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Step-by-step guide

Beekeeping and selling honey: your step-by-step start

Keep a few hives on a farm, smallholding or big yard, harvest honey and wax, and sell jars locally or to shops.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • about 1 hour in total

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Patient, calm people who like being outdoors, are not afraid of bees, and can wait a season for the first harvest.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 240 days.
  • You cannot put about R3 000 into getting started.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 240 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: stings and allergic reactions: wear protective gear and keep an allergy plan.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How beekeeping and selling honey worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Choose a safe spot away from neighbours, paths and animals3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Aim for download the Department of Agriculture registration form3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Register as a beekeeper and buy one or two hives3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Buy a suit, gloves, smoker and hive tool3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Aim for inspect hives every two weeks and write down what you see3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Design a simple jar label with your name and area3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R3 000 to R15 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Hive boxes and frames
  • Bee suit, gloves, smoker and hive tool
  • Jars and labels
  • Hive inspection notebook

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.