How to Start a Mushroom Growing Business

Which mushrooms are suitable for business?

Growing mushrooms as a business requires specialized knowledge, so a love of mushrooms alone is clearly not enough. The first thing you need to know is which mushrooms are currently in demand. Oyster mushrooms, honey mushrooms, and button mushrooms will bring real profits. Oyster mushrooms can be grown year-round, with harvests occurring every 2-4 weeks. Due to the excellent fertility of this mushroom species, the harvest will be stable, and growing oyster mushrooms as a business can generate a decent profit every month. Furthermore, a large start-up capital is not required, as growing oyster mushrooms is much easier than, for example, button mushrooms.

Rules for registering your own business

First of all, if you've decided to grow mushrooms for sale, you should develop a business plan for growing a specific mushroom variety. The next step is the mushroom farming legalization process. To do this, you'll need:

• register as an individual entrepreneur;
• select the Unified Agricultural Tax as the taxation method;
• register with the pension fund and tax authorities;
• obtain permission from the SES;
• draw up a radiology protocol;
• obtain a certificate of conformity of products with GOST;
• obtain a phytosanitary certificate.

Required start-up capital

On average, opening a mushroom business will require about 200 thousand rubles. The exact cost depends on the production volume and region. Key expenses include renting premises, purchasing mycelium and equipment, document registration fees, utilities, and transportation costs. Additionally, it's always important to have a reserve for unforeseen expenses.

How to choose premises and equipment

You can grow mushrooms indoors. This could be in a garden plot, but then the process should only be carried out during the warmer months. If you want to grow mushrooms year-round, you can do so in a basement, a warehouse, a greenhouse, or even a living room. The main requirement is that it should be out of direct sunlight. The room should be dry and well ventilated. Radiators may be needed to maintain the correct temperature.

Humidity should be around 80–90%. This depends on the variety you're growing. To maintain the required humidity, you can use a simple technique: placing barrels of water. Before starting the process, disinfect the room, then be sure to whitewash it, and pour concrete on the floor. Divide the entire room into zones, each corresponding to a specific stage of the growing process.

Equipment is also crucial. Make sure you have plastic bags for planting mushrooms, refrigerators, radiators for heating, humidifiers, appropriate packaging, and boxes for harvesting.

Purchasing mycelium

The first step in growing mushrooms for sale is purchasing mycelium, or mycelium. It's from this mycelium that the mushrooms that will generate your income will soon emerge, so choose your product carefully. It should be white, smell good, and free of any foreign blemishes. To begin, it's a good idea to purchase from multiple suppliers. This will help you analyze the results and make a decision. Select suppliers based on the following criteria:

• availability of certificates;
• positive customer reviews;
• favorable price.

What staff will be required?

If you plan to earn a significant income from mushroom farming, you're unlikely to be able to manage it alone. To start, consider hiring family members to help you save on staff. Next, you'll likely need to hire and train laborers. Honesty and responsibility are key. All workers must have health certificates.

Growing mushrooms

White

Porcini mushrooms can be grown in open ground or in a greenhouse. Growing in mycelium is the most cost-effective method. In this case, almost everything depends on the grower. They create and maintain optimal conditions in the greenhouse. Compost is mixed with fertilizer and left to infuse for a couple of weeks. Mycelium is added to it, and the mushrooms are distributed into boxes, which are then placed on shelves.

Growing porcini mushrooms as a business is a painstaking process, but it does not require special training or skills.

Oyster mushrooms

Growing oyster mushrooms as a business is profitable. You can harvest a stable crop twice a month. The profitability of oyster mushroom cultivation depends on the volume of production. This mushroom is popular today. Finding a market for it will only increase your income. The business plan for growing these easy-to-grow oyster mushrooms is quite simple.

The compost and mycelium are packed into bags. The bags are sealed, with a few holes punched in them for air. The bags are placed on shelves. It is important to maintain a stable temperature during the incubation period and block natural light. When the first fruits appear, the temperature is lowered, the humidity is increased, and natural light is allowed in.

Champignons

Champignon is a commodity in demand, but its cultivation is considered a more complex process.

The right microclimate is crucial for mushrooms, and they also require a special substrate. You can make your own from straw, chicken manure, chalk, and ammonium sulfate. Layer the mixture and let it sit for 30 days, watering it daily and shaking it weekly. The mixture is ready for planting when the ammonia smell disappears. Cover the compost with soil, and plant the mycelium in it. The air temperature in the mycelium should be 25 degrees Celsius, and the humidity should be 80%. The first fruits are harvested after 2-3 months.

Sales of finished products

The harvested crop must be sold quickly to prevent spoilage. Fresh mushrooms are often sold using the following methods:

• retail;
• delivery to supermarkets or markets;
• sales through catering establishments.

Video: Growing Mushrooms at Home

This video will show you how to properly grow mushrooms at home.