Agriculture Business Ideas You Can Start in the US

116 ideas

Agriculture is not only about owning a big farm. This page collects 116 ideas across growing, livestock, supplies, equipment and services.

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1k to 5k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premises
Rows of young evergreen trees growing on a tree farm field.

Choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm

Plant a few acres of Christmas trees and sell them to families each December.

  • $5k-25k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
185 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.5% in a year
Rows of young evergreen trees growing on a tree farm field.

Landscape tree grower for local landscapers

Grow shade and ornamental trees on a small plot and sell them to landscapers and garden centers.

  • $5k-30k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
185 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.5% in a year
Crates of fresh farm produce stacked in a wholesale warehouse.

Local farm produce broker

Connect small local growers with restaurants and grocers, and earn a margin on each bulk order you arrange.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
1,120 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.0% in a year
Crates of fresh farm produce stacked in a wholesale warehouse.

Regional produce wholesaler with cold storage

Buy from growers, store in a small cooler space and deliver weekly to restaurants, grocers and institutions.

  • $80k-250k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
1,120 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.0% in a year
Stacked irrigation pipes, pumps and fittings in a farm supply warehouse.

Online drip irrigation kit shop

Sell drip and sprinkler kits online to gardeners and small farms, shipped from a spare room or by your supplier.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
7,500 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
Stacked irrigation pipes, pumps and fittings in a farm supply warehouse.

Local irrigation supply store

Run a small counter-and-yard supply shop stocking pipe, sprinklers and pumps for local landscapers, farmers and homeowners.

  • $30k-150k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
7,500 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
Workers producing cheese and yoghurt in a clean dairy processing facility.

Micro-dairy with your own goats, sheep or cows

Keep a small herd and make milk, cheese or yogurt on your own land to sell directly to local customers.

  • $40k-200k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
440 US businesses with employees in this field, +4.5% in a year
Shearer clipping a sheep's wool on a farm in a barn.

Small flock sheep shearer

Shear sheep for hobby farms and small flocks near you, paid per animal, mostly in spring.

  • $800-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
4,791 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.1% in a year
Shearer clipping a sheep's wool on a farm in a barn.

Travelling contract sheep shearer

Travel a seasonal circuit of farms and ranches, shearing flocks of all sizes for a fee per head.

  • $3k-12k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
4,791 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.1% in a year
Rows of potted shrubs and seedlings growing in a plant nursery.

Backyard plant nursery

Grow perennials, shrubs and veggie starts at home and sell them locally and online.

  • $500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Rows of potted shrubs and seedlings growing in a plant nursery.

Retail and wholesale plant nursery

Run a nursery on leased or owned land selling trees and shrubs to gardeners and landscapers.

  • $15k-75k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Hay bales stacked on a trailer ready for delivery to a farm.

Hay and bedding delivery service

Buy hay and shavings from local growers and deliver to horse owners and small farms.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
9,322 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.1% in a year
Hay bales stacked on a trailer ready for delivery to a farm.

Hay and bedding yard with storage barn

Stock hay, straw and shavings in a barn or yard for walk-in sales and local delivery.

  • $10k-50k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
9,322 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.1% in a year
Sacks of animal feed and bedding stacked in a rural farm supply shop.

Local feed and supply store

Open a small store selling feed, bedding and supplies to horse owners, hobby farmers and pet owners nearby.

  • $25k-100k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Sacks of animal feed and bedding stacked in a rural farm supply shop.

Feed and bedding delivery service

Deliver feed, hay and shavings to farms, stables and homes in your area, with no storefront.

  • $5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Forestry worker cutting and managing trees in a woodland.

Tree planting and woodland thinning contractor

Plant seedlings, thin crowded stands and clear brush for private landowners and foresters with hand tools and chainsaws.

  • $2.5k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
2,023 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.2% in a year
Forestry worker cutting and managing trees in a woodland.

Forestry mulching and land clearing

Clear brush and small trees for landowners with a skid steer or tracked machine and a mulching head, leaving the wood as mulch.

  • $60k-250k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
2,023 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.2% in a year
Leafy plants growing in a hydroponic system under bright grow lights in a greenhouse.

Online hydroponics supply store

Sell grow lights, nutrients and starter systems to home growers through your own website.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Leafy plants growing in a hydroponic system under bright grow lights in a greenhouse.

Local hydroponics and indoor growing shop

Open a small store where local growers get lights, nutrients, systems and hands-on advice.

  • $30k-120k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Leafy plants growing in a hydroponic system under bright grow lights in a greenhouse.

Hydroponic supplies for small commercial growers

Supply systems, lights and nutrients to local farms and market growers, with delivery and setup advice.

  • $5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • From home
13,195 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Farmer applying fertiliser or pesticide spray to crops in a field.

Independent crop inputs sales rep

Visit local farms and sell fertilizer and crop protection products for a distributor or dealer, earning commission.

  • $2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
9,322 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.1% in a year
Farmer applying fertiliser or pesticide spray to crops in a field.

Small farm and grower supply store

Open a local store selling fertilizer, crop protection and growing supplies to small farms, ranches and serious gardeners.

  • $50k-200k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
9,322 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.1% in a year
Stacked crates of fresh vegetables in a wholesale warehouse loading area.

Local vegetable wholesale delivery route

Buy vegetables in bulk from farms or terminal markets and deliver to restaurants, caterers and small grocers.

  • $8k-40k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
4,914 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
Stacked crates of fresh vegetables in a wholesale warehouse loading area.

Online vegetable wholesale ordering for chefs

Take weekly orders online from restaurants and caterers, source from growers, and deliver or arrange pickup.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,914 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year

About these ideas

Some suit people with a few acres, such as a small seasonal pumpkin patch or a fresh egg supplier to cafes, bakeries and shops. Others need little or no land, like contract spraying for farms and landowners or an online fertilizer supplier for small farms. Start by asking what you already have: land, equipment, farm experience or local contacts. Then think about seasonality, cash flow between harvests, storage, and who your first three buyers could be. Check licensing, insurance, zoning and any food safety or pesticide rules with your state and county before you spend money. Use the ideas below to compare startup effort and find one that fits your situation.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need my own land to start an agriculture business?

Not always. Services like contract spraying, mobile farrier work or online farm supply sales rely more on equipment, skills and customers than acreage. If you do want to grow or raise something, check whether leasing land is realistic where you live.

What rules should I check before starting a farm-related business?

Check zoning and land use with your county, plus state rules on selling food, handling animals or applying pesticides. Some activities may need licenses, certifications or inspections. Your state agriculture department and local extension office are good places to start.

How can I test an agriculture idea before investing heavily?

Start small and local. Try a limited batch, a short season or a few trial customers such as nearby cafes or farms. Track your costs, time and feedback, and check insurance needs before you scale up equipment, stock or animals.