Creative business ideas with over $20,000 in startup cost

46 ideas

These 46 creative businesses need a larger upfront investment, usually because they depend on a physical space, specialist equipment or a skilled team. Examples include your own small tattoo studio, a commercial photography studio space and a tailoring shop with made-to-measure work.

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Commercial photography studio space

Run a rented studio for product, portrait and brand shoots, with space other creatives can hire.

• $5k-25k
• Part-time
• Own premises

📊11,483 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.3% in a year

Documentary and corporate film studio

Run a small team making brand films, commercials and documentaries for companies, nonprofits and outlets.

• $8k-40k
• Full-time
• Out and about

📊17,366 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year

Bespoke and made-to-measure men's tailoring studio

Make suits and jackets to measure for men in a small appointment-based studio, with alterations to pay the bills.

• $10k-40k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊388 US businesses with employees in this field, -7.8% in a year

Commercial photography studio

Run a rented studio for headshots, product shoots and brand photos for local businesses.

• $5k-25k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊5,021 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.8% in a year

Bespoke bridal and evening wear studio

Rent a small studio to design and make custom bridal and formal wear with full fittings for each client.

• $8k-35k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊337 US businesses with employees in this field, -15.3% in a year

Bespoke tailoring studio

Run a small fitting studio making suits, shirts and wedding wear to measure, plus alterations to keep the doors open.

• $8k-35k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊337 US businesses with employees in this field, -15.3% in a year

Small storefront art gallery

Rent a small space, show local artists and earn commission when their work sells.

• $8k-40k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊4,729 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.9% in a year

Commercial recording studio space

Rent a small unit, build a proper live room and booth, and book bands, producers and voice-over clients.

• $10k-50k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊2,131 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year

Product design studio with prototype shop

Rent a small studio, design products and build prototypes in-house for clients who want a working model.

• $8k-40k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊1,591 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.5% in a year

Small video and film studio with a crew

Rent a small unit with a shooting space and make commissioned films, ads and documentaries with a small team.

• $15k-60k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊17,366 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year

Sandblast glass etching studio for trade and signage

Run a small workshop doing sandblasted glass for businesses, designers, homes and bulk orders.

• $15k-50k
• Part-time
• Own premises

📊955 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.1% in a year

Guitar and violin repair and setup shop

Repair, set up and restore guitars, violins and other stringed instruments from a small shop.

• $5k-25k
• Part-time
• Own premises

📊609 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.0% in a year

Community print newspaper

Publish a weekly or monthly paper for your town, funded by local ads and subscriptions.

• $5k-25k
• Part-time
• From home

📊5,851 US businesses with employees in this field, -4.0% in a year

Embroidery and uniform shop

Run a small shop or unit producing team, workwear and promotional embroidery in volume for local organizations.

• $15k-60k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊729 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.2% in a year

Neon sign shop with install service

Run a small workshop unit that designs, builds, repairs and installs neon signs for local businesses.

• $15k-60k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊5,895 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year

Bead wholesaler selling to shops and shows

Rent a small unit, stock a wide range of beads and findings, and supply bead stores, boutiques and makers directly.

• $8k-40k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊1,984 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.5% in a year

Small screen printing and custom apparel shop

Run a small shop or unit that screen prints bulk orders for teams, schools and local businesses.

• $8k-40k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊15,140 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.9% in a year

Small rented portrait studio

Rent a small commercial space and run a full-time portrait studio with regular bookings.

• $5k-25k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊11,483 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.3% in a year

Boutique modeling agency with a small office

Run a full-time agency from a small office, with a bigger roster, a casting space and regular clients in your region.

• $8k-35k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊4,998 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.5% in a year

Neighborhood photo lab storefront

Run a small shop for prints, photo gifts, scanning and framing for walk-in customers and local studios.

• $20k-80k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊332 US businesses with employees in this field, -7.0% in a year

Full-service neighborhood sign shop

Run a small shop making storefront signs, banners, vehicle graphics and event signage for businesses in your area.

• $15k-70k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊5,895 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year

Direct mail print and mailing shop

Rent a small unit, print and prepare mailings in-house, and run bigger campaigns for local businesses.

• $15k-60k
• Full-time
• Own premises

📊1,705 US businesses with employees in this field, -8.7% in a year

Nonprofit community opera company

Run a nonprofit opera company for your region that earns from tickets, grants and sponsors and gives local singers a stage.

• $5k-25k
• Part-time
• From home

📊5,681 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.7% in a year

Set and display building workshop

Rent a small shop to build scenery, stage sets and exhibit displays for theaters, events, retailers and production crews.

• $8k-40k
• Part-time
• Own premises

📊3,469 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.8% in a year

About these ideas

They suit people who already have a developed craft or trade and want to turn it into a real premises-based business. Before you commit, think about your lease terms, your build-out and equipment costs, and how many months of rent and living expenses you can cover while you build a client base. Check which licenses, permits and insurance your city and state require, and talk to a few owners in your chosen field to learn what a realistic first year looks like.

More ideas

• Costume rental shop and workshop
• Vehicle and business decal shop
• Band rehearsal studio rooms
• Small animation studio for ads and brand films
• Model making workshop with laser and 3D printing
• Pottery studio with classes and open studio time
• Community art studio with classes and rentals
• Taxidermy shop with a small showroom
• Tailoring shop with made-to-measure
• Private appointment-only tattoo studio
• Your own small tattoo studio
• Full ballet school with your own studio
• Art school in a rented studio space
• Monogramming and personalization shop
• Craft school studio with a class schedule
• Art restoration studio for galleries and dealers
• Sewing school studio with weekly classes
• Private tattoo and piercing studio suite
• Tattoo and piercing shop with guest artists
• Home longarm quilting studio
• Longarm quilting studio with rentals
• Painting studio with classes and rentals

Questions