Year-round cultivation of cucumbers as a highly profitable business. Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse (business plan)

The category of highly profitable business activity includes our own year-round production of popular agricultural products in the form of vegetables. Such a business is based on knowledge of basic agricultural techniques, as well as a targeted study of the sales market and demand for the products grown.

Business relevance

Growing cucumbers in greenhouses can be considered a fairly profitable business, allowing you to earn a fairly decent income. Heated areas help ensure optimal climatic conditions for almost year-round, consistently high yields of these popular vegetables.

It is most advisable to engage in growing cucumbers in a greenhouse as a business in the Central, Volga and Southern regions. However, the use of modern greenhouse structures and growing technologies makes it possible to grow vegetables even in the conditions of the Siberian region.

Paperwork

The organizational and legal forms for doing business in the field of growing vegetables can include private household plots and peasant farms.
The first option is the most preferable for starting a business, as it allows you to be exempt from tax payments, and in addition there is no need to obtain permits and certify the products grown.

Obtaining the status of owner of a private plot is preceded by the acquisition or lease of a land plot from the category of agricultural land, the total area of ​​which does not exceed 2 hectares. Next, you should obtain a document from the territorial government authorities confirming the existence of a plot and the possibility of growing vegetable products in the form of cucumbers on it.

Registration as an individual entrepreneur is relevant when owning a large plot of land and an impressive volume of vegetables grown with the creation of an extensive retail network for the sale of products. Certification of products and obtaining a declaration of conformity for vegetables sold are required.

Partnership management of such a business allows you to register a peasant farm with tax benefits and government subsidies.
In the case of conducting business as a peasant farm or individual entrepreneur, it is advisable to choose the Unified Agricultural Tax form of taxation, which allows you to be exempt from property and profit taxes, and also not pay VAT. The choice of a tax rate of 6% promotes the use of net income for tax deductions. The main OKVED code used is 01.12.1.
Vegetable products transported for the purpose of sale to the territory of another region are subject to mandatory certification and declaration.

Purchase of equipment

Developing a standard business plan for growing cucumbers involves entering all the data required for the use of greenhouse equipment.
To equip a small area of ​​land with a modern greenhouse, the following equipment is most often used:

• “Novator-Premium” design at a price of 1.7 thousand rubles per sq. m. meter;
• “Farmer” design at a price of 1.5 thousand rubles per sq. m. meter.
• for heating the soil Green BoxAgro GBA-1480 at a price of 4.4 thousand rubles;
• for space heating KChM-5k-03-M at a price of 35 thousand rubles;
• artificial lighting Ledgrowlight 90w-UFO at a price of 7 thousand rubles;
• rational automatic watering system “Kapel” at a price of 3.5 thousand rubles.

Equipping areas from 500 sq. meters is produced using the following equipment:

• "Farmer" design 420 sq. meters with a total cost of 650 thousand rubles;
• Green BoxAgro GBA-1480 ground heating system with a total cost of 122 thousand rubles;
• heating boiler KChM-5k-03-M with a total cost of 70 thousand rubles;
• artificial lighting lamps Ledgrowlight 90w-UFO with a total cost of 580 thousand rubles;
• rational automatic irrigation system “Kapel” with a total cost of 31 thousand rubles.

In addition, it is quite profitable to use special platforms for harvesting the POU-2, UPNS-10, PNSSH-12 and TNA-40 series.

Hiring staff

Individual entrepreneurs who are starting this profitable and interesting business can do the maintenance of a single greenhouse structure on their own or hire an assistant to carry out the work. Expansion of the area and greenhouse facilities involves hiring five workers.
Processing one hectare of land requires the involvement of a manager, a technologist and three workers. The business plan should reflect not only the work hours of greenhouse personnel, but also the wages of all employees involved in the production process.

Sales of vegetable products

A modern and well-equipped greenhouse facility on a plot of land with an area of ​​five hundred square meters, used for the vegetable growing business, allows us to produce about 38 tons of green cucumbers, which requires a responsible approach to the sale of such perishable products.

The most preferred distribution channels can be represented by large wholesale warehouses, indoor vegetable markets, a network of hypermarkets or stable intermediary companies. A fairly promising way of sales is direct sales at the place where vegetables are grown and collected.
A stable distribution network must be established long before the mass harvest. The concluded agreements must contain the conditions, cost and volumes of agricultural products supplied for sale.

Income/expenses and profitability

The volume of starting investments directly depends on the size of the areas expected to be sown. The optimal size of a land plot for starting a business in this area is 500 sq. m. meters:

• greenhouse structures - 641 thousand rubles;
• heating kits - 122 thousand rubles;
• heating boilers - 70 thousand rubles;
• LED lighting - 600 thousand rubles;
• equipping an automatic watering system - 31 thousand rubles;
• costs for transport services - 60 thousand rubles;
• purchase of seed material and fertilizers - 80 thousand rubles;
• costs for pipes and electrical wiring, as well as additional components - 70 thousand rubles.

Total: about 1 million 700 thousand rubles.

Based on a productivity of 38 tons of vegetables and an average cost of one kilogram of produce of 30 rubles, the annual income will be about 2.3 million rubles.

Annual expenses:

• fuel payment - about 150 thousand rubles;
• payment for electricity - 20 thousand rubles;
• costs for seed material - 30 thousand rubles;
• costs for fertilizers and insecticides - 50 thousand rubles;

Total: 260 thousand rubles.
The annual profit is about 2 million rubles.

For growing cucumbers on an industrial scale, the best option is to use Chinese varieties, which are characterized by fast growth and guaranteed large size. Such cucumbers can be used both fresh and for preservation, and harvesting stimulates an increase in the number of greens.

When choosing varieties, preference should be given to cucumbers that tolerate transportation well and show consistently high yields, regardless of external factors. Competent pricing for vegetable products sold should be based not only on the volume of the harvest, but also directly depend on the season for selling cucumbers.
The demonopolization of the greenhouse market that has developed in recent years contributes to the formation of healthy competition and creates ideal opportunities for running a highly profitable business in the field of agriculture.

Study the demand for cucumbers and the situation with competitors in your city. Calculate start-up costs, draw up the most detailed and realistic business plan.

Main risks

Competition is an important factor for small towns, whose residents grow cucumbers on their own in their dachas and garden plots. The demand for fresh vegetables increases only on holidays, and during the summer season the cost of cucumbers is quite low.

The main risk for any business associated with growing vegetables and fruits is plant diseases and the risk of crop loss. Deep knowledge of agronomy, choosing the right site and disease-resistant varieties, purchasing high-quality equipment and fertilizers will help minimize these risks.

Location

If you have your own dacha or estate, at the initial stage the task of finding land is removed from the agenda.

Beginning entrepreneurs who do not have a plot of land should carefully study the offers outside the city limits. What you should pay attention to?

1. Soil fertility. This is an important but not critical indicator. Modern farming methods make it possible to increase fertility quickly and at minimal cost.
2. Distance from the city where you plan to sell your products. Too much distance from a populated area increases the cost of transporting cucumbers.
3. Possibility to buy a plot. Renting is not a very good option. If it is impossible to purchase land, try to enter into a long-term agreement.

To set up a greenhouse, there are standards for distance from populated areas, industrial enterprises and highways, area and layout of the site. Find out these requirements from sanitary authorities and architectural bureaus; be sure to take them into account when choosing the location of the farm.

Equipment

Growing vegetables in open ground will bring some profit if large areas are cultivated and there is a wholesale buyer. But only farms with greenhouses and year-round production achieve high profitability (about 500%). With established marketing, the winter harvest of cucumbers brings income 2-2.5 times higher than sales of products in spring and summer.

With the invention and introduction of polycarbonate into mass production, the initial and ongoing costs of organizing work and the time spent on building greenhouses decreased sharply.

Let's consider the list and approximate cost of the necessary equipment to create a farm on an area of ​​0.5 hectares.

3 polycarbonate greenhouses including installation will cost $30,000-45,000. This is an average figure, because you can order the production of greenhouses from the manufacturer or reduce installation costs.

Automatic watering systems significantly save time caring for plants. They can also be used to apply water-soluble fertilizers. Depending on the type of system, its cost ranges from $1,000-1,5000. Professionals recommend paying attention to drip irrigation - this is one of the most progressive and effective systems.

To ensure heating of greenhouses, it is necessary to purchase boilers. The approximate cost of one is $1,000-1,2000. A separate boiler must be installed in each greenhouse. Soil heating kits are also needed. The cost of one is about $150. The quantity depends on the heated area and the design of the kits.

Additional lighting increases the chances of fighting diseases of cucumbers and allows them to accelerate their growth in the winter season. At the moment, experts recommend opting for LED lamps. Advantages: accelerated photosynthesis, long service life and cost-effectiveness. The cost of one lamp for lighting a greenhouse is about $250.

To transport products you need a cargo bus. Its cost is $10,000-15,000. Also, it is necessary to build utility rooms for storing equipment, fertilizers, containers, and seeds. You should budget $4,000-5,000 for the construction of these buildings.

Personnel

To work in greenhouses with a total area of ​​0.5 hectares, it is worth hiring 3-4 workers. If you do not have an agronomic education, be sure to invite a specialist to work. A scientific approach to selecting seeds, increasing soil fertility and knowledge of the secrets of growing vegetable crops will allow you to avoid mistakes and achieve the highest possible profitability of the farm.

At first, you can hire an experienced part-time accountant to maintain financial records and prepare tax returns. You also need a driver to deliver cucumbers to wholesale buyers.

Salary depends on the average level in your region. Experienced owners advise not to skimp on wages. This will prevent theft and neglect of work.

Current expenses

The most important point is the acquisition of seeds. Choose hybrid varieties bred in specialized farms. As a rule, they are characterized by high yield, improved taste and resistance to the most common diseases. You should prepare $500-600 to purchase seeds throughout the year. Before receiving the first profits, it is advisable to have funds in reserve to cover basic operating expenses:

• Electricity payment - $400-500.
• Purchase of fertilizers - $800-1,000.
• Purchase of fuel for heating greenhouses - $4,000-5,000.
• Salary - $10,000-12,000.

You should have about $2,000-3,000 in reserve for small and unexpected expenses.

Documents and licenses

To run a cucumber growing business, you can choose one of several forms:

1. Personal subsidiary farming. Such a business is exempt from paying many taxes; it is necessary to pay personal income tax on the sale of cucumbers. There are restrictions on the area of ​​the farm - no more than 0.5 hectares, but it can be increased to 2.5 hectares. If you plan to hire employees, expand your product range, or organize a retail network for its sale, it is better to choose a different form.
2. Individual entrepreneur. Removes restrictions on farm area and the possibility of hiring workers.
3. Peasant farming. A full-fledged legal entity, suitable for organizing a business on a partnership basis. Tax benefits are also provided.

To carry out business activities in vegetable growing, VAT, income and property taxes do not need to be paid. You can choose Unified Agricultural Tax – a tax on net income of 6%.

Agricultural activities are not subject to licensing. If you want to develop your business and cooperate with wholesale buyers, you must cooperate with sanitary control. Certificates and certificates for products are issued after checking cucumbers for the presence of prohibited chemicals. Also, supervisory authorities are required to check the growing conditions of products.

If you plan to work with heated greenhouses, you will need a permit from the fire department. For private farming, this is not a mandatory requirement. For the other two forms of business, if there are expansion plans and work with wholesale customers, it is advisable to bring the greenhouse premises into compliance with the standards.

Marketing

You should start looking for buyers even before the harvest appears. The most effective and promising direction is the environmental friendliness of products. The use of organic fertilizers still increases the cost of vegetable crops, but scientists are actively working to reduce it. In the near future, most farms will switch to working on the principles of organic farming. Anyone who occupies this niche in the forefront is doomed to success.

Having the necessary certificates, you will be able to offer cucumbers to large retail chains, restaurants, school canteens and kindergartens.

Plan to expand your assortment and create your own distribution network. If your brand is associated with quality and a high level of service, high profits are guaranteed.

Sell ​​lightly salted cucumbers, try to organize the production of salads, pickled and pickled vegetables. A wide range and prompt response to changes in demand will allow you to not depend on the season.

Summary

Deep knowledge of technology, planning, the use of innovative farming methods and active marketing will help you create a successful business growing cucumbers in a greenhouse.

Russia is considered one of the largest agricultural countries in the world. Almost every family has its own plot of land on which various crops can be planted. Growing vegetables for sale (cucumbers) is an affordable and profitable type of business. Among all greenhouse crops, cucumbers are the most popular because they are easy to care for and are always in demand. In the article you will find information on where to start, a plan and how you can save in the first stages.

Business Features

Growing crops is a profitable and increasingly popular type of business. Despite the fact that the market is highly competitive, the demand for fresh vegetables remains throughout the year. By creating optimal conditions, several crops of cucumbers can be grown in one year, and if you have the necessary area and a greenhouse of 100 m2 or more, profitability increases to 200%.

When starting your own business, you should consider several factors - the demand for products in your region, the quality of the soil on the site and the availability of the necessary budget for the initial investment. This type of business has pros and cons that should be taken into account before making your first investment.

Advantages

Growing cucumbers is one of the most common types of agriculture in Russia, as it has several significant advantages:

If you follow the cultivation technology, there will be no problems with yield or infection with pests and diseases. Despite the fact that cucumber is considered a finicky crop, it is suitable even for novice farmers.

Flaws

Like any type of business, growing cucumbers has a number of disadvantages that can complicate entrepreneurial activity:

• large financial investments are required for greenhouse equipment, which is especially noticeable at the very beginning of work;
• significant costs are required for maintaining the greenhouse complex in winter and autumn;
• there is strong competition in the vegetable market in some regions, so newcomers have to reduce the price of the product, which leads to loss of income;
• gardening experience and skills are required, without which it is impossible to get a rich harvest.

Before you start investing money in the development of your business, it is advisable to register an individual entrepreneurship or peasant farm, and also obtain the right to land ownership of the site.

Greenhouse equipment requires large financial investments

Profitability

The profitability of selling cucumbers depends on many factors, the most important of which are the time of year and the yield of the variety. If you follow the growing technology and use a large greenhouse, the profitability of the business increases several times.

For example, some high-yielding varieties (, and others) can produce up to 5 kg of fresh cucumbers in one season. Other high-yielding varieties of cucumbers are presented. The approximate price for this vegetable in central Russia is 140 rubles. When planting 200 bushes, the income from the sale will be 140 thousand rubles per planting cycle. It is important to consider that in summer and early autumn the price of agricultural products falls, so profits depend on the season.

Cucumbers of the varieties German, Kurazh, Emelya bring up to 5 kg of harvest per year

Investments

If you start a business within the framework of running a personal subsidiary plot, then all investments at the initial stage will be reduced only to the installation of a greenhouse and its equipment, as well as the purchase of all the necessary tools and consumables. Investments for these items amount to 450 thousand rubles when using a greenhouse with an area of ​​100-110 m 2. When drawing up a business plan, it is necessary to take into account the current costs of heating, electricity, water and logistics. On average, you can recoup your investment in 2 years if there is a market.

The initial investment boils down to the purchase of materials for building a greenhouse

Profit from growing this crop appears only when using large-area greenhouse structures. Income from the sale of cucumbers when planted in open ground and small greenhouses will only slightly exceed expenses.

Sales

Methods for selling products should be considered even before investing and building the first greenhouse. In the absence of sales sources, the profitability of cultivation decreases several times. Selling crops is an unpredictable and seasonal business, so it is advisable to develop multiple sales routes.

To begin with, you can start by retailing small volumes of cucumbers to invest in equipment and correct errors. It is more convenient to sell small batches yourself using retail outlets or through online platforms (advertising sites, social networks). In the future, sales can be expanded in two main areas:

• catering establishments;
• wholesale buyers.

In any case, you will have to spend a lot of effort and time on travel and negotiations with buyers, as well as delivery and storage of goods. To interest potential customers, you can reduce the price by 10-15% from the cost of competitors - this will attract attention to the product.

The main sale of cucumbers is their wholesale or retail trade

Even at the stage of business development, you should think about product packaging. It will not only preserve the marketable appearance of vegetables, but can attract new buyers.

Expenses

Like any other type of business, growing cucumbers involves costs for the production of goods, their storage, transportation and sale. In the first stages, investments may exceed income, since a large amount is spent on creating conditions for cultivation. In the future, investments will only be required for consumables, repair and maintenance of greenhouses, and work with finished products.

Necessary equipment

To increase productivity and ease of care, you need to purchase the following devices and tools:

In Russia, tens of thousands of hectares of land have been allocated for growing cucumbers. But demand for domestic agricultural products is steadily growing with the ban on the import of European fruits and vegetables. Existing farms can hardly cover the shortage of products in this market niche. This gives entrepreneurs an excellent chance of launching a profitable business. Growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is a profitable direction that will allow you to receive high profits. But to organize a large farm you will have to invest a lot of time and effort.

Our business assessment:

Starting investments – from 100,000 rubles.

Market saturation is average.

The difficulty of starting a business is 5/10.

What is important to consider when drawing up a business plan for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse? How to organize a business that will generate a consistently high income?

Why greenhouse cultivation?

Cucumbers can be grown in open ground and in a greenhouse. In the first case, business activity will completely depend on weather conditions - if the season does not offer sunny days, you may not expect a big harvest.

Growing cucumbers in a film greenhouse does not have this drawback, since the greenhouse provides the necessary microclimatic conditions for rapid growth of the crop. The result is a high yield of quality vegetables. In addition, the farmer has the opportunity to supply finished products to the market all year round, because even in winter there is no need to stop agricultural work.

Industrial cultivation of cucumbers in a greenhouse as a business has only one significant drawback compared to the ground method - higher costs for starting a business. It is necessary to prepare high-quality greenhouses.

• The cost of production is significantly lower than the selling price, which guarantees high income.
• High demand for fresh vegetables will quickly recoup all costs.
• There is the possibility of cooperation with both large hypermarket chains and private buyers.
• Growing and caring for plantings is not difficult - even a novice summer resident can master the job.

Official registration of business

According to the law, it is possible not to officially register a business if the spruce is grown on an area not exceeding 2 hectares. But these are huge areas that will allow you to collect tens of tons of cucumbers annually! You will not need to prepare a package of documents and certify your products, which will significantly reduce your start-up investment.

Without a registered individual entrepreneur or LLC, you will not have the opportunity to cooperate with large clients - wholesale warehouses and stores. In this case, the only way to sell vegetables will be retail or small wholesale sales to private clients.

Have you planned to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter for sale to wholesale customers? Then be sure to register your activities! You will have the opportunity to cooperate with legal entities - and this is the best market for an entrepreneur. And if all the rules for organizing a business are followed, there is a chance to receive a government subsidy for your farm.

The OKVED code used when registering an enterprise is 01.12.1. In the future, you will work at a single tax rate of 6%, which exempts the entrepreneur from paying property taxes and VAT.

If you are going to sell vegetables in your own region, then you do not need to certify and declare your products. Take care to prepare the appropriate documents only if you are sending cucumbers to another region or country.

Selecting a place for growing greenhouse cucumbers

A year-round growing business plan should include choosing a suitable location to conduct business. Cucumbers are cultivated in almost all regions of Russia. And since the process will be carried out in artificially created conditions, weather conditions and soil composition are not as important as if the technology of professional cultivation in open ground was used.

The best option for organizing a business is your own dacha. This will significantly reduce your startup costs. Isn't there one? Then look for offers for renting land plots. Choose a place located away from the city and large industrial enterprises - vegetables grown in an ecologically clean area will become your competitive advantage. In the future, when things go uphill, the plot can be purchased from the owner.

Enter into a lease agreement for a long term. This is much cheaper and you have a guarantee that the owner will not require you to leave your “home” at the height of the season.

Arrangement of a site for growing greenhouse cucumbers

New technologies, a variety of equipment and consumables allow an entrepreneur to organize a business taking into account available finances. The minimum “equipment” of the site will only require the presence of heated greenhouses. Running a large farm is impossible without additional equipment - automatic watering systems, trucks, cultivators.

Consider the proposals of suppliers and choose suitable industrial greenhouses that will allow you to grow vegetables all year round. Polycarbonate structures are more popular among businessmen due to the ideal price-quality ratio. Growing cucumbers in winter in a polycarbonate greenhouse shows good yields and makes it much easier for workers to care for the plantings.

Calculate the number of greenhouses based on the planned sales volumes of vegetables. An excellent option for beginners are structures with a usable area of ​​35 m2. Here, if all the features of the growing process are followed, up to 3 tons of cucumbers can be harvested from each meter annually.

At first, in order to grow cucumbers in a winter greenhouse and make a sufficient profit, 3 designs will be enough.

There is a huge selection of greenhouses on the market, varying in size and functional features. The design must be:

• heated,
• well lit,
• high.

The cost of industrial structures varies widely, starting from 100,000 rubles. You can save money if you organize the lighting and heating of the greenhouse yourself, additionally purchasing lamps and heating boilers.

If there is a lack of funding, plan to independently build a greenhouse for growing cucumbers all year round. In this case, you will only have to purchase consumables.

At first, it is not necessary to purchase additional equipment. But the profitability of the business will be higher if you buy irrigation systems (from 50,000 rubles), cultivators (from 30,000 rubles), mini-tractors (from 300,000 rubles). The site will also require utility rooms for storing collected vegetables, work equipment, seeds and fertilizers.

What variety of cucumbers should I grow?

In order for growing early cucumbers in a greenhouse to be profitable, the choice of variety is important. Breeders have bred many types of vegetables that produce good yields in greenhouse conditions. Choose only reliable suppliers!

When choosing a cucumber variety, pay attention to its ripening time. Early ripening vegetables (40-60 days) are perfect - this way you can harvest more often.

Hybrids Herman, Hercules, Annushka, Emelya, Dynamite, Courage show good germination. You can buy plant seeds or ready-made seedlings. The cost of seed material is from 1,500 rubles per 1,000 seeds.

Conditions for growing greenhouse cucumbers

A warm greenhouse provides the plantings with the necessary microclimatic conditions. But human participation is certainly required! If you plan to open a large peasant farm, then you cannot do it without outside help - you will need to hire 2-3 employees to carry out land work. This will entail additional costs, but will also increase the quality and quantity of the harvest.

Let us indicate the important conditions for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse:

• regular watering,
• constant treatment of plants with drugs against diseases and pests,
• loosening and fertilizing the soil.

Harvesting occurs as the vegetables ripen. Before sale, products are stored in a dry, dark room. Wooden boxes are used.

It would be great if you have the opportunity to consult with an experienced farmer. You will learn what methods of growing cucumbers are put into practice and delve into the secrets of caring for plantings.

Calculating profits from doing business

The costs of setting up a business will begin to pay off very quickly - after the sale of the first wholesale batch of goods. The technology of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter and summer implies year-round profit, which allows the entrepreneur to avoid seasonal downtime. But in the winter months, due to higher prices for vegetables, the sales volume will be slightly lower.

A greenhouse for growing cucumbers all year round, purchasing seeds and fertilizers, renting a plot and registering a business will require an investment of at least 300,000 rubles from the organizer. And this is far from the limit. To automate the process using watering stations and vehicles, you will need at least another 400,000 rubles.

You can reduce capital investments if you build a small heated greenhouse with your own hands and organize cultivation on your own country plot - you can easily meet the cost of 100,000 rubles. But don't expect big profits here.

A well-thought-out technology for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse allows you to harvest up to 100 tons of vegetables annually from one large greenhouse with a useful area of ​​35 m2. Wholesale prices vary greatly depending on the season. If you calculate the average cost of cucumbers, taking into account price jumps over the year, you get approximately 40-60 rubles/kg. It turns out that sales income with full sales of the crop can reach 6,000,000 rubles/year. This is an ideal case, and a novice farmer’s profit will probably be significantly lower - plant diseases, product spoilage, and sales markets that have not yet been established.

When calculating net profit, variable costs are taken into account - payment of bills for electricity and water, purchase of fertilizers and remedies for diseases and pests, replenishment of seeds. On average, one greenhouse will generate net income of at least 50,000 rubles per month. At the height of the season, this figure increases significantly - up to 200,000 rubles per month.

Methods of growing cucumbers in greenhouses that have been established over the years guarantee the entrepreneur a stable business. If you find regular buyers of vegetables, then there will be no problems with sales, and all investments in organizing a farm will pay off in less than 2 years.