The idea of starting a business is exciting but may require time, money, and even risk. Contrary to popular belief, there are actually many ways to start a business for beginners just by spending very low capital and a little effort. This is when these small business ideas come in.
A small business idea is a great entry point for beginners, bootstrappers, or anyone with a busy schedule, limited capital. However, you still need to come up with a solid idea with brand building, marketing strategy creation, excellent customer service provision as the business isn’t a joke.
If you are looking for small business ideas with low cost to start but turn into profitable business quickly, check out this article and start your business today.
1. 15 Great Small Business Ideas
1.1 Print-On-Demand Business
It might surprise you to hear it, but selling print-on-demand products can be an incredibly profitable business idea. And if you’re looking for a profitable and small business idea that lets you show your talent, Print on Demand may be a smart move. This innovative money-making model allows you to sell your own custom-made designs on products such as mugs, t-shirts, hats, phone cases, hoodies, skirts, tote bags, and more.
To start this business, you will need to pick up a screen printing machine and have a good eye for design. You can list your service and find one to work with using freelance sites such as Fiverr, Upwork, Dribbble, or 99Designs. However, the most important thing you need to care about is creat stunning artwork to attract customers.
1.2 Blogger
Over 4.4 million blog posts are published every day, and this is growing, due to an increase in amateur bloggers and the entire publishing assiduity shifting towards a purely online model. Given this, the blogging space is extremely competitive, but there’s still room for new entries.
To get started blogging, you’ll need to decide on what niche you’re going to cover (popular areas include business, beauty, life, and finance, although there are numerous further). You’ll also need to have a good understanding of hunt machine marketing, design, content marketing, jotting, editing, and use of utmost major digital marketing mechanisms. Next is to buy a domain name, set up hosting, and produce a blog-style website using a website builder or WordPress (you can also use YouTube or Vimeo, etc). Make sure your website is mobile-friendly (responsive design).
Now, you’ll need to put together a content plan (you can use the keyword planner tool for keyword research). Developing a strong content plan will be crucial to your success and take at least 2 to 3 weeks. Now it’s time to produce your social biographies, newsletter templates/ captures and put together an ongoing marketing plan to grow and retain your followership through these channels.
Blogs are still primarily monetized through display advertising. Blogs that concentrate on a field or niche where the content aligns with specific products/ services are also suitable to effectively monetize through chapter marketing (selling a separate companies’ product and taking a commission of any deals).
1.3 Printing
Printing via home/standard business printers is frequently lacks quality, and is slow when it comes to large volumes of published accouterments (business cards, circulars, bills, etc), this is why commercial printers exist. This business allows individuals and businesses to order high-quality, effective, and low-cost printing at volume.
To start this business, you first need to have a space for printing. Then knowing how to operate a commercial printer. However, still, if you want a place where you can meet guests – you’re going to need a shop or office with a receptionist. In case you will deliver printing directly to guests you can run this business from home.
To run this small business idea, it’s best to target local small businesses as they tend to have ongoing marketable printing requirements throughout the year. However, you’re going to need a decent eCommerce platform, order operation system, and payment gateways setup if you want to expand and target the larger UK request.
1.4 Pet Sitting
There are more than 50 million household pets in the UK and this is when the Pet sitting business comes in that provides accommodation, feeding, walking, and in some cases grooming services for pets. The petting sitting business model is quite simple. All you need to do is to collect people’s pets from their homes or they will drop them off at your store, then you take care of the pet/s.
In terms of setup, this small business idea might be a little more costly than you think, depending on the animals you’ll be sitting. In general, you will need a range of cages, food, leads, toys, beds, and more. In addition, you will also need to develop a daily schedule for feeding, playing, etc.
In some cases, having a license is necessary, particularly if you’re doing this business on a commercial scale. You also need to have a good understanding of animal husbandry. Having a good vet should be a must to cover any pet health needs. When it comes to marketing your pet sitting services, you can boost it through social media, or partnerships with other animal companies.
1.5 Dropshipping
The process of dropshipping is where you list supplier products on your online store without purchasing the stock upfront and this supplier will fulfill the orders and deliver the product to the customers. That means that no inventory is required, you are still selling products and control the buying process.
This small business idea doesn’t require you to have any storehouse or storehouse requirements and your cash isn’t tied up in stock sitting around (which is generally a big cause of cash inflow problems for retail businesses). Starting a successful dropshipping business is about opting for the right products at the right periphery from dependable subsidies to make a profit. From then you’ll need to set up an online store and open accounts of the applicable selling platforms.
In terms of marketing, you can reach ideal buyers through standard digital marketing. On a final note, chancing the right dropshipping suppliers is critical, so make sure they are dependable and deliver products on time. You don’t want your customers to cancel orders and choose other sellers right?
1.6 Freelancer
A third of people in the UK work freelance or on contracts which means they are working on an hourly or project fee basis providing their services to other companies. With this small business idea, it requires you to have a specialist skill that’s in demand and monetizable such as web development, graphic design, copywriting, software development, and many more.
You can register for some freelance websites and look for a job. To let employers choose you, first you need to build a professional, and strong portfolio in place and acquire a decent number of positive reviews (you can get these reviews by pricing yourself cheaply on quick pre-set jobs).
1.7 Personal Trainer
Fitness is always a crucial part of life, which is even more important nowadays. Personal trainers work one-to-one or in a group with clients to help them meet their health and exercise goals through the coaching of exercise and nutritive advice. Therefore, it’s presumably no surprise that the personal trainer market will be worth it over years.
Starting your personal trainer business is fairly simple. First, you will need to have a good level of fitness, goal-setting experience, and an understanding of how to provide exercise training. You also need to find a room for sessions. Preparing a website and business phone number is also a must-have for this business model that helps you to discuss with your clients. Last but not least that you need to get certified and public liability insurance coverage as well as first aid training/certification.
To get started attracting clients, you should consider partnering with spa companies then using social media marketing strategies.
1.8 Copywriter
Copywriter is also one of the best small business ideas that you should put on the top list. This business used to mean someone who created content for advertising material. Recently, lots of blogs, websites, and businesses have had a growing demand for educated copywriters who can write engaging landing pages, long-form articles, and much more.
To get started as a copywriter you absolutely need good education (formal or not) in how to write content, have word processing/editing software, and be able to focus for hours to produce engaging content. Don’t forget to use plagiarism to make sure your writing is unique.
So the demand for this small business idea is so great. In terms of marketing, all you need to do is to provide a strong portfolio and list your services in hire platforms like Upwork. You can offer a lower market price to start getting work for reviews, once your reputation as a brilliant copywriter is established, jobs will flow in.
1.9 Painter/Decorator
Painting and decorating are some of the most essential services. It’s a very simple business idea that is typically quite well paid although competitive market. To get started, you need some tools such as paintbrushes, sheets, rollers, and basic decorating materials. In addition, it’s advisable to look at tradesman insurance and other forms of business insurance to make sure that you are protected in case of doing damage/harm to a property, yourself, or a client.
With painting and decorating, it’s very simple to reach new clients just by listing your services on platforms like Checkatrade, MyBuilder, or social media. However, it’s advisable to build up a number of good reviews as positive feedback to take jobs quicker. Price is also the main factor that potential clients will base on to decide a painter or decorator.
1.10 Photographer
Parties, weddings, events,s and many more, the list of potential clients for photography services is incredible if you have a decent camera and an eye for a stunning photo, this business could be perfect for you.
First, you will need to have at least semi-professional camera equipment/editing software like Photoshop and some experience of how to take photos to get started. With this small business idea, you can market through social media like Facebook. It is easy to show your work through Facebook page/group about photographs, let your work speak for itself. And clients will directly contact you if they are interested in your talent.
1.11 Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are someone who will work remotely and carry out all manner of digital tasks for their clients including carrying out online research, processing data, ordering equipment, and much more. This is a great home-based business idea if you are an experienced administrator and passionate about being organized.
To get started, you should list your service on platforms such as Upwork to find clients. However, to get jobs through these platforms or increase pricing you will need positive reviews. So you should start offering your services below market rate to build up reviews and a strong great portfolio. This small business idea is highly scalable as it relies largely on labor, so it reduces equipment and office space costs to almost nothing. To expand your business, you should also consider creating a virtual assistant agency.
1.12 Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing is the process of marketing another companies product/service and taking a commission if they sell a product/ service based on a customer you’ve referred through marketing activity.
Getting started in this business is relatively simple, all you have to do is create a basic eCommerce website or social media account for a particular niche and find interesting products with affiliate schemes. Then list these products in your store. You can also directly approach the supplier or through third-party affiliate platforms.
Every time somebody makes a purchase through your website, you get paid a commission for the sale. Amazon Affiliates is where you can get started quickly. This platform will offer a huge range of products for you to do affiliate marketing. To make more affiliate sales, you need to do marketing to the right audience, drive relevant traffic to the landing/product pages you have set up to sell.
1.13 Transcription service
Transcription is a process of taking audio files, listening, and converting them into written content. This business is in great demand when many companies use recording tools for interviewing, for example, so they need this service to convert audios into word files. With this job, you will need good hearing, access to decent headphones, and the ability to type accurately at speed. You can look for a transcription job on platforms like Mechanical Turk by Amazon.
You even can access higher-priced markets if you can translate foreign languages from audio to English.
1.14 Laundry service – Small business ideas
You at least have been got tired of doing your laundry one time in your life. This feeling leads to many people choosing to have their laundry done by professionals, sometimes because they lack the time to do it themselves.
To start this small business idea, you will need to buy or get access to a large-capacity laundry machine. In addition, understanding basically about detergents and how to correctly wash clothes without damaging them is a must. You should also start marketing your laundry business by creating and posting flyers to residential properties. So flats may be ideal places to start making your first cash with this small business idea as many flat blocks in built areas don’t have washing machines themselves.
1.15 Personal chef
The working time for a day has increased significantly over the last few decades leading to many busy professionals not being able to find the time to prepare healthy and delicious meals. This is the reason why there is a growing demand for personal chefs of all levels who can prepare and deliver meals to clients,
Having an experienced cook and having at least a basic level of catering qualification are the first factors to get this small business idea started. When it comes to cooking equipment, you’ll need an industrial setup and portable cooking equipment such as a decent set of knives, pans… to take to clients’ locations. More importantly, make sure that you get the correct licenses for hygiene and cooking and the right insurance for yourself.
2. Conclusion
Trying to do small business ideas is always the best way to build a successful business and start making sales without too much risky and capital. Thanks to a combination of technology, third-party suppliers, the ability to quickly test small business ideas is much easier than ever. The world of self-employment can be challenging, and the small business ideas covered above can even be a good starting consideration for you to make dreams happen.
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