Top 10 Low Cost Business Ideas You Can Start Tomorrow

Have you been day-dreaming about starting your own business lately? If so, you may realize that the path towards having your own business is laden with great risks and qualms, as you may have to take out a loan or give up the security that your 9-to-5 job provides. Obviously, not all of us can afford to do without a regular source of income that a job provides. So, your best bet is to start working on your chosen small business idea alongside your regular work until you have enough traction to convert it into a full time occupation.

The journey begins with answering the most fundamental (also the most difficult) question: What kind of business should you start with? With a plethora of options to choose from, you may feel spoilt for choice. But the key is to identify what you are really interested in and are also good at. While some business options may be relatively easier to get into, some may require a long term plan, or a significant capital investment to get off the ground.

If you feel you are going nowhere deciding what business to start, here are a few super easy business ideas to help you get started:

Cleaning Services

As long as there are people, there always was and always will be a need to clean. There is no dearth of busy individuals or businesses looking for a decent, daily or weekly, cleaning service. Providing cleaning services at home or commercial complexes is a really inexpensive business idea that also gives you the flexibility to work along with your standard Monday to Friday job and enables you to start making money almost immediately.

Catering

If you are passionate about cooking, starting your own catering side business could be a dream come true. Before you can make a steady buck out of your catering business, you would need to build up a good network in your community to enable you to get steady flow of catering orders. You can start small and cook for busy families and professionals who sometimes don’t have the time to cook. Once you have a good number of people to vouch for your skills in the kitchen, you can begin to provide full-fledged catering services for larger group of people at weddings, parties or special events.

Virtual Assistant

Virtual Assistants work remotely from home and use technology: phone, fax, e-mail or instant messaging to deliver a variety of services to clients globally. Businessmen are steadily looking out to delegate their secretarial work by hiring Virtual Assistants with diverse backgrounds and skills. To start working as a Virtual Assistant, you need to decide what type of services you can offer and whether you have adequate experience. Initial investment may include the cost of setting up a computer and good internet connectivity.

Consultant

Do you have expertise or skills in a particular business niche such that you can offer advice or guide individuals or organizations to solve their business problems? If yes, it’s time you seriously considered becoming a part-time consultant. Consulting requires very low start up costs and very high potential for a great income if you do well. Depending on the type of consulting you provide, you may want to undergo further education or training to establish yourself as a professional consultant.

Pet Groomer

Working with pets can be a rewarding business if you have love for the animals. According to a recent survey, Americans spent more than $60 billion on their pets alone in 2015. You can expand your services to include training of dogs or just taking care of the pets while the family is on a vacation. Pet groomers can find work at local pet stores, veterinary hospitals, animal shelters or just individuals looking for someone to groom their pets. The cost to start your grooming business will include permits, insurance (if applicable in your city) and basic items for pet grooming.

Tutoring

Why not use your knowledge of a particular subject to educate people who are looking for help and guidance? Tutoring is both a rewarding and a satisfying job, giving you the opportunity to share your knowledge from the comfort of your home. If you have a degree or certification in your chosen subject, it will help you establish a reputation for yourself quickly. Initial cost includes the study materials and some investment in marketing through flyers put up at nearby schools and libraries.

Home Daycares

The percentage of both parents working has seen a rapid growth in recent years. Although, big day care centres are found everywhere, there is no shortage of families who prefer good quality child care at the comfort and safety of their homes. So, if you are someone who loves to spend time with children and take good care of them, this small business idea is the perfect match for you. You can begin by offering your services in your free time in your locality by letting your family, friends and neighbours know. Please note you may be required to obtain a license or permit from your State for starting this business.

You may also choose to provide home care service to elderly citizens, who are increasingly looking out for a helping hand for getting their groceries, cooking or just maintaining their household.

Blogging

Is writing your passion? Do you enjoy writing about your favourite hobbies and interests? Then, why not think about earning a little extra cash, while you are at it. Blogging can reap rich rewards if you can create extraordinary pieces of content that the online readers would love reading. Just remember that your earnings through blogging will not happen overnight, and will take considerable time and efforts on your part to bear results. You would need to master the art of implementing affiliate programs, sell ad spaces on your blogging website and market your blog to your target audience.

Social-Media Expert

Nothing has revolutionised online marketing as social media has. Having a good social presence online has become essential for small or large enterprises. These businesses are willing to shell out a great amount of money to social media marketing experts to help them boost their presence on popular social media channels. Starting cost is next to zero; all you need is an expertise or at least a familiarity using these social media portals for marketing purposes. You may start by offering your services to small businesses in your locality and start earning right away.

Grocery Delivery

If you have a car that you can use to deliver groceries from the stores to people’s doorsteps, you already have a very viable business option you can start off immediately. Begin by approaching elderly or busy people in your neighborhood and negotiate with them for a small fee for your services. This is something you can do in your spare time or weekends. Once you have enough customers, you can give it a serious thought and consider starting your own home delivery business for groceries and online shopping.

These are some of the hundreds of business ideas that you can consider if you want to start making a little side income along with your regular job. It’s all about deciding whether you are the right person for the right business idea.

Do you have a business idea that you have been pondering over recently? Do share more business ideas with us or help others with your success story, if you already have a side business.