Many sideline and commercial beekeepers started out keeping bees as a hobby. As a beginning beekeeper, you should start small and let your operation grow with your enthusiasm and experience. New beekeepers often want to start with a single colony, but it is better to begin with at least two colonies. While the initial cost is higher, the time required to manage two colonies is no greater than the time required to care for one, and some of the management problems you may face can be corrected with the assistance of a second colony. Marketing Honey Producing honey for profit is highly dependent on successful marketing.
Most beekeepers produce extracted honey.
It is more profitable to produce this type of honey under conditions where honey flows are generally light. Some beekeepers who do not want to be bothered with extracting equipment produce cut-comb honey, which is relatively easy to produce. Section-comb honey, however, requires close attention to details and more frequent manipulation of bees than the production of the other honeys. For detailed marketing information and useful resources, contact the National Honey Board. Renting hives to growers for pollination services can be an important source of income for beekeepers.