Want to call the shots in your career? How about deciding how much work to put in, the kind of products/services to offer, and who to serve? Start a small business! All you need is a small investment, knowledge of the industry, and marketing experience. Then you can sit back and watch the money roll in! If you’re looking for an exciting and profitable venture, one of these is the best small business for you!
What Are the 10 Best Small Businesses to Start?
1. Start a Home-Based Business
In today’s climate, working from home provides many benefits. And it’s easier than ever to open up your own home-based business. With so many websites out there ready to provide you direct access to consumers, it’s easier than ever! What can you do? You can choose from a variety of options, but here are some ideas to get you thinking.
Make and sell your own beauty products. Sell wholesale DVDs, CDs, and other things on eBay and other online resellers. Work at internet cafés in different countries. Find out what people need locally (e.g., car repairs) and do those services for a profit. Offer to drive people’s cars to maintenance appointments and pick them up. Become a virtual assistant. Work as an au pair. Heard about non-fungible tokens (NFTs)? You can even get started selling NFTs online!
2. Create an App or Software Company
Now is the perfect time to create an app or software company. If you’ve dreamt of being your own boss, this is a career path open for business that could be right up your alley. Just look at some of the biggest companies that have started as simple apps or websites:
- Groupon
- Snapchat
- Soundcloud
And these are just a few of the many, many companies that have started as simple ideas. There is a demand for apps and software right now, and you will be ahead of the curve if you start a company in this area before everyone else catches on. Some of the most famous CEOs started with a brilliant idea from their basement! Do you have a great idea for an app or a software niche? You can do this!
3. Start Your Own Third Party Company to Sell Products on Amazon
Amazon is the #1 marketplace in the United States. And it’s nearly 100% online! If you have a product to sell, there is no better place to sell your wares than Amazon. And with Amazon’s fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, just about anyone can get underway as a seller on their platform and leverage Amazon’s logistics network to get products into customers’ hands. But how do you get started?
First, decide what type of products you want to sell. Then determine where your products will come from. Do you plan on manufacturing them yourself, buying from wholesalers, or using dropshipping companies? Once you know that, it’s time to set up your Amazon seller central account. From there, you’ll be able to list and sell your products! You can go at your own pace and work as much or as little as necessary.
4. Get Into the Flower Delivery Business
There’s no easier way to make money than by delivering flowers. If you already have a reliable car and aren’t afraid of hard work, this could be your ticket to success! This is such an easy career path because all you need is a safe, reliable vehicle and a phone with internet access to set up your account and respond to customers.
Visit local florists and ask them if they need help. If they’re interested, you can enter into a profit-sharing agreement or work under them full-time. You can also start your own flower delivery business from home (or anywhere really). You can find florist sites willing to outsource their deliveries. It’s as easy as setting up an account and creating a schedule when you’re available to deliver.
5. Open a Photography Business
It’s never been simpler to start a photography business. Anyone with a nice camera and good editing software can get started today. And there are so many options available to choose from.
You can start shooting weddings, maternity photos, and baby portraits. Or you can do pet photography or travel photography. Don’t want to leave your house? Many photographers today work as “virtual assistants” for other companies by creating professional Facebook ads, running Instagram accounts, or managing their YouTube channels. You could even start your own photography blog and make money through affiliate links.
6. Start an Insurance Agency
Still not convinced you have the best small business to start yet? The best way to protect your family’s income is with life insurance, disability coverage, and health insurance! And a local insurance agent will be in demand nationwide over the next 10 years. All you have to do is get licensed and start working!
Here are the high-level steps. First, earn a college degree or complete a certification program. Next, acquire the appropriate licensing as required by state law. Finally, start your business! You can even purchase an existing agency with the right capital!
7. Become a Personal Trainer or Fitness Coach
Get paid to work out! And keep your health up as a side benefit! This type of job includes part-time positions as well as full-time jobs that are more demanding on time commitments but offer higher pay rates!
If you’re just starting, take an entry-level personal training job. Then apply for a personal trainer certification program to increase your value in the eyes of potential employers. Once you have this, start offering paid fitness coaching services through social media or other online platforms.
8. Start a Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Company
People always need someone to take care of their pets, so you can run a full-time business as a professional pet sitter or dog walker! This is perfect for those who love animals but don’t have one of their own. You can work from home, in your local community, or even be employed by an existing pet sitting company.
To start your own pet sitting business, you’ll first need to acquire just a few items for pet care–only minimal costs are required! Then grow your business by offering special rates for dog walking and overnight stays. And don’t forget about word of mouth! Advertise your services in your neighborhood and social media. Don’t want to handle all the setup yourself? Then check out a company like rover.com so you can just sit back and let the requests come in!
9. Start a Food Truck
Everyone loves good food! To get started with your own food truck, create your menu, purchase your ingredients, get appropriate licensing and/or permits, and nab a food truck. You can buy a used food truck or purchase a new one if you have the right capital. Then capitalize on social media to secure your patrons!
Food trucks are all the rage! And food truck parks will give you a built-in foodie audience! Research the best locations and times to understand when you can show off your amazing food options!
10. Sell Handmade Crafts Online
With so many handmade online outlets, it’s easy to get started with a small business making what you love! Ever heard of Etsy? What about Amazon Handmade? Shopify? These are all large retailers with built-in audiences looking to connect makers to consumers. And, it requires minimal start-up costs for small businesses!
Starting your own small business can be a great way to make money while doing something you love! The business ideas listed above are just a handful of options, so don’t feel limited. If you have a different proposal, do research and see if there’s a market for it. Check out the David vs. Goliath podcast now for more great information on small businesses! We feature the top small business CEO stories so you can learn from the most successful!
