15 Min. Read

12 Best Business to Start in Canada

January 31, 2024

Are you dreaming of becoming a business owner in Canada? Then it’s important to have the right ideas to approach your dream. When you’re starting out, it’s natural to think big and keep your options open.

However, you will come to find what type of business you open and where are two very essential components that you must consider. The good news is that you have drive and motivation, as that alone is what separates the dreamers from the doers.

So, what is the best business to start in Canada? That’s what you will learn here today. Below, you will find a compilation of business suggestions. This list of business ideas includes those that are profitable, as well as those that are ideal as lost-cost start-ups.

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

Vertical Garden Company

Freelance Writing Service

NFC Integration Business

Vertical Garden Company

It’s nice to see that more people are getting interested in growing their own food once again. But one of the biggest hurdles for many Canadians to overcome is a lack of space for gardening. This is evident throughout North America, as fewer people get the chance to own sizable land these days. Thanks to vertical gardens, however, you can grow plants indoors and without the need for yardage.

The user gets to control their garden’s environment based on what they’re growing. You could start selling personal units for apartments and homes. If successful, you could expand to green buildings if you have a firm understanding of real estate.

That latter part might be somewhat lofty. But there’s no question that it would benefit many communities in Canada. Depending on your capital, you may not have the means to offer green housing. But getting into the personal vertical garden business could prove more lucrative.

There are many people who live in apartments or have minimal land in Canada. What’s more, it’s getting harder to find farmland for sale. Big corporations are buying them up at record rates to develop more commercial operations.

But don’t let that stop you from growing your own food and helping others do the same. Vertical gardens are all the rage right now. Getting in on the action early may serve you and other Canadians well.

Woodworking Company

Thanks to the power and convenience of the internet, entrepreneurs have a lot of options in terms of what they want to do. Gone are the days when it’s a foregone conclusion that you must own a warehouse.

Today, anyone can take an online business idea and run with it. It’s true that a home-based business limits your options somewhat. But there’s still plenty that you can do from home. One such home-based business that’s proven to be successful in Canada is woodworking.

You can create a wide variety of homemade products and sell them on platforms like Etsy. What’s more, you might not need to hire any employees, thus keeping your costs down.

You will need specific tools and equipment. But if you have a knack for woodworking, it’s likely that you already have at least some of the things you’ll need to create items. The nice thing about woodworking is that you can produce goods from your home. This fact alone will help you have money on startup costs.

The online business industry spans many different concepts. Woodworking is one of them that fits the home-based model well. And if you end up becoming a profitable business, you can always invest in retail space if necessary.

Meal Prep Delivery

This business idea is more relevant than ever. In the wake of the pandemic and the lockdowns that followed, it’s harder for Canadians to get out to get food. With a meal prep delivery service, you will be contributing and helping a significant part of the population.

Moreover, you can thrive in this line of work. The most successful meal prep delivery companies in Canada have a rapport with their clients that they developed over the years. This strong relationship between business and client allows for more personalized service.

When you get to know your clientele, it’s easier to help your customers decide what they want. Thus, you can make suggestions and upsell food delivery subscriptions. Your clients will certainly appreciate your dedication to ensuring they get food in a timely manner.

Plus, you will be helping keep Canadians safe from potential risks while grocery shopping. So it’s a combination of convenience and safety, both of which you will be providing.

Phone Case Business

As long as people own mobile phones, the need for a phone case business will be present. Smartphone cases are big business all over the world, so it makes sense that they’re a hit in Canada, as well.

As you’ve likely noticed, a lot of fads come and go in the mobile phone industry. What’s hot one day is replaced by something new the next.

But ever since mobile phones became an essential household item, cases have remained one of the most popular accessories. Over the years, phone cases have taken on many different shapes, sizes, and styles.

But their general purpose has remained the same. Consumers like to know that they have extra protection keeping their devices safe from drops. More recently, however, water-resistant and water-proof cases have taken center stage.

So as you can see, starting a phone case business in Canada leaves you with plenty of product ideas to offer your customers. Even better, there aren’t a lot of startup costs involved. Nor do you need a lot of employees.

In fact, a very successful phone case business in Canada is currently owned and operated by a single individual.

3D Printing Service

The innovations made in 3D printing have brought the service to new heights. No one dreamed of building houses with 3D printers, but here we are. And it doesn’t stop there. Incredibly complex components and structures can now be made with 3D printers.

The industry is showing no signs of slowing down, which is why now may be the best time to be a part of it. You don’t have to build houses with 3D printers, but you can craft smaller goods for Canadian residents and companies.

What’s more, this is another business idea that you can do from home. The good news is that the price of 3D printer technology has gone down quite a bit. So you can invest in a smaller printer for your house to start out with. And if your business takes off and you need more room, you’ll have the working capital to do so.

You could even cater to fellow small business owners in Canada, creating a wide variety of specialty parts that aren’t readily available. You never know; you could become so successful that you can expand into building custom 3D-printed houses.

Freelance Writing Service

More businesses are moving away from the traditional office model. Services that were once a niche market are now available for anyone to take a crack at. Case in point: freelance writing.

Do you have the ability to string together words into sentences? And can you do so in an attractive manner? Freelance writing may be for you. Moreover, you have a few different options on this front.

There are plenty of agencies online that hire freelance writers for various jobs. The problem for many freelancers is finding steady work. You might get a job with an agency for a week or two, but then you’re back to looking for another gig.

Thus, consider becoming your own freelance writing service provider. This has proved to be quite lucrative for many entrepreneurs. And even better, you can do it all remotely and from the comfort of your own home.

It’s up to you how much work you want to take on. Some freelance writers do everything by themselves, accepting workloads they can handle. Others enjoy getting numerous offers and hire their own employees to help them keep up.

This line of work is one that comes with a lot of guarantees. There are always going to be new businesses and websites popping up. And as such, you will always have a clear pipeline of potential customers.

You may need to branch out and establish a marketing team to help you with funnel projects. But this is considered a good problem to have. If you’re getting so many possible job offers from clients that you need a marketing team, you’re doing something right.

NFC Integration Business

NFC (Near-Field Communication) is a technology that has proven its worth and isn’t going anywhere. In fact, if you look through your smartphone, chances are that it has NFC capabilities built into it. So, what is the purpose of NFC? If you don’t use the tech, it works to transmit data within a small space.

New debit and credit cards make use of NFC, as do many security badges. The potential for NFC is limitless. As such, you could develop a niche business that uses NFC in intriguing ways. Whether it’s a security system or a payment system, you could provide local Canadian businesses with essential tools and services.

It’s very likely that more entrepreneurs will take notice of NFC’s potentials and make unique use of the technology. If you have a creative mind, brainstorm ideas that could use NFC in new and exciting ways. You never know; you might come up with the next big thing.

Drone Photography

Drones have changed the way we capture aerial pictures and videos. What was once only possible with cranes and aircraft, drones allow for easy aerial accessibility on the cheap.

Look online or in your local retail store — you’ll find a litany of drones at different prices. Some are more capable than others, so it’s important to pay attention to camera quality and resolution. But if you have a drone that can capture high-quality images, you could offer your services to various industries all across Canada.

You will need to become proficient with operating your drone, too. It’s akin to driving an RC car but more intuitive. Drones can get into small spaces and reach incredible heights in a matter of seconds.

Whether it’s a factory that needs a picture of its stacks or a couple wanting aerial wedding shots, you could provide the services they need. Moreover, you might want to consider offering your drone services to an existing photography company.

Such a partnership would allow you to hone your skills and get a feel for the industry. Once you feel that you are able to take on more work, you can start marketing yourself to bigger businesses that need your specialty service.

Cleaning Company

It’s clear that more people are working from home now. While this has proved convenient for many people, it also comes with some downsides. More work needs to be done around the house, as juggling housework and a job isn’t easy.

Since more people are home throughout the day, it’s easier for messes to get made. As such, the need for professional cleaning services is greater than ever.

The nice thing about starting a cleaning service is that almost anyone can do it. You don’t need a college degree to clean homes. But you do need a clean background — or show that you are a trustworthy individual.

Another nice aspect of starting a cleaning company is that it takes very little startup costs to get going. You will want to insure yourself, but doing so is inexpensive. When you’re ready to take on work, you might be surprised to learn how many people need a helping hand around the house.

What’s more, there are still plenty of working Canadians who go to a physical office or job site every day. So while the work-from-home community is sure to provide ample work, the same is likely true for the traditional worker, as well.

Marketing your cleaning service should be pretty straightforward. Of course, creativity never hurts. But you can cover a lot of ground by advertising your services around town and through social media posts. As your business grows, you can invest in industrial-grade equipment and expand your services around Canada.

Litter Removal

A litter and garbage removal service is a quick and easy business idea that requires very little to start up. What’s more, it’s something that you can take on all on your own without the need to hire employees. As your business scales, though, you may find that you need help.

If you want to grow, you will need others to assist you in your litter removal efforts. But to start, you can operate this kind of service with minimal investment. In fact, you might not need to purchase anything at all at first.

If you have a truck or van, bags, a broom, and tools to pick up litter, you can get started right away (after getting the necessary licenses and permits, of course). If you have the ability to pick up trash and the tools with which to do it, nothing is stopping you from giving it a go.

To get started, consider targeting business parking lots, sidewalks, and ditches. Canada has plenty of all three.

Blog Owner

Blogs are an excellent outlet to review products and services, share insights, or just vent. And best of all, you can get paid for your thoughts. If you already own a small business in Canada, starting a blog is an excellent way to market your brand and gain exposure.

Managing a blog post is also a great way to hone your writing skills. The longer you do it, the better you will become at engaging your readers. And blogs aren’t only for trying to get new customers. Many successful bloggers have earned the attention of business owners and started partnerships.

You can earn a stream of income on ad revenue if your blog is a hit with readers. You can even earn money from speaking invitations if you are a respected and trusted blogger. What’s more, some bloggers have gotten writing deals to author books.

Best of all, you can manage all of this in your spare time and in your own home. You don’t have to get up and drive to an office every day — your office can be in your recliner! There’s a lot of freedom to be had, but you could also get inundated with offers and lose some of that freedom. It all depends on how well you can write and how far you’re willing to go.

Axe Throwing Company

Yes, axe throwing. Believe it or not, but teaching people how to throw axes can be a lucrative business in Canada. But aside from teaching, you can also host special events, tournaments, and services.

Axe throwing is something that gets requested for things like bachelor parties, birthdays, cookouts, and more. How involved you want to be is entirely up to you. Some axe-throwing businesses sell software related to the craft, as well as t-shirts and other merchandise.

Of course, you’ll want to be sure that you are proficient in throwing axes. You have to be able to teach others safely and professionally. And you’ll need to be sure that you can host tournaments and events without anyone getting hurt.

But if you’re able to meet these requirements, you may very well find that you can thrive with your very own axe-throwing service in Canada.

Key Takeaways

Starting a business in Canada presents endless possibilities. Best of all, you don’t necessarily need a business degree to get started — only a business plan. You will want to consider accounting software to help you manage your new business venture.

For that, we recommend FreshBooks. You’ll have everything at your fingertips to assist you. FreshBooks excels at employee time management, client invoices, bookkeeping, and so much more. And thanks to a clean interface, FreshBooks is user-friendly and highly accessible.

As you consider the best business to start in Canada, think about your strengths and how you can use them to help others. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Creativity is often at the core of the most successful businesses.

If you’re interested in learning more tips on small businesses, be sure to check out our Resource Hub. There, we discuss the specifics of taxes, business grants, and more.