The 60 Best Small Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs
If you're like most people, you probably have dozens of ideas for businesses that you could start on your own – but where do you start?
There's no need to be intimidated – with a little planning and effort, you can start your own small (or large!) business today.
Whether you're a stay-at-home parent looking for a flexible way to earn some extra money, or you're already working a full-time job and want to earn a little more on the side, these small business ideas are perfect for anyone who loves the idea of starting their own business.
Getting started
Creating a small business is an exciting undertaking, but it can also be daunting. There are a lot of important decisions to make, and it can be hard to know where to start. If you've never run your own business before, you may be wondering how to begin. Here's some tips to get started!
1. Choose a business idea that interests or excites you. Don't just settle for an idea because it might make some money - it's important to choose a business you're passionate about, otherwise you might find yourself struggling to get motivated to do the work required to achieve success
2. Make sure you have enough resources to start your business. When you come up with an idea for a business, it's important that you have the time, money, and equipment required to make it work.
3. Do market research. Before you do anything, it's important to do some research to find out if there's any demand for your product or service. Check to see if there are other businesses like yours already operating in the area and see how you can stand out from your competitors.
4. Start small and grow over time. If you want to start a small business but aren't sure if it will be profitable, start small and avoid risking your livelihood by investing too much time and money at first. You can always expand later if you find that you need more capital, or if you find that the business takes off faster than expected.
Choosing a business idea that excites you is very important as you'll be spending a lot of your time working on it and you need to be enthusiastic about what you're doing to be successful. We've compiled 60 business ideas to help you get started if you're interested in starting a business of your own.
Small Business Ideas
1. Handyman Service - If you have a talent for fixing things around the house, you can start a handyman service to offer homeowners in your area professional home repair and maintenance services. You can easily advertise your services on websites like Craigslist to find local clients who need repairs done in their home or office.
2. Car Wash Service - With a few tools and some basic car cleaning equipment, you can start your own car wash business and offer mobile car washing services to busy people in your community. You can charge customers a flat rate to wash their car at home or at the office, or you can charge a fee for additional services, such as interior cleaning or exterior waxing.
3. Personal Trainer - If you enjoy helping others get in shape and stay healthy, you can start a personal training business to help others achieve their fitness goals. You can get certified as a personal trainer by taking an online training course at a local gym or fitness center, and then you can offer your services to local clients by advertising your services in local publications or online job boards.
4. Daycare Service - If you enjoy watching children learn new things and want to play an active role in a child's development, you can open your own daycare service and become a full-time nanny to a group of children in your own home. There are many different certifications that you can earn in order to become a certified childcare provider, including a certificate in early childhood education and a degree in child psychology.
5. Furniture Restoration Service - If you love working with wood and enjoy making furniture, you can turn your hobby into a career and start a furniture restoration service in your local community. You can offer your services to clients who need furniture repaired, restored, or refinished, and then you can make a commission for every piece of furniture that you restore and sell.
6. Food Truck Business - If you love to cook and you're passionate about serving delicious homemade meals to the public, you can start your own food truck business and serve food at local events, festivals, and fairs in your area. You can start small with just one truck and a few menu items to test demand before expanding your business to include multiple trucks and a wide range of different menu items.
7. Baking Business - If you love to bake cookies and cakes and make unique desserts for special occasions, you can open a bakery and sell your baked goods to customers in your local area. You can create a variety of different recipes using fresh ingredients and slowly expand your product offerings as your bakery grows in popularity.
8. Dog Training Business - Dog Training can be a very lucrative business venture if you have a passion for helping dogs learn basic obedience skills and interact with humans in a positive way. You can begin by offering dog training services to local dog owners in your local community and gradually grow the business as you develop a loyal customer base and establish a strong reputation for providing outstanding customer service.
9. Lawn Care Business - If you are passionate about gardening and enjoy working outdoors in your yard on a regular basis, you can start a lawn care business and specialize in providing lawn maintenance services to local homeowners in your community. you can offer a wide variety of services including fertilization, pest control, weed control, aeration, seeding, trimming, pruning, planting, mulching, and more depending on the size and type of lawn you have to maintain.
10. Nail Salon Business - Do you love to paint nails and design stylish nail art designs? If so, you can set up a nail salon business in your home and offer manicures and pedicures to clients in your local area. n addition, you can offer a variety of nail care services including waxing services, facial treatments, and makeup application to make your business a one-stop beauty shop for all of your clients’ beauty and grooming needs.
Online Business Ideas
1. Starting an online store - As technology becomes more integrated into our lives, we're seeing more and more customers looking for products and services online rather than in person. If you have a passion for a particular product, starting a store is a great way to tap into that demand and sell what you love.
2. Coaching - Do you have a special skill or knowledge that could help people reach their goals? Then you could consider coaching others in your field. You can work with individuals and groups to help them learn new skills, advance their careers, or improve their lives in some other way.
3. Consulting - Are you a subject matter expert in a certain field? You could offer your services as a consultant to help people solve real-world problems. This could involve helping them analyze data and implement solutions in their business or organization.
4. Advertising/Marketing - If you have a background in marketing or advertising, then a career in this creative field might be right for you. You could start your own business as a digital marketer or an ad agency and help businesses get the word out about their products and services.
5. Accounting - With more people using the internet to do business these days, there's a lot of demand for qualified accountants who can keep track of their financial records and pay the bills on time. There are a variety of jobs in this field that you can pursue, ranging from entry-level bookkeeping positions to specialized corporate accounting positions.
6. Event Planning - If you love organizing parties and events, this could be a great career for you. You could start out small by planning wedding showers and other small get-togethers and then work your way up to larger events like weddings, corporate events, and even festivals.
7. Web Design - If you've got an eye for design and a knack for coding, you could pursue a career as a web designer. Web designers are responsible for designing websites for the organizations they work with, so you'll need to be both creative and tech-savvy to be successful in this role.
8. Social Media Management - Social media is playing an increasingly important role in people's lives and businesses today, making it a very popular field to work in. Many companies have dedicated social media managers who oversee the company's social media accounts and respond to customer questions and comments online.
9. Graphic Design - Graphic designers create visual designs for print and digital media, including posters, logos, websites, apps, product packaging, and more. The field of graphic design is very diverse and there are a wide variety of jobs available in this area, ranging from entry-level positions working for small businesses to more senior roles with large design agencies.
10. Web Development - Web developers are responsible for creating and maintaining websites for their clients. This could be anything from a simple website for a single business to more complex web solutions for large corporate clients.
11. Instructional Design - If you have a passion for helping others to learn and a desire to work in the education sector, a career in instructional design could be a good fit for you. Instructional designers work with clients to develop educational courses and other learning materials tailored to their needs. They might also be responsible for carrying out usability testing on the materials they develop to ensure they achieve the desired results.
12. Technical Writing - If you enjoy writing and would like to combine this with an interest in technology, a technical writer might be the perfect job for you. Technical writers write user guides, instructions, and other content aimed at helping consumers use a product or service effectively. They are often employed directly by the companies whose products they are writing about but may also be hired by external companies to provide technical writing services on a freelance basis.
13. User Experience Design - UX designers are tasked with ensuring that websites are user-friendly and easy for users to navigate. Their job involves conducting research into user requirements, consulting with stakeholders to identify problem areas, and developing prototype designs for websites and apps based on their findings. Once the final designs are complete, it is up to the UX designer to test the finished site and make any changes that are necessary before launch.
14. Content Marketing - Content marketing refers to the process of creating and distributing valuable content to attract and retain customers. This can include blog posts, articles, social media posts, podcasts, videos, and any other form of media used to promote a business. While content marketing is often associated with bloggers and social media influencers, businesses of all shapes and sizes can benefit from having a strategic approach to content creation.
15. Public Relations - Public relations professionals work to help boost the public profile of their clients by managing their public image and ensuring that they have a positive public image. By developing effective PR strategies and managing relationships with the media, they can help ensure that their business receives as much attention as possible.
16. Virtual Assistance - As its name suggests, a virtual assistant performs a number of administrative tasks for clients remotely using the internet. This could include responding to emails, managing social media accounts, and scheduling appointments. In some cases, VAs may also perform more specialized tasks for their clients, such as writing website content or preparing marketing materials.
17. Copywriting - Copywriting is the process of writing advertising copy that is targeted at a particular audience with the aim of encouraging them to make a purchase. Unlike other types of copywriting, such as technical writing or academic writing, the purpose of copywriting is to make a sale. For this reason, it requires a different approach to other forms of writing, with an emphasis on storytelling and persuasive techniques to create an effective sales pitch.
18. Product Design - Designing products is one of the most exciting and challenging aspects of running a business. This process includes designing new products as well as improving existing products and making improvements to business processes and operations. It involves working closely with both customers and product manufacturers to ensure that products are designed and marketed in a way that makes them appealing to consumers.
19. Customer Relationship Management - Customer relationship management (CRM) is a process that monitors and improves relationships between businesses and their customers with the goal of increasing customer retention and loyalty. CRM can be used to track sales leads in order to convert them into customers and manage ongoing relationships with existing customers to ensure they continue to do business with the company in the future.
20. Business Plan Development - A business plan is a document that outlines the goals for a business and provides a strategic roadmap for achieving those goals. Business plans contain information such as the business's mission, vision, products and services, target market, marketing strategy, and financial projections.
21. Become a dog walker/pet sitter - If you love animals and have a lot of free time on your hands, then working as a dog walker or pet sitter can be a fun and profitable way to spend your time. Many pet owners prefer to have someone come to their home to walk their dogs while they are at work or out of town, so it's a great side job that can easily fit around your current schedule.
22. Offer homemade craft items - If you have a unique talent for creating beautiful handmade crafts, then you may be the perfect person to offer your items for sale online through your own Etsy store.
23. Design and create websites for others - If you have a natural talent for design, you could launch a career as a website designer from the comfort of your own home. There are many online resources available to help you learn the basics of web design, and once you have mastered the basics, you can start charging clients to design and develop their websites.
24. Create a blog and start an affiliate marketing business - If you have a passion for writing, starting a blog could be a great way to earn a little extra money online. Once you have built up a small following on your blog, you can start to promote affiliate products related to your niche to generate extra income.
25. Sell artwork - If you paint or draw as a hobby, or if you have an eye for creative inspiration, then you may be able to sell your artwork to interested buyers through online marketplaces like Etsy. This is a great way to turn your creative hobby into a full-time business without having to invest a lot of money upfront.
26. Start a web design company - If you have the skills necessary to create attractive and functional websites for clients, then you could launch a web design company from home. This can be a great source of income if you have a lot of experience in the industry, but it can also be a good way to get your feet wet if you are just beginning to learn the ropes.
27. Teach English as a second language - If you have a strong command of the English language and love to travel, then teaching English as a second language could be a fun and interesting way to earn some extra money on the side. Online platforms like Udemy allow you to create your own online courses related to the English language, and then you can start marketing them to students around the world to start earning revenue.
28. Run an online blog/vlog - If you're passionate about a particular topic and know how to express yourself effectively through the written word, then you could start a blog or vlog to share your expertise with others. This is a great way to make money online if you enjoy writing and are passionate about a specific topic, but it's also a great option if you want to share your expertise with the world without having to work for a traditional employer.
29. Design and sell t-shirts - If you have a knack for creating graphic designs, then a T-shirt design business could be a fun and profitable way for you to earn money online. Like other types of online businesses, a t-shirt design business can be started from the comfort of your own home using a virtual storefront like Shopify. And once you have a steady stream of orders coming in, you can outsource the work to other designers and focus on growth and profitability.
30. Start a YouTube channel - If you have a love for video production and enjoy sharing unique and interesting content with the world, then starting a YouTube channel may be a great way for you to make money online. YouTube allows you to upload videos directly to your channel and build a following by sharing interesting and original content with your audience.
Easy Business Ideas
1. Make & Sell Homemade Soaps - If you have a passion for making homemade soaps and beauty products, starting a soap-making business is a great option for making money doing something you love. With little-to-no startup costs, this is a low-investment small business idea that you can get started with right away.
2. Start Your Own Fashion Blog - Did you know that over 50 million people read fashion blogs every month? This is a great starting point for anyone who loves to write and has a talent for style – no matter what your age or size, you can start your own fashion blog today and earn passive income while doing it.
3. Teach Language Lessons Online - If you enjoy teaching others different languages, starting an online language tutoring business is a great option for anyone with a bilingual background. You can easily build an online client base by reaching out to students in your area who are looking to learn a new language, and offer your services at an affordable rate to get started.
4. Become an Airbnb Host - If you love to travel and have extra space in your home, becoming an Airbnb host is a great way to make some extra income. You can earn anywhere from $100 to $500 a night renting out your space to travelers who are looking for places to stay when they visit your city.
5. Rent Out Your Car as an Uber Driver - If you drive a car that you aren't using very often, you can turn it into cash by renting it out as an Uber driver. This is a great way to make some extra money without any upfront costs or experience required, and you don't have to worry about having a vehicle sitting in your driveway collecting dust.
6. Deliver Food with DoorDash - If you're looking for a way to make some extra money while you're running errands, DoorDash is a great service that allows you to make money by delivering food to local customers in your area. You can make up to $18 an hour delivering food to customers in your local community, and delivery fees are typically less than what you would pay with Uber Eats or Grubhub.
7. Offer Babysitting Services on Craigslist - If you know your way around kids and have a great set of problem-solving skills, starting a babysitting business is a great part-time job for stay-at-home parents. You can easily advertise your services on sites like Craigslist and TaskRabbit to find local clients who need babysitters on a regular basis.
8. Become a Freelance Photographer - If you have an eye for photography and are experienced in editing photos, you can turn your hobby into a profitable career by offering photography services as a freelance photographer. There are many online directories where you can list your services and reach potential clients who are looking for professional photographers in their area.
9. Start a Tutoring Business - If you've graduated from college and are confident in your knowledge of a specific subject, you can start a tutoring business to offer your expertise to students in your area who are seeking additional help. You can offer private tutoring sessions in your home, or you can create a website where people can sign up for online tutoring classes via Skype or FaceTime.
10. Sell Old Books Online - Do you have an old book collection that you no longer use? If so, you can easily sell them online to get some extra money in the bank. Most major online retailers allow you to sell used books on their websites, and you can typically earn up to 50% of the selling price for each book you sell.
Low Investment Business Ideas
1. Cleaning Service - Many people don't have the time or inclination to clean their homes on a regular basis. This could be a great opportunity for someone who is willing to put in the effort. You can advertise your services through local papers or online classified ad sites.
2. Catering Services - If you are proficient in cooking, this could be a great way to make some extra money. You can either set up your own catering company or offer to cook for friends and family. If there is a lot of demand for your cooking services, you could eventually start charging clients for your services.
3. Children's Party Planning - If you have a lot of experience with children, this is a great business idea for you. You can plan parties for a wide range of occasions, including birthdays and baby showers. You could even hire an assistant to help you with the party planning so that you can focus on other tasks related to your business.
4. Electronics Repair - Most people don't know how to repair electronic devices, which is why they end up having to buy a new one rather than fixing the old one. If you can provide repair services for electronics such as phones, tablets, and computers, you could easily make money doing this.
5. Landscaping Services - If you live in an area that has beautiful scenery, you could be sitting on a gold mine with this idea. You could charge customers a fee in order to design their yards or gardens for them. You could also plant flower beds or provide other landscaping services for customers who don't have a lot of time on their hands.
6. Flea Market - People often accumulate a lot of things in their homes that they never use anymore. Why not turn these items into cash by setting up a flea market? You could sell your old household items to your neighbors in order to make a little extra money on the side.
7. Household Organizer - This is a popular service among people who are looking to simplify their lives. People who are too busy to take care of their own homes often hire a professional organizer to help them declutter their homes and organize their belongings.
8. Personal Assistant - This is another great business idea for people who are looking for a side job. If your schedule is free during the day and you have experience in administrative work, this would be a good business option for you. Most personal assistants work on a contractual basis, which means that they get paid by their employers on a per-project basis.
9. Upholstering - If you own a sewing machine and have experience upholstering furniture, this could be a good business option for you. You could offer your services to people who own antique furniture and need someone to reupholster it for them.
10. Financial Planner - If you have a background in finance and you are interested in starting your own business, this could be the right option for you. Financial planners provide financial guidance to their clients to help them achieve their financial goals.
