David Hoffmann's surprising thoughts on starting an herbal business

We asked herbalist and author David Hoffmann if he had any advice on starting an herbal business.

Give it a watch to hear his answer, it just may surprise you!

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Herbalism in your neck of the woods.

HerbRally

[durtintracey]

Some of us are simply trying to feed our family. Using our talents. My thumb is so green. I want to learn how to translate my affinity/ability to provide for my family.

[r.b.johnson]

He teaches at a school that charges $4, 595 for a "Community Herbalist" course. LOL

[iamcameronjewell]

THIS RIGHT HERE! Thank you so much! I am constantly accused of having a lack mindset or self sabotaging myself because I don’t care for business. It doesn’t resonate with me. I live my life in service and always have my needs met. I am sharing this with everyone. Thank you thank you thank you!!

[bluecat]

advice that isn't practicable, even can't live by this advice, his books are available on amazon, which takes a lot of resources in terms of shipping and packaging

[IngridGimenez]

This statement caught my attention, since for example: I looked for different courses to study herbalism and the least expensive is $3500usd. At the school where he teaches, the course costs $7500usd. For my part, I have no way to pay that money, so I bought his book for $60usd so I could at least study and learn as much as I can about herbalism so as not to feel irresponsible using plants without having knowledge. And I would like to be able to learn as much as possible with all of the books that I already got to be able to sell my tinctures or recipes so I can raise money to be able to enroll in a course. So how does he say all this? If studying a course with him costs $7500? I feel kind of disappointed 💔😞

[shepherdessofskymeadow]

I resonate with this deeply. As I embark on formal herbal education after a few years of self-study, so many people are asking me (meaning well) what I plan to "do" with it or how I'm going to "monetize" it. It's so sad that we feel we have to put every good thing into terms of dollars and cents. I am just following my passion and seeking to help others heal.

[MoonFlowerAlchemy]

I hear you. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I appreciate it. I started off years ago not the slightest bit interested in making money from my herbal pursuits. Then during some extra hard times financially I was tempted (and encouraged by others) to “become legit” and open shop. That became 8 years of spending too much time indoors designing labels, packing orders, making trips to the post office and navigating GMP compliancy. Not that those are bad things…it’s just that I came to the realization that I am truly my most happy spending less time running a business and more time serving the folks that come to me for help, knocking on my door because they have a UTI, or their child has an earache or their dog has an infected wound. Helping people to help themselves and their loved ones is what I love regardless of money. However if someone insists that I accept a dozen eggs from their backyard hens, I am happy to barter. Lol!

[katmaier]

Veriditas to the core! Your tenderness with eyebright reveals so much, David. A Free Radical of the highest order. Deep, deep bow my friend.

[r.b.johnson]

Ok. Please send me one of you 15 books for free. And, I'll take an herbal consultation. For free.

[tysonsell]

While helping should be our first priority, that's what business is about. Business is about helping people. Those who help the most end up making more money. Bill Gates helps more people than me, and so he has more money. Granted, there are people in business for the wrong reasons, but they often don't stay in business long. The problem with doing everything for free is that you don't actually know if you are helping anyone. I've done lots of volunteering, and reflecting back on it, I've realized there was quite a bit that wasn't helpful to anyone. It made me feel good, but it didn't help much. Money is a reasonably good marker society uses to tell us if what we are doing is worthwhile/helpful. By all means, volunteer and do things for free, but don't think that when you charge for your services, you are somehow doing less good.

[jessiree]

I too wish to disconnect from capitalism, however currency is required to eat. 😐🤷🏼‍♀️
If we all chose not to financially support the fields we appreciate most, there would be no benefit from them as the money would be gatekept by higher corperations who do not share our interest for nature and healing.

[hmartin]

45.00 for your herbalist book though .lmao

[herbcraft]

this was such a good dose of David for the day.

[theoriginalmealchan]

So how am I supposed to do what I love and actually pay my bills? If I don't charge for my services and products?

[belladonnabeehealthy]

So true. Good info to share. The same principles goes for beekeepers also.

[selfhealherbsms]

Everyone' have faith in yourself, you can do it, if you can read and understand and comprehend or have to get a dictionary, plants identifier, take note it free, a piece of paper won't win you any points because we spend thousands of dollars just to be an herbalist when it free to be one as long as you get to know these plants and what they can do for the human body.

[lysetteknudsen]

I WISH I NEVER BOUGHT YOUR BOOK MEDICAL HERBALISM ... capitalism

[rebeccaingalls]

Thank you, Mason, for bringing us this clear voice of reason. Thank you David Hoffman for staying clear and true.

[paulkeogh]

I welcome David’s cautionary comments regarding the polar trap and negative consequences of dichotomising herbal business and soulful practice. However, from my experience as a clinical herbalist for 12 years before commercialising many of my most successful formulas over the past 25 years, I can testify that the two orientations are not mutually exclusive. Cultivating a practice of putting potency and people before profit and power creates a truly holistic, mutually reinforcing and synergising dynamics between head and heart. It really isn’t a matter of “either or” but “both and” where the “and” represents our opening to possibilities that true herbal practice and medicine invites and cultivates, respectively.

[genamueller]

I am curious how one makes money if not for capitalism. I am not disagreeing with you. Simply trying to open my mind to new concepts and ways of thinking. How do we survive in this world without money?