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Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/08/11 16:59Hi, I'm new to this board and wanted to introduce myself here. I'm currently doing my homework, purchasing books and reading through websites and forums such as this to get started. It really seems there's lots to learn
I know this is a personal and sensitive question, and I will understand if no one answers it, but I haven't ran across any information with respect to the income potential of raising and selling worms. It seems like there are a lot of variables (season, retail vs wholesale, # of experience, full-time vs part-time, type of worm used, etc), but strictly speaking, as one who would like to sell worms on a part-time basis, and then eventually make it a full-time job, what would be the general income range I could expect to see?
Sorry for the long post
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WFike
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 216
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/08/12 16:56I am rich from doing it and I have only been doing it 6 months!(rich in the ways of learning and making new friends with the same hobby that is!) But Now that I have your attention, I think that the income potential is unlimited. From finding a few bait shops to sell cupped worms to ($1000.00 a week easy in the spring if you want to workhard), (encs probably,) to building a website and selling 1 to 5 lbs to vermicomposters, to selling bedrun worms to others wanting to get started raising their own, to building vermi beds complete with worms and selling locally, to selling worm castings to gardeners, the potential is unlimited. not to mention that if you ever want to go fishing you will always have enough bait! I like to think also that I have several million employees steady working out back to make me money. I have about $175.00 in my operation at this time. (other than gas and time)If you kept a look out all the stuff you need is free for the asking to do it. Except a building and the first 10 lbs. of worms of course.
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Kayne
User A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 6
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/08/12 21:37WFike, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I see what you are saying, as it seems that you are diversifying your products to the same niche - smart.
I've had ant farms, grown chickens, and raised finches as a hobby, so making the transition over to worms seemed natural. When I learned from a friend (who needed worms for fishing) that I could make $$ raising and selling worms, I sortof shrugged him off. Came home, went on the internet to do some searching and the rest is history.
Although I'm sort of a hard facts guy, I'm going to go with your insights and experience (as other data likewise point to the potential of selling worms).
Just to play devil's advocate:
If rearing and selling worms has a strong market, then why aren't a lot of people involved? I'm not a hardcore fisher, but doesn't fishing only take place during the months of Feb-June? (which is why you should diversify, I know)
I suppose I'm comparing this to the real estate craze, and the money making potential in it (Ok, I'm a factual, business guy - but have a heart too).
More worm reading tonight ...
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Kyle
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 107
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/08/25 12:37I live in iowa. From illinois. fishing takes place year round here. Busiest from april thru october.
Then theres ice fishing. The mississippi hasent frozen over for years. Trust me fishing is a year round sport.
Also in the south there is no end.
I also want to point out. Bait sales are a small part. fertilizer is the biggest money maker in my opinion.
Thanks Kyle
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Mrs.M
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 54
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/09/27 14:58I live in a town with a population of 187,000 people. I live in what is considered an agricultural area; yet the availability of worms or castings is for all practicle purposes, non-existant. I see a wide open market for my worms, castings and tea in my region coupled with a ridiculous amount of food available for my worms in the form of cow manure.
I think if you look around your area and see where the need is and the availability of food for the worms are, making money should just be directly related to the amount of time your willing to invest in marketing. A good marketing plan seems to be the key to successful worm farming from what I have read. I think since the world is going green and worms are definitely green, you're just hopping onto the wave of the future. You're lucky to be getting on the action at the beginning. I know I'm going to give it a go. The worst that can happen is I can end up with very rich soil in my own yard.
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markbrauer
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 248
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/12/24 10:57I know this thread is a few months old, but just read it. I was wondering, Kayne, if anything has transpired? I know its winter and can put a bit of a hault on things, but its a great time to build up the business and have it ready to run come spring. Unless of course you have indoor room to spare and get your worms breeding, or if you live in FL.
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Paratrooper
User A Mature Breeder Earthworm
Posts: 77
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/12/24 17:37You buy a pound of worms and worst case scenario gives you another pound in 90 days max . If you sell a pound to someone else you can make $25 every 3 months . You have some time and kitchen scraps invested . If you sell as fishing bait the money is better . This is a micro of the worm macro . If you have 10 pounds you can make a minimum of $250 in 3 months . More if you sell to fishermen . You will make more than the minimum if you cultivate the market . If you take the pound for $25 formula you can easily determine a minimum return for your initial investment and ongoing time commitment . Since the food is almost a non-issue you will figure your time and your return . In the beginning the time factor is virtually none . Many folks feed every week or two . Much of the time dedicated to the raising is just "messin'" with the worms just to keep track of what's going on . If you extend your time out to where you are spending 40 hours a week working your worm deals you will have a good idea of the money involved . Simply put . One pound will make you $25 in 3 months so 10 pounds can bring $250 in 3 months or $1000 a year . The $1000 sum is still predicated on very minimal time out of your life . Also remember the compost for your use . The compost for sale/barter and compost tea which commands a premium . If you garden you can grow better crops and if they are organic there is another market . The worms are a beginning . The end is determined by your imigination , willingness to work at it and the time you can/will give to this endeavor . Worms seem simple at face value but you will have a unique opportunity to do well just by doing something ordinary in an extraordinary way . I can make chicken and no longer be hungry . The Colonel made chicken and ..... well , as Rudyard Kipling used to say "That is another story."Tom Kingman Arizona
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wormherder
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 65
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/12/26 20:19even in florida fresh water fishing is not always a year round thing it doesnt rain from dec. to june sometimes the ponds dry up.. in season i bring in 5-7 hundred a week with only 15-20 customers but i also have some tackle in there. the bounty is endless but it can be a long tedious process to be self sufficient where you dont have to purchase worms from any one and as always you are gonna make costly mistakes. it all sounds great but nothing worth anything is easy. try convience stores dont stay with just the fishing places people want beer, ice, worms and gas all at once dont limit your self in bait stores only......................
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markbrauer
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 248
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/12/26 20:44Wormherder...forgive me if you've mentioned this in another post. What kind of worms do you grow? Since you do bait, I'm assuming you do a few different types. I'm not selling, yet , but am doing Reds and have EuroNC's on the way.-:Mark:- MEInc.us Hampton, VA
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wellsworms
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 490
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2007/12/27 08:57WORMHERDER what type of growing beds do you use to produce that many worms ane what method of harvesting do you use please post a picture. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape. WELLS,vermont jerry walker 2008
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wormherder
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 65
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2008/01/10 21:38believe me I am far from self sufficient but am slowly getting there. I have seven bathtubs and lots of plastic totes every where on my porch... I also have two homemade bakers rack for space issuses,that has plastic totes that slide in on rails (need lots more of those) best idea I have had yet for space. my porch is about 20 x 25 2 air conditioners temp between 60 -65 little higher when I have the clothes dryer running all afternoon, and in summer when it is 100 degrees outside its about 75 degrees, It is insulated with the stuff that air conditioning ducts is made from and sealed with metal tape. Bathtubs have stainless screen over hole (from previous place i worked) not porch screen (hardware screen) bathtubs came from supplywarehouse as damaged unable to install (free) sitting on cinder blocks three high so i dont have to bend over so far (leveling is extremely important for drainage, when I count worms and twice a week besides that I pick a least a bait cup of eggs out by hand and put them in new peat moss ( eggs are sensitive to heat and air exposure) I put them in trays in bakers rack and let them hatch keeping a lid on totes seems to help control moisture level and stabilize temp,I do not feed at all until many of the eggs start to hatch, eggs do not need Food just protection from many of the bad things that can go wrong in the beds sorry cant send photos but I hope this is what you were looking for and this gives ideas to you help you along....... please share if you have an idea I might be able to use.. wormherder
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wormherder
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 65
Re:Worm Farming Income Potential - 2008/01/10 21:45mark i have euros and very small red wrigglers cant remember the name but they dont get very big and they eat more than the euros do, cant seem to get much gardners intrested in them have had some luck selling to pet store for food for small birds and fish but they reproduce faster than euros and space for them becomes a problem.they also dont seem to last real well in a cup like the euros do get your business going so you can come on a business trip....
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