Building a Full Time Bee Business (Part 1 of 3)

Comments · 129

• FL

  @flowerstreetfarmbees · 3 years ago

  As a mom and pop business with about forty hives right now, we love these conversations!  We've grown with our bees, too, and invest the money we make into our growth.  We'd love to hear Nathan's thoughts about growth beyond the shipping container, and some of the other long term growth prompts Bob threw out there at the end. Maybe in part two?

  16

• PU

  @PutEmInTheBox · 3 years ago

  Uhg, I was done with YouTube and ready to go assemble boxes and then this pops up…

  8

• SP

  @spicyflyhoneybees1478 · 3 years ago

  I went full time into beekeeping with only 80 production colonies and 100 minis. Selling nucs, queens, honey, beeswax products wasn’t enough to pay all the bills at that level but the thing a lot of newer beekeepers miss is the service side. I did cutouts, offered hive inspections/management consulting and ag valuation contracts. The products of the hives combined with the services I offered pushed me over the edge into being able to pay all the bills and still have extra to reinvest into the operation. It’s absolutely doable with less than 100 colonies if you’re smart and have a bit of tenacity.

  14

• BE

  @BeeCoolPitbullHeart · 5 months ago

  I didn't know this vid existed. Two channels that I often watch. 🙂

• LA

  @lagrangebees · 3 years ago

  I want to become a full time beekeeper, this video is incredibly valuable to me, helps me see what I do right, and what needs improvement. Thank you!

  4

• BE

  @BeeCoolPitbullHeart · 2 months ago

  Thank you

• BE

  @beebob1279 · 3 years ago

  Great discussion. &nbsp; One thing that seemed to be left out ( unless I missed it) is finding locations to keep the hives. &nbsp; <br>Where I live any location is snatched up. &nbsp;Either people don’t want them or try to contract me into giving them the hives if I decide to leave. &nbsp;Yep I actually had someone try that. &nbsp;<br>Be careful with your agreements with landowners. &nbsp;<br>Bob, can you talk about the kinds of insurances we need?

  2

• CH

  @christopherw4527 · 3 years ago

  Kinda nice you are close to Bob to get these interviews in person. &nbsp;Good job.

  3

• BU

  @burleybeeyard · 3 years ago

  That was really good. &nbsp;Thank you. &nbsp;He’s definitely right about woodwork. &nbsp;I do my lids and bottom boards. &nbsp;I like how you can customize to fit your style and saves a ton. &nbsp;I’m thinking of doing boxes too.

  4

• PO

  @pondimek · 3 years ago

  Great video Nathan! Expanding from 20+ hives to 50+ this year and turning my passion for bees into a solid business is my focus at the moment, so I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing.

  1

• NK

  @nkapiariesjeffbeezos796 · 3 years ago

  Buy once, cry once. The old saying for buying quality tools and equipment that is efficient and can also make you more money with less time

  2

• PA

  @paulgroth5414 · 3 years ago

  I have had bees for 30 years and have been a sideliner almost the whole time, hopefully I can make the jump to commercial in the next year or 2, honey sales have also been growing. Trying to add queen sales to the business this year, keep it up great info, Bob is so full if knowledge can&apos;t wait to meet him someday

  1