Here's what my farm stand cost, as well as how I could have paid less in retrospect

I purchased a farm stand in 2024 for my farm as a way to start selling directly to the public without a special use permit. I have since learned how I could have paid less.

When it sank in around June 2024 that I was not going to be able to open my structure anytime soon after learning I needed a special use permit from the town, I felt defeated after such a successful string of months watching the Amish build the most beautiful barn center I had ever seen.

I used up all of my liquid cash to have this property built out, planning on being able to start earning some of the funds back a few months later.

The special use permit curveball stopped me in my tracks. It’s not that getting a permit is the problem - it’s that the town drags it out until at least the following year for a slew of reasons I won’t bore you with in this article.

I panicked.

Until my mom gave me the idea to go direct to the public.

“What if you get a farm stand? Then you can sell anything crafted, grown, etc. at the property immediately,” she said.

It was a brilliant idea.

Being near Amish country, there are tons of shed stores within an hour of my farm. The Amish excel at building accessory structures, and clearly, my farm stand is no different.

Below I am going to break down what this farm stand cost, as well as how I could have navigated the network better to get a cheaper rate (a process I have learned since buying the stand). Not a day goes by that I regret buying this farm stand… it changed everything for me at a time when my confidence was low, and ended up earning $50-$100/per day by October.

(Here is an article I wrote in 2024 about everything I sold at the farm stand and what I charged for it. I will be writing another article like this around June 2025 to keep you updated on new products/pricing):

Everything I sell at my farm stand and what I charge

With that, let’s dive into the finances of my farm stand!