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Starting a "Gourmet Mushroom Business"

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Agricultural business is always a lucrative and promising industry. With over $400 billion annual revenue in the U.S. alone, it is not only massive but also still growing with the human population and the need of food growing explosively over the years. However, it is often limited by the need of farm space, capital, and the necessary knowledge required.

If you have the passion for agriculture, yet don't have the land or capital to start one, there're new indoor alternatives that have been on the rise these past few years. One of them is growing gourmet mushrooms indoor, a very profitable and relatively easy agriculture business to start.

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If you are interested in starting one, here are a few things to help you get started:

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1. Startup Investment
To grow indoor, the startup investment can be kept small. You can small with below $1,000. Most of your expenses will go to spores, equipment, nutrients, and LED lightings to complement direct sunlight not found in indoor areas.

2. Licenses and Permits
Some locations will require special zoning permit to produce plants (mushrooms included) on their property. You might also need business and retail license if you're planning to sell directly to customers. Consult your local authorities to get a clearer information.

3. Necessary Knowledge
Growing mushrooms are relatively easier than other agriculture business. However, knowledge and experience will still matter.

Many guides and books are available both offline and on the internet. If you have an experienced grower nearby, try to contact them. Usually, fellow agriculture businessman will happily share their knowledge and experience.

4. What Kinds of Mushroom
The most common gourmet mushrooms to grow are shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Both are relatively easy to grow and already have an established market. Depending on the condition of your local market, other kinds can also be profitable. Do enough market research to figure out the needs and demands of your local market. Remember though, each kinds will require different knowledge.

5. Marketing
Contact your local grocery stores, restaurants, and food market that may require a steady supply of mushrooms. One of the advantages (or disadvantage) of mushroom is that it doesn't ship well. Therefore, you don't have to complete with bigger regional players. Build networks and relationships with local customers as good as you can. Aim for a balance between small, higher price sales and steady wholesale sales to balance your revenue earnings and profit margin. Selling too many wholesale in bulk will hurt your profit while selling to direct customers continuously can be difficult.

Earning Potential

The harvest time for mushroom crops is very short, with six weeks being the average. Thus, growers can make a steady income in a relatively small space.

Growing oyster mushrooms can yield 25 pounds per square feet a year. Meaning if you have a small room of 10' by 10' the yield will be approximately 2,500 pounds annually. With the current retail place averaged around $10, you can make $25,000 in a year, and that's only for a 100 square feet room. After you build your customer base, you can expand to a bigger room for a greater earning potential.