Hey I’ve recently been given an opportunity to start a 1500 square foot grow facility. Before I take the next step I’m wondering if anyone in this forum has experience running something of that size? What am I looking at for start up costs? To monthly bills? Any info would help thank you
1500 ft sq feet
- Thread starter Mikeyd822
- Start date
Have you grown much before? Decent sized area to just jump into. Startup costs and monthly bills are going to be expensive. Probably 5k a month minimum for electricity, water, ferts etc. Startup costs will be big. Guessing 100k minimum to start once you get everything.
I see you've only got 2 grows under your belt. I would keep researching and practising and just expand as you go. If you jump into something that size chances are you're going to be in over your head, and it's too much money to just throw down without a guaranteed return.
If you aren't using the whole building what's the point asking startup costs and running costs for the whole facility? Just do what you can afford to, and expand as you go.
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
Write down everything you will need, figure out medium you are going to use, then pot sizes, are you going to recycle if in soil, or compost, waste is big part too. Dont forget liquid waste from runoff if not hydroponic, Ac and lights, how to feed. Climate control, there's too long of a list. But a huge area to start with. Clones over seeding every crop will save you time. Wow I wish I were you. I'd think of it as a whole bunch of 4x4 areas.
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
No idea, I've got 4x8 for fig trees and houseplants, and a 4x4 tent for flower. Total of 1600w of light so I'm small scale, have you decided on lights yet?
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
I guess if you know what wattage lights you are using can get better idea on hydro bill and go from there. Ac etc.
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
Very good lights will do 5x5 for flowering, and say 800 watt led
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
I'd use burners for that size.
Depends what you pay per kWh of electricity, what ferts you're using, how much electricity blah blah blah. How long is a piece of string? Too many variables.
My area is around 200 square feet, running costs probably around $2000 a month, to buy everything again to start up would be atleast 30k.
In full swing pull 10~ pound every 2 months, 5k a pound here.
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
there you go, 2000 for 200. So 1000 for every 100sq ft 1500sq ft is 15 thousand a month approx.
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
so four months say before first crop, maybe 6 months depending how slow it goes. Tats about 100 thousand like other person said.
Southernontariogrower
Well-Known Member
the backbone to any grow in my eyes is the light, then medium and environment.
I'm in Australia so probably a bit cheaper for electricity and equipment over there, but can give him a rough idea anyway. If you need to pay rent or mortgage for facility add that on top aswell, + licensing fees if you are going legal, + cost of clones or seeds if you need to buy them.
Start small and expand, never underestimate a grower with his head screwed on, if you double up every harvest it doesn't take long to go from 2 lights, to 4 lights, to 8 lights, to 16 lights etc etc...
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Cost to setup properly, probably 100k maybe more if you go full frog. Electric bills, probably about 2500 a month depending on the rate.
My grow is a 1300 sqft grow, I don't have to deal with compliance or state so that makes it cheaper. My electric bills are about 2k a month and I pull 45 - 50 pounds per crop.
Little things like disposal of used nutes can be an issue with a licensed grow and state regulations. Some states require a lot in cameras. So add to the cost. For a state compliant grow in Co probably about 500k to startup with all the regulations and licensing.
My grow is a 1300 sqft grow, I don't have to deal with compliance or state so that makes it cheaper. My electric bills are about 2k a month and I pull 45 - 50 pounds per crop.
Little things like disposal of used nutes can be an issue with a licensed grow and state regulations. Some states require a lot in cameras. So add to the cost. For a state compliant grow in Co probably about 500k to startup with all the regulations and licensing.
Damn you must have cheap power there or alot of solar panels haha.