How to Start a Microgreens Business
in 2026
📅 Last updated: March 07, 2026
Everything you need to launch a profitable microgreens business — from legal setup and equipment to pricing, marketing, and getting your first 10 clients. Plus: how AI can run your operations.
Skip the manual work. Let AI run your business.
Bizzby gives you a full AI team — marketing, sales, bookings, invoicing, client management — for $199/mo. One human VA costs $3,000-$4,000/mo and does a fraction of the work.
Use this execution order to launch with clear pricing, reliable delivery, and consistent lead flow in your first 30 days.
Set Up Your Grow Space and First Varieties
You can start growing microgreens in a spare bedroom, garage, or basement with basic shelving and lights.
- Grow space: a 4x4 ft shelving unit with 3-4 shelves holds 12-16 trays. Start with one rack ($50-$100).
- LED grow lights: T5 or T8 LED bars, one per shelf. $30-$100 per light. 12-16 hours/day on a timer.
- Starter varieties: sunflower, pea shoots, radish, broccoli, and wheatgrass. These grow fast (7-14 days) and sell well.
- Growing medium: coco coir or organic potting soil. Coco coir is cleaner, lighter, and easier to manage at $0.50-$1.00/tray.
- Trays: standard 10x20 grow trays. Buy 60 to start (20 planted, 20 germinating, 20 being cleaned). $1-$2 each.
Master the Grow Cycle
Microgreens grow in 7-14 days from seed to harvest. Consistency in your process determines product quality and yield.
- Soak seeds: large seeds (sunflower, pea) soak 8-12 hours before planting. Small seeds (broccoli, radish) can direct-sow.
- Blackout period: cover trays with a weight for 3-5 days after planting. This forces root development and stronger stems.
- Watering: bottom-water daily to avoid mold. Keep soil moist but not soaked. Good airflow prevents 90% of mold issues.
- Harvest timing: cut at soil level when first true leaves appear. Use a sharp knife for clean cuts that extend shelf life.
- Yield per tray: 6-12 oz depending on variety. Sunflower and pea shoots yield highest weight per tray.
Price for Restaurant and Direct-to-Consumer Sales
Microgreens sell for $25-$50 per pound retail — one of the highest revenue-per-square-foot crops you can grow.
- Retail pricing: $3-$5 per oz in clamshells at farmers markets. $4-$6/oz for specialty varieties (amaranth, cilantro).
- Restaurant pricing: $15-$30 per lb (discounted from retail). Chefs buy weekly in 1-2 lb quantities.
- Cost per tray: seeds ($0.50-$2.00) + soil ($0.50-$1.00) + packaging ($0.25-$0.50) = $1.25-$3.50 total per tray.
- Revenue per tray: $8-$20 retail, $6-$15 wholesale. Target 70-80% gross margin on every tray.
- Subscription option: weekly delivery box ($15-$30/week) for direct consumers or juice bars.
Land Restaurant Accounts and Farmers Market Spots
Restaurants buy consistently and predictably. Farmers markets give you cash flow and direct customer feedback.
- Restaurant outreach: bring free samples to 10-15 chef/kitchen managers per week. Show up during prep hours (2-4 PM).
- Sample kit: 3-4 varieties in labeled clamshells with your business card and price sheet. Cost: $5-$10 per sample kit.
- Farmers markets: apply to 2-3 local markets. Booth fees run $25-$75/week. Bring plenty of stock — sell-outs build reputation.
- Grocery stores: independent natural food stores and co-ops are easier to get into than chains. Start with 2-3 local stores.
- Instagram: post daily grow updates and harvest photos. Tag local restaurants and chefs who are using your product.
Scale Production and Add Delivery Routes
Once you are selling 50+ trays per week, add racks, expand varieties, and build weekly delivery routes.
- Add rack space: each 4-shelf rack adds $200-$400 in weekly revenue capacity. Scale by racks, not by square footage.
- Delivery routes: group restaurant and store deliveries by geography. 2-3 delivery days per week is standard.
- Expand varieties: add high-margin specialty greens (basil, cilantro, amaranth) that chefs request and pay premium for.
- Food safety: get a food handler's permit ($15-$50) and consider GAP certification if targeting grocery chains.
- Weekly metrics: trays harvested, trays sold, revenue per tray, waste rate, and new accounts added.
Most operators are up and growing for under $1,000 — and recover that investment within the first month of restaurant accounts.
| Item | Budget Start | Professional Setup |
|---|---|---|
| 10×20 grow trays (60 qty) | $60 | $120 |
| LED grow lights (T5 bars) | $120 | $400 |
| Seedling heat mats (2) | $50 | $100 |
| Seeds — 5 starter varieties | $50 | $150 |
| Grow medium (coco coir/soil) | $40 | $120 |
| Packaging (clamshells, bags) | $60 | $200 |
| Kitchen scale | $25 | $60 |
| Food handler permit | $15 | $50 |
| Product liability insurance | $300 | $700 |
| Business registration (LLC) | $50 | $200 |
| Business operations (Bizzby) | $199/mo (Starter) | $499/mo (Scale) |
| Total | ~$800 | ~$2,100 |
Income depends on route density, average ticket, and how quickly you move from one-off jobs to repeat clients.
Microgreens are one of the highest-value crops per square foot. Price by weight for wholesale, by container for retail.
Bizzby replaces the need for a receptionist, marketing team, bookkeeper, and office manager. Here's what each plan includes.
🚀 Starter — $199/mo
Everything you need to run a one-person business professionally. AI handles scheduling, invoicing, client communication, review requests, and basic marketing. You focus on the work.
- AI receptionist (24/7 call & text handling)
- Online booking & scheduling
- Automated invoicing & payments
- Review generation & management
- Basic email marketing
- Client CRM
⚡ Scale — $499/mo
Everything in Starter, plus advanced marketing, team management, and growth tools. Built for businesses ready to scale from solo to team.
- Everything in Starter
- Advanced marketing campaigns
- Team scheduling & dispatching
- Multi-location support
- Advanced analytics & reporting
- Priority support
- Custom integrations
Execute this in order and you will launch with pricing discipline, operational control, and early revenue momentum.
Week 1-2: Foundation
- Set up first shelving rack with LED grow lights on timers in a spare room or garage
- Order 60 grow trays, 5 seed varieties (sunflower, pea, radish, broccoli, wheatgrass), and coco coir
- Plant your first 10-15 test trays and document growth cycle, yield per tray, and harvest timing
- Get a food handler's permit ($15-$50) and check your state's cottage food or food production requirements
- Register LLC, get EIN, and open a business checking account
- Order branded packaging (clamshells, labels) and calculate cost-per-tray for each variety
- Apply to 2-3 local farmers markets for the next available weekend booth
Week 3-4: Launch
- Harvest first full batch and sell at your first farmers market — bring 30+ clamshells and business cards
- Prepare sample kits (3-4 varieties in labeled containers) for restaurant outreach
- Visit 10-15 local restaurants during prep hours (2-4 PM) with free samples and a price sheet
- Contact 3-5 independent grocery stores and co-ops about consignment or wholesale placement
- Set up Instagram and post daily grow cycle photos, harvest videos, and customer shots
- Start a production spreadsheet tracking trays planted, harvested, sold, and waste rate per variety
- Land your first 3 recurring restaurant accounts with weekly standing orders
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