Agriculture business ideas you can start in Canada
110 ideas
These 113 agriculture ideas cover growing, livestock, rural trades and supply services, so you can choose between working the land and serving people who do. Some, like indoor microgreens grown at home, need little space and modest spending.
Part-time sheep, goat and calf trader
Buy lambs, kids or calves from local farms and sell them on to other farms, with a trailer and a good eye.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
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
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
Small orchard selling at markets and a farm stand
Grow apples or pears on a few acres and sell direct at farmers' markets, a roadside stand and to local shops.
- C$15k-70k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
U-pick orchard with a farm gate shop
Run an orchard where families pick their own fruit, with a farm shop for ready-picked fruit and extras.
- C$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Mobile milking equipment service and parts
Drive to dairy farms to install, service and repair milking systems, and supply the parts they need.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Dairy parts and consumables supplier from home
Stock and deliver milking liners, filters, hoses and wash supplies to local dairy farms from a home base.
- C$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small organic market garden with veggie boxes
Grow organic vegetables on a an acre or two and sell through weekly boxes and farmers' markets.
- C$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Certified organic farm selling to shops and restaurants
Run a full-time certified organic farm supplying local shops, restaurants and box schemes.
- C$30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Online hydroponics supply store
Sell grow lights, nutrients and starter systems to home growers across Canada through your own website.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Online
Local hydroponics supply shop
Open a small shop where home and small commercial growers can get lights, nutrients and hands-on advice.
- C$25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small seasonal u-pick berry or veg patch
Grow strawberries, raspberries or vegetables on a few acres and let families pick their own in season.
- C$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Full-time u-pick farm with farm stand
Run a u-pick orchard or farm with several crops, a farm stand and a longer season that brings families back.
- C$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Mobile farrier: shoeing and trimming at the barn
Drive to stables and farms to trim hooves and make and fit horseshoes for horse owners.
- C$4k-20k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Horseshoe forge: custom and specialty shoes
Hand-forge custom and corrective horseshoes in a small workshop for farriers and owners.
- C$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Online irrigation parts and kits store
Sell drip kits, sprinklers, timers and fittings online to gardeners, small farms and landscapers.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Online
Local irrigation supply shop and trade counter
Open a small shop or yard stocking irrigation parts for farmers, landscapers and installers in your area.
- C$30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small market garden with veg boxes
Grow vegetables on a small plot and sell weekly boxes and market stalls to local households.
- C$5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Pastured eggs and small livestock farm
Raise laying hens on pasture and sell eggs direct to neighbours, shops and market customers.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Home greenhouse orchid grower
Grow orchids in a small greenhouse or sunroom and sell at markets, plant sales and online.
- C$1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small commercial orchid greenhouse
Grow young orchid plants to flowering in a rented or owned greenhouse and supply florists and garden centres.
- C$20k-100k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small-scale honey producer
Keep a handful of hives on your property or a rural lease and sell local honey at markets and farm gates.
- C$1k-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Full-time honey farm with wholesale
Run dozens of hives across several sites and sell honey and wax to shops, restaurants and online customers.
- C$15k-70k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Rural feed and supply store
Sell feed, bedding and supplies to farmers, horse owners and pet owners from a small shop or unit.
- C$25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Others, like a small sheep flock for lamb sales or a mobile farm equipment repair service, call for land, tools or specific skills. Start by being honest about your budget, access to land or a vehicle, and how much physical work you want. Then think about who will buy from you and how often, since seasons and weather shape cash flow in much of Canada. Check local zoning, food handling rules and any provincial requirements before you commit money.
More ideas
- Feed and bedding delivery round
- Small-scale horse breeding on your own acreage
- Horse breeding farm with young horse sales
- Bulk mulch and soil delivery service
- Small landscape supply yard
- Pond trout farm and stocking supplier
- Small sheep flock for lamb and wool
- Pasture-raised beef or pork sold direct
- Lease and run an established vineyard block
- Farm and rural fencing contractor
- Mobile farrier round
- Part-time hoof trimming service
- Backyard greenhouse seedling grower
- Local farm produce supplier to restaurants
- Home-based farm produce broker
- Hay and bedding delivery service
- Hay and bedding yard with storage barn
- Small flock and hobby farm shearer
- Travelling contract sheep shearer
- Firewood delivery by truck and trailer
- Firewood yard with bundles and kindling
- Small grain farm on rented land
- Field vegetable grower for processors and wholesalers
- Small sheep flock for lamb sales
- Beef cow-calf herd on grazing land
- Small Christmas tree farm
- Landscape tree and shrub grower
- Backyard perennial and native plant nursery
- Tree and shrub nursery for landscapers
- Small flock farm-gate eggs
- Seasonal pasture-raised chicken
- Pasture and self-care horse boarding
- Full-care horse boarding barn
- Small flock fresh eggs for local households
- Local egg delivery to cafes, bakeries and shops
- Native and perennial plant grower (small scale)
- Container nursery for shrubs and trees
- Small seasonal pick-your-own pumpkin patch
- Horse pasture boarding on your land
- Seasonal pasture rental for cattle and sheep
- Custom crop and field spraying service
- Rural mowing and brush cutting service
- Small-herd beef sold direct to customers
- Cow-calf herd selling calves
- Small oyster farm selling direct to buyers
- Market garden selling veg boxes and at farmers' markets
- Indoor microgreens grown at home
- Small farm raising pasture-raised lamb or pork
- Tree planting and brushing crew
- Woodlot thinning and harvesting contractor
- Small-batch pigs sold direct to customers
- Small breeding herd selling weaner pigs
- Farm parts and tools supplier with delivery
- Used farm equipment and attachments dealer
- Stud farm offering stallion breeding services
- Local vegetable supplier to restaurants and shops
- Pre-order vegetable wholesale from a small unit
- Honeybee swarm collection on call
- Live bee removal from buildings
- Local fertilizer and soil product delivery
- Online specialty fertilizer shop for growers
- Small-flock sheep breeder
- Heritage poultry breeder
- Small oyster or mussel farm
- Freshwater trout or tilapia pond farm
- Market garden supplying restaurants and shops
- Home orchid grower selling blooming plants
- Small greenhouse orchid grower for florists and shops
- Online tractor and farm machinery parts shop
- Rural tractor parts counter and shop
- Sod delivery supplier for homes and landscapers
- Small-scale sod farm
- Small-plot Christmas tree grower
- Pick-your-own Christmas tree farm
- Mobile farm equipment repair
- Farm machinery repair workshop
- Online seed shop for local gardeners
- Seed stall at markets and local shops
- Seed supplier for market gardens and small farms
- Topsoil delivery service (no yard)
- Small topsoil yard and delivery
- Farm gate stand or honesty shed
- On-farm shop with local goods
- Farm shop with online orders and pickup
- Independent crop inputs sales agent
- Local supply store for small growers
Questions
Do I need my own land to start an agriculture business?
Not always. Ideas such as indoor microgreens or a delivery service for hay, mulch or firewood rely more on space at home, a vehicle or equipment. If you plan to raise animals, check whether you can lease land and what local rules apply.
What should I check before selling food I grow or raise?
Look into the food safety, labelling, licensing and inspection rules in your province and municipality. Requirements can differ for produce, eggs and meat, so confirm with your provincial agriculture ministry or local public health office before you sell.
How do I cope with seasonal income in farming?
Map out your expected income and costs month by month, and keep a cash cushion for slow periods. Consider pairing a seasonal idea with a year-round one, such as repairs or deliveries, and check whether any farm-related support programs or insurance options apply to you.