farm business planning consultants

The foundation of our firm was built on the work of our co-founder Ted’s solo consulting service. He had been providing meaningful, hands on advising services to small businesses across a number of sectors since 2009. KTC is a collective of entrepreneurs passionate about local food systems and small businesses. We know firsthand what it is like to be kept up a night trying to solve a problem, save a business, stay afloat. We are guided by the core principle of adding more value to our client’s organization than we cost, it’s that simple. This is what drives us. The KTC team is dedicated to our clients, we take our work very seriously, and know that people place their trust in us and see our work as an investment in their future. That’s what keeps us up at night. But we also don’t take ourselves too seriously, and a part of the joy we take in our work is the relationships we build with clients around their kitchen table, and the well deserved laughter and camaraderie we share after a hard days work.

David Alvarez

Business development manager.

Rebecca Brumberg Frimmer

Partner & principal consultant.

Mikelle Carver

Senior finance & operations manager.

Grace Debbeler

Associate business consultant.

Evan Driscoll

Business consultant.

Katelyn Foerster

Bookkeeping specialist.

Caroline Freeman

Amira Haddon

Internal marketing manager.

Helen Kollar-McArthur

Director of service delivery.

Elaine L. Lemmon

Senior business consultant.

Heather Lyons

Director of accounting services.

Kristen Magaruh

Talent & hr manager.

Lindsey McDonnell

Leland Michaels

Director of client relations.

Lindsey Sorah

Julia Myhre

Ciera Nelson

Gibson Rade

Administrative assistant.

Mira Shahan

Fractional controller.

Jessica Snyder

Ted LeBow is a serial entrepreneur. His first business venture (in 1980) was a farm in Idaho where he bought his first tractor, signed his first loan with the Production Credit Association, and started waking up in the middle of the night worrying about the rain ruining his hay crop.

He graduated in 1989 from Cornell University School of Agriculture with a Business Management Degree. He’s run eleven small businesses, seven of which he owned all or part of. Since 2008, he’s grown two small business management consulting firms. As of 2021 Kitchen Table Consultants have served over 500 small businesses. 

Ted’s passion is financial sustainability and coaching entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams in a sustainable manner. He is driven to help entrepreneurs to understand HOW they make a profit, not how much profit they make. He has worked with hundreds of small business owners, all over the country, creating and helping them execute their financial goals and align their leadership teams with the culture of the organization. He regularly presents seminars around cash flow, profitability, and how to know if you’re profitable. His greatest measure of success is helping others (both entrepreneurs and managers) achieve more than they thought they could; all the while getting them to do it on their own.

He is committed to the entire community in and around food and farming.  He has taken leadership roles on multiple sustainable agriculture-related non-profit boards, including an 8-month term (2016) as interim executive director for the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, where he successfully restructured staff and finances to enable a new ED to hit the ground running.  

His financial commitment to both his clients and his community is more than just words; he has personally assisted in raising over $60 Million in debt, equity, and donations for the organizations he works with.

He has lived in Bala Cynwyd, just west of Philadelphia, since 1997. In his spare time, he shares a fleet of 1950s-era tractors and equipment with Philadelphia urban farms, cuts, and mills his own lumber for live-edge furniture, has started to build bamboo fly rods, fly fishes, and participates along with his wife (as much as possible) in the lives of his three daughters (22, 26, 28), all of whom now are in the New England area .

Noah Munro is a passionate entrepreneur who helps farm and food brands create the businesses of their dreams with smart financial and marketing strategies. His deep respect for clients and concern for their success stems from his roots as a small business owner.

In 2006, Noah co-founded The Mill Fudge Factory, a national ecommerce brand based in New Hampshire. Noah grew the company from 0 to 15 employees; generated more than $2 million in sales; built a community of more than 15,000 followers using SEO, email, and social media; and earned the Mill Fudge Factory recognition as one of the top 3 fudge companies in America by MSN.com, and one of the top 5 fudge shops in America by “Cooking with Paula Deen” magazine. 

While overseeing the fudge company, Noah earned his MBA magna cum laude at Babson College, the #1 school for entrepreneurship in the U.S. After graduation, eager to share his experience and success with other food business owners, he founded Taste Profit Marketing (TPM).

In 2021, Noah took on part-ownership and the role of Senior Consultant at Kitchen Table Consultants (KTC), a financial consulting firm for farm and food businesses. Today, KTC and TPM are sister companies united by a mission to help farm and food clients achieve profitability with a range of financial and marketing services. In 2022, Noah took on the role of Co-CEO of the merged firm. He supports all consulting and back-office teams in creating real value for our clients.  

Noah, also a Dairy Decision Consultant with the Center for Dairy Excellence, has helped more than 150 different farm and food entrepreneurs build recognizable brands, launch websites, create marketing plans, and achieve financial well-being in their businesses.

David Alvarez is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture with a diverse background in marketing, sales, and practical farming. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, David discovered his love for photography and organic agriculture during his time at the University of Southern California, where he studied Creative Writing and Film Studies. He combined his creative capacities and farm labor by visiting WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) farms in California, exchanging his skills for the opportunity to learn about organic farming firsthand. This experience sparked his commitment to expanding the presence of sustainable agriculture by bridging the gap between commerce and sustainability. 

Prior to joining KTC, David held a variety of positions within the organic agriculture industry working for family-owned farms and non-profit organizations. At Moon Valley Organics, David worked as Media Coordinator where he planned, executed, and deployed media campaigns in addition to providing photography for their organic skincare products and company mission to protect pollinators. As Sales & CSA Coordinator at Viva Farms, he represented 35 farms in the farm business incubator where he operated the sales program which supplied produce to customers such as Whole Foods, PCC, local co-ops and regional food hubs. He also oversaw CSA planning and logistics for 350+ shares weekly. As Communications Manager at Viva Farms, David elevated Viva Farms’ mission where he created impactful materials for multiple platforms, managed social media accounts, and built a strong network of stakeholders. At Wright Bros Farm as Harvest Lead & Farm Hand, David was responsible for harvesting and packing produce for farmers markets, CSA shares and restaurants in the greater Seattle area. Additionally, David is a member of the Mount Baker Beekeeping Association and the Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation. He is also a graduate of Viva Farms’ Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture. 

Rebecca Frimmer is an entrepreneur and educator that is a headstrong advocate for the success of organic and sustainable food, driven by a goal to educate, enrich and empower business owners to “grab the wheel” and drive their business with intention. Having been raised in a family business and starting her first company at age 18, Rebecca has lived a lifetime of lessons in the trenches of strategic planning, start ups and making hard business decisions.

Rebecca joined KTC in 2014 as an Enterpreneur-in-Residence, while running a small urban farm with her husband, Ben; after serving in General Manager and Marketing Manager roles in a food and farm nonprofit organization with CSA and retail programs, specialty food E-Commerce company, and hospitality. After years of working with her mentor and KTC founder Ted LeBow, Rebecca worked to expand KTC’s reach to the West Coast, taking on her current role as a partner and principal consultant. She is thrilled to be leaning into her love of education through a leadership role in our training and education focus area within our business consulting practice, and brings a high level of energy to presenting educational seminars.

Rebecca graduated with an MBA from George Washington University in entrepreneurship and small business development in 2004, and holds a Marketing degree from Penn State. She has also served as adjunct faculty at Temple University in their MBA program. She uses a financially focused approach to opportunity assessment as the foundation of her business coaching process, as well as drawing from various curriculum and tools that we’ve developed from our one-on-one work with farmers and food manufacturers.  Rebecca’s business consulting practice is centered around business planning and fractional CFO work. Her work in curriculum development over the past 5 years has focused on farmer business trainings and benchmarking programs to drive greater profitability for farmers around the country.

Rebecca resides in Morro Bay California and is originally from Pennsylvania. When she’s not working, Rebecca enjoys surfing, yoga and gardening; guitar, singing, and painting ocean scenes with acrylic, cooking, and attempting to master the art of sarcastic humor. She is also mom to 2 school aged kids, Talia & Avi, 5 and 7 years old, and one fantastic cat named Thor who loves to attend Zoom calls.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Grace received a degree in Environmental Engineering from The Ohio State University. She discovered her passion for the outdoors through research at an experimental wetland facility and working on Natural Resource Damage Assessment cases for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in her first few years of work experience. 

After her first experience with a home garden, she fell in love with the idea of growing food for a living. She moved to Taos, New Mexico to work on her first farm and was enchanted by the magic of growing food for your community and working outside everyday. Grace moved to Nevada City, CA and started work at Mountain Bounty Farm in 2018 where she managed the 800 member CSA and Produce Sales through wholesale outlets and the Nevada City Farmers Market.

Grace serves on the Board of Directors at Sierra Harvest, an organization in Nevada County that strengthens the community through fresh, local, seasonal produce. 

After several years of farming, Grace was searching for an opportunity to work with a larger group of farmers and share all she had gained in her career experiences which led her to finding and applying for a job with KTC.

Outside of farming, she can be found playing with her pup (sometimes joining her while stand up paddle boarding), lounging in a hammock reading, making wheel thrown ceramics, or working in her yard.

Evan Driscoll has spent over 10 years working in local food systems and small business development. Evan discovered his love of food and farming in Portland, OR, where he started his diversified fruit/vegetable/egg farm – Sasquatch Acre – serving customers through CSA and Farmers’ Markets. He then moved to Austin, TX, where he was Farm Manager for Green Gate Farms, also a diversified fruit/vegetable farm selling through similar outlets. His experience growing on farms for 7 years led him to explore distribution and sales as a potential solution to the bottlenecks he saw on the farm.

At Sustainable Food Center in Austin, TX, Evan managed a variety of distribution programs including CSA-style worksite wellness programs, Farm to School, and food access programs. He managed procurement at Central Texas Food Bank, managing a large procurement budget. From there, Evan moved on to Foodshed Investors as Director of Operations for their Impact Angel Investor Network, where he gained considerable knowledge on how companies can best position themselves to gain appropriate financing to grow their businesses. He currently serves with Foodshed Investors as an Advisor.

Before joining KTC as an Associate Consultant, Evan was Executive Director of Texas Farmers Market – the largest Farmers Market organization in Texas – where he is now a Board Member. Collectively, Evan has worked with hundreds of farm and food businesses to strengthen their businesses, helping them sustain and increase their positive impacts across social, economic, and environmental outcomes. Evan serves as Treasurer for the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA), Board Member with Common Market Texas, and is a Co-Founder and Advisor of the Central Texas Young Farmer Coalition.

At KTC, Evan specializes in business development, financial analysis, and fundraising readiness for food and farm businesses. There is a good chunk of business-owner therapy layered in there, as well. Evan lives in Austin, TX with his wife and two kids. When he’s not working with farm and food companies, Evan is practicing traditional archery, hiking, and tending to his overgrown edible garden.

Katelyn aspired to become a farmer at a young age while spending time on her “Farm Grandpa’s” farm in Southwest Minnesota. After graduating from college with a degree in International Relations, she interned on a CSA farm and decided to scrap her plans to join the Peace Corps so she could start her own business in Southeast Minnesota, Herbal Turtle Farms, a specialty mushroom and CSA farm. She became certified to buy and sell wild mushrooms in Minnesota and led workshops on growing mushrooms. Additionally, she was an active member of the Land Stewardship Project, a non-profit organization devoted to the ethical stewardship of farmland. In the winters she worked as a cook at a restaurant serving local, from scratch food and built close ties to many area farmers. After 5 years of running the farm, she decided to pursue cooking full time and went on to work at high end restaurants in the Midwest. In 2019 Katelyn took a position as Food Service Director at a K-12 school in a program that focused on sustainable, from scratch cooking. Here she helped to develop recipes that adhered to the National School Lunch Program guidelines and successfully wrote grants to secure state and federal funding for local produce, meats and dairy. During this time, she returned to school for a degree in Accounting with the ultimate goal of working in the food industry in a bookkeeping capacity. Before working at Kitchen Table Consultants, she specialized in e-Commerce bookkeeping for US and international companies. In her free time, you can find Katelyn voraciously reading fiction, foraging for mushrooms, trout fishing the Driftless region, boating on the Mississippi River, and most importantly, cooking and eating.

Caroline understands that it is within a network of strong relationships that a successful business is built and thrives. She believes that her role in consulting is the exact vehicle for building relationships with like-minded individuals that are passionate about food and their communities. She is able to lean on her core strengths of mathematics, and critical thinking to help clients build budgets, and provide analysis that can give business owners and operators more insight and clarity into their financials. Her ultimate goal is to contribute to building the resiliency of businesses that in turn build a better food system.

Caroline’s food system journey began as a student in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department at  Purdue University. Her knack for numbers, systems, and processes came naturally, but it was the hands-on experience and connection to farming systems that she felt compelled to explore further. This propelled her into a near 10 year journey including several summers spent on diversified vegetable farms, conducting research crop trials, two years of service as a Agroforestry Peace Corps volunteer, public health sector work combating food insecurity, and management of a small vineyard and winery.

While her role within the local food community is less direct than her years spent in the fields, her love of growing and eating fresh local food lives on. She enjoys feasting on the bounty of fruits and veggies produced in her local community in Northwest Michigan, getting outdoors with her husband and dog, and relaxing with either a paintbrush or good book in hand.

Amira is a marketing professional with a background in journalism, food writing and content strategy. In her career, she’s held hundreds of conversations with farmers from the Rio Grande Valley to the Columbia River Gorge to gain a clear picture of the industry landscape and the unique challenges it faces.

During her seven years in restaurant marketing, Amira nurtured relationships with area farms that deepened her understanding of local food systems and sustainable practices. She enjoys working with brands who care about quality in all aspects of the business and have a mission that aligns with her own—to create meaningful connections and enrich people’s lives. She approaches her work through the customer lens, crafting experiences and communications that are compelling while staying true to the brand’s vision and goals.

Sarah Hyde loves helping clients build budgets and manage their business through the lens of clear, organized bookkeeping and financial statements. Sarah loves being part of a team where she can share her personal farming wins and failures with clients, and share KTC’s insightful structure to help them make informed business decisions.

Sarah’s own 10 years farming experience gives her a deep understanding of the load producers and food business owners bear. Her deep passion for sharing good, real food with her community, and an admiration for the genius of plants inspires her to keep working toward resilient, sustainable agriculture – even when it is hard to do.

Sarah’s experience working in local agriculture is in specialty crop and animal production for sale at farmers markets, to restaurants, and through cooperative CSAs in northern Arizona. Sarah got hooked on farming after taking a college course in Small Scale Agriculture, taught by Shanti & Cory Rade at Whipstone Farm in Paulden, AZ.  With generous encouragement from the local farming community, Sarah and her husband Matt operated Rabbit Run Farm in Skull Valley for 5 years, growing primarily vegetables and cut flowers. 

She went on to work as Farm Manager at Hassayampa Vineyard and Farm in Kirkland, AZ, a highly diversified operation with a 12 acre wine grape vineyard, fruit orchard, grass-fed beef, and a farmstead cheese operation. She’s also dabbled in raising heritage turkeys for meat and pastured hens for egg production. Besides the day-to-day farm operations, Sarah was in charge of “all things office,” from bookkeeping and food safety records to planting calendars and social media.

During her time in Arizona she was an active member of the non-profit Prescott Farmers Market Board of Directors where she advocated to improve the market for agricultural vendors and helped expand community education about local food. She holds a B.A in Environmental Studies at Prescott College. She studied viticulture and completed a Bookkeeping Certificate at Yavapai College. 

Now based in Jordan, Minnesota, she loves harvesting dinner from the garden with her family. Gazing at a field of ripening winter squash will never cease to bring her deep satisfaction. 

She loves learning about native plants and insects with her kids, and relearning how to grow vegetables in her new northern climate. During the unrelenting Minnesota winter she does printmaking and crafting and dreams about green landscapes. 

Elaine is a fourth generation farmer, and grew diversified organic produce. After a 15-year career farming in South Central PA, she has developed skills as a dynamic business owner, and a deep understanding of the daily challenges farmers face in trying to keep a family’s farm economically healthy. 

Elaine’s desire to farm began with a goal to do what she loved and was elevated to the purpose of showing her community why to care about how we source our food – in large part to keep small farmers farming. In the beginning of 2017, she joined the team at Kitchen Table Consultants with hope and excitement for helping to strengthen farm and food businesses. 

With a BA in Anthropology from Penn State University, it makes perfect sense that she would launch into farming and then to financial management training for farmers. (She does her best to bring levity to the sometimes tedious or stressful work of running a business.) Her work includes forensic accounting, leadership training, financial management training, and coaching and strategic planning for business owners and management.

Grounded by a deep reverence for the way our ecosystem nourishes us and a fundamental sense of responsibility to return the favor, Heather is driven to flex her expertise in accounting and finance in a way that empowers the stewards of our food system. As a teenager, creating a small vegetable garden out of simple curiosity and then delighting in a harvest of too many green beans was the catalyst for her desire to learn more about the food system and how she could help to improve it.

As a former member and leader in the Snohomish County (WA) 4-H Horse Program, Heather developed a deep appreciation for and commitment to creating opportunities for connection, support, self-motivation, and community. She is also inspired by the success of her entrepreneurial mom’s solely operated business which relies on a keen mindfulness of customers’ needs as well as the boundaries and scope of the business itself. Those values fueled Heather’s desire to serve small businesses in her community, so she pursued her CPA license and gained high-level skills at a small CPA firm.

After 5 years of financial statement preparation, tax work, retirement planning, and litigation support, Heather started wondering what happened before the numbers got to her desk. She transitioned to a public-sector position at a local community college where she participated in the complex inner workings of a large and demanding organization on a tight budget. At the same time, she joined a tiny team starting up a hyper-local, sustainability-driven food hub and got her first taste of combining her love of numbers with her passion for the business of farming. Now as the leader of a team of farm accounting specialists at KTC, Heather gets to mash up all of this experience, drive, and curiosity to contribute to a food system that works better for its producers and its consumers.

Kristen started off her journey to agriculture in the beautiful lands of Montana. She moved to California for a job that would lead her to the Human Resources industry after 20 years of moving up this company’s ranks. She managed over 250 employees at 10 different offices statewide so she is no stranger to multitasking.  While there she realized that her passion for people and problem-solving made HR a natural career choice for her. After earning her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management she moved closer to family in Pennsylvania and settled on a plot of 20 acres. 

Lindsey was drawn to Kitchen Table Consultants because of the mutual passion she and KTC share for helping farm and food based entrepreneurs use numbers to carve out a sustainable living for themselves. After graduating from SUNY ESF, the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Upstate New York, Lindsey began work at her local Cornell Cooperative Extension Office. She was privileged enough to participate in the inner workings of the hops resurgency that began in Madison County and then boomed throughout New York State. There she saw key components of NYS Farm Brewery legislation being drafted, the internal process of forming a growers 501(c)6  lobbying association, grants being written for a statewide hop educator, and fielded questions from hop growers and grain processors on costs and licensing to get started. 

After a brief but intense stay at CCE, Lindsey decided to switch gears from the non-profit world and focus on small business ownership. She preferred the autonomy of the decision making process business ownership allowed and also saw the potential to use profit for good, to make a positive impact in her local community. She spent the next 8 years building Kriemhild Dairy Farms, a grassfed dairy agribusiness making european style butter and creme fraiche. Lindsey took on all aspects of the business, from human resources, to bookkeeping to fundraising to taking butter making courses in Wisconsin and at Cornell University to even driving a commercial grade butter churn cross country for their own creamery. While Lindsey absolutely loved her work and time at Kriemhild, it wasn’t quite yet the dream life she wanted for herself. 

Growing up in farm country in southern Michigan, Lee’s passion for food came from a young age. Lee has been gardening his entire life and worked in the fields, greenhouses and farm stands of the local food scene throughout his youth. The family Christmas tree farm taught Lee and his sister the family entrepreneurial spirit as well as help pay for college.

After graduating from Michigan State, Lee headed toward a career in the marketing and advertising industry. After relocating to Traverse City, he reconnected with his love of food and began working at Cherry Capital Foods. What started with the sales team lead to purchasing responsibilities and eventually Lee became the VP of Operations.

The experiences and challenges of operating a food hub and distribution company have taught Lee the value of our foods’ journey from farm to mouth, some of them very simple and many very complex. Taking a small company like CCF to the next tier requires a strong strategic plan, metrics and goals. He is excited to bring his knowledge and perspective of the food industry to the KTC team and clients.

Julia is passionate about thorough and cohesive research, telling stories through analytics, and creating web pages that are clear and easy to understand. She also loves eating tasty food and connecting with new people.

Having been raised in rural western Uganda, she learned the value of farming and community living from her neighbors at a young age. Her first step was to receive a BA in Cultural and Environmental Studies from Duke University in 2018. She kept her hands in the ground and her connection to her own roots by working at the Duke farm as a student, then at NGP farm in Greensboro after graduation. There she grew to be farm manager and learned a range of skills, from managing employees and volunteers to double-digging beds.

Julia went on to complete her MBA at the University of Utah in hopes of helping bridge the gap of business acumen in her farming communities. She wanted to be an asset to the local food movement and can now do that in the company of her talented coworkers at TPM and KTC! In her free time, she loves to bake scones, quilt for her friends, go on hikes and bike rides in the mountains, tend her house plants, and read novels. And no matter what she’s doing, her faithful pup, Basil, is always by her side.

Originally pursuing studies in accounting, Ciera found her true passion lay elsewhere—in the world of food. She transitioned into the service industry, gaining experience in fine dining, speakeasy bartending, and fine wine sales, eventually working alongside two Michelin-rated chefs. This hands-on experience honed her culinary skills and deepened her appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind every dish. Driven by a desire to connect more directly with the source of food (and inspired by her grandparents’ stories of growing up on farms), She decided to make the transition to farming. Working the land allowed her to cultivate a deeper understanding of sustainable agriculture and the importance of responsible stewardship. Through these experiences, she witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by farmers and the crucial role they play in our food system.

Discovering KTC provided an opportunity to leverage her background in both food and farming to advocate for farmers and support them on a broader scale. Today, she continues to pursue her passion for food and farming, striving to positively impact the agricultural community and beyond, and is working on getting her farm up and running.

Ciera lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband and two very large dogs. In her free time, you’ll often find her studying the art of butchery, tending to her flock of Coturnix quail, or spending time in her oversized “garden,” where she loves to experiment with growing all types of niche fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms.

Gibson Rade grew up on Whipstone Farm, a produce and flower farm in Northern Arizona. Whipstone participated in the founding of the Prescott Farmers Market and continues attendance as a produce vendor. As a result, Gibson spent most of her childhood weekends at the market, first helping at Whipstone’s booth and then expanding to her own booth, where she sold homemade dog cookies, vegetables from her small garden and pot bellied pigs.

As an adult, Gibson held a position as a Prescott Farmers Market Executive Board Member and spent time as an administrator of the family farm. Kitchen Table Consultants helped her manage Whipstone’s CSA, bookkeeping system, and wholesale accounts. Gibson grew her involvement in the Arizona Agriculture Community by attending farming-focused conferences through Local First Arizona and the Arizona Department of Agriculture, where she focused on providing viewpoints from the smaller farming community.

Gibson graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. She has experience as the administrative assistant to her County’s Chief Adult Probation Officer and several College Deans of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus.

Mira’s role at KTC serves as a kind of full-circle moment in her career. While her first job as a teenager was cashiering at an organic farm in her Florida hometown, where she loved walking the fields and trying all the varieties of tomatoes, she didn’t consider a career in agriculture until much later. Having moved to New York City for college, she worked in fields such as hospitality and education, but always maintained a passion and advocacy for local and sustainable food. She also kept finding herself drawn to data and ways to use it to better understand challenges and solutions within the companies and fields she worked in.

These interests led to a prolific career in accounting and consulting for hospitality businesses where she has helped her clients to create and maintain accurate financials and analytics to better understand and manage their businesses. Along the way, Mira started volunteering at gardens and urban farms in the city, and quickly found a love of being in the dirt and growing food for and with others. She took as many farming and gardening classes as she could find, visited every green space in the city, and once her fire escape was full of plants, she realized her passion needed bigger pastures. She relocated to Western North Carolina, where she worked as an apprentice on a family-owned vegetable and flower farm, learning more deeply about the various practical and economic challenges that farmers face on a day to day basis.

Working with KTC provides the opportunity for Mira to meaningfully conjoin both passions, helping clients to find more clarity and sustainability in their finances so they can do what they do best. The rest of the time, you can still find her in her garden or at the farmer’s market.

Jessica’s love of numbers and business started as play from a young age and has only grown over time as she’s taken on varied accounting roles. After graduating with an associate degree in Business Administration, as well as receiving certificates in Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Payroll from Ivy Tech, she started her career at a small accounting office doing bookkeeping for a variety of different small businesses, before taking a role in the accounting department of a large construction company which builds large residential and commercial projects across the US. Though she made good relationships and gained a lot of knowledge, when she relocated from her small hometown in Indiana she decided it was time to get back to serving small businesses.

Her intrigue of food and where it comes from didn’t surface until her teens when she came across an old sitcom from the 70’s where a couple left their jobs and turned their home in suburbia into a micro-sustainable homestead. From sitcom to countless documentaries, it was impressed upon her how important good sustainable food is to the long-term health of both people and land. Though she currently only has use of a small community garden plot at her apartment complex, she looks forward to the day when she can have a large garden of her own (and maybe even a few ducks!).

Lindsey’s passion for agriculture came from her grandparents and the stories they shared of their farming days in Southern Illinois. Though farming skipped a generation in her parents, it was always a guiding force in her life and eventually she decided to pick up where her grandparents had left off and began her own farm business. What started as a small scale, high rotation mixed vegetable and cut flower farm focused on farmers markets has grown to a 20+ acre farm that now includes microgreens, gourmet mushrooms, custom event design and a flower shop. She has also expanded the farm’s customer base to include wholesale food distributors, high end restaurants, local grocers and florists. 

Prior to farming, Lindsey helped new and beginning franchisees with the start-up phase of their business including onboarding, training and on-going support as their business continued to grow. This experience better prepared her to give her business a strong foundation with bookkeeping, employee management and the myriad of skills a successful business owner has to acquire and continually fine tune.

Joining the outstanding team at KTC allows Lindsey to do what she is most passionate about which is to help others find success in their own sustainable agriculture business. 

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Your Complete Guide to Farm Succession Planning

Succession planning for farmers and ranchers is important, but it’s also complicated. Land, equipment, equity, your own retirement — how do you even begin to think about handing your business over to the next generation? First, you need a trusted team of professionals, including your insurance agent. Then, you need to start the succession planning process as soon as possible to ensure a plan is in place before you’re no longer able to run the farm.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about succession planning for your family farm or ranch. 

Starting the Farm Transition Planning Process

The best way to transfer a family farm or ranch varies from family to family. That’s why the first step of an effective farm inheritance and succession plan is to define your goals by prioritizing your needs first — after all, these are your assets. Then, you can incorporate the needs of future generations who will also benefit from your succession plan.

Identify Your Own Needs First

Most importantly, your goals should factor in your needs in retirement and as you age. In the process of passing the family farm or ranch to the next generation, you may start letting your heirs manage the land, purchase farm equipment and take on more responsibilities. But you might need income from assets like cell towers, billboards, natural gas and rental properties to support your lifestyle in your retirement years. If these revenue streams are essential to your retirement plan, don’t feel pressured to release them within your lifetime. 

The following questions can help you identify priorities:

• Is it important for the business to continue?
• Does the successor generation want to provide a dignified retirement for the owner generation?
• Does the owner generation value keeping the land in the family name?
• Do the successors’ priorities match with the owners’ priorities?

As you map out your succession plan goals, also consider what’s important to you. If your home has significant meaning to you and your family, you may want to keep it in the family. Likewise, there may be certain charities you’d like to gift assets to, or you might have stipulations on the how the land you’re passing on should be used. Ultimately, you must determine what you want for your legacy. This will be your north star when you put your farm succession plan into motion.

Who to Include in Your Farm Succession Plan

Next, think through the logistics of your succession plan, starting with who should be involved. This can be a difficult task, but it’s your job to make sure your farm or ranch will be managed well so it continues to thrive for future generations. To help determine who should be part of your succession plan, ask yourself these farm succession planning questions:

• Do I have one or multiple heirs?
• If I have multiple heirs, what is the split between those who are farmers/ranchers and non-farmers/ranchers?
• If there are multiple heirs who want to farm the land, would they be able to work well together?
• How might increasing the number of heirs affect my farm succession plan?

Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll know whether you have one or more heirs and what roles they’ll play in the future of your farm or ranch.

Passing on the Farm or Ranch to a Single Heir

This is the most straightforward situation when it comes to succession planning for farming families. When you have a single heir, there is less concern about squabbling family members and less risk overall. As you age, make sure you’re providing guidance to your heir. The last thing you want is to have your legacy handed to someone who isn’t prepared to fill your shoes. It’s also important to have a will in place. And while this is the simplest scenario, it doesn’t eliminate the risk of family members arguing about whether they should have a stake in the future of the farm or ranch.

Farm Succession with Multiple Heirs

When there are multiple heirs involved, the farm transition process becomes more complicated. The more heirs you have, the greater the complexity.

Effectively navigating these waters requires frequent, clear communication. You may have a child who loved farm work when they were younger, for example, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they want to return and take over the business. Communicating early and often can help you understand the expectations of your heirs and build a succession plan that balances the desires of each heir with your goals.

Once you’ve gathered the necessary preliminary information, you can begin to build your plan. Often, the ideal scenario is to leave the farm or ranch to one or two farming heirs who are passionate about running the family business and who are prepared to do so.

If you have more than one or two farming/ranching heirs, you’ll want to work even more closely with a third-party advisor to ensure you leave the most viable business structure in place. The more people involved in future management, the more likely it is that your farm or ranch will be managed in ways you hadn’t intended.

In some cases, a farm succession plan includes heirs that won’t continue the legacy of the farm or ranch. When there is a mix of farming/ranching and non-farming/ranching heirs, there are three main ways to split inheritance:

The Inheritance Reflects the Stakeholder

 It’s often best to retain as much of the farm as you can in one unit. This can be accomplished by passing down assets like rental properties, gas and mineral rights, and retirement accounts to non-farming/ranching heirs, while passing down the farmland, livestock and equipment to farming/ranching heirs. This approach can help you avoid family disputes by providing an equitable outcome for all parties.

A Structured Purchase

Another option is to enable one of your heirs to purchase the land from others over a number of years. If you have three heirs, for example, you could structure your plan so that each heir receives one-third of the land, with one heir bound to purchase the land from the other two over the course of 20 to 30 years through a contract for deed.

Dividing Farmland

A third option is to divide the farmland equally between your heirs and let them do with the properties as they wish. While this strategy can work, it’s a common myth that the only way to fairly pass on your farm or ranch is to equally distribute the land among heirs. In fact, this is generally the riskiest option as it can lead to a fractured farm and may reduce the value of the land. A 200-acre farm can create a lot of income, but a 200-acre farm split five ways leaves each heir with 40 acres of farmland, which limits total production by reducing economies of scale. Not only that, but the non-farming heirs are likely to sell the land, which means that it will leave your family’s ownership.

If you decide to split the land, carefully consider what is best for your legacy long-term. Each split further fractures the land and limits the long-term viability of the business and the likelihood the land will stay within the family.

Farm Succession Planning When There’s No Successor 

If you do not have a potential successor in the family but your family wants to retain ownership, you may need to do a little legwork to find someone who is willing and able to run the farm. As it becomes increasingly more difficult to start a new family farm without a massive amount of capital, maintaining family ownership can offer opportunities for future generations, while land ownership can provide a sense of security during tough economic times. But be sure to consider whether the farm’s business has the financial ability to employ a manager, while also providing adequate retirement cash flow. 

You can start to seek someone out by:

• Networking with other farmers
• Connecting with programs that offer farm training or young farmer programs
• Considering current employees or setting up an internship or limited farm manager position with no long-term commitments — start early and be willing to work with several potential successors

Regardless of which option you choose, you should work with a team of farm succession planning professionals to make sure that you’re creating an effective plan. This team typically consists of your insurance agent, lawyer, financial planner and certified personal accountant (CPA).

Asset-Based Considerations During Farm Succession Planning

Every farm or ranch is different, and the transition to the next generation comes with different concerns. Much of this variation is based on the assets you have within your possession. Here’s what to consider as you review your current assets:

Machinery can be dealt with in many ways. It can be sold outright or in installments, or ownership can be transferred when machinery is traded. Each option has tax implications, so you’ll want to consult with your tax advisor. Gifting machinery may help limit some income tax consequences but could also result in a gift tax. Finally, machinery can be leased to your successor, but you will have to determine beforehand who will pay for repairs.

Feed and Livestock

As with machinery, there are many ways to transfer ownership of feed and livestock. If you have breeding livestock, you may decide to sell a portion of your breeding herd to your successor. Payments can be made in installments, or you may choose a roll-over approach. In the latter case, you continue to own the breeding herd, but you and your successor share joint ownership of the offspring. 

Feed and market livestock can also be sold or given. Many opt to transfer this type of livestock at the low point of the feed inventory (just before harvest), or between the sale and replacement of market livestock. 

Or instead of selling your successor an interest in your market livestock, the livestock can be inventoried. In this case, you will receive the inventory value of the livestock when it’s sold. The remaining proceeds will be divided between you and your successor. This approach can also have tax implications, so review it with your tax professional.

When creating a farm succession plan , consider how you want to transfer ownership of your land. Land can be transferred during your lifetime by sale or gift, or upon your death. Sales may take place through cash or installments.

Gifting your farmland to your family can help with gift taxes, especially if you’re dividing it among several people. You can give up to $15,000 of property each year — to as many people as you’d like — without paying gift tax. 

However, gifting a property means that you are also giving up ownership rights to that property. This means you may end up paying rent to your heirs.

Transferring land upon death is the most common approach because it allows you to use the property and receive income from it through retirement. Tax laws vary regarding inheritance. Again, consulting with a tax professional is an important step before making land transfer decisions.

How to Involve Heirs in the Farm Transition Process

As you roll out your plans for transferring farm or ranch ownership, start by formally talking to your family about your farm succession plan and including your heirs in the process.

Communicating Your Farm Succession Plans to Heirs

If you have multiple heirs who will have different stakes in the future of the farm or ranch, be careful about how you break the news. If you can, it’s best to communicate your plans face-to-face. Be sure you have a good understanding of the farm business financials beforehand — these questions can help guide your preparation:

• Does everyone involved know the liquidity and solvency position of the farm?
• Has it been profitable?
• What are the cash flows?
• Will the farm be able to sustain your family’s needs?

The Formal Meeting

One approach is to meet with everyone involved at a formal meeting. This can work well if you know everyone involved will be in agreement with your plans to transition the farm or ranch. If you go this route, schedule the meeting well in advance to ensure that everyone can attend. This is where you share your goals for the future of the farm or ranch to help your heirs, and everyone else involved, understand how you made your decisions during the farm succession planning process.

One-on-One Conversations

On the other hand, a formal group meeting may not be the best way to share your plans if you know there may some family members that may get upset. In this instance, meeting with each heir one-on-one can be more comfortable for those who may be disappointed, surprised or upset by your decisions.

While one-on-one meetings have their benefits, there are also downsides: Family members may talk to one another about your succession plans before you have the chance to meet with each person individually. Minimize this risk by scheduling meetings as closely as you can. Don’t tell one family member that they’ll receive full managing responsibilities of the farm or ranch and then wait six months to tell another that they’ll receive a small plot.  Whichever way you decide to share your future plans, make sure that everyone who will be involved is aware of their roles. 

Transition Your Farm or Ranch to Heirs Gradually

Once you’ve identified your goals, formalized a plan and shared your intentions with family members, you’ll be ready to transition your business. This is a process that needs to happen gradually. As you know, it’s no small responsibility to keep a farm or ranch running, and no one should become CEO overnight. Here’s what that might look like:

• Let’s say you have an heir who spends most of their time today working with cattle. Your first step could be to put them in charge of that line of your business. 
• As they become more comfortable with that level of responsibility, you can begin transitioning the next part of the business into their management, followed by the next and so on.
• As their responsibilities increase, you’ll want to transition them into a formal partnership role, increase their compensation and gradually become more hands-off. Eventually, they’ll have experience in all aspects of farm or ranch management. 

This transition could take many years depending on the size of your farm or ranch and the knowledge and responsibility your heirs have today. When you add this to the time it takes to formally document your succession plan, you can see why it’s so important to start farm succession planning early.

Using Life Insurance for Farm Succession Planning

Life insurance can play an important role in transitioning your farm to the next generation. The key, however, is to take care of this step early in the process and get advice from your team of succession advisors, which should include your insurance agent.

Here are a few things you should know about using life insurance for farm succession planning:

• Payments for life insurance should typically come from one or more of the heirs. In most cases, this will keep the insurance proceeds outside of the taxable estate.
• Life insurance can function as a useful tool for the farming/ranching heir or heirs who want to buy out non-farming/ranching heirs, resulting in a more equitable transition.
• This tactic can help you avoid estate taxes , though the estate-tax exemption is approximately $25.8 million per married couple and $12.9 million for individuals, as of 2023. As a result, there are many cases where heirs should not be concerned about federal estate taxes, but keep in mind that some states have their own estate taxes.

It’s important to tap into your farm succession team for guidance on leveraging life insurance for farm succession. The size of your estate, your health, the number of heirs, where you live and many other factors play a role in this decision. Enlist the help of an insurance agent and other farm succession planning consultants to make sure this is a necessary step.

Farm Succession Planning Resources

Passing on the family farm or ranch to the next generation is no easy task. These additional resources can help you prepare:

• Who should be on your farm or ranch succession planning team?
• How to talk to your family about farm succession planning
• Farmers: How to avoid inheritance taxes
• Why do I need a family business succession plan?

By reviewing your assets long before you’re ready to transfer ownership of your farm or ranch, you’re giving yourself time to choose the best path for you, your family and your legacy.

Get Answers

If you have more ranch or farm succession planning questions, your local Farm Bureau agent can help you ensure that your farm estate remains in the family for generations to com

Want to learn more?

Contact a local FBFS agent or advisor for answers personalized to you.

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How to Start a Farm: Plan Your Operation

Think about your operation from the ground up and start planning for your business.  A good farm business plan is your roadmap to start-up, profitability, and growth, and provides the foundation for your conversation with USDA about how our programs can complement your operation. 

Keep reading about planning your business below, get an overview of the beginning farmer's journey , or jump to a different section of the farmer's journey.

On This Page

Why you need a farm business plan.

A comprehensive business plan is an important first step for any size business, no matter how simple or complex. You should create a strong business plan because it:

• Will help you get organized . It will help you to remember all of the details and make sure you are taking all of the necessary steps.
• Will act as your guide . It will help you to think carefully about why you want to farm or ranch and what you want to achieve in the future. Over time, you can look back at your business plan and determine whether you are achieving your goals.
• Is required to get a loan . In order to get an FSA loan, a guarantee on a loan made by a commercial lender, or a land contract, you need to create a detailed business plan . Lenders look closely at business plans to determine if you can afford to repay the loan.

How USDA Can Help

Whether you need a good get-started guide, have a plan that you would like to verify, or have a plan you’re looking to update for your next growth phase, USDA can help connect you to resources to help your decisions.

Your state's beginning farmer and rancher coordinator  can connect you to local resources in your community to help you establish a successful business plan. Reach out to your state's coordinator for one-on-one technical assistance and guidance. They can also connect you with organizations that specifically serve beginning farmers and ranchers.

It is important to know that no single solution fits everyone, and you should research, seek guidance, and make the best decision for your operation according to your own individual priorities.

Build a Farm Business Plan

There are many different styles of business plans. Some are written documents; others may be a set of worksheets that you complete. No matter what format you choose, several key aspects of your operation are important to consider.

Use the guidelines below to draft your business plan. Answering these kinds of questions in detail will help you create and develop your final business plan. Once you have a business plan for your operation, prepare for your visit to a USDA service center. During your visit, we can help you with the necessary steps to register your business and get access to key USDA programs.

Business History

Are you starting a new farm or ranch, or are you already in business? If you are already in business:

• What products do you produce?
• What is the size of your operation?
• What agricultural production and financial management training or experience do you, your family members, or your business partners have?
• How long have you been in business?

Mission, Vision, and Goals

This is your business. Defining your mission, vision and goals is crucial to the success of your business. These questions will help provide a basis for developing other aspects of your business plan.

• What values are important to you and the operation as a whole?
• What short- and long-term goals do you have for your operation?
• How do you plan to start, expand, or change your operation?
• What plans do you have to make your operation efficient or more profitable ?
• What type of farm or ranch model (conventional, sustainable, organic, or alternative agricultural practices) do you plan to use?

Organization and Management

Starting your own business is no small feat. You will need to determine how your business will be structured and organized, and who will manage (or help manage) your business. You will need to be able to convey this to others who are involved as well.

• What is the legal structure of your business? Will it be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, or other type of entity?
• What help will you need in operating and managing your farm or ranch?
• What other resources, such as a mentor or community-based organization , do you plan to use?

Marketing is a valuable tool for businesses. It can help your businesses increase brand awareness, engagement and sales. It is important to narrow down your target audience and think about what you are providing that others cannot.

• What are you going to produce ?
• Who is your target consumer ?
• Is there demand for what you are planning to produce?
• What is the cost of production?
• How much will you sell it for and when do you expect to see profit ?
• How will you get your product to consumers ? What are the transportation costs and requirements?
• How will you market your products?
• Do you know the relevant federal, state, and local food safety regulations? What licensing do you need for your operation?

Today there are many types of land, tools, and resources to choose from. You will need to think about what you currently have and what you will need to obtain to achieve your goals.

• What resources do you have or will you need for your business?
• Do you already have access to farmland ? If not, do you plan to lease, rent, or purchase land?
• What equipment do you need?
• Is the equipment and real estate that you own or rent adequate to conduct your operation? If not, how do you plan to address those needs?
• Will you be implementing any conservation practices to sustain your operation?
• What types of workers will you need to operate the farm?
• What additional resources do you need?

Now that you have an idea of what you are going to provide and what you will need to run your operation you will need to consider the finances of your operation.

• How will you finance the business?
• What are your current assets (property or investments you own) and liabilities (debts, loans, or payments you owe)?
• Will the income you generate be sufficient to pay your operating expenses, living expenses, and loan payments?
• What other sources of income are available to supplement your business income?
• What business expenses will you incur?
• What family living expenses do you pay?
• What are some potential risks or challenges you foresee for your operation? How will you manage those risks?
• How will you measure the success of your business?

Farm Business Plan Worksheets

The Farm Business Plan Balance Sheet can help gather information for the financial and operational aspects of your plan.

Form FSA-2037 is a template that gathers information on your assets and liabilities like farm equipment, vehicles and existing loans.

• FSA-2037 - Farm Business Plan - Balance Sheet
• FSA-2037 Instructions

Planning for Conservation and Risk Management

Another key tool is a conservation plan, which determines how you want to improve the health of your land. A conservation plan can help you lay out your plan to address resource needs, costs and schedules.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff are available at your local USDA Service Center to help you develop a conservation plan for your land based on your goals. NRCS staff can also help you explore conservation programs and initiatives, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) .

Conservation in Agriculture

Crop insurance, whole farm revenue protection and other resources can help you prepare for unforeseen challenges like natural disasters.

Disaster Recovery

Special Considerations

Special considerations for businesses.

There are different types of farm businesses each with their own unique considerations. Determine what applies to your operation.

• Organic Farming  has unique considerations. Learn about organic agriculture , organic certification , and the  Organic Certification Cost Share Program  to see if an organic business is an option for you. NRCS also has resources for organic producers and offers assistance to develop a conservation plan.
• Urban Farming  has special opportunities and restrictions. Learn how USDA can help farmers in urban spaces .
• Value-Added Products . The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) is a national virtual resource center for value-added agricultural groups.
• Cooperative.  If you are interested in starting a cooperative, USDA’s Rural Development Agency (RD) has helpful resources to help you begin . State-based  Cooperative Development Centers , partially funded by RD, provide technical assistance and education on starting a cooperative.

Special Considerations for Individuals

Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers: We offer help for the unique concerns of producers who meet the USDA definition of "historically underserved,"  which includes farmers who are:

• socially disadvantaged
• limited resource
• military veterans

Women: Learn about specific incentives, priorities, and set asides for  women in agriculture within USDA programs.

Heirs' Property Landowners: If you inherited land without a clear title or documented legal ownership, learn how USDA can help Heirs’ Property Landowners gain access to a variety of programs and services

Business Planning

Creating a good business plan takes time and effort. The following are some key resources for planning your business.

• Farm Answers from the University of Minnesota features a library of how-to resources and guidance, a directory of beginning farmer training programs, and other sources of information in agriculture. The library includes business planning guides such as a Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses and an Example Business Plan .
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers information about starting, managing, and transitioning a business.

SCORE is a nonprofit organization with a network of volunteers who have experience in running and managing businesses. The Score Mentorship Program partners with USDA to provide:

• Free, local support and resources, including business planning help, financial guidance, growth strategies.
• Mentorship through one-on-one business coaching -- in-person, online, and by phone.
• Training from subject matter experts with agribusiness experience.
• Online resources and step-by-step outlines for business strategies.
• Learn more about the program through the Score FAQ .

Training Opportunities

Attend field days, workshops, courses, or formal education programs to build necessary skills to ensure you can successfully produce your selected farm products and/or services. Many local and regional agricultural organizations, including USDA and Cooperative Extension, offer training to beginning farmers.

• Cooperative Extension  offices address common issues faced by agricultural producers, and conduct workshops and educational events for the agricultural community.
• extension.org  is an online community for the Cooperative Extension program where you can find publications and ask experts for advice.

Now that you have a basic plan for your farm operation, prepare for your visit to a USDA service center.

2. Visit Your USDA Service Center

How to Start a Farm with USDA

Get an  overview of the beginning farmer's journey  or jump to a specific page below.

Find Your Local Service Center

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.

Learn more about our Urban Service Centers . Visit the Risk Management Agency website to find a regional or compliance office  or to find an insurance agent near you.

Farm Business Planning

Farm Business Planning is key to beginning farmer success.

It helps beginning farmers :

• Plan for the economic sustainability of a new farm enterprise.
• Obtain funding to purchase land, equipment and other resources from lending institutions, investors and/or grant making agencies.
• Articulate what their farm will look like.

On this page, we compiled free farm business planning resources to help you understand what a formal business plan is, and how to start planning your farm business. Sections include:

• Developing a Farm Business Plan
• Enterprise Budgeting

Enterprise budget resources are included on the farm business planning page because such tools are usually essential in helping you to develop your business plan.

Planning your farm business involves more than is outlined on this page alone. You’ll probably also be interested in funding (loans/grants) , farm incorporation , and risk management . Our  starting a farm page is worth visiting first. Also, you might find the following article helpful, because it touches on many farm business planning topics: Farm Products, What to Charge: Marketing, Price, Calculating Costs, Strategy and Much More .

1. Developing a Farm Business Plan

A  business plan  is a decision making tool that takes the form of a formal document. It states your business goals, why you think you can achieve them, and lays out your plan for doing so. Farm business planning is also a process, not an end product. A business plan is a work in progress, which farm business owners or operators will want to revisit regularly. 

Planning and Funding Your Farm Business  from the Cornell University Small Farms Project has lots of important and useful farm business planning resources.

Rural Businesses  is a web and print publication from the Minnesota institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA).

Building a Business Plan for Your Farm: Important First Steps  is a 20 page farm business planning publication that discusses the initial steps to help you move toward writing a formal business plan.

The Center for Agroecology has a Small Farm Business Planning publication that goes over many of the basics in a step by step format.

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses is a farm business planning publication available from SARE.

Do I need a Business Plan for my Farm? is a web resource from the New England Small Farm Institute. It’s a great place to get started.

AgPlan  from the University of Minnesota helps rural business owners develop a business plan for free, while also offering sample business plans for ideas, and a way to print or download your plan.

Developing a Farm Business Plan includes several helpful resources from the USDA National Agricultural Library’s Rural Information Center.

Organic Farm Business Planning Page  from North Carolina State University features a number of publications and links related to financial planing for organic farmers.

Agricultural Business Planning Templates and Resources   is an ATTRA publication most relevant to smaller-scale or alternative agricultural entrepreneurs.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Resources offers comprehensive resources on Bookkeeping and Other Basics ; Cash Flow Budgeting and Managing Debt ; Small Farm and Ranch Income Taxes , and more.

Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business  has educational resources to explore, such as the New Ventures in Food and Agriculture in Indiana , which offers business planning assistance.

Purdue University Cooperative Extension offers strategic farm business planning tools for commercial farm producers.

Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences has many Business Planning tools and information.  Penn State Cooperative Extension has a Developing a Business Plan page. Penn State also has a Farm Business Plan Template that allows you to plug in your information and create a basic business plan.

The U.S. Small Business Administration  works with local partners to counsel, mentor and train small businesses. It is worth getting to know their programs and connect with your local office.

The Martindale Center Reference Desk has an extensive  compilation of links to calculators, applets, spreadsheets, courses, manuals, handbooks, simulations, animations, videos and more. Martindale’s Agriculture Center can be of great use to farmers making business plans.

2. Enterprise Budgets

Enterprise budgets project costs and returns for a particular farm production practice. You can use enterprise budgets to make smart business management decisions, and to help you develop a viable business plan.

Enterprise Budgeting Tools of all sorts from the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, including organic crop budgeting tools, many vegetable budgeting tools, the crop conversion tool for side-by-side crop comparisons, specialty crop and livestock budgets, hydroponics budgets, wind calculators, composting calculators, manure calculators, distillers grain budgets, biomass calculators and specialty foods calculators.

Introduction to Farm Planning Budgets for New and Beginning Farmers (Virginia Tech)

Importance and Use of Enterprise Budgets in Agriculture   (University of Nevada)

Enterprise Budgeting (Kerr Center)

Organic Specific Enterprise Budgets

• Enterprise Budgets and Production Costs for Organic Production (ATTRA)
• Organic Crop Production Enterprise Budgets and Information   (Iowa State)
• Organic Enterprise Budget (Kansas Rural Center)

More Enterprise Budget Pages and Information

• Enterprise Budgets List (Virginia Cooperative Extension)
• Dairy Sheep Enterprise Budget (Center for Integrated Ag Systems, UW-Madison)
• Crop Budgets (University of Maryland)
• Farm Management Enterprise Budgets (Ohio State)
• Alabama Enterprise Budget Summaries (Alabama A&M and Auburn) 
• Start developing your business plan with the resources at   https://www.beginningfarmers.org/farm-business-planning/
• You can find more gr eat farming resources at   https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/

• Canada Solutions
• Succession Planning

Human Resources

Networking / peer groups.

• Strategic Partners
• Crop Insurance
• Property & Casualty Insurance
• All Resources
• UnCommon Farms Foundation

Agriculture Operational Business Management

Plan for success with a farm business coach.

Setting goals is great, but implementing those goals and making the changes you want and need for your operation is the most important step. As a member, you’ll work directly with a seasoned ag expert, your own “coach,” who will help guide you along the path to strengthen your family farm legacy.

Helps you define and prioritize goals to provide guidance in your decisions.

Ensures you’re on a path to continuous, long-term improvement and helps hold you accountable for reaching your goals in a timely manner.

Accountability Partner

Helps to keep you accountable for implementing changes and executing your goals.

Execute the Plan

Our farm business coaches help you execute your farm business plan.

Discover Real Results with Efficient Management

Getting better is the name of the game. Once we've helped you build a strong foundation, we can help you to diversify, grow, or differentiate, finding your own unique path to success.

Optimize Efficiency

Improve communication, roles and authority.

Learn processes and best practices, including 150+ standard operating procedures (SOPs), developed and used by other operators.

Create efficiencies that let your farm easily operate with minimal waste and maximum output.

Set goals, create a business plan and detailed plan of action.

Learn how to communicate with every member of your team for max efficiency with the inclusion of team meetings.

No more questions about who is responsible for what tasks. Organize and define roles and chain of authority.

Ag Business Solutions

Succession & Structure Planning

Our structure experts can help you ensure your farm's entity structure is providing maximum benefit and protection to you as owners. We'll also help you plan a smooth transition for your farming operation from one generation to the next to protect your farm's legacy.

We will guide you to analyze your current financials and compare them to your operation's historical performance, then guide you to use that knowledge for improved managerial decisions to help you improve profitability, reduce costs, and secure financial assistance.

UnCommon Farms resources will help you clearly define the roles and responsibilities of your workforce, bolster your employee recruiting strategy, retain good workers, and develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with HR regulations.

Experience networking like never before with our UnCommon approach. Our members come together to share their best practices, challenges, and successes through our trainings, workshops, peer groups, and exclusive conferences.

Business Training

With more than 70 courses for members and clients, UnCommon Farms offers introductory to advanced level training for a variety of different topics.

Dive Deeper With Farm Business Resources

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Cultivating Success with a Comprehensive Farm Business Plan

Farm business planning involves outlining the goals, strategies, and financial projections for an agricultural operation. It serves as a roadmap that guides farmers in making informed decisions, managing resources effectively, and adapting to changing market conditions. A well-crafted farm business plan provides a clear direction for the farm’s future, enabling farmers to identify potential risks, capitalize on opportunities, and secure financing from lenders or investors.

Importance of a Farm Business Plan

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Having a farm business plan is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps farmers clarify their vision and set realistic goals for their agricultural enterprise. By clearly defining their objectives, farmers can focus their efforts on areas that contribute to their long-term success. Secondly, a farm business plan facilitates effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders such as partners, employees, and financial institutions . It ensures that everyone involved understands the farm’s mission, strategies, and financial expectations.

Furthermore, a business plan for farms enables farmers to identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. By conducting a thorough market analysis, farmers can anticipate market trends, assess consumer demands, and identify potential competitors. This information allows them to tailor their products and marketing strategies to meet the needs of their target audience effectively. Additionally, a farm business plan helps farmers plan their operational processes, including production schedules, supply chain management, and quality control, ensuring efficiency and productivity.

Key Components of a Comprehensive Farm Business Plan

Break down the essential sections that make up a comprehensive farm business plan. Provide an overview of each component and explain their significance in convincing investors.

The executive summary is a concise overview of the entire farm business plan. It provides a snapshot of the farm’s mission, goals, strategies, and financial projections. This section should be compelling enough to capture the reader’s attention and generate interest in the rest of the plan.

In this section, you will provide detailed information about your farm, including its location, size, infrastructure, and history. Describe the type of farming you engage in (crop cultivation, livestock production, organic farming, etc.) and highlight any unique selling points or competitive advantages your farm possesses.

Conducting a thorough market analysis is crucial to understanding the demand and competition in your target market. Identify your target customers, analyze their preferences and purchasing power, and evaluate the market trends that may affect your farm’s operations.

Detail the range of products and services your farm offers. Include information about the specific crops or livestock you produce, their quality, and any value-added products or services you provide, such as organic certification or agritourism activities.

Outline your marketing and sales strategies for promoting and selling your farm products. Identify the channels you will use to reach your target customers, such as direct sales, farmers’ markets, online platforms, or partnerships with local restaurants or grocery stores.

In this section, explain how you will manage the day-to-day operations of your farm. Outline the production processes, equipment and machinery required, labor needs, and any other relevant operational considerations.

Develop comprehensive financial projections for your farm business. Include information on the initial investment required, projected revenue and expenses, cash flow statements, and profitability forecasts. This section will help you assess the financial viability of your farm and attract potential investors or lenders.

Identify the potential risks and challenges your farm may face, such as weather-related events, disease outbreaks, or market fluctuations. Describe the strategies and contingency plans you will put in place to mitigate these risks and ensure the continuity of your farm’s operations.

Steps to Create a Farm Business Plan

Creating a farm business plan may seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps can simplify the process. Follow these steps to develop a comprehensive and effective farm business plan:

Start by clarifying your long-term goals and objectives for your farm. What do you want to achieve in terms of profitability, sustainability, and growth? Having a clear vision will guide your decision-making throughout the planning process.

Thoroughly research your target market to identify consumer demands, market trends, and potential competitors. This information will help you tailor your products and marketing strategies to meet the needs of your customers effectively.

Evaluate the resources and infrastructure available on your farm. Consider factors such as land availability, water sources, equipment, storage facilities, and labor availability. Assessing these resources will help you determine the scale and type of farming practices you can undertake.

Based on your market research, develop a comprehensive marketing strategy that outlines how you will promote and sell your farm products. Consider different marketing channels, such as online platforms, farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, or direct sales to local businesses.

Describe the day-to-day operational processes required to run your farm. Include details about cultivation techniques, livestock management practices, quality control measures, and supply chain management. Consider any necessary certifications or licenses required for your specific farming practices.

Develop realistic financial projections for your farm business. Calculate the initial investment required, projected revenue streams, and anticipated expenses. Consider factors such as production costs, marketing expenses, equipment maintenance, and labor costs. Regularly monitor and update these projections to track your farm’s financial performance.

Review and refine your farm business plan regularly. Seek feedback from trusted advisors, industry experts, or experienced farmers. Continuously monitor market trends and make adjustments to your strategies and projections accordingly.

A well-developed farm business plan offers several benefits:

Guidance and Direction : A farm business plan provides a roadmap for your farm’s operations, helping you make informed decisions and stay focused on your goals.

Effective Communication : It facilitates communication and collaboration with stakeholders, including partners, employees, lenders, and investors, ensuring everyone is aligned with the farm’s vision and objectives.

Risk Mitigation : By identifying potential risks and developing contingency plans, a farm business plan helps you proactively manage risks and navigate unforeseen challenges.

Opportunity Identification : A thorough market analysis and competitive assessment enable you to identify emerging trends and opportunities in your target market, allowing you to adapt and seize new business prospects.

Financial Planning and Investment : A well-crafted financial projection helps you understand the financial feasibility of your farm business, attract potential investors or lenders, and secure the necessary funding for your operations.

Operational Efficiency : By outlining your operational processes, a farm business plan enables you to streamline your operations, improve productivity, and optimize resource allocation.

Long-Term Sustainability : A farm business plan encourages sustainable farming practices, ensuring the long-term viability of your agricultural enterprise while minimizing environmental impact.

Challenges in Farm Business Planning

While developing a farm business plan, farmers may encounter several challenges. It’s important to be aware of these challenges and develop strategies to overcome them:

Agricultural markets can be volatile, with unpredictable price fluctuations and changing consumer preferences. Farmers must stay updated on market trends, consumer demands, and potential disruptions to make informed decisions and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Farmers are highly dependent on weather conditions and environmental factors, such as rainfall, temperature, and soil quality. Climate change and extreme weather events can significantly impact crop yields, livestock health, and overall farm productivity. It’s important to incorporate climate resilience strategies into your farm business plan.

Securing adequate financing for farm operations can be challenging, especially for small-scale or new farmers. Limited access to capital and funding sources may restrict the implementation of growth strategies or necessary investments in equipment, infrastructure, or technology. Exploring alternative funding options, such as grants, loans, or partnerships, can help overcome this challenge.

Looking at examples of successful farm business plans can provide valuable insights and inspiration for your own planning process. Take the time to study the approaches and strategies adopted by established farmers in your industry or region. Understand their marketing tactics, operational processes, and financial management techniques, and adapt them to suit your own farm’s unique circumstances and goals.

Ready to Create a Solid Farm Business Plan? Get Started Today!

Creating a well-crafted farm business plan is crucial for the success and sustainability of your agricultural venture. Whether you’re a small-scale farmer, a family-run farm, or an aspiring agribusiness entrepreneur, our team at Easy Capraise is here to help. We specialize in assisting businesses like yours in finding investors and securing the capital raising you need to bring your farm business to new heights.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to maximize your farm’s potential. Contact us today and let our experts guide you through the process of creating a comprehensive farm business plan that will attract investors and set you on the path to success.

A farm business plan provides a roadmap for your farm’s operations, helping you set goals, make informed decisions, secure funding, and adapt to market conditions.

The time required to create a farm business plan depends on various factors, such as the farm’s complexity and your familiarity with the planning process. It can range from several weeks to a few months.

Using a template as a starting point can be helpful, but ensure that you customize it to reflect your specific farm’s goals, strategies, and financial projections.

Financial projections should include initial investment requirements, projected revenue streams, anticipated expenses, and cash flow statements. It’s crucial to regularly monitor and update these projections to track your farm’s financial performance.

A farm business plan should be regularly reviewed and updated, at least annually or whenever significant changes occur in your farm’s operations, market conditions, or financial situation.

Here’s a guide on how to start a farm business and where to find a sample farm business plan: Identify your farm’s purpose and goals: Determine the type of farming you want to engage in and the specific goals you wish to achieve. This could include crop farming, livestock production, organic farming, or specialized farming practices. Conduct thorough market research: Understand the demand and market potential for your chosen farming niche. Identify your target market, competitors, pricing trends, and any regulatory requirements specific to your area. Determine your farm’s resources: Assess the resources you have available, such as land, capital, equipment, and labor. Determine if you need to acquire additional resources or secure financing for your farm business. Develop a farm business plan: Create a comprehensive business plan that outlines your farm’s mission, vision, and strategies. Include sections on market analysis, production methods, operational plans, marketing and sales strategies, financial projections, and risk management. Seek out sample farm business plans: There are various resources where you can find sample farm business plans to use as templates or references. Consider the following options: a. Online resources: Many agricultural organizations, government agencies, and agricultural universities provide sample farm business plans on their websites. Search for “sample farm business plan” and explore the available resources. b. Local agricultural extension offices: Visit your local agricultural extension office or cooperative extension service. They often have resources, workshops, and sample farm business plans tailored to your specific region.

Seek professional advice: If you need guidance in developing your farm business plan or need assistance customizing a sample plan, consider reaching out to Easycapraise.com.

Developing a comprehensive farm business plan is a vital step toward the success and sustainability of your agricultural venture. By outlining your goals, conducting thorough market research, assessing resources, and creating financial projections, you can create a roadmap that guides your farm’s operations and positions you for long-term success. Remember to regularly review and update your plan to adapt to changing market conditions and seize new opportunities. With a well-developed farm business plan in hand, you can navigate the challenges of the agricultural industry and achieve your desired outcomes.

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In today’s challenging ag environment, knowledge is power.

Farm business management, ranch and farm business management.

Making sound decisions on your farm or ranch is essential to healthy operations, and Pinion's agribusiness advisors maximize those by leveraging our ag-focused resources and farm financial management expertise.

If you need a proactive partner to evaluate and manage your financial and farm-operation options, maximize performance, or uncover threats to profitability, Pinion has the resources, passion (90+ years dedicated to the food and agriculture industry), and expertise – we call it ‘AgKnowledge’ – that produce results.

Turn Your Numbers into Strategic Business Power

At Pinion, our Farm Business Management team understands what it takes to fill your boots every day to manage your farm or ranch operations and help your business thrive. We alleviate workloads by helping with agricultural financial consulting, credit management, crop insurance, economics, equipment trades, farm management, land sales, and risk management.

Pinion consultants can turn your numbers into strategic business power for trustworthy insights, effective decisions, and productive results. We help producers expand, optimize, and transition their businesses with :

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Engrained in the ag industry, our objective is to help farms and ranches not only survive, but  thrive . Contact us for an onsite assessment.

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Agribusiness Industry

To feed the world and drive critical advances in sustainability, the agribusiness industry must adopt new practices while continuing to cultivate its connection to the soil. BCG helps companies across the agriculture value chain prepare for the challenges ahead.

Although its roots date back to the dawn of civilization, the agribusiness industry is anything but antiquated. Modern agriculture businesses are reaching for new strategies, business models, and practices to respond to emerging trends in agribusiness that are reshaping the industry.

BCG has a long history of helping major players throughout the $3 trillion global agribusiness industry value chain in these efforts, including producers of farming equipment, fertilizer, and seed; large farms; commodities traders; food retailers; and agribusiness investors.

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The centerpiece of our agriculture business management consulting work is BCG AgKnowledge, a proprietary suite of tools that provides unparalleled insight and decision support for all types of agribusinesses. AgKnowledge includes:

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Because some agribusiness industry subsectors—such as agricultural chemicals and agriculture equipment—spill over into other areas, BCG’s consultants work closely with the firm’s experts in chemicals and automotive . What’s more, to help agribusiness clients modernize their ways of working, BCG combines digital transformation expertise with knowledge of strategic workforce planning, including adopting agile at scale and future-proofing the workforce.

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Solving the Global Water Crisis in Agriculture

BCG’s Torsten Kurth joins the World Food Programme’s Michael Dunford as they discuss the various ways the agriculture sector can help address the water crisis around the world.

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Fertilizer producers must devise new strategies for a future in which competition for ammonia, their key feedstock, is set to rise dramatically.

The Potential of Regenerative Agriculture in Denmark

Regenerative agriculture is one of the most effective ways to lower Denmark’s CO2e footprint and improve the sustainability of its agriculture sector.

The Untapped Climate Opportunity in Alternative Proteins

Our latest research shows that consumers are embracing alternative proteins and that protein transformation is one of the best tools available to combat the climate crisis.

What the Industrial Goods Workforce Wants

A global survey of 16,600 industrial sector employees reveals changing attitudes about work, what’s important on the job, and the training needed to stay ahead.

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New regulations are pushing farmers and their suppliers to adopt environmental practices. Traditionalists see this as a disruption, but leaders will treat it as an opportunity.

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BCG experts work with large agribusiness players around the world on a variety of projects. Among other things, our agribusiness consulting team helps clients reimagine strategy and business models, adopt new technologies, implement large-scale post-M&A integrations, and identify opportunities for investment.

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You’ve worked hard to create a successful farm or ranch, perhaps even carrying on the legacy of previous generations. Succession and family transition planning is crucial to preserving its future — and yours.

Because this process can feel daunting, complex and sometimes even a little uncomfortable, many farm and ranch owners are reluctant to start the planning process. But this hesitation can cause greater difficulties, even preventing you from achieving your desired results at the time of transition.

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With a deep understanding of the agricultural industry, Wipfli’s succession and family transition planning team offers diverse, specialized knowledge and experience to help you achieve your goals, while making the process easier for you and providing an objective point of view in difficult situations. Here’s how we can help:

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When you evaluate your assets and determine your best strategy long before you’re ready to transfer ownership, you set future generations up for success. Contact Wipfli today to start the planning process.

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Dana Springer provides tax preparation and planning and business consulting services for ag producers. With a strong focus on helping farm and ranch owners with business transition planning, she enjoys helping clients understand tax law, plan for their future, and achieve their goals.

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The fourth annual Agribusiness Industry Survey provides farmers in the Pacific Northwest the ability to benchmark wages, land rents, and employee benefits. The survey focuses on the areas that are most important to the community as communicated to us by our clients and industry partners. Empowered with competitive information, farm owners and managers can make more informed decisions.

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Curtis sawyer, cpa, aldrich cpas + advisors llp.

Curtis Sawyer provides farm accounting, tax compliance, planning, and agribusiness consulting services to his clients in the agriculture industry. He works closely with businesses across several industries with an emphasis in agriculture, farming, cooperatives and food-processing, as well as closely-held businesses and their owners. Curtis also presents on topics including regulatory reform and tax savings... Read more Curtis Sawyer, CPA

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• April 2, 2024

In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, where innovation and competition abound, the guidance of a seasoned expert can be the difference between success and stagnation. Enter the business plan consultant, a professional adept at navigating the complexities of strategic planning and charting a course for business success. In this article, we delve into the pivotal role of a business plan consultant and explore how their expertise can propel aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses alike toward their goals. 

The Essence of Business Plan Consultants  

A business plan consultant is a strategic partner who collaborates with entrepreneurs and business owners to develop comprehensive roadmaps for achieving their objectives. These professionals possess a blend of industry knowledge, financial acumen, and analytical prowess, enabling them to assess market dynamics, identify growth opportunities, and mitigate risks effectively. From startups seeking funding to established enterprises aiming to expand their market presence, business plan consultants offer tailored solutions that align with the unique needs and aspirations of their clients. 

Business plan consultants bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, honed through years of working with a diverse range of clients across various industries. Their deep understanding of market trends , consumer behavior, and competitive landscapes allows them to offer valuable insights and strategic recommendations. By conducting thorough analyses and feasibility studies, business plan consultants help clients make informed decisions and chart a course of action that maximizes their chances of success. 

Moreover, business plan consultants play a crucial role in facilitating communication and alignment among stakeholders. Whether it’s pitching to potential investors, negotiating with lenders, or collaborating with internal teams, these professionals serve as liaisons who bridge the gap between vision and execution. By articulating complex ideas in a clear and compelling manner, business plan consultants ensure that everyone involved is on the same page and working towards common goals. 

Furthermore, business plan consultants are adept at adapting to changing circumstances and navigating uncertainty. In a business environment characterized by volatility and disruption, their agility and resourcefulness are invaluable assets. Whether it’s devising contingency plans, exploring new market opportunities, or recalibrating strategies in response to shifting dynamics, business plan consultants help clients stay ahead of the curve and weather storms with resilience. 

In essence, business plan consultants are trusted advisors who bring clarity, confidence, and direction to the strategic planning process. By leveraging their expertise and collaborative approach, entrepreneurs and business owners can navigate challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and drive sustainable growth. Whether it’s devising a roadmap for a new venture or optimizing the performance of an existing business, the guidance of a business plan consultant can be the key to unlocking success in today’s competitive landscape. 

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey  

For aspiring entrepreneurs embarking on their maiden voyage into the business world, the expertise of a business plan consultant can be invaluable. These professionals provide guidance in refining business ideas, conducting market research, and formulating strategies to secure funding and attract investors. By leveraging their industry insights and experience, business plan consultants empower entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of business ownership with confidence and clarity. 

Maximizing Business Potential   

Even established businesses can benefit from the insights and perspectives of a business plan consultant. Whether faced with challenges such as stagnant growth, market disruptions, or strategic pivots, these consultants offer fresh perspectives and strategic recommendations to optimize business performance. From devising expansion plans and launching new product lines to restructuring operations and enhancing profitability, business plan consultants play a pivotal role in maximizing the potential of businesses across industries. 

Business plan consultants offer a range of services tailored to meet the specific needs and objectives of their clients. Here are some key ways in which they help businesses maximize their potential: 

• Strategic Planning: Business plan consultants assist businesses in developing comprehensive strategic plans that outline clear objectives, priorities, and action steps. By conducting thorough analyses of market trends, competitor strategies, and internal capabilities, they help businesses identify growth opportunities and formulate strategies to capitalize on them. 
• Financial Modeling: Financial projections and modeling are essential components of any business plan. Business plan consultants leverage their financial expertise to create detailed forecasts, cash flow projections, and ROI analyses that enable businesses to make informed decisions about resource allocation, investment priorities, and financial management strategies. 
• Market Research and Analysis: Understanding market dynamics is critical for business success. Business plan consultants conduct in-depth market research and analysis to identify target markets, assess customer needs and preferences, and evaluate competitive landscapes. This information informs strategic decisions related to product development, pricing strategies, and marketing initiatives. 
• Funding and Investment Support: Securing financing and investment is often crucial for business growth and expansion. Business plan consultants assist businesses in preparing compelling funding proposals, pitch decks, and investment memorandums that resonate with investors and lenders. They also provide guidance on valuation methodologies, deal structuring, and negotiation tactics to maximize the likelihood of securing funding on favorable terms. 
• Operational Optimization: Business plan consultants help businesses streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs through process optimization, organizational restructuring, and technology integration. By identifying areas of inefficiency and implementing targeted solutions, they enable businesses to enhance productivity, agility, and competitiveness. 

In summary, business plan consultants serve as strategic partners who help businesses unlock their full potential by providing valuable insights, expertise, and guidance. Whether navigating growth challenges, pursuing new opportunities, or preparing for market disruptions, businesses can benefit significantly from the expertise and support of these consultants. 

The Path to Success  

In conclusion, the role of a business plan consultant extends far beyond the confines of traditional strategic planning. These professionals serve as catalysts for innovation, growth, and resilience in the ever-evolving business landscape. Whether charting the course for a budding startup or steering an established enterprise towards new horizons, business plan consultants are indispensable partners in the pursuit of entrepreneurial success. By harnessing their expertise and collaborative approach, businesses can navigate challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and realize their full potential in the competitive marketplace. 

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I thought having my own office meant I'd 'arrived,' but it was depressing. Here's why open-plan office layouts are best.

• Jennifer Moore has worked in financial services, tech, and SaaS for 20 years. 
• During that time, she's worked in cubicles, open plan offices, and has had her own office spaces.
• The open plan concept is her winner due to the natural light and varying spaces for work. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Jennifer Moore, 43, from Salt Lake City, about her experience working in different office spaces. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was a summer intern with a small desk in a hallway when my career began in 2003.

There was another intern who had her own cubicle with high walls that kind of looked like a mini office. I really loved my makeshift workspace, but I'll be honest — I was jealous. It was like I was an afterthought.

I've spent 10 years in financial services , where I worked in everything from high-walled cubicles to open office floor plans to eventually having my very own office. I also spent 10 years in B2B tech and software-as-a-service companies , where there's nothing but open office plans.

Cubicles are good for deep work and privacy, but they can be isolating

I've found that the true cube farm — with four high walls and a doorway — can be really helpful for deep work and conducting short one-on-ones.

I think privacy is another pro. In 2006, when I was working at Wells Fargo , I received an email telling me someone I was very close to in high school had died. I remember having a very loud reaction. My co-workers heard me but didn't necessarily see me burst into tears. It was a blessing to have a bit more privacy at that moment.

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The cons of cubicles is that they were somewhat isolating. There was no sunlight. The executives and leaders all got these fantastic offices that had windows, so you could tell immediately who the head honchos were.

Having my own office was depressing and soul-crushing

Having your own office is associated with prestige and privacy, but my first experience of this was horrible.

In 2015, I thought I had arrived. I had officially made it into product management at a financial services company and was given my very own office with a door. I had a furniture budget and everything, but I was absolutely miserable.

There was no natural light, only dim fluorescent lights, so I'd try to get out in the sunlight every day. There wasn't any foot traffic passing by my area because it was in a weird corner. It was isolating — I could go an entire day and not see or talk to a soul if I wanted to.

It was really depressing and soul-crushing.

One thing I would say is, at the time, I was doing some physical therapy, and it was really nice to be able to shut the door and close the shade on my tiny window so I could do stretches in complete privacy.

I learned that the overall workplace environment is more important to me than whether I had achieved having my own office.

You can say you believe in teamwork and collaboration but if you haven't designed an office space that encourages this, people are going to struggle to embrace it daily.

I think open-office plans are the clear winner, as they allow for different types of work

After I left my previous company in December 2023, I decided to focus full-time on my own consulting business.

I work in a coworking space for a company I consult for. It has an open floor plan with several conference rooms, telephone booths, and seating areas.

I think open office plans are the clear winner in a modern workplace, but their weaknesses should be augmented by using aspects of cubicle design that allow for areas of privacy and for different types of work.

Managers still need privacy. In a place where I worked recently, an executive would regularly conduct all their one-on-ones in the open seating area, and several people commented how awkward it was to hear highly personal information being discussed on a daily basis.

In open-floor plans, you can find spaces for deep work, collaboration, and large and small meetings. They can have soundproof booths in a hallway for privacy. Cubicles take up so much real estate, making it hard to create these options.

Another pro of open floor plans is natural light. I've noticed that in newer buildings, everyone has access to sunlight, rather than just the senior and executive leaders in their offices.

Watch: How a 'hoarder's house' is deep cleaned

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Michigan residents, businesses plan celebrations for 'once in a lifetime' solar eclipse

Customers who watch next week's total eclipse from the Mayfly Tavern in Toledo will be treated to a smorgasbord of solar-themed junk food: Starbursts, Sun Chips, Moon Pies and, if they're of age, pints of Blue Moon.

The tavern is hosting a watch party on April 8, the day much of Ohio and a corner of Michigan will be dimmed by a solar eclipse. Owner Lindsay Curley is offering up the sunny snack fare for anyone who stops to watch at the bar, which is less than two miles from the Ohio-Michigan border.

"I think, and I hope, that we'll have a lot of people," Curley said with a chuckle. "I don't know what to expect."

She can expect it to become dark outside, like at dusk. A total solar eclipse is a phenomenon in which the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, fully blocking the face of the sun, according to NASA.

The eclipse will slice across North America, including a wide swath of Ohio and a small section of southeast Michigan's Monroe County, making it a short drive for many Michiganians who want to see it.

Communities in the path of totality are preparing for a surge of visitors that day. David Thornbury, marketing director of the Sandusky County Visitors Bureau, said the Ohio county about 40 miles southeast of Toledo is expecting 118,000 visitors for the total eclipse. The area hasn't experienced a total eclipse since 1806.

"So we've got a really truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Ohio," Thornbury said. "We have been planning for about a year and a half, two years now. Making preparations to get people in and out of our area safely, to make sure that our businesses and gas stations and banks, restaurants are prepared for the surge of increased business."

Thornbury said some of the businesses are taking the event more seriously as it approaches, ordering additional food, scheduling more staff and offering eclipse-inspired food and drinks. Some museums and national parks are planning to host eclipse-viewing events as well, which could draw thousands of people.

"Things are getting close, and we're seeing how many people are calling and talking about it on social media," Thornbury said. "It's becoming more real. And I think more people are realizing that, yeah, it's really going to happen."

Michiganians who stay home will be able to view a partial solar eclipse on April 8. In Detroit, the sun will be 99.4% eclipsed at 3:14 p.m. that day. While this is different from a total eclipse, when the sun is 100% covered, University of Michigan astrophysicist David Gerdes said it will be noticeably dimmer in Michigan's largest city. It will be like an overcast day, he said, but it won't appear like twilight.

Michigan's eclipse central

In the small Monroe County town of Luna Pier, however, the sun will be covered for about 20 to 30 seconds and only in a portion of the city, Gerdes said. Spectators in Luna Pier, which sits along the western edge of Lake Erie, will see more light on the horizon to the north than people more central to the eclipse's path.

"It's right at the edge, so it will be extremely brief," he said. "But for those 20 or so seconds, the experience of totality will be pretty much the same as it will be for people who are further into the shadow. You'll see the corona. You'll be able to notice Venus and Jupiter in the daytime sky. You'll see the colors of twilight."

The eclipse will reach totality in Luna Pier at 3:13 p.m., the National Solar Observatory's eclipse map says.

Jack Lucarelli, owner of Luna Pier Beach Café on Luna Pier Road, said his business will open earlier than normal that day — at noon instead of 5 p.m.

"We expect extreme business," he said.

The café has been getting Facebook messages from people wanting to reserve tables for the eclipse, including a teacher who wanted to bring her photography class. Luna Pier Beach Café doesn't take reservations, so tables will be first come, first serve.

Lucarelli will have extra staff working that day. It will be "basically all hands on deck," he said.

Pier Inn in Luna Pier has about 10 of its 50 rooms booked for the night before the eclipse as of late March . Owner Danny Talwar said he expects some people to walk in looking for lodging.

People usually come to Luna Pier during the warmer months for the lighthouse and the marina, Talwar said. The solar eclipse in April will be a small boost for his business, he said.

"Otherwise, Sunday or Monday is kind of quiet for us," he said.

Michiganians travel to see eclipse

Tracy, Tim and Nick Padot of DeWitt are going to a resort in Sandusky, Ohio, to see the eclipse. They looked at a map of the eclipse's path and landed on Sandusky, where they could visit a waterpark before the celestial show.

The trip to see the eclipse is worth it because of how rare it is and because of Nick's interest in astrophotography, Tracy Padot said. Last year, she and her husband bought 13-year-old Nick a Celestron telescope for his birthday.

"Literally, I can't tell you how many nights he is out at 2 in the morning in the backyard with the telescope, taking pictures of all the things," she said.

They wanted to encourage their son's interest and give him a chance to see the eclipse, Tracy Padot said.

"I'm feeling great," Nick said. "I really can't wait to go."

Bob Trembley of Clinton Township is taking his family to the National Museum of the United States Air Force outside Dayton, Ohio, to watch the eclipse. The museum is hosting an eclipse viewing event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 8 that will offer educational activities, a raffle and a science- and eclipse-themed storytime.

"I'm excited, and I'm thrilled to be taking my granddaughter to it," Trembley said. "She's 4 years old. I'm not really sure she's going to know what's going on, but hopefully she remembers something."

Trembley, president of the Warren Astronomical Society, is "pumped" for the trip. He's never seen a solar eclipse. He's going to multitask while he's at the museum by manning a Warren Astronomy Society table with displays and a meteorite collection.

The air force museum is planning an eclipse viewing event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 8, said Taylor Gentry, special events manager. Visitors can participate in hands-on educational activities, join a raffle and hear stories pertaining to the eclipse.

Gentry said the museum's campus at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will open at 7 a.m. April 8. The museum itself opens at 9 a.m. The event is free and requires no registration.

Since the event is in southwest Ohio, there's a "high chance of cloudy weather," she warned. The museum will show a livestream of the eclipse in Texas so visitors can watch it no matter the weather in Dayton.

"But we are planning for good weather and 30,000 people," she said.

How to watch from the sky

For some, viewing a total eclipse from the ground isn't enough. For those wanting to watch it from the sky, Delta Airlines is offering a special flight from Austin to Detroit for eclipse chasers to spend as much time as possible within the path of totality.

A first flight from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Detroit Metro Airport on April 8 sold out in 24 hours, so Delta added a second flight from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Detroit Metro Airport. As of Friday, there were still a small number of seats left for a second flight, according to the airline.

Ohio businesses prepare

Metro Detroiters could jaunt down Interstate 75 to Toledo, about 60-90 minutes south, to watch the eclipse. Totality will last anywhere from less than 30 seconds to two minutes there, depending on the location, according to a National Solar Observatory map.

Mayfly Tavern is next to Cullen Park on Lake Erie, a likely eclipse-watching place. In addition to offering solar-themed junk food, the tavern will have other eclipse-related specials and is making T-shirts that take a spin on its normal slogan of "Stay Fly." The front of the eclipse-themed shirt has the sun peeking from behind the tavern's logo. The back of the shirt will say "Totally Fly" in honor of the eclipse.

Earnest Brew Works' south Toledo location is running a watch party at 2 p.m. on April 8, co-owner Scot Yarnell said. It will have specialty beers in honor of the eclipse, including one called Sun-Day, a variation of its popular Crunchy Hippie beer.

Yarnell predicts the brewery won't be busy during the eclipse, as people can watch it from anywhere.

"It's just so easy to see," he said. Even if you're stuck in traffic, you're going to see it. It's everywhere."

Other areas of Ohio are further into the path of totality than Toledo and will experience the total eclipse for longer. Upper Sandusky, about 70 miles south of Toledo off U.S. 23, will see totality for almost four minutes.

Kelsey Stief, owner of restaurant Fort88 in Upper Sandusky, was nervous at first about the expected deluge of eclipse-viewing visitors. As visitor estimates have dropped, she's more confident that she can accommodate everyone.

Fort88 will have a big party Sunday night, April 7, in celebration of the eclipse with live music, tarot card readings, solar-inspired jewelry sales and food and drink specials — color-changing cocktails with edible glitter "kind of like the night sky," Stief said. The restaurant is typically closed Mondays, but on April 8 it will offer brunch until noon and then close so staff can enjoy the cosmic event.

"A year ago, when this originally came out, they were talking about having 40,000 people descend on our town, and that's a lot of people for a town population of 6,600 people to handle," she said. "But now they're only expecting our population to double, which is much more manageable because we only have so many resources."

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