Where do the baseline numbers come from?

From your own records for recent comparable cycles: planted area, gross kg/m², rejects, average price received and cost per m² per cycle (water, fertilizer, energy, labour, maintenance, other). The expansion guides include an audit template that collects these fields.

How is ROI calculated?

ROI = (sum of incremental margin over the horizon − total phase CAPEX) ÷ total CAPEX. Incremental margin per cycle = projected margin − baseline margin. Payback is the first cycle where cumulative incremental margin minus CAPEX spent reaches zero.

Does the calculator predict my yield improvement?

No. Yield, reject and cost changes per phase are your own assumptions, ideally taken from supplier design calculations, trials or adviser estimates. SeedMatchGroup does not promise any yield, saving or return.

What does it leave out?

Financing costs, tax, depreciation, inflation, price changes over time, ramp-up losses and downtime during works. Treat the result as a screening comparison, not an investment decision.

Where do the baseline numbers come from?

From your own records for recent comparable cycles: planted area, gross kg/m², rejects, average price received and cost per m² per cycle (water, fertilizer, energy, labour, maintenance, other). The expansion guides include an audit template that collects these fields.

How is ROI calculated?

ROI = (sum of incremental margin over the horizon − total phase CAPEX) ÷ total CAPEX. Incremental margin per cycle = projected margin − baseline margin. Payback is the first cycle where cumulative incremental margin minus CAPEX spent reaches zero.

Does the calculator predict my yield improvement?

No. Yield, reject and cost changes per phase are your own assumptions, ideally taken from supplier design calculations, trials or adviser estimates. SeedMatchGroup does not promise any yield, saving or return.

What does it leave out?

Financing costs, tax, depreciation, inflation, price changes over time, ramp-up losses and downtime during works. Treat the result as a screening comparison, not an investment decision.

Greenhouse expansion ROI and cost per cycle calculator

Start from your measured baseline, add each retrofit or expansion phase with the KPI change you expect, and see cost per marketable kg for every cycle, incremental margin, ROI and payback cycle. Every number is your input — the tool assumes no yield, price or saving.

1. Baseline (per cycle, from your records)

Planted area (m²)Gross yield (kg/m² per cycle)Rejects / non-marketable (%)Average price received (per kg)Any currency — use it consistentlyOperating cost (per m² per cycle)Water, fertilizer, energy, labour, maintenance, otherCycles per year

2. Phases and KPI changes

Changes apply from the start cycle onward. Use supplier calculations or trial data, not hopes.

CAPEXStarts producing in cycle #Added area (m²)Gross yield change (%)Applied to the whole areaReject change (%-points)Negative = fewer rejectsCost change (per m² per cycle)Negative = saving

Horizon (years)Max 60 cycles

3. Projection

Enter area, gross yield and cycles per year to see results.

Method and limits

Marketable kg = area × gross kg/m² × (1 − reject %).
Cost per marketable kg = area × operating cost per m² ÷ marketable kg.
Incremental margin = projected (revenue − operating cost) − baseline margin, per cycle.
CAPEX is counted in the cycle a phase starts. No financing, tax, depreciation, inflation, ramp-up or downtime.

Expansion guides: baseline & KPI templates Retrofit vs expand vs build Scope the expansion RFQ

Frequently asked questions

Illustrative project summary

1 ha multi-span tomato house

A new commercial entrant builds a first multi-span block with fertigation, insect screens and a basic climate computer.

1 ha · Multi-span polyhouse · Tomatoes

Indicative full greenhouse project CAPEX

USD 575K – USD 1.56M

Illustration only, not a real project or quotation. This is the structure, equipment and site-works budget for the example greenhouse, not the price of this calculator’s individual system, seeds or inputs, and not a result calculated from your entries. Excludes land, permits, packhouse, financing costs and working capital.

Based on the published commercial greenhouse cost benchmark. Written offers require a private project review; commercial projects start from USD 250K.

Full scenario and budget scope Price benchmark

Turn this into a live commercial project

Open one private brief. A sourcing specialist validates and organises the RFQ, manages outreach to suitable independent suppliers, and presents any responses through SeedMatch on a consistent technical and commercial basis. Response numbers and timing are not guaranteed.