The realities of today are such that either you work for someone or someone works for you regardless of the course of hostilities. Many people follow the usual course of events when, after graduating from a university or other professional institution of education or even while still a student, they go to work in their specialty. However, working for hire is about developing someone’s business,
Today’s realities are such that either you work for someone or someone works for you, regardless of the course of hostilities. Many people follow the usual course of events when, after graduating from a university or other professional institution, they go to work in their specialty, or even while still a student. However, working for hire is about developing someone’s business, fulfilling someone’s tasks, reporting to senior management, reporting, etc. Therefore, many people are thinking about or from the very beginning choose a different path, opening a business during the war.
When choosing what business to start in 2026, you should first of all follow your own calling and desire. If you had excellent sales experience at your previous job, you should think about retail, if you were a good manager, you may want to open a service business, etc. That is, move to where you already have competence and experience in running a business.
However, if you still haven’t decided or want to know what’s trending right now, in this article we have put together a selection of businesses that are worth opening during the war, even without money.
TOP businesses that can be opened during the war on grants
The first issue now for opening a business is not only desire but also finances, sometimes for a large scale of business significant amounts are required. Therefore, it is worth starting from your own financial capabilities of financing from savings. If you are currently in Ukraine or are a veteran or a member of his family and do not have funds, then for all the businesses listed below you have the opportunity to receive a grant “for your own business” from Action for Business.
Horticulture, berry and viticulture business
In times of war, the issue of survival comes first, and this directly depends on the food supply of the population. The occupation and hostilities have made a large area of Ukrainian lands unsuitable for growing any crops, but demand has not disappeared. Imported supplies are always much more expensive than domestic production due to the costs of long-distance logistics, storage in warehouses with temperature conditions, and the costs of growing in foreign countries are higher than in Ukraine, which makes our products not only competitive due to quality, but also beats competitors due to the price offer. In this difficult time for the country, your own business in gardening of vegetables or other crops gives a stable profit during the season, and does not require careful preparation or marketing costs or sales competition. Sales are made to wholesalers, and they will take care of the goods getting to the shelves of the end consumer.
Greenhouse growing business for year-round crops
If above we described the business of open cultivation in the fields or in the garden. Then this business gives a stable profit 365 days a year with the correct organization of work. This product grown in greenhouse conditions also has a huge demand during the war, since it belongs to the products of the first category of necessity, easily wins competition with imported products due to their currency peg and high cost of cultivation.
Recycling business
At first it may seem that during the war, especially in regions close to hostilities, there is no place for recycling. However, this is not so, in fact, waste recycling is a very profitable business where you receive raw materials for free or almost free, which you later sell for real money. Yes, the waste recycling business is not only about household waste. This is the processing of wood sawdust into fuel briquettes, which is especially relevant for frontline regions due to interruptions in gas supply. This is also the processing of used clothing into blankets and quilts for a warm winter. Recycling can be not only environmentally friendly, but even export-oriented, such as metal, wood, plastic, etc. That is, you collect waste material or its residues in bulk and sell it to factories, including export operations for foreign currency.
Read also: Ukrainian language in everyday life: how to switch to Ukrainian and not be afraid of mistakes (tips)
Military supply business
Of course, in war, the state primarily cares about meeting the needs of the front and the army. And these needs are colossal, as are the volumes of purchases that are made. Starting from socks and underwear for the military, ending with camouflage nets and anti-drone suits. Business in this direction is the first in priority in providing everything necessary, so the first in line is the national manufacturer, compared to importers and their expensive offers. You can start manufacturing not even the final product, but its components, for example, you may not have the opportunity to assemble drones from start to finish, but you can manufacture its components and sell them to manufacturers. Already now, housings, batteries, cameras, screws, etc. are being assembled at home. So you can take your own place in this assembly chain. The army is a large organism that needs a large number of products for various purposes every day, and all of it can be the start of your business: the production of soap, biscuits, canned food, knives, camouflage suits, mouthguards, etc.
Read more suitable business ideas in our Telegram [click here to read]
