Food business ideas you can start in Canada

318 ideas

This page collects 320 food business ideas, from low-cost starts to full shopfronts. If you want to test a product before committing to a lease, a market stall patisserie or small-batch food products made in a shared kitchen keep fixed costs lower.

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

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

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

Colourful acai bowl topped with fruit and granola on a café counter.

Açaí bowl and smoothie shop

Run a small counter-service shop selling açaí bowls, smoothies and juices for takeaway or quick eating in.

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

Açaí bowl market stall or cart

Sell açaí bowls and smoothies from a stall, cart or pop-up at farmers' markets, festivals and summer events.

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

Baker serving fresh bread and pastries behind a bakery shop counter.

Home bakery for custom orders and markets

Bake bread, cakes and pastries from a home kitchen and sell by pre-order, pickup and local markets.

C$500-4k
Side hustle
From home

Neighbourhood bakery shop

Open a small shop making bread, pastries and cakes fresh each morning for local walk-in customers.

C$40k-200k
Full-time
Own premises

Crates of fresh fruit and vegetables displayed outside a greengrocer shop.

Neighbourhood fruit and vegetable shop

Run a small shop selling fresh produce sourced from growers and wholesalers to local shoppers.

C$50k-150k
Full-time
Own premises

Farmers' market produce stall

Sell fresh fruit and vegetables from a stall at weekend markets without paying for a shop.

C$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
Out and about

Local produce box delivery

Pack weekly fruit and vegetable boxes from home and deliver them to subscribers in your area.

C$1k-6k
Side hustle
From home

A takeaway box of fried chicken meal ready for pickup or delivery.

Neighbourhood takeaway counter

Open a small counter-service shop selling one focused menu, such as pizza, chicken, shawarma or curries, for pickup and delivery.

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

Delivery-only takeaway from a rented kitchen

Cook a tight takeaway menu in a shared commercial kitchen and sell it through delivery apps and your own online orders.

C$5k-25k
Part-time
Own premises

Packed lunch boxes lined up ready for delivery in a kitchen.

Office box lunch delivery

Prepare packed lunch boxes in a rented kitchen and deliver them to offices for meetings and team days.

C$2k-10k
Part-time
Own premises

Box lunches for schools and events

Supply pre-ordered lunch boxes for school trips, sports days, conferences and community events.

C$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
Own premises

Customers buying ice cream cones at a colourful ice cream shop counter on a sunny street.

Neighbourhood ice cream scoop shop

Run a small shop scooping ice cream and frozen treats for walk-in families, tourists and locals.

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

Seasonal ice cream kiosk or walk-up window

Sell cones and frozen treats from a small kiosk or window at a beach, park, marina or tourist spot.

C$12k-50k
Part-time
Own premises

Diners eating plant-based dishes at a table in a vegan restaurant.

Small plant-based neighbourhood restaurant

Run a small eat-in and takeout restaurant serving fully vegan meals to local diners.

C$60k-250k
Full-time
Own premises

Vegan takeout kitchen for delivery and pickup

Cook vegan meals in a rented commercial kitchen and sell by delivery apps, pickup and your own website.

C$5k-25k
Part-time
Own premises

Bowls of dried fruit and mixed nuts displayed on a shop counter.

Nut and dried fruit shop

Run a small neighbourhood store selling nuts, dried fruit and baking and snack ingredients by weight.

C$40k-120k
Full-time
Own premises

Dried fruit and nut market stall

Sell dried fruit, nuts and snack mixes at farmers' markets and seasonal fairs, without renting a shop.

C$3k-10k
Side hustle
Out and about

Online dried fruit and nut store

Sell nuts, dried fruit and snack mixes online and ship across Canada from a small stock room.

C$3k-12k
Side hustle
Online

A butcher serving fresh cuts of meat across a counter in a traditional shop.

Neighbourhood butcher shop

Open a small counter-service shop selling fresh cuts, sausages and prepared meats to local households and restaurants.

C$60k-250k
Full-time
Own premises

Market stall and local meat delivery

Sell fresh cuts and prepared meats at farmers' markets and by pre-order delivery, with no shop lease to carry.

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

Colourful cupcakes displayed on a counter in a cosy bakery shop.

Home-baked custom cupcake orders

Bake cupcakes to order for birthdays, showers and small events, sold through social media and word of mouth.

C$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

About these ideas

If you prefer steady, planned orders, an office and corporate lunch caterer may suit you better. Before you pick one, think about where you would prepare the food, how much time you can give it each week, and whether you enjoy selling face to face. Check the food safety, licensing and zoning rules in your province and municipality early, because they shape where you can cook and sell. Start with the idea that fits your skills and your savings, not just the one that sounds most exciting.

More ideas

Questions

Can I start a food business from my home kitchen in Canada?

It depends on where you live. Some provinces and municipalities restrict or limit selling home-prepared food, and others have specific rules. Check with your local public health unit and city before you sell, and ask whether a shared or commercial kitchen is required.

What permits and licences might a food business need?

Requirements vary by province and city. Things to check include food handler certification, a health inspection, a business licence, zoning approval, and any market or event vendor rules. Your local public health authority and municipality are good first contacts.

How do I choose between a market stall, a kiosk and a shop?

Compare startup cost, lease commitments, hours and how much you want to test demand first. A market stall or kiosk usually lets you learn what sells with less risk, while a shop may suit you once you have steady customers.