Principles of Business
Planning and Management
Program
Principles of Business Planning and Management
The Colorado Building Farmers and Ranchers Principles of Business Development course will run from January 20, 2026 through March 10, 2026, live online.
Get Started!
You are invited to preregister for the 2026 online ag business development course hosted by CSU Extension. Join course facilitators, instructors, and other beginning farmers and ranchers (less than 10 years of ag experience) in the evening, 1x/week for 8 weeks this winter for a program designed to help you develop a business plan for your ag operation! Course fee of $250 includes access to all class materials; a discount is offered to additional participants from same farm business. Scholarships may be available.
¡Empieza!
Está invitado/a preinscribirse para el curso de 2026 de desarrollo de negocios agrícolas en línea coordinado por Extensión de la Universidad Estatal de Colorado. Reunir con facilitadores, instructores, y otros/as agricultores/as y ganaderos/as (con menos de 10 años de experiencia agrícola) por las noches, 1 vez/semana por 8 semanas este invierno por una serie de tópicos diseñados para ayudarle pensar críticamente sobre su plan de negocio! El costo para el curso de $250 incluye acceso a todos los materiales del curso; un descuento está ofrecido por participantes adicionales del mismo negocio agrícola. Puede haber becas disponibles. ¿Preguntas? Se puede llamar a Nicole: (970) 495-2217
Program Details
The Principles of Business Planning and Management program is a series of evening classes designed to help new farmers and ranchers build structure for their farm business and provide intermediate and experienced farmers and ranchers with tools and ideas to refine and enhance their business management, production, and marketing skills.
- Identify their business short-term and long-term goals, and a vision/mission statement for the business
- List clear action items for each short-term and long-term goal
- Explain how personal and customer values influence their business plan
- Perform SWOT or TOWS analysis to identify potential marketing niches, customer base, location, etc.
- Develop a strategic market position and strategy consistent with the mission developed in the business plan
- Create a marketing plan that includes product, pricing, placement and promotion goals and strategies
- Identify the 3 Cs (customers, costs and competition) and the 4 Ps (product, pricing, placement and promotion) within a strategic marketing plan
- Understand the importance of recordkeeping for decision making in business planning, including production and marketing
- Describe the differences between variable and fixed costs
- Develop a basic production plan including a calendar, estimated total output of product per market channel, and monthly labor estimates
- Estimate projected revenue by market channel
- Estimate net return to management (pay yourself)
- Understand labor as a financial risk factor (cost, source, cost of management)
- Identify recordkeeping tools (software, etc.) and strategies (when and how to input data, and how to use data to improve business management)
- Describe how marketing plan and cost estimates link to production plan
- Understand the need for basic financial statements and describe how they are used