Do you dream of starting a business someday? You might think that you need a lot of money to start a business, but that isn’t necessarily true. You don’t need millions to start a business. It is true that some businesses require huge amounts of capital to start, but that isn’t the only way to become an entrepreneur. In fact, you can start dozens of different small businesses with very little money.
What are the easiest businesses to start with little money?
You might ask yourself, but “What are the best businesses to start a business with little or no money?” The answer is to start a low-cost service business. Service businesses can be inexpensive to start because many of them can be operated out of your home. Let me give you an example. If you want to start a restaurant, you can easily invest hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions. But, if you become a personal chef, you don’t have to worry about huge upfront costs.
Can a business be started with no money?
The fact is that a business can be started with no money. But, to start a business with no money requires a shift in your attitude toward business. If you are thinking that only reach people with lots of money can start a business, you will believe it. Don’t allow yourself to think that you need a lot of money to start a business.
How do I get my business off the ground with no money?
There are two secrets for getting your business off the ground with no money:
- Start a business with little or no expenses.
- Start a business that earns money right away.
What kind of business can I start with no money that earns money right away?
Service businesses are the best businesses to start with little or no money to invest. There several advantages to starting a service business:
- You can start many service businesses in your home. There are very little additional expenses to run your business from your home.
- You don’t have to go all-in with a service business. Let’s say you have a day job, but you want to start a business. Many service businesses make a great side hustle that you can pursue while working full time. Once your business makes enough money you can quit your full-time job.
- Many service businesses don’t require a physical location, so you don’t have to spend money on renting an office or a warehouse.
- With a lot of service businesses, you can start earning money immediately. For example, if you become a personal trainer or a music instructor, you can start charging customers immediately and start making money.
What is the average startup cost for a small business?
The cost to start any business can widely vary depending on your approach to business. According to some estimates, the average cost to start a business is about $30,000. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can’t start a business for much less money. Indeed you can. Keep in mind that even businesses that require no startup capital need some cash to start.
Let’s look at some of the most basic business startup costs, you need to consider:
- Forming a business entity – To protect your business and your personal assets, you need to think about forming a business entity for your company. A business entity can also help you save on taxes.
- Marketing expenses – Even if you are starting a dog walking service business, you should expect to spend some money on marketing. For example, you might want to buy some custom yard signs to market your business in the neighborhood.
- Credit card processing service – Most likely your customer will want to use credit cards to pay for your services. You have to sign up for a service to allow you to take credit card payments. You have to be very careful because there are many services to charge too much money for this service. The key is to shop around and also talk to other business owners to learn about your options.
- Living expenses – After you start your business, it may take several months until you have paying customers. Therefore, it is critical to either have enough money saved to cover your living expenses for the first six to twelve months. If you don’t have enough money saved, you need another source of income like a day job or a part-time job to support you until your business takes off.
If you are not sure about the best services business to start without money or with a modest investment, let me share with you some ideas.
Online Retailer
Americans spend billions on online shopping. Do you dream of working from home or from your favorite coffee shop? If you become an online retailer, you could start selling in no time. Before you start your business, test the market. Research what makes online retailers successful.
If you want to start an online retail business, you should consider the following:
- What are you going to sell? If you have little money to start a business, you should sell niches products. You don’t want to compete with the biggest online retailers.
- Who is your customer? What can you do better than the competition? Why will people buy from you and not other companies?
- Are you going to build your own website? Do you have these skills, and if not are you willing to learn? The good news is that there are many e-commerce platforms you can use without getting too technical.
- Check with your city and state for required licenses and permits to start your online retail business.
- Create a marketing plan for your business. A marketing plan is critical because selling online a very competitive business.
Freelance Writer
Many of us enjoy writing, so why not start a professional writing business. Virtually every business needs written content. From websites to marketing materials, all of them require the help of a copywriter. You can specialize in technical writing, product descriptions, white papers, email copywriting, brochure writing, and many other writing services.
Wedding Planner
If you love weddings, you might enjoy starting a wedding planner business. There are several millions of weddings – 2.4 million in the USA and 150,000 in Canada – each year in the United States. That means every year there are millions of couples who need help with planning and organizing their wedding. You don’t need any formal training to become a wedding planner.
Music Instructor
Are there any musicians here? You can easily start a music teaching business from your home. You could also charge more and travel to your students’ homes. You could start posting signs in your neighborhood to get your first customers. You don’t need to be a professional teacher to start a music teaching business, but you have to be willing to work with kids. Most of your students will be children learning an instrument. The most popular instruments to learn are the guitar, the piano, the violin, and the drums. If you play any of the above instruments, you should have no problem finding new students.
Graphic Designer
Companies need graphics designed for many reasons. They need help with business cards, logos, brochures, packaging, signs, and other marketing materials designed. Network with businesses in your area to find your first customers. Your best prospects are businesses that actively and regularly advertise. Make sure that you have an active design portfolio before you reach out to your first prospects.
Junk Removal
Homeowners and business owners need help removing junk. If you have a truck, that’s great, but it is not required. You could even start renting a truck when you start out. What I love about this business is that it is also a great part-time business. You could start a junk removal service on weekends. Once you become busy, you can transition to full-time entrepreneurship.
Freelance Programmer
Do you have skills in the top programming languages? If you are not yet and experienced programmer consider one of the most in-demand programming languages such as Python, Javascript, SQL, HTML/CSS, Java, C#, or PHP.
Resume Writing Service
More than 50 percent of job candidates send out resumes. A great resume can get job candidates through the door. Many people are willing to pay an expert to write a great resume. If you have the right skills, you can start marketing your resume writing service now. You don’t need to spend any money on starting this business. This is a great business for someone with a corporate recruiting background.
Professional Blogger
Professional bloggers make money in several ways. Their blogs can earn income with ads. Bloggers can also monetize with paid content and link placement. Many bloggers also sell their own products, such as books and online courses. The key here is to understand that it takes a while to build a popular blog. You need to write outstanding content and you have to actively market your blog. There are many bloggers who make a comfortable living with their blogs. If you are willing to put in the work, to become a professional blogger might be the right business for you.
Tutor
As long as there are schools, students need tutors. You don’t have to be an expert in every subject. All you have to do is select a niche in demand. There are tutors who focus on subjects like math, physics, or chemistry. Tutors can also focus on specific exams such as ACT, a US college entrance exam.
Office Cleaning
Commercial cleaning is a great low-cost business. Although it involves working through the night or the weekend, commercial cleaning is a solid business. Another advantage of office cleaning is that it is a recurring revenue business. Once you work with a client, they will continue to work with you as long as you do a good job for them.
Computer Repair
Love them or hate them, computers are part of our lives. They are here to stay, and many people need help. People need help with computer repair and setup.
Web Designer
Every business has a website. Some businesses have multiple websites. Web designers design and program websites. It is a great location independent business.
Language Tutor
People love learning new languages. Some people must learn a new language for a job. Others are new to the country and need to learn the language fast. Tutors are needed at all levels of education from grade school to college and beyond.
Virtual Assistant
If you enjoy administrative challenges, you might consider a virtual assistant service business. You can work with executives all over the world. Most likely, you already have all the equipment to complete your work, laptop, smartphone, and tablet computer.
Phone App Developer
There are millions of phone apps on the market today. Apple and Android apps are the most common platforms for phone apps. Companies small and large, hire phone app developers to build custom phone apps.
Pet Sitter
When people travel or are away for work, they need help with their pets. Pet sitters can walk and take care of their pets when needed. Pet owners prefer this option because their pets can stay in a familiar environment. They avoid taking the pet to a kennel.
Party Planner
If you love to organize events, consider a business in party planning. There are many moving parts behind a great party. Companies and individuals are happy to hire a professional to make sure their party runs smoothly.
SEO Expert
SEO is a critical part of online marketing. If you want your website to rank ahead of your competition, you have to hire an SEO service provider. Small and mid-size businesses are your ideal customers for SEO services.
Bookkeeping Service
If you have a computer with internet access and bookkeeping skills, you can start a bookkeeping service business. Many small business owners hire bookkeepers to help with their books.
House Sitting
House sitting is a great way to live rent-free. House sitting is a great side hustle. It might not get you rich, but it is a great way to save on your living expenses. You can also build a marketplace for homeowners who need homesitters.
Personal Chef
If you love cooking, but you are not interested in starting a restaurant, becoming a personal chef might be a great business opportunity for you. Wealthy families frequently hire personal chefs. The startup costs are minimal. You need cooking supplies, liability insurance, and a marketing plan.
Consulting
There are many different types of consulting businesses. From marketing consulting to HR to strategy, businesses need consultants. It is best to select consulting in an area you have worked in in the past.
Handyman Service
For many people, even something as simple as changing a light bulb can be a challenge. They are happy to pay a handyman to make small and large repairs around the house.
Yoga Instructor
You could offer yoga classes on the beach or in a local park. Yoga is popular. People can’t get enough of it. You can start with word-of-mouth marketing to build your first customers.
Freelance Editing
This is a great time for freelance editors. You can live anywhere and have clients all over the world. You can specialize in writing niches you enjoy reading the most.
Professional Organizer
People have too much stuff. They need help to organize it all. You can offer your organizing services to individuals or businesses. Read about successful professional organizers and learn from how they started their business.
Dog Walker
You can start as a solo business. If you do a good job, you could quickly grow your business because word travels fast. If you become too busy, you can hire helpers and grow your business that way.
Tech Support
If you are tech-savvy, you can start a tech support business. You can offer your tech support service to businesses or individuals. Setting up smartphones, laptops, TV, WIFI routers, or any technology requires expertise. With remote computer control software, you can help your customers from the comfort of your own home.
Social Media Marketing Consultant
If you love spending time on social media platforms, this could be a dream business for you. Support businesses with their social media marketing goals. Set up marketing campaigns. Provide ongoing marketing services as needed.
Dropship business
Dropshipping is a great way to sell products without spending money on buying inventory. It is critical to find the right dropship partners. There is a steep learning curve to start a dropshipping business, but it is worth it.
Event Planner
If you enjoy planning and organizing events, consider the event planning business. Companies hire professionals to plan their corporate events.
In-home Childcare or In-home Daycare
You can start an in-home childcare business fairly inexpensively. Be ready to do your research and learning about the requirements in your state to start such a business. The most important aspect of this business is to follow the rules. There many laws created to protect children. These laws differ from state-to-state. Consult a professional to make sure that you haven’t missed anything.
Dog Training
Professionals specializing in dog behavior are in demand. This is a great word-of-mouth business. If you do a great job for your clients, word travels fast, and your business could grow fast.
Career Coaching
If you want to start a home-based business, consider career coaching. If you have the skills to help people improve their careers, you could become a successful career coach. The field of career coaching is a fairly saturated market. To succeed, you will need an aggressive marketing strategy.
Uber or Lyft Driver
If you have the car, the time, you can start a driving business. This is a great side business.
Etsy Business
Do you make captivating products? Etsy is a great platform for artisans to sell their goods.
House Cleaning
If you provide reliable house cleaning, you could work seven days a week. If you target the right clientele, you can charge a premium for your services. You can add additional services such as window cleaning or carpet cleaning. The key is to partner with noncompeting complementary businesses and get a percentage of the revenues.
Landscaping
Do you dream of working outdoors? Providing lawn care or landscaping services might be a great business for you. All you need is a lawnmower and landscaping equipment, and you are on your way.
Sewing and Alterations
Take advantage of your sewing and alterations skills. Custom tailoring is in demand. You can create a steady source of income, offering clothing repair, tailoring, and design work.
