From day-to-day operations to preparing for drought, managing risk, or applying for finance, the Farm Business Planning guide offers a step-by-step approach to building a whole-of-business plan that reflects the unique goals and circumstances of every unique farm business. As farmers work through the guide, they’re supported to complete a comprehensive Farm Business Plan—an essential document that can inform decision-making, support financial applications, and strengthen communication with family members, staff, and advisers.
The guide includes real-life case studies, a downloadable business plan template, and links to financial spreadsheets such as cash flow templates, profit and loss statements, and gross margin budgets. It also supports producers to align their planning with national competency standards in business management.
The publication has been designed with flexibility in mind—it’s suitable for producers starting out, expanding, planning succession, or simply looking to take stock and make better-informed decisions.
Specific agribusiness templates have been developed to support you in documenting your own business plan and financial statements. You can download electronic versions and adapt them for your own purposes. Find them in the drop-down below or click the download buttons below the purchasing options.
The review and update of the guide was made possible by NSW’s Farm Business Resilience Program. The farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and NSW Government.
Specific agribusiness templates have been developed to support you in documenting your own business plan and financial statements. You can download electronic versions and adapt them for your own purposes.
The planning template is available as a Microsoft Word document to use in printed or digital format: Farm business plan template DOCX, 3389.5 KB.
The financial templates used in the book are available to download as an Excel spreadsheet: Farm business financial templates XLSX, 19.77 KB.
You can see the financial information for the Case studies in this Excel spreadsheet: Case study financials XLSX, 1574.53 KB.
Financial statements, templates and examples prepared by Ellie Hays, Agrista Pty Ltd, on behalf of The Farm Business Resilience Program, for the Farm Business Planning AgGuide.
CHAPTER 1 Getting started
CHAPTER 2 Business description
CHAPTER 3 Planning for the future
CHAPTER 4 Production plan
CHAPTER 5 Marketing plan
CHAPTER 6 Sustainability and resources
CHAPTER 7 Risk management
CHAPTER 8 Drought and adverse events
CHAPTER 9 Finance plan
CHAPTER 10 Pulling it all together
Glossary
APPENDIX 1 Drought plan template
APPENDIX 2 Flood plan template
APPENDIX 3 Gross margin samples
| Title | Farm business planning |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jessica Bell, Noeleen Clarke, Jennifer Laffan (Ed.) |
| Pages | 90 |
| ISBN | 9781760588991 |
| Catalogue number | B1003 |
| Year published | 2025 |
| Publisher | NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development |
| Price | $30.00AUD (inc GST) |
| Paperback / Hardback - $30.00 | Buy now |
| eBook - $14.99 (iPad/iPhone) |
|
| eBook - $14.99 (PC/Android) |
|
| Farm business plan template - Free | Download free |
| Financial template spreadsheets - Free | Download free |
| Case study financials - Free | Download free |
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