If you are a farmer that has an empty barn or you own a farm property with an empty barn, then you should not allow the facility to lie fallow. You can actually make money from the property.
Actually, an empty barn is a barn that currently has no animals, equipment, or other materials inside it. It may still have the structure and features of a typical barn, such as a roof, walls, doors, and windows, but it is not being used to house or store anything at the moment.
An empty barn can be repurposed for a variety of uses, such as a workspace, a storage area, or even a living space. Interestingly, there are several businesses you can start from an empty barn especially if the barn is located in a town that is accessible. In this article, we will discuss some of the business ideas you can start from your empty barn.
Best Empty Barn Business ideas
A horse boarding and training business is a type of equine facility that provides a range of services for horse owners. The primary service offered is boarding, which involves providing a stall or paddock for a horse to live in, along with access to pasture and feed.
Some horse boarding businesses also offer additional services such as grooming, exercise, and veterinary care. Please note that this type of business is viable in a city or town with horse owners.
-
Livestock Breeding and Sales Business
A livestock breeding and sales business is a type of agricultural business that involves breeding, raising, and selling livestock for meat, dairy, fiber, or other purposes.
The livestock can include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and other animals. A livestock breeding and sales business typically involves breeding and raising high-quality livestock with desirable traits such as good health, high productivity, and desirable physical characteristics.
The animals are then sold to other farmers, ranchers, or businesses that may use them for breeding or for production purposes such as meat, milk, wool, or other products.
-
Organic Vegetable Farming Business
The demand for organic vegetables is on the increase, many thanks to the awareness for people to eat healthily and right. So, if you have an empty barn and you are looking for what to do with it, you may want to consider using the empty barn to grow strictly organic vegetables.
Interestingly, you can grow your organic vegetables in bags or flower pots and still have a bumper harvest. There are several options you have when it comes to growing vegetables in an empty barn, you may want to grow tomatoes, potatoes, onions, carrots, sweet corn, green beans, bell peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli et al.
As a matter of fact, the demand for mushrooms in the United States has been steadily increasing in recent years. Mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many dishes and are also used for their medicinal properties. According to market research, the global mushroom market is expected to reach $50.3 billion by 2025, with North America being one of the largest markets.
In the United States, the mushroom market has been growing at a rate of about 6% per year, driven by factors such as increasing consumer awareness of the health benefits of mushrooms, growing demand for vegetarian and plant-based diets, and the versatility of mushrooms as an ingredient.
-
Aquaponics or Hydroponics Farming
If you have an empty barn, and you want to put it to use so you can generate income, you may want to consider going into aquaponics or hydroponics farming.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution as the growing medium. In hydroponic farming, plants are typically grown in containers filled with inert materials such as perlite, coconut coir, or rock wool.
The plants receive water and nutrients directly from the water solution, which is typically recirculated to conserve water and nutrients. Aquaponics, on the other hand, is a method of farming that combines hydroponics with aquaculture, the farming of fish or other aquatic animals.
In an aquaponics system, fish are raised in a tank or pond, and the water from the fish tank is circulated through a hydroponic growing bed. The plants in the hydroponic bed remove nutrients from the water, which helps to keep the water clean for the fish.
-
Honeybee Farming and Honey Production
Of course, you know that the demand for honey is on the rise because people are switching from the use of sugar to honey. All you need to do to get this business started is to learn the art of honey farming, purchase the required honey farming and production equipment and tools and then start marketing your honey.
You may want to properly package your honey so you can have them in stores all across your country or even export them to other countries.
-
Fish Farming and Sales
Fish farming and sales are yet another business that can be started from an empty barn. Interestingly, people are beginning to improvise on how to farm fish in commercial quantities right from their backyard.
If you are lucky to have access to a large empty barn, then you might just be on your way to making cool cash from fishing and farming. Interestingly, there are several species of fish that can be farmed from home in commercial quantity, depending on the available resources and the specific requirements of the fish.
-
Alpaca Farming and Fiber Production Business
An alpaca farming and fiber production business involves raising alpacas for their wool or fiber, which can be used to produce a wide range of products such as clothing, blankets, and other textiles. Alpacas are members of the camelid family, along with llamas and camels, and are native to South America.
In an alpaca farming and fiber production business, the alpacas are typically raised on a farm or ranch, where they are provided with shelter, food, and water. The alpacas are shorn once a year, typically in the spring, and the wool or fiber is processed into yarn or other products.
-
Antique Shop or Flea Market
An antique shop is a retail store that specializes in selling antique or vintage items, such as furniture, jewelry, art, books, and other collectibles. Antique shops typically source their inventory from estate sales, auctions, and other venues where rare and unique items can be found.
Flea markets, on the other hand, are typically outdoor markets where vendors sell a variety of secondhand items, including antiques, vintage items, clothing, and household goods. Flea markets can be held on a regular basis or as one-time events, and vendors often set up tables or booths to display their items.
A woodworking shop is a space or facility where woodworking is carried out, typically using a variety of tools and equipment to create or produce wooden items.
Woodworking shops may vary in size and complexity, ranging from small-scale hobbyist shops to larger commercial or industrial facilities. You can actually start this type of business if you have the required skill-sets to run a woodworking shop.
-
Art Studio or Gallery
Do you know you can actually open an art studio or gallery in an empty barn? Yes, you can actually open an art studio or gallery in an empty barn that is in a location that attracts both human and vehicular traffic. An art studio is a space where an artist creates their work. It can be a small room in the artist’s home or a larger space in a separate building or facility.
Art studios are typically equipped with art supplies, such as paint, brushes, and canvases, as well as any specialized equipment needed for the artist’s particular medium, such as pottery wheels or printmaking presses. An art gallery, on the other hand, is a commercial space where art is exhibited and sold.
-
Photography Studio
Another option you have when it comes to making money from your empty barn is to convert the empty barn to a Photography studio. People go to photography studios to create beautiful pictures and portraits. Trust me, if your photography studio is well-designed and attractive, you will attract people from within and outside your community.
-
Wedding Venue
There are people or couples that prefer unique wedding venues, especially people that live in small communities. If have an empty barn in a small community with the right demography, you may want to use the empty barn as a wedding venue.
Trust me, if the venue has facilities in place that can accommodate more than a dozen people, it will surely attract people who would want to use such facilities for their wedding.
-
Music Rehearsal Space
Another business opportunity you can start from an empty barn is to convert the empty barn into a music rehearsal space.
Please note that this type of business is ideal if you have done your due diligence, and you know that there are young and upcoming musicians in your community. All you need to do is to put the empty barn in order so that it can be suitable for use as a music rehearsal space.
-
Nano Brewery
If you have an empty barn that is spacious enough and strategically located, then one of the options you have is to convert the empty barn to a nano brewery.
A nano brewery is a brewery (plant) that produces a small amount of beer per time; it is indeed a small-scale brewery that can’t be compared to the conventional brewery plants or microbrewery plants and it is usually owned independently.
In order words, any entrepreneur that has some cash and brewing technique can comfortably start his or her own nano brewery business.
-
Winery or Vineyard
A winery or vineyard business is a type of business that involves the cultivation of grapes and the production of wine. A vineyard is a farm where grapes are grown and harvested, while a winery is a facility where the grapes are processed into wine.
In addition to producing wine, many wineries offer tasting rooms and tours to the public. Some vineyards also produce other products such as grape juice, grape seed oil, and vinegar. Wineries and vineyards can range in size from small family-owned operations to large commercial enterprises.
-
Olive Oil Production
Olive oil production is yet another type of business that can be started from an empty barn. Trust me, there is a massive market for olive oil. This is so because, olive oil has a wide range of uses, both in cooking and in other applications. Olive oil is a versatile cooking oil that can be used for frying, sautéing, roasting, and baking.
It is a healthy alternative to other types of oil, as it contains monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Olive oil is used in many skincare products, as it is moisturizing and has anti-inflammatory properties.
-
Pickling and Fermenting Production Business
Another business that you can easily start from an empty barn facility is a pickling and fermenting production business. A pickling and fermenting production business is a type of food processing business that specializes in the production of pickled and fermented foods.
Pickling involves preserving food by soaking it in vinegar or another acidic solution. This process can be used for a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, and meats. Pickling can give foods a unique flavor and texture, as well as extend their shelf life.
Fermenting, on the other hand, involves using natural bacteria and yeast to break down sugars in foods, creating lactic acid and other compounds
-
Candle Making Factory
A candle-making factory is a manufacturing facility that produces candles on a large scale. The process of candle-making involves melting wax, adding fragrance and color, and pouring the mixture into molds. The wax is then cooled and removed from the molds, resulting in finished candles.
A candle-making factory may produce a wide range of candles, including scented candles, decorative candles, and specialty candles such as birthday or wedding candles.
-
Soap Making Factory
Similar to a candle-making factory is a soap-making factory and this type of business can be started from an empty barn.
Soap is a cleaning product that is used universally hence there is a large market for soaps. Part of what you need to do to make a success out of your soap-making business is to make sure you produce quality soaps; your branding is top-notch and you have a robust distribution network.
-
Welding and Metalworking Shop
Another business that an aspiring entrepreneur can start from an empty barn is to convert the empty barn into a welding and metalworking shop. A welding and metalworking shop is a workshop or facility where various types of metal fabrication, welding, and repair work are performed.
It is a place where skilled metalworkers use specialized tools and techniques to cut, shape, join, and finish metal materials to create a wide range of products, from small decorative items to large-scale industrial machinery.
-
Animal Feed and Supply Store
If you have an empty barn in a thriving farming community, you may want to open an animal feed and supply store in the empty barn. An animal feed and supply store is a retail store that sells a variety of products related to the care and feeding of domestic animals, including livestock, pets, and poultry.
Animal feed and supply store stores typically carry a range of animal feed, such as hay, grain, and specialized feed for specific types of animals.
They may also stock supplies such as bedding, fencing, health and grooming products, and medications. Animal feed and supply stores are often frequented by farmers, ranchers, pet owners, and others who keep animals for work, sport, or companionship.
-
Greenhouse Production and Sales Business
A greenhouse production and sales business involves the cultivation and sale of plants in a controlled environment, typically a greenhouse.
Greenhouses are designed to provide plants with ideal growing conditions, such as proper temperature, light, humidity, and ventilation, which can result in faster growth and higher yields compared to traditional outdoor farming methods. The types of plants grown in a greenhouse can vary depending on the business’s focus and market demand.
-
Lawn and Garden Equipment Repair and Sales Business
You can also use your empty barn to run a lawn and garden equipment repair and sales business. A lawn and garden equipment repair and sales business specializes in the repair and maintenance of outdoor power equipment such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, and other gardening tools.
A lawn and garden equipment repair and sales business typically offers both repair services and sales of new and used equipment to customers. Just make sure that the business is well-located and that you have a wide variety of lawn and garden equipment.
-
Dog Kennel and Training Facility
A dog kennel is a facility designed to house and care for dogs. It can be used for a variety of purposes, such as pet boarding, training, breeding, or rescue operations. Kennels may range in size from small, family-owned operations to large commercial facilities.
The primary function of a dog kennel is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for dogs to live in while their owners are away. This includes providing food, water, exercise, and socialization opportunities. Depending on the type of kennel, dogs may be kept in individual runs or housed together in groups.
-
Veterinary Clinic or Animal Hospital
Another option you have when it comes to starting a business from an empty barn especially if you are a vet technician or a vet doctor is to convert the empty barn into a veterinary clinic or animal hospital. Of course, most barns are located in a farming community hence there will be livestock farmers in an around your empty barn facility.
If you are the only veterinary clinic or animal hospital, then you are going to experience no competition and customers might also come from neighboring communities to patronize your veterinary clinic or animal hospital.
-
Pet Food and Supply Store
An empty barn can also be converted into a pet food and supply store. A pet food and supply store is a retail establishment that specializes in selling pet-related products, such as food, treats, toys, grooming supplies, and accessories for various types of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, and small animals like hamsters and rabbits.
-
Farm-to-Table Restaurant or Café
A farm-to-table restaurant or café is a niche dining business that emphasizes using locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients in their menu items. The concept of farm-to-table dining is to create a closer connection between the food being served and its origins, with the goal of promoting sustainable agriculture and supporting local farmers.
Trust me, an empty barn in a vibrant farming community is an ideal place to start a farm-to-table restaurant or café. Please note that running a farm-to-table restaurant or café requires a deep understanding of the local food system, as well as culinary skills and business management expertise.
-
Yoga Studio or Fitness Center
If you have an empty barn, you may want to convert the empty barn into a yoga studio or fitness center. From experience, farming communities usually don’t have yoga studios or fitness centers. So, if your yoga studio or fitness center is located in such a community, then you may not struggle to get locals to pick up membership in your yoga studio or fitness center.
-
Dance Studio
A dance studio is a facility designed for the instruction and practice of dance. It is typically equipped with a large open space or studio floor, mirrored walls, and sound equipment to provide a suitable environment for learning and rehearsing dance routines.
Dance studios may offer a variety of dance styles, such as ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, ballroom, and Latin. They may cater to all age groups and skill levels, from beginners to advanced dancers.
-
Martial Arts Studio
Another business that you can start from an empty barn is opening a martial arts studio. A martial arts studio is a facility designed for the instruction and practice of martial arts, which are systems of combat techniques used for self-defense, sport, or personal development.
Martial arts include a wide range of styles, such as karate, judo, taekwondo, kung fu, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing. Martial arts studios typically have a large open space or training floor, as well as equipment such as punching bags, mats, and props for teaching techniques.
-
Artisanal Cheese Production Business
If you have an empty barn, and you are looking for how to make money from the empty barn, then you may want to start an artisanal cheese production business. An artisanal cheese production business is a type of food production business that specializes in the production of handmade, high-quality cheese using traditional methods.
Artisanal cheese makers typically use locally sourced, high-quality ingredients, and pay close attention to the cheese-making process to ensure the flavor, texture, and aroma of their cheese are unique and high-quality.
-
Custom Meat Processing and Butchery
Similar to the artisanal cheese production business is a custom meat processing and butchery business. A custom meat processing and butchery business is a type of food processing business that specializes in processing and cutting meat according to the specific needs and preferences of individual customers.
Custom meat processing and butchery businesses primarily provide personalized services such as cutting and packaging meat to order, smoking and curing meats, and making sausage and other specialty meat products. Custom meat processing and butchery businesses typically work with local farmers and ranchers to source high-quality meat and may offer services such as livestock slaughter, animal processing, and custom meat cutting.
-
Archery Range or Shooting Range
Another business that you can start from an empty barn is to open an archery range or shooting range. An archery range or shooting range is a designated area where individuals can practice and develop their skills in archery or shooting sports, respectively.
Archery ranges typically feature targets set up at varying distances, which may be indoors or outdoors. They may also have other equipment such as bows, arrows, and quivers available for use.