Agriculture business ideas you can run from your own premises
66 ideas
These 67 agriculture ideas all work from land or premises you own or control, so you are not travelling to customers or renting a stall. They suit people with a small block, a rural property or a commercial yard who want to produce, supply or sell on site.
Small-acreage lamb or beef, sold direct
Raise a small mob of sheep or cattle on your own or leased land and sell meat boxes direct to local customers.
- A$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Fatten cattle or sheep on agisted or leased grazing
Rent grazing land, buy young stock, grow them out and sell to saleyards or processors.
- A$15k-70k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Rural hay and bedding yard
Hold hay, straw and bedding in a shed and sell to walk-in customers and regular delivery clients.
- A$10k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Paddock-only horse agistment
Rent out spare paddocks to horse owners who look after their own animals each day.
- A$1k-6k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Full-care horse agistment property
Offer paddocks plus daily feeding, rugging and health checks for horse owners who are short on time.
- A$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Christmas tree farm (cut-your-own)
Grow Christmas trees on a rural block and sell them fresh to families each December.
- A$5k-30k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Grow-on trees for landscapers
Grow native and ornamental trees to a good size and sell them to landscapers, councils and builders.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small free-range pig farm selling pork boxes
Raise a small number of pigs outdoors and sell the pork directly to local households and restaurants.
- A$8k-30k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small breeding herd selling weaners and breeders
Keep a few breeding sows and a boar, and sell weaners and breeding pigs to small farms and lifestylers.
- A$6k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Weekend pick-your-own pumpkin patch
Grow pumpkins on a small block and open on autumn weekends for families to pick their own.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Pumpkin patch farm day out with café stall
Run a bigger autumn pumpkin patch with kids' activities, school visits and a food and drink stall.
- A$15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Horseshoe maker: hand-forged shoes from your forge
Forge custom and remedial horseshoes in a small workshop for owners and other farriers.
- A$4k-20k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Dairy parts and consumables supplier
Stock and deliver milking liners, filters, hoses and fittings to dairy farms from a small shed or unit.
- A$10k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Free-range egg farm on rural land
Run a larger free-range laying flock and sell eggs through markets, shops and cafes.
- A$200k-800k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small-block beef cattle, part-time
Buy weaner steers, grow them on a small block or agisted paddocks, and sell them on to dealers, farmers or an abattoir.
- A$10k-50k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Beef breeding herd, full-time
Run breeding cows on leased or owned land and sell weaners or breeding stock to feedlots, dealers and other farmers.
- A$80k-400k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Boutique horse breeding for foal sales
Breed a few quality mares on your own or leased land and sell the foals or young horses.
- A$15k-70k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Stallion at stud service
Stand a stallion at stud and charge mare owners a fee for breeding to him.
- A$10k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Local animal feed and supplies shop
Sell feed, bedding and supplies to farmers, horse owners and pet owners from a small shopfront or shed.
- A$25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small flock of sheep for lamb and wool
Run a small flock on land you own or lease and sell lambs and wool through local agents or saleyards.
- A$20k-100k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Paddock-to-plate meat boxes
Raise a few lambs, cattle or pigs on small acreage and sell the meat in boxes straight to local customers.
- A$8k-35k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small market garden selling direct
Grow vegetables and herbs on a small plot and sell them at markets, to cafes and through weekly boxes.
- A$8k-40k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Rural farm equipment shop and yard
Open a small shop or yard in a farming town selling machinery, tools and parts, with delivery and after-sales help.
- A$80k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small stud with stallion services
Run a registered stud, sell young horses and offer your stallion to other mare owners.
- A$40k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
You might start a small market garden selling direct, set up a topsoil and landscape supply yard, or open a pick-your-own orchard with a farm gate. Before choosing, think about what your land can realistically support: soil, water access, drainage, road access and space for trucks or visitors. Check your zoning and what your local council allows, especially for customer visits, signage and machinery. Then work out start-up costs, seasonal cash flow and how much time you can give it each week.
More ideas
- Small commercial greenhouse grower
- Full-time wholesale nursery with shadehouses
- Free-range egg supplier to local shops and cafes
- Honey and wax producer with shop supply
- Weekend pick-your-own berry or veggie patch
- Full-time pick-your-own farm with farm shop
- Small market garden growing vegetables
- Pasture-raised eggs from a small flock
- Local irrigation supplies shop
- Paddock agistment for horse owners
- Full-care livery stable
- Small oyster grower selling direct to venues
- Goat or sheep milk creamery on a small farm
- Small-block vegetable and field crop grower
- Grain cropping on leased or share-farmed land
- Wholesale orchid nursery for florists and garden centres
- Vegetable wholesale unit with cool room
- Small orchard selling at markets and shops
- Pick-your-own and farm gate orchard
- Tubestock nursery for landscapers
- Full-care horse boarding stables
- Small landscape supply yard
- Organic market garden
- Organic veggie box subscription
- Small vineyard growing grapes for wineries
- Boutique vineyard with your own wine label
- Greenhouse orchid grower supplying florists and retailers
- Farm shop on your property
- Topsoil and landscape supply yard
- Small-plot veg grower for farmers markets
- Market garden supplying chefs and local shops
- Small rural supply store
- Pick-your-own Christmas tree farm
- Small-block Christmas tree grower
- Tank-based fish farm in a shed
- Rural tractor and machinery parts counter
- Small turf farm
- Farm machinery repair workshop
- Local fertiliser and soil supply yard
- Small-acreage sheep or goat breeder
- Registered stud breeder selling breeding stock
- Pasture and crop seed supplier for farms
Questions
Can I run an agriculture business from my own property?
Often yes, but it depends on your zoning, lot size and what the council allows. Check whether you need a development approval or a change of use, especially if customers will visit, you want signage, or trucks will come and go.
What should I check before selling food I grow or raise?
Look into food safety rules in your state or territory, any registration or licensing for producers, and labelling requirements. Meat, eggs and processed products can have extra conditions, so ask your local council and the relevant state authority first.
How do I choose between a supply yard and a growing business?
Compare what you already have. Supply yards need hardstand, machinery and access for trucks, while growing needs good soil, reliable water and patience through seasons. Think about start-up cost, how quickly you could earn income and the physical work involved.