Depending on the part of the country you live in, commercial beekeeping
(where you earn your sole living from the bees) may or may not be possible.
 A sideline operation is probably possible virtually everywhere.
 
Here in California, the standard estimate for bare bones breaking even with a
commercial business is 500 hives; 750-1000 hives is the minimum estimate for
earning a living with any degree of comfort.
 
Minimum equipment depends on the type of operation you want to run.  At the
very least, you'll need bees, bee hives, and a flatbed truck or trailer on
which to move them (no matter what you do, you'll need to move your hives or
your supers at some point).  I recommend a boom (if you plan a small
commercial operation) or a forklift (if you plan to get big).  They are
easier on your back than loading by hand.
 
We started beekeeping in 1992 with one hive.  This year we have made enough
splits so it looks like we'll have 600 or so going into the winter.  We
financed our business in three ways.  (1) For the first year and a half, my
husband, Kevin, had a part-time job and I worked full-time. We turned all the
extra money into the bees.  Kevin has been a full-time beekeeper for 2 years;
 I still work full-time at a job other than beekeeping.  If our plan stays on
track, I will move to part-time work next year, and within 2 years move to
full-time beekeeping.  (2)  Kevin's father loaned us some money at a
competitive interest rate (interest-only payments with a balloon payment in
10 years; very nice).  If you borrow money from friends or relatives, make it
official with paperwork.  You can get loan papers from stationery stores.
 (3)  We financed some business emergencies with personal credit cards (not
recommended.  Interest rates are high, but it is better to have a truck with
an engine than a truck without an engine).
 
You can grow slowly without financing by simply buying equipment and bees as
you have the money to do so.  This can take Many years, however.  On the
other hand, do not try to grow too quickly.  In 1994, we grew beyond our
ability (too short on time and money and knowledge and locations) to maintain
the bees, and we had a 30% mortality that year.  Oops.
 
For the first year or so, Kevin worked with a sideline beekeeper, helping him
with his 175 colonies in exchange for equipment and bees.  This is highly
recommended.  Even if you do not agree with everything the other beekeeper
does, you will learn a great deal.
 
Also, contact your extension entomologist.  They often have information about
commercial beekeeping, and can point you to commercial beekeeping
organizations in your area.  We joined the Delta Bee Club, which has a lot of
commercial beekeepers as members.  In order to attend their monthly meetings,
we have to drive for one-two hours one way (meeting sites vary), but it is
worth it.  You can ask questions and listen and learn.  Join your state
organization and ATTEND the annual convention.  Park yourself next to the
bar, or near the food, and think of something to ask anyone you even vaguely
recognize.  Go ahead.  Make a pest of yourself.  Introduce yourself to total
strangers.  At the luncheons and the dinners, pick out interesting people you
would like to learn from, and ask if you can sit at their table.  Ask and
LISTEN and ask some more!  Join one of the national associations, and attend
conventions when your finances permit (we haven't gone to any yet); at the
very least, you'll be getting their newsletters.
 
Do as much research as you can on the prices of things.  Read all the
journals (at least Bee Culture, Amercian Bee Journal, and Speedy Bee),
request all the mail-order catalogs (ask about wholesale prices), read all
the classified ads on bulletin boards at supply shops.  Often beekeepers have
an inflated view of the worth of their equipment, bees, locations, and/or
their business in general.  Don't buy anything until you've satisfied
yourself that the price is fair.  I can't think of any beekeeper who would
intentionally sell something for an unfair price, but I know a lot who would
make up a price that seemed good to them without checking the market.  It's
your job as the buyer to know the market.
 
Most commercial beekeepers I know are perfectly happy to discuss things with
"wannabes".  After all, you'll be the one buying their equipment when they
want to sell.  They also know that it's not knowledge that makes a beekeeper
successful; it's hard work.  If you aren't cut out to make your own business
a success, nothing I tell you is going to help you succeed.
 
The way to find locations is to ask everyone.  When you drive by a place that
looks good, go knock on the door.  10 of them will turn you down, and one
will say yes.  We also give classroom presentations that sometimes lead to
locations (from the parents); rotary club presentations that sometimes lead
to locations; we have a booth at the county fair (we sell honey and break
even on the cost of the booth) that sometimes leads to locations; Kevin
helped a local rancher at a branding a couple months ago--that led to some
possible locations.  You need to be as visible as you can possibly be in the
community.  Sometimes we get swarm calls... most of them we turn down,
because we simply don't have the time.  But sometimes a rancher will call
about a swarm near a corral--if we can possibly manage it, we try to help
them out... sometimes it leads to a location.  Hand out your card to
everyone.  Ask people whose property you are currently on if they know anyone
else who might be interested in bees.
 
Start-up costs will vary depending on the type of operation you want to run
(honey?  pollination?  specialty products?  queens?) and on how quickly you
want the operation to become self-sustaining.  Kevin's father loaned us
$49,000 over the course of 3 years.  You might need more or less financing
depending on how you choose to operate.
 
If you think you don't have enough money to start the business, I recommend
that you look at the ways in which you spend money.  We moved, and reduced
our housing costs by more than half.  We also cut out a lot of luxuries:
 cable TV, eating out, new clothes.....  And all our cars/trucks are paid
for.  There's a lot that most of us can do to change our spending habits and
free up a little "seed money" for a business.
 
I recommend two books:  "Following the Bloom: Across America with the
Migratory Beekeepers" by Douglas Whynott, and "Small-Time Operator" by
Bernard Kamoroff.  The first is about commercial beekeeping.  The second is
about starting your own small business, and addresses issues like taxes,
financing a new business, employees, bookkeeping, and business plans.
 
I hope this was helpful.  Sorry about its length.
  Shawna Roberts, co-owner
  Gypsy Bees