Business services ideas with startup costs over C$20,000
93 ideas
These 95 business services ideas suit people who have meaningful savings, financing or a partner to invest, and who want to serve other businesses or property owners rather than the general public. Higher budgets usually pay for premises, equipment, stock or licensing.
Full-time exporter shipping pallets and containers
Gather goods from several Canadian producers and ship them in bulk to regular overseas buyers.
- C$25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Compact equipment hire with delivery
Rent mini excavators, skid steers and compact machines to contractors and homeowners, delivered to site.
- C$60k-180k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Envelope supplier with local stock and delivery
Hold popular envelope sizes in a small unit and give local printers and offices fast, reliable delivery.
- C$8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Boutique headhunting firm with a small team
Run a small search firm with a researcher or two, taking on several leadership searches at once for regional employers.
- C$10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Luggage lockers for tourist spots
Run larger locker banks near stations, attractions, beaches or ski hills where visitors need short-term storage.
- C$10k-40k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Local packaging supply shop and trade counter
Open a small unit where local businesses pick up boxes, tape and wrap, with delivery to regular customers.
- C$20k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small outbound call team for sales and surveys
Run a small team of callers handling sales, lead and survey campaigns for several client companies.
- C$8k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local lab supplies stockist with small warehouse
Hold stock in a small unit and supply nearby labs, schools and companies with fast delivery and local service.
- C$20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Blueprint and plan printing shop
Print and copy large-format drawings and plans for builders, architects and engineers in your area.
- C$8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood mailbox rental shop
Rent private mailboxes and receive parcels for locals, students and small firms from a small storefront.
- C$15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood coworking space
Lease a small unit and rent desks, offices and meeting rooms to local freelancers and remote workers.
- C$25k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small temp staffing agency
Supply local businesses with short-term workers, and earn a margin on each hour they work.
- C$5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Back-office outsourcing team for local firms
Run a small team that handles bookkeeping support, data processing and customer service queues for several client companies.
- C$20k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Contract security for local premises and sites
Win ongoing contracts to guard shops, warehouses and building sites with a small team of guards.
- C$8k-30k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Outsourcing recruitment agency with a small team
Run a small agency with a few recruiters that supplies staff in volume to outsourcing and contact-centre employers.
- C$10k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Coin laundry equipment dealer with a small yard or unit
Stock, refurbish and sell coin-operated washers and dryers to new laundromats and landlords, with install and service.
- C$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local home insurance brokerage office
Open your own small brokerage with a street-front or shared office, placing home cover with several insurers.
- C$30k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small scrap metal buying yard
Run a small yard that buys metal from the public and trades, then sells in bulk to larger processors.
- C$25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
RV, boat and trailer storage lot
Turn spare rural or edge-of-town land into a fenced lot for seasonal vehicle storage.
- C$30k-120k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small storage units in a leased warehouse
Lease an industrial unit, divide it into lockable spaces and rent them to households and small businesses.
- C$15k-70k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Local banner and sign print shop
Run a small unit with a wide-format printer, making banners and signs for local businesses and events.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood packing and shipping counter
Pack, label and send parcels for locals and small businesses from a small shopfront.
- C$10k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Immigration practice for local employers and communities
Open a small office helping local employers and walk-in clients with work permits, hiring foreign workers and residence applications.
- C$15k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small CPA practice for local businesses
Offer accounting, corporate tax, payroll and advice to owner-managed businesses as a licensed CPA.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Examples include a local banner and sign print shop, an RV, boat and trailer storage lot, and a wholesale importer supplying local businesses. Before you compare ideas, work out how much of the cost is fixed, such as a lease or machinery, and how long you could cover it with little income. Check which permits, professional licences or insurance your province requires, and whether you need zoning approval for the site. Talk to a few likely customers early, so you know the demand is real before you spend.
More ideas
- Small full-service marketing agency
- Private offices and meeting rooms suite
- Coffee equipment shop and repair workshop
- Container storage yard on your own land
- Indoor storage units in a converted building
- Currency exchange counter
- Online currency ordering with pickup
- Small team contact centre for local businesses
- Local office accessories distributor with a stock unit
- Small forklift fleet for local hire
- Forklift hire with you as operator
- Small yacht brokerage with a marina office
- Local supply distributor with a small warehouse
- Local records storage facility
- Local stocked supplier of lab consumables
- Local paper delivery supplier
- Specialty paper supplier with a small warehouse
- Used equipment buy-and-export trader
- Small collection agency with a collector team
- Office supplies wholesaler with a small warehouse
- Independent motorcycle insurance brokerage
- Refurbished mailroom equipment supplier
- Money transfer agent counter
- Community money transfer service
- Licensed customs broker and consultancy
- Water refill depot with delivery
- Neighbourhood print and copy shop
- Local retail leasing brokerage
- Used store fixtures warehouse and showroom
- Tool and equipment rental shop for homeowners
- Local general insurance office (home, auto, business)
- Cinema and venue AV supply and install team
- Secure document pickup and shredding service
- Small wine locker room for local collectors
- Climate-controlled wine storage for collectors and trade
- Independent polygraph examiner
- Paper exporter with a small warehouse
- Local laminating equipment dealer
- Home-based customs broker for small importers
- Small customs brokerage office near a border or hub
- Freelance court and discovery reporter
- Coffee vending route with a small stockroom
- Property admin office for local owners
- Small nursing and care staff agency
- Container sales and hire yard
- Small mail house with print and inserting kit
- Small rental property business
- Office bottled water delivery route
- Local packaging bag distributor with a small unit
- Your own small brokerage office
- Local ATM route you load and service yourself
- Property management firm with a small office
- Wholesale importer supplying local businesses
- Equipment importer with a small stocked warehouse
- Small appraisal office with trainee appraisers
- Sign shop with printing and vehicle graphics
- Packaging bag wholesaler with a small warehouse
- Arcade machine sales, leasing and repair
- Boutique industrial real estate brokerage
- Container-load importer with a small warehouse
- Furniture packages for landlords and movers
- Asbestos surveys for commercial buildings
- Short-term rental management agency
- Your own local mortgage brokerage
- Virtual office with meeting rooms
- Appliance wholesaler with a small warehouse unit
- Local insurance brokerage office
- Local income protection agency with a small team
- Local auto insurance brokerage office
Questions
What should I check before spending over C$20,000 on a business services idea?
Check what the money actually buys, such as equipment, a lease, stock or licences. Ask whether you could resell equipment, how long a lease runs, and how many months of costs you could cover before steady customers arrive.
Do I need a licence for a business services company in Canada?
It depends on the service and province. Insurance brokerage, yacht sales and environmental surveys, for example, may have professional or regulatory requirements. Check with your provincial regulator and municipality before you commit to premises or equipment.
Can I get financing for a higher-cost business idea in Canada?
Options may include bank loans, government-backed small business financing, equipment leasing or private investors. Lenders typically want a clear plan and sometimes security. Check current programs, eligibility and repayment terms, and compare the total cost of each option.