business to start with little money
business to start with little money You may want to make additional money during a recession, weak economy, or excessive inflation. The top low-cost enterprises may be easier to start than you think. A side gig for under $1,000 can assist offset unexpected costs or rising prices.
also check: How to best business start 2023 | latest update
Start These 20 Businesses for Under $1,000
1. First Bookkeeping Service
Bookkeeping requires only a high school diploma, making this small business concept accessible to anyone. Earn a certificate in bookkeeping by taking classes at a local community college or online.
business to start with little money Finding contract bookkeeping employment requires some promotion on Upwork, social media, or even classic techniques like newspaper ads. You can charge $20–$60 per hour, depending on location and experience.
Required: Accounting software, LLC business license, professional liability insurance, professional website
Price: $300 upfront, $75 per month thereafter.
2. Tutoring Business
Tutoring in your field is another wonderful option that doesn’t require a degree (but it helps). If you have a high school diploma, you can tutor challenging kids. You can teach pupils in your home, their home, or a library, depending on the student and their parents.
business to start with little money Join Facebook and Next door groups to engage with local families and spread the word about your services. Create a website with a calendar for students and parents to book appointments. Tutoring costs $20–100 on average.
Needed: Website, LLC license, home office
About $250; $30 each month (ongoing).
3. Consulting
business to start with little money Consultants are experts like tutors. The major difference is that as a consultant, a professional or business hires you to advise them. Consultants usually have a college degree and much of experience.
Consultant contracts are best obtained through networking. Attend local professional networking events, use LinkedIn, and stay in touch with past colleagues. Update your consulting business contact information on your personal website. Consultant costs range from $100 to $500 per hour, depending on your specialty.
Needed: Professional business cards, website, LLC license
About $500; $30 each month (ongoing).
4. Service delivery
Working with Uber, Lyft, Grub hub, or Doodah might help you make extra money after work or between business to start with little money employment. You don’t need an LLC for your side gig, but it may protect your personal liabilities. Monthly expenses like maintenance, insurance, and gasoline can be deducted from taxes.
Luckily, all you need to work for a ride-sharing or food delivery service is a car, time, a phone, and a clean driving record. No marketing investment required. Uber estimates a $400 weekly salary for 20-hour drivers.
business to start with little money Driver’s license, automobile, clean driving record, mobile phone, car insurance
About $500 per month (assuming typical car lease, insurance, mobile phone, and car maintenance fees).
5. Online Store
Many online store owners start with one product. Online sellers don’t need technical skills or training, but marketing and sales expertise is helpful. Start by choosing a product to sell, a good business name, and a website.
business to start with little money First, register a domain, then develop a website and promote your products. One of the most difficult enterprises to start, it might replace your full-time employment if successful. Online stores have several continuous expenditures, from website maintenance and digital ads to email marketing and transaction fees.
Products to sell, e-commerce website, professional email address, domain name, business license, payment processor, sales tax ID
Approximately $500; $50/month (ongoing fees)
6. Pool Cleanup
Warm climates have many houses with pools, which need year-round maintenance. To keep a pool clean, you’ll need to learn about pool chemicals and treatment. To calculate chemical amounts for different pool sizes, you’ll need basic math abilities.
business to start with little money To start a pool cleaning service, you need equipment, chemicals, and a truck to transport them. You can market on Agni, Thumbtack, Next door, or Facebook groups. Pool companies often charge $80–150 per month for weekly pool services.
Needs: Pool equipment, chemicals, small business insurance, LLC formation, invoicing software, vehicle
Approximately $750; $100 per month (ongoing fees)
7. Design Services Graphic
Those with digital art skills might start a graphic design business from home. You can locate clients on Fiverr or Upwork. Try social media or buy professional business cards to hand out when the topic comes up to network and spread word of mouth.
business to start with little money In addition to Adobe Photoshop or Canva, develop a portfolio website to showcase your creative skills. If you use one of the top website builders with the features you need, creating a personal or business site to sell services is reasonable. Graphic designers earn $25/hour.
Needs: Website, graphic design software, business cards, license
About $250; $30 each month (ongoing).
8. Pet Sitting Business
Turn your passion for animals into a profitable business. Many individuals need pet watching services, and you can host dogs, cats, birds, and other creatures. Animal CPR and pet medicine administration may require additional training.
business to start with little money Protect yourself and pet-proof your house with pet sitter insurance. You can promote yourself by posting posters in your neighborhood or joining Care.com or Rover.com. It’s unlikely that renters can do this as a side gig.
Home with a yard, pet sitter insurance, fliers, website
About $350; $60 per month (ongoing fees)
9. Property Management
business to start with little money You can go into property management by working part-time or starting your own firm. You don’t have to own the property you manage; you can link contractors with residents or undertake the job yourself.
Although no degree is required, some jurisdictions require property managers to be licensed, so do your research before entering this field. Airbnb and Vrba users or homeowners that want to rent their homes could use your services.
License (possible), business license, website, business cards
About $700; $30 per month (ongoing costs)
10. Personal Trainer
business to start with little money You may make a living or side gig out of diet and exercise. Personal trainers assist people get in shape, and you don’t need an advanced degree to work in this field. A degree in sport science or fitness certificate (there are many) can help.
This business can be started cheaply, especially for ongoing costs. To safeguard your assets, form an LLC and buy personal trainer business insurance. Your marketing budget depends on your strategy. Communicate using social media, content marketing, email marketing, or digital ads to earn $20 or more per hour.
Required: Certifications, LLC establishment, website, email marketing software, personal trainer insurance.
Approximately $850; $60 per month (ongoing fees).
11. Mobile Car Wash or Detailing
business to start with little money Mobile car wash services are wonderful weekend businesses to start with little money. You only need a wet/dry vacuum, pressure washer, buffer, cleansers, and microfiber towels. In addition to equipment, consider vehicle detailing business insurance.
Your mobile business needs to be promoted, so submit it to Google Business Profile, Bing Places, and other local directories. Check your contact information on your website, and you can add appointments to make booking easier.
What you need: Car wash equipment, website, small business insurance, LLC formation
Approximately $800; $60 per month (ongoing fees).
12. Dropshipping Firm
If opening an online store seems too time- and money-intensive, consider dropshipping. Dropshipping doesn’t require stock or warehouses—you buy items at a discount as you sell them and the manufacturer or supplier ships them.
business to start with little money Create a website or use Amazon or eBay to sell your stuff. Success requires time and effort, mostly in marketing, picking products to sell, and listing.
Needs: Dropshipping supplier, website, company license, sales tax ID, payment processor
About $100; $30 each month (ongoing).
13. Virtual Assistant
business to start with little money Many professionals engage virtual assistants (VAs) to handle emails, schedule appointments, and do other administrative duties they don’t have time for. VAs can generate extra money part-time or full-time. If you don’t want to work alone, join a virtual assistant service to find a job.
Good organizational and communication skills help you find VA work, but experience isn’t required. If you’ve been an administrative assistant, a VA job from home may suit you. VAs often charge $15–$20 per hour.
Computer, excellent internet, website
Approximately $550; $130 per month (ongoing fees).
14. Staffing Firm
business to start with little money Staffing firms connect companies and candidates. The staffing firm helps businesses identify exceptional employees in exchange for a referral fee (typically a percentage of the new hire’s annual salary). It may be great for folks with a large professional network who enjoy talking to people. You can launch a home-based business to fill entirely remote employment.
You can start a staffing business without expertise, but most owners have a history in staffing or HR. However, as with everything, you will need to learn about the profession from getting clients and recruiting candidates to contracts and billing, so expect a steeper learning curve if you lack experience.
Licenses and permissions (state-specific), business insurance, website, internet
15. Tour Operator
A high school diploma and local expertise are required to become a tour guide. Tour guides don’t always drive, but they should have a car and license. Walking tour guides exist in hiking locations.
business to start with little money Many independent local tour guides announce their fees on tour guide websites. Websites that market for a fee are also available. Research whether you need a tour guide license in your area before starting. Tour guides earn $20–$50 per hour, depending on location.
License (optional), car and driver’s license (optional), liability insurance, marketing materials, website
About $250; $60 each month (ongoing).
16. Web design Agency
Even without website design knowledge, you can make extra money or a full-time living. Create several websites at a low fee with one of the finest web hosting. A website builder can help you develop a website rapidly.
business to start with little money Graphic design software, WordPress, HTML, CSS, and SEO tools should be learned. Website designers must market their services on Fiverr, Upwork, and online directories. Website designers earn $20–$50 per hour.
What you need: Website, web host or builder, graphic design software subscription
Approximately $200; $90 each month (ongoing fees).
17. Pro Cleaning Service
Busy professionals, renters, and families need housekeepers. Starting out requires a strong work ethic, transportation, and cleaning materials and equipment. Check local laws for business license requirements.
business to start with little money If you plan to undertake the task alone, you don’t need a firm, but an LLC can protect your personal assets if something goes wrong. If someone is hurt at work, liability insurance is essential. Housekeepers earn $15–25/hour.
Cleaning materials, vacuum cleaner, vehicle, business license (maybe), business registration, website, business liability insurance
Approximately $750; $60 per month (ongoing fees).
18. Start an Etsy Store
Many have talents and skills that can be sold. Your passion can become a profitable company with little investment. You can sell handmade things on Etsy if you crochet, knit, paint, sculpt, or print colorful T-shirts.
business to start with little money Starting a shop on Etsy is free, but listing and sale fees apply. What you sell and how popular it is determines your Etsy earnings. The price of your resources makes it hard to estimate how much it will cost to start.
Required: Items, marketing plan
About $0 to $999 (depending on supplies)
19. Lawn and Gardening Service
A landscaping business is a popular low-cost startup. Experience mowing lawns, pruning hedges, gardening, and weed whacker use is recommended. This strategy works best if you have a truck to transport your equipment from yard to yard.
business to start with little money Starting out requires a lot of expensive equipment, but you can probably find used items. You need insurance and business registration to secure your assets. Keep in mind that fuel, maintenance, and marketing are recurring costs. Landscapers charge $20–$40 per hour.
Required: Truck, equipment, business insurance, LLC establishment, website
Approximately $999; $100 per month (ongoing fees)
20. In-home caregiver
Most caretakers work for agencies, but you can be independent. Certified nursing assistants aren’t required in most states, although certification is. Your tasks may include shopping, light housework, cooking, and appointment transportation.
A high school graduation, driver’s license, clean driving record, and CPR certification are required. You’ll need transportation for several tasks. Average independent caregiver hourly rate is $30.
Your needs: CPR certification, business insurance, registered business, car
About $150; $60 each month (ongoing).
Start a business with a few precautions to protect your personal and business assets. LLC formation is an excellent start. Your firm becomes more credible to customers when you register.
New businesses should have a website with contact information, including email and phone numbers, and a description of their services. Some firms should select a website builder that allows online appointment booking.
For business formation information, see these guides:
- How to start business
- Starting a sole proprietorship
- Seven steps to form an LLC
- Best $10k Startups
- The Bottom Line
Starting a business is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. The greatest business to start with little money is one you already know, like mowing yards, developing websites, or tutoring students.