Food and Beverage — page 2

Experienced cooks who can also manage logistics, deposits, and event-day labor under pressure

Startup cost

$8,000 – $50,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $15,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Experienced cooks or food operators who understand unit economics and can run a tight, delivery-only menu

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $15,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Hardworking people who love physical outdoor work and accept thin margins, long days, and weather risk

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $5,000 / mo

First income

4 to 8 months

People who genuinely understand food production and sales and accept that meat snacks face a federal regulatory barrier most food brands do not

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $9,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

Operators who can handle perishable inventory, recurring-subscription logistics, and cold-chain packaging — not first-time cooks chasing a food brand

Startup cost

$8,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

People who want a seasonal, cash-heavy mobile business and enjoy being out in neighborhoods and at events

Startup cost

$12,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $9,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People who understand consumer packaged goods, distribution, and razor-thin beverage margins — not hobbyists who just have a great recipe

Startup cost

$12,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $8,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

Strong cooks who enjoy live, on-site events and weekend work and want a premium per-event catering niche

Startup cost

$15,000 – $75,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

People who can pick a high-traffic location, run tight inventory on perishables, and handle the operational grind of a small food business

Startup cost

$18,000 – $250,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

3 to 9 months

People with food and dairy experience who want to build a regulated, craft product brand and can survive a long cash cycle before profit

Startup cost

$25,000 – $250,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

6 to 18 months

Experienced food people who love cooking and hospitality, can stomach heavy regulation and long hours, and have capital they can afford to risk

Startup cost

$40,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

3 to 9 months

Serious pitmasters who can master long-cook consistency and meat-cost control and want a hands-on food business

Startup cost

$40,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $20,000 / mo

First income

4 to 12 months

People who want a hands-on storefront food business, enjoy making a craft product, and can ride out a strong seasonal swing

Startup cost

$70,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

Hands-on operators who like fast-paced food service and can control food and labor cost in a lunch-driven business

Startup cost

$70,000 – $300,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $16,000 / mo

First income

4 to 10 months

Experienced bakers or restaurant operators who understand labor, food cost, and retail foot traffic and can survive a slow first year

Startup cost

$70,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

6 to 12 months

Hands-on retail operators with capital who understand seasonality and can drive traffic in a high-rent, high-footfall location

Startup cost

$70,000 – $400,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $15,000 / mo

First income

6 to 12 months

Hands-on operators with capital who can pick a great location and run a tight, high-volume retail shop

Startup cost

$80,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $15,000 / mo

First income

6 to 14 months

Hands-on bakers who can handle pre-dawn production and want a high-traffic retail food business

Startup cost

$80,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $18,000 / mo

First income

6 to 12 months

Hands-on operators willing to work brutal early hours and run a real retail food operation with staff, rent, and equipment

Startup cost

$80,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

6 to 12 months

Hospitality-minded operators with capital who can pick a great location and grind through long hours and thin margins

Startup cost

$90,000 – $450,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $14,000 / mo

First income

8 to 18 months

Experienced brewers or hospitality operators with serious capital who understand regulated, low-margin production and a multi-year ramp

Startup cost

$250,000 – $1,500,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $20,000 / mo

First income

12 to 24 months

People with significant capital, patience for a multi-year cash cycle, and a genuine love of winemaking and hospitality

Startup cost

$250,000 – $2,500,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $35,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 years

People with deep capital, regulatory patience, and a plan to sell unaged spirits and tasting room visits while aged products mature

Startup cost

$300,000 – $3,000,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $30,000 / mo

First income

1 to 4 years