43 Business Ideas for Food Lovers

Updated: July 24th, 2023

So - I'm assuming you're a foodie lover with the desire to start your own business.

The good news: Foodie trends are never going to go out of style.

The (also good), but hard news: There are tons of food companies out there, hence, a lot of competition.

But don't worry - as long as you check some of the necessary boxes off the list, it's highly likely you can create a successful business in this field:

  • Keep it simple - simplicity isn't a bad thing. Start by becoming an expert with one specific product (in our case, one recipe or one subscription box type).
  • Differentiate from the rest - Find that one thing that makes you different, and capitalize on it.
  • Talk to customers and gather feedback - This may seem like a simple thing, but one of the main reasons start-ups fail is due to not talking to their customers enough.

Here are 43 foodie business ideas, including many home-based options.

1. Start a food delivery business

In today’s busy lifestyles and schedules, cooking is no longer a priority to many. People like to order-in food from their nearest restaurants or food joints and enjoy a meal in the comfort of their homes.

The food delivery business is like a courier service through which restaurants deliver food to their customers.

You can offer retail food delivery services to restaurants within your locality if you have a truck. Customers order through a restaurant or grocer’s website, and the owners contact you to deliver.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $83,333,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Took Food Trucks Corporate And Built A $18M Business

Food Fleet grew over 160% in just one year and managed over 20 million in sales for its clients, securing multiple contracts with the likes of Sodexo, Levy Restaurants and more, due to its understanding of catering client needs and its advanced turnkey and design services.

About
Jeffrey started Food Fleet about 12 years ago
Revenue
Jeffrey grew the business to $1.5M/month
Read by 14,272 founders

2. Start a meal prep business

A meal preparation business is a service that delivers prepared meals to its clients in the comfort of their own homes. The meal preparation business is a fast-emerging niche that offers a real opportunity to earn good money. To succeed, the starter must be efficient in the meal preparation and ensure proper communication skills. Besides, the entrepreneur must keep time when it comes to delivery to avoid customer disappointment.

A global survey shows that demand for food delivery service is on the rise. This is as people get busier with their careers and other more important tasks, leaving limited time to prepare meals and bond with friends.

Therefore, starting a meal preparation business can be a great way to earn extra monies.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $4,170,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

3. Start a meal prep business

A meal preparation business is a service that delivers prepared meals to its clients in the comfort of their own homes. The meal preparation business is a fast-emerging niche that offers a real opportunity to earn good money. To succeed, the starter must be efficient in the meal preparation and ensure proper communication skills. Besides, the entrepreneur must keep time when it comes to delivery to avoid customer disappointment.

A global survey shows that demand for food delivery service is on the rise. This is as people get busier with their careers and other more important tasks, leaving limited time to prepare meals and bond with friends.

Therefore, starting a meal preparation business can be a great way to earn extra monies.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $4,170,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

4. Start a food startup

Starting a food business can involve opening your own restaurant, bakery, food truck, cake shop, or even starting a business or blog online.

Other kinds of food businesses include manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Food businesses prepare a wide range of foods such as snacks, sweets, and meals to sell directly to consumers and also include cafeterias at workplaces and similar facilities.

If you have a passion for food, starting a food business can be an extremely fun, challenging, and rewarding business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $61,650,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How We Started A Successful Hot Sauce Brand

Trini Pepper Sauce co-founder and co-owner, Mustafa Mannan, shares how he successfully imported and manufactured his family's unique pepper sauce recipe and launched it through a Kickstarter campaign, now selling an average of $3,000/month in revenue.

About
Mustafa started Trini Pepper Sauce about 10 years ago
Revenue
Mustafa grew the business to $2.25K/month
Read by 32,983 founders

5. Start a wine club

A wine club offers members inside access to favorite wines from favorite vineyards. Members enjoy access to wine cultural experiences such as tastings and other exclusive events. The wine clubs provide members a series of monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual premium-quality wine shipments and benefits.

Starting a wine club is pretty simple! Invite people you know and the existing customers. You can also advertise starting a wine club in wine enthusiast magazines and online communities.

How much you can make: $85,000 — $270,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How I Grew My Online Booze Business to $270K/Month

Learn how Taster's Club, a subscription service for craft spirits, went from a side-hustle to a profitable business with $270K/month in revenue, by launching fast and staying focused on providing an outstanding customer experience.

About
Mack started Taster’s Club over 11 years ago
Revenue
Mack grew the business to $270K/month
Read by 30,262 founders

6. Start a liquor company

How much you can make: $300,000 — $11,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 522 days (?)

How I Started A Vodka Brand Doing $100K/Month

Wolf Spirit Distillery, founded by Umberto Luchini, has experienced rapid growth by expanding to 23 states in the first six months of the year and aims to reach a total of 40 states by year end, despite initial start-up costs of over $1.5 million for Blood x Sweat x Tears vodka.

About
Umberto started Wolf Spirit Distillery almost 7 years ago
Revenue
Umberto grew the business to $300K/month
Read by 28,006 founders

7. Start a brewery

If well-planned, a brewery can be a profitable business. However, starting a brewery is not a walk in the park.

Opening a brewery requires a lot of planning, involves many decisions, and is capital intensive.

If you have decided to start a brewery, you must comply with the legal requirements. Then, understand the startup costs involved in starting a brewery.

Your brewery business plan must indicate the brewery concept and outline the brewery funding plans.

How much you can make: $56,000 — $120,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

How This Entrepreneur Started A $2M Craft Brewery

Progress Brewing, a craft beer company in South El Monte, saw continuous growth of 12-14% every month for 16 months straight and hopes to break $2M revenue in 2019 with a focus on high-value non-hype beer, excellent customer service, and providing an overall enjoyable experience.

About
Diego started Progress Brewing over 10 years ago
Revenue
Diego grew the business to $120K/month
Read by 6,920 founders

8. Start a food delivery business

In today’s busy lifestyles and schedules, cooking is no longer a priority to many. People like to order-in food from their nearest restaurants or food joints and enjoy a meal in the comfort of their homes.

The food delivery business is like a courier service through which restaurants deliver food to their customers.

You can offer retail food delivery services to restaurants within your locality if you have a truck. Customers order through a restaurant or grocer’s website, and the owners contact you to deliver.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $83,333,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Took Food Trucks Corporate And Built A $18M Business

Food Fleet grew over 160% in just one year and managed over 20 million in sales for its clients, securing multiple contracts with the likes of Sodexo, Levy Restaurants and more, due to its understanding of catering client needs and its advanced turnkey and design services.

About
Jeffrey started Food Fleet about 12 years ago
Revenue
Jeffrey grew the business to $1.5M/month
Read by 14,272 founders

9. Start a dessert boxes store

Gifting is a culture that cements how we relate to those close to us. Consumer goods stores have innovated various gifting methods and dessert boxes happen to be one of them.

If you love baking and you have a passion for entrepreneurship, starting a dessert boxes store can be a highly rewarding venture.

Here are some ideas for your inspiration.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

I Make $1.5M/Year Shipping Chocolate Penises To Your Friends

Dick At Your Door is an e-commerce shop that grew almost 10x within the last eight months by selling anonymous pranks such as 5 oz chocolate penises, and its founder shares his journey that started as a joke to becoming a professional chocolatier.

About
Adam started Dick At Your Door about 9 years ago
Revenue
Adam grew the business to $125K/month
Read by 14,379 founders

10. Start a handmade goods business

A handmade craft business entails selling own-crafted products on online platforms like Alibaba, Etsy, an independent website, or social media.

To succeed in selling handmade goods, you'll need solid creative skills. Your creativity can help you build a strong brand.

And with online marketplaces, handmade shopping has become a popular trend.

In recent years, consumers worldwide have shown their support of independent businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those venturing into the handmade goods business.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $150,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

The $27K/Month Company That Turns Photographs Into Custom Handmade Portraits

PortraitFlip is a successful startup that delivers handmade portraits globally with a clientele base in the USA and yields 3.5crs through their 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, and they started with an initial investment of only Rs.23,000.

About
Sunny started PortraitFlip LLC over 6 years ago
Revenue
Sunny grew the business to $45K/month
Costs
It cost Sunny $60 to start the business
Read by 10,249 founders

11. Start a healthy meal delivery service

Meal prep delivery services offer healthy and nutritional meals to customers via e-commerce sites.

These services provide either DIY meal kits or Ready-to-eat meals, saving time and eliminating food waste.

They are particularly beneficial for busy people and health-conscious millennials who prefer nutritional food at home.

There are two types of meal services: online meal kits and fast food delivery services.

A meal prep delivery business can be profitable, especially when compared to restaurants, as they save costs on a storefront.

To make a good profit, one should invest less in groceries and ensure they have many customers.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $25,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

12. Start an online food business

Gone are the days when food lovers needed to leave their homes for delectable delights. Insert: online food business. This venture allows individuals or groups to offer ready-to-eat meals or pre-packaged ingredients for home preparation, straight to customers' doorsteps.

In simple terms, the business centers on creating and selling meals through an online platform. In a world perpetually pursuing convenience and variety, this idea caters to a diverse audience—busy professionals seeking nutritious meals, cooking novices craving guidance, or adventurous eaters exploring global cuisines.

As an owner of an online food business, you'll be involved in menu planning, sourcing ingredients, preparation, packaging, and delivering—while constantly innovating and adapting to the ever-changing food trends and dietary preferences. With the right blend of business acumen and culinary passion, the online food business can offer a unique opportunity to merge profit with satisfaction—giving people the gift of good food while filling a fundamental market gap.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $12,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

13. Start an online food business

Gone are the days when food lovers needed to leave their homes for delectable delights. Insert: online food business. This venture allows individuals or groups to offer ready-to-eat meals or pre-packaged ingredients for home preparation, straight to customers' doorsteps.

In simple terms, the business centers on creating and selling meals through an online platform. In a world perpetually pursuing convenience and variety, this idea caters to a diverse audience—busy professionals seeking nutritious meals, cooking novices craving guidance, or adventurous eaters exploring global cuisines.

As an owner of an online food business, you'll be involved in menu planning, sourcing ingredients, preparation, packaging, and delivering—while constantly innovating and adapting to the ever-changing food trends and dietary preferences. With the right blend of business acumen and culinary passion, the online food business can offer a unique opportunity to merge profit with satisfaction—giving people the gift of good food while filling a fundamental market gap.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $12,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

14. Start a food startup

Starting a food business can involve opening your own restaurant, bakery, food truck, cake shop, or even starting a business or blog online.

Other kinds of food businesses include manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Food businesses prepare a wide range of foods such as snacks, sweets, and meals to sell directly to consumers and also include cafeterias at workplaces and similar facilities.

If you have a passion for food, starting a food business can be an extremely fun, challenging, and rewarding business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $61,650,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How We Started A Successful Hot Sauce Brand

Trini Pepper Sauce co-founder and co-owner, Mustafa Mannan, shares how he successfully imported and manufactured his family's unique pepper sauce recipe and launched it through a Kickstarter campaign, now selling an average of $3,000/month in revenue.

About
Mustafa started Trini Pepper Sauce about 10 years ago
Revenue
Mustafa grew the business to $2.25K/month
Read by 32,983 founders

15. Start a specialty food business

Specialty food refers to a category of food prepared in small quantities using premium and unique ingredients sourced globally. Quality ingredients add an extra health dimension to produced foods and provide a wide range of micro-ingredients like vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

According to research, the global specialty food ingredients market is expanding at an annual growth rate of 6.4%.

Therefore, starting a specialty food business in 2024 could be your big-time business idea. Identify a niche and pick a reliable supplier for your business. Decide on the business type and register it before applying for business licenses and permits.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $124,998/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A $25K/Month Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Desserts Business

ChipMonk co-founders built a mail-order bakery selling low carb, gluten-free desserts, making around $25,000 a month with growth through e-commerce, and plans to tighten budgets and conserve cash in challenging times.

About
David started ChipMonk Baking about 5 years ago
Revenue
David grew the business to $90K/month
Costs
It cost David $5000 to start the business
Read by 12,511 founders

16. Start a tea business

Tea is a hydrating beverage that comes in various flavors and types. History shows that people across the globe have been drinking tea for centuries.

According to experts, tea has a lower risk of different ailments, including cognitive issues such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and much more. Besides, some types of tea provide better sleep quality and help people relax, which lowers the risk of depression.

If you love drinking tea, starting your tea business could be profitable. First, decide the type of tea to start producing. The niche will depend on the audience you intend to reach.

Then, it would help if you determined the business type. Options include:

  • Tea farming
  • Processing and packaging plant
  • Tea tasting
  • Distributor or wholesaler
  • Tea shop
  • Tea blog

Register a legal entity and complete the tax registration for your tea business. Consider applying for insurance cover before launching your tea business.

How much you can make: $9,000 — $707,997/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How Andy Hayes Started A 7 Figure Tea Business Online

How Andy Hayes built a 7-figure online loose leaf tea business, with one of the largest tea subscription boxes and a curated selection of tea accessories, generating half of their revenue from a la carte tea sales and half from their popular tea of the month club community.

About
Andy started Plum Deluxe Tea almost 12 years ago
Revenue
Andy grew the business to $75K/month
Read by 23,876 founders

17. Start a coffee roasting business

A coffee roasting business roasts green coffee beans to various roast levels. Recent market research has shown that the global coffee roaster market is increasing at a CAGR of 4.24% for the next six years.
Therefore, launching your coffee roasting business in 2024 can be profitable. Coffee roasters use large machinery, including a roaster and grinder, to turn the beans into a finished product. To start a coffee roasting business, research the market and find who else is roasting in your target area.

Then, find out where coffee sellers in your area are getting their supplies. You also need to know how many coffee shops are in your area.

Then, decide if you want to sell the coffee to individuals or to a coffee shop. Alternatively, you can sell the coffee in your coffee shop or deliver it to elite lodging establishments and restaurants.

How much you can make: $7,500 — $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

How We Started A $80K/Month Coffee Roasting Company

Latvian coffee roasting company grew from a team of 2 to 13, with a current monthly turnover of €80k, driven by word-of-mouth marketing, sustainable practices and developing accessible products for the specialty coffee market.

About
Raimonds started Kalve Coffee Roasters about 7 years ago
Revenue
Raimonds grew the business to $150K/month
Costs
It cost Raimonds $60000 to start the business
Read by 26,152 founders

18. Start a tea business

Tea is a hydrating beverage that comes in various flavors and types. History shows that people across the globe have been drinking tea for centuries.

According to experts, tea has a lower risk of different ailments, including cognitive issues such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and much more. Besides, some types of tea provide better sleep quality and help people relax, which lowers the risk of depression.

If you love drinking tea, starting your tea business could be profitable. First, decide the type of tea to start producing. The niche will depend on the audience you intend to reach.

Then, it would help if you determined the business type. Options include:

  • Tea farming
  • Processing and packaging plant
  • Tea tasting
  • Distributor or wholesaler
  • Tea shop
  • Tea blog

Register a legal entity and complete the tax registration for your tea business. Consider applying for insurance cover before launching your tea business.

How much you can make: $9,000 — $707,997/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How Andy Hayes Started A 7 Figure Tea Business Online

How Andy Hayes built a 7-figure online loose leaf tea business, with one of the largest tea subscription boxes and a curated selection of tea accessories, generating half of their revenue from a la carte tea sales and half from their popular tea of the month club community.

About
Andy started Plum Deluxe Tea almost 12 years ago
Revenue
Andy grew the business to $75K/month
Read by 23,876 founders

19. Start a healthy meal delivery service

Meal prep delivery services offer healthy and nutritional meals to customers via e-commerce sites.

These services provide either DIY meal kits or Ready-to-eat meals, saving time and eliminating food waste.

They are particularly beneficial for busy people and health-conscious millennials who prefer nutritional food at home.

There are two types of meal services: online meal kits and fast food delivery services.

A meal prep delivery business can be profitable, especially when compared to restaurants, as they save costs on a storefront.

To make a good profit, one should invest less in groceries and ensure they have many customers.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $25,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

20. Start a waterbottle business

How much you can make: $53,000 — $78,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How We Created A $53K/Month Innovative Water Bottle

Pressa Inc, a company that sells an innovative water bottle called Pressa Bottle that allows users to juice and press real fruit into any beverage, has been able to generate just over $50k per month primarily through their .com and Amazon, while also selling their product in a few select retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillards, and Uncommon Goods, and is looking to scale up substantially with a hope of hitting $3M in sales next year.

About
Jesse started Pressa Inc. over 8 years ago
Revenue
Jesse grew the business to $53K/month
Costs
It cost Jesse $100000 to start the business
Read by 8,192 founders

21. Start a tour company

Starting a tour company is a great way to bring your love of travel to life. You can share your passion with others and help make their dream vacations come true!

There are many types of tour businesses, so choosing something you are passionate about and knowledgeable about is best. Here are a few of the most popular tour companies to start:

  • Food & Drink Tours
  • Adventure & Sporting Tours
  • Sightseeing & Historical Tours
  • Shopping Tours
  • and many more!

It’s also essential to determine what mode of transportation you want for your tour company, as this will determine the initial startup costs needed for your company.

To get started, find out if you need a license to operate in your state. Some states require tour companies to be licensed, while others do not. If you are required to be licensed, talk with the licensing agency to find out what steps must be taken before you can apply for that license.

How much you can make: $3,750 — $43,300,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A Wildly Successful Food Tour Business

How Jessica Baumgart founded a successful food tour business in Denver, which broke even and started making a profit after just three months, generating $20,000/month in revenue from offering different food tour experiences.

About
Jessica started Delicious Denver Food Tours about 6 years ago
Revenue
Jessica grew the business to $75K/month
Costs
It cost Jessica $2000 to start the business
Read by 19,067 founders

22. Start a boutique

You may consider opening a boutique if you are passionate about the fashion and textile industry.

A boutique is a shop that sells clothes. Opening a boutique is a dream for entrepreneurs who want to experience the joy and freedom of owning a cash business. Starting a boutique is easy and can be managed by a single individual. In addition, a boutique requires a comparatively smaller capital to start.

To succeed, the boutique owner must coming creativity and passion.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $25,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

How I Grew My Clothing Boutique to $10K/Month in 6 Months

Boutique Rye is an online-only women's clothing and accessories boutique that has grown to 3,200 Facebook Group members and a successful website through organic customer sharing, live sales, and open communication with customers.

About
Gia started Boutique Rye over 6 years ago
Revenue
Gia grew the business to $10K/month
Read by 34,308 founders

23. Start an online food business

Gone are the days when food lovers needed to leave their homes for delectable delights. Insert: online food business. This venture allows individuals or groups to offer ready-to-eat meals or pre-packaged ingredients for home preparation, straight to customers' doorsteps.

In simple terms, the business centers on creating and selling meals through an online platform. In a world perpetually pursuing convenience and variety, this idea caters to a diverse audience—busy professionals seeking nutritious meals, cooking novices craving guidance, or adventurous eaters exploring global cuisines.

As an owner of an online food business, you'll be involved in menu planning, sourcing ingredients, preparation, packaging, and delivering—while constantly innovating and adapting to the ever-changing food trends and dietary preferences. With the right blend of business acumen and culinary passion, the online food business can offer a unique opportunity to merge profit with satisfaction—giving people the gift of good food while filling a fundamental market gap.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $12,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

24. Start a Coffee Subscription Box

Coffee Subscription Box is a business that delivers high-quality coffee to your door. Coffee subscription boxes are popular with those who like to try new flavors or types of coffee. A subscription box will include a variety of coffees from different places and at different times.

You can also use this subscription box idea to market your business by offering discounts or other incentives to people who sign up for your coffee club.

The Coffee Subscription Box business idea is easy to start and it is very profitable because it is affordable. Consumers spend over $74 billion on coffee and the coffee industry generates over $68 billion in income per year.

How much you can make: $3,000 — $65,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $550 (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 3 hours/week

This Father And Son Created A Coffee Subscription Business

Blue Coffee Box increased its monthly revenue to $14,000 by offering a specialty coffee subscription service that curates from various roasters after being inspired by a trip to the United States and learning about the niche coffee subscription service they offer. 

About
Jon started Blue Coffee Box over 6 years ago
Revenue
Jon grew the business to $65K/month
Read by 12,481 founders

25. Start a food startup

Starting a food business can involve opening your own restaurant, bakery, food truck, cake shop, or even starting a business or blog online.

Other kinds of food businesses include manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Food businesses prepare a wide range of foods such as snacks, sweets, and meals to sell directly to consumers and also include cafeterias at workplaces and similar facilities.

If you have a passion for food, starting a food business can be an extremely fun, challenging, and rewarding business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $61,650,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How We Started A Successful Hot Sauce Brand

Trini Pepper Sauce co-founder and co-owner, Mustafa Mannan, shares how he successfully imported and manufactured his family's unique pepper sauce recipe and launched it through a Kickstarter campaign, now selling an average of $3,000/month in revenue.

About
Mustafa started Trini Pepper Sauce about 10 years ago
Revenue
Mustafa grew the business to $2.25K/month
Read by 32,983 founders

26. Start a cocktail ingredient business

A cocktail ingredient business is a profitable venture that focuses on sourcing, manufacturing, and supplying high-quality ingredients used in creating cocktails.

This business caters to bars, restaurants, and home enthusiasts by providing them with a diverse range of essential elements like syrups, bitters, garnishes, and mixers.

By offering premium and unique ingredients, a cocktail ingredient business taps into the growing trend of mixology, which aims to enhance the overall drinking experience by providing consumers with a wide range of flavors.

This lucrative business opportunity capitalizes on the increasing demand for craft cocktails, allowing entrepreneurs to provide their customers with premium and distinctive flavors that elevate their cocktail creations.

How much you can make: $45,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A $20K/Month Old Fashioned Cocktail Mixer

How Christopher Thomas turned a struggling cocktail mixer brand into a consistent low five-figure business by investing in e-commerce growth and customer reviews, focusing on all-natural ingredients, and revamping the website and packaging.

About
Christopher started Eli Mason over 9 years ago
Revenue
Christopher grew the business to $45K/month
Costs
It cost Christopher $10000 to start the business
Read by 5,401 founders

27. Start an ice cream product

If you are looking for a hassle-free ice cream product business idea that anyone can easily start from the comfort of their home, consider the ice cream product business.

To start, create unique and delicious homemade ice cream flavors using simple ingredients.

You can sell your ice cream products online or at local markets, capitalizing on the popularity of artisanal and personalized treats.

With a straightforward production process and the ability to tap into the evergreen demand for sweet indulgences, the ice cream venture offers a simple and tasty way to turn a passion into a profitable business.

How much you can make: $16,000 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 730 days (?)

On Starting A $16K/Month Handmade Natural Ice Cream Business

The Good Scoop, a California-based artisanal ice cream shop, started with a small Italian countertop ice cream maker and now has a production facility, wholesaling to various venues, offering frequent scooper programs, and using Instagram as their primary advertising platform.

About
Stephen started The Good Scoop almost 8 years ago
Revenue
Stephen grew the business to $16K/month
Read by 14,870 founders

28. Start a tour company

Starting a tour company is a great way to bring your love of travel to life. You can share your passion with others and help make their dream vacations come true!

There are many types of tour businesses, so choosing something you are passionate about and knowledgeable about is best. Here are a few of the most popular tour companies to start:

  • Food & Drink Tours
  • Adventure & Sporting Tours
  • Sightseeing & Historical Tours
  • Shopping Tours
  • and many more!

It’s also essential to determine what mode of transportation you want for your tour company, as this will determine the initial startup costs needed for your company.

To get started, find out if you need a license to operate in your state. Some states require tour companies to be licensed, while others do not. If you are required to be licensed, talk with the licensing agency to find out what steps must be taken before you can apply for that license.

How much you can make: $3,750 — $43,300,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A Wildly Successful Food Tour Business

How Jessica Baumgart founded a successful food tour business in Denver, which broke even and started making a profit after just three months, generating $20,000/month in revenue from offering different food tour experiences.

About
Jessica started Delicious Denver Food Tours about 6 years ago
Revenue
Jessica grew the business to $75K/month
Costs
It cost Jessica $2000 to start the business
Read by 19,067 founders

29. Start a healthy snack food business

Businesses with healthy snacks are becoming increasingly popular. This is because people are becoming more conscious of what they eat and the ingredients used in their food products.

Compared to a few decades ago, more people value health over anything else. A tasty snack food business can be a great way to turn your passion for snacking into profit.

The global healthy snacks market is expected to reach $152B by 2030, and there’s no sign of this slowing down. Healthy snacks can include anything from protein bars to gluten/dairy-free alternatives to chips, cookies, crackers, and more.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $3,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,200 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How We Started A Caffeine Gum Product, Sold 12 Million Pieces, And Landed A Deal With CVS

Neuro co-founders Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen developed their functional gum and mint products to offer a portable, healthy, and efficient alternative to energy drinks and supplements, hitting 12M pieces sold and generating ~$500k in monthly revenue with over 25% repeat customer rate and retail presence in over 6,500 locations including 5,000 CVS stores.

About
Ryan started Neuro over 8 years ago
Revenue
Ryan grew the business to $500K/month
Read by 18,129 founders

30. Start an ice cream product

If you are looking for a hassle-free ice cream product business idea that anyone can easily start from the comfort of their home, consider the ice cream product business.

To start, create unique and delicious homemade ice cream flavors using simple ingredients.

You can sell your ice cream products online or at local markets, capitalizing on the popularity of artisanal and personalized treats.

With a straightforward production process and the ability to tap into the evergreen demand for sweet indulgences, the ice cream venture offers a simple and tasty way to turn a passion into a profitable business.

How much you can make: $16,000 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 730 days (?)

On Starting A $16K/Month Handmade Natural Ice Cream Business

The Good Scoop, a California-based artisanal ice cream shop, started with a small Italian countertop ice cream maker and now has a production facility, wholesaling to various venues, offering frequent scooper programs, and using Instagram as their primary advertising platform.

About
Stephen started The Good Scoop almost 8 years ago
Revenue
Stephen grew the business to $16K/month
Read by 14,870 founders

31. Start a protein bar company

The protein bar market is one of the fastest-growing industries around, and is growing in size every day.

The global protein bar market is projected to reach $7.03 Bn by 2027, with a CAGR of 5.6%.

There are various protein bar companies, and we've detailed the key players in the industry below.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $3,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $400 (?)

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

I Started A $1.08M/Year Snacks Ecommerce At 17 [With Only $300]

How a 17-year-old founded a successful snacks eCommerce, with over 400% YoY growth for the past four years, reinventing the traditional 'pick and mix' for health-conscious consumers and offering an unrivaled choice of quality brands at the best prices when mixing and matching.

About
George started Protein Package over 6 years ago
Revenue
George grew the business to $90K/month
Costs
It cost George $300 to start the business
Read by 6,950 founders

32. Start a food delivery business

In today’s busy lifestyles and schedules, cooking is no longer a priority to many. People like to order-in food from their nearest restaurants or food joints and enjoy a meal in the comfort of their homes.

The food delivery business is like a courier service through which restaurants deliver food to their customers.

You can offer retail food delivery services to restaurants within your locality if you have a truck. Customers order through a restaurant or grocer’s website, and the owners contact you to deliver.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $83,333,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Took Food Trucks Corporate And Built A $18M Business

Food Fleet grew over 160% in just one year and managed over 20 million in sales for its clients, securing multiple contracts with the likes of Sodexo, Levy Restaurants and more, due to its understanding of catering client needs and its advanced turnkey and design services.

About
Jeffrey started Food Fleet about 12 years ago
Revenue
Jeffrey grew the business to $1.5M/month
Read by 14,272 founders

33. Start a hot sauce business

Hot sauce is one of the most popular condiments in the world, and it's easy to see why: it's versatile, delicious, and can add some serious flavor to almost anything you put it on—and not just for people who like spicy foods! Hot sauce can be used to create complex flavors that are perfect for anyone looking for a little extra pep in their step.

So, if you love hot sauce and you also love money, it turns out, you can start and run a hot sauce business! You can make it yourself or you can buy it in stores and resell it to earn some good profit.

If you are planning to make the hot sauce yourself you’ll need some initial capital to purchase ingredients and equipment for making the hot sauce, as well as packaging materials such as bottles and labels.

The average hot sauce lover will try and consume about 2-3 unique hot sauces in a week, which means there's a lot of money to be made in this industry!

How much you can make: $2,250 — $12,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)

How We Started A Successful Hot Sauce Brand

Trini Pepper Sauce co-founder and co-owner, Mustafa Mannan, shares how he successfully imported and manufactured his family's unique pepper sauce recipe and launched it through a Kickstarter campaign, now selling an average of $3,000/month in revenue.

About
Mustafa started Trini Pepper Sauce about 10 years ago
Revenue
Mustafa grew the business to $2.25K/month
Read by 32,983 founders

34. Become a chocolate maker

Rarely do you come across someone who does not love chocolate. That’s good reason to start a chocolate making business!

According to statistics, the global chocolate market size is expected to grow at a CAGR rate of 4.6%.

Starting a chocolate business can yield profits in any part of the world. However, to achieve the high profit margins, you ought to make chocolate with quality ingredients. Then, create a niche with a unique selling proposition.

How much you can make: $12,000 — $4,500,000/month

Selling Dog-Themed Chocolate and Donating All Profits to Animal Rescue

Rescue Chocolate is an NYC-based vegan, organic and fair-traded chocolate company that donates profits to animal rescue organizations and has partnered with hundreds of fundraising groups in 8 years.

About
Sarah started Rescue Chocolate about 14 years ago
Revenue
Sarah grew the business to $12K/month
Read by 5,714 founders

35. Start a food startup

Starting a food business can involve opening your own restaurant, bakery, food truck, cake shop, or even starting a business or blog online.

Other kinds of food businesses include manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Food businesses prepare a wide range of foods such as snacks, sweets, and meals to sell directly to consumers and also include cafeterias at workplaces and similar facilities.

If you have a passion for food, starting a food business can be an extremely fun, challenging, and rewarding business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $61,650,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How We Started A Successful Hot Sauce Brand

Trini Pepper Sauce co-founder and co-owner, Mustafa Mannan, shares how he successfully imported and manufactured his family's unique pepper sauce recipe and launched it through a Kickstarter campaign, now selling an average of $3,000/month in revenue.

About
Mustafa started Trini Pepper Sauce about 10 years ago
Revenue
Mustafa grew the business to $2.25K/month
Read by 32,983 founders

36. Start a hangover cure product

Hangover cure products are specially formulated remedies that aim to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

These products are designed to provide relief from issues like headaches, nausea, and fatigue that are commonly experienced after a night of drinking.

The ingredients of these remedies are carefully selected for their hydrating and replenishing properties, which help to restore the body's balance and speed up the recovery process.

Due to the widespread social culture of drinking and the need for a quick and reliable solution to recover from a night out, the demand for effective hangover cures is high.

As a result, this has created a lucrative business opportunity for those looking to capitalize on the market.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $200,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

How We Launched A Viral Pickle Juice To Cure Our Hangovers

Read this story to uncover how Harris:

  • Idea: Used pickled juice as a home remedy to cure his hangovers
  • Initial traction: Went bar to bar in NYC, handing out samples to bartenders
  • Celebrity partnership: Landed a deal with an NHL pro thanks to an Instagram DM

Even if it takes working 80 hours/week instead of 40, I'd rather create something for myself and my family than work a job that is unfulfilling.

Read by 14,199 founders

37. Start a craft granola business

How much you can make: $8,300/month

How I Started A $8.3K/Month Business Selling Craft Granola

This case study is about an entrepreneur named Ashley who started Birdseed Food Co., a craft granola brand that currently generates $8,300 in monthly revenue through retail markets, Amazon, and direct-to-consumer.

About
Ashley started Birdseed For Humans almost 7 years ago
Revenue
Ashley grew the business to $8.3K/month
Read by 20,234 founders

38. Start a subscription box business

Subscription box businesses offer customers a niche set of products on a monthly basis.

They're in high demand as they add value to customer service, offer exclusive products and can be highly profitable.

To start a subscription box business, understand your niche market, provide quality products, perfect your box design, build a good relationship with fulfillment companies, and market your service.

How much you can make: $400 — $16,666,667/month

How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How I Started A Gift Box Business For Non Traditional Brides

Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.

About
Lindsay started Vowed Box Co. about 6 years ago
Revenue
Lindsay grew the business to $400/month
Read by 29,527 founders

39. Start a beverage company

Are you thinking of starting a beverage or drink business?

Starting a beverage company can be a great way to combine your love of food and drink with a passion for entrepreneurship.

Beverage companies can make all sorts of different drinks, from juice to soda to beer. They can also sell other types of food products, like bottled water or snacks.

There are more and more drink options available today than ever before—and that means that beverage companies are constantly trying new things in order to stay competitive in this space! The more innovative they can be with their offerings, the better they'll be able to compete with one another

How much you can make: $500 — $200,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 250 days (?)

I Grew A Drinkware Brand To $1.1M/Month At 23 Years Old

BruMate is a successful insulated drinkware brand focused on the adult beverage community, with a flagship product that generated $2.1M in sales in 2017 and is now doing over $1.1M per month in sales, with plans to do $20M this year.

About
Dylan started BrüMate about 8 years ago
Revenue
Dylan grew the business to $12M/month
Skills
Design Skills
Costs
It cost Dylan $5000 to start the business
Read by 92,327 founders

40. Start an online food business

Gone are the days when food lovers needed to leave their homes for delectable delights. Insert: online food business. This venture allows individuals or groups to offer ready-to-eat meals or pre-packaged ingredients for home preparation, straight to customers' doorsteps.

In simple terms, the business centers on creating and selling meals through an online platform. In a world perpetually pursuing convenience and variety, this idea caters to a diverse audience—busy professionals seeking nutritious meals, cooking novices craving guidance, or adventurous eaters exploring global cuisines.

As an owner of an online food business, you'll be involved in menu planning, sourcing ingredients, preparation, packaging, and delivering—while constantly innovating and adapting to the ever-changing food trends and dietary preferences. With the right blend of business acumen and culinary passion, the online food business can offer a unique opportunity to merge profit with satisfaction—giving people the gift of good food while filling a fundamental market gap.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $12,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 37,384 founders

41. Start a food startup

Starting a food business can involve opening your own restaurant, bakery, food truck, cake shop, or even starting a business or blog online.

Other kinds of food businesses include manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Food businesses prepare a wide range of foods such as snacks, sweets, and meals to sell directly to consumers and also include cafeterias at workplaces and similar facilities.

If you have a passion for food, starting a food business can be an extremely fun, challenging, and rewarding business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $61,650,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How We Started A Successful Hot Sauce Brand

Trini Pepper Sauce co-founder and co-owner, Mustafa Mannan, shares how he successfully imported and manufactured his family's unique pepper sauce recipe and launched it through a Kickstarter campaign, now selling an average of $3,000/month in revenue.

About
Mustafa started Trini Pepper Sauce about 10 years ago
Revenue
Mustafa grew the business to $2.25K/month
Read by 32,983 founders

42. Start a specialty food business

Specialty food refers to a category of food prepared in small quantities using premium and unique ingredients sourced globally. Quality ingredients add an extra health dimension to produced foods and provide a wide range of micro-ingredients like vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

According to research, the global specialty food ingredients market is expanding at an annual growth rate of 6.4%.

Therefore, starting a specialty food business in 2024 could be your big-time business idea. Identify a niche and pick a reliable supplier for your business. Decide on the business type and register it before applying for business licenses and permits.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $124,998/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A $25K/Month Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Desserts Business

ChipMonk co-founders built a mail-order bakery selling low carb, gluten-free desserts, making around $25,000 a month with growth through e-commerce, and plans to tighten budgets and conserve cash in challenging times.

About
David started ChipMonk Baking about 5 years ago
Revenue
David grew the business to $90K/month
Costs
It cost David $5000 to start the business
Read by 12,511 founders

43. Start a protein water business

How much you can make: $1,200/month

How long does it take to build: 1080 days (?)

How I'm Launching A Food Startup Selling Protein Water In A Can

Mindful Proteins co-founder shares how they developed TATU, a clean-label protein water with 15g of whey protein isolate that contains 0g of total sugars, to cater to wellness-oriented consumers looking for functional beverages and hydration; targeting yoga studios, retail, and online sales with plans to expand production and new product lines to become a $100 million company.

About
Sean started Mindful Proteins Inc. over 5 years ago
Revenue
Sean grew the business to $1.2K/month
Costs
It cost Sean $100000 to start the business
Read by 6,299 founders

Conclusion

Thank you for reading! To learn more about starting a business, visit us at Starter Story

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.