Getting into farming: the money side
Work out what it costs to start farming, ways in without buying land, a first budget, and how to keep enough cash in the early years.
Who it's for: People planning to start their own pig, cattle or sheep business in Australia, with little or no land of their own yet.
Lessons
By the end you'll be able to
- List the four big start-up costs and know which ones you can put off
- Compare leasing, share farming, agistment and working on a farm
- Build a simple start-up budget and see if the numbers stack up
- Tell cash from profit, and find the low point in your bank balance
Each lesson has a short read, a worked example on an invented farm and three quick questions. Finish them all for an optional certificate of completion. Free, no sign-up, not nationally accredited.
Want this done on your own figures?
The course explains how it works. If you'd rather have it done on your farm's real numbers, that's what our New to farming is for.
Sources
- NSW DPIRD, 1st cross ewes, terminal meat rams, farm enterprise budget 2025 (1,000 ewes)
- NSW DPI, About gross margin budgets
- NSW Government, Agricultural tenancies
- NSW Young Farmer Business Program, Leasing and Agistment Toolkit
- Australian Business Register, Applying for an ABN
- NSW Local Land Services, Apply for a Property Identification Code
- Integrity Systems Company, Renew LPA accreditation
- Integrity Systems Company, National Vendor Declaration (NVD)
- Integrity Systems Company, Meeting NLIS requirements
- business.gov.au, Record keeping
- business.gov.au, Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS)
Talk to Nick about your next bank review
We work with farm businesses Australia-wide by phone and video, with regular farm visits on the east coast. Get in touch for a no-obligation chat about what you need and what it would cost.