When it comes to vegan business ideas, a lot has changed since I first published this post in 2016. At the time, I was frustrated with the lack of vegan-friendly products available.
I was confused as to why there weren’t better dairy-free ice creams or vegan fashion brands that didn’t suck.
Well, fortunately, the market caught on, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the progress made in these areas. My local supermarket freezer is now filled with vegan ice creams and there’s an explosion of ethical fashion labels paving the way.
I used to wonder how amazing it would be if there was a vegan-friendly rival to McDonald’s. Now, even Hungary Jack’s (Burger King) and Domino’s offer vegan options. Who would have thought!?
My wife Masa and I have travelled the world and have seen vegan malls, nightclubs, vegan Japanese restaurants and world-class vegan pizzerias. We’re even proud owners of puffy winter jackets with remarkably no bird feathers.
While we should take a moment to celebrate this entrepreneurial progress, there’s still a lot of work to be done.
Vegan business ideas just keep on coming
I’ve had countless business ideas since becoming vegan, but with the demanding commitment of The Minimalist Vegan, I can only dream of these concepts, without the capacity to execute on them.
So in this post, I’m sharing 45 vegan business opportunities that could help any marketplace. I’ve updated this article to include more relevant ideas to match the current times.
My hope is that you can bring these ideas to life and shift the demand for ethical products and services.
These ideas are by no means revolutionary, but they do seem to be missing in many marketplaces.
We’ve also tried to include ideas that are not too large-scale and intimidating to start with. It’s always best to start small and validated vegan business before investing more capital.
Keep in mind we live in Tasmania, Australia, so maybe where you live there is much more (or less) to choose from.
If you don’t fancy yourself an entrepreneur, maybe you know someone who would like to try to start a socially conscious business? Share this post with them to see if it piques their interest.
In any case, I encourage you to reflect on all of the occasions when you’ve struggled to find a specific offering that is vegan-friendly and think about how you can help solve that problem yourself.
Note: if you’re interested, we recorded a podcast episode breaking down vegan business ideas.
I’ve broken the list down by category to help filter through content.
Alright. Below is our list of 45 vegan business ideas to start this year.
Vegan food and beverages
Nine times out of ten, food is the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of starting a vegan business venture. Just look at the comments in this post. The majority of entrepreneurs are thinking about getting into food.
It makes sense. Access to good food is the greatest challenge when transitioning to a vegan lifestyle.
And even though vegan food businesses are experiencing crazy growth in markets like the UK, we still have a long way to go to make plant-based food more accessible to people around the world.
There are two types of vegan food businesses. There’s hospitality and there’s a food product. The difference between opening a vegan restaurant or catering service and developing the next great vegan cheese product is to be on the shelves of supermarkets.
Hospitality is a tough gig that requires incredible skill, long hours and low margins. However, if it works, cafes, restaurants and food trucks create a community station for vegans and non-vegans to eat together and share experiences.
A vegan food product on the other hand, are more scalable with better margins. But then it can be incredibly difficult to get your product onto shelves to be able to sell enough volume for it to be sustainable.
Let’s get into some examples of vegan food and beverage businesses.
- Vegan pie shop.
- Vegan dog treats.
- Nut cheese deli.
- The vegan version of Krispy Kremes.
- Start a vegan sushi restaurant.
- Vegan bakery.
- A healthy high-protein meat substitute.
- Vegan-friendly bar or nightclub.
- Start a food truck specialising in one type of food, e.g. Kebabs, burgers, bowls.
- Local vegan wine.
We’ve seen many vegan food businesses come and go over the years, and it’s always sad to see a beloved ethical entrepreneur shut up shop. To mitigate this risk, we suggest starting with a super small operation at a weekly market.
This allows you to test your concept and see how customers respond. Be honest with yourself and avoid delusion. If no one is buying your food, it hasn’t hit the mark. Get feedback on your food and improve your product.
From there you can slowly scale up to catering, a food truck then eventually a commercial space. But do it in stages, and take the time to build a loyal following. I wish you the best of luck!
Vegan services
An overlooked vegan business opportunity is within services. I can’t tell you how many times I needed help and struggled to find a professional who was also vegan.
Working with a service provider with shared values gives vegan customers reassurance and confidence to work together without being judged.
If you have skills in a particular area, a services business is one of the most affordable and quickest businesses to start. Take a look at some ideas below.
- A freelance illustrator who services vegan-friendly small businesses.
- Company accountant or bookkeeper for online vegan entrepreneurs.
- Photographers servicing compassionate businesses.
- Project manager for organic and vegan shop fit-outs.
- Social media manager for vegan businesses.
- Copywriting services to help build the profile of vegan entrepreneurs.
- Study to become a health professional that serves the vegan community using natural cruelty-free practices.
- Start a salon offering and use only vegan hair care products.
- Become the first vegan car detailer in your area.
- Vegan personal trainer that specialises in high-performance athletes.
- Become a vegan-friendly vet (this one is lacking!)
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Vegan fashion business
Animal fabrics like wool, leather and silk are often associated with premium and reliable fashion pieces. However, over the last decade, vegan materials have become more innovative, accessible and sustainable.
As consumers become ecologically and ethically conscious, the demand for high-quality vegan fashion will only increase.
Previously, starting a fashion brand was costly and thus risky. You had to hit the market perfectly to justify ordering huge quantities of stock from suppliers.
Nowadays, you can work on one design at a time and test your concept using crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter and Indigogo—helping to reduce your risk and give you the confidence to scale.
It’s worth noting that vegan customers equally value fair trade practices. So where possible try to keep your production line local with relative wages to your area.
Here are some ideas for vegan fashion businesses:
- Online vegan sneaker retailer.
- Bamboo clothing line specialising in everyday essentials.
- An organic, fair trade and vegan line of jeans.
- Tailored vegan suits for men.
- Start a fun vegan sock company.
- Vegan activewear for specific sports.
Vegan education and media
One of the most common triggers for becoming vegan is usually based on education, be it a speech, a documentary or a book. For example, we became vegan after watching Earthlings, and our story is common.
The internet has made online education accessible to everyone. It’s never been easier to acquire creative skills in film, photography, design and writing.
Furthermore, creators are no longer at the mercy of book publishers, film studios or music labels. You can simply publish your work with the possibility of reaching an audience.
You can monetize your media through patronage, distributors, brand deals, affiliate commissions, advertising and products.
Or if you’re really ambitious, see if you can get a piece of the obscene amount of cash Netflix, Amazon, HBO and Apple are throwing at original content. Netflix for example is estimated to spend 19 billion on content in 2021!
One caveat. Because the barriers to entry for content is so low, you need to produce AMAZING content to cut through the noise. So be prepared to spend hours to become a master of your craft, or hire a talented team of creators to bring your project to life.
Here are a few samples:
- Animated YouTube channel producing 2– 3-minute videos teaching people the truth about consumerism.
- A vegan-friendly childcare centre with a community veggie garden.
- Vegan wedding blog producing fantastic content and advertise ethical wedding brands and services.
- A science-fiction novel series with subtle vegan themes.
- Partner with your local education institution and develop a vegan chef school certification.
- Produce a documentary-style podcast that captures stories of animal cruelty, fair trade, and environmental issues.
- Start a vegan screenwriting business to feature films, television, commercials, documentaries and video games.
- Become a vegan comedian TikTok influencer.
Vegan Technology Business
Much like vegan education, we can use the internet to skill up in technology. Whether it’s learning how to code or working with developers, you have the potential to create the next greatest vegan app.
The software business can be incredibly lucrative and scalable, hence the potential of attracting many investors and reaching the masses.
However, the tech world is insanely dynamic and you can fall as quickly as you can grow. So be prepared to duck, weave and adjust as market conditions change.
While tech know-how is important, the success of your startup is dependent on how well you reach product-market fit. I suggest you read the Lean Start-Up and apply the principles to developing your concept to give you the best chance of success.
This is the kind of idea I have in mind for vegan technology based business.
- Create an app that facilitates the delivery of food from all vegan food options in your area.
- Develop a dating app that accurately connects vegan soulmates.
- Create a concierge service in the form of a mobile app that connects all local ethical tradespeople with vegan customers.
- Design a line of solar-powered, vegan-friendly smartphone accessories.
- Invent sustainable, vegan materials to be used in various industries.
- Design an interface that pulls vegan stocks and startups into one place.
Vegan cosmetics and beauty
Cosmetics has always been a massive industry, and the vegan segment of the market is benefiting. It’s predicted that the global vegan cosmetics market will be worth 27 billion by 2027!
Mindful consumers want cruelty-free, sustainable, organic beauty products without comprising on quality. At the end of the day, you need deodorants that prevent odour, makeup that enhances, skincare that helps your cells thrive.
What’s attractive about cosmetics and beauty is the consumable nature of the products. If you’re able to gain customer loyalty, you’ll benefit from repeat purchases.
With all of that said, the beauty industry is brutal. You need to formulate the perfect product and at the right price point if you want any chance of success. You need to hustle at tradeshows, learn eCommerce and work with retailers to acquire customers.
Vegan customers are becoming increasingly sceptical about greenwashing, so make sure the communication and transparency of your supply chain and ingredients is airtight.
Here are a few ideas in this area:
- Develop a mascara that is vegan, fair trade, organic and eco-friendly.
- Build a vegan-friendly and chemical-free nail polish company.
- Create an anti-aging line of vegan skincare.
- Developed a natural hair colour line that’s easy to apply and a varied colour palette.
What are your vegan business ideas?
I would love for you to share any experiences you have had with trying to find vegan businesses in your area. Also, share some success stories so others can learn from them in the comments below.
Other articles you’ll love:
- Spend More Money As a Minimalist Vegan
- 17 Topic Ideas To Help You Start a Vegan Blog (As Your Form of Activism)
- How To Go Vegan: A Guide On How To Transition To a Vegan Lifestyle
- Mindful Consumption: A 6-Step Guide To Consuming Better
Hi there!
Loved the article. Always find it hard to get a non milk based/non carbonated drink which I like. I want to start a plant milk based smoothie brand in London. Clean, simple 4/5 ingredients product. Can you or anyone please help me out as to where I should start and what i should be doing?
Your blog has become a go-to source for reliable and accurate information. I trust the content you provide, and your dedication to research is evident in the quality of your posts.
I’m looking to convert a trailer and turn it into a travelling vegan tea room selling cakes, pastry’s and specialist teas.
I would like to know if it is allowed in Canada to put a trailer outside your house for tea business?
I had both an idea and a dream. I wanted to create a place where all vegans will find what they need on a daily basis.
And these are all vegan products, products not defined as vegan, but safe for the environment (such as a washing machine, iron or electric cooker) ..
After shopping, you can enter Life Style and find all the services related to the pursuit of passions, trips, training, courses, vegan hotels, vegan restaurants, mountain climbing for vegans and all others.
It was supposed to be a unique place – the world’s first international e-commerce trading platform.
I turned a dream into a reality. After 11 months of hard work, my dream place was created.
It’s just that vegan companies prefer to sell on Amazon, although their products are lost among products of dubious quality. Vegans are not interested in having their own, unique place, although it is here that they have a guarantee of the origin of the products and the quality of the products.
I am desperate because I have not started well yet, and I am already bankrupt.
Nobody wants to help me because I’m vegan.
I have put everything and my money and my heart into this platform .
The investment consumed 300,000 Euro and I don’t know what to do anymore, and I don’t have a penny more.
Hi Nina, I can relate to the emotional rollercoaster of being a vegan entrepreneur or just a business person in general. I’ve gone into debt backing an idea that didn’t resonate with the market and had to learn from the experience. It’s worth taking a step back and seeing if you can get on 20 calls with prospective customers and suppliers to understand what would get them excited about a vegan marketplace, more importantly, what would motivate them to participate and transact.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading the book Will It Fly by Pat Flynn. It’s all about validating your business ideas so you can mitigate the risk of missing the mark. I hope you can successfully pivot your business and make your intended impact.
Hello,
Thanks for the advice. I have been an entrepreneur for 40 years and this is my first problem. I try to find a solution, but without desperation.
Who would I call?
After all, I cannot tell my clients about my problems because they are not affected by it. My platform works fine. I don’t have enough money for an ad that I need to run in at least 20 countries.an
This is tough business, not play in business.
I just need additional external financing, but on human terms. I would never use a system of dependence on one large investor.
That is why I am looking for small investors as this way it is easier to raise the necessary funds.
My business partner, who was supposed to finance the advertising campaigns at the start, has withdrawn from the word, and that’s why we are in trouble.
Hey, i had a similar idea a few months ago. Thing is, i am not vegan, but i have been trying to slowly transition (For the animals, and i have noticed that meat seems to make me sick sometimes) I want other people to at least limit the amount of meat that they consume as well, and i want to help people transition to solar power/sustainable energy in general (along with my partner). Do care to share your website with me? i am interested in checking it out. And, although i am not a *vegan* yet, it is good to have connections, maybe i could help you out in a way that benefits both of us. I have been looking for people to partner up with.
Hello Michael, I’m Kyle Carper and I wanted to reach out and quite possibly pick your brain, if I’m fortunate enough to enable a correspondence with you in some respect. I am a multi-media designer/developer/programmer by trade freenlance and otherwise, but my “baby” business that I’ve been building for almost two years off and on (now fully on) is GeeknVegan ~ The Vegan Restaurant Directory (https://geeknvegan.com) Please, take a couple of minutes to review my site and really take in what it is about and what I offer through my content. . My main reason for reaching out is, first off. . dig your site and all that you have to offer, second, I have a question or two regarding my business and where I might be taking it. . .was wondering if you maybe had some input. Anywho, I know you are probably very busy as I, so i will await your response whenever you deem fit. I thank you for your time and attention and look forward to your reply.
I like to start a Vegan/plant base businesses bot need to know how to start. I too not quite Vegan but enjoy the transition slowly. I fall under the cover of nutrition but would like to go into veganism.
Great post. I am a Vegan Life Coach and Podcaster. I help people move towards Veganism and I help vegans tackle their next impossible goal.
Good inspiration here.
Thanks, Michele. All the best with your coaching business 🙂
Was is hard to start vegan life coaching? Thought of trying it but I don’t know where to start.
Great article!
I am a postpartum doula helping mamas transition to life with a newborn and I focus on healing with Ayurvedic foods. I am a vegan for 6 years and do mostly provide plantbased, although I do add in ghee if requested. I am inspired to make more of the focus of my business and offerings vegan. I wish there was a resource for vegan birthworkers/doulas – another one for your list perhaps?!
Any other doulas reading this and want to create something??!
I’m on instagram- @emergingwisdomcare 🙂
Hi Samantha, what an interesting and needed niche you’re in and definitely one to add to the list in the next update. I’m sure new mums, especially vegan mums, appreciate that support. Thanks for sharing.
I have been vegan for over 15 + years now and I am a private chef I had to cook regular foods and always offered vegan foods. I decided a year ago that I could not cook regular food and offered just vegan food. But it flopped and I had no clients at all so now I have to close as I cannot afford to stay open anymore. I live in the Algarve, Portugal but we are so behind here on vegan food and movement it takes a long time. There is a few vegan restaurants in my area and they small and do well. I wanted to start a small vegan café but due to the current climate it is so hard to do anything. I am lost what to do next now my brain is blank and I do not know what my next venture could be plus I have very little money to do anything.
Hi Massimiliano, I’m just catching up on the comments. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a tough go at trying to provide vegan food options in your area. It’s promising that some vegan restaurants are seeing success, meaning it’s possible to start a sustainable plant-based food business. With little capital and the current climate, I’d suggest you spend time honing the perfect menu and getting brutally honest feedback from friends and family. A good test to see if they love your food is to see if they naturally request a recipe or ask if you can make it again for them.
I’m not sure what the restrictions are like in Algarve at the moment, but if possible, once you’ve found a winning menu, you could run a small stand at your local markets to get more feedback and build your customer base. But, again, if people aren’t ordering, you need to change your menu until they request your food.
Your heart is in the right place, and I hope you can find the strength to keep on grinding.
Hello Massimiliano, just read your comment, and wondering how you are holding up? I hope you were able to start your vegan cafe. I have the idea to open a vegan cafe here in the town I live in, but just starting up has been a bit hard. I plan to visit Portugal this year, and now that I read that there aren’t a lot of vegan options, make me worry. I hope you are doing well.
Hi there! I’m looking to start a protein vegan powder, bcaa and everything what comes to work out in a vegan routine. I’m from Argentina, here is tough because it’s a strong meat culture, but we’re growing! Any ideas or blogs about how to start? I basically know the ingredients but I’d like to read a more about, can’t seem to find much information. Thank you so much!!
Hi Federico, I don’t know much about creating a vegan protein powder. If I were researching, I’d look for examples of successful non-vegan protein powders. First, go to their about page and see if you can find the name of the founder. Then search the founder in Spotify, YouTube etc., to see if you can listen to any interviews and get them insights there. All the best with your venture!
I feel like I am a bit late to the game here as your article is 4 years old by now but some of your ideas have (surprisingly) still not properly been implemented (at least here in the Netherlands there is still a lot of potential) We are a Dutch startup that is developing an algorithm that allows users to find ingredient substitutes in recipes. The idea is that any recipe can be turned vegetarian, vegan or allergen-free with the click of a button. The substitutes are found based on vitamins, minerals, nutrients, structure and flavor of the searched ingredient. As we have built an API, we are looking to integrated with online recipe providers and recipe apps so that soon, hopefully, any recipe can be turned vegan! We are still in development but try it out on bon-api.com and let me know what you think 🙂
Hello there! I’ve just re-written to make the examples more relevant. It sounds like you’re off to a good start. Keep up the great work!
Hi Michael, Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping to raise awareness around the grass roots support for a plant based lifestyle. I’m part of a team here in Australia actively promoting the vegan alternative as a way to lessen our impact on the environment. Day after day I see so many more committed and authentic individuals ready to help. It’s truly amazing. Vegan is the future, no doubt.
You’re welcome Bren 🙂 Checked out the site, love your work! Hopefully, you can continue to gain momentum with everything going on at the moment.
Hi Alison, sorry I’m just catching up on comments. It sounds like you have a fantastic skillset to start a cafe or bakery. Keep us posted!
these are absolutely brilliant ideas! I’m looking at these because I do have some great ideas, I would love to open a vegan restaurant, and I love the idea of the vegan friendly socks with funny pictures. You Will see me successfully doing at least one of these ideas.?
Excellent Brittany! You can do it. Maybe start small with a catering service and slowly build it from there.
hi, i love tyhe idea im hire in Hollnd in my village there are northin Vergan around , I want to open small shop with all the vegan food product, and im good in cooking, my be i will do even take away food.
That’s so exciting! I hope it works out for you 🙂
Thanks for sharing this page and information. I am following vegan lifestyle and on plant-based diet for last 5 years and a little more. The exciting part is I am planning to start a business that deals with non-dairy alternatives in my local area. Statistics says that in my state, non-vegetarians make 98.6% of the population. I have 2-3 people known to me who follow veganism. Though in my country, preference over veganism is on rise (not so prevalent at my part of the world though). So, it’s a big challenge to open a business to promote vegan food as people here mostly live on meats. But I have decided to take up the challenge and start following my dream. I am starting with non-dairy milk (I named it as meelk), cheese, tofu, okara burger pattie, yogurt and desserts. Let’s see how it goes. If it gets businesses, I have a plan to extend it by offering corporate vegan lunch in my area. So, please wish me luck. Thank you so much.
Hi Sudipa, a corporate vegan lunch offering sounds amazing! I hope your planning is going well so far 🙂
This has been my dream. How I wish it will be a reality. Based in Zambia, I’m struggling to start one. Please I need advisors and helpers.
Hi Florence,
Did you start your Vegan journey in Zambia? Are you in Lusaka?
My good friend Christos lives there & he’d love to know more if you have something there
Thanks<
Tom
Hi Brittney. It’s great that you have those skills already.
With the internet and the kind of services you offer, I wouldn’t limit yourself to local vegan businesses.
I recommend reading the Recession-Proof Graduate. It’s a free book which you can read here https://charliehoehn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Recession-Proof-Graduate-by-Charlie-Hoehn2.pdf
I have been looking for a job as a social media manager for a vegan business, and it’s extremely difficult to find. With nearly four years of marketing, social media and graphic design, I have a lot to offer (not to mention my passion for the vegan lifestyle!). I’m based in cheese-and-brat country Green Bay, Wisconsin, so vegan businesses are pretty rare here. Any ideas for where to find opportunities?
Love this page by the way ! I’m looking to offer Vegan meal prep in my area and I’m not sure how to go about doing it . I see “healthy” meal preps everywhere but none that are vegan or even vegetarian! I get a lot of positive feedback from people following my journey but I think I’m on to something if I could offer this service to others ! Any suggestions?!
Hi Liz, love the idea!
I think with most business ventures, it’s important to start as small as possible to 1) validate the idea and 2) remove barriers to starting.
With that, I would be thinking, what is the smallest menu you could create for the smallest audience in your area? Setup a simple a simple one-page website explaining your menu, what area you service, and how customers can pay. You can set this up on https://www.shopify.com and challenge yourself to get paying customers before the end of the free Shopify trial.
Once you have your menu and website, you could run some targeted Facebook ads to vegans in your area.
Don’t get too attached to your idea. Treat it like a science experiment and stay close to the needs of your customers. Ask potential customers in advance what they would like to see on your menu.
Hope this helps to get you thinking about where you could look next!
Vegan lipstick company Brooklyn NY.
I’ve been a vegan for around 36 years and a celebrant for 21, it finally dawned upon me to promote myself as a vegan celebrant. TaDaaahhhh!!! VeganCelebrant.com.au
Very cool Cara! Thanks for sharing.
Hi i wanted to start a vegan / gf cookie ..slice..muffin sort of business in melbourne. Do i need to have any sort of qualifications or can i make these in my kitchen and sell at markets ?
Hi Brelly, from my understanding you don’t need any qualifications to bake and sell food at the markets. However I suggest you reach out to the stall organisers to find out what the requirements are. Not sure if you need a licence, insurance etc. Keep us posted on your progress!
Hi there!
Love this article! I’m thinking of starting a vegan baking mix company and possibly future baked goods. What are your thoughts on this? Of if you’re simply a reader, I’d love to know your thoughts too 🙂 Warmly,
Bella
Hi Bella, great idea!
At least where we live, there are quite a few vegan baking mixes on the market. What would be interesting to see is a baking mix with certified organic ingredients and possibly gluten-free, all without compromising taste. Tough ask, but something we’d be interested in if it existed.
Hello, I am a vegan based in Boston. I would love to start a vegan influencer agency focusing on vegan fashion. Is anyone interested in this? Also interested in investing in an innovator focusing on alternative milk and/or cheese. The vegan milk options are just not there yet. Earth’s Balance is a perfect substitute for butter…but we need more innovation with milk and cheese!
Great ideas Nirva! Let’s see if anyone else is interested in collaborating with you in Boston.
I live in Portsmouth, NH. I’m also interested in vegan fashion!
What about vegan milk? I know it’s available, but not like the cow milk, especially in our market in Bahrain and general in GCC. The basic things like milk, cheese, ect… Are little to compare with another.
Hi Reem,
While there are many vegan milks on the market, there’s obviously a demand for it. I would maybe create a formula and do a soft launch at a market stall to see how customers respond. Maybe you could get into flavoured organic milks?
Hi, Great ideas and as an angel investor for vegan businesses I am always keen to partner with exciting entrepreneurs interested in developing vegan, fair trade, organic and eco friendly businesses
Hi Gavin,
Wow, it’s not often you come across an angel investor interested in vegan businesses. How would people get in touch with you?
Awesome! I’m looking at setting up a very small scale manufacturing unit for vegan milk in India. It’s a very young market with a lot of potential. Not a lot of competitors in the market yet, and there is definitely growth with the growing awareness of the vegan movement. Also trying to get an export license to export to Middle east, South East asia etc.
Please do get in touch if interested.
Hi! I stumbled across your blog and found them all very helpful! I am starting an online business in the Eastern US selling vegan cake. I am stumbling over how to market the website and get it out there so people know about it. It has been a very slow process but I feel that if I can get my name out there that it will take off. I was hoping there would be somebody reading this that could give me some pointers! “Help in DC”
Hi Jenn, apologies for the late reply.
What’s your business model? Is it catering, or stocking your cakes in Cafe’s or selling direct to customers?
In any case, we have a friend who has a thriving raw desserts business here in Australia which could be modelled in DC. She has primarily used Instagram to grow her fan base and now you can find her cakes across the city. Here’s a link to her website http://www.rainbownourishments.com/
She’s worked extremely hard to build a reputation for herself. She’s always attending local markets, catering at weddings and running events. But she’s been consistent with her outreach and has developed a unique colourful style with her cakes. Hope that gives you something to think about!
Greetings from Oregon! So glad I across your post! You have fabulous ideas & I can wait yo get started! Much love from Oregon!
You’re welcome! So many cool vegan businesses in Oregon.
….or open a vegan Bed & Breakfast with a Vegan Catering company on the side, offering Vegan Ready Meals and onsite/offsite catering – works for us 😉
That’s fantastic Barry! We need more entrepreneurs like you 🙂
It help me a lot! Thank you!!
You’re welcome Rancell 🙂
Absolutely Whytney! We just came back from the West Coast in America and it really opened our eyes to how easy it is to be vegan with more businesses available. Let us know how you get on with your ideas.
Wowsers! Theres atleast 5 ideas on your list that i am completely capable of investigating.. what a great gift to the vegan community. Thankyou so much for this post!
You’re welcome Sahlua 🙂 We hope courageous people life yourself take the next step with these ideas!
I was considering starting my own t shirt/hoodie clothing company made from organic fair trade materials, specializing in minimalistic vegan designs. Do you think online is already saturated with enough vegan clothing though?
I was also thinking of number 23 too, im an artist so i could totally do it, whta do you think?
Hi Nora. I think there’s always room for high quality products as long as they’re positioned well. Having said that, there’s been a lot of growth in the areas that you’re interested in. Maybe there’s an opportunity to create a one-stop shop for all of the brands that are making minimalist vegan clothing? That way you can be the curator instead of the maker – bringing all the brands together for a better customer experience. Just a thought. Let us know how you get on.
Success story? Yes!
A year ago we opened our vegan sushi place in the south of Peru. The business was profitable after only three month in operation. We are constantly getting requests to open in other cities around the word, including Australia.
I am in Olympia Wa, Do you have a website? Do have some recipes that you can share that I can make at home. I have a few avocado rolls, add some mango veggies, use cauliflower as rice. Love to more ideas
Thanks and keep up the good work and message
Hi, I am Susan, I am Peruvian living in Taiwan. I am vegetarian for almost 7 years now, really need to take the next step to vegan and will love to open a small place here. Hope we can find a business partnership, please let me know if your interested,
my e-mail: [email protected]
Thanks,
Sue
Oh, and I currently work in a retail shop that sells leather handbags and bumper stickers that say I heart bacon….I hate it!
Lynn that must be so frustrating! You have to do what you have to do though. What area are you based in? Love the idea of a vegan grocery store. The closest I’ve seen to that is Food Fight! Grocery in Portland
I have actually been thinking of vegan business ideas myself. After accidentally buying some chocolate chips that had milk in them because they were packaged similarly to ones that didn’t I felt so frustrated and thought, if only there was a grocery store that sold only vegan products I wouldn’t have to worry so much about reading every label so meticulously. I would really like to be part of a vegan catering service…but I am definiteley not a business person. I like to prep food and set up tables and that sort of thing. I have ideas, just not the know-how or the time either right now. Can’t stop working or I’ll lose my house. Can’t start a new business while working…and so it goes.
I’ve thought about this as well. An 100% Vegan grocer with a lot of bulk items that strives to be waste free and sells lots of eco products i.e. bamboo untensils, toothbrushes, reusable straws, etc. The startup and overhead costs are much higher than something online or home based though.
Hi all I just stumbled upon this blog I really like the ideas. I have been a vegan for 6 years going on 7 and would love to a start a vegan business. I live in Chicago and don’t really have many vegan friends. I would love to chat with anyone that’s interested in starting a business. Please contact me at [email protected] ????
thanks minimalist vegan for giving so many cool ideas!!
You’re welcome Val. Hope someone reads this post in your area and reaches out. Also, it might be worth reaching out to people in Vegan Facebook groups in Chicago to see if they want to start something?
I have been toying with the idea of opening a small vegan eatery for over a year now. My husband is the landlord of a luncheonette that is unfortunately going to go out of business. My friend and I love to cook vegan meals. I have 2 gluten free vegans that live with me (my daughters), so I am used to cooking this way. I enjoy it. Both my friend and I work full time so we were thinking of doing something like a take out only place, cook meals on the weekends, freeze them and let customers have them for later on in the week. There are no vegan places around us, let alone gluten free.
That sounds great Sharon! And you’ve got some experience behind your back, which certainly helps. Where are you based?
Hi Amanda, sounds like a great idea! I know whenever we travel, we feel inspired as well. Lot’s to bring back home to Australia. Keep us posted on the progress of your ‘one main dish’ 🙂
I meant business license***
So I make these vegan patties and I would love to turn it into some type of business. I’m sure I’ll need a bus noes license and get the health department to ok all the ingredients and baking area but then what?
Hi Karina, do you still have plans of starting a business with your vegan patties? Would love to hear more about it!
Hi. Thanks for sharing 😉
I’m travelling the world and I’m learning a lot about nutrition and fasting, healthy food and sustainable organic garden to kitchen to table philosophies at the moment. It amazes me to learn how nutrition can affect your body, mind, soul and the whole planet and that is why I my wish of starting a business in that field is growing more and more. I gathered tons of beautiful inspirations of vegan and healthy foods in many countries all around the world. I’d love to find some communities and people to share knowledge and ideas on how to start. Marie
Hi, my friend recently introduced me to a range of Vegan certified products. Have you heard and have reviewed Arbonne products? There are many mixed reviews out there and would value your opinions on the products itself. 🙂
We have heard of Arbonne but we prefer to use more natural alternatives 🙂
Hi Alan, great idea! Have you heard of the vegan professionals Facebook group? It might be worth joining to see if you can find the right partners.
Hi I started becoming a vegan in January 2016 doing the Veganuary Challenge. I found OK to do and interesting especially eating a whole new different healthy kind of way. I am originally from Shetland Isles now staying in Scotland, in both places it’s hard eating out as they aren’t much on the vegan side of things. But so so much nice vegan products you can buy, I so want to be able to have a small business selling fantastic vegan products. Especially now for over 1 year I get The Vegan Kind box delivered to me at the beginning of each month with great products to enjoy. Their again what and how would you begin.
Dawn
Hi Dawn! Kudos on you for beginning your journey.
Sounds like you lovely idea. Maybe you could partner with someone in your area? All the best with it.
Hi Masa and Michael, I’m in the Southern Highlands NSW (near you!) and am a pastry chef by trade as well as vegan. I’m embarking on making anything sweet (including ice cream) and vegan and selling wholesale to cafes and at markets but with the endgame goal of having my own place one day – full of comfort food and drinks. There’s nothing at all in the area that can properly accommodate vegans so I’m really excited! Thanks for your words, just reading positive comments help me keep motivated!
Hi Anna – thank you for your kind words! You have a wonderful skill set and I’m sure the people in the Southern Highlands will appreciate your yummy treats. Check back in with us to let us know how it’s coming along 🙂
I would like to make them all come alive but i have to take one step at a time. I want to start with food and beverages, I have the capital but would like to join with somebody who might have some knowdelge in the kitchen. I live in Mexico where veganism still not so popular but planning to take the market by surprise. If there is someone in Mexico wanting to join the adventure please contact me.
Love it Karen! Wish we could make all of them happen as well. Sounds like you’re in a position to start something. Hopefully you can find a great partner!
I live in England and I’m starting my own restaurant I have bought the premases I would love someone a partner with the same ideas as me
Hi Karen my name is Val I live in the us and in Mexico too. I have some ideas. We should talk ????
I also live in Mexico and the US and have some ideas, let’s talk!!
I want to open my own vegan cafe or food truck, and also be able to sell at farmers markets, festivals, etc. My creations have been tested by vegans and non-vegans and seem to be a hit (at least with my friends 🙂 ). I need capital, insurance, a financial pro, and an establishment! I am itching to get started right away, but work full time, so it’s a bit of a hardship. I want to do a combo of 1, 7, 9 and 26 🙂
Oops, not 7, 8!
That sounds awesome Marni! We know what it’s like to start a business when working full time but it’s small payoff in the big scheme of things. Hope you find a way to get it rolling. Maybe finding a partner would help?
Fantastic article! I am a vegan living in Egypt and let’s just say, it’s not always easy being pretty much the only one who doesn’t eat meat/dairy! Both my boyfriend (also vegan) and I have been thinking of starting something and hopefully, we will be able to come up with something that will drive the people to a more cruelty-free lifestyle. The market is there it’s just a matter of finding the right time – and way – to tap it. Fingers crossed!
Thanks Maria! Wow that would be so cool if you guys could start something in Egypt! I’m sure the market there would really appreciate it and it might open up some opportunities for other vegan entrepreneurs. You can do it!
#1 already exists! Gelato Blue in Newtown Sydney. All plant based and delish! https://www.facebook.com/gelatoblue/
Hi Natasi, thanks for sharing. Whilst it exists in Sydney, something similar may not exist in other cities. We certainly don’t have anything like that in Canberra!
I’m actually thinking about starting up something along the lines of 19 and 22…
I’d like it to be organic as well, but that’s going to be hard. Besides that, I don’t have any connections that could help me out in that direction, so that’s even worse. 🙁
Hi Robert, love your ambition! There’s always a way. There are some fashion retailers pushing bamboo garments however most of them aren’t organic. There’s definitely an opportunity – particularly with mens clothing as most of what’s in the market is catered towards women. I suggest reverse engineering what other retailers have done in this space. See if you can find their founder stories on the internet. You’ll likely get some nuggets of information and figure out your next steps. Also, don’t be afraid to partner with other entrepreneurs. You might give up some equity but more heads are better than one. You can do it!
This prompted me to look into organic bamboo, only to find this: http://www.visiontimes.com/2018/01/20/there-is-no-such-thing-as-organic-bamboo-clothing.html
“While clothes marketed as organic bamboo fabric are gaining popularity worldwide, it turns out that no organic bamboo textiles have actually been certified. Behind the apparent fraud is the Chinese industry giant Tenbro.”
Hi Colin, thanks for following this up. There’s certainly been some confusion with “organic” bamboo.
Hi Robert, how has your progress been with 19 and 22. I’m thinking of starting something like this too but combining 18-22 and also skin and make up products. Would be good to provide one resource which covers all fashion and beauty options for both men and women. I’m based in Sydney so if you want to share ideas or team up let me know.
What’s the name of the pizzeria? Would love to go and check it out! 🙂
Hey Tayla, the name of the pizzeria is Walter G’s. It opened about a month ago and is based in Dickson 🙂
Next time you are in Sydney, make a visit to King Street in Newtown – there is a gelato shop that has just become entirely vegan (gelato blue), a pizzeria that is entirely vegan (Gigi’s) and a pie shop that sells amazing vegan mushroom pies 🙂
Hey Emma, funny you say that. We’re actually in Sydney this weekend and we’ve heard nothing but great things about Gigi’s. We’ll see if we can drop in and check out your suggestions. Thanks! 🙂
These are all great ideas! It definitely gives us something to think about. Thanks for sharing!
No problem Michelle – glad you got some ideas!
YES! I think so many of us compassionate-living warriors feel fed up from time to time. And you’ve taken the next step and thought of how we can address the lack of vegan, eco-friendly and ethical products and services, and through that raise more awareness in society and hopefully lead to a mass movement towards living more sustainably. Good on you for sharing your great ideas! I certainly hope I can figure out a way bring one of your ideas to reality.
Thank you for your support Isabella! You hit the nail on the head with the big picture of this entrepreneurial incentive. It’s about giving people the tools and options to live more sustainably. And all it takes is an idea and a little bit of courage to make it happen.