Did you know small businesses make up 99.9% of all businesses in the U.S.? With over 32.5 million small businesses, the entrepreneurial world is buzzing with chances. If you want to start a side hustle, a low-cost venture, or a small enterprise, there are many profitable ideas out there.
This guide will show you 26 top small business ideas for entrepreneurs. You’ll find everything from online reselling and pet sitting to t-shirt printing and consulting services. These ideas cover a wide range of startup concepts and entrepreneurial opportunities ready for success. By spotting unmet needs and focusing on underserved groups, you can make your passion a successful business.
Key Takeaways
- Small businesses account for 99.9% of all businesses in the United States
- Explore a diverse range of profitable small business ideas, from online reselling to consulting services
- Identify unmet needs and target underserved demographics to create a successful small-scale enterprise
- Start a side hustle, low-cost venture, or small-scale enterprise with these entrepreneurial opportunities
- Leverage your skills and interests to build a thriving home-based or local business
Business Ideas That Require Little Investment
Starting an online reseller business can be a great way to make money. It takes time, hard work, and a good sense of style. But, it can start as a side job and grow into a full-time business.
Use popular online stores like Poshmark and Mercari to sell your old clothes and items. As you get better, think about making your own resale website. This can help you reach more customers and control how they experience your store.
Online Reseller Business
For those into online reselling, start by looking for great deals at estate sales and flea markets. Find unique items at low prices. Then, list them on your online store to make money from the growing clothing sales and e-commerce market.
- Find trendy, quality clothes and accessories at estate sales and flea markets
- Put the items up for sale on platforms like Poshmark, Mercari, or your own website
- Use your fashion sense and resale knowledge to make a profit
- Grow your business by adding more products and reaching more people
| Investment Cost | Potential Profit Margin | Scalability |
|---|---|---|
| Low (starting with estate sales and flea markets) | High (up to 300% or more on some items) | High (can expand to your own website and brand) |
By going into online reselling, entrepreneurs can tap into the demand for unique, affordable clothes and accessories. It’s a business that can start with little money.
Pet Sitting Service
Are you an animal lover looking to start a small business? Consider a pet sitting service. With over 70% of U.S. families owning a pet, there’s a growing need for reliable pet care services. As a pet sitter, you’ll care for your clients’ pets while they’re away.
A pet sitting business is flexible. It can be combined with other jobs that need only an internet connection and a laptop. This lets you earn from two sources, giving you financial stability and freedom to follow your dreams.
Starting a pet sitting service means handling tasks like:
- Feeding and watering pets as the owners instruct
- Playing with and providing companionship to the animals
- Walking dogs when needed
- Administering any necessary medications or treatments
- Ensuring the pets’ living spaces are clean and comfortable
To succeed in pet sitting, focus on marketing, talking to clients, and building a reliable team. Providing great pet care services earns you clients’ trust and loyalty. This leads to more referrals and repeat business.
“As a pet sitter, I have the privilege of caring for the beloved companions of my clients. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the animals happy and healthy in their own environment while their owners are away.”
If you love animals and want a flexible, profitable business, a pet sitting service is ideal. Offering excellent dog walking, cat care, and pet care services can make your passion for animals into a successful business.
T-Shirt Printing Business
If you love fashion and creativity, starting a t-shirt printing business could be a great idea. You can either design and print your own t-shirts or work with other artists. With e-commerce, you can sell custom t-shirts, custom t-shirts, and screen printing services to people all over the country or even the world.
To begin a successful t-shirt printing business, you’ll need the right equipment. This means getting a good screen printing setup. You’ll need a screen printing press, inks, and heat presses. You can choose between a manual or automatic system, based on your budget and goals. Also, you’ll need to find a supplier for blank t-shirts to use for your designs.
One big plus of a t-shirt printing business is the chance to reach lots of people online. By creating an online store, you can show off your designs and make ordering easy. This way, people all over can find and buy your unique t-shirts.
You can either design your own t-shirts or work with artists. Either way, a t-shirt printing business can be both fulfilling and profitable. By using e-commerce, you can enter a growing market and offer top-quality t-shirts to many customers.
| Key Considerations for a T-Shirt Printing Business | Potential Challenges |
|---|---|
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business ideas for small business
Cleaning Service
If you love cleaning, you might want to turn it into a business. With a skilled team, the right cleaning supplies, and reliable transport, you can help homeowners, apartment buildings, and businesses. Cleaning services usually charge $25 to $50 an hour. This makes it a simple business with low costs.
To make your cleaning service stand out, think about offering extra services like floor waxing or power-washing. These services add more value for your clients and help you compete in the cleaning services market.
Success in the home cleaning business comes from good planning, hard work, and marketing to get more customers. Whether you work on commercial cleaning or focus on homes, this business idea can be profitable. It’s great for entrepreneurs who see the growing need for professional power washing and cleaning.
| Service | Average Hourly Rate | Potential Monthly Revenue (based on 40 hours per week) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Cleaning | $25 – $35 | $4,000 – $5,600 |
| Premium Cleaning (with Power Washing) | $35 – $50 | $5,600 – $8,000 |
“Cleaning services are straightforward businesses that require relatively little overhead; you simply need planning, dedication and marketing to attract customers.”
Online Education or Tutoring
Online education has changed the game for entrepreneurs. It lets you teach students all over the world. This means you can start a business that grows easily. If you know a lot about a subject or love teaching, there’s a big need for online courses and tutoring.
Teaching English as a foreign language online is a great choice. With the world economy growing, more people need to speak English well. By teaching English language classes online, you can help them and make a good income.
There are many other subjects you can teach online too. You could teach computer programming, digital marketing, personal finance, or creative writing. The key is to use your skills to make courses that help your students.
“The future of education is online, and the opportunities for those who embrace this shift are truly limitless.”
Starting an online education or tutoring business takes some work, but it can be very rewarding. You can reach students all over the world, keep costs low, and grow your business easily. This makes it a great way to succeed as an entrepreneur.
You can focus on online tutoring, online courses, or both. The important thing is to know what you’re good at, make your courses stand out, and use technology to connect with your students. This way, you can meet the growing need for online education and make a successful business.
Bookkeeping Service
Today, starting a bookkeeping service is easier than ever. If you’re an accountant or bookkeeper looking for freedom, consider an online bookkeeping service. This way, you use modern tech to help clients from anywhere.
Online bookkeeping is flexible and convenient. Clients can send their financial documents easily. You can do all the bookkeeping and accounting work online, without being in an office. This saves time and cuts costs, and clients can check their finances anytime.
Using online bookkeeping software is a big plus. These tools make managing finances easier. They help you keep track of money coming in and going out. This lets you spend more time giving advice and helping your clients.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Cloud-based Bookkeeping Software | Streamlined financial management, real-time data access, and collaboration with clients |
| Remote Service Delivery | Flexibility to work from anywhere, expanded client reach, and reduced overhead costs |
| Personalized Advice and Guidance | Tailored financial insights to help clients make informed decisions and achieve their business goals |
Offering an online bookkeeping service sets you apart from traditional firms. It meets the needs of small and medium-sized businesses looking for efficient financial help. With the right approach and great service, you can grow a successful bookkeeping business.
“Bookkeeping is the foundation of any successful business. An online bookkeeping service can simplify financial management and empower entrepreneurs to focus on their core operations.”
Consulting Business
Starting a consulting business can be very profitable for entrepreneurs. It’s great for those with expertise in business, marketing, human resources, or leadership. You can offer valuable advice and solutions to clients. This helps them overcome complex challenges and reach their goals.
A consulting business is flexible. You can start small, working alone, and then grow by hiring more business consultants, marketing consultants, HR consultants, or leadership consultants. This way, you can grow your business as more people need your help.
To make your consulting business successful, define your niche and create a strong value proposition. Also, have a good marketing plan to draw in clients. Networking, using online platforms, and excellent service are crucial for building your reputation and getting more clients.
“Consulting is the art of influencing people at their request.” – Peter Drucker
In the consulting world, it’s vital to keep up with new trends, tech, and best practices in your area. Always learning and growing will help you offer the best solutions to your clients.
Whether you focus on business consulting, marketing consulting, HR consulting, or leadership consulting, a well-run consulting business can be both rewarding and profitable. It’s a great option for entrepreneurs with the right skills and attitude.
Courier Service
If you have a reliable vehicle and good time management skills, think about starting your own courier service. You could focus on a medical courier service. As a driver, you’d carry medical items like lab samples, prescription drugs, and equipment. You could run the business by yourself or hire other drivers.
The healthcare industry is growing, which means more job security for medical courier services. Your business could serve many clients, like hospitals, nursing homes, labs, and private practices.
Medical Courier Service
Starting a medical courier service can be profitable. With the rise of delivery services in healthcare after COVID-19, there’s a big need. You can offer timely and secure transport of medical supplies to healthcare providers.
- Use the healthcare industry growth and the need for transportation services to your advantage.
- Deliver medical items quickly and safely, like lab samples, medicines, and equipment.
- Build strong ties with hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and labs to be their go-to courier.
- Follow all rules and keep your service professional and confidential.
- Use technology like GPS and route planning to make your service better and more reliable.
By being a reliable and efficient partner in healthcare, you can meet the growing demand. This can help you build a successful and profitable business.
“The healthcare industry is expanding, which is a good sign for medical courier service job stability.”
Reports show the global delivery business has grown by 5.2% each year since 2018. By 2023, the courier and delivery service industry revenue is expected to hit $454.5 billion. With more people needing transportation services in healthcare, now is a great time for entrepreneurs to start a medical courier service.
App Development
Smartphones are now a big part of our lives. This means more people want mobile apps. If you know about technology and want to make a career out of it, think about app development. There’s a big market for both mobile apps and virtual reality (VR) apps.
The app industry is growing fast. People use apps for many things, like managing their time, shopping online, and having fun. With new tech coming out, people will keep wanting apps that are easy to use and have lots of features.
App development can grow big. Apps can reach people all over the world without costing a lot to start. Plus, apps need updates, which means you can make money over time. This makes app development a good choice for the future.
| App Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| On-demand Apps | Ride-sharing (Uber, Lyft), Food Delivery (Grubhub, DoorDash), Home Services (Handy, Tidy) |
| Productivity Apps | Note-taking (Evernote), Task Management (Todoist), Password Managers (LastPass) |
| Lifestyle Apps | Fitness (Fitbit), Dating (Tinder), Travel (Airbnb) |
| Entertainment Apps | Streaming (Netflix, Hulu), Gaming (Candy Crush, Pokémon GO) |
As app development changes, it’s important to keep up with new trends and tech. This way, your apps will stay interesting and competitive. By making apps that people really want, you can do well in this fast-growing field.
“The future of mobile is the future of online. It’s an evolution of being connected to the Internet in a more mobile, intimate, and ubiquitous way.”
– Matt Mullenweg, Co-founder of WordPress
Transcription Service
If you have a sharp ear and can type fast, starting a transcription service could be a great choice for a home business. Transcription services are very popular, especially in the medical field. This is because voice recognition technology is becoming more common in healthcare.
One big plus of a transcription service is how flexible it is. You can take on as many or as few jobs as you want. This lets you balance work with your personal life. It’s perfect for those looking for a flexible work-from-home option.
Getting a medical transcription license isn’t always needed, but it can help you stand out. It lets you work with bigger healthcare organizations. By showing you know your stuff, you become a trusted partner for medical professionals.
| Key Factors to Consider | Benefits of a Transcription Service |
|---|---|
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Looking for a small business idea that lets you work from home? A transcription service might be ideal. Use your strong listening and typing skills to meet the growing demand for transcription. Enjoy the perks of a flexible, fulfilling career from home.
“Transcription services are in high demand, particularly in the medical field, as voice recognition technology continues to proliferate among healthcare providers.”
Conclusion
This list of small business ideas offers many chances to start your own venture. You can try online reselling, pet sitting, app development, or transcription services. By finding what the market lacks and using your skills, you can start a successful business with little money.
Looking for a side job or a full-time business? These ideas give you a strong base to grow and reach your goals. You can choose from online reselling to pet sitting, depending on what you like and what you’re good at. This way, you can make money from what you love.
The secret to doing well is picking a business that fits your strengths, interests, and what the market wants. By looking at these options and making a solid business plan, you can set your small business up for success. This will help you grow and thrive in the world of entrepreneurship.