11 Side Businesses You Can Start With Little Money
This is an era of entrepreneurship. Conventional jobs are being left behind, and people are pursuing what they love as their career.
We live the American dream to the fullest and therefore have numerous opportunities to pursue. We do not have enough information to start a business on our own.
In the present economic condition, it has become a need of our time to have more than one source of income. A vast majority of people in America work two to three jobs to make their ends meet.
While jobs are a temporary solution, a business of your own can prove to help your economic condition in a much better manner.
Whenever we hear the word business, we think of something huge, and our mind gives us multiple reasons why it is a risky move. Many concerns arise in our minds, and they are valid.
The biggest concern has to be that we will have to take loans and put up collateral. Also, if it doesn’t pay off, can we afford to lose that kind of money at this time of your life?
What if I told you, you could start a side business without putting up a hefty investment? You can be the boss of yourself and make some money on the side without the pressure of another person breathing down your neck.
It can also cut your travel expenses in half as you will not have to go from one place to another.
Here are eleven side businesses that do not require much money to start.
Table of Contents
1) Blogging
If you love to write about different topics or think other people can be benefited by your writings, start blogging.
With time, the number of bloggers has increased because it requires no cash, and you can easily maintain it along with your other jobs or tasks.
Blogging can start as a hobby, but it can turn into a business over time. You can blog about your favorite movies or books, and with time, people can start paying you to review their books or some film.
If you think you can give great advice to other people on some topic, or even in general, you can write your heart out and motivate people through the power of your words.
If you are into fashion and cosmetics, start blogging about your favorite products and review them. Slowly companies will actually pay you or provide you with free products so you can review them.
You can also create a website that brings together the buyers and sellers of some product, and you can charge a transaction fee. What matters is that your idea is unique and creative.
Even if what you want to do has been already done a thousand times, make sure that the content you create is engaging and stands out from the crowd.
2) Freelance writer and editor
Freelance writing is a great option for those who love to write. Moreover, it is something you can do from the comfort of your own home.
Not only will it decrease your travel expenses, but you also will not have to invest much in this business either. All you need to do is get a decent computer/laptop that has an inbuilt internet connection.
Once you have the basics, you are all set. All you have to do is make an account, and you can work whenever you want to and even choose the deadline that you think suits you.
Most of the sites give you the opportunity to bargain the price of the articles you are writing. Freelancing does not require any investment if you already have the basic tools.
You can set your working hours according to your preference. The more work you will do, the more money you will earn. So it all depends on your own needs and availability.
This will give you space to have a social life too rather than traveling from one place to another to make ends meet you can utilize that time earning more.
Another option for people proficient in a certain language is to become a proofreader. People hire editors and proofreaders to go through a piece before publishing so that the mistakes can be eliminated.
You can advertise as a proofreader on Elance and Craigslist. You can do both proofreading and freelance writing by spreading the word around through your friends.
3) Social media expert
Who doesn’t use social media nowadays? We all are more than efficient in managing a social media account whether it is posting pictures, liking each other’s statuses, or making new friends.
What most of the people don’t know is that it can actually be turned into something that you can peruse for money.
As the social media usage is increasing day by day, a company has to be very efficient regarding the development of its social media presence.
All you have to do is create your website and do a few pro bono cases to make a name.
After you have established an online presence, you can contact companies and businesses that have social media accounts and want to pay you to take care of their services.
You can do all of it from your home.
4) Event coordinator and planner
Being an event coordinator requires time and energy, both which you will need to put in. In the beginning, you could manage it alone.
However, it will be best to have your own team once your business has gotten high enough from the ground, which will help you succeed.
If you have a knack for organizing things and like to plan other people’s events, this is a great side business to start. It does not require much money as you will mainly have to use your skills.
You can begin this endeavor by managing some events inside your social circle. You can narrow down the field and become a wedding planner if you love weddings and all things about it.
A professional way to get your business started is to develop a website or blog, get to know people online, and then promote your services at local wedding venues.
Once you start developing an online presence and a good reputation, you are bound to get more projects in no time.
In order to get a start, you can get a small business loan. In order to find out more about business loans, click here.
5) Exercise Instructor
In today’s fitness-crazed world, being an exercise instructor is a good way to earn some money on the side.
You can work as a private instructor as some people need the motivation and the push, not to mention the need for someone to point them in the right direction in order to get fit.
This is where you come to the rescue. You will need an online presence as well. You should work inside your social circle first; consider them to be your model, the face of your brand.
Once you successfully manage to turn around someone’s lifestyle, promote the picture on various social media sites.
Once you develop a following, your new business will skyrocket, and you will find yourself making more money than you expected.
6) Website Design
In the age of global connectivity, every business requires a website to be present online. There are many startup businesses like yours, but while you can develop your own site, a lot of people can’t and don’t have a high budget for it.
You can locate upcoming local businesses and help them out. You can charge a monthly fee for maintenance, and you will have some extra cash in your pocket.
Locating upcoming businesses can prove to be beneficial as that won’t require that much of your time and you will be able to earn about as much, if not more than what you used to earn.
7) Internet Security Consultant
With the increase in internet users, online hackers have also increased. The concerned security companies do try to prevent any mishap, but you need to help businesses and websites which can yet not afford the bigger security companies, to avoid any kind of misfortune from happening in the first place.
If you know how to make software and can provide the necessary guidance, you can get your consulting company registered.
Registering will require a small amount of investment, but it will be worth it. You can offer your services to businesses that handle sensitive client information.
Demonstrate to them how their company may be in danger and how you can provide a solution at a reasonable cost.
8) Vlogger
In the global era of connectivity and availability of information, if you are an expert in any respective field, you can easily share your expertise with the world.
If you are not an expert, you can share your struggles. There are many people out there just like you, and slowly, you will develop a fan following.
If you do not want to stick to a respective field, you can become an online entertainer. You can make funny and relatable videos and share them on social media.
YouTube is the biggest platform for vloggers. Although vine did make an overnight sensation, it was no match for YouTube, and even the people that did gain fame on vine used it as a stepping stone to start their YouTube page.
You can do the same! Once your page gets a fan following you can do promotions or place adds n your pages to earn money.
All you need in the beginning is a good camera to document your content, and as you start earning, you can invest in your business and upgrade your equipment.
9) Baking and decorating
Some people love to bake and can make cakes that are not only tasty but they also look good. If you enjoy baking and have a bit of an artistic touch as well, this is the perfect business idea for you.
People pay others to create custom cakes of their choice for birthday parties and special events.
You can refine your baking skills by learning how to decorate cakes and then make them for special occasions.
Sell your creations through your online website or your local neighborhood Facebook page.
You can make a deal with a bakery and put your cakes in the shop, so when the profit comes, a certain percentage will go to the bakery, while you will have the rest to yourself.
10) Sell Your Creativity
Do you love to paint or design? Why not turn your creations into an excellent source of income?
Sites like CafePress and Zazzletake do all the hard work; they do the printing and shipping, while you just have to submit the design.
You can make customized T-shirts, bags, mugs, shoes, hoodies, stamps, skateboards, binders, and more. It is super cool and creative.
If you are good at woodworking and have some basic equipment, it is easy to get into business making outdoor furniture.
It only requires a few items like a saw, a drill, a sander, and your creativity and passion for working.
If you have the required tools or want to turn your hobby into a business, this could be the perfect small business idea for you.
In addition to creating brand new items, you could also repair and improve any existing wooden furniture or woodwork.
11) Sewing or Tailoring
Most of the people have no idea how to sew or tailor the clothes. So they need a tailor to do the job.
If you already know sewing and you are skilled at tailoring or hemming clothes, you can quickly turn this skill into a side business and earn money from your home.
This business can become a success because a lot of people do not know the basics of this art, and need a tailor even for even small tasks.
You could also organize teaching classes and earn extra money by teaching others how to sew.
Most of these side businesses do not even require money if you have the necessary equipment and skills.
About the Author:
David Simmons is a financial analyst and accounting expert. He has in-depth knowledge about setting up small businesses as well as creating profitable investments.
He regularly contributes articles related to business and loans at https://www.ebroker.com.au/.