7 High-Growth Startup Ideas for 2025

With the long-term effects of President Trump’s tariffs regime still taking shape, and the American tax landscape soon to face some major changes, it’s a tricky time to be launching a startup. Founders are scrambling to reconfigure their supply chains in the face of looming trade war; some investors are pulling back on new funding. Still, the draw of entrepreneurship is, for some, hard to deny. If you’re looking to launch a small business in 2025 despite the shaky macroeconomic environment, the industry research firm IBISWorld offers some data that can help orient your efforts. Looking at the IBISWorld data on consumer goods and services subsectors, Inc. identified some of the most promising growth industries in America, based on their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over five years. Although the data stops short of 2025’s tariffs-induced chaos, it offers a good hint of what business verticals have been enjoying some forward momentum. Chartering fishing boats Of the American consumer goods and services subsectors that Inc. reviewed for this story, chartered fishing boat companies offered the second-highest growth rate at a CAGR of 26.2 percent. (Only online gambling ranked higher in our analysis.) With the industry is estimated to hit $534.3 million in revenue this year—which IBISWorld attributes to “rebounding domestic tourism and increased recreation expenditures” post-pandemic, as well as growing interest among both Hispanics and women—this could be your signal to buy a boat, find some customers and hit the high seas. Make kombucha The tangy, vinegar-esque taste of kombucha isn’t for everyone—but it has found a massive audience, with kombucha production hitting a 19.7 percent CAGR in IBISWorld’s data and projected to reach $2.8 billion in revenue by 2025. In concert with wider growth in health consciousness among consumers, and as probiotic foods and functional drinks enjoy a moment in the spotlight, now might be the right time to buy a SCOBY and get brewing. Pet crematoriums It ain’t pretty work, but someone’s gotta do it. With 12.5 percent revenue growth and an estimated $1.3 billion in revenue last year, pet cremation services are another heavy hitter. Reports IBISWorld: “The increasing cost of conventional burial services, especially in population centers with diminished cemetery space, has prompted consumers to consider lower-cost cremation.” It’s part-and-parcel with rising rates of pet ownership. Pet insurance is another growth sector, hitting 18.7 percent CAGR and an estimated $4.4 billion in 2024 revenue. Wedding planners If you have a love of pomp and circumstance, consider getting into the wedding planning industry. At 11.6 percent CAGR and an estimated $1.7 billion in 2024 revenue, the industry is on a generally upwards trend—although IBISWorld notes that revenue contracted in 2024 amid a rise in DIY and self-planned weddings. Still, the research agency notes, “Consumers who hire wedding planners are spending more money than ever before.” Get ready to throw some rice! Acai shops If you’ve ever had an acai bowl, you know how refreshing these sweet, customizable bowls of fruit, granola and other toppings can be—especially as we enter the hot summer months. They’re good business, too. IBISWorld estimates that revenue from acai bowl shops grew 10.9 percent over five years, reaching almost $990 million in 2024, with consumers’ interest in both healthy eating and customizability fueling a veritable berry boom. With just a blender, some fresh produce and perhaps a tropical-themed logo, you, too, could surf this rising tide. Food trucking When Jon Favreau launches a Cuban sandwich-focused food truck in the 2014 movie Chef, he makes it look rewarding, albeit not easy. In the years since, the food truck industry seems to have steadily grown, with a CAGR of 10.9 percent over the last five years culminating in a projected $2.4 billion in revenue this year. “The industry has thrived,” IBISWorld reports, “with cities like Portland, LA, and Austin passing regulations and establishing designated areas for this new wave of culinary delights.” They’re a good way to pilot a restaurant concept on a smaller scale while remaining flexible. For those with both wanderlust and a love of cooking, food trucking could be what’s on the menu. Boba stores Originally a Taiwanese delight, shops selling bubble tea—or boba—are now mainstream in America, too. A mix of fruit and milk teas accented with gooey tapioca pearls, boba shops are a growth industry, with IBISWorld reporting they’ve seen 9.1 percent CAGR over the last five years and an anticipated $2.6 billion in revenue this year. There are a lot of big chains in the industry, but franchising is always an option for people not looking to strike out on their own. Tariffs could prove particularly impactful on imported ingredients in this subsector, however, so be mindful of your supply chains. BY BRIAN CONTRERAS @_B_CONTRERAS_