Business services ideas you can start for up to $20,000

120 ideas

This page gathers 121 business services ideas with startup costs up to C$20,000. They suit people who want to sell to other businesses rather than the public, whether that means supplying goods, such as an online toner and ink shop with reorder plans, or offering a service, such as rental management for small landlords.

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1k to 5k Over 20k From home Out and about Own premises Online

Notary stamping and signing a legal document on a desk at an office.

Notary office with walk-in and booked clients

Run a small notary office offering signings, certified copies and other documents, where your province allows it.

C$4k-15k
Part-time
Own premises

A consultant reviewing building plans and documents with a construction site behind.

Construction cost and compliance consultant

Advise small developers and builders on budgets, permits and code compliance for their projects.

C$2k-10k
Full-time
Out and about

Shipping containers loaded at a port for export to overseas buyers.

Home-based export trader for a niche product

Buy a Canadian product from local makers and sell it to overseas buyers, running it from your laptop.

C$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

A digger and generator parked on a construction site for hire.

Small tool and trailer hire from home

Start small by renting a few trailers, generators, compactors or power tools to locals from your driveway or garage.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Rows of coin-operated storage lockers in a busy public venue.

Coin lockers for local venues

Install a small bank of pay-to-use lockers in a gym, pool, arena or trailhead and share the income.

C$3k-12k
Side hustle
Out and about

A finance broker reviewing loan documents with a client across a desk.

Mortgage broker working from home

Help home buyers and owners find a mortgage and earn commission from the lender when the deal closes.

C$2.5k-8k
Part-time
From home

Rolls of tape, cardboard boxes and bubble wrap stacked in a packaging supply store.

Online packaging supplies for small sellers

Sell boxes, mailers and tape online to small shops and Etsy-style sellers, shipped or dropped off locally.

C$2k-10k
Side hustle
Online

Stack of sanding discs and grinding wheels displayed on shop shelves.

Mobile abrasives supplier for local trades

Deliver sanding discs, grinding wheels and abrasives to body shops, fabricators and builders on a regular route.

C$4k-20k
Part-time
Out and about

Online abrasives shop for trades and makers

Sell sanding and grinding supplies online to workshops and woodworkers, shipped from home or a small storage space.

C$1.5k-7.5k
Side hustle
Online

Architect reviewing building design drawings and plans at a drafting desk.

Home-based residential designer

Draw plans for home additions, renovations and small builds for local homeowners from a home office.

C$2k-8k
Part-time
From home

Rows of cleaning product bottles and drums stacked in a chemical distribution warehouse.

Cleaning supplies delivery to local businesses

Buy cleaning products in bulk and deliver them to cleaning firms, shops and offices in your area.

C$3k-15k
Part-time
Out and about

Scientific instruments and glassware arranged on a laboratory bench with a researcher.

Online niche lab supplies reseller

Sell consumables and small instruments online to schools, clinics and small labs, shipped straight from the wholesaler.

C$2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

Large technical blueprints being printed and laid out on a table.

Online plan printing with local delivery

Take plan files online, print them on a wide-format printer and deliver to job sites and offices.

C$4k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Rows of small private mailboxes with numbered doors in a mail centre lobby.

Virtual mailbox and mail forwarding service

Give travellers, newcomers and remote businesses a Canadian address, with mail scanned or forwarded on request.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
Online

People working at shared desks in a bright modern coworking space.

Shared office desk rental

Take a small office suite or spare room and sublet desks by the month to freelancers, with low fit-out costs.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
Own premises

Uniformed security guard standing at a building entrance checking access.

Event and short-contract security guards

Supply licensed guards for events, construction sites and one-off jobs, starting with a small local team.

C$3k-12k
Side hustle
Out and about

A jeweller examines a gemstone through a loupe under a desk lamp.

Home-based jewellery appraiser

Value rings, watches and heirlooms by appointment for insurance, estates and resale.

C$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

Mobile estate and insurance jewellery appraiser

Travel to homes, lawyers' offices and bank vaults to value jewellery for estates and insurers.

C$4k-18k
Part-time
Out and about

An agent handing house keys to a tenant in front of a rental home.

Rental management for small landlords

Run a home-based agency that finds tenants and manages rentals for owners of a few properties.

C$2k-10k
Part-time
From home

Heaps of sorted scrap metal stacked in an outdoor recycling yard.

Mobile scrap metal collector

Collect scrap from homes, shops and job sites with a truck or trailer and sell it on to a scrapyard.

C$1.5k-8k
Side hustle
Out and about

Assessor with clipboard examining storm damage to a house roof.

Independent field insurance adjuster

Inspect damaged homes, cars or businesses and settle claims for insurers and adjusting firms on a per-file basis.

C$2k-8k
Part-time
Out and about

Public adjuster helping claimants

Help homeowners and small businesses document losses and negotiate fair settlements with their insurer.

C$3k-12k
Part-time
Out and about

Branded branded gift boxes and merchandise arranged for corporate giving.

Curated corporate gift box business

Assemble themed gift boxes with local products and company branding for client thank-yous, staff rewards and onboarding.

C$1k-6k
Side hustle
From home

Operator with headset taking a call and writing a message at a desk.

After-hours answering service with a small team

Run a small team covering evenings, weekends and busy-hour overflow for local businesses.

C$2k-10k
Part-time
Online

About these ideas

Some ideas can run from a spare room, like a home-based bag supplier for local businesses. Others, such as a licensed financial adviser, depend on credentials. Before you choose, think about who your first five customers could be and how you would reach them. Check what licences, registrations or insurance your province or municipality may require, and work out whether your budget covers stock, equipment and the months before invoices are paid.

More ideas

Questions

What kinds of business services can I start with under $20,000?

Many ideas sit in this range, including online supply shops, reseller models, home-based appraisal work and property-related services. Compare what each needs for stock, tools, insurance and marketing, then pick one where you already have contacts or relevant skills.

Do I need a licence to run a business services company in Canada?

It depends on the work and where you operate. Regulated roles, such as financial advice or security, may need specific licensing or registration. Check with your province, your municipality and the relevant regulator before you spend money or take on clients.

How should I plan for late-paying business customers?

Business clients often pay on terms such as 30 days, so cash flow matters. Check whether you can cover costs while waiting, consider deposits or prepayment, and set out payment terms clearly in writing before starting any work.