Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, stated, "If we tried to think of a good idea, we wouldn’t have been able to think of a good idea. You just have to find the solution for a problem in your own life."
Starting a small business may be in your future if you're like Brian and have already thought of a solution to a problem you've encountered in your life — or are on your way to doing so. It might also be for you if you dream of quitting your 9-to-5 work and become your own boss.
However, while you may be eager to embark on a new endeavor and enthusiastic about your concept, you may be seeking guidance.
Finding a company concept that works for you is the first step toward becoming a successful entrepreneur. This post will provide you with hundreds of small business ideas that you may start from your home and build up as your customer base increases.
The Best Small Business Ideas
1. Handyman
Do you have a habit of repairing items around the house? Are you frequently contacted by friends who want assistance with modest projects? Create a website, do a competitive analysis to assess the value of your time and talent, and seek recommendations from friends you've previously assisted.
2. Woodworker
Similarly, if you enjoy making beautiful furniture or other home items out of wood, this may be an excellent small business specialty for you. Start by putting a couple of your items up for sale on sites like Etsy. Consider launching a website, allowing bespoke orders, or expanding into refinishing and upholstery once you've established a following.
3. Online Dating Advisor
The majority of dating gurus charge a fee for their services. They assist people in creating effective online dating profiles, locating potential matches through sources other than traditional online channels, and providing a degree of personalisation that a service like Tinder cannot. Do you think you've got a talent for the game? This might be the perfect business for you.
4. Alteration and Sewing Expertise
Clothing will always need to be hemmed and buttons repaired, and you may be the one to do it. If you enjoy sewing, start with modest services like the ones listed above and work your way up to dressmaking and design as your customer base and demand grow.
5. Freelance Developer
Quality web development is in high demand right now, from constructing websites for other small businesses to giving technical help for specific projects. As a web developer, you'll have a technical skill set by default. Distinguish your knowledge and skills so that consumers who don't have your background may grasp what you'll be assisting them with.
To aid with this, practice your communications with friends and family who aren't familiar with your business. Your messaging is likely effective with those outside of your sector if they can describe what you do. By browsing several freelancing websites, you may begin looking for your first freelance contracts.
6. Personal Trainer
To get the word out, provide in-home consultations, individualized diet and exercise regimens, and community boot camps. Don't forget to fill your Instagram account with motivational quotes, free workout videos, and delectable snack ideas – it's a typical approach for fitness experts to promote their businesses in today's digital age.
If you select this path, it's fine to start small and grow from there. MOURfit, for example, is a personal training firm in Indianapolis that began as a communal gym and has now expanded to include group exercise, personal training, and nutrition services.
7. Freelance Graphic Designer
Set your own hours, pick your tasks, and create a portfolio and business you can be proud of. Many businesses use expert graphic designers for a number of projects, from website design to blog graphics and more.
8. Life/ Career Coach
Put your expertise effectively managing work, personal, and social transitions to good use as a life or career counselor. Many of us are seeking for career advice, but finding someone who has the time to mentor us might be difficult.
Life/career coaches aren't inexpensive, but they may provide clients with the intensive training and guidance they need to achieve significant changes in their personal and professional life. After all, we could all use some encouraging words now and then.
9. Resume Writer
Putting together a résumé, cover letter, and — if needed — a portfolio for a new job may be difficult and time-consuming. That is why so many individuals employ assistance. Assist customers with custom resumes, professionally edited cover letters, and meticulously prepared portfolios that employers can't ignore.
10. Freelance Writer
Putting together a résumé, cover letter, and — if needed — a portfolio for a new job may be difficult and time-consuming. That is why so many individuals employ assistance. Assist customers with custom resumes, professionally edited cover letters, and meticulously prepared portfolios that employers can't ignore.
11. Translator
Do you know how to communicate in a foreign language? Starting a translation service is a great way to get started. Consider specializing on a certain type of translation, such as medical or financial translation, to meet a unique demand in your community.
12. Garden Designer
Many individuals are prepared to perform the grunt labor in their backyards, but few have the know-how to finish the initial step of the process, which is to design and plan the area. Draw up plans for your clients' outside spaces and then delegate the digging to them.
13. Ecommerce Store Owner
Do you create, collect, or curate anything special? Consider starting an ecommerce store and turning your hobby into a full-time job. Whether you need somewhere to sell all that pottery you’ve been making, or an excuse to search for the sports memorabilia you love tracking down, an ecommerce store can make it financially viable for you to pursue your passion.
14. Landscaper
Mowing, tree trimming, and holiday decorations are all necessities in the community. A landscaping business might be profitable if you have or can obtain the necessary equipment.
15. Videographer
Video creation necessitates an upfront investment in equipment, which may be fairly costly. But it's also one of the reasons why your services are so valued. Make sure you have a reel of your work to show off, or set up a website with various samples of your work for people to peruse.
16. Photographer
Begin by shooting photos of your family and friends. Request recommendations and evaluations as you develop your portfolio. Create a Facebook page where you may tag recent clients to help your photography company expand via word of mouth. Videos tagged with those clients will appear on their friends' newsfeeds, allowing them to see your work. You may even request that they submit reviews on your Facebook page.
17. Travel Agent
The days of the travel agent may be numbered, but individuals with a penchant for unorthodox travel arrangements are still in demand. Consider selling your services as a more modern approach to travel planning if you always organize the perfect vacations with gorgeous hotels, the right location, and a plethora of wonderful restaurants set up for every evening.
18. Car-detailing Specialist
It's said that the devil is in the details, and you might be one of them. Car detailing services that come to the customer are ideal for busy individuals who don't have time to go to the car wash. Your customers will just have to pay once, and the service will be completed before they realize it. Simply ensure that you have the flexibility, transportation, and equipment necessary to take your company on the road.
19. Home Inspector
Working as a home inspector necessitates certification and extensive experience, but it may provide a flexible work schedule and a steady income. Before starting this sort of small company, double-check your state's license requirements. You'll want to make sure you're giving your clients the greatest service possible by making sure you have all of your credentials in order.
20. House Cleaner
House cleaning has a minimal entrance barrier, making it a terrific opportunity to get started doing what you love right away. Consider advertising to houses in your area and gaining a few small companies as clientele to get more bang for your budget. They'll frequently get more money for doing the same amount of labor.
21. Personal Chef
We all enjoy food, but few of us have the time or energy to prepare nutritious, tasty meals. Local families and companies will be interested in your services if you advertise them. Consider scheduling particular groups of clients together — instance, vegetarians — to save money on startup expenses by cooking greater amounts of the same cuisine.
22. Property Manager
Many people own residences in multiple cities or states that they don't live in. When a property manager, you may assist a property owner in ensuring that their house is well-maintained, handling minor repairs as they arise, and acting as a liaison with tenants.
23. Packing Services Facilitator
Moving is inherently inconvenient, and many individuals outsource the entire packing process. Do you want a consistent stream of customers? Partner with a local moving company that will provide you new customers.
24. Massage Therapist
As a massage therapist, you may relieve painful muscles and encourage relaxation in your customers. Investigate training and certification programs in your area and state, as well as purchasing a portable bed for client visits.
25. Crafter
Making handcrafted novelties is a fun and unusual way to start a small company. There's undoubtedly a market for anything you manufacture, whether it's jewelry, knitted comfort goods, or even personalized wigs. Use innovative social media marketing to reach out to your audience, and use keywords that describe your items to optimize your website for search engines.
26. Bed and Breakfast Owner
This is another business opportunity that will necessitate study into the proper licensing requirements in your state, but it will be well worth it to see your ambitions realized. Consider the kind of visitors who will be visiting your region and offer customized packages and themed stays that correspond to their interests.
27. Interior Designer
Similar to landscape design, many individuals have the financial means to purchase the furniture and home decor they require, but few know where to begin. Building a portfolio may take some time, but recording your efforts and publishing them online may help you establish a fan base beyond your wildest ambitions.
28. Nonprofit Owner
It might be time to form a charity if you want to devote your life to a subject you care about. You'll need to incorporate your company and apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, as well as satisfy continuing compliance requirements, but the payoff is having a positive influence on a cause you care about.
29. Tour Guide
Do you enjoy learning about your city's or state's history? Consider pursuing a career as a tour guide. Sure, you'll have to do a lot of study in order to do a good job, but that's half the pleasure. Offer tours that focus on a certain aspect of your community's history to set yourself apart.
30. Tutor
There's someone out there who needs a little assistance in your area of expertise and is prepared to pay for it, whether you're a math wiz, a piano master, or a Shakespeare fanatic. To get the word out and establish a customer base, advertise your services through local schools, community colleges, community centers, and even social media.
31. Consultant
Consider becoming a consultant if you have extensive expertise or understanding in a certain field. Perhaps you're an expert in hiring methods, SEO, or have managed many sales teams to six-figure revenue. Determine your area of expertise, position yourself as a consultant, and charge the market rate.
32. Clothing Boutique Owner
Why not start with a small shop if you want to establish your own fashion empire? Create a stir with eye-catching apparel, motivating social media presence, and active community participation.
33. Event Planner
You can opt to specialize in a single sort of event, such as weddings or business meetings, or you can set yourself up as a jack of all trades event planner. If you're well-organized, meticulous, and have expertise arranging huge events, it's time to put your talents to work for others.
34. Specialty Food Store Owner
Gourmet foods, cheeses, sake, and wine - whatever meal you can think of, there's a specialist food store for it. Put your enthusiasm for exotic olive oils to good use by opening a business where you can provide knowledge and choices that your customers couldn't receive from their neighborhood supermarket.
35. Personal Assistant
Again, if you're a detail-oriented, organized person, a career as a personal assistant could be right for you. Don't want to be confined to one workplace or person all day? Consider working as a virtual assistant, which allows you to have a more flexible schedule.
36. Food Truck Owner
Have you always wanted to operate a restaurant but aren't sure if you're ready to take the plunge? With a food truck, you can test out your ideas. It's a terrific method to learn about your state's food and restaurant licensing laws, discover what people enjoy and don't like, and establish a loyal following before opening or investing in a physical site.
37. Consignment Shop Owner
Consider shopping consignment if you have a sense of style but don't want to invest in a brand-new boutique's inventory. It will enable you to design a wardrobe that reflects your aims and aesthetic without incurring the costs of running a store that sells fully new items.
38. Caterer
Consider catering instead of hiring a personal chef if your schedule is too tight. Choose your initiatives carefully, focus on fewer but larger events, and improve your time management abilities.
39. Gym Owner
CrossFit, yoga studios, and kickboxing clubs, oh my! Create your own gym, whether from the ground up, as an affiliate, or as a franchise site, to turn your love for exercise into a community for others.
40. Daycare Owner
Child care is still in great demand. While nannies and nanny shares are popular at the moment, finding a suitable childcare is difficult. By opening your own, you may meet a need in your community. Always check to see if you're in compliance with your city's and state's zoning, licensing, insurance, and inspection regulations.
41. Boutique Agency Owner
What is your area of expertise? It could be time to establish your own agency, whether it's for marketing, social media, or public relations. Many other small companies require this sort of assistance but lack the finances or volume to justify hiring a full-time employee.
42. Coffee Shop Owner
Turn your coffee addiction into a more successful business. Opening a franchise or purchasing an existing store are less risky ways to get into the coffee business, but they generally need a larger initial investment. Starting a store from the ground up takes a bit more planning and a lot more labor, but it optimizes your future earning potential.
43. Moving Company
Starting your own moving company requires a vehicle, moving equipment, labor, as well as the necessary permits and insurance. Start small with a moving van and keep your expenditures low before purchasing your first fleet of vehicles.
Still seem like too much of a risk to take at first? Consider only providing packaging services, which have a significantly lower financial entrance hurdle.
44. Home Staging
A staging service might be your creative release and professional calling if you have an eye for interior design. By staging properties utilizing the owner's existing furniture and décor, you may establish a portfolio with minimum upfront expenditure. As they gain experience and network with local realtors, most stagers eventually build up a furniture inventory.
45. Dog Walker, Groomer, or Trainer
The two most crucial aspects in starting a dog walking, grooming, or training company will be licensing and insurance, but your canine companions will more than make up for the early red tape. Consider walking dogs through firms like Rover to get a feel for the waters before diving in.
46. Sell Home Baked Goods
Chocolate chip cookies prepared in a factory or bought in a store would never compare to a batch cooked with love in someone's home. Simple sweets may be cooked and packaged quickly for sale at local events or in your community. Use unique labels to get the word out about your products.
47. Makeup Artist
Many people prefer to have their makeup done by a professional since they may lack the necessary supplies or abilities. It might be for a particular occasion, a picture or video session, or another occasion. Being able to create a range of various appearances will draw more consumers to your business.
48. Professional Organizer
In their homes and businesses, many individuals deal with clutter and disorder. Creating methods and practices that will ensure continual organization might be a daunting task. Start by gathering a large number of storage containers and a label maker.
49. Home Business Ideas
These home business ideas provide you with a few additional possibilities for starting a business from home or online.
50. Coding
This ability involves no in-person involvement with your clients, whether it's frontend, backend, or any form of programming in between. However, attentive listening is a talent you'll want to transfer from the in-person world to this form of business. It's easy to lose track of time while producing a product, but maintaining a relationship with the customer is just as crucial as writing the code for their website.
You can guarantee that your coding job meets the customer's development needs if you keep the client in mind when you can't be there physically.
51. Vending Machine Owner
Since 2015, the growth rate for vending machine businesses has increased 1.4%. Even as social distancing restrictions are still in place, this business can still be lucrative if you choose the right locations. High-traffic is key — places like hospitals, schools, and community centers are smart places to start placing your machines to generate enough revenue to cover cost and turn a profit.
52. Social Media Manager
Do you have a natural affinity for social media? You may utilize your abilities as a social media manager to handle the social media accounts of businesses and even individuals. Influencer marketing has grown in popularity, and many influencers now enlist the services of marketing companies or workers to manage their social media accounts.
53. Data Entry Clerk
Many companies are looking for data entry clerks to assist them with entering data into their computer systems and spreadsheets. This might be the business for you if you have great computer and typing abilities.
54. Audio or Video Editor
There are 1.75 million podcasts accessible to listen to as of March 2021. As a result, organizations are increasingly relying on audio and video content to interact with customers. The problem is that many people either don't have the time or don't have the abilities to create this type of material. When it comes to creating high-quality content for hungry consumers, audio and video editors are in high demand.
55. Voiceover Artist
Many content creators appreciate the value and degree of professionalism that exceptional voice talent can offer to a project when it comes to podcasts and videos. There are jobs available for podcast intros/outros, explainer video narration, and even voice work for audiobooks.
56. Pet Sitter
Do you have a thing for animals? Consider getting a job as a pet sitter. While the pet's owners are on vacation, you may either host their pet at your house or pay them visits. To get started, sign up for a pet-sitting service like Wag.
57. Vacation Host
Have you ever stayed in a hotel instead of a home-sharing service? You may generate money by entertaining visitors or renting out a room in your house. Consider becoming a host using a service such as Airbnb. Is your head buzzing with small business ideas yet? After all that brainstorming, you’ll need a practical plan to get started with your new small business.
58. Candy Seller
You're definitely familiar with the "Candy Lady" if you grew up in a tight-knit southern community. Anyone in the community who is trustworthy can establish this home business. Aside from providing the most popular sweets, a candy vendor may also give fresh fruit and veggies to the community, which may be difficult to come by if you live in a food desert.
59. Start a Blog
If there's a topic you're passionate about, chances are there's a large audience interested in it as well. A blog may be utilized to create an online community with monetizable involvement. Once your blog has a following, you may generate money through affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and co-marketing.
60. Teach Online Classes
Tutoring is frequently done one-on-one with a single client. Teaching an online class from home gives you greater freedom since you can teach several students. Because so many people desire to learn English, it is a popular subject for online education. However, whatever you know how to do may be turned into a virtual class.
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Salty Red Dog Marketing, LLC is a marketing agency in Red Bank, NJ, Westport, CT, and everywhere in between. We service businesses with marketing strategies, digital marketing, social media, and consultations.
Contact: info@saltyreddogmarketing.com
Phone: NJ: (732) 802-6205 // CT: (203) 429-9671