In the past, most commercial beekeepers made money by producing honey and renting bees for pollination (migratory beekeeping). My beekeeper started out as a worker and worked his way up to become an apiary manager and enjoy the benefits of a higher position in a large beekeeping operation. Depending on how much time and money you can invest in your beekeeping operation up front, there is a great opportunity to make a living from beekeeping alone. In the United States, there are large apiaries that need the help of workers and this is where a person with some experience in caring for bees can be highly demand. Migratory beekeeping is extremely important for farmers, so these beekeepers earn a good amount of money for their services.
Often, the mid-level beekeeper (beekeeper) can save some money by purchasing large quantities of beekeeping equipment, such as frames, foundations or even boxes.