What is a good small business idea?
Not all small business ideas are created equal: some require more effort and money than others, while some can be launched with few resources — or resources you already have. As a potential small business owner, you’ll want to save as much money as possible on training, rent, supplies and other necessities.
Minimal to no training is required. A good small business idea will ideally take advantage of your existing area of expertise and require little or no training. This will not only reduce your launch time, but also reduce your expenses, as training courses can cost a lot of money. Plus, you’ll be more confident in offering the services you feel prepared to offer.
Requires low setup cost. Your business should be cheap to start. Maybe all you need to do is buy a website domain or buy a desk for your garage.
Little hands-on inventory or supply management is required. A great business idea requires a few supplies and a little inventory management. If you want to sell physical goods, you can either try drop-shipping and make goods in small batches manually.
Online based. The best small business ideas are online based and can be done from your personal computer. This will automatically reduce your commuting cost and give you more flexibility on your personal and work life.
Can be managed permanently by some people. As a small business owner, you may not have the funds to hire other people to help you run your business – at least not at first. A good business idea gives you the ability to run your business on your own.
Best Small Business Ideas
Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, said, “If we tried to think of a good idea, we couldn’t think of a good idea. You just have to find a solution to a problem in your life.” ,
If you’re like Brian and you’ve already thought of a solution to a problem in your life – or you’re well on your way to doing so – then starting a small business may be in your future. It could be for you too if you’ve been dreaming of getting out of your nine-to-five job and becoming your own boss at last.
Are you always fixing things around the house? Often on-call when friends need to complete small projects? Build a website, do a competitive analysis to determine what’s worth your time and expertise, and turn to friends you’ve helped in the past for referrals.
A handyman business is a great idea if you’ve already built up a strong set of skills helping others fix up their homes. Consider specializing in what you feel well prepared to do – for example, if you know your way around a sink and under a water system, you can provide sink fixing services to start with. , then expand your offerings as you acquire more skills.
No certification is required to become a handyman, and there are no special education requirements. However, you may need a license if you plan to do jobs that exceed a certain dollar amount. Some states may not require this license.
To start your handyman business, we recommend the following resources:
Handyman License Requirements by State
Most Requested Handyman Services
Association of Certified Apprentice Professionals 2. woodworker
Similarly, if you have a passion for making beautiful furniture or other household items out of wood, this could be a small business niche for you. Get started by listing some of your pieces on sites like Etsy. Once you’ve built a following, consider starting a website, accepting custom orders, or expanding to refinishing work and upholstery.
A woodworking small business is ideal if you already have a passion for woodworking, plus start fulfilling orders as soon as the tools arrive. Since delivering a well-made product is key to keeping your customers happy, you don’t want to be “trained” when building a custom shelf or custom storage box. Having at least one year of experience as a Woodworking Apprentice is recommended.
To start a woodworking business, no special education is required, but there is a wide range of online woodworking training certifications, so we suggest starting with a certification. The Woodwork Institute, Yastumoro and The School of Fine Woodworking are possible places to start.
3. Online Dating Consultant
Dating consultants usually charge a fee for their time. They help people create successful online dating profiles, source potential matches from outside typical online channels, and offer a level of personalization that sites like Tinder cannot. Think you have a knack for match? This could be the business for you.
Online dating counselors need strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as an increased level of empathy. The good news is that there is no special education or license required, although we recommend obtaining a certification such as IAP College’s Relationship Coach Certification or Hart Academy’s Online Dating Coach Certificate.
To start an online dating consultant business, you’ll need a website that shares everything you know and offers free dating resources that your clients can benefit from. Once they download a resource, you can loop them in for a free consultation.
People will always need clothesline and button repair – and you could be the person to do it. If you love sewing and have a sewing machine at home, start by offering simple services like the ones mentioned above and expand your repertoire to dressmaking and design as you build up a client base and demand. Do it.
You don’t need any special licenses or degrees to start a sewing and alterations business, but building your skills is essential so you can take on more complex projects. High-value customers will want to customize complex items of clothing such as suits, pants, gowns and dresses. This is where you will see the highest profit potential.
However, replacing these items requires special skills. Some of the courses you can consider include:
International Open Academy’s Tailoring Course for Beginners
Jackson Sewing Academy’s Basic Alteration Course
American Bespoke Tailoring Academy Programs
You’ll also need to shop for sewing supplies of all colors to accommodate your customers.
5. Freelance Developer
From building websites for other small businesses to providing technical support for certain projects, quality web development is in high demand right now. As a web developer, you will naturally have a technical acumen. Give away your knowledge and expertise so that clients who don’t have your experience can understand what you’re helping them achieve.
To help with this, test your message on friends and family who don’t have a firm understanding of what you do. Your message is likely to be effective among people outside of your industry if they are able to summarize what you do. You can start looking for your first freelance contract by visiting different freelance websites.
Unlike some of the other options on this list, an independent developer needs some training to start a successful business and take on projects, but if you’re a beginner, don’t worry. There are plenty of boot camps out there to get you up to speed with full-stack or front-end web development. Some of these boot camps are also offered through accredited tech schools.
Some boot camps you might consider include:
coding dojo
Fullstack Academy
Georgia Institute of Technology Coding Boot Camp
These vary in price, so be sure to do extensive research to find one that fits you and your budget.
6. Personal Trainer
Offer in-home counseling, personalized nutrition and exercise regimens, and community boot camps to get the word out. Don’t forget to populate an Instagram feed with inspirational quotes, free exercise videos and tasty snack ideas as well — it’s a common way for fitness gurus to build their brands in our digital world.
If you choose to go this route, it’s fine to start small at first, then scale it up. For example, Morphit is a personal training business in Indianapolis that started in a shared gym, then grew into a private gym that offers group fitness, personal training and nutrition services.
To start a personal training business, you will need certification. If you’ve already earned a degree in an unrelated discipline, we recommend starting with the NASM-CPT certification, which is nationally recognized and requires only a high school diploma or GED. You can also earn a bachelor’s degree in physical and exercise science – here’s an example from Emory & Henry College.
7. Freelance Graphic Designer
Set your own hours, choose your projects, and build a portfolio and business you can be proud of. From website design to blog graphics and more, many companies look to experienced graphic designers for support on a variety of projects.
Good News? No specific education is required to become a freelance graphic designer, though we recommend seeking a credential (such as SAIC’s Graphic Design Certificate or RISD’s Graphic Design Certificate) or an associate’s degree in design so you can confidently pursue your career. Present a portfolio and complete your first few projects. ,
If you’re just getting started with graphic design, try these tips and tricks that are ideal for beginners. If you’re more experienced but need to build your portfolio to attract clients, these prompts will get your creativity flowing right away. We also recommend reviewing other people’s work on portfolio websites to get a feel for what’s “trendy” and get feedback as you grow your small business.
Free Download: How to Find and Work With Freelancers
8. Life / Career Coach
If you have experience successfully navigating career, personal and social changes, put it to good use as a life or career coach. Many of us are looking for guidance in our careers – and it’s hard to find someone with the time to mentor us.
looking for inspiration? Naria Broadus has dedicated more than 20 years to helping people create better working environments and successfully navigate change as a career and leadership coach. Check out her story for more inspiration on getting started with this small business idea.
9. Resume Writer
Creating a resume, cover letter, and — when necessary — portfolio for a new job can be difficult and time-consuming. That’s why many people seek help. Help clients with tailored resumes, beautifully edited cover letters and carefully crafted portfolios that make it impossible for employers to overlook. And if you’re nervous about writing a resume from scratch, you can use the templates below to get started:
→ Download Now: 12 Resume Templates [Free Download]
A resume writing business is affordable, has few overhead costs, and few educational requirements. We still recommend having an associate’s or bachelor’s degree and some resume samples in hand. If you still feel you need to brush up on your resume writing skills, you can take courses like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning.
Once you get into resume writing, you can expand your business to include cover letter writing, and even provide career coaching services along with these services.
10. Freelance Writer
If you have writing skills, there is someone out there willing to pay you for them. Write blog posts, magazine articles, and website copy galore – just make sure you have ready-made work to share with potential clients. Even if you just create a few sample pieces to keep on hand, they will help showcase your work and attract new business.
To become a freelance writer, it is necessary to choose a specialty. For example, you might choose to write only for publications in the healthcare industry (perhaps because you were a healthcare worker before), or focus on lifestyle publications. Whatever the case, expertise will help you find your niche market and gain confidence as a new freelance writer.
There are no educational requirements for freelance writing, but you do need strong writing skills. It also helps to enjoy writing. While a certification can be beneficial, it is more important to practice and write every day. Try these writing prompts to get started.
11. Landscaper
Mowing, pruning trees, and seasonal decorations are all neighborhood needs. If you have the equipment or can get hold of it, a landscaping business can be a lucrative business. This is also a great option if you love doing it for your home and have a good eye for landscape design.
The good news is that you can start small. For example, you can offer seasonal planting services to your neighbors and start with a few perennial plants, or simply offer mulching services.
To grow your landscaping business, you should consider getting some formal training. The following organizations offer the course:
CCAC
New York Botanical Garden
USGBC-LA
After completing a course and gaining enough experience, you can apply for certification from a landscaping organization. While a certificate is not necessary to work in the field, it can build your credibility and help you make industry connections to take your landscaping business to the next level. The Association of Professional Landscape Designers offers one possible certification you can pursue.
Some states require a license, especially if you’re using pesticides and fertilizers. Be sure to review your state’s requirements.
Learn some of the basics now with this video on landscape design from Lowe’s:
12. Videographer
Video production requires you to invest in equipment first, which can be quite expensive. But this is also what makes your services so valuable. Make sure you have a reel of your work to share or create a website with several selections of your work available to an interested audience.
There is no educational or license requirement to start a video production business. Like writing and other creative arts, though, it pays to specialize. Real estate videos are fundamentally different from wedding videos, and wedding videos are fundamentally different from in-studio interviews and testimonials. By specializing, you target a highly specialized clientele that will most benefit from your services, and you can also skill-up in one shooting style more effectively.
While you can find general classes on videography, you should consider taking a class in the type of videography you want to do. For example, you could take The Complete Wedding Videography Course, if that’s the route you want to take.
Hot Tip: If you’re interested in specializing in video marketing, check out The Ultimate Guide to Video Marketing and download our Starter Pack below.
13. Photographer
Start by having photo shoots for your family and friends. As you build a body of work, ask for referrals and reviews. Photography businesses often grow by word of mouth, so create a Facebook page where you can tag recent clients. Photos you tag those clients in will appear in their friends’ newsfeeds, where they can see your work. You can also ask them to leave a review on your Facebook business page.
As a video production small business, you’ll want to specialize. Will you be doing product shoots or portraits? How about a wedding or a fashion photo shoot? Once you’ve gained expertise, you’ll be able to create a body of work that most accurately represents your strengths.
There are no educational or license requirements to start a small photography business, but we recommend investing in some photography courses, especially if you haven’t used your camera in a while. Some of the courses you can start include:
Cornell’s Digital Photography Certificate Program
new york institute of photography courses
From there, look for courses that will help you develop skills in your chosen specialty.
If you’re not sure where to start with freelance photography, take a look at Erica Clayton’s journey into the business. his advice? Give yourself a concrete time frame for making profits.
If you’re not sure where to start with freelance photography, take a look at Erica Clayton’s journey into the business. his advice? Give yourself a concrete time frame for making profits.
14. Bed and Breakfast Owner
This is another business venture that will require you to research the right licenses from your state, but it would be nice to see your dreams come true. Consider which guests are most likely to travel to your area and create special packages and themed stays that match their interests in your location.
To start a bed and breakfast business, you will need a physical business location and a small staff for maintenance, customer service and maintenance. For this reason, we recommend it if you have startup funds to start your business. (You don’t have any? Here’s how to start crowdfunding to start your new business.)
A successful bed and breakfast business will also need an SEO-optimized website along with a hotel booking system. If you build your website on the WordPress platform, you can easily create a B&B website using the Hotel Booking plugin – so there’s no need to code a booking form from scratch.
With Airbnb and hotels stealing market share, competition in the bed and breakfast space is tough, so we recommend providing a unique approach to accommodations. As mentioned, the stay can be themed – maybe your B&B is an old house with all the original furniture, or maybe you serve traditional fare from your homeland.
15. Clothing Store Owner
If you dream of building your own fashion empire, why not start with a local boutique? Create buzz with influential clothing styles, inspiring social media accounts, and heavy community involvement. While you can open a physical store, you can just as easily start online – and if it proves profitable, you can open a local shop.
There are a few ways to start a clothing boutique. Firstly, if you already have experience in fashion design or know how to sew, knit and curate colors and patterns, you can make the clothes yourself.
Alternatively, you can design certain aspects of the clothing – such as a graphic or logo – then send it to a local print shop to be printed on demand when the order comes in.
Lastly, you can dropship goods from a warehouse you’ve partnered with. This method is less reliable because there is less quality assurance for each item, especially if you never visit the warehouses yourself. Regardless of the method you choose, starting a clothing boutique is extremely possible, and you don’t need a fashion degree (though it certainly helps).
Get some inspiration from Sleep Ova, a luxury loungewear boutique based in Los Angeles, CA. 16. Specialty Food Store Owner.
Gourmet foods, cheese, sake, wine – you name a food, there’s a specialty food store for it. Put your passion for exotic olive oils to good use and open a store like American Provisions where you offer the kind of expertise and selection your audience couldn’t dream of at their local grocer.
To start your specialty food store, you’ll want to create and source items from manufacturers you love and trust. Ask around your community to find local manufacturers of the food you want to sell, and manufacturers will be open to partnerships, especially if they get a cut of the profits.
When it’s time to sell, you’ll want to find a physical location, but if that investment is too much, you can start by setting up a stall at food festivals and local markets. Or you can go the e-commerce route and sell products through your website, carefully packing perishable items.
17. Food Truck Owner
Always dreamed of owning a restaurant but not quite ready to take the plunge? Test your concepts with a food truck. This is a great way to become familiar with food and restaurant licensing in your state, see what people like and don’t like, and build a great following before opening or investing in a brick-and-mortar location. .
Food trucks will require a larger investment, but thankfully you can rent the truck yourself – Food Truck Groups and Roaming Hunger are two potential lessees you can look into. Costs will be high, so we recommend renting in preparation for an event such as a food festival or concert. There, you’ll test the popularity of your dishes and see if a food truck business is right for you.
Taco Nganas, a taco truck in Memphis, TN, started with one food truck and expanded to three, building a loyal customer base along the way.
