A Buzzworthy Business

Charlie Agar manages a bee colony and honeycomb in the woods

Founder Charlie Agar discovered beekeeping in 2013 through an introductory course like the one he now offers at Charlie Bee. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a full-scale operation. Today, Agar manages hundreds of honeybee colonies across Central Texas, helping landowners qualify for Ag valuation, producing honey, and performing humane live bee removals that safely relocate wild colonies to the Charlie Bee homestead, where they are nurtured and reintegrated into managed apiaries. His ability to serve this unique community won him the 2026 SBA San Antonio District Office Rural Small Business of Year.

Through the help of the University of Texas at San Antonio's Small Business Development Center (UTSA SBDC), Charlie Bee Company became a hub for beekeeping education and community engagement. At the beekeeping school and retail shop, aspiring beekeepers receive hands-on training, expert guidance and essential equipment. The shop also serves as a gathering place for local beekeepers and offers interactive bee encounters.

Agar lauds the SBDC as empowering him to accomplish the growing number of achievements he can claim including Beekeeper of the Year by the Texas Beekeeper's Association Annual Conference in 2022 and serving as Past Area Director for the Texas Beekeepers Association and the Vice President of the Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers. He is also a volunteer and mentor with Hives for Heroes - a nonprofit organization connecting combat veterans with beekeeping mentors.

Agar has also expanded to a national TV program on PBS, the docu-follow series, Charlie Bee Company, now in its second season. The documentary-style series follows Charlie and his team as they remove wild honeybee colonies, share the wonder of pollinators, and highlight the importance of honeybees. A true steward of the earth, Charlie attests that not only his hard work and consistency have steered his success, but his long-standing relationships with farmers, landowners and the agricultural community have helped him steadily grow and prosper.

This article does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the SBA of any opinions, products, or services of any private individual or entity.