25+ Creative Vegan Business Ideas (2021)
Looking to start a vegan business, but not quite sure what to start?
The good news is, there are so many opportunities to become an entrepreneur and build an innovative product/service in this line of work.
If you're looking to start your own vegan business, there are several low-capital options you can choose from (and not just in the food industry)!
We put a list together below of the most profitable vegan business ideas you can start today.
Here they are:
1. Start a cooking class business ($1.2M/year)
Monika Reti from many, USA started Hipcooks almost 8 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.
2. ($120K/year)
Gia Paddock from Phoenix, Arizona, USA started Boutique Rye over 4 years ago, a business.
- 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.
3. Start a blog ($240K/year)
Brock McGoff from Richmond, VA, USA started The Modest Man over 9 years ago, a blog.
- Revenue: $20,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 1
- Location: Richmond, VA, USA
I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after college. My dad was an entrepreneur, and I had the spirit, but with no direction. I got a job in marketing/communications and ran a music production side hustle for a while.
I tried my hand at music full time and basically broke even after a year. I read The 4-Hour Work Week and started learning about online business, passive income, WordPress and SEO.
4. Start a vegan restaurant ($360K/year)
Examples of a successful vegan restaurant:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan restaurant:
- 22-Year-Old Chef Opened Her Own Vegan Restaurant In Nyc
- How I Opened A Vegan Cafe (Answering Your Questions) // Saveg Cafe, Calgary
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The Gradual Vegetarian: The step-by-step way to start eating the right stuff today!
- Eating Vegan: A Plant-Based Cookbook For Beginners
Learn more about starting a vegan restaurant ➜
And for some real world inspiration, give Wen Raiti's story on creating The House of Leaf & Bean Inc. a read:
I am Wen, the founder, and president of House of Leaf & Bean, organic restaurant and cafe. I am passionate about Lifestyle Medicine due to my personal health journey. I believe that good lifestyle medicine is better than magic pills. "Let the medicine be the food; let the food be the medicine".
I’ve taken many leadership roles in organizations like Jacksonville Sister City Association, National Asian American PAC FL, Jacksonville Chinese Association, Jacksonville Mayor's Asian American Advisory Board, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Leadership Jacksonville, and more.
5. Start a catering business ($240K/year)
Nestor Nidome from Crestmore, California, USA started Elegante Catering ago, a catering business.
- Revenue: $20,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 10
- Location: Crestmore, California, USA
For as long as I can remember I have always been attracted to the idea of being a business owner. I’ve tried many businesses starting with my own DJ company. I got some business cards, printed them at Staples, passed them out, and waited for the calls.
It took a bit of time, but eventually, the calls started to come in and bookings started to happen. I did that for a couple of years until one of the DJ gigs some gangsters got into it and I was almost in the middle of a gang fight. Thank GOD things calmed down, but after that, I started looking for another business!
During this same time, the whole tech bubble was growing and I wanted a part of it. I took some coding classes in college and started using HTML to code my website from scratch. I kind of borrowed a lot of ideas from Yahoo but it was going to be mainly focused on my local city. I visited some businesses and got some of them to advertise. Things seemed to be going well when the bubble burst and I was once more left to venture out and look for something else.
6. Start a vegan bakery
Examples of a successful vegan bakery:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan bakery:
- How To Start A Vegan Business (Tips For First Time Entrepreneurs)
- I Went To An All Vegan BakeryI'm Shook (They Had Vegan Keto Options)
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Modern Vegan Baking: The Ultimate Resource For Sweet And Savory Baked Goods
- The Vegan Baker: More Than 50 Delicious Recipes For Vegan
Learn more about starting a vegan bakery ➜
7. Start a food truck ($18M/year)
Jeffrey Mora from Los Angeles, California, USA started Food Fleet over 9 years ago, a food truck.
- Revenue: $1,500,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 6
- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
We started the food truck business in 2012.
We kept finding it very difficult to find locations to operate. We had a booker that we used to find our locations but fell short and we let her go. I took over our booking and found that most people did not want to book just one truck, not only that they were upset that most of the time the trucks didn’t show up or were late.
We learned the real need was not only helping the trucks but providing a turnkey service for the corporations. This was a game-changer for us, we were really struggling financially.
8. Start a vegan ice cream business
Examples of a successful vegan ice cream business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan ice cream business:
- Interview With Vegan Ice Cream Startup Nomoo On How To Launch A Vegan Business
- See How Vegan Ice Cream Is Made!
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Vegan Ice Cream: Over 90 Sinfully Delicious Dairy-Free Delights
- Vegan Ice Cream: 50 Delicious Vegan Ice Cream Recipes (Veganized Recipes Book 1)
Learn more about starting a vegan ice cream business ➜
9. Start a healthy snack food business ($6M/year)
Ryan Chen from Los Angeles, California, USA started Neuro about 6 years ago, a healthy snack food business.
- Revenue: $500,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 12
- Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
My personal story begins with my parents immigrating to Los Angeles to start a better life. Although ethnically Chinese, they were both born and raised in Japan as a result of my grandparents from both sides fleeing communist China. I was born in an extremely diverse neighborhood (we had around 7 different ethnicities on our block) near Pasadena, CA, before moving to Japan for 5 years between the age of 10-15.
I grew up playing sports and competing at a national level in Kendo, cross country, and track. I started Kendo at the age of 5 and competed at the national level in the United States and Japan. In high school, I was co-captain of our cross country and track team where we competed in the Division I state and national championships. It was through running that I truly learned perseverance and grit.
Unfortunately, at 19 years old, I became a paraplegic when I fell from 35 feet in the air in a snowboarding accident and shattered my back. Doctors told me that I would never walk again, but it furthered my drive and passion for adventure and trying new things. I finished college with degrees in Chemistry and Economics and continued to compete in marathons even got to train with the US Paralympic team.
10. Start a farmers market
Examples of a successful farmers market:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a farmers market:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Farm: The Authoritative Guide to Becoming a Sustainable 21st Century Farmer: Forrest Pritchard
- How to Start a Business at The Farmers Market
Learn more about starting a farmers market ➜
11. Start a meat alternatives product
Examples of a successful meat alternatives product:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a meat alternatives product:
- How To Get Enough Protein As A Vegetarian
- Meat Alternatives: Substitutes For Meat Products Are On The Rise
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Alternative Vegan: International Vegan Fare Straight From The Produce Aisle
- Mock Meat: 50 Vegan Meat Substitute Recipes To Soothe The Carnivores Within & Around You - Mock Chicken, Mock Beef, Mock Pork, Mock Fish, And More! (Veganized Recipes Book 6)
Learn more about starting a meat alternatives product ➜
12. Start a vegan baby food business
Examples of a successful vegan baby food business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan baby food business:
- Raising A Vegan Child - What Every Parent Needs To Know
- Starting Solids, Baby Led Weaning, & Vegan Infant Nutrition
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The Big Book of Organic Baby Food: Baby Purées, Finger Foods, and Toddler Meals For Every Stage
- Fresh Start: Farm-To-Table, Plant-Based Baby Recipes
Learn more about starting a vegan baby food business ➜
13. Start a vegan pet food business
Examples of a successful vegan pet food business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan pet food business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The Clean Pet Food Revolution: How Better Pet Food Will Change the World
- Obligate Carnivore: Cats, Dogs & What It Really Means To be Vegan
Learn more about starting a vegan pet food business ➜
14. Start a vegan beauty product business ($240K/year)
Examples of a successful vegan beauty product business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan beauty product business:
- How I Started My Business - Starting A Handmade Business
- Start Your Own Natural & Organic Skincare Business - Step 1: Create Your Skincare
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Vegan Ventures: Start And Grow An Ethical Business
- It's Easy To Start Eating Vegan: Yummy Plants 101
Learn more about starting a vegan beauty product business ➜
And for some real world inspiration, give Ima Asali's story on creating Mellow Cosmetics a read:
Hi guys, My name is Ima, I am the Founder of Mellow Cosmetics. We are an online beauty store based in Brisbane Australia, we do however have customers from Europe, the U.S, Canada, and the Middle East. We sell a range of Lipsticks, Lip Paints, Eyeshadow Palettes, Highlighters, and more, super cute packaging to go with high-quality formulations.
I started from making $0 in the first year to making over $400,000 per year just from online sales and we have a lot of distributors and retailers stocking my products too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJxUJzCHlHq/
15. Start a vegan gift basket
Examples of a successful vegan gift basket:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan gift basket:
Learn more about starting a vegan gift basket ➜
16. Start a vegan vending machine
Examples of a successful vegan vending machine:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan vending machine:
- Entrepreneur Has Created Britain's First Vegan Vending Machine
- This Zero Waste Vending Machine Should Be Everywhere
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Teen Investing: The Ultimate Guide To Teenage
- Rock Your Blender!: Ultimate Smoothie Recipe Collection + Resource Guide
Learn more about starting a vegan vending machine ➜
17. Become a vegan cookbook author
Examples of a successful vegan cookbook author:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan cookbook author:
- Mayim Bialik - New Vegan Cookbook! Interview
- No Animal Food (The Original 100% Vegan Cookbook) - Full Audiobook
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Vegan: How To Start A Vegan Diet, The Basics Of Vegan Eating, Weight Loss, And Muscle Building (Plant-Based, Fitness, Beginner Vegan, Cookbook, Recipes)
- Eating Vegan: A Plant-Based Cookbook For Beginners
Learn more about starting a vegan cookbook author ➜
18. Become a personal chef
Examples of a successful personal chef:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a personal chef:
- How To Be A Personal Chef For Rick Ross
- How To Be A Freelance Chef: 3 Ways To Get Your First Client. #Cheftember
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Home-Based Personal Chef Business (Home-Based Business Series): Denise Vivaldo
- The Professional Personal Chef: The Business Of Doing Business As A Personal Chef (Book Only)
Learn more about starting a personal chef ➜
19. Start a juice bar ($240K/year)
Examples of a successful juice bar:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a juice bar:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The 7 Figure Juice Bar Business Master Class: Key mistakes to avoid / start and grow a successful juice bar without prior experience with this blueprint
- Juice Fasting: Ultimate Guide to Juice Fasting for Weight Loss and Body Detoxification!
Learn more about starting a juice bar ➜
20. Start a vegan business directory
Examples of a successful vegan business directory:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan business directory:
- How To Start A Food Business Plant-Based Food Business Vegetarian Food Business
- Australia's Vegan Business Directory
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Vegan Ventures: Start And Grow An Ethical Business
- Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation
Learn more about starting a vegan business directory ➜
21. Start a vegan subscription box
Examples of a successful vegan subscription box:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan subscription box:
- My Favorite Vegan Subscription Boxes 2018
- Unboxing Vegan Subscription Box!!! Natural & Organic Products 🐰💕 ( Bombay & Cedar Box Review)
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Vegan Ventures: Start And Grow An Ethical Business
- It's Easy To Start Eating Vegan: Yummy Plants 101
Learn more about starting a vegan subscription box ➜
22. Start a vegan youtube channel
Examples of a successful vegan youtube channel:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan youtube channel:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a vegan youtube channel ➜
23. Start a vegan clothing line
Examples of a successful vegan clothing line:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vegan clothing line:
- Colbie Caillat Wants To Start A Vegan Clothing Line
- Starting Online Eco Friendly Vegan Clothing Shop ?
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a vegan clothing line ➜
24. Start a non-dairy wholesaler
Examples of a successful non-dairy wholesaler:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a non-dairy wholesaler:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a non-dairy wholesaler ➜
25. Become an animal rights advocate
Examples of a successful animal rights advocate:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a animal rights advocate:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Covered In Pet Fur: How To Start An Animal Rescue, The Right Way
- How To Do Animal Rights: Isacat, Ben: 9781291015928
Learn more about starting an animal rights advocate ➜
26. Become a social media influencer
Examples of a successful social media influencer:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a social media influencer:
- How To Become An Influencer In 2020
- How To Become A Social Media Influencer? How To Work With Brands
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Social Media Marketing Workbook (2021): How to Use Social Media for Business (2021 Social Media Marketing 1): Jason McDonald
- Social Media Marketing 2020: Build Your Brand and Become the Best Influencer Using Social Media Marketing. Top Personal Branding & Digital Networking Strategies (Online Business)
Learn more about starting a social media influencer ➜
Discover the best strategies of successful business owners
Join our newsletter and receive our handcrafted recap with the best insights shared by founders in Starter Story each week.
Useful, convenient, and free:
Did you know that brands using Klaviyo average a 95x ROI?
Email, SMS, and more — Klaviyo brings your marketing all together, fueling growth without burning through time and resources.
Deliver more relevant email and text messages — powered by your data. Klaviyo helps you turn one-time buyers into repeat customers with all the power of an enterprise solution and none of the complexity.
Join Brumate, Beardbrand, and the 265,000 other businesses using Klaviyo to grow their online sales.
"An amazing network of founders that truly want to help each other grow their business."
Leave a comment