Business Ideas Over $20,000 to Start in Canada

1776 ideas

These 1,1776 ideas suit people with savings, a loan, or investor backing who want a business with real equipment, premises or inventory. Examples include a custom joinery workshop for builders and homeowners, a small craft brewery with a taproom, and a neighbourhood children's clothing boutique.

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Workers installing a striped awning above a café front on a sunny street.

Awnings for cafés and shops

Supply and fit storefront and patio awnings for cafés, restaurants and shops, often with your branding on them.

C$5k-25k
Part-time
Out and about

Tents, sleeping bags and hiking gear displayed in an outdoor camping shop.

Camping gear shop

Open a small shop selling tents, sleeping bags and camping gear to local campers and hikers.

C$30k-120k
Full-time
Own premises

Camping gear pop-up and rentals

Sell and rent camping gear from a seasonal stall near campgrounds, markets and events.

C$8k-35k
Side hustle
Out and about

Farmers and cattle gathered around a busy livestock auction ring.

Feeder cattle dealer

Buy and sell feeder cattle between ranches, backgrounders and feedlots, earning the margin on each load.

C$100k-500k
Full-time
Out and about

Motorhomes parked on a campsite with electric hook-up posts.

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

Carpenter fitting timber deck boards into a frame in a garden.

Full-time design-build deck company

Design and build timber and composite decks for homeowners with a small crew and a truck.

C$15k-50k
Full-time
Out and about

Elegant plated desserts served in a restaurant dining room.

Neighbourhood dessert shop and cafe

Open a small sit-down dessert spot serving plated sweets, ice cream, waffles and hot or cold drinks.

C$50k-200k
Full-time
Own premises

Dessert stall at markets and events

Serve made-to-order sweets and drinks from a stall or cart at farmers' markets, festivals and pop-ups.

C$6k-25k
Side hustle
Out and about

DJ controller, headphones and speakers displayed on a shop counter.

Local DJ gear shop

Open a small shop where DJs can try controllers, test headphones and get advice in person.

C$40k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

Large rolls of fabric stacked in a wholesale warehouse.

Small-warehouse fabric wholesaler

Buy bolts from mills and importers, and sell them by the bolt to makers, upholsterers and shops from a small unit.

C$25k-120k
Full-time
Own premises

Online niche fabric wholesaler

Sell one type of fabric by the bolt to small makers and shops online, with stock stored in a garage or small storage unit.

C$5k-25k
Side hustle
Online

Workers producing cheese and yoghurt in a clean dairy processing facility.

Small-batch cheese and yogurt creamery

Turn milk bought from a local farm into cheese, yogurt or butter and sell it at markets, shops and restaurants.

C$30k-150k
Part-time
Own premises

Goat or sheep dairy with on-farm creamery

Keep a small milking herd and make cheese or yogurt on your own land, sold direct to local customers.

C$60k-300k
Full-time
Own premises

Holidaymakers collecting paddleboards and kayaks from a beach rental stand.

Waterfront watersports rental shop

Run a small seasonal rental base on a beach or marina with kayaks, boards, wetsuits and lessons.

C$15k-70k
Full-time
Own premises

Designer creating a large floral arrangement for a wedding table setting.

Floral design studio with a small unit

Rent a small studio or unit to design event flowers, meet clients and take walk-in and online orders.

C$8k-30k
Full-time
Own premises

A construction crew working on the exterior of a house under renovation.

Home renovation contractor

Take on kitchen, bathroom, basement and repair jobs for homeowners, using trusted subtrades for specialist work.

C$15k-60k
Part-time
Out and about

Small building firm with a crew

Run a small crew taking on extensions, residential builds and light commercial fit-outs under contract.

C$15k-70k
Full-time
Own premises

Technician repairing an air compressor unit in a workshop.

Mobile air compressor repair and servicing

Drive to workshops, farms and job sites to service and repair air compressors on the spot.

C$8k-30k
Part-time
Out and about

Air compressor repair workshop

Run a small unit where customers bring or send compressors for repair, rebuilds and servicing.

C$6k-25k
Full-time
Own premises

Engraver adding lettering to a trophy in a small workshop.

Trophy and awards shop

Run a small shop making and engraving trophies, plaques and awards for local groups and walk-in customers.

C$20k-80k
Full-time
Own premises

A carer sitting in a home and relaxing with a cat on her lap.

Small boutique cattery

Run a small dedicated cat hotel with private suites, either in a rented unit or a purpose-built space.

C$40k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

Folded towels and bed sheets displayed on shelves in a linen shop.

Linen shop on your local high street

Open a small shop selling bed linen, towels and table textiles to shoppers in your neighbourhood.

C$15k-60k
Full-time
Own premises

Copper stills and barrels inside a working distillery.

Small-batch craft distillery with a tasting room

Make gin, vodka or whisky in a rented unit and sell to bars, stores and visitors.

C$150k-750k
Full-time
Own premises

About these ideas

A bigger budget can buy a stronger starting position, but it also raises the cost of getting things wrong. Before you commit, work out your monthly fixed costs, such as rent, insurance and loan repayments, and how long you could cover them with little income. Check which permits, licences and zoning rules apply in your city or province. Where you can, test demand with a small pilot or pre-orders before you sign a lease or buy equipment.

More ideas

Questions

What costs should I include when budgeting over $20,000?

Look beyond equipment and stock. Add deposits and rent, insurance, permits, branding, a website, professional fees and working capital for the first several months. Many owners also keep a cash buffer for slower-than-expected sales. Get written quotes wherever possible.

Do I need licences or permits for these businesses in Canada?

It depends on the idea, your municipality and your province. Food, alcohol, accommodation and workshop businesses often have extra requirements. Check with your city, provincial regulator and insurer before spending money, and confirm zoning for any premises.

How can I fund a startup costing more than $20,000?

Common routes include personal savings, small business loans, equipment financing, family investment or partners. Programs may exist for new businesses, and eligibility varies. Compare the repayment terms, check what security lenders may want, and consider speaking with an accountant first.