- 1). Determine which types of medicinal herbs you would like to grow. Decide if you would like to become a small business that specializes in a few herbs or a larger-scale company that sells a wide variety of medicinal herbs. Visit the American Botanical Council's website to view a list of medicinal herbs.
- 2). Develop a professional business plan. Include all aspects of opening a medicinal herb greenhouse. Include such aspects as start-up costs, supplies needed, financial funding, projected rate of return on investment, available locations of interest and marketing strategies
- 3). Inquire about both local and state requirements for a medicinal herb greenhouse. Apply for any necessary licenses, permits and insurance.
- 4). Visit with financial institutions that specialize in small-business loans. Present to them your business plan and apply for a small-business loan to help get your greenhouse started.
- 5). Survey the area where you are considering locating your business and determine if it is suitable for growing your chosen medicinal herbs. Determine if the area has adequate trees for shade if you will be growing herbs that require heavy shade, such as ginseng. Consider the costs of artificial shading, which can run around $8,000 per acre of land. Make sure the land fits all the requirements of the herbs you have selected.
- 6). Determine if the size of the land you want to work with is sufficient for growing large volumes of open field plants, such as valerian root. For smaller patches of land, such as a section of your own yard, consider growing herbs such as lavender to start.
- 7). Consider the quality of the soil you have to work with. Look for land filled with rich soil that has adequate drainage.
- 8). Search for an area that has past success in growing common summer vegetables, such as lettuce, tomatoes and zucchini. Avoid fields that have not been able to support these types of plants, as this is a sign that medicinal herbs will not grow well there either.
- 9). Decide if your greenhouse will primarily sell to the public, wholesale only, in bulk or a combination of all three. Develop appropriate marketing materials that are conducive to your target buyers.
- 10
Select a location that is easily accessible and near a large population to ensure that consumers will be able to drive to your greenhouse. - 11
Lease or purchase some used farming equipment, including a tractor, to cultivate and care for the land and produce your crops. Search through local newspapers to locate ads selling used farm equipment. - 12
Determine the size of the greenhouse that you will need to grow your herbs. Hire a professional contractor to construct your greenhouse. - 13
Begin advertising for your medicinal herb greenhouse. Leave company literature in local health food stores, massage clinics, alternative health offices and local health and wellness spas. Host a grand opening complete with complimentary herbal tea beverages.
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