This publication provides a practical and process-oriented approach guiding practitioners through sound planning, starting up, consolidation and up-scaling of contract farming (CF) schemes. It gives insights into the selection of an appropriate business model for the farm supply-firm procurement interface based on principles of fairness and transparency. It furthermore provides guiding principles, questions and answers for the development of viable CF business and practicable management plans, mutually beneficial farming contracts and mutually agreed dispute settlement systems.