Considering a new ag business
Direct Marketing Resource Guide. More and more growers, seeing the benefits of direct marketing, want to learn about successful strategies and techniques. This database includes practical, high quality resources such as print publications, videos, and Web resources to help growers meet their goals. 2004 Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE).

Reap new profits: Marketing strategies for farmers and ranchers. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). An excellent site listing all sorts of direct marketing strategies, with numerous images.

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide.

Thinking about growing and selling organic apples and pears? By Deborah Stenberg.

Washington Small Business Development Centers, offering no charge business counseling, training seminars, and feasibility studies for all residents throughout Washington.

Business license
Business License FAQs. Informatioin on starting and licensing your business in Washington.

Washington State Department of Licensing, Olympia, WA. Though not required for selling fresh produce, farmers will find a Master License (costs $15, one time fee) useful in obtaining a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) in order to buy farm supplies at wholesale without paying taxes. Farmers selling flowers or ornamentals (considered nonagricultural) are required to have a Master License.

Oregon Business Guides. Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, OR. A complete on-line guide to everything related to starting a new business in Oregon.

Food handler's permit
Washington State Department of Health. Vendors selling unwrapped, processed foods at farmers' markets are required to have a Food Service Operating Permit, issued from their local Health Department.

Reselling agricultural products
Commission Merchant Program. Washington State Department of Agriculture. Farmers selling produce from other farmers are required to have a Cash Buyer's License for cash sales and Commission Merchant's License for commission sales.

Taxation
Retail Sales Tax, and Business and Occupation Tax. Washington State Department of Revenue. Download forms, and file taxes electronically.

Oregon Department of Revenue. Salem, Oregon.

Labor
Employer's Identification Number (EIN). Any business that hires workers has to first obtain a federal identification number known as an Employer's Identification Number, by filling out Form SS-4 with the Internal Revenue Service. The federal EIN number assigned to your business will be registered with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Labor, and the IRS.

Unemployment insurance (UI) tax. Washington State Employment Security Department. All employers doing business in Washington are responsible for UI taxes.

Unemployment Insurance Tax. Oregon Employment Department, Salem, OR.

Worker's compensation. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. A tax assessment based on the number of hours an employee works, based on his job classification.

Information about workers’ compensation. Also, Laws & rules. Department of Consumers and Business Services, Salem, Oregon.

Social Security taxes. Internal Revenue Service, FICA tax ensures that retired people receive an income. The IRS requires that an employer withholds a fixed percentage of an employee's wages and matches employee contributions.

Minimum wage. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries; minimum wage applies to all workers across the state, in both agricultural and nonagricultural jobs.

Federal agricultural assistance

USDA Farm Service Agency

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses. This book describes how to create a farm business strategy including: market, operational, human resource, and financial strategies. Worksheets from actual farmers illustrate the process and blank worksheets guide your own creation of a business plan. 280 pages pdf.

Building Better Rural Places: Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Conservation and Community Development. This book describes federal programs/resources/grants which assist with adding value, diversity, and adopting sustainable practices for agricultural and forest product enterprises. An overview is offered for each program and grant-writing tips are included. 146 pages pdf.

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG), USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (AMS); funds are available to encourage independent producers of agricultural commodities to further refine their products thus increasing their value to end users.

The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), USDA AMS, provides matching funds to State Departments of Agriculture and other State agencies for 20-30 projects per year, on average. These funds have been used by States to conduct marketing studies or assist in developing innovative approaches to the marketing of agricultural products.

Rural Development Agency, USDA, grant funds for a whole host of different rural enterprises.

Economics of scale
Small players exhibit entrepreneurial spirit, 10-30-2000, Larry Waterfield, The Packer Newspaper. How to fight globalization.