Food business ideas you can start for up to $20,000

120 ideas

This page lists 123 food business ideas with startup costs up to $20,000, so you can compare realistic options without needing a shopfront or big investor backing. They suit people who enjoy food and want to start small, test demand and grow gradually.

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1k to 5kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premisesOnline
Bottles of sauces, dressings and condiments arranged on a restaurant counter.

Small-batch sauce and dressing maker

Make your own sauces, relishes and dressings in a hired kitchen and sell them in bulk to local cafés and shops.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises

Condiments wholesale delivery round

Buy sauces and condiments in bulk from makers and deliver them to local cafés, takeaways and shops on a regular route.

  • A$5k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
Steamed buns in bamboo steamer baskets at a takeaway counter.

Steamed bun market stall

Sell fresh steamed buns at weekend markets and local events from a stall.

  • A$3k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Fresh pasta and sauces displayed on shelves in a local food shop.

Market stall fresh pasta

Make fresh pasta and sauces in a commercial kitchen and sell at farmers markets and by pre-order.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Large sacks of coffee beans stacked in a wholesale storage warehouse.

Coffee wholesale reseller

Buy roasted beans in bulk from a roaster and supply local cafés, offices and shops.

  • A$1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Colourful fruit and vegetable display outside a traditional greengrocer shop.

Farmers market fruit and veg stall

Sell fresh produce from a stall at weekend markets, with low overheads and no shop lease.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Colourful sweets in glass jars on shelves inside a traditional sweet shop.

Lolly stall at local markets

Sell lollies, chocolates and gift bags from a stall at weekend markets and events.

  • A$1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

Online lolly and gift box shop

Sell lollies, chocolates and themed gift boxes online and post them around Australia.

  • A$1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Artisan chocolatier hand-piping chocolates in a small kitchen workshop.

Home-based handmade chocolates

Make small batches of filled chocolates and bars at home and sell them online, at markets and to local gift buyers.

  • A$2k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Bags and bins of rice and grains displayed in a food shop.

Online rice and grain supplier

Sell specialty rice and grains online and deliver to households and local restaurants, without a shopfront.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Shopkeeper slicing cold meats at a deli counter filled with cheeses and prepared foods.

Online deli boxes and grazing platters

Take online orders for grazing platters and deli hampers, made to order and delivered or collected.

  • A$1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Producer preparing fresh food items in a clean kitchen or small production unit.

Small-batch food brand from a shared kitchen

Rent hours in a commercial kitchen to make a packaged food range for cafes, delis and retailers.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
Shopkeeper slicing cured ham on a counter in a delicatessen.

Ham market stall with Christmas pre-orders

Sell quality hams and smoked meats at farmers markets, and take pre-orders for Christmas and Easter.

  • A$4k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
A courier carrying insulated bags of ready meals to a customer's front door.

Home-cooked meal delivery

Cook ready-to-eat meals in a council-approved kitchen and deliver them to local customers.

  • A$4k-20k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Small Japanese cafe serving matcha desserts and drinks at a table.

Japanese sweets market stall

Sell fresh taiyaki, mochi and matcha drinks at weekend markets and events before committing to a shop.

  • A$5k-20k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Trays of freshly baked loaves and pastries cooling in a large commercial bakery.

Small-batch wholesale baker for local cafes

Bake a few lines of bread or pastries in a council-approved kitchen and supply nearby cafes and delis.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
Freshly baked cookies displayed on a counter in a small bakery shop.

Cookie market stall

Sell fresh cookies at weekend markets and fairs, baked in a approved kitchen and sold by the piece.

  • A$2k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Striped seaside rock sweets displayed in a tourist shop by the beach.

Rock and boiled lolly market stall

Sell rock and boiled lollies from a stall at weekend markets, festivals and tourist spots without a shop lease.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Workers packing packaged food products on a factory production line.

Home-made packaged foods (low-risk)

Make jams, sauces, biscuits or spice mixes in small batches and sell them at markets and online.

  • A$1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
Guests serving themselves from a buffet table at a wedding reception.

Small wedding buffet caterer (hired kitchen)

Cook buffet menus for small and mid-sized weddings in a hired commercial kitchen, then set up and serve at the venue.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
Bins of mixed nuts and dried fruit displayed by weight in a food shop.

Nuts and dried fruit market stall

Sell nuts, dried fruit and trail mixes by weight at local farmers' and weekend markets.

  • A$2k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

Online nut and trail mix store

Sell packed nuts, dried fruit and custom trail mixes online and post them across Australia.

  • A$1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
A cured ham leg being sliced in a traditional delicatessen shop.

Online cured ham and gift box store

Sell cured hams and smallgoods online with chilled delivery and gift boxes.

  • A$3k-20k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
A cheesemaker working with large wheels of cheese in a small dairy workshop.

Small-batch fresh cheese maker

Make fresh cheeses like ricotta, haloumi, feta or labneh in a hired kitchen and sell to cafes, markets and locals.

  • A$4k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises

About these ideas

You might begin with home-blended seasonings for markets and online, run an online loose-leaf tea shop, or try a weekend market pastry stall. Before choosing, think about where you will prepare and store food, since local council rules and food safety requirements can differ by state and by idea. Also consider how much time you can commit, whether you prefer selling face to face or online, and how you will handle stock, packaging and shelf life.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need approval to start a food business from home in Australia?

Often there are requirements, but they vary by council and state. Check with your local council about food business registration, kitchen standards and zoning, and ask whether your product type is treated as low or higher risk.

What food safety things should I check before I start selling?

Check whether you need a registered food business, a food safety supervisor or food handler training, and what labelling rules apply to your products. Your council or state food authority can explain what applies to your situation.

How do I know if $20,000 is enough to get started?

List likely costs such as equipment, ingredients, packaging, insurance, market fees, website and any registrations. Many ideas here can start well below the limit, so get quotes and keep a buffer for slow early sales.