FlockWorks

Frequently asked questions - Renting YOUR Goats 

• How can I rent out my goats?
  In the past we had lots of information built into this site to help with just that.  Now we are starting a whole new site, but it's just getting set up currently. GoatWorks  
  
  But to try to encourage others in the mean time... a few more questions until the new site is up.
• Really, How can I rent out my goats?
  The nice thing about renting goats is you can start out small... Very small even.  There are companies that specialize in overgrown urban backyards that only have two or three goats. 
  
  A good recommendation is to start off understanding the width and breadth (we goat rental companies REALLY vary a lot!) of the industry, your market area, your resources and then start to plan how you think you'd like to proceed based on that.   
  
• Can I make money renting out my goats? 
• It is definitely possible.  Historically, in areas prone to wildfires, there is no where near enough people renting goats (and sheep) to meet the demand.  We have no idea what they *make*, but some western goat rental firms invoice hundreds of thousands per month, in season.  In many agricultural areas, managing with livestock is slow to take hold.  Most urban, and adjacent urban areas cannot seem to get enough of goats working on their properties.    
  
  Like all businesses.  You have to balance your expenses with your fees.  Most new goat rental companies make the mistake of undercharging.  Costs can really add up, especially unexpected ones like illness in the herd, winter hay needs being 4 or 5 times what you calculated, equipment replacement, etc. 
• What does it take to start?
  That depends a lot on what you're tying to accomplish and how you want to manage your herd(s).  FlockWorks started as a response to the "great recession" and we couldn't really have started out with less or simpler.  But, wow!  It sure would have been easier with more resources.  We still have no agricultural buildings, no permanent fence (except one infirmary area), no truck, no livestock trailer, no.... Really almost none of the things people consider a requirement.  But all that means more physical work and coordination.... Different costs, really.  
  
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