Food business ideas you can run from your own premises

146 ideas

These 146 food business ideas all centre on a space you lease, buy or build yourself, rather than a home kitchen or a market stall. Some are shopfronts, such as an italian grocery and deli shop or a patisserie with in-house baking.

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1k to 5k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOnline
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
Diners eating plant-based dishes at a table in a vegan restaurant.

Small vegan cafe-restaurant

Run a compact eat-in venue serving plant-based lunches and dinners to vegans and curious locals.

  • A$50k-250k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Steamed buns in bamboo steamer baskets at a takeaway counter.

Steamed bun takeaway shop

Open a small shopfront selling freshly steamed buns to walk-in and lunchtime customers.

  • A$40k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Fresh pasta and sauces displayed on shelves in a local food shop.

Fresh pasta shop

Make and sell fresh pasta, sauces and Italian pantry goods from a small local shopfront.

  • A$25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Large sacks of coffee beans stacked in a wholesale storage warehouse.

Roast and supply wholesale coffee

Roast beans in a small unit and supply cafés and shops with your own local brand.

  • A$25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Colourful fruit and vegetable display outside a traditional greengrocer shop.

Neighbourhood greengrocer shop

Run a small fruit and veg shop selling fresh local produce to people in your suburb or town.

  • A$25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Colourful sweets in glass jars on shelves inside a traditional sweet shop.

Local lolly and chocolate shop

Open a small shop selling lollies, chocolates and gifts by weight or pack to locals and visitors.

  • A$25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Artisan chocolatier hand-piping chocolates in a small kitchen workshop.

Chocolate workshop and wholesale maker

Rent a small commercial kitchen or unit to make limited batches for shops, cafes, events and your own online store.

  • A$15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Bags and bins of rice and grains displayed in a food shop.

Rice and grain shop

Run a small shop selling bulk and packaged rice and grains to local households and restaurants.

  • A$25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Smoothie bar with fresh fruit and a customer holding a takeaway drink.

Smoothie shop in a small shopfront

Blend fruit and vegetable smoothies to order for takeaway and on-site customers from a small shop or kiosk.

  • A$30k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Shopkeeper slicing cold meats at a deli counter filled with cheeses and prepared foods.

Neighbourhood deli shop

Sell sliced meats, cheeses, antipasto and ready-to-eat food from a small local shopfront.

  • A$40k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
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
Workers packing food ingredients and packaging on a production line in a factory.

Local supplier of bulk ingredients and packaging

Rent a small unit, stock popular ingredients and packaging, and supply local food makers in smaller quantities and at short notice.

  • A$25k-80k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Colourful celebration cakes and sponges arranged in a cake shop display cabinet.

Local cake shop with a front counter

Open a small shopfront selling ready-made cakes and slices, plus custom orders for events.

  • A$30k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Shelves of everyday food and drinks in a small local grocery shop.

Neighbourhood grocery shop

Run a small local shop selling everyday food, drinks and household items to people nearby.

  • A$40k-200k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises

Online grocery with local delivery

Take grocery orders online and deliver a curated range to homes in your local area.

  • A$5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
Shopkeeper slicing cured ham on a counter in a delicatessen.

Local ham and smallgoods shop

Run a small shop selling cured and smoked hams, sliced meats and deli extras to locals and food lovers.

  • A$30k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
A courier carrying insulated bags of ready meals to a customer's front door.

Weekly meal prep subscription

Run a full-time meal prep kitchen and deliver weekly meal packs to regular subscribers.

  • A$25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Bowls of dried fruit and mixed nuts displayed on a shop counter.

Dried fruit and nut shop

Run a small shop selling nuts, dried fruit and snack ingredients to local home cooks.

  • A$25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Small Japanese cafe serving matcha desserts and drinks at a table.

Japanese sweets café

Run a small café serving wagashi, mochi, matcha desserts and Japanese teas to locals and visitors.

  • A$60k-250k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
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

Wholesale bakery from your own unit

Run a small bakery unit baking bread and pastries overnight for cafes, hotels and shops.

  • A$40k-180k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Fresh apples being pressed to make cider at a rural mill.

Cidery with a cellar door

Run a small cidery on an orchard or in a unit, selling to pubs and shops and pouring tastings for visitors.

  • A$60k-250k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
Cosy cafe table with hot chocolate and desserts served to customers.

Neighbourhood chocolate cafe

Open a cosy cafe built around hot chocolate, chocolate desserts and sweet treats for dine-in customers.

  • A$60k-250k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises

About these ideas

Others are working sites, like a small produce wholesale unit with a coolroom or a cidery with a cellar door. They suit people who want a fixed base, are happy to commit to a lease or property, and can manage equipment and stock. Before anything else, work out what the premises must do: foot traffic, cold storage, production space or all three. Then check the zoning, council approvals and food safety requirements that apply to your site and your product.

More ideas

Questions

What should I check before leasing premises for a food business?

Check that the zoning and existing lease terms permit food preparation or sale, and ask your local council what approvals apply. Also confirm the space suits your layout, ventilation, water, drainage and refrigeration needs, and get the lease reviewed by a professional.

Do I need approval to run a food business from my own premises in Australia?

Often there are requirements, but they vary by state, council and the type of food. Things to check include food business registration or notification, food safety supervisor obligations, building and planning approvals, and any liquor licence if you sell alcohol.

How do I choose between a shopfront and a production or wholesale site?

Think about where your income will come from. A shopfront relies on location and passing trade, while a production or wholesale unit relies on supplier and customer relationships. Compare rent, fit-out costs, staffing needs and how much space your equipment and storage will take.