How to Create an Online Farm Store

Updated October 2026

The short answer: Choose a platform built for farms, list your products with clear photos, units, and prices, set your pickup and delivery schedule with order cutoffs, turn on payments and SNAP, and share your store link everywhere your customers already are. On GrownBy, you can open an online farm store on a $0/month plan with no setup fee.

Step 1: Choose a platform built for farms

General ecommerce tools are built for products that ship from a warehouse. Farm stores need pickup days, harvest-based inventory, pricing by weight, and pre-orders. Look for:

• Pickup and delivery schedules with order cutoffs

• Variable-weight pricing and the ability to edit orders after weighing

• Harvest lists, packing lists, and labels

• SNAP Online

• A way for new customers to find you

• No setup fee and a low cost to start

See how the options compare in Compare GrownBy to the Competition.

Step 2: List your products

• Name products the way customers search, like "Pasture-raised eggs, 1 dozen" instead of "Eggs A."

• Show the unit and price clearly: per pound, per bunch, per bouquet, or per share.

• Use real photos of your products and your farm. Daylight photos on a plain background work well.

• Write one or two sentences about how it's grown or raised and how to use it.

• Set inventory limits so you never sell more than you'll harvest.

Step 3: Price products sold by weight

For meat, cheese, and other products sold by weight, charge an estimated price at checkout and adjust to the final weight before pickup. For quarter, half, and whole animals, add the butcher fee and adjust to the final hanging weight. GrownBy handles all of this, including order editing after weighing.

Step 4: Set up pickup, delivery, and shipping

• Pickup: Your farm stand, a farmers market, or a partner location. Choose days, times, and an order cutoff (for example, order by Wednesday at noon for Saturday pickup).

• Delivery: Set zones or neighborhoods, delivery days, and a fee or minimum.

• Shipping: For shelf-stable products like jam, honey, wool, or soap.

• Reminders: Automatic pickup reminders cut no-shows.

Step 5: Turn on payments and SNAP

• Accept cards and ACH, and decide whether to offer offline payment by check or cash.

• Decide who covers platform fees. On GrownBy, customers can cover the co-op fee as an optional or required contribution. In 2024, 60% of GrownBy customers chose to cover all fees.

• Accept SNAP Online. It brings in families who can't otherwise shop with you online, and on GrownBy it's free.

Step 6: Launch and get your first orders

• Add your store link to your website, Instagram, Facebook, Google Business Profile, and email signature.

• Put a QR code on your market sign and egg cartons.

• Email your customer list on launch day, then send a short weekly availability email.

• Offer a first-order pickup reward, such as a free bunch of herbs.

• Ask early customers for reviews.

Step 7: Fulfill orders smoothly

On harvest day, print a harvest list totaled across orders, then packing lists and labels for each order. At pickup, check customers off and note anyone who hasn't come. Afterward, export your sales for bookkeeping.

Why farms open their store on GrownBy

• $0/month to start with unlimited products, schedules, and customers, and no setup fee.

• Built for farm products: variable weights, order editing, half and whole animals, bouquets, and pre-orders.

• Harvest lists, packing lists, and labels included.

• Free SNAP Online from the first farm platform approved by the USDA.

• A built-in audience: shoppers use one GrownBy account to buy from any farm and discover farms in the app.

• Grows with you: add a CSA, wholesale, or GrownBy Register when you're ready.

• Farmer-owned: every farm that sells on GrownBy can become a member-owner of the cooperative.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to start an online farm store?

On GrownBy, $0/month with no setup fee. You pay card processing (2.75% + $0.20 with Fortis, or 2.9% + $0.30 with Stripe) and a 2% co-op fee that your customers can cover.

Do I need a website to sell online?

No. Your GrownBy store has its own link you can share anywhere. If you have a website, link to your store from it.

How long does it take to set up?

Most farms can list products and set a pickup schedule in an afternoon. Our team starts every new farm with a demo call to get you set up.

Can I sell meat online?

Yes. GrownBy supports market cuts, variable weights, butcher fees, and quarter, half, or whole animals for pickup or delivery.

Book a demo to set up your GrownBy store with our team.