If sunshine and fresh air are always calling your name, then starting an outdoor business is an ideal way to generate revenue while doing what you love.
An outdoor business is one that’s conducted either fully or partially outside. Sure, you will need to spend some time indoors completing invoicing or sifting through other administrative tasks, but you’ll spend the majority of your working hours in nature.
Even better, outdoor businesses represent some of the least expensive ventures to launch. With many, you only need a limited amount of equipment, a little bit of training and a knockout business website that will draw potential new customers to your company.
Where to begin? The possibilities are nearly endless. So, we’ll narrow them down for you. Here’s a look at the top 29 business ideas to start in 2024.
Looking to take your business online and outside? Try Wix’s website builder on for size.
29 outdoor business ideas to start in 2024
01. Outdoor cleaning service
People and businesses face an ongoing need to keep their homes and companies tidy. You can turn that need into a profit by starting your own outdoor cleaning service. It’s one of the easiest outdoor business ideas to launch. All you need is some basic equipment, such as squeegees, an extension pole or a pressure washer.
You can then choose the services you want to offer. You can, for example, offer pressure washing services for sidewalks, siding and stucco. Or, you can start a window washing business. Either way, you can earn a decent living. The average window washing business makes $95,000 in annual revenue, with an 8.4% profit margin. This can also be a great family business idea.
Learn more: How to start a cleaning business
02. Dog walking or training
As of 2023, 66% of U.S. households (roughly 86.9 million homes) own a pet, with dogs being the most popular choice. This creates a tremendous opportunity for people who love working outdoors and spending time with Fido. Take Los Angeles-based Walk on the Wild Side, for example.
Dog walking is arguably one of the best businesses to start with little money. It also creates a quick path to profitability. One study shows that pet owners will pay an average of about $22 for every 30-minute walk, and you can grow your business by adding services like dog training or pet sitting. While not all your training or sitting gigs will be outdoors, you’ll still get the chance to enjoy some fresh air as you earn a living. This also works well as a small town business idea or as a part-time business idea during the weekends and evenings.
Learn more:
03. Handyperson service
In nearly half of all U.S. families, both spouses work full-time. That means they have precious little time to handle small repairs inside and outside their homes. By starting a handyperson service, you can market your fix-it talents to homeowners and help them ease their stresses.
When it comes to outdoor handyperson work, you can do deck repairs, patch and paint exterior walls, or work on irrigation systems. You can also split your time outdoors and indoors, offering everything from plumbing and drywall repair to electrical work and tile installation. The average self-employed handyperson can make between $51,000 and $110,000 per year after expenses, with some specific tasks fetching up to $200 per hour.
Learn more: How to start a handyman business
04. Food truck
Imagine never having to miss your favorite outdoor festival or carnival again. That’s the power of starting your own food truck business. You can set up shop anywhere—in a bustling business district, at a popular street fair or at a beloved community event. Food trucks offer amazing flexibility. You choose your own schedule and the type of food you serve. You can run a coffee cart, offer tasty treats like cupcakes or ice cream, or offer unique and delicious African or Indian dishes.
It’s a potentially lucrative business as well, with 50% of all food trucks generating $150,000 or more in annual revenue. You will need some cash to start, however, with used trucks generally costing between $40,000 and $80,000.
Learn more: How to start a food truck business
05. Event planning
Let’s say you don’t just want to attend a memorable party. Instead, you want to be the one who throws the party. Event planning allows you to do just that. In this role, you’ll select the right venue, order the food and manage every aspect of an event. You can plan outdoor weddings (like Oh the Details, Darling), children’s birthday parties, painting classes—almost any type of gathering you can imagine.
You’ll need an eye for detail and a knack for management in order to make this type of business successful. At the high end, wedding planners can earn up to $85,000 a year. Startup costs range from around $2,000 to $7,000.
Learn more: How to start a party planning business
06. Photography
Even in a day and age where nearly everybody has a high-resolution camera on their smartphone, people still hire professional photographers to mark major milestones in their lives—births, weddings and graduations among them. With a photography business, you can help people choose the right outdoor venue and deliver stunning pictures that will create lifelong memories.
You could work as a resort or wildlife photographer. Or you could take photos at weddings and other outdoor events. You will need to buy a high-quality camera and supplies, which could run as high as $15,000. Many photographers pay themselves a salary between $25,000 and $75,000.
Learn more: How to start a photography business
07. Lawn care
That grass outside never stops growing, so it seems. But neither does the lawn care market, which is expected to reach an astonishing $65.36 billion by 2028. That’s why starting a lawn care business is one of the best outdoor business ideas in 2024. One estimate shows that a startup should make a minimum of $50,000 in revenue, while established lawn care businesses average close to $300,000 a year.
Startup costs generally range between $10,000 and $50,000. If you have a single mower and live in a densely populated area, you could start your business relatively inexpensively. But as you expand your market beyond your neighborhood, you’ll need to buy additional equipment, along with a truck and trailer to haul your tools to your clients’ properties.
08. Landscape architect
An ideal way to add value to your lawn care business—and grow your profits—is to add landscape architecture services, which alone earns a median salary of $98,300 in the U.S. This unique niche includes designing the front yard and backyard paradises of your clients’ dreams. Landscape architects help with grading and stormwater management. They also design treelined beds and rock gardens, and they plan the location for sidewalks and pathways.
As a landscape architect, you can sell your unique services to businesses, individual homeowners or municipalities. Be sure to include stunning photos of the beautiful yards you design on your website to attract more customers.
09. Mobile car wash
How can you combine your love of the outdoors with a passion for high-end automobiles? Consider opening a mobile car detailing business. You travel to your customers’ homes or businesses, wash their cars in their parking lots and driveways, and then head off to the next job.
One of the most compelling reasons to start a mobile car wash business is the low cost of entry, which can be as little as a few hundred dollars. Revenues can start around $25,000 in your first year and grow to $75,000 per year or more as you expand your business. Need help keeping track of your mobile car detailing jobs? When you build a website with Wix, you can use Wix scheduling software to manage your calendar and book appointments.
Learn more: How to start a car wash business
10. Pool cleaning
What do hotels, apartment complexes, resorts and homes all have in common? Swimming pools. And because both guests and property owners love the look and feel of clear, blue water, they’re always on the lookout for high-quality pool cleaners.
So, if you live in a warm climate, starting a pool cleaning business will let you absorb plenty of sunshine and keep you busy. Top-notch pool cleaners can make $80 to $100 per hour. You can also grow your income by adding pool maintenance services. Most pool cleaning companies cost around $2,000 to start. You can grow your pool cleaning business with an attractive website—see the No Bull Pool Guys for an example—and integrate Wix Payments to accept payments online.
11. Delivery or courier service
If you have a reliable and insured car, you can earn money quickly by starting your own delivery or courier service. You can hook up with an app like Grubhub, DoorDash or Instacart and deliver food or groceries to customers in your area. Or, you can deliver products for local companies as a hired contractor.
While making deliveries is one of the most popular side business ideas, you can grow it into a full-time pursuit by adding vehicles, drivers and routes, too.
12. Pest control
Termites, rodents and insects aren’t just creepy. They can also cause serious damage to homes and businesses. That’s why pest control companies are always in high demand. Most treatments involve spraying pesticides both inside and outside a facility, which means you’ll still get to spend time outdoors while doing your day-to-day-work.
You can start a pest control business for around $12,000, which will include the cost of equipment and chemicals you’ll need to eradicate pests. The industry brings a healthy average profit margin of about 60%.
13. Roofing
As long as you’re not afraid of heights, being a roofer is an excellent outdoor business to start. For one, you’ll be outside nearly 100% of the time. For another, every single building needs a roof, so there will be a constant demand for your services.
Most roofing contractors make between $50,000 to $100,000 annually, although about a quarter of them earn as much as $200,000. You’ll need to obtain a contractor’s license to get started. Startup costs run between $6,500 and $13,000.
14. Carpentry or woodworking
If you have a talent for turning a block of wood into a beautiful house or a stunning bed frame, you have what it takes to start a business. You can work as a carpenter, which means you’ll be outside framing new construction or preparing wood for installation. Or you could start a business as a woodworker and make your own chairs, tables and kitchen cabinetry.
It takes an average of $10,000 to acquire the tools and equipment you’ll need to succeed as a carpenter or woodworker. Self-employed carpenters make about $81,000 on average, while woodworkers’ incomes are typically based on the amount of products they sell each year.
15. Organic farming
Are you ready to put your green thumb to good use? Then starting an organic farm might be the best outdoor business idea for you. The organic food and beverage market is worth $208 billion, with double-digit growth predicted over the next seven years. Which makes it a great way to make money as a farmer.
Of course, you will need at least some land to make this business a reality. You’ll also need to decide what types of organic fruits or vegetables you’ll want to grow, and you’ll need annual certification. But grants are available to help you get started. You can begin with a small farm and sell your products at local outdoor farmers’ markets, or even offer farm memberships like Catskill, New York-based The Lo Farm. Or set about making an eCommerce website and sell your produce from there. Organic farmers can expect to make between $30,000 to $120,000 per year.
Learn more: How to start a farming business
16. Solar business
Growing concerns about climate change has led home and business owners worldwide to investigate renewable and sustainable energy sources. This has created an increasing demand for solar energy, a $189.5 billion market expected to grow at a 15.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030.
If you’re wondering how to start a business that cashes in on the solar craze, you can consider selling solar panels on commission. Solar sales representatives make about $65,000 on average. You can then expand your business by adding installation services to your solar panel offering. However, solar is one of the more expensive businesses to start, with costs running between $45,000 and $140,000.
17. Gutter cleaning
Experts recommend that homeowners clean their gutters at least twice a year. But not everyone has time to do it on their own, and if a homeowner doesn’t have an extension ladder in their garage, it may be impossible. When you start a gutter cleaning business, you can serve this market and generate regular income, all while enjoying the outdoors.
Relatively low startup costs (often less than $2,000) make this an attractive option for entrepreneurs on a budget. The amount of revenue you’ll generate will depend on how many jobs you book, with some gutter cleaning companies making $200 to $300 per day depending on the season.
18. Drone business
One of the more unique business ideas when it comes to spending time outdoors is starting a drone-related company. Skilled drone pilots can offer their services in numerous ways. You could offer commercial or residential building inspections. Alternatively, you could sell drone photography and advertising services.
Your startup costs will depend on how many drones you expect to use, with professional drone prices ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 each. Drone pilot salaries average between $60,000 and $100,000.
19. Garden center
If you’d rather grow flowers and plants in your garden instead of fruits and vegetables, then you can still make money with an outdoor business idea. Starting a garden center or nursery brings a wealth of options. You can sell your flowers and plants to customers at an outdoor market or farm stand, or you can sell them directly to other florists.
Startup costs range widely from $2,000 to $100,000 or more. Small nurseries can make anywhere between $7,000 to $40,000 annually. As you scale your business by expanding your garden or even building a full-fledged greenhouse, you can boost your income potential exponentially.
20. Mushroom farming
Did you know that mushrooms are big business? The mushroom industry is expected to reach $19.63 billion by 2028. And they’re not just for eating: one of the biggest reasons for the industry’s growth is the increased use of white button mushrooms in medical research.
You can carve out your own share of this booming market by starting a mushroom farm, like San Bernardino County-based Deep Creek Mushrooms. Equipment and supply costs average between $3,000 and $7,000. Profit margins often hit 80%, allowing small farms to potentially bring in as much as $84,000 in annual revenue.
21. Beekeeper
Talk about an outdoor business idea that generates lots of buzz. With a beekeeping business, you maintain your own beehives. You can then earn revenue by selling the honey that your bees produce. You can also consider offering other services, such as rehoming bees from businesses and houses and placing them back into nature, where they can continue their valuable work pollinating plants and flowers.
A beekeeping business is one of the cheapest to start, with first-year costs averaging between $500 to $700. Beekeepers typically make about $40,000 per year. Your income will likely depend on how many hives you manage and how much honey your bees produce.
22. Outdoor activities guide
What if you could turn your favorite outdoor activity into a profitable venture? With an outdoor adventure business, you can serve as a guide for people who want to explore activities like fishing, hunting and rock-climbing. You can teach people how to canoe or kayak. Or you can show them the best hiking trails in your area.
For most outdoor adventure businesses, you’ll need to obtain appropriate licenses and insurance. You may also need to buy equipment depending on the type of adventures you’ll offer. Expect to make a profit margin of around 20%.
23. Outdoor equipment rental
People can’t take everything with them when they go on vacation. That’s why an equipment rental business can offer a quick path to profitability. You can consider renting almost any type of recreational equipment—from bicycles or boats to jet-skis and stand-up paddleboards.
Your startup costs and revenue potential will depend on the type of equipment you choose to rent. A camping equipment business, for example, may cost about $10,000 to get off the ground, but could lead to revenues of $100,000 or more.
24. Outdoor fitness classes
Yoga at the beach, anyone? Starting an outdoor fitness class allows you to offer your services in a variety of gorgeous settings and help people improve their overall wellbeing. For example, you can offer your clients circuit training, kickboxing or Pilates classes.
Getting certified as a personal trainer or yoga instructor is a good way to start this type of business. Outdoor fitness classes can generate between $10,000 to $30,000 in revenue for just a couple months’ work. And while they’re a popular side hustle, they also could be a full-time business depending on the weather and demand in your particular region.
25. Ski or winter sports instructor
If you live in a cold-weather area and wonder how to come up with a business idea that will let you enjoy the outdoors, winter sports might be a nice fit. You can offer ski lessons at a local resort, teaching children, adolescents and adults how to glide, turn and stay safe. You could even offer consulting services helping new skiers find the right gear, like Ski Pros Online. Ski instructors earn an average $41,000 per year in the U.S.
Alternatively, you could start a snowmobile adventure tour or rental business and connect tourists with the right equipment and trails that will allow them to have fun while enjoying spectacular views of nature.
26. Dumpster rental business
Starting a dumpster rental business brings a surprisingly large amount of opportunities to would-be entrepreneurs. Home builders use temporary dumpsters when building new residential neighborhoods. So do corporations that build new offices and warehouses. Homeowners and house flippers need dumpsters for major renovation projects.
You will need a roll-off truck in order to start this type of outdoor business, which means you’ll likely need between $75,000 to $200,000 in startup capital. If you rent three dumpsters a week, you can potentially reach $78,000 in revenue in your first few years.
27. Junk hauling
You’ve heard the phrase “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” With a junk hauling business, you can turn people’s unwanted goods into profits. You can start with just one truck and a highly functioning website, or you can choose to franchise for a national junk hauling company.
An investment of between $2,000 and $10,000 can help you launch your own junk hauling business, with annual profits of $150,000 or more possible.
28. Sealcoating
All those outdoor elements—sun, rain, snow—can cause wear and tear to driveways. You can help homeowners protect their pavement by starting a sealcoating business. Experts recommend that homeowners sealcoat their driveways every two years, which means you’ll have plenty of potential customers.
You’ll need a sealcoating kit to start, which can run between $5,000 to $10,000. Most sealcoaters charge $125 an hour, and the faster you scale your business, the more income you’ll stand to generate.
29. Board-up services
If you’re wondering how to start a company with just a few sheets of plywood, a hammer and some nails, then board-up services might be a perfect opportunity for you. You can launch this type of outdoor business for $2,000 or less.
Board-up services help protect people’s homes and businesses from vandalism after fire, water or storm damage. They also help keep properties safe during large-scale renovation projects. This can be a lucrative business, with some board-up service employees making $90,000 per year.
More business ideas for inspiration: