Start a microgreens business for under $500

A basic commercial microgreens setup requires surprisingly little upfront investment. You can start selling with just a few shelving units and standard supplies, then reinvest profits to scale.

Starter Budget Breakdown

• Wire shelving unit (5-tier): $50-80
• LED shop lights (4-pack): $60-100
• 1020 trays (50 pack, with and without holes): $40-60
• Seeds (bulk, 5 varieties): $50-80
• Growing medium (coconut coir bricks): $20-30
• Spray bottles, timers, fan: $30-40
• Packaging (clamshell containers): $30-50
• Total: $280-440

Tips

• A single 5-tier shelf holds 10 trays and can produce $150-300 worth of microgreens per week
• Buy seeds in bulk (1-5 lb bags) from agricultural suppliers, not garden centers
• Reinvest first month's revenue into a second shelving unit to double capacity