Beekeeping is a fantastic hobby adored by many mainly due to the sweet rewards. Nearly anyone can master the necessary skills needed to be a successful beekeeper. Every journey starts with preparation, and beekeeping is no exemption. Besides taking the essential courses, joining a beekeeping association in your region, and looking for an ideal location for your hive, you need money resources. It is good to have an idea of what to expect as you start the venture. 

Similar Articles you may like to read –
What are the easiest bees to take care of?
What is the best bee hive design?
Do you need a Licence to keep bees?
How many bee colonies should I start with?

Is beekeeping expensive to start? / cost to start beekeeping

The initial cost of beekeeping can be overwhelming to a new beekeeper. You must invest in protective gear, beekeeping equipment, a hive, and bees. The initial cost depends on the hive configuration, number of colonies, and type of bee package. You may also use additional resources if you need protection for your hives, such as an electric fence. It is also hard for the bees to pay you in the first year since they have much to do in the first season. 

You must be patient with yourself and the bees too. The minimum cost you can spend with a single hive in the first year ranges between $500 and $760. A beekeeper can be able to lower this cost by shopping locally. Thankfully, most of the supplies and clothing last for many years. Again, as you learn the craft, you will be able to make new colonies by splitting the existing ones. It is always advisable to start with two colonies to increase the odds of beekeeping. 

What are the essential beekeeping tools you require, and what is the cost?

A Hive Smoker

It generates smoke that beekeepers use to calm bees during inspections, harvesting, and general hive maintenance practices. The cost ranged between $30-$40.

Hive Tool

It helps you get past the propolis seals the bees have built. Bees have a tendency to seal the covers, frames, and boxes with propolis. The cost ranges from $ 7 and $12. 

Bee Brush

A bee brush helps you to remove the bees from the boxes that you don’t require them to be when you are carrying out inspections or harvesting. It costs between $5-$10. 

What is the cost of beehives?

The cost of beehives varies widely. It depends on the type of configuration, whether you buy it assembled or not, painted or not and the quality of the wood. If using the ten-frame Langstroth hive, the commonly used version, expect to use $100-$200 per unit. There may be an additional cost of a hive stand which is reasonably necessary to prolong the life of the hive. 

Is it advisable to buy hive kits as a beginner?

There are many beekeeping supply companies that sell beehive kits. They contain the necessary basic supplies and other extra tools, such as a queen marker. It can be a great way of saving money if it has the required tools. You should check cautiously to ensure the size of the included components in the kits fits you, and it’s what you want in your apiary. Kits may also contain things you may not need; ensure you look for what you really need. 

What is the cost of honey bees?

The cost of honey bees ranges between $100 and $350, depending on how you obtain them. But if you are lucky to get a swarm, it is free. A bee package costs between $120 and $175, and a nuc costs $150 and $ 250. Overwintered nucs are more expensive. An established hive costs between $250 and $350.

More articles you may like to read –
How much money is a queen bee worth?
Should you paint the inside of bee boxes?
What is the best color for bee boxes?
What is the best month to start beekeeping?

  

What are the ongoing costs of beekeeping? 

Besides the initial cost, there are other expenses that you will incur in managing colonies. Some of these include supplemental feeding sometime during the year and purchasing bee feeders. Others include pest management, especially varroa mites. You will require to pay for each treatment. You may also consider buying a honey extractor with time.