Business Planning

Business Planning for Kelp Farming

Business Planning for Kelp Farming, a 75-page guide and resource listing for new and prospective kelp farmers, is now available. A supplemental Excel spreadsheet and printable pdf, Integrated Financial Planning Model for Kelp Aquaculture, are also available for download. Videos on how to use the guide are listed below.

Created in response to a critical missing tool identified by the National Seaweed Hub Needs Assessment of 2020, it was written by Tammy Warner, professor of management at Keene State University, and Robert Pomeroy, extension specialist emeritus at CT Sea Grant, under the direction of Anoushka Concepcion, the former CTSG associate extension educator who focused on seaweed aquaculture.

The guidebook is linked to a flexible financial model (worksheet) which will allow users to see dollars-and-cents impacts of their plans as they evolve.

The project was funded by CT Sea Grant and the UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.
Citation: Warner, T. and Pomeroy, R. 2024. Business Planning for Kelp Farming. Connecticut Sea Grant No. CTSG-23-03. 75 pp plus spreadsheet. Supported by NOAA Sea Grant award NA21OAR4170087 to R. Pomeroy, Connecticut Sea Grant-University of Connecticut and subaward 428666 to T. Warner, Keene State College.

Cover of the Business Planning for Kelp Farming guidebook that shows a person on a boat pulling up kelp.

About the Kelp Farming Guidebook

This guidebook leads you through the process of preparing a written kelp aquaculture business plan. When you have completed the exercises in this book, including developing a detailed financial model for your business ideas, you will have a solid sense of whether kelp aquaculture business is a good move for you. That is the value of business planning. Before spending any money, you need to think through all the aspects that can be planned for in preparation for the unexpected.

Download Business Planning for Kelp Farming here.

About the Financial Planning Model

This is a downloadable excel file where you can enter all of your assumptions about the cost and revenue you plan to achieve in your kelp aquaculture business. The model will produce economic analysis and financial projections to guide your decisions.

Download the Integrated Financial Planning Model for Kelp Aquaculture Excel spreadsheet here.

Supplemental Materials

These are printable PDFs that you can use to complete the inputs for your financial planning model without needing to have an excel workbook open at all times. Complete these sheets on your own time and then enter them into the downloadable excel financial model.