1
Begin by starting up a beef cow-calf operation. Follow the steps provided in the article linked in this step.
2
Buy your cows and/or your herd bull. Buy the quality of cows that meet your standards, as far as having a good breeding herd is concerned.
Your herd bull should be selected to improve your herd, as he will be providing half of the genetic potential of your calf crop. Knowing conformation at this point will really help in determining how good a herd bull is needed. Fertility and live calves are key to profitability. One live calf is worth more than 100 dead ones. A bull that sires calves that are larger than your cow can safely give live birth to is economic suicide.
3
Choose your breeding program. There are two types to choose from, and both can be integrated into the other, if you so choose.
If your herd is too small to have a herd bull or you do not want to have to deal with bulls, use artificial insemination to breed your herd.
If you have a herd of 10 or more cows and you do not want to go the extra mile of having to AI them, a good herd bull is the way to go. The rule of thumb is 1 bull per 25 cows. High fertility bulls with high libido can service 50 cows with no drop in conception rates. Bulls reach peak fertility by 20 months of age, after 20 months of age it can only drop, barring illness or injury, with proper nutrition most bulls fertility will not start to decline until after 6-7 years of age.