Additional information
by Julia Shanks (Author), Jean-Martin Fortier (Foreword by)
Transform farming from financial guesswork into profitable business management. Complete toolkit of templates, systems, and strategies for tracking costs, planning cash flow, and building a successful farm business that provides both financial security and farming satisfaction.
Why Most Small Farms Fail Financially:
90% of small farms struggle not because of poor growing skills, but because of poor business management. This system provides the financial foundation successful farmers use to build sustainable, profitable operations.
What You'll Master:
- Financial planning templates for budgeting, cash flow, and profitability analysis
- Record-keeping systems that track true costs and identify profit opportunities
- Marketing strategies for direct sales, CSAs, and wholesale relationships
- Tax planning and legal structures that protect and optimize farm income
- Growth planning tools for scaling operations systematically and safely
Real Farm Business Results:
Farmers using these systems report 25-40% improvement in profitability, clearer understanding of true costs, and confidence in business decisions that previously felt like guesswork.
Turn your farming passion into a profitable business. Essential for anyone serious about making farming financially sustainable long-term.
Author Biography
Julia Shanks brings a broad range of professional experience to her clients; from pilot, to chef, to serial entrepreneur, she combines the practicality of an accountant with the creativity of a chef. Julia's career started at the FAA as an aviation analyst, and quickly took a turn into the culinary arts. Julia worked as a chef for 15 years, launching several food businesses. After earning an MBA in entrepreneurship, she taught graduate and undergraduate accounting at Babson College. As a business consultant and coach, she supports owners of small- and medium- sized food and agricultural businesses to achieve and maintain financial and operational sustainability. Together with Brett Grohsgal, she co-authored The Farmers Market Cookbook. Julia lives in Cambridge, MA.
