Beekeeping Startup Costs

To start beekeeping right from your backyard, you're going to need equipments and tools. And that means shelling out a few dollars as startup costs. You can't possibly take on beekeeping without putting up a minimal investment.

A beginner's hive composed of ten frames and two boxes costs around $250. Some come in packages, complete with gloves, crimp wire foundation, and fume boards. If you want to save a little, look for the ones that include entrance blockers and nuc boxes as well. This saves you a lot in shipping too.

Next, you are going to buy the necessary hive tools. Hive tools allows you to manipulate the hives and the bees easily. There are at least three types of hive tools you need. None of them costs more than $12 so you'll spend less than $30 for all of them. Other than hive tools, you need a smoker and a nuc feeder, which will cost $25 and $10 respectively.

One other beekeeping equipment that you have to invest on is your outfit. Get some white overalls complete with a bee veil. Some sellers call it the bee suit. Either way, these protective clothing will cost you around $90. Just provide the boots and the gloves and you should be all set.

Tallying all of these, you are going to need roughly $395 for this new project. This doesn't include your first set of bees, the queen bee, and the feeds. A starter kit with a marked queen, five frame bees, and some feeds would cost you $135. Total, you're going to spend at least $530 in this new-found hobby or business opportunity of yours.

For a more detailed and complete guide on Beekeeping Startup Costs, we highly recommend "Beekeeping For Beginners" by Keith Gilbert