How to Start Bird Watching Business in 2024 (Guide)

Are you interested in starting a bird-watching business? If yes, then this article is perfect for you. In this post, I’ll share my experience of starting a bird-watching business from scratch. I started my bird-watching business after I got tired of seeing birds only at zoos or parks. My passion for nature was growing day by day. I wanted to see them in their natural habitat. That’s why I decided to start a bird-watching business.

My goal was to provide quality service to customers who love nature and want to enjoy the beauty of nature. This way, they would come back to me time and again. Here’s how to start bird watching business.

What is Bird Watching?

Bird watching is a hobby where people go out into nature to watch birds. They usually do this by going to parks, national forests, or other places where they can observe them. The best way to learn about birds is to visit a local zoo or wildlife park.

Bird watching is one of my favorite hobbies. I love observing birds from the comfort of my home. If you want to start bird watching, here are some tips for beginners: first, learn about different types of birds, then find out where they live, how they behave, and when they migrate. Finally, purchase a pair of binoculars and observe them from your backyard.

How Does Bird-Watching Work?

The concept of birding or bird-watching started in the 19th century when most people used guns to get an unidentified bird. For research purposes, all they had was the bird’s corpse. But now things are different. With the correct equipment, it is possible to find identified birds and research them without killing them.

Since the 29th century, it has become a huge career opportunity for many. Birding has become a business opportunity for many startups and small businesses. In this article, I have shown some aspects of the bird-watching business.

What Do You Need to Start a Bird-Watching Business?

To start a bird-watching business, you’ll need a place to watch birds, binoculars, a camera, and a notebook. The best places to find rare species include national parks, nature reserves, and private estates. If you want to be successful at birdwatching, you should learn about the habits of different types of birds, such as where they feed, how long they stay in one area, and when they migrate. Here is a list of things you need to start Bird-watching,

An appropriate location

An appropriate location is required for bird-watching. Generally, open spaces like parks, banks of the river, large fields, and backyards.

Binoculars

Binoculars are the main equipment in bird-watching. Birding needs a lot of patience and observation power. With high-end binoculars, you will be able to spot birds, even those that are not properly visible to the naked eye.

Camera

Sometimes what we can’t see, our camera can capture. The same things happen in birding. With a professional DSLR and a correct lens, you can take hundreds of bird images. Every unidentified bird migrated from their native places, and their details – everything can be captured.

Field Guide

This is an optional thing. A field guide is a person that guides you to the bird-watching location, informs you about the birds that visit them, what types of birds are there, etc. This person is a guide to the bird watchers.

Bird Feeders

Bird feeders are to attract more birds for better views. Sometimes you can find the rarest bird migrated from the north in front of you, enjoying their lunch.

How to Start Bird Watching Business

Birding is one of my favorite hobbies. I love seeing birds in all kinds of places, but especially when I’m out walking around nature preserves. I’ve been birding since I was a kid, so I was wondering if I could turn my hobby into a profession. If you are also keen to know how to start a bird-watching business, then here is a list of steps to start a birding business,

Step 1: A Business Plan

If you want to start a birding business, you need a business plan. You must decide on what structure of the business you want to start, for example, LLC or a sole proprietorship, or a corporation. Decide on what you need and the initial budget, along with funding.

Step 2: Decide a Location

The next step is to find a proper location for your business. Usually, you need an open space with a lot of trees to get a hold of birds. Riversides with trees around are the best places for birding business. You can also select parks and public gardens as well.

Where you set up your business depends on what type of birds you’re going after. For instance, if you want to observe waterfowl, you’ll probably want to find a spot near a body of water.

Step 3: Register Your Business

Now, the most important part. You must register your business, even when it is small. You can start an LLC for your Bird-watching business as it is easy to set up and has tax advantages. It is important to register your business to avoid any legal issues in the future. You can always choose a sole proprietorship as well. For LLCs, you can explore LLCBuddy to know more about it.

LLCs are more convenient to form than other types. As you are going to set up a birding business, the location is very important here. LLCs have different advantages as per different states. For example, if you form an LLC in Florida, you get more tax advantages than an LLC in Texas, where you have to pay the Franchise Tax.

Step 4: Get the Equipment

You need a bunch of equipment for your birding business. The pieces of equipment are as follows,

• Binoculars
• A spotting scope
• A camera
• A tripod
• Field Guide
• Bird feeders

The above-mentioned pieces of equipment are necessary when you are in the bird-watching business. These are the basic equipment you need. You also need a good pair of lenses to capture birds from afar.

Step 5: Get Legal Papers Done

as soon as you register your bird-watching company, get the legal papers done. For example, you need a few licenses to start a business. Get those licenses and permits, if needed, to run a hassle-free business. You might get penalized if you fail to obtain a proper license and permit for your business.

Step 6: Get a Website

The next step is to get a website for your business. A website or an app will be the best way to get more clients. If you hire a professional business formation service provider, then they can help you build your business website. Make sure your website has all the important details, such as your services, contact details, and how you work.

After You Start Your Bird-Watching Business

There are a few things you need to obtain once you set up your business. For example, you need to obtain insurance and coverage for your employees. Besides, you need business bank accounts, credit cards, and other accounting tools.

• Insurance: Your business needs to be legally protected. General business insurance, employees’ coverage, and other insurance to be obtained for your business.
• Bank Accounts: It is always wise to separate your business accounts from your personal accounts. No matter how small your business is, your personal and professional bank accounts should be different. This helps you to check on your business expenses.
• Network/Follow-ups: It is important to follow up with your clients. Also, it is essential to increase your network to grab more attention from your potential customers.

Cost to Start a Bird-watching Business

The main cost of starting a bird-watching business is the spending on equipment. The other costs include business registration fees, permit fees, website hosting and building charges, and government fees to use public places.

Bird-watching businesses do not require a lot of initial investment. You can start your business at $3500 and can spend up to $35,000+. It depends on what type of equipment you are using for your business.

Earn Money from the Bird-watching Business

Professionals like zoologists, scientists, ornithologists, and such make a lot of money from bird-watching. You, as a bird-watching business, can make a lot of money. In 2019, the average annual income of bird watchers was more than $60,000. It went up later on to more than $100,000.

It is no doubt a profit-making business. However, you must know that you cannot make a profit within a month. It takes time to reach the breakeven point. Hence, it is wise to start your business small. Small businesses require a small initial investment. So, even if you make a profit at a slow pace, it won’t be a botheration.

FAQ

Why Start Bird Watching Business is So Important

One of the most important reasons why starting a bird watching business is so important is the potential economic impact it can have. By offering guided bird watching tours, selling bird watching equipment, or even providing accommodations for bird watchers, entrepreneurs in this field have the opportunity to not only create jobs and generate revenue for themselves but also contribute to the overall economic growth of their community. Additionally, by attracting visitors from far and wide who are eager to experience the beauty of local bird species, bird watching businesses can help stimulate the tourism industry and bring in much-needed revenue for the local economy.

But beyond the economic benefits, starting a bird watching business can also have a significant positive impact on the environment. By fostering a greater appreciation for nature and wildlife, bird watching businesses can help raise awareness about the importance of conservation and inspire individuals to take action to protect the habitats of birds and other wildlife. Furthermore, by providing educational opportunities for both locals and visitors alike, these businesses can help promote a greater understanding of the natural world and the need for sustainable practices that will ensure the continued well-being of our planet.

In addition to its economic and environmental benefits, starting a bird watching business also has the potential to foster a sense of community and connection among individuals who share a passion for birds and the great outdoors. By bringing people together through bird watching tours, workshops, and other events, these businesses can create a supportive and inclusive space where like-minded individuals can come together to learn, share experiences, and form lasting friendships. This sense of community can be incredibly valuable, especially in today’s increasingly digital and disconnected world, where genuine connections and opportunities for shared experiences are often hard to come by.

Overall, starting a bird watching business is a venture that can offer a wide range of benefits for both individuals and communities. From creating economic opportunities and promoting environmental conservation to fostering a sense of community and connection among nature lovers, the potential impact of these businesses is truly vast. As such, it is important for entrepreneurs to recognize the value of bird watching not just as a hobby, but as a business opportunity that has the power to enrich lives, support local economies, and contribute to a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

Conclusion

Bird-watching business is not so easy to start. It takes a lot of patience and observation. Keeping business plans aside, the essence of this business is to wait and watch every activity of birds. This article explains all the major and essential steps to start a bird-watching business. Share your views with us, comment below in the comment box.