Hospitality business ideas with a budget over $20,000
102 ideas
These 102 hospitality ideas suit people who have real capital to put in, whether from savings, a partner or a loan, and want a business with a physical presence. A bigger budget opens up options like a farm campground with facilities, a bartending school with a training bar, or a lease-and-operate motel.
Small motorhome stop on your own land
Turn spare land into a handful of overnight sites with power and water for motorhomes and RVs.
- C$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Seasonal motorhome park with 20 to 40 sites
Run a small park with full hook-ups, a dump station and a check-in office, open through the warm months.
- C$600k-2500k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood tea room
Open a cosy sit-in tea room serving loose-leaf tea, baked treats and light lunches.
- C$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small-group scenic vehicle tours
Drive small groups to local viewpoints, wineries or natural sights in a van or minibus.
- C$8k-40k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Small cabin site with four to eight cabins
Run a small cabin getaway site with several cabins, a shared fire pit and a simple office, rented by the night.
- C$60k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small independent hostel in a leased building
Turn a rented house or small building into a friendly hostel with dorm beds and a few private rooms.
- C$40k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Mini hostel in a larger home or property
Offer a handful of dorm beds in a spare-room-sized setup in a large home, if local rules allow.
- C$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small ranch stay with riding and farm life
Host a few guests at a time on land you already have, with trail rides, chores and home-cooked meals.
- C$12k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Full guest ranch with cabins and a riding programme
Run a family-style ranch with cabins, a horse herd and a full week-long riding and activities programme.
- C$80k-400k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Whole-property holiday rental
Rent out a cottage, condo or separate suite as a furnished holiday let, with you as host or manager.
- C$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Single houseboat rental for summer holidays
Buy one used houseboat and rent it by the week to holidaymakers on a lake or waterway near you.
- C$40k-120k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Small houseboat fleet with a dock base
Run three to five rental houseboats from a marina base, with check-in, cleaning and handover for each trip.
- C$250k-600k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Mahjong club with its own space
Rent a small unit with tables for drop-in play, leagues and memberships, open most days.
- C$15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Dog sled tours from your own kennel
Run guided sled dog rides for visitors from your own kennel and trails in a snowy region.
- C$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Dog sled rides at resorts and winter events
Bring a small team of sled dogs to resorts, lodges and winter festivals to sell short rides.
- C$15k-70k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Serviced RV and tent campground
Run a larger seasonal campground with power and water hookups for RVs, trailers and tents.
- C$250k-1500k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Non-smoking cottage or cabin rental
Furnish a cabin, cottage or condo as a smoke-free getaway and rent it by the night or week.
- C$8k-35k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Fish and chips takeaway shop
Run a small counter-service shop selling fresh battered fish and chips to people collecting their meal.
- C$30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small independent motel or inn
Buy or lease a small motel or inn and run it with your family or a small team, renting rooms by the night.
- C$800k-4000k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small serviced apartment operator
Lease several apartments from landlords, furnish them and run them with housekeeping for corporate and relocation guests.
- C$30k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Hot-air balloon flight operator
Own a balloon and run scenic passenger flights with a small crew, selling seats and private celebration flights.
- C$40k-120k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Small fishing camp with rental cabins
Rent a few lakeside cabins and boats to anglers for weekend and week-long fishing stays.
- C$30k-150k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Ice fishing camp with hut rentals and day passes
Rent heated ice huts and sell day access to anglers on a frozen lake through the winter.
- C$8k-40k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small owner-run country house inn
Turn a character home in the countryside into a small inn with a few guest rooms, home-cooked breakfasts and a warm welcome.
- C$80k-350k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Before you pick one, work out what the money actually has to cover: a lease or build-out, equipment, insurance, permits and several months of running costs before income steadies. Hospitality is also hands-on, so think about the hours you are willing to work and whether you want guests, students or tourists as customers. Check local zoning, licensing and health rules early, since they can shape which ideas are realistic in your area.
More ideas
- Country house hotel with dining and events
- Furnished apartments for business travellers
- Small boat tours for visitors
- Mobile espresso cart or trailer
- Small espresso bar with a walk-up counter
- Seasonal beer garden on a leased patio or lot
- Neighbourhood tiki bar
- Pop-up tiki bar for events
- Storefront travel agency
- Neighbourhood brewpub with a full kitchen
- Compact brewpub with a short menu
- Year-round holiday house with direct bookings
- Small rock music venue with a bar
- Dedicated furnished holiday apartment
- Small neighbourhood nightclub
- Small counter-service fast food shop
- Delivery-first fast food kitchen
- Private-room karaoke bar
- Karaoke pub with a shared stage
- Neighbourhood pool hall
- Licensed pool hall and lounge
- Small LGBTQ+ nightclub
- Small log cabin getaway site
- Bartending school with a training bar
- Small guesthouse or cabin business
- Full-time B&B in a larger house or small inn
- Small-boat whale watching tours
- Whale watching tours on a chartered boat
- Neighbourhood lounge bar in leased premises
- Take over an existing licensed lounge bar
- Farm campground with facilities
- Small live music room and bar
- Small independent nightclub
- Small neighbourhood bar
- Take over an existing licensed bar
- Catering equipment hire with a small warehouse
- Small neighbourhood cocktail bar
- Mobile cocktail bar for events
- Owner-run guest house
- Small rooming house or guest house
- Private-room karaoke lounge
- Neighbourhood tapas bar
- Oxygen cocktail lounge
- Cat cafe with a rescue partner
- Lesbian and queer women's neighbourhood bar
- LGBTQ+ neighbourhood bar
- Neighbourhood live music bar
- Turn an existing bar into a live music venue
- Neighbourhood pub in leased premises
- Take over an existing pub
- Neighbourhood queer bar
- Lease or take over a small inn
- Small country inn with a bar or restaurant
- Neighbourhood cider bar
- Salsa bar with its own dance floor
- Neighbourhood piano bar
- Small residential retreat house
- Group stay venue for retreat leaders
- Standing-room neighbourhood bar
- Neighbourhood dart bar
- Internet and gaming cafe with print services
- Neighbourhood wine bar
- Pop-up wine bar nights
- Local disposable tableware distributor
- Small pilgrim hostel on a walking route
- Neighbourhood gastropub
- Hireable party and meeting room
- Licensed function hall for celebrations
- Sit-down fish and chips restaurant
- Farm cottages and cabins for rent
- Neighbourhood Irish pub
- Neighbourhood beer hall
- Pop-up beer hall at rented venues
- Small escape room centre
- Local holiday rental agency with office
- Neighbourhood sports bar
- Take over a bar and turn it into a sports bar
- Lease and operate an existing motel
Questions
What should I budget for beyond the startup cost of a hospitality business?
Plan for a cash cushion to cover rent, wages, supplies and insurance while you build a customer base. Also check for deposits, licensing fees, renovation overruns and seasonal slow periods that could stretch your first months.
Do I need licences or permits to open a bar, hostel or campground in Canada?
Often yes, but rules vary by province, territory and municipality. Check liquor licensing, food handling, fire safety, zoning and accommodation requirements with your local authorities before signing a lease or buying equipment.
Is it better to lease an existing business or start from scratch?
Both have trade-offs. Taking over an existing venue can mean faster setup, but ask to review financial records, lease terms, equipment condition and any licence transfer rules. Starting fresh gives control but usually takes longer.