Goat Farming Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Goat Farming Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Goat Farming business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Goat Farms.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Goat Farming business plan.

Executive Summary

Business Overview

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm, located outside of Des Moines, Iowa, is a registered and licensed goat farming company. The company operates a 50 acre farm that is home to over 100 goats. The goats are raised in an all-natural environment- no antibiotics, hormones, steroids – and all animals are grass-fed. Pleasant Hill Goat Farm is also fully equipped with the latest technology and equipment used in the goat farming industry.

The farm produces quality goat meats and milk products that we sell to local residents, wholesalers, and retailers. Local residents who want to visit the farm and meet the goats can schedule a tour with us. We also allow residents to reserve the farm for their wedding or other special occasion for a fee.

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm is founded and run byTerry Jones. Terry has been a goat farm operations manager for the past ten years, so he has in-depth knowledge and experience running a business in this industry. Terry will run the general operations and administrative functions of the company and hire other employees to manage the sales and day-to-day operations.

 

Product Offering

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will be involved in the commercial breeding of goats to provide milk, cheese, and meat.

In addition to the sale of these products, the company will also offer tours of the farm for a small fee. This allows local residents to learn more about the goat farming industry and meet our goats in person. Anyone who is interested in making this serene farm the setting to their special event can reserve the farm for a fee.

 

Customer Focus

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will target all residents living in Des Moines, Iowa and the surrounding areas. We will also target supermarkets, restaurants, and other retailers who are interested in selling our products to the public.

 

Management Team

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm’s most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, Terry Jones. Terry has been a goat farm operations manager for the past ten years, so he has in-depth knowledge and experience running a business in this industry. Terry will run the general operations and administrative functions of the company and hire other employees to manage the sales and day-to-day operations.

 

Success Factors

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

  • Management: The company’s management team has years of business and marketing experience that allows them to market and serve customers in an improved and sophisticated manner than the competitors.
  • Relationships: Having lived in the community for ten years, Terry Jones knows all of the local leaders, media, and other influencers. As such, it will be relatively easy for Pleasant Hill Goat Farm to build brand awareness and an initial customer base.
  • Quality products at affordable pricing Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will provide quality products at affordable pricing, as it has high-quality equipment and uses the latest techniques.
  • Good Packaging: Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will utilize product-oriented packaging materials that can reduce the damage in the products at the time of supply.
  • Attractive Farm Setting: Pleasant Hill Goat Farm offers a uniquely attractive setting that will encourage residents to visit for a tour or schedule a special event at the farm.

 

Financial Highlights

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm is currently seeking $750,000 to start the company. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the farm land and purchasing the necessary equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing costs for the farm. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Land and Equipment: $250,000
  • Goat Care Supplies: $100,000
  • Overhead Costs: $100,000
  • Three Months of Overhead Expenses (Payroll, Rent, Utilities): $150,000
  • Marketing Costs: $50,000
  • Working Capital: $100,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Pleasant Hill Goat Farm.

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm Financial Projections

 

Company Overview

Who is Pleasant Hill Goat Farm?

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm, located outside of Des Moines, Iowa, is a registered and licensed goat farming company. The company operates a 50 acre farm that is home to over 100 goats. The goats are raised in an all-natural environment- no antibiotics, hormones, steroids – and all animals are grass-fed. Pleasant Hill Goat Farm is also fully equipped with the latest technology and equipment used in the goat farming industry.

 
The farm produces quality goat meats and milk products that we sell to local residents, wholesalers, and retailers. Local residents who want to visit the farm and meet the goats can schedule a tour with us. We also allow residents to reserve the farm for their wedding or other special occasion for a fee.

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm is founded and run byTerry Jones. Terry has been a goat farm operations manager for the past ten years, so he has in-depth knowledge and experience running a business in this industry. Terry will run the general operations and administrative functions of the company and hire other employees to manage the sales and day-to-day operations.

 

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm History

Terry Jones is an entrepreneur with a passion for goat farming. He has worked in the industry for ten years and is eager to start a farm of his own. Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will become a recognized goat farming company, ensuring a continuous supply of goat milk, meat, and cheese Des Moines, Iowa and beyond.

Terry incorporated Pleasant Hill Goat Farm on March 1st, 2023. Terry has selected a farm location and is currently undergoing due diligence to ensure it is up to code to raise goats.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

  • Found a farm location
  • Developed the company’s name, logo, and website
  • Determined supply requirements
  • Began recruiting key employees

 

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm Services

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will be involved in the commercial breeding of goats to provide milk, cheese, and meat.

In addition to the sale of these products, the company will also offer tours of the farm for a small fee. This allows local residents to learn more about the goat farming industry and meet our goats in person. Anyone who is interested in making this serene farm the setting to their special event can reserve the farm for a fee.

 

Industry Analysis

Demand for goat meat and goat milk products has increased in recent years. The general public has been looking for alternatives to cow milk, and for many, goat milk makes the best substitution. With an increase in demand, there will be a greater need for goat farms across the U.S. in the near future.

This demand is not expected to slow down anytime soon. For example, the goat milk industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.7% over the next 10 years. This substantial growth shows that goat farms are needed more than ever to keep up with demand. Therefore, this is a great time to establish a new goat farm to provide residents with all their goat meat and dairy needs.

 

Customer Analysis

Demographic Profile of Target Market

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will primarily serve local residents and retailers of goat dairy products and meat within a 30-mile radius of the farm. These businesses typically gross from $5 million to $10 million in annual revenues and source their supplies from within a 30-mile radius of their facilities.

The precise demographics for Des Moines, Iowa are:

TotalPercent
    Total population1,680,988100%
        Male838,67549.9%
        Female842,31350.1%
        20 to 24 years114,8726.8%
        25 to 34 years273,58816.3%
        35 to 44 years235,94614.0%
        45 to 54 years210,25612.5%
        55 to 59 years105,0576.2%
        60 to 64 years87,4845.2%
        65 to 74 years116,8787.0%
        75 to 84 years52,5243.1%

 

Customer Segmentation

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will primarily target the following customer profiles:

  • Residents
  • Grocery Stores
  • Local Residents

 

Competitive Analysis

Direct and Indirect Competitors

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

 

Oak Tree Farms

Oak Tree Farms is one of the large-scale goat farms in the US, owning an 8,000 ha area. It has well-established relationships with local retailers and has been in business for 32 years. Oak Tree Farms offers good quality goat dairy products and meat. It also has automated equipment and machines, which helps in improving its operations. Moreover, it is also known for delivering large orders at the right time without delay. However, Oak Tree Farms does not care properly for its goats, which has tarnished its reputation in recent years.

 

Farmer Joe’s Goats

Farmer Joe’s Goats has been operating since 1995 and is a well-known company that provides good quality goat meat with affordable pricing. It primarily targets local companies and retailers and has a large distribution network that can serve customers up to a 500-mile radius. Farmer Joe’s Goats also has a very effective distribution and supply chain network. However, Farmer Joe’s Goats offerings are only limited to goat meat.

 

Goats USA

Goats USA has been in business for the past ten years and enjoys great success. It is one of the largest goat meat and dairy producers in the region. It easily caters to local residents primarily due to its prime location. It provides multiple goat meat and dairy products, including milk and cheese.

 

Competitive Advantage

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

  • Management: The company’s management team has years of business and marketing experience that allows them to market and serve customers in an improved and sophisticated manner than the competitors.
  • Relationships: Having lived in the community for ten years, Terry Jones knows all of the local leaders, media, and other influencers. As such, it will be relatively easy for Pleasant Hill Goat Farm to build brand awareness and an initial customer base.
  • Quality products at affordable pricing: Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will provide quality products at affordable pricing, as it has high-quality equipment and uses the latest techniques.
  • Good Packaging: Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will utilize product-oriented packaging materials that can reduce the damage in the products at the time of supply.
  • Attractive Farm Setting: Pleasant Hill Goat Farm offers a uniquely attractive setting that will encourage residents to visit for a tour or schedule a special event at the farm.

 

Marketing Plan

Brand & Value Proposition

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

  • Ethically sourced goat meat and dairy products
  • Good packaging
  • Quality products at affordable pricing
  • Providing excellent customer service
  • Offering a serene and beautiful rural setting for tours and special events

 

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Pleasant Hill Goat Farm is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

Social media is one of the most cost-effective and practical marketing methods for improving brand visibility. The company will use social media to develop engaging content, such as sharing pictures of the goats and creating educational content about the goat farm industry.

Website/SEO

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will develop a professional website that showcases pictures of the farm and the goats. It will also invest in SEO so that the company’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Terry Jones has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by living and working in the midwestern farming industry. Since a number of local goat farms have ceased operations, they have committed to Terry that Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will be their goat supplier. They trust his work ethic and commitment to the local community.

Billboard

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will highlight our location, goats, and products on a major billboard facing the busiest highway in town. The billboard will provide the location of Pleasant Hill Goat Farm and the website URL.

 

Pricing

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm’s pricing will be moderate, so customers feel they receive great value when availing of the products. Pricing will be about 50% lower than retail prices to allow wholesalers and retailers to earn their margins.

 

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Pleasant Hill Goat Farm.

Operation Functions:

  • Terry Jones will be the Owner and President of the company. He will oversee all staff and manage client relations. Terry, along with Sue, has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
  • Sue Smith – will oversee all administrative aspects of running the goat farm. This will include bookkeeping, tax payments, and payroll of the staff.
  • George Baird – Head Farmhand who will oversee the farming staff and day to day operations.
  • Ben Brown – Assistant Farmhand who will assist George.
  • Frank White – Distribution Manager who will oversee the packaging and distribution of all goat products.

 

Milestones:

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

  • 6/202X – Finalize purchase of farm land
  • 7/202X – Purchase farm equipment, supplies and materials
  • 8/202X – Finalize contracts for grocery store, chain, and restaurant clients
  • 9/202X – Purchase initial set of goats
  • 10/202X – Hire and train farm staff
  • 11/202X – Pleasant Hill Goat Farm begins farm operations

 

Management Team

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm’s most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, Terry Jones. Terry has been a goat farm operations manager for the past ten years, so he has in-depth knowledge and experience running a business in this industry. Terry will run the general operations and administrative functions of the company and hire other employees to manage the sales and day-to-day operations.

 

Financial Plan

Key Revenue & Costs

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm’s revenues will come from the sales of goat meat and dairy products to its customers. The major costs for the company will be the cost of land and equipment. The staff will earn competitive salaries allowing Pleasant Hill Goat Farm to hire experienced workers. In the initial years, the company’s marketing spend will be high, as it establishes itself in the market.

 

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Pleasant Hill Goat Farm is currently seeking $750,000 to start the company. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the farm land and purchasing the necessary equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing costs for the farm. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Land and Equipment: $250,000
  • Goat Care Supplies: $100,000
  • Overhead Costs: $100,000
  • Three Months of Overhead Expenses (Payroll, Rent, Utilities): $150,000
  • Marketing Costs: $50,000
  • Working Capital: $100,000

 

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.

  • Number of Goats: 100
  • Average Revenue per Animal: $200
  • Number of Products Sold Per Year: 100,000

 

Financial Projections

Income Statement
FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
Revenues
Total Revenues$360,000$793,728$875,006$964,606$1,063,382
Expenses & Costs
Cost of goods sold$64,800$142,871$157,501$173,629$191,409
Lease$50,000$51,250$52,531$53,845$55,191
Marketing$10,000$8,000$8,000$8,000$8,000
Salaries$157,015$214,030$235,968$247,766$260,155
Initial expenditure$10,000$0$0$0$0
Total Expenses & Costs$291,815$416,151$454,000$483,240$514,754
EBITDA$68,185 $377,577 $421,005 $481,366 $548,628
Depreciation$27,160$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
EBIT$41,025 $350,417 $393,845$454,206$521,468
Interest$23,462$20,529 $17,596 $14,664 $11,731
PRETAX INCOME$17,563 $329,888 $376,249 $439,543 $509,737
Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Use of Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Taxable Income$17,563$329,888$376,249$439,543$509,737
Income Tax Expense$6,147$115,461$131,687$153,840$178,408
NET INCOME$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703 $331,329
Balance Sheet
FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
ASSETS
Cash$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286
Accounts receivable$0$0$0$0$0
Inventory$30,000$33,072$36,459$40,192$44,308
Total Current Assets$184,257$381,832$609,654$878,742$1,193,594
Fixed assets$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950
Depreciation$27,160$54,320$81,480$108,640 $135,800
Net fixed assets$153,790 $126,630 $99,470 $72,310 $45,150
TOTAL ASSETS$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Debt$315,831$270,713$225,594$180,475 $135,356
Accounts payable$10,800$11,906$13,125$14,469 $15,951
Total Liability$326,631 $282,618 $238,719 $194,944 $151,307
Share Capital$0$0$0$0$0
Retained earnings$11,416 $225,843 $470,405 $756,108$1,087,437
Total Equity$11,416$225,843$470,405$756,108$1,087,437
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744
Cash Flow Statement
FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Net Income (Loss)$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703$331,329
Change in working capital($19,200)($1,966)($2,167)($2,389)($2,634)
Depreciation$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
Net Cash Flow from Operations$19,376 $239,621 $269,554 $310,473 $355,855
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS
Investment($180,950)$0$0$0$0
Net Cash Flow from Investments($180,950)$0$0$0$0
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING
Cash from equity$0$0$0$0$0
Cash from debt$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow from Financing$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow$154,257$194,502 $224,436 $265,355$310,736
Cash at Beginning of Period$0$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550
Cash at End of Period$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286

Goat Farming Business Plan FAQs

A goat farming business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your goat farming business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Goat Farming business plan using our Goat Farming Business Plan Template here.

There are a number of different kinds of goat farming businesses, some examples include: Milk and dairy production, Meat production, Fleece farm, and Miniature goat farm.

Goat Farming businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

Starting a goat farming business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Goat Farming Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed goat farming business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your goat farming business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your goat farming business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Goat Farming Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your goat farming business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your goat farming business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Goat Farming Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your goat farming business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your goat farming business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.Â