Hospitality business ideas you can start for up to $20,000

33 ideas

Hospitality doesn't have to mean buying a restaurant or a hotel. This page lists 33 ideas with startup costs up to $20,000, and many of them rely on hosting, renting or borrowing space rather than owning it.

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1k to 5kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premises
Tents pitched in a green field beside a working farm with grazing animals.

Seasonal farm campsite with basic pitches

Open a few tent and RV pitches on your working farm for weekend and holiday campers.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
5,018 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.9% in a year
Hot air balloon rising over countryside at sunrise with passengers in basket.

Balloon ride booking agency

Sell hot-air balloon flights online for licensed local pilots and earn a commission on each booking.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
255 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.5% in a year
Bright furnished flat living room with sofa, table and kitchen corner.

Furnished apartment for business and medical stays

Furnish an apartment or house and rent it for 30+ days to traveling nurses, relocating staff and business visitors.

  • $4k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
Bright self-catering holiday cottage living room with a no-smoking sign.

Non-smoking guest suite or backyard cottage rental

Rent a spare suite, garage apartment or backyard unit to visitors on a strict no-smoking basis.

  • $1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
Tidy furnished apartment bedroom ready for holidaymakers arriving for a short stay.

Vacation rental in your spare apartment or suite

Rent a basement apartment, in-law suite or garage unit you already have to visitors for short stays.

  • $1k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
Students learning cocktail making from an instructor behind a bar.

Mobile bartending classes

Run short bartending courses in rented venues, bars or event spaces, with no permanent classroom to pay for.

  • $1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
4,657 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.5% in a year
Bright furnished holiday apartment living room with sofa and sea view window.

Vacation rental in a unit you own

Furnish a condo or apartment you own and rent it by the night to vacation guests.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year

Vacation rental in a unit you lease

Lease an apartment with the owner's written approval, furnish it and rent it to guests.

  • $5k-20k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
Tourists on a boat deck watching a whale surface near the coast.

Whale watching trips on a partner's boat

Sell your own whale watching trips using a chartered or partner-owned boat, with no boat to buy.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
2,217 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.2% in a year
Neat hotel bedroom with a made bed and soft window light.

Vacation rental unit manager-owner

Run a whole apartment, cottage or small house as a furnished nightly rental.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
55,895 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Timber log cabin with decking in a woodland setting.

Single log cabin rental on Airbnb or Vrbo

Furnish a cabin you own or have permission to rent out, and host weekend and vacation guests on booking sites.

  • $4k-20k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
Small guest house bedroom with a breakfast table set for visitors.

Bed and breakfast in your own home

Rent one to three spare rooms with a home-cooked breakfast to tourists and visiting travelers.

  • $2k-12k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
2,304 US businesses with employees in this field, -6.5% in a year
Rows of tables and chairs set up in an event hall for a function.

Small-scale party and catering equipment rental

Rent tables, chairs, chafing dishes and drink dispensers to hosts and caterers, run from your garage.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
10,248 US businesses with employees in this field, +6.8% in a year
Visitors touring a working farm while a farmer shows them the animals.

Working farm tours for day visitors

Open your farm to families and school groups for guided tours, animal visits and hands-on chores.

  • $1k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
Diners eating at tables while a live show performs on stage.

Pop-up dinner theater at local venues

Stage a show with a meal at restaurants and banquet halls that already have the kitchen and seats.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
3,490 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.4% in a year
Bartender preparing drinks at a wedding or corporate party.

Event bar company with a small bartender team

Run a bartending company that staffs weddings and corporate events with a few trained bartenders and a full bar setup.

  • $2.5k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about
13,222 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.4% in a year
Modern furnished serviced apartment with bed, desk and city view.

Single furnished apartment for short stays

Furnish one apartment and rent it by the night or week, with cleaning and guest support included.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year
A band performing under stage lights to an enthusiastic concert crowd.

Pop-up live music night series

Host regular ticketed live music nights in a rented hall, restaurant or bar room, without a lease of your own.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
4,274 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.3% in a year

Vacation rental management company

Run a small agency managing a portfolio of vacation homes with a cleaning and maintenance team.

  • $3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises
60,818 US businesses with employees in this field, +5.9% in a year

Home-based disposable tableware supplier

Supply cups, plates, cutlery and takeout packaging to local cafes, food trucks and caterers from a spare room or garage.

  • $1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • From home
3,770 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.3% in a year

Weekend retreat venue on your own property

Rent out a spare-bedroom-heavy home, cabin or barn for weekend retreats run by teachers and groups.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
2,061 US businesses with employees in this field, +8.6% in a year

Party venue from a space you already have

Rent a barn, garden, finished basement or outbuilding you own for small parties and gatherings, mostly on weekends.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Own premises
34,559 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.0% in a year
Customers seated at tables with teapots, cups and light food in a tea room.

Pop-up afternoon tea events

Run a tea room without a lease by hosting afternoon tea at rented venues on set dates.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about
A bartender pouring and garnishing a cocktail at a busy bar counter.

Pop-up cocktail bar in a host venue

Run your own cocktail menu one or two nights a week inside an existing venue before you commit to a lease.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

About these ideas

You might run tapas pop-up nights at a host bar, offer a Spare-room bed and breakfast in your home, or build a small-scale party and catering equipment rental business. These ideas suit people who enjoy hosting, can handle busy evenings and weekends, and want to test demand before taking on a lease. Before you choose, work out what you can realistically fund, who your first customers would be, and which permits, licenses, insurance and food or alcohol rules might apply where you plan to operate. Start with the idea that fits your schedule and your local market.

More ideas

Questions

How far does $20,000 go in a hospitality business?

It can go a long way if you avoid long leases and heavy buildouts. Pop-ups, events and hosted nights usually need less upfront than a permanent venue. Compare equipment, insurance, supplies and marketing costs, and keep a cash cushion for slow weeks.

Do I need licenses or permits to start a hospitality business?

Often, yes, but requirements vary by state, county and city. Check for business registration, food handler or food service permits, alcohol licensing, health inspections, zoning and event rules. Your local government offices can confirm what applies to your idea.

What insurance should I look into for a hospitality business?

Ask an insurance broker about general liability, product liability, property cover and workers' compensation if you hire staff. If you work in a host venue or at events, check what their policy covers and whether they expect you to carry your own.