Gardening is increasingly becoming a popular hobby since the coronavirus pandemic. Planting and home-based herb business have given people a way to kill time and a source of food essentials. It also helps homeowners enhance their curb appeal by using ornamental plants to add life and color to their living space. Meanwhile, others took advantage of the booming gardening industry by selling plants, seeds, and other gardening essentials.
One of the most thriving livelihoods in the gardening market is the herb-growing business. The processing and growing of herbs as a living offers big opportunities than ever before. In fact, the food industry and health sector have increased their demands for both medicinal and culinary herbs. Along with this market trend, companies are now offering herbal products such as herbal anti-hair fall shampoo, herbal therapy oil, and herbal moisturizing lotion.
Related: How to Start a Vegan Food Business
Having a small capital shouldn’t hinder you from becoming a herb grower. The herb industry is growing, making it reasonable to start a home-based herb business. To help you with your new endeavor, here are the essential factors to consider before starting a home-based herb business.
Know your herbs
Before jump-starting a herb business, familiarize yourself first with the different herb species. There’s a lot to consider than just growing plants and harvesting them to make a sale. You have to understand the care requirements for each herb, including the right materials to support its growth. Your ultimate goal is to find ways how to harvest the herbs sustainably.
Choose whether you want to sell medicinal herbs, culinary herbs, or a combination of both. You may also consider adding herbal products to your business line.
Once you have the basic knowledge about the different herb species, it’s time to choose which herbs to grow and sell. In general, it’s better to focus on the most in-demand herbs first while starting a small herb market instead of selling a huge herb selection. This will be easier to cater to your target customers and promote your business. As you meet your regular customers, ask them which herbs they’re interested in buying. Take note of their suggestions to help expand your herb selection.
When buying herbs, make sure to check out commercial herb growers and local farmers. You may also check online websites to check out product lists.
Research about the herb market
Your potential customers may vary from plant hobbyists or business owners. You can also target wholesale distributors who cater to grocery chains, restaurants, and health product manufacturers, or you can partner directly with these commercial establishments yourself. There are also crafters, artisans, caterers, natural food stores, beauty makers, and skincare product manufacturers.
Expand your network by working with florists, nurseries, and garden centers. You can also put up a small stall in flea markets and farmers’ markets to sell your herbs directly to the public. Whether you’re selling to a small or large business, it’s important to focus on a niche to have a specific target market and avoid competition.
Establishing a relationship with growers and herbalists is key to a successful herb business. Any business requires a network to form more connections and learn from others in the same industry. As you work with them, you’ll develop your own expertise to boost your reputation and product quality. You’ll also find your network helpful to expand your business.
Complete the required equipment
Like any gardening business, you need good soil quality to ensure a successful harvest. If you have a large acreage, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, you can build a raised bed or a mini-greenhouse to grow the plants. As you move forward, you can rent land on unused acres in small rural areas.
Keep in mind that some wholesale buyers prefer farms that use certified organic land free from fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals. You can get the certification from a private organization or government agency, depending on your location.
Besides soil, you’ll need seeds and gardening supplies. Those who live in cold climates may invest in a small greenhouse to create a suitable growing environment. You can also invest in a small van or pickup truck to deliver your products to other cities.
Starting a herb business is certainly easy, fun, and profitable. The demand for herb seeds and plants is continuously growing, offering plenty of opportunities to grow a business. But before you consider starting a herb business, make sure to have a viable market in your area and do your research. As you move on, follow the steps above to start your own herb business and get those herbs sold in no time.
