, take action! You won't get your name on a quality jar of honey by sitting around thinking about bees.
