How many hive to you need to make a living

[the-ecohouse.com]

Hi All

I'm in the workup process for commercial production.

And i put the question to you all ...How many hive do you need to make a living?

by living i mean 100+k net pa...

This can be earn t by any stream you like, honey production, pollination, wax production, specialty honey, etc.

what are your thoughts.

[Michael Bush]

It's going to depend on what you intend to sell.  I have my doubts one can make a living doing nothing but honey (at least here in the US).  But there are bees and queens you can sell as well as honey and pollination.  Here, I think if you raise queens and nucs and some local pollination and some honey, you could make about $30,000 to $40,000 per year US on about 300 hives and 300 nucs (based on Kirk Webster's experience) and only have extra help during the extremely busy times of the years.  I don't know the market down under.

[Pete]

n=# kg per hive annually  
y=# of hives you own
e=$ annual expenses
v=# value of honey per kg

((n x y)xV)-e=$yourprofit pa (roughly)

I honestly am no maths experts, but that could be right?

[the-ecohouse.com]

wholesalers take a massive clip of your honey profit 

even $4.00 per kg for organic certified honey is way too low.

when its retailing for 15-20kg....

[Mardak]

The equation given explains it pretty much as it is. The variables in the expenses area is a doozy at present, price of fuels, replacement costs on machinery, site licenses, your labour, many incidental, weather, bee sites . A few hundred boxes does not give you a significant income at the end of the process. A couple of thousand maens employing help. There is a paucity of profitable beeks due to these factors and others. Run a lean operation and you will covwr costs and have a self paying hobby. Good luck with your venture.