OP?

Look, my advice? Just try treating it strictly as a hobby for a year or two. Start small—make some herbal teas, tinctures, syrups, juices, or salves. Give some away as gifts, sell a little bit on the side, and just see where you land. Eventually, you'll figure out if it actually pays off or if it's just a lot of work for nothing...

placidtinker39 said:Look, my advice? Just try treating it strictly as a hobby for a year or two. Start small—make some herbal teas, tinctures, syrups, juices, or salves. Give some away as gifts, sell a little bit on the side, and just see where you land. Eventually, you'll figure out if it actually pays off or if it's just a lot of work for nothing...

I really just need to figure out how to qualify for those commercial space grants, and more importantly, what the requirements are so I don't have to pay all that money back if I end up closing shop.

Bryan Murphy3 said:I really just need to figure out how to qualify for those commercial space grants, and more importantly, what the requirements are so I don't have to pay all that money back if I end up closing shop.

Honestly, you might want to look into a sole proprietorship or even a home-based business instead. But really, the smartest move? Just reach out to the Small Business Administration. Seriously, those folks will go above and beyond to walk you through every single step.

The Blue Office handles everything out of Washington, D.C., but I’m actually up here in the Appalachian Mountains. I wonder if anyone might be able to point me in the right direction or maybe offer some advice?

Bryan Murphy3 said:The Blue Office handles everything out of Washington, D.C., but I’m actually up here in the Appalachian Mountains. I wonder if anyone might be able to point me in the right direction or maybe offer some advice?

Just ignore all that nonsense.....

Bryan Murphy3 said:The Blue Office handles everything out of Washington, D.C., but I’m actually up here in the Appalachian Mountains. I wonder if anyone might be able to point me in the right direction or maybe offer some advice?

Look, they have an email address and a phone number listed... just reach out and ask them!

You actually don't need to worry about buying a domain if you're operating as a Family Farm. If I recall correctly, the .us domain is free for businesses and Family Farms. The government won't charge you a dime until you hit the $350 mark $0.00 when you're dealing with the IRS. That’s when you start looking at the 5% tax, plus your Social Security and Medicare contributions. I'm not entirely sure how it works if you're already covered under some other insurance plan, though. When you first set up your Family Farm, they usually categorize you under self-sufficiency status so you aren't hit with those flat-rate taxes right away. One thing to keep in mind—and this was a bit of a headache for me personally—is that subsidies are calculated based on acreage rather than the actual yield. For instance, I planted a single ton of garlic across 7,000 square meters. Also, just a heads-up: subsidies are slated to decrease slightly starting next year. For vegetables, you're looking at roughly $325, while field crops hover around $220 or so.

You really need to get ahead of the weeds. Especially those perennial broadleaf varieties with deep, stubborn root systems—think dock or ragweed. It would be a smart move to list those under organic farming practices.

As for applying for any government grants or assistance programs? Honestly, don't hold your breath. Because of the way the dates fall, you can't really apply until you've been established for two years. Your first year is essentially a "startup" phase, meaning you won't qualify for much unless some specific program for new entrepreneurs pops up. Plus, for most of these programs, you absolutely have to be registered with the IRS.

If you're looking to start a Family Farm but don't quite have enough land to meet the requirements, maybe ask a buddy to let you lease a little patch of their property so you can hit that minimum 1-hectare threshold. You can just draw up a standard agricultural land lease agreement.

mellowtrucker said:You actually don't need to worry about buying a domain if you're operating as a Family Farm. If I recall correctly, the .us domain is free for businesses and Family Farms. The government won't charge you a dime until you hit the $350 mark $0.00 when you're dealing with the IRS. That’s when you start looking at the 5% tax, plus your Social Security and Medicare contributions. I'm not entirely sure how it works if you're already covered under some other insurance plan, though. When you first set up your Family Farm, they usually categorize you under self-sufficiency status so you aren't hit with those flat-rate taxes right away. One thing to keep in mind—and this was a bit of a headache for me personally—is that subsidies are calculated based on acreage rather than the actual yield. For instance, I planted a single ton of garlic across 7,000 square meters. Also, just a heads-up: subsidies are slated to decrease slightly starting next year. For vegetables, you're looking at roughly $325, while field crops hover around $220 or so.

You really need to get ahead of the weeds. Especially those perennial broadleaf varieties with deep, stubborn root systems—think dock or ragweed. It would be a smart move to list those under organic farming practices.

As for applying for any government grants or assistance programs? Honestly, don't hold your breath. Because of the way the dates fall, you can't really apply until you've been established for two years. Your first year is essentially a "startup" phase, meaning you won't qualify for much unless some specific program for new entrepreneurs pops up. Plus, for most of these programs, you absolutely have to be registered with the IRS.

If you're looking to start a Family Farm but don't quite have enough land to meet the requirements, maybe ask a buddy to let you lease a little patch of their property so you can hit that minimum 1-hectare threshold. You can just draw up a standard agricultural land lease agreement.

Someone who doesn't even know how to start a Family Farm shouldn't be messing with this stuff. Use your heads, people.

slysurfer14 said:Someone who doesn't even know how to start a Family Farm shouldn't be messing with this stuff. Use your heads, people.

Now I’m just trying to figure out the best way to handle this. If I go ahead and register the Family Farm now, and then later realize I could have just waited to grab those new startup grants... man, I would be absolutely livid.

I sent an email over to the folks in Washington, D.C. I actually have a cousin who runs a Family Farm, so he might be able to give me some pointers. But, I don't know, it's a pretty weird situation—trying to set up a Family Farm without owning any land.

Honestly, seeing people like you makes me realize how lucky I am. I actually enjoy helping people out instead of just being a jerk and spitting on everyone. You must be a deeply unhappy person.

@Bryan Murphy3, your best bet is to reach out to the USDA or check in with your local municipal economic development office. You might also want to dig around here to see if you actually qualify for any subsidies or grants.
https://www.usda.gov/topics/farm-programs

Bryan Murphy3 said:Now I’m just trying to figure out the best way to handle this. If I go ahead and register the Family Farm now, and then later realize I could have just waited to grab those new startup grants... man, I would be absolutely livid.

I sent an email over to the folks in Washington, D.C. I actually have a cousin who runs a Family Farm, so he might be able to give me some pointers. But, I don't know, it's a pretty weird situation—trying to set up a Family Farm without owning any land.

Honestly, seeing people like you makes me realize how lucky I am. I actually enjoy helping people out instead of just being a jerk and spitting on everyone. You must be a deeply unhappy person.

You want a grant but don't even have land? That's where they should send your money...
You live way out in the sticks and you're emailing Washington...
What am I supposed to tell you? To set up a family farm, you need a checking account and maybe a hundred bucks for fees, plus proof that you own or lease the land...
Since you don't have the last part, you can't open a family farm. Period.

I mean, you can actually set up a Family Farm without owning any land. It makes me wonder how people who specialize in mushroom buying even manage. They don't own the woods, they just buy forest products from others. I was thinking about doing something similar—maybe finding a few local foragers to gather wild herbs, then I could buy them out and turn those raw materials into finished products myself.

But, I have a feeling the government subsidies won't be coming my way. I gave my cousin a call, and he told me that if you're opening this alongside a full-time job, you aren't technically starting a "self-employment" venture in their eyes. So, I guess I probably won't see any grant money for a physical location.

He also mentioned that they work closely with the Blue Office, and apparently, you can download xcell accounting software for free right from their website if you're handling your own books. Maybe if I reach out, they can actually answer some of my specific questions.

@placidtinker39 I tried emailing them, but honestly, the lady I spoke to was pretty blunt with me. She basically said that only someone who already has an active Family Farm registration is eligible for incentives. I guess I was being a bit silly asking if I'd qualify under my current setup, since I haven't even officially registered yet. Once I said that, she pretty much shut down the conversation.

Bryan Murphy3 said:I mean, you can actually set up a Family Farm without owning any land. It makes me wonder how people who specialize in mushroom buying even manage. They don't own the woods, they just buy forest products from others. I was thinking about doing something similar—maybe finding a few local foragers to gather wild herbs, then I could buy them out and turn those raw materials into finished products myself.

But, I have a feeling the government subsidies won't be coming my way. I gave my cousin a call, and he told me that if you're opening this alongside a full-time job, you aren't technically starting a "self-employment" venture in their eyes. So, I guess I probably won't see any grant money for a physical location.

He also mentioned that they work closely with the Blue Office, and apparently, you can download xcell accounting software for free right from their website if you're handling your own books. Maybe if I reach out, they can actually answer some of my specific questions.

@placidtinker39 I tried emailing them, but honestly, the lady I spoke to was pretty blunt with me. She basically said that only someone who already has an active Family Farm registration is eligible for incentives. I guess I was being a bit silly asking if I'd qualify under my current setup, since I haven't even officially registered yet. Once I said that, she pretty much shut down the conversation.

Just open a business...... obviously.
No, I haven't......

Your entire business plan basically hinges on landing government grants or subsidies. Respect. That’s some classic American thinking right there.

Not trying to be rude, but seriously, get real. You run the numbers without the handouts first—if the money shows up, cool, great. But don't build your whole house on it.

So, how are things going with those self-employment incentives?

The thing is, this is just a hobby for now—you know, one of those things where you're just seeing how it goes—but I've already got a solid rhythm down. My main hurdle is space; they really need a dedicated room or some kind of facility to pass all those inspections. So, I'm poking around to see if there’s any way to secure some space. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask, right? The worst part is when you actually build something up, and then some idiot—and I mean certain individuals in this group—comes along and acts all smug, saying, "Wow, you really messed that up, how could you be so clueless? You should have pulled funding from here or there."

Anyway, that's the direction I'm heading in, but it's not going to be an overnight thing. It's not like, bam, here's the money, bam, here's the building...

Right now, I'm just in the planning phase. I can take my time with this since I've got my steady job, so I'm just looking to start this up as a side hustle.

@Kate Chase59, since I'm already employed, this would just be a second job for me, so self-employment isn't really on the table.

Look, you really need to prepare for the worst and cover your bases...
If you want to actually make a name for yourself, you should open up a shop or just lean into that entrepreneurial spirit to get your products out there.
The reality is that most government grants are tied strictly to land ownership or being unemployed, so if you don't fit those specific boxes, you can pretty much forget about that easy money...
Here’s a little heads-up too: even when you do snag some subsidies, you still have to deal with sales tax, so you’ll definitely need to have some extra cash on hand to cover the gap...
My advice? If you’ve got a side hustle going, go ahead and register it legally. Start growing it bit by bit and see where it takes you.
Honestly, your best bet is to just head down to the local IRS office or check with the Small Business Administration for the specifics—that’s always the smartest move.

I think I've finally wrapped my head around this a little bit.

In my opinion, going with a sole proprietorship might be the smarter move, mostly because it makes selling things online so much easier. When you look at the numbers, the tax contributions are pretty much identical anyway. You'd end up paying about $667 toward Social Security and Medicare annually. So, honestly, it’s probably worth a shot—it’s not like it's breaking the bank $667 just to test the waters for a single trial year.

The real headache, though, is finding a physical space. You have to make sure everything meets all those strict health and safety regulations: https://www.fda.gov/food/compliance-resources-food-establishments

My dad runs a family farm. Since he doesn't have an email address, I gave them mine. I just got this notification: any family farms registered in the Family Farm Registry are required to be members of the Chamber, which means paying membership fees.
Are all family farms automatically listed in that registry, and how can I check? Also, am I actually on the hook for this fee?

Thomas Perez5 said:My dad runs a family farm. Since he doesn't have an email address, I gave them mine. I just got this notification: any family farms registered in the Family Farm Registry are required to be members of the Chamber, which means paying membership fees.
Are all family farms automatically listed in that registry, and how can I check? Also, am I actually on the hook for this fee?

Basically, the Business Registry is for individuals running their own agricultural operations who generate an economic scale larger than $3,000 (in USD value) and/or if they are subject to income or profit taxes based on agriculture.

So, look—if the old man is paying income tax through his family farm or if he’s pulling in more than three grand from the farm, he’s gotta be in the registry.
If he’s just doing some side work elsewhere, then none of this applies... honestly, you should just grab your local agricultural advisor and run everything by them to be safe.