Tomato business: profitability, equipment, initial capital

The tomato or tomato is one of the most valuable vegetable crops (although technically it is a berry), in addition, it has a bright taste. Despite the relative high cost, this product is in stable demand among the population, so growing tomatoes as a business will always be profitable. However, the profitability of an enterprise largely depends on the organization of production and the establishment of distribution channels, because even a product in demand must be able to be conveyed to the end consumer.

Relevance of farming business

Currently, such a branch of the economy as small business is developing at a rapid pace. It is difficult to imagine today's life without entertainment centers, supermarkets, cinemas, cafes, and restaurants. All these establishments belong to private entrepreneurs and bring them considerable income. There are very, very many directions in small business. The most common and profitable are the following: opening your own store, that is, trade, service and entertainment, and farming. The latter occupies a special place.

Today, fewer and fewer people around the world are engaged in agriculture, and not because it is not profitable. The reasons for this are varied. We live in a world in which genetic engineering is successfully developing. The foods we eat are harmful to our health. But they are cheaper and can be bought at any store. People began to eat less and less fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat. This is of great importance, since human health, according to scientists, depends 25% on the quality of nutrition. Let's take a closer look at how to organize your own tomato business.

Advantages of growing tomatoes as a business

Farms with competent organization of production and an established customer base bring a stable, although not entirely high, income. As in any field, the agricultural industry has products that bring the greatest profit. Tomatoes belong to this category, and their attractiveness for business is determined by the following factors:

Even in the summer, when many people have their own harvest ripening at their dachas, the price of tomatoes remains higher than other vegetables. In winter, the cost increases several times, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to earn even more money.
fresh vegetables are in stable demand among the population. The average consumer spends about 30% of their income on food, so growing tomatoes in a greenhouse as a business will always be a relevant enterprise
the initial costs of organizing production are the same as when growing other greenhouse plants, but the maximum margin is obtained from the sale of tomatoes

After tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, as well as various greens: dill, parsley, celery, etc., can be profitable products for subsequent production and sale. However, tomatoes, although they are cheaper, are part of the daily diet, and the target audience of consumers of this product is significantly wider.

Selecting a location, registration, documents

If you want to organize your own tomato growing business, then first of all you need to decide on the size of the future farm. This could be a small subsidiary farm that can be organized on your own plot of land. In this case, you will not need to register with the local tax service and obtain various permits for the right to engage in entrepreneurial activities. If you plan to create a large vegetable farm, then you first need to register with the local tax service by paying a state fee. Then you need to collect some documents. If, in addition to the land, a room is built, for example, for storing vegetables, then permits from the sanitary and fire services will be required.

It is advisable to register as an individual entrepreneur. The business plan of the farm must include the choice of location for it. It is advisable to locate it outside the city or in the countryside. There should be no other farms of this type nearby, this is very important because of the great competition. If your land plot is small, then you need to rent additional land. You can calculate the area by knowing the volumes of the proposed plants. The land must be fertile. It is very important that there is a source of water nearby, as tomatoes require periodic watering, especially during periods of drought.

Download the business plan template and you can easily:

Independently calculate all indicators of the greenhouse operation and soberly assess the feasibility of launching the project.
It is beneficial to present your idea to representatives of local governments to receive possible subsidies, as well as to commercial banks, including Rosselkhozbank.
Competently bring the project to the stage of commercial operation and work closely with it in ongoing activities: planning, budgeting, etc.

On a long journey, the hardest thing is to take the first step, but if you have a good business plan, then you have reliable protection and support. Take the first step now.

The value of tomatoes for the body

Tomatoes are a very common vegetable in Russia. For many decades, people have been growing them along with cucumbers in their dachas and gardens. Tomatoes contain enough vitamins, a large amount of fiber and pectin, which are necessary for the human body for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Tomatoes can be used to make various dishes. They are standard snacks in many restaurants and cafes. Tomatoes are highly valued when preparing homemade preparations for the winter in the form of canned vegetables.

These products are in great demand on the market, but the quality of tomatoes does not always meet the requirements. An interesting fact is that some scientists classify tomatoes not as vegetables, but as fruits, since they are close in structure to them. Due to all of the above, the tomato business is very promising and profitable.

Well, it’s time for the harvest

And now the most interesting and enjoyable part - harvesting. I’ll tell you right away about those “rakes” thanks to which I started selling tomatoes. The first year of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse - 60 roots of some large-fruited ones. Now imagine: a good year, an excellent harvest and, starting in July, 3-4 buckets of ripe tomatoes every other day. At first everything is fine, we eat and enjoy. We use adjika, tomato juice, and ketchup for the winter.

But little by little the family begins to grumble: “You’ve completely fed us tomatoes.” Next - what was enough imagination at that moment: I treat relatives, neighbors, friends, work colleagues. She treated me to buckets - well, don’t throw it away! Everyone was happy, everyone had a delicious meal.

Then one good friend treated his friend to my harvest. He called me and offered to sell all the surplus to him: they say, he had never eaten such beauty and deliciousness. So I did. I sold it in buckets, he came and took 2-4 buckets at once.

Rules for caring for tomatoes

Tomatoes, like other domestic crops, need care. This is primarily watering. They need to be watered as the soil becomes dry, but at least once a week. Experienced farmers recommend watering them at the root with large volumes of water, but not often. This technique helps strengthen the root system, its growth and branching. If you water the tomatoes very often, the root system will be weak, and the plant will not be able to extract moisture from the deep layers. All this can affect the harvest. In addition to watering, protection from unfavorable environmental conditions is also necessary. To maintain optimal growth, they need a certain temperature, air humidity and protection from wind and precipitation. Greenhouses or greenhouses are used for this purpose. You can make them yourself, you just need time and material. If financial possibilities are small, then you can plant them in open ground.

Buying seedlings and growing tomatoes

A tomato business is a fairly simple undertaking, but it also requires some effort and patience. To organize your own tomato business, you need to purchase seedlings. It is sold on the regular market in the spring, and its cost is low. On average, one plant costs 10-20 rubles. You need to buy only the most popular varieties, those that have the best qualities. Good tomatoes should have thick skin, large size, and a sugary taste. Some varieties can have up to 50 or even 100 tomatoes on a plant at a time. The harvest from such varieties can be very large.

The most popular and valuable varieties of tomatoes are: ox heart, sugar bison. Cherry-type varieties are very highly valued, when the branches are strewn with many small, red tomatoes. They are very good to grow for canning, but they are not suitable for business. It is better to grow them in large greenhouses. You need to plant strong plants, it is advisable to maintain a distance of 30-40 cm between them so that the branches do not intertwine with each other. Tomatoes need to be fertilized. For this, humus or manure is used. All this greatly affects the harvest, so there is no need to save on it.

Possible profits and expenses

A tomato business, unlike other farming businesses, does not require large initial capital. If you plan to open a large farm, then most of the money will be spent on renting land and premises. The room can be residential or be a small vegetable storage area. If hired workers work on the farm, you will have to pay them wages. On average, it will be 15-20 thousand per month per person. To sell vegetables you will need transport. It can be a truck or a passenger car.

To water the plants you will need watering hoses, a water supply, and the like. But despite all this, in one season you can recoup all the initial investments. Some experienced farmers harvest up to several kilograms of tomatoes from 1 bush; you can easily calculate what the profit will be from 1000 bushes. One kg of tomatoes in the warm season costs from 30 to 100 rubles. You can donate vegetables to both retail outlets and restaurants. In the first case, the purchase price will be very low, so it is not profitable.

Required equipment and personnel

In small farm greenhouses it is better to grow tomatoes in the ground. Their taste qualities are much higher, which allows them to sell products at a good margin.

The greenhouse must be equipped with a ventilation system and automatic drip irrigation. Tomatoes are sensitive to humidity levels, but do not like stagnant water in the soil. On hot days, shading is required using special curtains that cover the southern side of the greenhouse.

The heating system may vary. Industrial greenhouses are heated using built-in boilers and pipes laid underground. Farm structures can be heated with air heaters, potbelly stoves and even fires. The use of biofuel from a mixture of rotted manure and straw will also help.

To maintain the desired microclimate in winter, open tanks with diluted mullein are installed in the greenhouse. Evaporation activates the process of photosynthesis, which is necessary for good fruiting.

Tomatoes in a greenhouse need light, nutritious soil, into which complex mineral fertilizers are regularly applied. A fertilizing mixture of superphosphate, potassium salt and ammonium nitrate is applied every two weeks. Lack of nutrients slows down the formation of ovaries and ripening of fruits.

A tomato business does not require large initial investments. All you may need is equipment for watering plants, containers for harvesting and storing crops, and a greenhouse. The number of workers depends on the size of the land. If a large farm is opened, then, of course, one cannot cope here alone; several people will be needed. The tomato business is most suitable for families or single people, as it takes a lot of time.