Agriculture business ideas you can run from your own premises
71 ideas
These 71 agriculture ideas all work from land or buildings you own or control, so they suit people with a smallholding, a few acres, a yard or an outbuilding to put to use. Options range from a polytunnel salad and veg grower or a small trade nursery for landscapers and gardeners, to a full and part livery yard or a pick-your-own farm with a farm shop.
Honey farm with hives across local sites
Run dozens of hives on farmland sites, with your own honey brand sold to shops, online and at markets.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small pick-your-own fruit or veg plot
Grow strawberries, raspberries or veg on a few rented acres and let local families pick their own in season.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Pick-your-own farm with a farm shop
Run a larger pick-your-own site with several crops, a small farm shop and a team of seasonal helpers.
- £20k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Forge workshop making custom horseshoes
Hand-make specialist and corrective shoes in your own forge for farriers, vets and owners.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Bonsai grower supplying garden centres
Run a small nursery growing bonsai and supplies for garden centres, gift shops and trade buyers.
- £5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small Christmas tree farm
Grow Christmas trees on a few rented acres and sell them direct to local families each December.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Native tree and hedging grower
Grow native trees and hedging plants on a small plot and sell to landscapers, farms and planting projects.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Full-time stud breeding and producing youngsters
Run a small stud with several mares, raise and start youngsters, and sell them on to riders.
- £30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local irrigation supply unit for growers
Stock pipe, pumps, sprinklers and drip kit from a small unit for farms, nurseries and landscapers.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small sheep flock on rented grazing
Rent a few fields, keep a flock of breeding ewes and sell lambs to a market, a processor or direct.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Beef cattle on rented land
Buy young cattle, graze and finish them on rented land, then sell to markets or processors.
- £10k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small grape-growing plot for wineries
Plant a few acres of vines and sell the grapes to established English wineries.
- £15k-70k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small estate vineyard with your own wine
Grow grapes, have them made into your own English wine, and sell direct to visitors, shops and restaurants.
- £50k-250k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Organic market garden with veg boxes
Grow organic vegetables on a few acres of rented land and sell through veg boxes, farm shops and restaurants.
- £8k-30k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small organic plot for salads and herbs
Start small on a rented plot or large garden, growing organic salad and herbs for local cafes, restaurants and neighbours.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small market garden selling direct
Grow vegetables on a rented acre or two and sell veg boxes, farm gate and market stall produce.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Smallholding with eggs, meat and produce
Keep a small flock or herd on a few acres and sell eggs, meat and produce direct to local customers.
- £5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small orchard selling direct to local customers
Grow apples or pears on a few acres and sell at markets, farm gates and to local shops.
- £5k-25k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Polytunnel salad and veg grower
Grow salad leaves, tomatoes and veg in a polytunnel and sell to local cafes, shops and box customers.
- £1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small greenhouse plant nursery
Raise bedding plants, veg plug plants and perennials in a greenhouse and sell to gardeners and garden shops.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Arable farm on rented land using contractors
Rent or contract-farm fields, grow cereals or oilseeds, and hire contractors for heavy jobs rather than buying machinery.
- £30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small-scale field vegetable grower
Grow field vegetables such as potatoes, onions or brassicas on a few rented acres and sell to packers and wholesalers.
- £15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Small livery yard
Stable and care for other people's horses on a yard you rent or own, with DIY or part livery.
- £5k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Field and grazing livery for a few horses
Rent out safe grazing and a simple shelter on spare land to owners who want a low-cost place for their horse.
- £1k-6k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
About these ideas
Before choosing, look closely at what your site can realistically support: soil, water, access, drainage and space for vehicles or animals. Think about planning rules, how much you can invest before the first sale, and how seasonal the income will be. Start by comparing ideas that fit the land you already have, then test demand locally.
More ideas
- Horse grass livery with basic care
- Seasonal grazing lets for small livestock keepers
- Small-scale foal breeder
- Stallion at stud and mare services
- Small suckler beef herd on rented grazing
- Calf rearing and cattle finishing
- Small-scale meat chickens and ducks
- Fresh produce wholesaler with a small unit
- Full-time wholesale nursery on rented land
- Small-scale pig rearing with pork box sales
- Small breeding herd selling weaners and breeding stock
- Vegetable wholesale from a small unit
- Small-scale pigs or sheep sold as meat boxes
- Full-time small farm selling beef, lamb or pork direct
- Orchid nursery for florists and retail
- Hay and bedding yard with own barn
- Small seasonal pumpkin patch
- Pumpkin patch with autumn events
- Small grass and DIY livery yard
- Full and part livery yard
- Small market garden on rented land
- Small freshwater trout pond farm
- Indoor recirculating tank fish farm
- Small trade nursery for landscapers and gardeners
- Orchard growing fruit for juice and cider makers
- Free-range egg supplier to local trade
- Local fertiliser and soil products yard
- Small-plot veg grower with veg boxes
- Market gardener supplying restaurants and shops
- Roadside farm stall or honesty shop
- Small breeding sheep flock
- Rare breed breeding stock on a smallholding
- Local seed and grower supplies merchant
- Small freshwater trout farm
- Small oyster or mussel farm
- Small-scale turf grower and supplier
- Small orchid nursery for florists and garden centres
- Local farm inputs store
- Small-plot Christmas tree grower
- Pick-your-own Christmas tree farm
- Tractor parts counter shop
- Farm machinery workshop
- Local feed and bedding shop
- Hydroponics shop and trade supplier
- Firewood supplier with delivery round
- Local bark and soil yard
- Topsoil yard with screening
Questions
Do I need planning permission to start a farm business on my own land?
It depends on the use and your site. Polytunnels, farm shops, livery buildings and changes of use may all be treated differently. Check with your local planning authority before spending money, and ask whether any land or tenancy restrictions apply.
What should I check before keeping animals or selling food from my premises?
Check animal registration and welfare requirements, and whether you need to register as a food business with your local council. Meat, shellfish and horse businesses can have extra rules, so confirm what applies with the relevant authorities.
How do I choose between growing, livestock and livery?
Compare start-up costs, daily workload, seasonality and how well each suits your land. Growing needs good soil and water, livestock needs handling facilities and time, and livery needs buildings, grazing and insurance. Speak to local customers before committing.