The 39 Best Profitable 420 Business Ideas You Can Start (2021)
Starter Story

If you support marijuana legalization or have a passion for the green, there are dozens of ways to turn your passion into a business.
From CBD, to fashion, to food, we put together 39 potential business ideas you can build around the cannabis industry!
Check out the list.
1. Start a hemp products business ($12M/year)
Paul Benhaim from Sydney started Elixinol Global over 3 years ago, a hemp products business.
- Revenue: $1,000,000/ month
- Founders: 4
- Employees: 50
- Location: Sydney
When I was traveling as a backpacker, living on a few dollars a day in North-East Thailand, I learned that indigenous people, although ‘financially poor’, were extremely radiant, happy and seemingly healthy, despite their lack of what we in the West would consider clean living conditions.
I observed them closely and discovered their natural eating habits - living close to nature allowed them to gain the most nutritional benefits from the foods they were eating. On studying this further, I realized that the essential fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) compounds found in their diet, were missing in most western diets due to the processing of foods for commercial supermarket shelf-life.
Later on, whilst traveling (still as a backpacker) in Canada, I met Dylan who shared with me the many uses of hemp - including the hemp seed which contained a perfect balance of omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids.
2. Start a digital agency ($264K/year)
Hailey Brooke McFadden from started Power Move Marketing about 1 year ago, a digital agency.
- Revenue: $22,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 2
- Location:
I have a pretty decently sized personal following on IG from being a college volleyball player and a short stint as a sideline reporter for ACCN/ ESPN. Companies began reaching out to me asking me to post and I told one company no because their IG and website weren’t very professional and it would do him a disservice because even if I got the traffic there I knew it wouldn’t convert.
Give people recognition and praise for a job well done, even if your co-founder or employee is a friend or spouse… don’t forget they need a little love too!
So he said, “why don’t you run it then?”. I ended up running his socials, doing all his emails, working with suppliers to make new products, creating an ambassador program, editing the website, customer service, and more! Once I posted about my success with this company, more and more companies began reaching out for help! Most companies already had several marketing teams on when I would come on and my ads and other work always outperformed theirs. I realized I brought something the other companies couldn’t- cohesiveness with email, socials, ads, etc.
3. Start a clothing boutique ($120K/year)
Gia Paddock from Phoenix, Arizona, USA started Boutique Rye almost 4 years ago, a clothing boutique.
- Revenue: $10,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 0
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
My backstory has absolutely nothing to do with what I am doing now, but that is what makes us so unique. I went to college for education and became an elementary school teacher. I taught 4th grade for three years. However, I knew that was not meant to be my “forever” job.
Something I have always enjoyed was shopping. I mean what girl doesn’t have this as a hobby?! I had always thought it would be amazing to have my own boutique and get to wear new clothes almost every day.
I started thinking about this crazy idea when I got pregnant with my son, Riley. I knew I didn’t want to teach forever and this was my way out! During the summer I quit teaching, I got a job at a local boutique just working part-time, and it was here where the wheels starting turning for this idea. I saw how much I loved going into work every day and how much I enjoyed helping others pick out outfits for different occasions.
4. Start a skin care product line ($24K/year)
Meredith Moseley-Bennett & Yolanda Grbic from Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA started Oh My Balm over 4 years ago, a skin care product line.
- Revenue: $2,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 0
- Location: Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA
We are neighbors with one house between us, which makes all of this possible.
In 2016, we were brainstorming about Christmas gifts and decided to make body butter and lip balm for friends and family and split the costs.
We looked up a recipe and gave it a try. We used rosemary and peppermint essential oils and people loved the smell. To be honest, looking at it now, our first attempt was pretty horrid.
5. Start a cooking class business ($1.2M/year)
Monika Reti from many, USA started Hipcooks over 7 years ago, a cooking class business.
- Revenue: $100,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 8
- Location: many, USA
In true Hipcooks fashion: I’m not a culinary school graduate — I’m a hack! Here’s my story:
I’m first-generation American (Mom is from Germany and Dad from Argentina). My parents were young foreign students in the US and their friends were the other international students: I was a kid surrounded by people from different nationalities, like Spain, Russia, France, and the UK. I was a child foodie and loved to experience culture through food.
I caught the travel bug early, living in Argentina (studying economics in college), traveling through Europe, and moved to England for graduate school (I have a Master’s in Economics from LSE.) While in school, I cooked my way through a series of London restaurants in the gastro-boom of the ’90s, just for fun. My first job was on the West Coast, as an econometrician at the RAND Corporation.
6. Start an event management company ($480K/year)
Celeste Durve from Los Angeles, California, USA started VIPER by KCH over 4 years ago, a event management company.
- Revenue: $40,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 0
- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Both of us were interns and freelance production assistants when we developed the idea for VIPER. We met while interning for Bolthouse Productions in 2014, a popular nightlife company.
We were working as production assistants on the side and were overworked and underpaid but we both had a ton of drive and ambition. One night towards the end of 2015, we bumped into each other while working the same event and were surprised to see the other person working.
In order to get this off the ground, we kept side jobs and pushed all the money back into the company and paying our staff.
7. Start a branding agency ($102K/year)
Elva Li from Melbourne Victoria, Australia started Elva Li almost 5 years ago, a branding agency.
- Revenue: $8,500/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 1
- Location: Melbourne Victoria, Australia
There’s a song on repeat in my world and whenever I play it, it reminds me of the time I started my own business and finally left my corporate job.
“I spend too much time thinking about who I'm supposed to be I play by everybody's rules that don't seem right to me
Should I even care? They're all sitting there and everyone's staring at me If I step out in the spotlight maybe I'll be set free
8. Start a consulting business ($240K/year)
Akhil Suresh Nair from City of Westminster, England, United Kingdom started Xena Intelligence by Parzenn Partners about 3 years ago, a consulting business.
- Revenue: $20,000/ month
- Founders: 3
- Employees: 0
- Location: City of Westminster, England, United Kingdom
I had a couple of years of experience working for a large corporation back in India. I genuinely felt that I was just a cog in the wheel and that whatever I did had little to no impact in the real world.
We were at a crossroads at that time – filled with constant self-doubt about the career path we wanted to take. We could have easily applied for corporate jobs in the US or in India, but we chose to follow our hearts by continuing to work in our consulting business.
I reached out to a few small businesses I had developed good relationships during my corporate career and started helping them out on developing marketing strategy to scale their businesses and also to instill robust operational efficiencies in their business processes. I realized that I was able to add considerable value to their businesses and that I felt a sense of satisfaction in being able to make their lives better. I soon started consulting for over 20 small businesses in India.
9. Start a marketing agency ($102M/year)
JB Kellogg from Fort Collins, Colorado, USA started Madwire® almost 12 years ago, a marketing agency.
- Revenue: $8,500,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 520
- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
I played college football at the University of Western New Mexico. It was like a full-time job, so after my senior season when football was over and I still had one semester left, I had a lot of time on my hands, which I was not accustomed to. I didn’t like it - I prefer to be busy. So, I decided to walk down to a local travel magazine company a few blocks off campus called Zia Publishing.
I knew I had a talent for design and marketing (I self-taught myself digital design and went to school for marketing), so I walked in and asked if I could intern there in my final semester. They said they didn’t require any design or marketing but they did need a new website. They asked me if I knew how to design and build a website. This was early 2005 and website design and development were still pretty new. I told them, no, but if they gave me a desk, computer, and a couple of months, I’d figure it out. So they did.
Over the next eight weeks, I learned everything I could about website design and development. I designed and built the website two or three times over before I felt confident enough to show the owner, Terry. When I showed her the website, she paused and said, “This is the best website I’ve ever seen. Not only is it beautiful, but it achieves all our needs and goals.” I knew at that moment I had a talent not many people had at the time. I told my Dad I thought there was a business opportunity. He agreed, but the industry was mostly freelance at the time and he was running a successful brokerage company called Traders Network and wanted me to come work with him and test some of the digital marketing and design strategies there first.
10. Start a freelance app development business ($960K/year)
Andrew Askins from started Krit about 7 years ago, a freelance app development business.
- Revenue: $80,000/ month
- Founders: 3
- Employees: 8
- Location:
I never set out to start a software agency. Growing up I never thought I would be an entrepreneur, or even get into tech.
But when I got to college I decided to take an intro to Computer Science class. My plan at the time was to teach math in the Peace Corps. I didn’t like math enough to be a math major but figured Computer Science would be interesting and involve a lot of math.
Learn what makes you great and where you need help. It will be worth every penny.
11. Start a cannabis club
Examples of a successful cannabis club:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cannabis club:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Cannabis Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide To The Marijuana Industry
- Start Your Own Cannabis Business: Your Step-By
Learn more about starting a cannabis club ➜
12. Start a backyard plant nursery ($60K/year)
Debbie Odom from Georgia started CamelliaShop almost 14 years ago, a backyard plant nursery.
- Revenue: $5,000/ month
- Founders: 3
- Employees: 0
- Location: Georgia
In 1991, I had the life-changing opportunity to become a part of Gene’s Nursery, one of the oldest nurseries in Savannah Georgia.
When I had the opportunity to leave my office job and get my hands into soil, I was happy and I was hooked.
Gene’s Nursery has its roots firmly planted in our quaint historic coastal city and it’s passion was the Camellia. Camellias are ornamental shrubs that produce brilliant blossoms during the fall and winter. They are the most unique flowering shrub species found today and are considered the Queen of Ornamental shrubs.
13. Start a niche web design business ($240K/year)
Scott Bishop from Boston, Massachusetts, USA started Up And Social almost 7 years ago, a niche web design business.
- Revenue: $20,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 1
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
I began my business career with the family in-store sampling business, C.A. Courtesy, in the 1990s, while at the same time attending college at Johnson and Wales University, where I pursued a degree in Web Management & Internet Commerce.
I’ve always had a knack for marketing and technology, and when I left C.A. Courtesy, I was the Vice President of Marketing and Technology.
People don’t remember what you say as much as they remember how they felt when you said it.
14. Start a retail business ($69K/year)
Liz Martin from Charleston, South Carolina, USA started Charleston Weekender over 5 years ago, a retail business.
- Revenue: $5,750/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 0
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina, USA
In 2015, I started making a gradual exit from my full time job as a speech-language pathologist. Like many other entrepreneurs I know, I was seeking to fill a creative void and just knew I couldn’t thrive long term in a setting where I worked for someone else.
I began pursuing my options, and landed on interior decorating since it had always been an interest of mine and didn’t require further schooling. I took on decorating work for friends and word of mouth clients. When I launched my website that fall, I decided to offer some home decor and hostess gift type products- my first one being Turkish towels, the perfect weekend companion. I wasn’t able to just quit my job and go for it, so I reduced my hours and days as a speech therapist as my side hustle kept growing. I worked my way down to 2 days a week and then eventually justified a full exit from that job (based mostly on my Interior decorating clients & product sales at the time).
I had a knack for taking pictures, so I began marketing my products and services largely through Instagram. I started to focus my efforts on creating content featuring my products through fun and colorful lifestyle photography. Instead of posting a picture of said Turkish towel, I would create a picnic setting and photograph that.
15. Start a social media marketing service ($600K/year)
David Schlais from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA started Vital Traffic Labs over 4 years ago, a social media marketing service.
- Revenue: $50,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 0
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
My personal background is in B2B enterprise sales, and at my previous employer, things were going great for the first 2.5 years that I was an employee there. I moved up quickly, was promoted twice, and actually had the opportunity to build out a team. Unfortunately, one day that all changed and I realized that I was deeply unhappy, and after years of trying and failing to start businesses online I thought that maybe it was time for one more go.
Your pot of gold and freedom is out there somewhere, but you will never find it until you start looking for it.
The company I was working for announced that it was being acquired, so I decided to give my old friend Derek a call. Initially, I pitched him on starting a recruitment agency together (both of us had started our careers at an executive search office together). He said that he would think about it, and actually came to me with the idea for an SMMA (Social Media Marketing Agency).
16. Start an art business ($51.6K/year)
Sarah Hickey from Plano, Texas, USA started Innerglow Art over 4 years ago, a art business.
- Revenue: $4,300/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 0
- Location: Plano, Texas, USA
Growing up I’ve always had this unique passion for art and all things creative. I was that artsy girl in all the art classes in high school and even took a few art classes in College.
When strangers were noticing my art and asked if I had a website, business card, etc., it really pushed me to start the business.
I never thought I could actually have a “successful career” with art so I majored in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. I worked as an Assistant SLP for 2 years after graduating and worked for a pediatric home health company. I truly enjoyed working with special needs children with language disorders and thought this was my calling. However, after applying to grad school and receiving rejection letters for the grad program, I was completely devastated. I felt like a huge failure and was so discouraged. In response, I started painting again.
17. Start a cannabis tours business
Examples of a successful cannabis tours business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cannabis tours business:
- How A Single Dad Turned Weed Bus Tours Into A $1.8 Million Business
- How To Start A Cannabis Dispensary Business
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a cannabis tours business ➜
18. Start a hemp clothing brand
Examples of a successful hemp clothing brand:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a hemp clothing brand:
- A Hemp Clothing Line Created By Jewish And Druze Designers In Israel
- Hemp: The Misunderstood Sustainable Fabric
For further info, check out these books and products:
- 250+ Profitable Clothing Brands For Resale: A Guide To Selecting Men's & Women's Apparel To Sell On Ebay
- Direct-To-Consumer Clothing Brands & Services
Learn more about starting a hemp clothing brand ➜
19. Start a smoking accessories brand ($240K/year)
Monica Khemsurov from New York, USA started Tetra Shop about 6 years ago, a smoking accessories brand.
- Revenue: $20,000/ month
- Founders: 3
- Employees: 1
- Location: New York, USA
As I mentioned, I started Tetra with two friends. I was (and still am) a journalist running a design magazine with an online shop attached, and they were both art and fashion writers, one of whom had previously run her own clothing line. The three of us were at the beach one day and my friends were smoking; I asked where they went to buy good-looking pipes and lighters and such. They laughed heartily and said that no such place existed, and it was a matter of seconds before the bells went off in my head.
I knew design and had e-comm experience, they had a passion for smoking. All three of us had a lot of connections and really good taste — it’s how we each made our living. We mapped out a game plan for Tetra that very day, and launched it to the public only about six months later (taking advantage of our professional connections to get a ton of great press).
Did we have a proper business plan? Err, no, not even close. But all of us had been working in trend-focused industries where we were used to trusting our gut instincts, so that’s what we did. We knew we wanted to be first, so we didn’t have time to be slow and methodical and question things. We slammed on the gas and flew out of the gates.
20. Start a cannabis business ($1.98M/year)
Bjorn Dawson from Waterloo, Iowa, USA started Grobo almost 7 years ago, a cannabis business.
- Revenue: $165,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 8
- Location: Waterloo, Iowa, USA
I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs so it was always something I knew I would go into. My grandfather, for example, built some of the earliest satellite communication technology. Today, our phones can connect to satellites, but back then it required a $10M+ facility. He used entrepreneurship to develop something new and transformational that still impacts our lives today.
With my parents as entrepreneurs, I grew up understanding that lifestyle. Although they worked nights and weekends, they were always able to come to my afternoon soccer games and had significantly more flexibility in their life than most people do. That’s the life I wanted. The ability to pick what you work on, make an impact on the world, and choose when and how you do it.
I truly believe that anyone can become an entrepreneur, which is why I went into Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo instead of going into a Business program. Within the first 6 months of being in Waterloo, I purchased a home to use as a rental property. It was the best investment I’ve ever made for two reasons. The most obvious reason is the financial return. Between rent and appreciation, the house net me over $25K/year for 5 years. The second reason is the gardens.
21. Start a natural beauty product business ($60K/year)
Mel young from Hazeldene, Victoria, Australia started Flowerdale Valley almost 4 years ago, a natural beauty product business.
- Revenue: $5,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 0
- Location: Hazeldene, Victoria, Australia
I always wanted to work for myself. So I was always thinking about business ideas. Not everyone wants to work for themselves and not everyone is suited to the lifestyle, so if you have the dream, make sure you pursue it!
My business started when I was working as a cook at a local reception venue. A bride wanted some local honey wedding favors, which I provided. Doing this made me find a jar supplier, register my home kitchen as a food premise, prepare an invoice, etc.
From here, I began selling honey to the public and then I experimented with other ideas (making jam, personalized wedding favors, etc) before going into skincare. I had quite a few failures in this period!
22. Start a painting business
Examples of a successful painting business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a painting business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Faux Painting Or Mural Business: A Guide To Making Money In The Decorative Arts
- How To Start A Painting Business For $50 And
Learn more about starting a painting business ➜
23. Start an edibles business
Examples of a successful edibles business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a edibles business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Marijuana Business: How To Open And Successfully Run A Marijuana Dispensary And Grow Facility
- Start Your Own Cannabis Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide To The Marijuana Industry
Learn more about starting an edibles business ➜
24. Start a growing products business
Examples of a successful growing products business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a growing products business:
- Make $60k-$100k A Year By Growing Worms In Your Basement
- 21 Steps To Starting A Business (You Don’t Want To Skip Any)
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start, Run & Grow A Successful Restaurant Business: A Lean Startup Guide
- The Welding Business Owner's Hand Book: How To Start, Establish And Grow A Welding Or Manufacturing Business
Learn more about starting a growing products business ➜
25. Start a 420 lodging business
Examples of a successful 420 lodging business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a 420 lodging business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start & Run Your Own Bed & Breakfast
- A Wealth Of Insight: The World's Best Luxury Hoteliers On Leadership, Management, And The Future Of 5-Star Hospitality
Learn more about starting a 420 lodging business ➜
26. Start a head shop
Examples of a successful head shop:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a head shop:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a head shop ➜
27. Start a health consultations business
Examples of a successful health consultations business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a health consultations business:
- Solution To The Seventh Mistake To Avoid When Taking Health Consultations Online
- How To Price Online Health Consultations
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Home Care How To: The Guide To Starting Your Senior In Home Care Business
- Consulting On The Side: How To Start A Part-Time Consulting Business While Still Working At Your Full-Time Job
Learn more about starting a health consultations business ➜
28. Start a 420 blog
Examples of a successful 420 blog:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a 420 blog:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How to Start a Blog that People Will Read
- Lifestyle Blogging Basics: A How-To for Investing in Yourself, Working With Brands, and Cultivating a Community Around Your Blog
Learn more about starting a 420 blog ➜
29. Start a weed app
Examples of a successful weed app:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a weed app:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Bong Appétit: Mastering The Art Of Cooking With Weed
- Start Your Own Cannabis Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide To The Marijuana Industry
Learn more about starting a weed app ➜
30. Start a cannabis review business
Examples of a successful cannabis review business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cannabis review business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Cannabis Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide To The Marijuana Industry
- How To Run A Marijuana Dispensary
Learn more about starting a cannabis review business ➜
31. Start a weed podcast
Examples of a successful weed podcast:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a weed podcast:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Podcast Launch: How to Create & Launch Your Podcast: Plus FreePodcastCourse.com!
- How To Podcast 2015: Four Simple Steps To Broadcast Your Message To The Entire Connected Planet - Even If You Don't Know Where To Start
Learn more about starting a weed podcast ➜
32. Start a marijuana author
Examples of a successful marijuana author:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a marijuana author:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Marijuana Business: How To Open And Successfully Run A Marijuana Dispensary And Grow Facility
- How To Run A Marijuana Dispensary
Learn more about starting a marijuana author ➜
33. Become a florist
Examples of a successful florist:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a florist:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Florist Shop and Other Floral Businesses (StartUp Series)
- Start Your Own Florist Shop and Other Floral Businesses
Learn more about starting a florist ➜
34. Start a 420 friendly airbnb business
Examples of a successful 420 friendly airbnb business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a 420 friendly airbnb business:
- Vlog 3 - Tour Of My 420 Friendly Airbnb Listing + Smoke Sesh
- My First Airbnb (420 Friendly) Asmr Part 1
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a 420 friendly airbnb business ➜
35. Start a cannabis meetup
Examples of a successful cannabis meetup:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cannabis meetup:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The Cannabis Business Book: How To Succeed In Weed
- The Entrepreneur's Guide To Cannabis: Concentrated Advice From 25 Industry Leaders
Learn more about starting a cannabis meetup ➜
36. Become a security consultant
Examples of a successful security consultant:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a security consultant:
- How To Become A Cybersecurity Consultant
- The Role Of The Security Consultant (Security Matters: Hawaii)
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Becoming An Independent Security Consultant: A Practical Guide To Starting And Running A Successful Security Consulting Practice
- Getting Started In Consulting Ebook: Weiss
Learn more about starting a security consultant ➜
37. Start a delivery service
Examples of a successful delivery service:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a delivery service:
- How To Start A Local Delivery Business 2020
- Start Your Own Grubhub, Postmates, Ubereats Delivery Service
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Grocery Delivery And Errand Service From Home
- Starting Your Own Business: Become An Entrepreneur!
Learn more about starting a delivery service ➜
38. Start a packaging design business
Examples of a successful packaging design business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a packaging design business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Home-Based Web Design Business, 3rd
- Running A Web Design Business From Home: How To Find And Keep Good Clients And Make Money With Your Home Business
Learn more about starting a packaging design business ➜
39. Start a flower arrangements business
Examples of a successful flower arrangements business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a flower arrangements business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a flower arrangements business ➜
40. Start a cannabis restaurant
Examples of a successful cannabis restaurant:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cannabis restaurant:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Run A Marijuana Dispensary
- Start Your Own Cannabis Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide To The Marijuana Industry
Learn more about starting a cannabis restaurant ➜
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