Agriculture business ideas you can start from home
14 ideas
These 16 agriculture ideas can be run from your own property, whether that is a suburban backyard, a small acreage or a few paddocks. They suit people who like practical, outdoor work and want to start small before deciding whether to grow.
Firewood supplier with local delivery
Buy timber, split and season it on your property, then sell and deliver by the ute load to local homes.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Bagged firewood and kindling supplier
Pack dry firewood and kindling into bags and sell to servos, hardware shops and campgrounds.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small free-range egg flock
Keep a flock of laying hens on your rural block and sell fresh eggs locally.
- A$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Boutique horse breeding on your own acreage
Breed one or two foals a year from quality mares and sell them to riders and owners.
- A$8k-40k
- Side hustle
- From home
Backyard polytunnel for seedlings and herbs
Grow seedlings, herbs and salad greens in a small polytunnel and sell them at local markets or to neighbours.
- A$800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small wholesale nursery on your own block
Grow a few lines of tubestock or potted plants and sell them in bulk to landscapers and local retailers.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small-flock fresh egg supplier
Keep a small flock of hens and sell fresh eggs to neighbours, a local cafe or a farmers market stall.
- A$800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small-scale honey producer
Keep a handful of hives on your property or a host's land and sell local honey at markets and online.
- A$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small pond farm for yabbies or freshwater fish
Raise yabbies, marron or freshwater fish in dams or ponds on rural land and sell direct to locals and restaurants.
- A$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- From home
Backyard orchid grower selling at markets and online
Grow orchids in a small shadehouse at home and sell flowering plants at local markets and online.
- A$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Backyard plant nursery
Grow herbs, natives and veggie seedlings at home and sell them to local gardeners.
- A$800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Paddock agistment for horses
Rent out paddock space on your own land to horse owners who need a safe place to keep their horses.
- A$2k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Farm gate roadside stall
Sell your own fruit, veg, eggs or preserves from a simple stall at your property gate.
- A$500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based fertiliser agent
Source fertiliser and soil products for local farmers and growers, and have suppliers deliver direct to their gate.
- A$1k-5k
- Part-time
- From home
About these ideas
Options include a backyard plant nursery, a small-scale honey producer or a small-flock free-range egg seller. Before choosing, think about how much space you really have, your water access, and how neighbours might feel about noise, animals, deliveries or customers visiting. Check your local council's rules on zoning, animal numbers and roadside selling, and whether food products need registration or labelling. Start with the idea that best fits your land and the time you can give it each week.
Questions
Can I run an agriculture business from a suburban backyard in Australia?
Often a small one, such as seedlings, herbs or orchids, is possible. Check your council's zoning and home business rules, any limits on animals, and whether you need approvals for signage, visitors or selling produce from the property.
What should I check before selling eggs or honey from home?
Look at your state or territory rules for food safety, labelling, and registration of primary producers. Councils and state agencies may have requirements for selling direct, at markets or roadside, so confirm what applies before your first sale.
How do I choose between these ideas if I have limited land?
Match the idea to your space, water, and weekly time. Plant-based options like a polytunnel or nursery usually need less room than livestock or agistment. Consider start-up costs, seasonality, and whether local customers would realistically buy what you produce.