Agriculture business ideas you can start for up to $20,000
35 ideas
These 36 agriculture ideas suit people who want to work with land, plants or animals without taking on a large farm purchase. Some are hands-on and seasonal, like a tree planting and brushing crew or seasonal pasture-raised chicken.
Part-time sheep, goat and calf trader
Buy lambs, kids or calves from local farms and sell them on to other farms, with a trailer and a good eye.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Online hydroponics supply store
Sell grow lights, nutrients and starter systems to home growers across Canada through your own website.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Mobile farrier: shoeing and trimming at the barn
Drive to stables and farms to trim hooves and make and fit horseshoes for horse owners.
- C$4k-20k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Online irrigation parts and kits store
Sell drip kits, sprinklers, timers and fittings online to gardeners, small farms and landscapers.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Online
Pastured eggs and small livestock farm
Raise laying hens on pasture and sell eggs direct to neighbours, shops and market customers.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Home greenhouse orchid grower
Grow orchids in a small greenhouse or sunroom and sell at markets, plant sales and online.
- C$1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based farm produce broker
Match growers with bulk buyers by phone and online, and arrange shipping without owning a warehouse.
- C$1k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Hay and bedding delivery service
Buy hay and bedding from growers and mills, then deliver to horse owners and small farms nearby.
- C$2k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Travelling contract sheep shearer
Travel between farms in shearing season, shearing larger flocks on contract and paid per animal.
- C$2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Firewood delivery by truck and trailer
Cut, split and season wood, then deliver it by the cord to local homes with wood stoves and fireplaces.
- C$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Landscape tree and shrub grower
Grow native trees and shrubs on a small plot and sell them to landscapers, garden centres and homeowners.
- C$4k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small flock farm-gate eggs
Keep a small flock of laying hens and sell fresh eggs to neighbours, at farmers' markets or at the farm gate.
- C$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Seasonal pasture-raised chicken
Raise batches of meat chickens on pasture each summer and sell whole birds direct to local customers.
- C$2k-8k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Pasture and self-care horse boarding
Rent pasture, shelter and simple stalls on your own acreage to a few horse owners.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small flock fresh eggs for local households
Keep a small laying flock and sell fresh eggs to neighbours, by subscription, at the farm gate or at local markets.
- C$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Local egg delivery to cafes, bakeries and shops
Source fresh local eggs from registered producers and deliver them weekly to cafes, bakeries, shops and homes.
- C$1.5k-7.5k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Native and perennial plant grower (small scale)
Grow native plants and perennials in hoop houses on your own land and sell trays and pots to garden centres and landscapers.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small seasonal pick-your-own pumpkin patch
Grow a few acres of pumpkins and invite local families to pick their own each October.
- C$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Horse pasture boarding on your land
Rent out paddocks and pasture to horse owners who want affordable, low-stress board with basic daily care.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Seasonal pasture rental for cattle and sheep
Rent spare pasture by the head or by the season to livestock owners who need summer grazing.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Indoor microgreens grown at home
Grow microgreens on shelves in a spare room or basement and sell year-round to restaurants and shoppers.
- C$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Tree planting and brushing crew
Lead a small seasonal crew planting, thinning and brushing forest blocks under contract to licensees and landowners.
- C$3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Small-batch pigs sold direct to customers
Raise a few batches of pigs a year on pasture or in a barn and sell whole, half or quarter shares to local families.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Farm parts and tools supplier with delivery
Source and deliver filters, wear parts, hand tools and small equipment to farms in your region, run from home.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
About these ideas
Others need less space, such as indoor microgreens grown at home or an online hydroponics supply store. A few are service or sales models, like a topsoil delivery service with no yard, so you can start with a vehicle or a laptop rather than acreage. Before choosing, think about where you would operate, how much time you can give through the seasons, and whether you already have land, equipment or contacts. Check your local zoning, any provincial rules for selling food or livestock, and your insurance needs, then compare the ideas against your realistic budget.
More ideas
- Pre-order vegetable wholesale from a small unit
- Live bee removal from buildings
- Online specialty fertilizer shop for growers
- Heritage poultry breeder
- Online tractor and farm machinery parts shop
- Sod delivery supplier for homes and landscapers
- Small-plot Christmas tree grower
- Online seed shop for local gardeners
- Topsoil delivery service (no yard)
- Farm shop with online orders and pickup
- Independent crop inputs sales agent
Questions
Can I start an agriculture business in Canada without owning land?
Often yes. Ideas like crop inputs sales, topsoil delivery, planting crews or seasonal pasture rental use little or no owned land. Check whether you would need to lease land, and confirm lease terms and local zoning before committing.
What should I check before selling food I grow or raise?
Rules differ by province and municipality, and can depend on the product, such as eggs, meat or produce. Check with your provincial agriculture ministry, local public health unit and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about licensing, inspection, labelling and where you can sell.
How do I know if $20,000 is enough to start?
Costs vary widely by idea. List equipment, land or rent, animals or stock, insurance, transport and working capital for slow seasons. Compare that total with your budget, and leave a buffer because weather, feed and input prices can change.