21 Best Family Business Ideas To Start in 2025

Setting up a family-owned business is a great way to use family members’ skills and experience to earn money on the side or full-time.

The best family business ideas cover all industries, from selling products through an online store to working with commercial clients through large contracts.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled 21 top family business ideas that suit all skills and interests, exploring startup costs and marketing best practices.

21 Best Family Business Ideas To Start in 2025

All families are unique, with different family members bringing various abilities and experiences to the table that can be applied to their own family business.

These lucrative business ideas, ranging from hands-on businesses to ideas for online enterprises, have been selected to reflect the diversity of talent and backgrounds.

21. Tour Operator

Many families have deep roots in their local community, giving them unique insights into the best places to visit and notable cultural highlights worthy of exploration.

Setting up a tour operator business is a great option for such families, whether taking customers on guided tours of the city or into the wider landscape.

Family-run tour operator businesses can set up websites to share information about upcoming tours and allow customers to make bookings.

For example, it can complement other media by pairing a mom blog in Dallas with related days out to local hotspots suitable for children.

Recommended: Check out our selection of optimized website templates. 

20. YouTube Channel

One of the most popular family business ideas today is running a family YouTube channel and sharing daily experiences with an online audience.

While becoming a successful YouTuber is challenging, plenty of free resources, such as editing software, can reduce initial startup costs.

Monetizing a YouTube channel begins with adverts in videos, but families can make additional income by selling products through an online store.

Spend time researching the best YouTube channel names before setting one up to ensure it compares favorably with the competition’s branding style.

19. Vintage Clothing

Families passionate about classical clothing and style can establish a vintage clothing business to bring in additional income while exploring their interests.

Selling vintage clothing can be a profitable business idea full-time or a great side hustle to pay off debt by selling items at local clothing fares.

It’s also a visually interesting family business idea that lends itself to creating a vibrant online store to reach customers nationwide.

18. Food Truck

Food-loving families with a hospitality background can use these skills and experiences to run a successful food truck business in their local region.

There are some key steps to consider when starting a food truck business, including acquiring the necessary permits and adhering to health and safety regulations.

Food trucks can sell to employees from local businesses or offer seasonal services around festivals and other annual celebrations, making it one of the most flexible family business ideas.

It’s also a highly scalable family business concept, with the potential to add more food trucks over time and create a fleet of trucks for large-scale events.

17. Farmers Market Vendor

Another popular food-related business idea for families is to operate a farmer’s market and sell healthy food products to customers.

Some vendors operate through the farmer’s market nutrition program, with accredited food and drinks catering to a niche market’s demands.

With many small farms already owned and managed by families, it’s a profitable business opportunity that can complement an existing farming venture.

16. Real Estate

Running a family business has great potential for creating value, and family-run real estate businesses are no exception to this general rule of thumb.

Many family-owned businesses in this sector draw on the family’s collective financial assets to establish a robust selection of real estate assets to rent to residents.

Since these properties are typically located in the same region, family members can easily divide up management and maintenance duties.

15. Photography

Families with a sense of visual flair can consider setting up a photography business and offering their services for weddings and portraits of local families.

There are many profitable photography side hustles that can be added to the list of services, from product photography to professional editing services.

While professional-level cameras and lenses can be expensive, ongoing expenses are significantly lower once the initial outlay has been covered.

14. Vending Machines

Setting up a family business installing and maintaining vending machines is another concept with a decades-long track record of success.

Vending machines can sell various items, from basic food and beverages to wash kits and other toiletries for use at holiday homes and airports.

It’s one of the best small business ideas for families with access to a fleet of vans and a strong network of local businesses requiring on-site vending machines.

Learn more: Discover the best places to sell art online.

13. Wellness & Beauty

The wellness and beauty industry is another popular growth sector with plenty of opportunities for small business entrepreneurs to earn money.

Selling beauty products through an online store is an ideal job for pregnant women and those who want a passive income that doesn’t require working away from home.

You can sell products from leading brands or develop your own product line, starting a beauty blog to showcase their application and the results.

12. Transportation

Like running a food truck business, a popular family business idea for those with access to a fleet of vehicles is running a general transportation business.

This can range from working in distribution and transporting goods to stores to setting up a medical transportation business and delivering to pharmacies or hospitals.

A transportation business can earn thousands of dollars each week because it has the potential to scale over time and acquire new clients.

11. Health & Fitness

As with the wellness and beauty industry, the health and wellness sector has experienced a significant boom in recent years that shows no signs of slowing down.

A family-owned business in the health and fitness industry can cover a range of products and services, from general sporting supplies to dedicated coaching for particular sports.

Staying abreast of the latest industry trends and market research will help ensure your family fitness business meets consumer demand and turns a consistent profit.

10. Arts & Crafts

Selling arts and crafts is another viable business idea for families that draws on their collective creativity and doesn’t require extensive overheads.

Money can be made through online sales or by selling products at local yard and estate sales, with social media marketing to increase awareness on the Internet.

Choosing a great craft business name will help your family business stand out from the crowd and showcase the artistic talent of your family members.

9. Event Planning

A great family business idea for those who like to interact with people is an event planning business, arranging entertainment and refreshments for clients.

Event planning covers a range of events, from birthdays and anniversaries to corporate events, working with high-profile businesses around the country.

If you’re new to event planning, creating a business plan is a must, and plenty of small business automation tools are available to help streamline your operations.

As the business expands and builds a network of caterers, entertainers, and other associated services, you can move on to more significant events with more guests.

8. Car Wash

Family-run car washes have existed for many years, with a defined business model and a reliable customer base that seeks these services.

Setting up a car wash business can be expensive, but there are options for purchasing an existing one through loans and other financial options.

You’ll need to acquire the relevant permits and licenses, along with equipment and supplies, and implement a marketing strategy to attract customers.

If you’re choosing a new location for your car wash business, aim to select somewhere with high traffic volumes and easy access to the premises.

7. Pet Sitting

Animal lovers who want to earn money in their spare time can launch a family business offering pet-sitting services in their local community.

A pet-sitting business can be set up with minimal overheads, with basics such as pet food and toys costing little and covered by the pet owners’ fees.

Attracting customers isn’t expensive, with several small business marketing techniques that can be used to reach out to local pet owners on a tight budget.

Word of mouth typically plays a big role in building a customer base for these services, making it an excellent option for families living in tight-knit communities.

6. Home Renovation

Another popular small business idea for people who prefer a hands-on approach is home renovation, building extensions, garden seating areas, and other renovation work.

A home renovation business can acquire work year-round, from small jobs focused on a single room to complete house renovations taking months to complete.

Income from these jobs can be lucrative, mainly when working on expensive houses and using high-quality materials for wealthy clients.

There are also rebate funds for home renovations that encourage homeowners to partner with a home renovation business to spruce up their residences.

5. Lawn Care

Setting up a lawn care business has processes and potential similar to home renovations, with high-income clients looking for expertise for their gardens.

Customers can be sought out through local newspaper advertisements or geographically targeted social media posts at minimal cost.

A lawn care business can also complement related revenue streams, such as a flower business offering flower arrangements and seeds for customers’ gardens.

4. Babysitting

Like pet sitting, running a babysitting business is ideal for people who want to earn an income while maintaining a degree of flexibility in their personal lives.

Babysitters usually work evenings or weekends, which allows them to earn money in addition to their regular employment throughout the week.

When starting a babysitting business, conduct market research in your area and establish your services, availability, and pricing per gig.

3. Tutoring

Some families have several members who work as educators, a skill that lends itself to setting up a family-run tutoring business helping students learn various subjects.

A tutoring business can cover traditional schooling subjects like English and mathematics or offer courses relating to hobbies and interests, such as setting up a cooking class business.

It can be performed as in-person lessons or through virtual chats online, with the option to earn additional income by selling ebooks and online course material.

With multiple family members to draw from and offering a range of lessons that capitalize on their experiences, tutoring can be a highly lucrative venture.

Explore all of Friday’s Features.

2. Cleaning Services

With no shortage of commercial and domestic clients throughout the country, the demand for cleaning services remains consistently high through all economic conditions.

A cleaning business performs various tasks, from basic cleaning and dusting to bathroom and kitchen sanitization and washing windows.

Contracts are often signed with clients, making it a reliable source of income over time with lower risks than many other family business ideas.

As your cleaning business improves its reputation over time, new staff can be hired to service a larger client base covering a broader region.

1. Catering

One of the most popular family business ideas is setting up a catering business, providing food and refreshments to events ranging from children’s birthday parties to weddings.

A catering business is a tried-and-tested service business idea with a near-endless scope for matching family dynamics through unique menus and optional extras.

Some catering companies work contractually, aligning their clients with bookings at local venues and corporate events at convention centers.

Smaller-scale catering operations can pick up work more casually, fitting it around other family obligations and careers.

Depending on your clients, you’ll need to observe specific legal and regulatory requirements, but it’s a rewarding business opportunity for many families.

Summary

Launching a family business venture can be daunting, but with careful planning and management, the potential for ongoing revenue is high.

The family business ideas outlined in this article provide plenty of inspiration for successful business concepts that have a proven track record of long-term viability.

Once your family business starts turning a profit, it can be expanded to new markets, bringing in other family members to assist with the daily operations.