Before we discuss how to make money with rabbits, let's take a few minutes to talk over how to NOT make money with rabbits.  Raising rabbits for pets on a small scale or on a large scale in a very ethical manner is not a huge money maker or, in fact, not a money maker at all.  I have never made a true profit on selling pets.  If I ever do, my hourly rate would be less than five cents,  I'm sure!  Without factoring in the cost of major investments like shelter, cages, waterlines, electricity, lighting, cooling, and so forth, the cost of feeding and caring for breeding animals, advertising, and so forth is more than what I bring in from selling pets at $30 each. 

I sold rabbits to pet stores twice early in my rabbit breeding career.   My experience was so unsatisfactory that I will never do it again.  The pet store normally pays $5 per rabbit, but they agreed to pay me $10 because it was near Easter. The store was not interested in the sex or birthday of the rabbit.  Neither did they want to know what kind of feed the rabbit was use to (rabbits should have their feed changed gradually).  After talking with other breeders, this type of interaction seems to be the rule instead of the exception.  And I cannot count the number of times people email me about a problem with their rabbit which begins, "I bought a rabbit at a pet store . . . ."

Considering your time investment alone, you realize that there are infinitely better ways to make money, with and without rabbits.  I would estimate that the average visit to my barn to pick out a rabbit is well over an hour.  I've had families stay for four hours (I do not heavily manage their time spent here because I raise my rabbits as a hobby rather than to make money from selling rabbits).  I do not remember anyone staying less than 40 minutes.  I enjoy these visits because I love my rabbits and they are my hobby.  But just factor in the time spent feeding, water, attending to medical issues, cleaning, removing manure, breeding, preparing nest boxes and managing the barn in general, and you realize the return on your time investment is very poor.

The only reason, in my mind at least, to raise pet rabbits is because you enjoy it immensely and have a market for your offspring.  And just one more note:  the market for purebred pet rabbits is small, but the market for mixed breed rabbits is even smaller.

Selling pedigreed show rabbits is also not a huge money maker for the vast majority of people.  In order to sell higher priced rabbits, you must become heavily involved and successful in showing rabbits in order to demonstrate their worth and develop a reputation for having good stock.  Some people, after years of investment in terms of both time and money, may start to see a positive cash flow (not necessarily a true profit).  But how many $250 rabbits would you have to sell to pay back the cost of a barn or shed, traveling one to four weekends per month to show, expensive foundation stock, hundreds of dollars worth of rabbit cages and rabbit supplies?  The only reason to get into selling pedigreed show rabbits is that you are passionate about the rabbits and you would be making the investment anyway.  Then, if you produce more worthwhile bunnies than you need, you can sell them to help defray some of your expenses.  But this kind of selling is not usually a real profit (gross profit minus expenses).  I would be remiss if I did not mention that raising and showing Holland Lops is the most fun I've ever had!

Selling rabbits for snake and raptor food can be a source of income.  However, it is best for those who are already raising rabbits for another reason since the payment is very small per rabbit (just a few dollars per rabbit).  It may be a reasonable use for rabbits born with birth defects, for example.  Although I personally cannot stomach the thought, as long as the rabbits are killed ethically before feeding, I certainly cannot object to others doing it. 

Making Real Money

Even though pet and show rabbits are not huge money makers, you can make a reasonable return on meat rabbits and perhaps fiber rabbits, especially if you are talented at turning the fiber into a sellable profit.  Not everyone who would love to work with animals wants to produce them for slaughter, however.  And many people do not have the skills to use the fiber.  Holland lops are suitable for neither purpose, in fact. 

If you are interested in pursuing rabbits as meat, research some of the more popular meat varieties: New Zealands and Californians, and perhaps Florida Whites, Satins, Havanas or Flemish Giants. 

 Living near a processor so that you can send fryers as soon as they are ready is important to being able to make a profit.  A list of meat processors can be found on the  American Rabbit Breeders' Association website.  In order to make a livable income from rabbits, your herd must be fairly large and tending it is, in most cases, a full-time job.   The book Commercial Rabbit Raising, can help you get started.

Creative Ideas

Perhaps you don't want to make a living from rabbits, but would just like to make some extra money on the side.  Good decision!  Here are some fun and useful ideas: