Building a successful cannabis cultivation or processing facility starts with proper layout and design. Having the knowledge to account for the unique cannabis facility design and construction criteria is imperative for a successful, compliant and efficient facility.
Here are three questions to ask yourself during the early stages of the layout and design phase of your cannabis facility buildout.
When do I start looking for a location?
Timing is everything. Choosing the right location is key for getting started or expanding as the market allows. If you are in a state that’s potentially doing a licensing round, the first thing you want to do is hire a cannabis consultant or lawyer. They will help you stay informed on the regulations, zoning compliance, and timing of the application round. If it’s a brand new state, there might not be many regulations posted, but at least you can start looking at available properties prior to the application dropping.
We’ve worked in states where people started their location search only three months out from application being due. They spent weeks looking for a location before finally securing something at the last minute. This compromised their application because it didn’t leave as much time to work on all of the other pieces.
How do I know how much it will cost?
Your consultants should build you a detailed financial model that considers all factors. Key questions might be: How much sales could you potentially do? Are there a limited number of licenses? Is the program already in operation? Is it a medical market with a limited patient count or a recreational market with a larger customer base?
All of this will factor in, and combined with your available capital will help you determine the best facility size for your business. This will give you a clearer picture of what the first five years will look like.
Should I hire a grower first?
You have put in a great deal of effort selecting the right location, designing your facility, and winning a cultivation or processing license, now what? In our experience, it is best to hold off on hiring a grower right away.
Your head of cultivation is obviously a key piece in your overall organization. However, involving them too early can muddy the process.
This is your investment and if you bring in someone too early, it adds another voice to the decision making process. This is someone that may be with you for only a couple of years. Hopefully they’ll be with you for the long haul, but ultimately, this is your business. It’s best to make your own decisions at the start. Then bring in your grower to focus on that aspect of the business.
Cannabis Facility Design
When looking to build a new cultivation or processing facility there are a number of factors to consider. Designing your cannabis facility for efficiency and profitability requires early planning. For more on how to properly navigate this early phase of your business, check out our cannabis consulting webinar.
