smart online business ideas with low investment

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Investing + Retirement
• Small business
• View all small business

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

41 Online Business Ideas You Can Start in 2023

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Setting up an online business can help you become an entrepreneur without significant startup costs. The first step: figuring out the best online business idea for you.

What do you have expertise in? What do you love to do? Do you know someone who needs a type of support you could provide? Answering questions like these can offer inspiration as you prepare to start a business .

Here are 41 online business ideas to help you brainstorm. From side hustles to full-time enterprise, e-commerce businesses to services for remote clients, you may be able to run these from home on your own schedule.

The 41 best online business ideas

If you're not totally set on going all-in on your online business, many of these ideas can be started part time. As you build your side hustle, it may be successful enough to turn into a full-time gig .

1. E-commerce store

Starting an e-commerce website is relatively easy and cheap — at least when compared with opening up a brick-and-mortar store. You can start with a limited amount of inventory, use an e-commerce website builder to set up your store, then market your products on social media and online marketplaces and see how customers respond. These platforms can also help you manage orders, ship your products and take online payments.

2. Social media marketing

If you’ve got a knack for getting likes, favorites, retweets, followers, shares, comments and clicks, then you might want to consider offering social media marketing services to other businesses. By consulting with companies to manage their social media profiles, spread their content across the web, keep their brands on track and respond to customer questions, you can turn your favorite hobby into your day job.

How Much Do You Need?

3. Freelance graphic design

Got an eye for aesthetics? Did you go to art school, or have you always spent your free time designing posters in Photoshop or Illustrator?

If so, then freelance designing might be a good choice. Take on clients at your own speed, build up a good reputation online and by word-of-mouth and work on projects that you find interesting.

4. Freelance writing

If you’re skilled in words instead, you might become a freelance writer . So long as you’ve got an internet connection and a keyboard, you can contribute all types of written content, from blog posts to feature stories to product descriptions. It helps if you’ve got a special area of interest or expertise so your employers will know you’re qualified to comment on certain topics.

» MORE: Best bank accounts for freelancers

5. E-book writing

With Amazon and other websites around, self-publishing has never been easier than it is today. If you think you’ve got something interesting or useful to say — and you believe other people will think so, too — then writing e-books could become a lucrative business.

With e-books, you don’t have to design, print or ship physical copies of your work. Of course, you will have to learn how to format an e-book correctly, pay for editing and cover design services and figure out an effective marketing strategy — but there are plenty of examples to learn from.

Bluevine Business Checking

6. Translation

If you’re fluent in multiple languages, then translating could be the ideal online freelance job. You can do it from anywhere, so long as you’ve got the text you’re working on and you understand the goal of the translation.

» MORE: Check out 16 other e-commerce business ideas

Editing comes in many shapes and sizes, from copyediting a company’s marketing materials to proofreading novels to indexing academic manuscripts. As long as you have a sharp eye for detail, a strong grasp of grammar and a willingness to get in the weeds, then editing could be a great business idea if you’re interested in working when and how you want.

8. Writing a blog

Starting a blog can support other online business ideas by showing off your skills. Interested in coding, photography and video, fitness, food or anything else? Demonstrate your knowledge by writing great articles on those topics for others’ blogs.

If you choose to start your own blog, it can also generate revenue itself through affiliate links or advertisements.

9. Freelance researching

Whether you’re putting together documents for competitor or market research , answering tough technical questions on forums or analyzing statistics to point out trends, you can put your skills to work for your clients — with the freedom to work how you want.

10. Freelance coding and web design

If you’re seeking flexibility, diversity of projects, taking on work at your own pace and being your own boss, then freelance coding or web design for clients may be a good fit.

Plus, you can double down as a software consultant as well, offering your critical eye and expertise without writing code yourself.

» MORE: Best business credit cards for LLCs

11. Software and app development

Want to take freelance coding to the next level? Instead of helping clients, you can work on your own applications, programs, extensions and add-ons. Whether you sell your work in an app store or you’re holding out for the long haul and are hoping to get bought by a bigger company, the cash you make will be a direct result of your effort and ingenuity. App development is also a way to make money on Shopify .

Keep in mind, it’s not as easy to have a predictable stream of revenue until your app is already out and selling, and by then you’ve already invested a lot of time and energy. You’ll want to be sure that there’s a market out there for the product you’re creating, and that people are willing to pay for it.

12. Business coaching

You’ll need a good track record and a variety of testimonials to back you up, but if you’re already an entrepreneur, business coaching can provide an additional revenue stream. You can offer one-off sessions, small-group experiences or ongoing client relationships at a variety of price points.

13. College consulting

If you went to a top-tier university and have strong writing skills, you may be able to help applicants seeking admission to elite colleges. You might find yourself editing essays, steering students toward test prep courses and recommending scholarship programs, among other things.

» MORE: How to start a consulting business

14. Tutoring

For those studious entrepreneurs who scored highly on standardized tests, tutoring can pull in a lot of money without too much effort. The better your results, the better your reputation — which means the more you can charge per hour, session or package.

15. Online fitness trainer

If fitness and health is your passion, then serving as a fitness trainer to clients could be a fulfilling career. While training people online can be more difficult than being with them in person, this is an increasingly popular option for busy professionals. You can also consider related services like nutrition education.

» MORE: A step-by-step guide to starting a fitness business

16. SEO consulting

Maybe you’re a pro at SEO, or search engine optimization. If you’ve got loads of skill and experience in getting websites to rank highly on Google, and you understand how to turn searchers into customers, then there are plenty of companies willing to pay handsomely for your help.

Whether it’s by editing metadata tags, regularly updating the company blog or searching for smart keywords to rank highly on, a good SEO consultant can drastically change how a company’s website appears to search engine users — and just a few positions on Google can make a huge difference in traffic numbers. In short, you could have a big impact on a business’s bottom line, which means this online business idea is in high demand.

17. Selling handmade goods

If you’re handy or creative, you could craft your products and sell them on sites like Etsy, Amazon and eBay, straight out of your home.

Beyond that, if you’re a visual artist, you may also try selling print-on-demand products. That’s a type of e-commerce business where customers order mugs, T-shirts or other goods and with your artwork printed on them, then a third party creates the product and ships it to the customer.

18. Virtual thrift shop

Maybe you’re not into handicrafts but the idea of an starting an online store is still appealing? Selling clothes online using platforms like thredUP and Poshmark is one option.

If you're more interested in other types of products, you can scour local estate sales and secondhand shops for unique finds. You may also discover good finds on websites like eBay. As you present these products in compelling ways on your own site, good copywriting and a strong brand can go a long way to separating your site from the crowd.

19. Affiliate marketing

Social media pros, take notice: You can get paid by companies to highlight products on your blog, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube or other social channels. The more followers or site visitors you have, the more of an impact your brand recommendation will make, and the more you’ll earn with product placement.

20. Accounting or bookkeeping

Although entering the industry as a virtual bookkeeper or accountant can be tough because of competition from well-known brands in the industry, it can be done if you have the credentials or target clients in a specific niche. You’ll also need formal training and certification, and it may take time to build up a committed client base — but once you do, your clients may be with you for years.

» MORE: See our picks for best small-business accounting software

21. Telemarketing

If you’re a natural conversationalist who likes helping others, virtual telemarketing is another good online small-business idea to consider. Plenty of companies outsource some of their sales and customer service roles, so if you don’t mind working the phone at home or on the go, then try this option out.

22. Online personal assistant

Thinking about becoming a virtual assistant ? What exactly you’ll do depends on what your skills, experience and network of contacts are, but you can expect tasks from data entry to customer management, research, scheduling and other duties.

23. Data entry

If you’re looking for a job that offers a predictable income without requiring intense creativity, then data entry might be a good place to start. Try looking at online job boards for opportunities.

24. Transcription

Offering transcription services online can take many forms: You can transcribe audio interviews for reporters, create captions for TV shows and videos or develop transcribed versions of podcasts. Services like Rev or TranscribeMe can also send you work as it becomes available, which saves you the work of cultivating your own client base.

25. Travel planning

If travel is your passion, you might consider starting an online travel planning business . You can help clients plan every aspect of their trip — from flights to hotels to activities. You can work on itineraries, give tips about food, currency exchange and safety, and serve as a point of contact between your clients and any international contacts.

Not only can you operate your travel planning business at home, you can also do it while you travel. And more traveling will help you grow your business — you might even start a travel blog or photography site to supplement your planning business.

26. Cybersecurity and IT consulting

As a cybersecurity consultant, you can work with businesses of all sizes to evaluate their systems, run testing and offer tips on how they can improve their set up.

For those looking for something broader, you might consider serving as an IT consultant, assisting businesses or individuals with their technology — helping them get it set up, troubleshoot any issues and offer general operating advice.

With the proper computer set up, you can run your cybersecurity or IT consulting business from anywhere — including potentially traveling to clients’ offices for occasional on-site system assistance.

27. Online therapy

With the emergence of companies like TalkSpace and BetterHelp, you no longer have to have an office or your own practice to counsel patients. Again, you’ll need training and proper credentials. But you can explore the online therapy space by joining one of these new companies or another practice that offers virtual appointments.

28. PR consulting

If you're knowledgeable about business branding and marketing, you might start an online PR consulting business. You can assist businesses with their online presence — including social media accounts, press releases, web content and more — as well as advise them on campaigns, initiatives and overall public image.

As a freelance PR consultant, your hours and responsibilities may vary depending on the specific clients you're working with; however, you'll have more control than you would as part of a firm or agency.

29. Podcasting

Provided you have the right audio equipment and a quiet space, you can record your podcast from anywhere. You can then upload your content to various podcast apps and market your business on social media. Once you reach a certain number of listeners, some podcast platforms will help you sell ads and you'll begin generating revenue.

30. Life coaching

Looking for a way to offer advice and guidance to people without needing the extensive education of a medical professional? Consider life coaching . Although you may need a certification to become a life coach, you have much more freedom to find your niche and decide how you can help people through life's ups and downs.

As a life coach, you can also create resources like e-books and courses to give your clients additional resources outside of traditional phone call or video chat meetings.

31. Video production

As a video producer, you can work with different clients in various industries to shoot, cut and edit video to create the perfect final product. Video production can give you the opportunity to explore a unique medium of storytelling and exercise your creativity.

32. Resume writing and career coaching

If you have a background in human resources, or just know your way around formulating the perfect resume, you might consider starting an online resume writing and career coaching business. You can offer clients advice and guidance on their career path, job applications, resumes and cover letters.

LinkedIn is a great place to get started with this type of online business idea, as many professionals look for career help on that platform.

33. Dropshipping

If you don't want the responsibility of creating your own products or buying inventory upfront, you might consider starting a dropshipping business. With this kind of e-commerce operation, you create your own website, choose products from suppliers, list them on your site, and when an order is placed, the supplier will ship them directly to the customer.

You can get started by browsing dropshipping marketplaces or trying to work directly with manufacturers and importers.

» MORE: How to dropship on Shopify

34. Recruiting

If you're a people person and have good online research skills, you might consider a career as a recruiter. As an online recruiter, you can service different businesses looking to hire new employees and help them find and screen candidates. The more experience you have, the higher-level positions you may be tapped to help fill.

35. Marketing consulting

As a marketing consultant, you can provide guidance on a wide range of topics, depending on your specific expertise, and help businesses execute their online marketing strategies and campaigns. This could include email marketing, social media management and advertising, local marketing , event planning and more. You can specialize in a particular industry or geography, or market your skills to a variety of clients using a network like Upwork.

36. Online fundraising or grant writing

Are you passionate about helping mission-based businesses, especially nonprofits, getting the assistance they need? If so, consider a grant writing business. This requires you to work with clients who need help fundraising to identify grants suited to their needs, then apply for and hopefully win them.

37. Online course teaching

You can find information about practically anything online, but sometimes when you're trying to learn a specific skill or topic, it just helps to hear or see someone else explain it. So if there’s a subject you have specialized knowledge of — a particular software program, a craft, a particular historical event — consider designing an online course. If you have formal qualifications like an advanced degree, you might be able to work with an online course service to teach courses online for their students.

38. Online cooking instruction

Do you have an affinity for cooking or baking? Showcasing your skills online via virtual cooking classes is a great way to earn money while doing something you love. There are a variety of ways you can structure your cooking business: You can offer one-on-one instruction videos, host live classes and even create workshops and cooking programs.

This easy business idea could even translate into a cooking blog, e-books, cookbooks and linking your favorite cooking and baking supplies through affiliate marketing.

39. YouTube channel

One way to promote your new brand, service or message is by creating a YouTube channel. If you feel comfortable on camera, have a spot where you can film and love the idea of reaching a wide audience, YouTube might be the right platform for you. Note, though, that it can take some time for your channel to grow and you'll likely need to network on social media and blogging platforms in the beginning.

» MORE: How to make money on YouTube

40. Voiceover work

To start your own voiceover business, you'll need a microphone, sound editing software and the ability to lend your voice to ad agencies, production companies and anyone else looking for a voiceover.

Then, you can sign up for a freelance voiceover site like voices.com and start searching for the right opportunities. Once you've gotten your foot in the door, you'll have excellent clips to show potential clients.

41. Start a team

If you've been freelancing or running your own company for a while, you might be ready to take the plunge and start your own team of consultants or freelancers. For instance, if you have years of writing and editing experience and can no longer handle all your client inquiries yourself, you might be ready to hire your first employee and expand your capacity.

How to choose an online business idea

These online business ideas represent a variety of e-commerce business models . To choose the right one for you, ask these questions.

How do you want to make money?

Lots of business owners seek out predictable, recurring revenue so they can plan their personal finances. Keeping clients on retainer can help with that. But affiliate marketing, advertising or product sales may be harder to predict. Creating a business plan can help you think through your options and decide which you’re comfortable with.

How will you find work?

If you’re selling your skills as a freelancer, consider searching sites like Upwork and Behance to find the right clients. Networking in your local community, joining industry-specific LinkedIn groups and asking for referrals can be helpful, too.

If you’re selling products or building an audience online, you’ll need different tactics. Search engine optimization can help get your videos or product listings in front of people who will be interested in them. But you may need a significant marketing budget to develop an audience that’s large enough to generate revenue.

How much autonomy do you want?

With some online businesses, like selling handmade goods or creating online courses, you’ll have control over your products from start to finish — which can be freeing but also high-pressure. On the other hand, when you’re producing work for clients, you’ll have to conform to the client’s standards — which may feel confining, but you won’t have to do the work of coming up with ideas yourself. Some solopreneurs aim for a mix of client work and self-directed projects so that they have steady revenue while pursuing their passions.

A version of this article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

36 Online Business Ideas You Can Start in 2024

It seems that there’s no shortage of good online business ideas. The truth is, the internet has made it easy to create a business. With just a website, you can reach anyone in any location in the world. Target the right people with the right offering, and you would be making your own money in no time. Other benefits of running an online business include cost savings, increased flexibility, and less paper waste.

So if you’re quietly contemplating the idea of starting something of your own , here’s a list of the best small online business ideas that are within the reach of almost anyone who’s willing to take the plunge. From social media manager, to public speaking coach, to interior design consultant, the options are endless.

Start selling online now with Shopify

36 Best Online Business Ideas for 2024

Here is the list of the top online business ideas to get you started instantly. The best part is that all of these ideas have money-making potential, meaning you don’t need to validate them before you start. If you are looking for the best online business to start, this is the only list you will need.

Most Popular Online Business Ideas

→ Click Here to Launch Your Online Business with Shopify

1. open a t-shirt online shop.

Platforms like Printful and Shopify have made it insanely simple to start an online t-shirt business for anyone with a speck of imagination and an eye for design. But it doesn’t need to be an online t-shirt shop; you can set up an ecommerce shop selling anything. The key here is to learn about print on demand, which forms the base for such businesses.

2. Dropshipping Business

Dropshipping is the easiest option to start an ecommerce business without having to buy any products in advance. Use dropshipping apps to find thousands of products from suppliers to sell online. Then sell to customers across the world while building and promoting your own brand, all without needing to invest in warehousing or manufacturing costs. You don’t need to pay for inventory until it’s sold to an actual customer. From online boutique to jewelry store to women’s clothing store to one-product store, dropshipping works for most online store ideas.Check out our guide to starting a dropshipping business to learn more about this great opportunity.

3. Kickstarter/Indiegogo Advisor

Grabbing the attention of curious browsers on the most popular crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo is a tough job. If you’re inventive and know how to tap into human emotion, then this is a niche worth exploring. Many aspiring entrepreneurs look for personalized advice to carry their campaigns to the finish line, so try offering action-oriented eBooks or online courses targeted at this particular audience.

4. SEO Expert

One of the online world’s hottest professions at the moment, this business is a gold mine for the tech-savvy entrepreneurs. While everyone’s slightly obsessed with getting their sites SEO optimized, not many people can actually wrap their heads around this topic. If you decide to go into this field, you can think about offering link building, content creation, ecommerce SEO optimization , and similar one-off packages.

5. Selling Online Courses

Derek Halpern has built a really strong personal brand. He’s the founder of a software and business training company called Social Triggers and makes a LOT of money teaching people how to sell what they know best. And what he knows best is how to sell. If you’ve got some serious expertise, start making money out of it by selling online courses or simply teaching online.

6. Bug Testing

Bug testing is a service that no software company can ignore. If you can build a platform to crowdsource expert skills and resources to tackle this area, then you have solid chances of turning a profit. One of the most unique online business ideas, providing bug testing resources can be a lucrative way to boost your income. To find relevant jobs, go through the listings on ZipRecruiter and Indeed .

7. Video Producer

YouTube is the second largest site in the world , so there’s no surprise that video is becoming one of the main communication mediums for businesses of all types and sizes. If you have video filming or editing knowledge, it won’t take you long to build your clientele. Everything from video production workshops and video editing services to soundtrack libraries and DIY tutorials can appeal to the business world. Producing a video might be one of the most attractive online business ideas with lots of creativity and challenges.

8. Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are always in demand from small businesses to large multinationals. Starting a graphic design business can allow you to tap into this great opportunity. Showcasing your experience with your past portfolio can help you gain customers without aggressive outreach.

9. Website Developer

In the same vein as graphic design, website development is in constant demand as businesses are always trying to upgrade and improve their websites to get more sales. This means that you can work on new and existing websites concurrently, and get to try new things all the time. If being constantly challenged is what you are looking for, website development could be the best online business for you.

10. App Development

Apps are an amazing lucrative market, so it is not surprising that more and more companies are investing in them. This means that there is a growing need for app developers to create their applications. Offering app development  is a great opportunity as you can work on vastly different applications on a daily basis.

11. Theme Designer

Just like a website developer, a theme designer is working with websites but in a different way. Choosing theme designer as your side hustle idea means building new website themes for business to use for their website. This could mean researching popular themes, identifying their shortcomings, and creating a theme that solves these pain points while remaining true to the popularity of the previous theme. If you are an expert in a certain industry, creating themes for this industry could see you reap much success.

12. Translator

If you are gifted with more than one language but have no interest in teaching others, try translating. Many companies need their website and collateral translated when they move into a different market. You can help them achieve it, while also keeping active in more than one language. Keep in mind the most common way of billing is cost per word, so price wisely to make smart money from this great online business idea.

13. Social Media Manager

Social media is an integral part of any business but it’s time-consuming and ever-changing – so really quite difficult to keep up with and, more importantly, capitalize on. Many business owners are willing to outsource this time-intensive task, so it’s a great opportunity for social media fanatics. Bundle together a few interesting offers, such as “Startup social media kit” or “Small Business Social Media Starter Kit” that encompass everything from social media graphics to analytics reports and the seamless experience will bring you more clients than you expect.

14. Remote Customer Service Agent

If you enjoy helping people but don’t want to be stuck in a call center or office all day, become a remote customer service agent and help people from the comfort of your own home. Choose between helping people via chat, email, phone, video, or other ways and save the day for people every day. This may not make you your first million, but it feels great to help people.

15. Virtual Assistant

This is one of the best online business ideas to pursue from home . As a virtual assistant, you would be answering emails, writing content, and doing other tasks on behalf of businesses   The role can mean anything from a data entry person to a researcher, so, be open to trying new things and uncover new skills while getting paid.

16.  Remote Sales Team

As more and more companies take on the lean, mean approach to business, outsourcing cold calling and telesales functions becomes a sort of standard in the startup and small business environment. Whether you want to sell highly-targeted sales pitches or customer data, such as phone numbers and email addresses, the potential is vast.

17. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is where a person promotes a product that another merchant sells. Using advertising, social media, blogging, and more, an affiliate marketer can attract customers to their landing page. When customers click a link to buy the product they will then be brought to the merchant’s store to buy the product. As an internet business idea, this is great for anyone no matter their previous experience. Check out our guide, Affiliate Marketing: Everything You Need to Know , to learn more about this business model. 

18. Lead Generation Service Provider

Most businesses are chasing customers and looking for ways to increase conversion rates . This means investing in activities like lead generation that could be time-consuming. Because of this, many companies outsource the task to a lead generation service provider. If you are good on the phone and enjoy researching and doing outreach to strangers, then this is your calling!

19. Become an Influencer

An influencer is someone with a large follower base on social media who is seen as an expert in a particular area, like makeup or fitness. These people keep busy by posting regularly about their lives and promote products which they feel are good to possess. What is great about this internet business idea is that you can get paid to promote a business to your following, similar to affiliate marketing. Influencer marketing is a huge online business trend right now that you can capitalize on. Try your hand at Vlogging and starting a Podcast , which are under-utilized channels of communication for influencers right now.

20. Handmade Goods Shop

It can take you less than a day to build a storefront to showcase your work and connect with customers on platforms like Amazon and Etsy . If you’re into crafts and DIY, it’s definitely a viable business option to consider. You can make the goods yourself or source them from suppliers in Hong Kong and China.  If you’re in a country that has ePacket shipping , sourcing products is likely to be a better and more cost-effective option.

21. Become a Private Chef

If cooking is one of your personal passions, there are dozens of opportunities to turn it into a decent business venture . You can start by setting up a catering website, experimenting with pop-up food stalls and local food markets, or joining platforms that encourage cooking enthusiasts to squeeze some money out of their passion. And if you’re not camera-shy, you can teach people how to cook special meals by selling online classes.

22. Nutritionist

The trend of healthy eating is here to say. Yet with so much contradictory advice online about what is good for us and what is not, more and more people turn to professional nutritionists for specialist tips and guidance. You can easily find free online courses to learn the fundamentals of this profession and start offering personalized nutrition plans online.

23. Get Baking!

From freshly baked butter croissants to colorful macaroons and pillow-soft morning bagels – the world of the great bake-off is a rich and ever-growing place. The beautiful thing about the online world is that a great passion can be turned into a great business almost overnight. You can start an online bakery or move your existing bakeshop online. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to sell baked goods online .

24. Natural & Organic Beauty Shop

Online shoppers are getting more and more conscientious about their choices, and especially so when it comes to beauty products. Running a beauty shop that’s built on strong ethos and values that resonate with nature and animal lovers is one of the hottest online business ideas right now. Tropic Skin Care seems to be doing a great job connecting with these shoppers.

25. Women’s Sportswear

With LuluLemon spearheading the way, online sportswear shops for women are quickly climbing to the top of the most popular idea amongst ecommerce entrepreneurs. Since yoga pants are clearly here to stay, it’s safe to say that the athleisure trend is one of the best and, perhaps, the least explored niches in ecommerce right now.

26. 3D-Printed Products

One of the biggest technological breakthroughs of this age, 3D printing is dictating a new strategy in the ecommerce world. Some of the best selling 3D-printed products include jewelry, home accessories, bicycle parts, tech accessories and more. For some beautiful examples check out 3DigitalCooks , and DanitPeleg .

27. Ethical Fashion Brand

One thing is clear – clothes and accessories will always be one of the super-profitable online business ideas for an ecommerce site. However, with so many boutiques and fashion online stores in existence, rising above the noise is extremely difficult. Yet, one promising idea that savvy entrepreneurs have probably already noticed is the booming trend of “ethical fashion”. Brands, such as Pachacuti , People Tree , Sea Salt, and Matt & Nat have successfully crafted their brands around the concept of organic, ethical production of fashion items and are riding the trend to the top of the strongest brands list.

28. Mystery Objects Shop

If you have an eye for quirky stuff, maybe running a mystery object shop could help you combine the desire for unusual business ideas with a steady source of income.

Muddy Creatures are nailing the concept of a surprise purchase that taps into the explorer instinct many of us possess. There’s no exact science or skill fueling this business idea – let your imagination go wild…

29. Online Researcher

Although it sounds like a too-good-to-be-true idea, some people are successfully earning a living off their skill to find information online. From data research for infographics to market research for budding startups, talented researchers know that you can put a price tag on knowledge.

30. Proofreader

If you love reading, becoming a proofreader could be your calling. Have other people send you their manuscripts for books, research papers, or whatever else you are interested in reading about, and give them honest feedback before they publish their works of art. This job requires attention to detail and expertise in the area to ensure that everything is ready to print.

31. CV Writing

Banging out a winning CV is a mission impossible for many. If you’re good with words and know how to highlight people’s best qualities, CV writing could be a pretty sweet place to start a business. Additionally, you can sell slick CV templates that will help job hunters to get noticed faster and yield better results.

32. Speechwriting

Giving speeches is a terrifying experience. Giving bad speeches… Well, no one wants to be in that situation. Wordsmiths have a hugely valuable skill to win people over using nothing else but the power of well-strung sentences. If you can write, cash in on this skill by crafting speeches that make birthdays, weddings, award ceremonies, or political debates a more memorable experience.

33. Self-Published Author

If you have the next Harry Potter manuscript sitting in your drawer and the publishing industry hasn’t been kind to you, try self-publishing. Using tools like Amazon’s direct publishing or working with dedicated consultants like I_Am . You not only get the satisfaction of pushing your work out there, but also an opportunity to earn residual income .Don’t think you can write a good novel? Then stick to what you know – self-help is a money-making genre!

34. Ghostwriter

If writing is your thing but you are lacking a topic to write about, become a ghostwriter for someone else. If normally requires you to write about someone or something in a lot of detail. It can take time and much research to finish this type of project so be sure to have a few months free to give to it.

35. Content Curation

The German Economist Schumpeter once said that there are “no original ideas”, only new combinations of old ones. Curation of curiosity-fueling content is an intriguing and little-known business model. One of the best success stories out there is Brainpickings – a platform that describes itself as “an inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more”. The subscription-based model and successful utilization of affiliate links have turned the blog into a self-sustaining business.

36. Foreign Language Teacher

Everyone knows that the quickest way to learn a new language is to mingle with native speakers. If you were lucky enough to be born in an English, French, Spanish (insert any of the world’s main languages) speaking country, then missing out on the opportunity to cash in on the skills you take for granted is exactly that – missing out! Use online communication tools, such as Skype or Google Hangouts, to connect with learners and leverage your privileges. Time is money, so package your hours into teaching sessions and you’re good to go.

How to Start an Online Business

Starting an online business, no matter how small you aim to have it can take time and money. It can also involve legal research and some accounting knowledge so you may find there is some upskilling involved in many different areas. Have no fear though because once you get the wheels moving on your adventure, starting an online venture will be fun and motivating. As a great source of income , side hustle opportunities are abundant as you don’t need to be located next to a customer in order to provide the goods or services to them.

The most important first step in how to start an online business is to:

1. Decide Your Business

This is the most important step as without it you don’t have a business. Check out our above list of the most popular online business ideas and choose which one suits you best.

2. Research Your Industry

Get to know what your industry is like. Maybe there is a pricing structure most of your competitor follow that will be good for you. Or maybe once you discover your competitors you will decide that your industry is over-saturated and you need to change your business idea slightly to compete.

3. Create Your Brand

With every good business comes a good brand and if you figure this out at the start you can become a more successful online business in the beginning. This includes having an amazing website, and social media (if your customers are there), killer logo creation , engaging in some PR, and some more outreach and marketing activities.

4. Begin Getting Customers

The final step to getting started is actually getting your first customer. Having great customers behind you means success for your business. To find these customers you should discover how to get in front of your audience, sending out the right message to entice customers, and devising a pricing structure that works for the majority of customers to effectively give customers what they need.

Online Business Ideas FAQs

• Where to search online for the best small business ideas?

You can search for the best small business ideas on entrepreneurial blogs like Oberlo, Shopify, or 99designs.com. Alternatively, you can use Google to provide insight by searching around topics that you are interested in.

• What to sell as your online business idea?

You can sell almost anything as your online business idea. If you want to sell clothing, you could consider dropshipping or print-on-demand. If you are an expert in a particular field you could sell your knowledge through consulting or courses. The sky's the limit when it comes to online business ideas.

Online business ideas are endless and all-inclusive. Most office-based jobs can now be done online through freelancing or remote working. The beauty of technology means that profitable online businesses will keep growing and growing, making the world a truly global marketplace. If you are considering moving away from the traditional career path and want to start your own business, read through our list of business ideas a few times and contemplate the many ways you can start a successful online business today.

Summary: Best Online Business Ideas for 2024

• Start an online t-shirt business
• Launch a dropshipping website
• Offer advice on Indiegogo/Kickstarter
• Start an SEO business
• Sell online courses
• Offer software bug testing resources  
• Launch a video production company
• Offer graphic design services
• Sell web development services
• Create apps for companies
• Build website themes
• Provide translation services
• Manage social media for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
• Offer remote customer support services
• Provide virtual assistant services 
• Become a remote sales agent
• Launch an affiliate marketing business
• Provide lead generation services
• Do influencer marketing
• Build a handmade goods store
• Become a private chef
• Offer nutrition consultancy 
• Sell baked goods online
• Build a natural & organic beauty store
• Sell women’s sportswear online
• Offer 3D-printed products
• Create an ethical fashion brand
• Start a mystery objects shop
• Work as an online researcher
• Become a proofreader
• Offer CV writing services
• Become a speechwriter
• Self-publish books and e-books
• Ghostwrite content 
• Curate interesting content
• Teach foreign languages

Which of these online business ideas are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments below.

Want to Learn More?

• Free Business Name Generator
• Wondering How to Grow Your Business? 4 Ways Dropshipping Can Help
• Business Ideas That Will Make You Money
• What Should You Sell Online

Is there anything else you’d like to know more about and wish was included in this article? Let us know in the comments below!   

10 Tips On How To Handle Customer Complaints (2024)

Your customers are the lifeblood of your business. Without your customers’ approval, your business would never grow, wh…

25 Online Jobs That You Can Start in 2024

The way that people earn a living is rapidly changing. We’re seeing more and more individuals embrace online jobs in so…

12 Stock Video Websites to Source Great Footage in 2024

Creating great videos doesn’t have to take all day. Simply use one of these 12 free stock video websites to source grea…

Oberlo uses cookies to provide necessary site functionality and improve your experience. By using our website, you agree to our privacy policy.

Business growth

Business tips

How to start a business with no money: 22 low-cost business ideas

Real businesses that people have started for under $1,000.

If you want to create a business to change your lifestyle and finances, you may not have a ton of cash to invest in the venture. That doesn't mean you don't have options. I asked around and was inundated with all sorts of ideas for low-capital business ideas you can start with minimal upfront investment. 

How to choose your next business idea

The business ideas here are just the tip of the iceberg of low-capital opportunities. As you review the examples and come up with your own ideas, here are a few tips to be sure you're keeping your head on your shoulders.

Consider your skills . If you build on what you already know, you won't need to invest in extra training to get started—and you can begin faster with credentials. 

Use your current equipment . You may not have the best tools to start, but working with what you have until revenue flows makes it more accessible.

Fit your timeline . Some businesses (like a landscaping business) can turn a profit relatively quickly, while others (like a blog) will take time to gain momentum. 

Lean on existing tools. Check to see if there are existing marketplaces for what you're building. Think: Etsy for makers, Rover for dog walkers, and Upwork for freelancers. Just be aware that you'll have to pay for the convenience of tapping into an existing customer base. 

Think about your income and lifestyle goals . Do you want a full-time gig or supplemental income ? Are there particular hours or seasons you do or don't want to work? Building a business takes time and effort , so you want to make sure you choose a path that aligns with your plans. 

Make sure you have an audience . A business has to live at the intersection of what it can offer and what customers want. Be sure to validate your business idea to make sure enough people are willing to pay for your products or services to make it worthwhile. 

Remember: because you're starting a business with no money—or very little—you'll need to be much more strategic about the rest of the process.

Local low-cost business ideas

Remote work is a hot topic right now , but there are still plenty of business opportunities in your community. Here are some locally-based low-capital businesses you can set up for around $1,000 (or less!).

1. Landscaping business

If the idea of sitting at a desk all day makes your skin crawl, a landscaping business could satisfy your need to get outdoors. Upfront costs can be as low as $500 , especially if you start with the equipment you already own. Landscaping work is typically seasonal, so you can use automation to help run your landscaping business during the busy months. 

2. Baker or personal chef

Calling all Great British Bake Off fans: have you considered selling your creations? You'll need to check home bakery laws in your state, but if you're already a baker, you likely have some of the equipment you need.

Colin Johnson founded Company Bread from his home in Connecticut. "To get started, all I needed was a $50 license, a $100 food safety course, basic ingredients, and some equipment for larger production quantities. I also invested in a domain name for my website, so the total initial overhead was around $1,000," he shared. "I was able to make up for those costs within a few months."

Colin also shared a few words of advice for folks starting a new business from scratch: "You should be able to deliver the same level of service to your 10,000th customer as you did to your first customer. It involves more forward-thinking than I realized, so think about how to scale your business model early. Even if you're not investing a lot of money, you need to be investing a lot of time."

If you love music or just enjoy hyping up a room of teenagers at a Bar Mitzvah, you might consider starting a DJ business. Depending on what equipment you have and what you need to buy, you can start a DJ business for around $1,000. 

Learn more: 5 ways automation can help entertainers streamline work and maintain an online presence

4. Pet sitting and dog walking

For some animal lovers, spending every day with furry friends is a dream job. Typically, the startup costs of setting up a pet sitting or dog walking business are limited to licensing and insurance (though some platforms like Rover will cover those costs for you). If you're looking for something a bit more passive , services like Sniffspot let you rent out your yard to local dog owners. 

5. Organizing service

Do you live by the Konmari method and binge organizing shows on Netflix? Turns out you can get paid to do that. You can spend as little as a few hundred dollars to set up a professional organizing service and go on to earn an average of $55 an hour . 

6. Furniture refurbishing

You know those satisfying power washing and cleaning video compilations? You can live that. Picking up damaged couches for free or cheap on places like Facebook Marketplace, cleaning them up, and reselling them is a great business for anyone with a truck and a couple strong people to help. TikTok creators Cameron & Sadie called the gig "the easiest side hustle." Take a look.

@cameronandsadie Easiest Side Hustle! 😊 #furnitureflip #furnituremakeover #sidehustle #sideincome #flips #couchflipping #couch #flippingcouches ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE - Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

7. Thrift store flipper

If you want to sell goods without large inventory costs, try buying discounted items and selling them to a niche audience. People who don't live near a thrift store or are looking for really specific types of items will love what you offer. Building an audience around a particular theme makes looking for inventory and building a brand easier. For example, the Vtgspice storefront on Depop sells '90s-era shirts and sweaters.

8. Used book reseller

You can buy books from a thrift store, library sales, or estate sales and sell them to an online audience. If you use Fulfilled By Amazon (FBA) , you don't even need to hold onto the books and ship them to sellers. 

9. Personal concierge

A personal concierge is similar to a personal assistant, except you'll help multiple clients. As long as you have reliable transportation and a computer or smartphone to manage online tasks, there isn't much more you need to get started . 

Learn more: Take inspiration from these tips put together by an executive assistant at Zapier .

Online low-cost business ideas

If you want to work without leaving the house, there are plenty of home-based business opportunities with low startup costs.

10. Virtual assistant

Much like a personal concierge handles local tasks, a virtual assistant helps people manage their work and life from the comfort of their own home. The virtual assistant world is flexible , since you can specialize in general admin tasks or niche business areas like social media management.

Caroline Marshall , founder of Upsource , shared that she "set up as a VA in 2020 investing very little money. I now have a multi-award-winning VA agency company that became an Ltd company last month. A VA business is a great one to start with very little costs."

11. Build a blog

Creating and monetizing a blog is one of the most popular ways to earn money online. James Taylor , an SEO consultant , recommends looking at your hobbies if you aren't sure where to start. 

"A hobby blog, in particular, is a great way to get started because you're never going to run out of content ideas. You know what people are searching for because it's your hobby, and you've no doubt searched for similar things in the past. You'll also know what products and information people will need to get started."

While there are some startup costs, your main investment to get your blog off the ground will be time. Mushfiq Sarker , founder of The Website Flip , noted that "the skill sets needed to build a website include SEO, content marketing, and some technical knowledge of how to put a website together. The benefit here is that you can get started for $10 to host a website and then use free platforms like WordPress. As for learning the ins and outs of the business, there are hundreds of YouTube channels and blogs covering these topics."

Once you have your blog set up, you have a few ways to earn money. Robert Jones , founder of Property Investments UK , noted that blogs "can be monetized in different ways (many low-cost and no-cost) from partnerships and affiliates, through to display advertising and selling your own products." 

Learn more: Automated workflows to help you promote and publish your work

12. Coaching and consultation

Have something to teach? Rather than starting a blog, you could begin offering coaching or consulting sessions. Costs can go into the thousands if you let them, but you can also start small with a simple website and marketing. Once you've tested the idea and made some money, you can add to your business. 

Paige Arnof-Fenn , founder and CEO of Mavens & Moguls , said "setting up any type of consulting or coaching business on the cheap (under $1,000) is possible because all you need is a website, logo, name, email, business cards, online stationery for proposals and invoices, cell phone, and a good idea to get going." Paige recommends skipping printed materials like brochures and letterheads to save money. 

13. Freelancing

When you don't have the cash to invest in a business, you can lean on your time and skills. Alex Birkett , co-founder of Omniscient Digital , shared that "service businesses tend to be the easiest to bootstrap since you're selling your own time." Alex and his co-founder David Khim began their agency in their free time outside of their jobs. They kept initial costs low by doing the work themselves and putting off hiring help until they had client cash flow. 

The most in-demand freelance skills include web design, social media marketing, and online chat support. But the opportunities to serve clients are endless. Laura Roeder , founder of Paperbell coaching software , offered a tip for freelancers:

"Many new entrepreneurs think they need advertising, a fancy brand, or an expensive site to get going, but a freelance business just needs one thing: clients! You can start by pitching opportunities on sites like Upwork or Fiverr, which costs nothing. Or look for people who need what you have on Facebook Groups, Reddit, or Twitter."

Liz Heflin , founder of MACE Writing , also praised freelancing as a business with low barriers to entry. She shared:

"When I started freelance writing, it was 2006. I had my $200 laptop and an Internet bill that cost me $50 a month. That's it. That was the entirety of my overhead. I worked 100 percent remotely from my apartment, and I found all my initial jobs on the writing gigs section of Craigslist (of all places). Flash forward sixteen years, and I'm now a content marketing consultant and the founder of MACE Writing. My laptop has upgraded over the years, and I pay for things like a website and hosting. However, my overhead is still incredibly low."

14. Stock photographer

If you already spend time photographing the world around you, why not sell some of those images? You can sell stock photos to earn cash on the side. You can start cheaply and quickly if you already have a camera—even the one on your phone.

Will Yang , Head of Growth at Instrumentl , also suggests aerial photography:

"The overhead costs associated with this type of business are relatively low. You won't need to lease office space or purchase expensive equipment. All you need is a drone and a camera to start offering your services to various clients, from real estate agents to wedding planners. The demand for this kind of service is often high, so you can charge premium rates and remain competitive."

15. Travel planner

Some people just want to be told what time to get to the airport, while others love researching every last travel detail. If you're the latter, think about selling travel planning as a service .

16. Affiliate marketing site

Affiliate marketers promote a product and earn a commission on its sale. If you create a website centered on a personal interest, you can use affiliate marketing to monetize the content. 

Freelance writer Elise Dopson did this with a website focused on her dog's breed. It took her about six months of work to get nearly 7,000 monthly visitors to the site and earn £120/month with Google AdSense and Amazon affiliate earnings. She said the most challenging part about getting started is finding the time. "The work itself (including setup) is pretty easy. It's just finding spare time to get the stuff written," she said. 

Super happy with how my affiliate site is coming along. Started last August and now have 6.7k+ monthly visitors from organic search with <25 posts published on the site 💪 pic.twitter.com/gm9nxt7ybp — Elise Dopson (@elisedopson) August 17, 2020

17. Translation

Hey, multilingual folks: you have a valuable skill set. Startup costs as an online translator are nearly zero , especially if you start looking for work on a job site that quickly connects you with clients.   

18. Dropshipping

Dropshipping lets you sell online without keeping piles of inventory in your living room. Since you only pay suppliers after making a sale, your startup costs are mostly limited to supporting software. 

19. Home tutoring

Digital resources make it easier than ever for you to help students worldwide and earn extra cash. Jamie Irwin , founder of Straight Up Search , recommends that tutors "take advantage of today's technology by utilizing online teaching platforms like TutorCruncher , Skype, and Zoom."

20. Online community

Online communities give you a place to connect with an audience, share resources, and turn a profit. They're also cheap to start. Jimmy Daly , co-founder of Superpath , used a small investment from a personal advisor to build the business in its first year . While it was the perfect setup for him at the time, you don't have to find capital to get started.

"The upfront costs for Superpath were minimal. A Ghost website, Slack, ConvertKit, Zapier, Stripe, Airtable, Notion, and a few other tools. I ran the business for $500 a month for nearly a year. It was so, so lean. If someone is willing/able to do it without a salary for a while, a community-based business is a great option because it's nearly free to start," Jimmy shared. 

The hard work paid off since the Superpath Slack has more than 7,000 members (and is one of my favorite Slack groups for marketers ), plus a paid Superpath Pro membership.

21. Micro-SaaS

If you have an idea to help an audience, but don't want to work hands-on as a freelancer or consultant, you might try building an app.

Alex Kracov, CEO and co-founder of Dock , shared that he started his tool as a Webflow product. "We built the initial version in Webflow (for just the cost of a subscription) and were able to prove the idea. As the business matured, we invested more money into the company. Still, we started the initial business for under $50 per month. TLDR - I think software businesses can start with low investment upfront, especially if you take advantage of no-code tools like Webflow, Glide, Zapier, Bubble, etc."

Learn more: How to create an app using no-code tools and Zapier

22. Job board

The great resignation presents a unique business opportunity: job boards. Tomas Laurinavicius , co-founder of Best Writing , built a job board for writers.

"When the pandemic broke out in early 2020, my friend Ed and I built a job board for writers using no-code tools like Webflow, MailerLite, Airtable, and Zapier to glue everything together. The building part was pretty quick and cheap (under $100 for software and four weekends to develop the early prototype). We bet on SEO and started by growing our organic traffic and curating writing jobs from other public job boards. We created a free weekly newsletter and began charging companies to reach our audience."

Olivier Breton , founder of Niceboard , also applauded job boards as an easy-to-enter business: "Job boards make for great side hustles (most of our customers are profitable within just two months) and can easily evolve into full-time businesses (we have customers doing six figures in profit through their job boards) with very little upfront capital." 

Automate the busywork of your business

Deciding to start a business, even a low-cost one, is a big decision. You have to be ready to contribute time and patience while building your reputation and revenue. But there are a few things you can do to safeguard your time and money. 

Jenn Prochaska , founder of The Write Difference , offered guidance for refining your business idea before getting started : "Decide what one overarching principle guides everything you'll do (e.g., empowerment, community, security), what problem you solve, and for whom you solve it," she shared. 

Nail down your business plan early to help guide your decision-making later on.  

Invest in insurance. Allison Grinberg-Funes , a UX Content Strategist at Liberty Mutual, suggests entrepreneurs "research the laws in their state to see if they'll need a license or certification. And budget for and buy business insurance." The details matter.

Automate the busywork. If you're running your own business on a budget, let the robots take care of the grunt work for you. Here's how to know when to automate .

Have a little more than $1,000? Here are businesses you can start with $10,000 or less .

Read more: 7 free small business budget templates for future-proofing your finances

Get productivity tips delivered straight to your inbox

We’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information.

Steph Knapp

Steph Knapp is a freelance B2B + SaaS content marketer that loves educating and empowering curious humans. When she's not typing away, you'll find her volunteering at the animal shelter and obsessing over a new hobby every week.

• Small business

Related articles

Strategy vs. tactics: The "what" and "how" of a winning game plan

Strategy vs. tactics: The "what" and "how"...

Free business plan template—and how to write your own

Free business plan template—and how to write...

Why athletes make the best hires

11 annual report design examples and how to design your own (with template)

11 annual report design examples and how to...

Improve your productivity automatically. Use Zapier to get your apps working together.

Start an Online Business With No Money

Are you struggling to make money or wish to create an additional income source to help achieve your financial goals? If yes, making money using digital mediums is one of the surefire ways to gain financial independence and monetize your skill sets.

All you need is patience, creativity, and the willingness to learn from your experiences to start an online business without investment or initial funding.

Blogging / Content Writing

If you can communicate your thoughts or have a flair for language, then Blogging can be an excellent opportunity to start making money. All you need is the expertise or passion for a particular subject or niche and the ability to explain it in a way that a large part of your target audience will want to come back for more.

Although several blogging platforms enable bloggers to monetize their skills, you can even think of starting your website and monetizing it. Your income can seem insignificant initially, but with time, you can earn an average income between $38,440 to $51,906.  

Influencer Marketing

The word ‘influencer’ has taken a life of its own ever since its inception. But in simple terms, an influencer is someone who has a strong following on social media platforms and can ‘influence’ an audience. Of course, this could be a niche category or generalized, and some of the ways influencers can make money are through:

• Affiliate marketing – where they promote a particular brand or product and earn a percentage of the commission for it
• Selling merchandise – they create merchandise with their label and sell it to their followers, who will buy it for its niche value.

Platforms such as TikTok, Youtube, Instagram, and others have enabled several social media influencers to monetize their following. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the influencer market will be around $16.4 billion globally.

Start Online Consultancy

Consultancy is a great way to earn an income if you have experience in a particular industry or niche. A consultant can offer their services, be it finance, strategy, marketing, etc., by working directly with their customers and can offer 1-1 sessions as well.

Consultants can also start sharing their knowledge online by curating courses or writing an eBook, slowly establishing a solid online brand.  

Provide Virtual Assistant Services

Virtual assistant services are a great way to earn money, especially if you have no particular niche skillset.

Virtual assistants can help entrepreneurs and other successful individuals manage their time, plan their schedules, and even work with them 1-1. This is an excellent way to make money and learn on the job.

Leverage Your Coding Skills

Since 2020, many businesses have been shifting their services online and require strong coders to help them build applications, create specific core products or shift their existing platforms to more engaging digital ones.

Coders with the right skill set are in huge demand, especially if you know the top programming languages like Python, Java, Javascript, Kotlin, Golang, PHP, R, C, C++, and others. Coders and programmers can make money online using Github, UpStack, Upwork, Fiverr, Total, Flexible, and others.

Design, Create & Sell Virtual Art

Are you good at web design and animation and know tools like Abode Photoshop, Sketch, Illustrator, and others? In that case, there is ample opportunity for your to start taking clients on a freelance basis or take up online gigs on platforms like Dribble, Upwork, Fiverr, Behance, and others. Plus, you can start your online business without investment once you have many returning customers.

In addition to providing design services, artists and designers also have the opportunity to sell their virtual art using NFT and Web 3.0 tools. All you need is to explore the NFT space and start creating digital art on the blockchain, which cannot be copied or duplicated, fetching you a great way to make money online.  

The Union government of India has estimated the digital economy to be between $800 billion to $1 trillion by 2030 and will be the future of entrepreneurship. These ideas are simply a few top opportunities that you can explore and start an online business with zero investment .

And to be a truly digital business, you no longer have to limit yourself to one geography. With the internet, you can connect and work with customers worldwide and use the RazorPay payment gateway to accept payments from international clients in India.

Moreover, it lets you settle your funds directly in your bank account and accept payments using local currency, UPI, domestic debit and credit cards, net banking, and other options. So if you have a great idea, do not hold yourself back, and take the first step towards your entrepreneurial success story.  

Liked this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more.

Related Posts

GST State Code List and Jurisdictions in 2023

Line of Credit vs. Letter of Credit: A Guide for Business Owners

Line of Credit vs. Loan: Which Is The Best Option for Your Business?

Credit Line Vs Credit Card: Choosing the Right Option for Your Business

Write a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

10-Low-Investment Business Ideas You Can Start Online

Starting a business can seem like a mountain of a task. But the amount of time, money, and risk involved all depends on the business idea you chase.

Contrary to popular belief, there are actually many ways to start a business that let you focus less on the logistics and upfront costs and more on getting started.

These low-investment online business ideas make a great entry point for beginners, bootstrappers, or anyone with a busy schedule, letting you pick up a side business without having to drop everything else.

You still need to come up with a solid idea, build a brand, put effort into marketing, and provide excellent customer service. But you can bypass many traditional startup costs, such as initial inventory, warehousing, and retail space.

Here are 10 of these low-investment business ideas you can start today.

10 low-investment business ideas you can start on the side

• Partner with a dropshipper
• Design and sell print-on-demand t-shirts
• Launch your own book
• Create digital products or courses
• Sell print-on-demand posters, prints, etc.
• Start a charitable business
• Sell a service
• Create an online fashion boutique
• Sell handmade goods
• Build an audience you can monetize

1. Partner with a dropshipper

Buy stock, store it, pick it, pack it, ship it. Managing inventory can be a big commitment when you’re running an online business.

Dropshipping is a fulfillment model where a third party supplier stores and ships inventory to customers on your behalf. You just need to make the sales and pass orders on to your supplier; you don’t need to handle the products yourself.

You can curate products from one or more suppliers into your own online store under a theme that focuses on a specific niche, like gear for yoga enthusiasts or water bowls for dog owners. When a customer buys a product from you, the order is sent to your supplier who fulfills it on your behalf. However, you are still responsible for your own marketing and customer service.

There are both local and overseas suppliers you can work with, as long as you can establish a relationship with them built on trust—an unreliable supplier will reflect poorly on your brand.

Dropshipping is a low-investment way to test product-market fit and launch a business before you invest in your own original products. Just be sure to always order a sample for yourself to make sure that your supplier is reliable and that the quality of the products is fit for selling to your customers.

2. Design and sell print-on-demand t-shirts

Another dropshipping model, print-on-demand puts inventory, shipping, and fulfillment in the hands of a third-party supplier. But unlike the dropshipping idea above, the focus here is on customizing these products with your own designs to create something original.

T-shirts, hats, phone cases, hoodies, skirts, tote bags, and more become canvases for your creativity. You can think up witty slogans for developers or references that resonate with cat owners—if there’s passion and pride within a community, there’s a potential t-shirt business you can start.

Even if you’re not a designer, you can find a designer to work with using freelance sites like Fiverr, Upwork, Dribble, or 99Designs.

With many print-on-demand services, you’re paying per-product, so the base price per unit will be more expensive than if you were to order in bulk. But the advantage is that if a certain t-shirt design doesn’t sell, you haven’t actually paid for the item yet (only the design if you outsourced it).

You can even use t-shirt mockup templates so you don’t actually need to spend money on a full photoshoot for every new design.

There are a variety of print-on-demand platforms you can work with, many of which can be integrated with your Shopify store for seamless order fulfillment. However, be sure to always order a sample of your product (often offered at a discount) to make sure your custom products look good.

3. Launch your own book

A book is just another type of product when you think about it. And as such, you can create one to serve a particular demand in the market.

Cookbooks, picture books, comic books, poetry books, photo books, coffee table books, and novels—if you’ve got the knowledge or the creativity, there are a variety of original books you can bring to the market.

Print-on-demand publishing is a relatively safe way to test the waters and get started with self-publishing, while giving you control over the quality and look of your book.

Lulu Xpress and Blurb are popular platforms for this purpose, letting you create, order, and distribute your own books as digital and physical products.

While you can order one book at a time, costs naturally go down when you buy in bulk. You can consider pre-selling or crowdfunding your book idea to ensure that there’s demand and guarantee a certain number of customers for a bulk order.

Launching your own book can be a great way to monetize a blog if you have one or are looking to start one.

4. Create digital products or courses

Digital products like music, courses, and templates are unique on this list of ideas. Unlike the others, they’re not tangible products. There aren’t recurring manufacturing or shipping costs to worry about so your margins can remain high.

The trick is figuring out what makes for a good digital product. What is useful enough that people are willing to pay to download it?

The answers range from original instrumental beats to stock photos that can be licensed to other creators, to information products and templates that help people level up their skills in a particular field.

If you’ve got a talent that can be turned into a digital product, you can think about packaging it into a new stream of income.

Shopify offers a free digital downloads app that lets you offer digital products in your store as easily as physical products.

5. Sell print-on-demand posters, greeting cards, and prints

If you’re artistically inclined or know your way around a camera, you can dropship using a print-on-demand business model to let others physically own a piece of your work. Just be sure you have the rights to the content you want to print, unless you’re using public domain assets that you can freely monetize.

If you’ve already got an engaged online following, say you’re a cartoonist or an urban photographer, you’re in an especially good position to give this business idea a try.

Depending on the printer you work with, you can turn your work into products such as posters or framed wall art, even greeting cards. There are plenty of digital templates and mockup generators like Place.it that you can use to showcase your products without having to print out each item and conduct your own photo shoots.

6. Start a charitable business

Starting a non-profit organization isn’t the only path you can take to help fund a better world.

Having a mission to go along with a business, and setting aside some profit for a cause, gives social entrepreneurs a unique way to position their company in the market while addressing the issues they care about most.

In fact, 89% of consumers surveyed said they were likely to switch to a new brand with similar products and prices if it was associated with a good cause.

While many social enterprises offer their own original products, you can also take any of the business ideas above and partner with a non-profit, or execute that social good with your own hands, as long as you’re transparent about how it works.

As part of your marketing, you can share the impact that your customers are having by supporting your business, such as a blog post covering your work in the community or a real-time impact calculator on your website.

The Give & Grow Shopify app makes it easy to partner with charitable organizations and incorporate your mission into your business. You can set it up to donate a specific amount or a percentage of sales, or ask your customers to add a donation at checkout.

7. Sell a service

With services-based businesses, “time” is your inventory and your biggest investment. You’ve only got a limited supply of hours in your day. However, that makes it easier to get up and running if you’ve got skills that are in demand.

Writers, designers, developers, photographers, house cleaners, fitness trainers, and more can build a business around their skills.

They can also expand their business with any of the other ideas above to create additional revenue streams by “productizing” their services through physical or digital goods.

A photographer, for example, can service a local event while selling prints online through their Instagram account. A copywriter can sell a copywriting swipe file of high-converting sales copy. Coupling your service-based business with physical products can give you another source of income that isn’t directly tied to your time.

You can use the BookThatApp or Book an Appointment app for Shopify to let customers easily schedule a session, consultation, or buy tickets to a class with you through your store.

You can also offer your services through a freelance marketplace like Upwork to increase your chances of getting discovered by the people who need your skills.

8. Create an online fashion boutique

If you love fashion and sharing your sense of style online, you can consider creating your own online fashion boutique. You don’t need to become a fashion designer either—you can simply curate items from other vendors into your own online store (using the dropshipping model we discussed earlier).

From dresses, shoes, swimwear, accessories, and more, you can build your own fashion brand using one of the several product sourcing apps for Shopify, model them in your own product photos and social media posts, and build an online following as a trend-setter.

9. Sell handcrafted and homemade goods

If you’re a maker—whether you DIY soap, candles, sauces, or pottery—you’re in a unique position to start an online business since product development and procurement are literally in your hands.

Unlike many of the other ideas on this list, you will need to consider shipping and inventory management, but you can start out simple on a per-order basis or with a small batch until you start generating consistent sales.

In fact, many makers on Shopify started out selling from their homes on Etsy or to friends and family, growing into full-time business owners after establishing demand for their products.

Just be mindful of any regulations in your product category, especially for anything customers will eat, inhale, or put on their skin.

10. Grow an audience you can monetize in multiple ways

In today’s connected world, the ability to capture and keep the attention of others is an asset. It’s one that many businesses are even willing to pay for, and one that many creators are able to convert into a business with multiple revenue streams.

Whether you choose to grow your following on YouTube, Instagram, or a blog (ideally a combination of different channels), you have many avenues for monetizing your audience:

• Do sponsored posts on behalf of brands
• Become an affiliate
• Sell physical or digital products (via any of the ideas on this list)
• A combination of the above (they’re not mutually exclusive)

Taking an audience-first approach to starting a business means you’re playing the long game (it might be months until you've figured it out). But you don't need millions followers to do it—Instagrammer Kat Gaskin, for example, pulled off a $10k product launch with only 3,000 followers.

Three tips for choosing a business idea

The business ideas we’ve covered might be easier to run when it comes to logistics, but that doesn’t make them easy. There are at least three things you should keep in mind as you consider your options, no matter what you decide to start.

1. Focusing on a niche makes marketing easier

As with any business, marketing is what unlocks your success. It’s not enough to know that there’s demand for your products—you need to figure out ways to reach the people that are most likely to buy them. You need to get the right visitors to discover your products.

Luckily, marketing is a lot easier when you're catering to a specific audience or identity (e.g. vegans, board game lovers, photographers in your city). You can produce social media content that resonates with these people or run ads that target their interests. Taking this approach also helps you project a consistent brand because you’ll have a more specific idea of who exactly you’re talking to.

Think about how you can zero in on a specific audience for your products and how the business you build can serve them. If you already have a sizeable audience (a blog, a YouTube channel, or an Instagram account), maybe you can even find a way to base your business off of that existing audience.

2. Pricing is about more than profit

Price your products too low and shoppers might assume they’re low quality. Price them too high, and you might scare some customers off. In any case, you’ll need to find a sweet spot that also lets you factor in the cost to acquire customers and offer discounts, especially if you plan on paying for ads.

With many of the business ideas we’ll explore in this post, you may not be shipping your products, but you still need to cover the cost of shipping. Consider your shipping costs and how they will vary in the different countries you want to serve.

Many online sellers try to bake their shipping costs into their retail price so that they can offer free shipping, or at least a reasonable flat rate. Others focus on encouraging shoppers to add more items to their cart with conditional free shipping (e.g. free shipping on orders over $50) to maximize their profit.

At the end of the day, your prices can be tweaked and you can experiment with a variety of pricing strategies until you find one that works for you.

3. Test, learn, and grow as you go

The pursuit of perfection can be one of the biggest hurdles in getting a business up and running. Keep in mind that nothing is set in stone.

Products can be swapped in and out fairly easily (especially when you're not stuck with stock). Your store can be redesigned. Your prices can be adjusted. You can switch to a better supplier. And you can validate all of these decisions based on the dozens of signals you have at your disposal (traffic, how much time people are spending on your site, reviews, abandoned carts, etc.).

If your idea just isn’t working out the way you planned, think about how you can pivot before you quit.

There are aspects of your business that you can always salvage if you try a different product or approach. The brand you invest time into creating and the followers you amass on social media or in your email list can be assets you repurpose for your next business idea.

Supply without as many demands

Thanks to a combination of technology, third-party suppliers, and the ability to quickly test ideas online, it’s easier than ever to build a business and start making sales without getting caught up in sourcing products, renting space, and managing inventory.

With this approach, you can test ideas before you invest in them, or start making money on the side without all the inventory-related commitments that might stand in your way.

The online business ideas covered above can even be combined in a variety of ways to start a business that’s uniquely yours. If the idea of sourcing, storing and shipping inventory kept you from starting a business before, begin with an inventory-free, low-investment business model and grow from there.

Source: Shopify - https://www.shopify.com

• Shopify themes HOT

11 Low cost business ideas you can start online in 2023

• by Instamojo
• May 23, 2020
• 7 minute read

Want to start a business but don’t have a lot of money to invest? What if we give you an entire list of low cost business ideas that you can  easily start online?

A lot of people think you have to have a lot of money to start a business but this isn’t true at all. There are many different ways that you can start a business with next to nothing so let’s take a look and see what they are.

Read these and find business ideas that suit your skills and interests.

• 1 List of low-cost business ideas 
• 2 Service businesses
• 3 Sell handmade products online   
• 4 Daycare for kids 
• 5 Online fashion boutique
• 6 Online classes based on your skill sets
• 7 Home-based food business
• 8 Sell digital products online
• 9 Sell print-on-demand products
• 10 Freelance services
• 11 Become a creator and grow your audience
• 12 Final words: Launch your low-cost business online

List of low-cost business ideas 

These are business ideas you can start in India without spending a lot of money. We have also given examples of brands that are successfully running them.

Service businesses

Starting a service business requires little to no capital because there’s no inventory involved.

There are two main ways to start a service business online: If you have an in-demand skill, you can either offer it as a service or teach the skill.

For example, if are well-versed in graphic design, you can find clients that need graphic designing services. You can also start doing training sessions for amateur designers and artists.

Here’s how Sumouli Datta shares her knowledge through online workshops on her Instamojo website Woodle Doodle :

There are many highly valuable services you can offer and build a business. Here are a few you can consider:

• Fitness instructor
• Writing service
• Designer or illustrator
• Bookkeeping
• Photography

While some of these require certifications to get started, there are a few skills you can pick up and gain experience.

Check out these ideas for top service business ideas and how to get started .

Sell handmade products online   

Is making craft products your hobby? Do you make candles, home decor , embroidery, or other products in your free time? If yes, then this might be a great business idea for you.

In a handmade products business , you will only need to spend on the raw materials required. Customers pay for the value of labour being put into making the product.

Since product development is in your hands, you can set a price accordingly and bring in a good profit margin.

Related read: Best handmade products stores on Instamojo

The biggest investment you’ll have to make here is the time, energy, and of course, these skills — you may need to gain more knowledge on your craft.

Many merchants who use Instamojo started handmade products businesses as part-time online businesses. Stay-at-home moms  and full-time job holders started handcrafted product businesses and some of them grew it to a great scale!

For example, Pooji’s Opus started out as a hobby. Now, this online store is the founder’s main source of income.

This is also one of the most common part-time business ideas you can start with a low budget.

Daycare for kids 

A daycare for children in smaller localities in India begins at home as parents may initially prefer smaller, more intimate settings to leave their children while they are away at work.

Besides regular babysitting, you could also provide value-added services’ ranging from support with their homework, providing nutritious food, or teaching them new skills such as dancing, craft, painting etc . – all dependent on the parents’ paying capacity. 

You can also create landing pages using our Smart Landing page builder to offer your daycare services! 

Online fashion boutique

If you’re into fashion and love sharing your style with others, this is a good option for you.

You can source products from manufacturers or suppliers and sell them under your brand name. Start an Instagram or Facebook account and start creating content around the clothing products that you sell.

Related read: How to sell clothes online

If you have tailoring skills, you can offer personalised clothing wears. Akshara Closets , an online business on Instamojo, offers tailor-made clothing to ethnic wear lovers. Check out their online store here:

When starting a fashion boutique, the major investment will be procuring the products and getting an online store. With Instamojo, you can get a basic online store for free and then upgrade to premium plans when you need more features.

Create your online store

Online classes based on your skill sets

When we mentioned kids wanting to learn all the time, we should have mentioned it applies to adults too, maybe even more now. Setting up an online class is easy, all you need to work on is the branding part. This might be one of the easiest low-cost business ideas that you’ll see on this list!

Related read: The online teaching guide you need

Establish a small network via WhatsApp or social media channels to get your online classes started. Our suggestion : In order to attract your first set of students, offer a ‘ Pay what you want’ feature to your audience . If they like the class, they can pay a higher amount. This helps you build a network of loyal attendees.

Host regular webinars, podcasts and promote your future workshops, LIVE sessions etc.

For example: Sneak a peek into Shreya Sharan Pawar’s online classes to empower women entrepreneurs. Shreya is an online marketing strategist and business coach. She started her business to help other entrepreneurs find their calling. A simple, yet effective online business.

Home-based food business

Starting a tiffin service or baking business based out of your home will involve minimal expense: you don’t have to spend money on inventory space, office, or hire many workers. You can get started with the cooking equipment you already have at home.

Home-made food is always in-demand. You can start by creating a WhatsApp group and collect orders. Collect payments via UPI. For a more streamlined process, you can ask customers to place orders on your online store.

The cost here other than ingredients and equipment is delivery.  You can charge a delivery fee separately and pass it off to the consumer.

If you enjoy baking or want to be a home chef, give this business idea a try!

Related read: How to sell food online: the complete guide

Financial consulting

There are many individuals and businesses who struggle with handling finances and the nuances of tax saving.

So if you are a certified professional with a financial qualification that can help other businesses sort out their finances, keep your CV, website and best suit ready.

You can also provide your financial expertise to people who like you, want to set up a business from scratch. Being a consultant is one of those low-cost business ideas that also requires zero setups.

Related read:  Live From A Lounge has been enabling smart travelling; one loyalty point at a time

Sell digital products online

Creating and selling digital products is a low-cost business idea because of upfront costs because you’ll be creating them based on your expertise. The only cost involved is you’ll need to host it on a landing page or website to collect payments from customers.

Once you create a digital asset, it can be bought an infinite number of times!

The most common digital products that are sold online are:

• Digital art
• Photographs

Here are some resources to help you with selling digital products online:

• How to sell photos online
• Sell ebooks the right way
• How to sell digital products online

Sell print-on-demand products

Print-on-demand is a business where you create customisable products after an order is placed. These products include t-shirts, phone covers, and coffee mugs among other things.

Since you only print products after an order is placed, you won’t need a big inventory It’s a great low-cost business idea if you can design the items yourself.

Want to know more about selling merchandise? Learn from Souled Store here.

Freelance services

If you are a technical architect with a niche specialisation, set up a profile on a job site like Fiverr or Linkedin and offer your services to companies who might need it for a quick project.

Freelance services can range from offering DJ services for a party to creating chatbots for startups (which is a rising trend). Be sure to mention your skills across social media, job platforms and through your network.

Related read: 5 secrets of making money as a freelancer

You can use a landing page to showcase your portfolio and sell services. Instamojo landing page builder allows you to create and launch one in minutes.

Become a creator and grow your audience

In today’s world, a creator is someone who creates content online to entertain or inform. Social media influencers and YouTubers all come under this category because they rely on content creation to make money.

The creator economy has grown rapidly and has become a major tool for brand marketing over the past few years. In fact, the influencer marketing industry alone is looking at touching Rs 2,200 crore by 2025. 

Becoming a creator is financially lucrative — you can start with your smartphone, an internet connection, and willpower.

However, growing an audience online that you can monetize will take lots of time and patience. Read this to easily record videos (and become good at it!) 

Final words: Launch your low-cost business online

Low-cost business ideas can be profitable. What takes time and effort is building your skills and getting your products out there. You can start selling to an online customer base without spending a lot of money.

With Instamojo, you can create an eCommerce website for free. Sign up today and get started.

Start your online store

• 2023 low cost business ideas
• best bbusiness to start with no money
• best business ideas to make money
• business ideas requires less capital
• business ideas to start in 2023
• how to setup a new business
• low cost business ideas
• low cost business ideas for small business
• low cost business ideas india
• low cost business ideas kerala
• low cost business ideas with high profit
• small business trends

India's simplest D2C tech platform. Host your online store, create landing pages, or share payment links. Sign up for free.

How To Support Small Businesses During an Economic Crisis

How managers and team leaders can practice empathy during a crisis.

• Online Store
• Online Store Setup
• Online Payments
• Smart Pages
• Payment Links
• Smart links
• Embed Payment Button
• Faster Payouts
• eCommerce Mobile App
• Instamojo App Store
• Bank Transfer
• Convenience Fee
• mojoPlus Rewards
• API & Plugins
• Documentation
• Mojo Developers Program
• Marketplace API
• Blog Categories
• Instamojo Product Guide
• Instamojo Team Speaks
• eCommerce Business Advice
• eCommerce Success Stories
• eCommerce News
• How To Sell Online
• Clothing & Accessories
• Art & Craft
• Furniture & Home Decor
• Food & Beverage
• Health & Beauty
• Jewellery & Accessories
• mojoVersity
• Business Communities
• Customer Stories
• Become a Partners
• Refer & Earn
• ● System Status
• Keep In Touch

Instamojo is an all-in-one Indian #D2CTech platform. We power independent eCommerce brands and startups with online stores, landing pages and payment solutions to help every seller start, manage and scale their online business successfully.

© 2023, Instamojo | Terms of Service | Privacy | Write for Us

45 Low-Cost Business Ideas for 2023

Starting your own business doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, according to the Small Business Association, most micro-businesses (businesses with fewer than ten employees) are started for less than $3,000. Therefore we have picked our favorite  low-cost business ideas  to make starting your business easier. Using our detailed guide you can not only start your new business but turn it into a low-cost business idea with high profit.

Exploring your options? Check out additional small business ideas .

Best Low-Cost Business Ideas With High Profit

We’ve created a detailed guide for 45  low-cost business ideas  and evaluated each one based on ongoing expenses, required skill level, and earning potential to help you get your business started today!

Teaching & Consulting Businesses

These business owners enhance their clients’ lives by imparting knowledge of a particular skill set, whether it’s related to their personal or professional lives. This list of low-cost business ideas is for veterans of the relevant industries who are looking to change pace and pass on their wisdom.

1. Acting Classes Business

This career is for dedicated actors or directors in the performance industry, so you will need at least a few connections within the business. Students will only want to enlist in your courses if you have some kind of credible performance reputation, but you’ll also need the teaching chops to instruct a class of acting hopefuls.

If you don't have one already, you'll need to rent or buy a proper space for teaching, including room the class can walk, run, or deliver dramatic monologues in. A small management and registration staff may be required as your business grows, but by some accounts, you can charge around $500 per student for eight weeks of classes at a rate of three hours per week.

Learn how to start an acting class business .

2. Art Consulting Business

Consultants in this business are art enthusiasts who work with both artists and collectors to get the right art to the right folks. Due to the huge variety of artistic tastes and styles, this is a career for people with extensive artistic backgrounds, from practicing artists to formally educated graduates with advanced art history degrees.

Ideally, you will want a presence within artists’ networks in order to connect with gallery directors and collectors. In terms of cost and compensation, a consultant will only need to maintain a low-cost professional website, and you will earn via commission, accepting 10%-15% of the art they buy or sell.

Learn how to start an art consulting business .

3. Art Lessons Business

The world of art is fiercely competitive. Although art appreciation is subjective, you will nearly always need a sizable foundation of natural artistic skill to make a name for yourself. But teaching side gigs can help, so that’s why some artists advertise themselves as teachers. You can instruct in small groups or tutor individual students, but the demographic is up to you, depending on whether you prefer to instruct adults or children.

Between few necessary ongoing costs (students can bring their own supplies and undergo lessons in your home) and a standard teaching fee of $40-$100 per hour, a growing art lessons business has the potential to earn you quite a bit.

Learn how to start an art lessons business .

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the  Top LLC Formation Services

And, use our free tools to help start your business:

• Use our  Business Name Generator  for help brainstorming your new venture’s name
• Learn  how to form an LLC , one of the  best business structures  for low-cost businesses
• Use our free  business plan generator  to start planning your business today
• Get your unique logo with our free  Logo Maker  and start branding your business
• After finding your perfect idea learn how to  start a business  and  how to start a business with no money .

4. Relationship Coaching Business

Since it’s a form of therapy, building this business will require solid listening skills and an advanced degree in psychology. Some couples you’ll be working with will be attempting to repair a failing marriage, while others may simply be trying to hone their communication strategies.

Either way, due mainly to student loans, this one can be pricey to jump into. Once you have the degree and the counseling license under your belt, it’s not unusual to make about $130 per hour during a single session.

Learn how to start a relationship coaching business .

5. Home Tutoring Business

This is one of many home business ideas with low startup costs. A current or former teacher who identifies as a “people person” is the ideal fit for this job. Many tutors end up with a customer base made up exclusively of children, so it helps to be good with kids. You’ll want to spend time between sessions reviewing your next student’s progress and preparing for their upcoming lesson.

Self-organization and motivation are key in this job, so profitability depends on your work ethic and how quickly your business grows. If you are focused and persistent, $30 per hour could add up to solid profitability.

Learn how to start a home tutoring business .

6. Personal Training Business

To earn client confidence, a personal trainer should be a walking advertisement of their own successful diet and exercise regimen. You’ll be developing individualized sessions for your customers, taking note of their goals and cross-referencing those with optimal dietary advice and physical activity.

On average, personal trainers make $50,000 per year, but steady customer flow and dedication could see that price rise even higher. You may need to put forth an initial effort into acquiring a certification, plus $1,000 for advertising and a few hundred for liability insurance.

Learn how to start a personal training business .

7. Nutritionist/Health Coaching Business

People who love giving practical advice are often a great fit for this low-cost business. In this career, you’ll be working to find healthy goals that fit individuals. Consultations with clients will center around personalized plans and discussions of the latest trends in nutrition and exercise.

Regarding ongoing costs, there may be website upkeep, state licensing fees, and maintenance of exercise equipment. The average salary of nutritionists and health coaches is about $43,000 per year.

Learn how to start a health coach business .

8. Online Dating Consulting Business

People who genuinely care about interactions between other human beings may find themselves right at home running an online dating consulting agency. These business owners will meet with clients to help them write and edit their dating profiles, craft written responses, and even take pictures for their profiles.

Costs are pretty low to start, mainly just requiring a computer and a personal website. This is one of several low-cost business ideas with high profit, reaching as high as 95% on services.

Learn how to start an online dating consulting business .

9. Career Coaching Business

This career is best suited to great communicators, motivators, and those who love being around other people. Career coaches often possess advanced degrees, using these along with in-the-field business knowledge to enhance a client’s professional value or resolve challenges in the workplace.

As with any personal consulting service, you will need a certificate from a qualified program, along with liability insurance. Between these items and advertising, it may cost several thousand to begin down this career path. However, with the right clients, this job is a six-figure earner.

Learn how to start a career coach business .

10. College Planning Business

You can excel in this business if you possess a thirst for knowledge and a passion for helping other people. This job entails getting to know young adult clients on a personal level and determining where they’ll fit in the collegiate world. In this business, you’ll be meeting with families, analyzing student records, arranging college-visit itineraries, and strategizing through the admissions process.

This is a low-cost career to jump into, requiring little more than a computer, a website, and marketing materials to get your name out there. Experienced college consulting firms report salaries of $40,000-$80,000 annually.

Learn how to start a college planning business .

11. Project Management Consulting Business

Highly experienced business owners and other advisors with high-level business experience will be right at home in this career. Project management consultants will assess performance indicators, review project goals, and generally assist other businesses in making sound decisions about which projects to undertake.

The size of the agency will decide much of the overhead costs, including office space, computer & software maintenance, and upgrades to project management applications. Consultants in this agency can earn as much as $50,000 per year per client business, and it is not unheard of to accrue $1 million or more from large corporate clients.

Learn how to start a project management consulting business .

12. Test Prep Business

Some people have turned test-taking into an art so skillful that it has become a profession all its own. Current or former teachers may feel right at home in a business that emphasizes quizzing techniques, study guides, and familiarity with test prep books.

Between a professional website and gas money to visit your clientele wherever you agree to meet, the ongoing costs of this business are very easy on the wallet. If you advertise well and are good at what you do, you might end up hitting an upper-level five-figure salary.

Learn how to start a test prep business .

13. Music Lessons Business

Any musician skilled enough to make it in the world, from band instructors to symphony-quality violinists, may be qualified to conduct private lessons on the side. This will involve working with students, mostly of a younger demographic, to improve their skills with individualized lesson plans and practice music that challenges them at the right ability level.

Homes are a very normal place to conduct lessons, although some music stores offer discounted rental spaces to teachers who encourage students to make on-site purchases. You can charge an average of $45 per hour, and at 40 hours per week, you will approach six figures annually.

Learn how to start a music lessons business .

Find a Web Domain for Your Business

Securing a web domain and creating a quality website is important for the overall success of a business.

Find a Domain Now

Web-based businesses.

These low-cost business ideas are accessible, digitally-driven avenues of income for entrepreneurs of all walks of life. The fact that they are run completely online keeps startup and ongoing costs low and allows their owners to keep incredibly flexible schedules.

14. Affiliate Marketing Business

Affiliate marketing is the art of turning fame into a business. People who have managed to attract an audience are paid  to endorse related products or services on their public platform. For example, if a popular nutritionist blogger endorses a new line of supplements.

Learn how to start an Affiliate Marketing Business .

15. eBay Business

Studious, business-minded folks with an eye for marketing trends can do quite well through eBay sales. You’ll need to be well aware of your competition, what their prices are, and how to create compelling product offers through imagery and effective ad copy.

Your main source of ongoing costs will be Ebay fees, insurance fees, shipping fees, and acquisition prices -- assuming you are buying your stock from other providers. Generating decent revenue will require a business plan that incorporates frequent transactions and higher-end prices for quality goods.

Learn how to start an eBay business .

16. Etsy Business

Etsy is all about handmade goods and vintage paraphernalia, making it an exciting prospect for artists who want to sell their creative works or other unusual collections. Etsy sellers will spend the bulk of their working hours producing art to sell, shipping it, listing new items, and addressing administrative issues like billing and restocking.

Etsy’s cut from your sales is relatively low, with 3.5% being approximately the highest amount you will have to pay for anything like listing fees or transaction/processing charges. The potential profits are extremely variable, depending entirely on what you sell and how often you sell it. Exposure through art blogging can greatly increase your exposure and hike your profits.

Learn how to start an Etsy business .

17. Social Media Marketing Business

Social media users with an intimate knowledge of platforms and a robust familiarity with internet marketing practices are ideal candidates for this line of work. There is an entire world of internet marketing strategies, including search engine optimization, digital sales monitoring, and ad campaign management.

Ongoing costs may include software and hardware upgrades, and time /money invested in keeping up with the rapidly advancing world of internet advertising. At the very top of the social media consultant payscale, you can expect $100,000 per year.

Learn how to start a social media marketing business .

18. Data Entry Business

Talented managers with strong logic and organizational skills will be comfortable in data entry, processing requests and organizing customer data. However, if you manage a data entry business with employees beneath you, most of your time will actually be spent acquiring new clients and managing client relationships.

With few ongoing costs particular to this business, you’ll mainly need to take care of internet costs and computer maintenance, which will depend on the size of your operation. This is a potential high-earning business, with the most efficient and talented agencies claiming 20% profit margins.

Learn how to start a data entry business .

Writing & Editing Businesses

These businesses with low startup costs focus on writing and editing content for a diverse clientele. They’re best run by people who are proficient with English grammar and familiar with various genres and writing styles.

19. Proofreading Business

Professional proofreaders are meticulous writers with a keen eye for detail and a firm grasp of linguistic mechanics like grammar and punctuation. The daily routine of a proofreader involves carefully reading a great deal of content, and making revisions to help the content reach its full potential.

Ongoing expenses are very minimal and revolve mainly around internet provision and the maintenance of a work computer. Some wage estimates place average proofreader salaries at about $48,000 per year, although that does not include freelance proofreaders.

Learn how to start a proofreading business .

Digital Art & Design

These low-cost business ideas require the use of digital tools to create and edit art and other media for clients. This can involve anything from editing family portraits to designing company logos.

20. 3D Printing Design Business

Artists familiar with three-dimensional mediums like carving or sculpting can combine their expertise with digital 3D modeling to capitalize on the growing trend of 3D printing. You will spend a good deal of your time designing 3D objects and selling them to consumers who own 3D printers.

Ongoing expenses may include re-stocking materials (if you are printing them yourself), maintaining a professional website, or if you are printing through a third-party like Shapeways, the printing fee that they will charge. The profitability of a business like this is comparable to other online specialty retailers, so it will depend on your ability to target the right demographics and advertise yourself effectively.

Learn how to start a 3D printing business .

21. Graphic Design Business

Graphic design is perfect for artistic entrepreneurs with an intuitive sense of business aesthetics and lucrative design choices. This line of work is all about executing projects for clients, collaborating with illustrators and other artists, and finding effective ways to represent client franchises in ways that will appeal to targeted demographics.

Graphic design software can become costly, but as you begin, the ongoing expenses are pretty low given that you’ll probably be working from home. Talented graphic designers with plenty of experience and positive client reviews can ask for as much as 50% profit margins, although your own business will earn a good deal less than that when you first begin your work.

Learn how to start a graphic design business .

22. Photo Editing Business

Modern photographers tend to know all about image editing, but anyone familiar with editing software like Photoshop may be a candidate for photo editing. The job itself is pretty straightforward -- you simply receive client photos and edit them.

There aren’t many overhead costs to run a photo editing business, so internet, advertising, and editing software are most of what you need to pay for.

Learn how to start a photo editing business .

Start a Low Startup Cost Business in Your State

Specialty craft businesses.

These low-cost startups rely on the allure of good old-fashioned, hand-cultivated specialty items. For some entrepreneurs, these business ideas may present the opportunity to turn an existing interest, hobby, or skill into a profitable venture.

23. Print Shop

Printing shops offer a variety of print and copy services to the public. This includes online printing, direct mail, and business printing.

Most printing stores offer additional services to the public, depending upon the specific needs within the community.

Learn how to Start a Print Shop .

24. Candle Making Business

Lovers of arts and crafts with a head for marketing may be a great fit for candle making. Aside from the creative process itself, candle makers will be ordering materials, photographing their creations, and finding new ways to market their products online.

Purchasing the materials and shipping them will be your primary ongoing costs, with online platform service fees cutting a little into your earnings. Earnings depend on the rates at which you make sales, but expect profit margins of 50% as you continue a steady candle-making business.

Learn how to start a candle business .

25. Soap Making Business

To excel in this low-cost business, you’ll need to love creating handmade products, but you’ll also have to pair that enthusiasm with strong marketing instincts and business acumen. As with any homemade product sales, you’ll spend most of your work life marketing online, running a social media business page, creating your product, and shipping it to your customers.

Consumable product materials will make up the majority of your ongoing expenses, and these expenses will increase in proportion to the size and success of your business. Profits will mainly be determined by your creativity, commitment, and long-term vision for success.

Learn how to start a soap making business .

26. Furniture Upcycling Business

Thrift store hunters and yard sale veterans can combine their sense of creative potential with carpentry or similar skill sets to begin a furniture upcycling business. Your time will mainly be spent searching for and acquiring new furniture, then working your creative magic to not only refurbish it but improve upon its original value.

The furniture itself will be an ongoing cost, as will any shipping fees, online sales platform fees, and tools/material components necessary to complete your individual projects. This is potentially a very profitable line of work, but ease into it as a side gig before making sure you’d like to turn your full attention to it.

Learn how to start a furniture upcycling business .

27. Bonsai Tree Business

Gardeners, herbology enthusiasts, and people who love all things miniature may want to consider starting up a bonsai tree business. Bonsai trees are beautiful and challenging to properly cultivate, so ongoing costs may include plant-growing equipment, formal training courses or other instructive resources, and rent for a quality storefront.

Online sales are probably out of the question given the delicate nature of a finely developed bonsai tree. Despite some heavier upfront investments and ongoing costs, bonsai trees can sell anywhere from sixty to hundreds of dollars if correctly grown and pruned.

Learn how to start a bonsai tree business .

Lifestyle Businesses

Our lifestyle category is populated with low-cost business ideas that focus on improving customers’ quality of life. Whether the job centers around planning an event or providing day-to-day assistance, these businesses help people take a load off in the midst of their busy lives.

28. Personal Shopper Service

Extroverted helpers with good memories and navigational skills will excel at personal shopping. The timely delivery of select goods is the primary function of a personal shopper, making sure the client is satisfied and trusts your ability to deliver everything on their list.

The only ongoing costs you’ll be managing are gas prices/occasional car maintenance and as much advertising as you feel like you need. There is tremendous variability in profits earned through personal shopping, since your pay will generally depend on the quantity of good procured for clients and how quick and efficient you can be.

Learn how to start a personal shopper business .

29. Personal Styling Business

Skilled cosmetologists and other friendly fashionistas are all set if they have a reliable network of media personalities or other public faces. As a personal stylist, you’ll consult with clients about their desired image, utilizing a savvy intuition for the art of appearances paired with an up-to-date familiarity with modern fashion.

Ongoing costs are few and far between, as any clothing or cosmetic products will typically be charged to the customer or otherwise reflected in your prices. This is another one of many low-cost business ideas with high profit potential; profits may climb as high as $78,000, but this depends on your service fees and the needs of your clientele base.

Learn how to start a personal styling business .

30. Fashion Consulting Business

Fashion consultants keep up with the modeling world and all the latest cosmetic trends. Clients rely on their fashion consultant to help them pursue the right aesthetic by offering practical ways to adopt a natural, personalized self-presentation.

A fashion consultant won’t deal with much overhead beyond routine car use to meet with clients and maybe a professional website hosting fee. Fashion consultants enjoy an average annual income of $53,000.

Learn how to start a fashion consulting business .

31. Personal Concierge Business

A personal concierge is a highly organized creative problem solver with an excellent memory. The daily activities of someone in this line of work are difficult to describe because of their variety from person to person. From schedule management to grocery pickups and finance handling, this job’s daily services run the gamut of services performed, thanks to the concierge’s jack-of-all-trades adaptability.

Ongoing costs are low, including personal grooming, transportation, and self-marketing. The average salary for this position is tough to nail down, but it will depend on your employer’s finances and the difficulty of tasks assigned.

Learn how to start a personal concierge business .

32. Professional Organizing Business

To succeed in this role, you’ll need to be a creative developer of custom organizational systems, and you’ll have to help clients adopt your systems through personal instruction. As you meet with clients, you’ll be helping them to organize and manage time more effectively, install a new system for the organization of household objects, or efficiently organize important business paperwork for easy access.

Advertising and transportation are your only real ongoing costs here. Typical annual income ranges from $30,000 all the way to $115,000/year.

Learn how to start a professional organizing business .

33. Nanny Service (Babysitting Business)

The necessary traits for this job are no secret -- you need to love kids. If you are planning on developing a bigger operation, your time may be spent managing calls and reservations for clients, developing unified standards for your babysitter employees, and ensuring a proper fitting of babysitter to family.

Overhead costs will be the same for this business as most others, depending on office rent, company vehicles, rates charged, and an online marketing campaign. An individual babysitter will profit at about minimum wage, but employing other babysitters in your growing company can substantially improve your earnings.

Learn how to start a babysitting business .

34. House-sitting Business

This is an accessible job with a low-key work atmosphere for folks looking to supplement their existing incomes. In this job, it’s typical to take care of normal housepets, water the plants, shovel the walkway, and generally act as a guardian while the owners are away.

There are few ongoing costs beyond transportation, so you can enjoy almost the entirety of whatever fee you’re charging the homeowners. This business tends to be the most lucrative during holidays, but with a reliable reputation you can get work at any time of the year, making this an excellent side gig.

Learn how to start a house-sitting business .

35. Pet-sitting Business

Animal lovers who like to interact with a diverse range of creatures might consider starting up their own pet-sitting business. Compassionate, responsible folks can enjoy high levels of autonomy as they follow individualized pet routines to keep the animals under their care happy and healthy.

The job may come in tandem with house-sitting, so it doesn’t hurt to be generally familiar with home upkeep procedures like plant care and minor plumbing. You can charge flat fees or work by the hour as you see fit, and annual incomes will typically range from $30,000-$57,000.

Learn how to start a pet sitting business .

36. Dog-walking Business

Another job for animal lovers, this one focuses on canine companion care and the exercise they need. On a given day, a dog walker will pick up the dogs, take them on whatever routes have been agreed upon by clientele, return the dogs home, and manage appointments with new and existing clients.

Ongoing costs may include a variety of dog accessories such as treats, chew toys, quality harnesses and leashes, or transportation crates. Profits are dependent on how many dogs you can get onto your daily schedule, and how much you can reasonably charge -- running a dog-walking business with your own employees will earn you a cut of all profits.

Learn how to start a dog walking business .

37. Event Planning Business

Creativity, an eye for detail, and good planning skills all come together in the professional event planner. In this career, there is a great deal of customer interaction, marketing, and PR work to make sure that everything runs smoothly, and the occasion leaves all attendees satisfied.

Some ongoing costs may include office rent, insurance, business licenses, and advertising. Profits depend on whether you are acting as an individual or an owner with employees. And individual event planner may average $75,000 per year, but an owner can rake in $80,000 per year.

Learn how to start an event planning business .

38. Wedding Planning Business

For all the matchmakers and romantics out there, this business takes your sweet approach to life and transforms it into a lucrative endeavor. Helping happy couples establish realistic budgets, explore wedding locations, select catering, find the right music. Design invitations, and more.

Ongoing costs are low, consisting mainly of advertising, and you can avoid renting an office by meeting your clients in their homes. Profits depend on your location -- wedding planners in urban areas are more likely to earn upwards of six figures annually. Wedding planners can usually charge several thousand dollars per wedding.

Learn how to start a wedding planning business .

Cleaning & Maintenance Businesses

When people’s homes or yards fall out of shape, it’s common for them to call a pro to avoid the physically taxing cleaning or restoration process. The labor specialists who run these low-cost businesses save their clients time, and even money, by providing reliable home maintenance services.

39. Cell Phone Repair Business

A cell phone repair business focuses on repairing broken or damaged cell phones and tablets.

Learn how to start your own Cell Phone Repair Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Learn how to Start a Cell Phone Repair Business .

40. Home Staging Business

The real estate market is very competitive. Homeowners who want to sell their property for the highest price need to present it in the best possible way to potential buyers. That is where a home staging business can help.

A home staging business helps homes appeal to ideal buyers by creating interior design which highlights the home's strengths and minimizes its flaws.

Learn how to Start a Home Staging Business .

41. Board Game Company

Many people enjoy playing board games with family and friends. Board game businesses design and make board games for people to play.

Despite the growth of online platforms, the board game industry continues to remain strong. It’s grown since 2013, and the industry almost broke $10 billion in sales in 2016.

Learn how to Start a Board Game Company .

Learn more about starting a business by visting the  U.S. Small Business Administration .

42. Lawn Care Business

Physical stamina and a love of the outdoors meet skilled maintenance in the lawn care specialist. This is exclusively daytime work, so the job begins early in the morning with equipment check-ups followed by on-site work as specified by the day’s contracting lawn owners.

Equipment maintenance, insurance, advertising, and labor assistance are some of the ongoing costs to which a lawn care business must attend. A single lawn care specialist will work very hard to earn $30,000-$50,000 per year, but running a larger business with multiple crews will earn you a good deal more.

Learn how to start a lawn care business .

43. Pool Cleaning Business

To run a pool cleaning business, you should be self-motivated, comfortable working long hours alone, and ideally, you should enjoy working outside. If you’re marketing your own pool-cleaning company, this will occupy a good chunk of your time. But mainly, your duties will consist of chemical manipulations for clean swimming water, pool pump management, vacuuming, and pool basket emptying.

Supply costs are on the higher side for pool cleaners and may consume up to 20% of their revenue. Pool cleaning is fairly lucrative for a labor job, however, offering as much as $50-$60 per hour.

Learn how to start a pool cleaning business .

44. Handyman Business

Independent, hard-working people in robust physical condition can put their problem-solving skills to use by starting up a handyman business. There is a massive field of possibilities for someone in this low-cost business, depending on their knowledge of various domestic appliances and home improvement practices.

Ongoing costs can be troublesome for a handyman business, as it requires the right licenses and quality tool replacement. The profits may justify these deductions if your company targets a more challenging or unusual field of repair, which will permit you to charge accordingly for the value of your services.

Learn how to start a handyman business .

45. Cleaning Business

Last but not least on our list of low-cost business ideas is a cleaning business. Highly motivated people with energy to spare can be well suited to a cleaning business, which demands a great deal of physical exertion for long periods of time. Cleaning businesses can operate as general services, or specialize in a certain type of cleaning, like residential or office-oriented services.

Ongoing costs for cleaning supplies and equipment maintenance may prove higher than is desirable, but fast, efficient work makes for more customers and more money earned in a day. A smaller cleaning business can still make between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, which can really motivate you to remain on your feet those long hours.

Learn how to start a cleaning business .

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington D.C.
• West Virginia

Explore More

Home Business Ideas

There are a variety of businesses you can run out of your home, and because of the minimal overhead expenses, most of them can be started fairly cheaply. In this article, we outline our top 40 businesses you can start from home.

Online Business Ideas

Whether you’re looking to build an online empire or earn a little money on the side, one of the best things about owning an online business is having the ability to work as much or as little as you want -- from whatever location you prefer.

Unique Business Ideas

There are many ways to leverage American consumers’ fascination with trending specialty products and services. In this article, we discuss 40 niche, clever business ideas that are ideal for the modern entrepreneur.

Side-hustle Business Ideas

If you’re looking to scratch the entrepreneurial itch without giving up your day job, you’re probably on the hunt for a side-hustle that aligns with your personal interests and your schedule. These 40 side-hustles satisfy a range of interests and can easily turn into full-time careers.

How to Start a Business

How to Choose a Business Structure

What is an LLC?

Free Online Business Plan Generator

• Start A Blog
• Start Business
• Grow Business
• Earn Online

75 Most Profitable Business Ideas Without Investment

Do you want to start a business but have no money? Then you have landed in the right place. Here in this article for the benefit of people who are looking to earn money by putting in some extra effort, we have compiled a selective list of the most profitable business ideas without investment or very little money.

The advent of the Internet has ensured anyone can start a business from anywhere with minimal or even without any investment. Gone are the days when people used to think about starting and making money from a business is too difficult. You may be a young kid, a housewife, a full-time jobber, or anyone looking forward to starting a venture of your own to earn a full or part-time decent income.

List of 75 Business Ideas Without Investment

1. start a blog.

You will find thousands of individuals making a full-time income by sharing and providing opinions and information on different topics for free through their blogs.

To be successful in this profession, it is important to choose a subject of your interest. And then, focus on reaching the target market for the subject. Topics can be anything you find interesting and also people have an interest in those subjects.

The topics can be:

• Review of Products
• Book review

There are many ways of making money through a blog like an affiliate marketing, advertisement (Google Adsense), reviewing and selling products, etc.

Learn More: How to Start a Blog & Make Money

2. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a popular method of promoting the products & services of other companies & websites on the internet. For each sale generated, you will earn a commission. Affiliate marketing is the easiest and most profitable business on the internet because if you don’t have your own product but still you can make money by selling other merchants’ products.

Having your own site is an advantage though you can promote products from social media sites like Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest, etc. This is one of the most popular business ideas without investment.

3. Make Money from YouTube

Youtube has now become one of the most popular businesses that can be started by anyone without practically no investment. Presently thousands of you tubers are making millions by uploading videos on youtube for free. However, to make good money, it is advised to understand the tricks to be a successful YouTuber.

4. Dropshipping Business

If you want to get into a product-selling business online without manufacturing your own, dropshipping is a good option. Additionally, you require minimal investment to start.

You just need to identify a supplier and source products from them. You don’t need to maintain a warehouse as there is no need for stocking inventory in the dropshipping business.

Learn More:  How To Start a Drop Shipping Business

5. Baby Sitting

People who like children and have a lot of leisure time in hand can easily start a babysitting business. Babysitting is simply taking care of other’s children in the absence of their parents. This home-based business is simply about offering your clients peace of mind about their child in terms of qualifications and security. Read More…

6. Business Startup Instruction

Business start-up instruction is one of the most profitable and trending home business ideas with no money. If you have years of experience in entrepreneurship and have an idea about the industry you may consider starting this business. This business demands adequate knowledge and expertise in the specific field with a mind to help others.

7. Career Counselling

Career counseling is all about providing the right advice to the students in their career path and to the jobber also who are looking for better career alternatives. With proper expertise, you can start this home business without investment. Having a career counseling degree is a plus in this business.

8. PTC Sites – Earn Money Right Now

PTC sites provide opportunities where you can earn simply by clicking advertisements. You don’t need anything else. However, the earnings initially are very low. You can make decent money when you bring in referrals to your system. In Referral Marketing, a person earns from his/her referral activities, even if he/she is sleeping.

9. Consulting

If you are an expert in a specific field, you can initiate providing consulting services to the company or to any individual. With a true passion and adequate knowledge, anyone can start this business. Definitely, you must understand your area of expertise in that particular subject. Read More…

10. Content Developer – Popular Among Business Ideas Without Investment

Producing quality info-based content that engages prospects and customers is the biggest content marketing challenge businesses face today. You can work here. You can initiate this business in your individual capacity or content writing capacity.

11. Content Writing

Freelance content or copywriting is one of the most profitable business ideas that need very less start-up capital to initiate. With good writing skills and knowledge of grammar, any individual can start this business.

12. Event Planning

If you enjoy organizing programs, the event planning business is ideal for you. This business opportunity requires minimal investment and is comparatively easy to start, profitable, and also rewarding. The business is everything about keeping your clients happy and you can mean it by another term business entertainment.

13. Creating Music Videos

Nowadays a lot of companies look for music videos for brand-building activities. Artists and singers also look for music videos for promotion. You can try this creative work if you enjoy doing so. Nowadays, you can shoot your music videos from an average smartphone and edit them with free editing software. When finished upload them on YouTube for free.

14. Direct Mail Service Consulting

Generally, community businesses prefer to have direct mail services. Those who are targeting mass like restaurants,  auto service shops electronics or gadgets shops, and general interest retail stores. This is a way of advertising where results can be measured quickly and easily.

In starting this business you will only need to have a computer with internet and phone. You can initiate this venture from your home location.

15. Earn Money Selling Used Books

This is one of the best options for internet business ideas without investment. The concept is earning good money by selling used books. Second-hand books are abundant. You can earn handsome money by selling those books. Read More…

16. E-Book Writing

If you enjoy writing and you know the technique of making e-books then E-book writing is one of the best business ideas for women. You can start selling these E-books from your website, blog, or from Amazon also. Read More…

17. E-Commerce Consulting

Nowadays every small and big business is looking to tap the internet audiences to sell their products or services. Individuals having expertise in online marketing, e-commerce, and e-communications may start this business from a home location.

18. Employee Training

The demand for specialized employee training is enormous and it is increasing. Mostly required employee training courses are in customer service, money handling, working place safety measures, stress management, etc. Normally these training courses are conducted on the employer’s site. One can operate this business from home.

19. E-Teaching

E-teaching or online teaching is one of the most popular and trending educational businesses nowadays. The demand is also increasing. Any aspiring individual who loves the teaching profession can initiate this venture in two ways. Either by registering on an online tutoring marketplace or building his/her own online teaching business. Read More…

20. Event Management

Event management agency business demands superior organizational and planning skills. Graduating from college in events management or a related major is a plus, but it’s not a required necessity.

In the event management consulting business, your major customers are large corporations, educational institutes, married couples, religious organizations, political candidates NGOs, and many others. Read More…

21. Fashion Designing

Any individual having knowledge and experience in fashion design can start this business with almost zero capital investment.

22. Start a Small Newspaper

If you have an interest in writing or reading, starting a small newspaper is a good option. However, to make it successful it is vital to select an in-demand niche and a good marketing plan to generate advertisement revenue.

23. Finance Consulting/ Insurance Agency

Finance consulting includes various different finance-related services. Having proper expertise and knowledge, any individual can start this business as a home-based also. It includes insurance, investment planning, tax consulting, bookkeeping, business consulting, collection agency, expense reduction analysis, and a lot more.

24. First Aid Training

The first-aid training business can be started from home and can be operated part-time. Many industries such as construction, warehouse, transport, and manufacturing generally conduct first-aid training for their employees. Having expertise any individual can initiate this business with proper networking with the clients.

25. Fitness Instructor

Having expertise in aerobics and yoga any individual can initiate a home-based business as a yoga instructor . With very low start-up capital and a planned marketing strategy, you can initiate this business.

26. Flower Arrangement Course

Flower arranging or flower decoration with fresh and dried flowers is one of the popular sectors for decades globally. Having expertise in the field you can start this business from a home location and on a part-time basis.

27. Freelance Bookkeeping

Every small or big company needs business accounting services like bank reconciliation, e-filling, service tax, sales tax, payroll, etc. One can start this home-based business by giving these services freelance to businesses that can’t afford to have a permanent accountant. Read More…

28. Graphic Design Service

Having expertise in graphic designing one can start a graphic design service as an individual business or can initiate as an organization by hiring experts. Technical knowledge with a creative mind and as well as branding expertise is required in initiating this business. Read More…

29. Handyman Services

The handyman service industry is about providing odd-job services to house owners and commercial clients. This business is emerging and highly profitable. Some of the popular handyman service business ideas are air conditioning service, aluminum door & window making and repairing, antique furniture refurbishing, appliance repair service, blind cleaning, basement remodeling, cabinet making, etc. Read More…

30. Healthcare Consulting  

Healthcare consulting business opportunity demands proper knowledge and certification in health care. This is a highly profitable business and you can operate this business from home or from any commercial place also. You will need to have proper strategic planning and need to obtain a federal tax identification number, also known as an “EIN.”

31. Human Resource Consulting

The human resource consulting business is now a growing field. Businesses of every size need HR professionals to help them with tasks like recruitment, training, compliance, administration, and payroll.

While large corporate may choose to outsource to the big HR consulting firms, small and medium-sized businesses are looking for more personalized human resource consulting services to fulfill their needs.

32. Image Consulting

If you love pulling together the perfect outfit, you may want to consider becoming a fashion or image consultant. While it may not be obvious at first, the reasons that people may need an image consultant are quite varied. Read More…

33. Interior Designing

Having knowledge and experience in interior designing a woman entrepreneur can initiate this venture from a home location with low capital investment. Read More…

34. Internet Marketing  

In to-days world, every small and big business needs to have its own website . But only having a website does not ensure getting potential customers. A lot of technical and branding issues are there to creating a website as an effective marketing tool. Here you can work successfully as an internet marketing consultant. This is one of the most profitable advertising business ideas. Read More…

35. IT Security Consulting

IT security consulting is one of the most trending and profitable home-based business ideas. Having skills and knowledge about IT security one can initiate this business with low startup capital.

36. Landscape Expert

A landscape expert is a person who is knowledgeable in the field of landscape architecture.  The practice of landscape architecture includes site analysis, site inventory, land planning, planting design, grading, stormwater management, sustainable design, construction specification, and ensuring that all plans meet the current building codes and local and federal ordinances. Read More…

37. Make Money With Udemy

More than 40,000 courses are taught by expert instructors. Every student enrolling in these courses can learn at their own pace, on their own time, and on any device. At the same time, it allows teachers to make money by teaching students asking for knowledge to be learned. A teacher will receive 70% of the course fees.

38. Market Research Services

Initiating every small or big business, market research is mandatory for getting success. Providing market research services is a very profitable way of making money while you have the specific expertise for that.

39. Mobile App Making

The mobile app-making business has huge potential and vast opportunities. Since the launch of iPhones and smartphones, mobile apps have become more lucrative for new businesses.

Now a day the downloading rate of mobile apps is 30 million per day. In this business, one needs to concentrate on taking an app from concept to potentially high-tech reality with the right approach. Read More…

40. Nutrition Coach

Increasing awareness about health among people creates a demand for a nutritionist. As a nutritionist the main service you will be rendering is, helping them as a diet coach to live longer with a healthy body. This business can be initiated as a home-based and part-time also.

41. Office Supplies

Office supply is one of the profitable businesses ones that can start at home. Schools, institutes, and offices are the biggest consumer of office supplies. Effective negotiation skill and inventory management skill is required in starting an office supplies business.

42. Online Grocery Delivery

Online grocery delivery is one of the most trending home business ideas without investment. You don’t need to keep inventory in this business. Ask your local grocery retailers to register with you. Create a website with an online order system. Promote your site locally to receive orders from customers.

43. Online Product Selling

Online product selling a home business is a perfect opportunity for that individual who has knowledge about a specific product. You can start selling from your own website or from the marketplace by registering yourself.

44. Online Scholarship Directory

An online scholarship directory is a very good option to start from home. The scholarship is an ever-demanding subject among students and parents. Apart from advertisement, you can also earn from charging yearly fees from the members to access the site.

45. Online Survey – Popular Among Business Ideas without Investment

If you are hearing about online survey jobs for the first time, then here are some of the frequently answered questions (FAQs) that will give you a better understanding of online surveys & how you can earn money from online surveys. Read More…

46. Outdoor Advertising Consulting

An outdoor advertising consulting business is all about advising your client about advertising the product or services publicized outdoors. Actually, outdoor advertising offers visual marketing with its attractive and original means of communication. Read More…

47. Pet Grooming

Initiating a pet grooming business with allied pet accessories is a profitable and trending home-based business idea without investment. With proper knowledge and skill, any individual can start this business with less startup capital investment.

48. Product Branding @ Packaging  

In product branding @ packaging, you will be giving inputs on presenting the product properly and retail-ready. Any small and big businesses emphasize the importance of investing in the brand because it is the most valuable and powerful aspect of the business.

49. Promotional Product Selling

Promotional product selling is one of the highly profitable advertising business ideas you can initiate with moderate capital investment. The business includes a wide range of product varieties such as key chains, mugs, T-shirts, caps, wall clocks, business card holders, and many others. Read More…

50. Real Estate Agent

A real estate agency is a still profitable business in this digital era. You can start this business with your local properties. Start with every type of property such as new, resale, and rental property that needs clients.

51. Resume Writing

A person having a fair amount of idea about resume writing can start to resume writing home-based business by crafting excellent resumes for job seekers. Also, you need to be good enough at editing, structuring, and proofreading. For starting this business you will just need to have a computer with some basic software. Read More…

52. Sales Training  

The success of every business depends on sales and sales training is an effective tool to have skilled employees in this field. Many companies hire a sales trainer for this purpose. Ninety percent of sales managers suggest that a lack of fresh and relevant training material is what keeps their teams from staying engaged, according to Salesforce.

Eighty percent of sales managers claim they do not have the time to train their staff. Having adequate knowledge and expertise any individual can start this business on a full or part-time basis.                                                   

53. Scrap Booking

Everyone wants to have a creative scrapbook of his/ her own. but everyone doesn’t have enough time or creativity that requires crafting a scrapbook. You can start this business by helping others to have an attractively memorable scrapbook.

54. Security Agency    

Starting a security agency is a profitable business. Many organizations want to keep security personnel on a contract basis. You can start this business with almost zero investment.

55. Self-Defense Training   

In today’s world self-defense training courses becoming increasingly popular. With proper knowledge and expertise, you can craft courses, especially for children, women, or seniors. In this business, you can establish a self-defense training school or you can go for individual training in their places.                      

56. Senior Caring  

Many aged people require assistance to perform their day-to-day household activities like cleaning, washing; laundry, etc. one can start this home-based business locally with a minimum or no investment.

57. SEO Consulting

SEO consultant serves the industry as an internet marketing expert. When people search for specifics in search engines, websites that appear and come on the first few pages, are the sites that usually attract a good amount of traffic.

One can start this knowledge-based business with a low-cost investment. Actually, you require only a computer with an internet connection to start this business. Read More…   

58. Sewing Classes  

If you have expertise in any specialty sewing like crochet, woolens, etc. you can initiate this business. This business can be operated part-time also.                                                        

59. SlideShow Making

  A person having a creative mind and passion to work with photography can start a slideshow-making business by using some specific software. With the creative application, you can easily turn simple photographs into a memorable and presentable slideshow for your client. You can start this home-based business only by having a computer with some specific software and an internet connection.

60. Smartphone Repairing

The increasing popularity of smartphones has increased the potential of the smartphone repair business. With some small tools and equipment and specific skill, any individual can initiate this business as home-based. Read More…

61. Social Media Consulting

Almost every people use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest these days and many companies are ready to pay people to get the service of their social media accounts management. Social Media Consulting is one of the highly profitable internet business ideas for women entrepreneurs.     

62. Ayurveda Tourism

Ayurveda upholds a holistic system of care on the principles of physiological balance and detoxification. National, as well as international acceptance of Ayurvedic healing, has definitely widened the bounds and prospects of Ayurveda tourism.

With its systematic means of detoxification as enshrined in the process of ‘Panchakarma’. This is one of the most trending home business ideas without investment.

63. Sports Coaching

Sports coaching in the field of football cricket, basketball, and tennis, is very popular globally. In starting this business you will need to determine whether you will be focusing on indoor or outdoor games.   Read More…

64. Staffing Agency

Basically, a staffing agency or job placement organization matches employers to employees. Placements can be either short-term or long-term. Staffing agencies are compensated when they find a qualified candidate and the company hires the individual. The agency will be paid a percentage of the hired individual’s salary. Read More.. .

65. Stress Management Courses

Nowadays, stress management courses are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Stress in the workplace reduces productivity, increases management pressures, and makes people ill in many ways, evidence of which is still increasing. Having knowledge and expertise is one of the trending education business ideas globally.

66. Translation Service

Translation service is fast becoming a highly potential web-based business offering opportunities for making money online. With the growing reach of net connectivity and globalization, knowing and understanding other languages have become extremely vital in keeping pace with the speed of society. Read More…

67. Tour Guide

Tour guide business opportunity demands adequate knowledge of historical information and local culture about the location where you are starting the business. Basically, the business is all about sharing information about the places with a group of people in an entertaining way. Read More…

68. Tutoring

With specialization in a particular subject, one may start tutoring. This is one of the most popular education business ideas any individual can start with less capital or no capital investment. Read More…

69. Advertising Campaign Developer

You can plan and build creative online campaigns and content for your clients— from successful social media campaigns, apps, mobile contests, video, email distribution, search engine optimization, online media ad buys — or a mix of all of the above.

70. Video Producing  

Nowadays a lot of companies look for music videos for brand-building activities. Artists and singers also look for music videos for promotion. You can try this creative work if you enjoy doing so.

71. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistant businesses is providing services like checking and answering emails, organizing to-do lists, and updating calendars and schedules with minimal interaction with your clients. One can start this home-based business with a computer with an internet connection and a phone. This industry is growing globally. Read More…

72. Web Designing

A person who has some basic knowledge of HTML coding and graphics designing can start this business easily. Every small and big business requires a website to promote its products or services. You can start the business of creating and a maintaining website for your clients only by having a computer with an internet connection and a phone. Read More…

73. Wedding Consulting

A wedding consulting business comes naturally to a person who is organized, focused on details, and loves to coordinate events. Basically, your creativity can make others’ wedding days memorable for a lifetime. In addition, you can start this home-based business with low startup capital with the help of online promotion. Read More…

74. Woodworking Courses

Woodworking to produce specialty products has proven popular globally. Having expertise and adequate knowledge about the subject you can create woodworking courses to train aspiring individuals who want to start a career in woodworking.

75. 3D Modelling & Animation

Basically,   3d modeling gives a product an effect of the real world in digital form. 3d modeling and animation services are normally used for Architectural modeling & visualization, product modeling and design, characters & clips, E-learning content, mechanical and engineering visualization, and many others.

However to be successful like any other business, home-based business ideas without investment when executed demand dedication, meticulous planning, and a zeal to succeed. Take a decision and go ahead. Best of Luck.

About the Author: 99businessideas.com led by Rupak Chakrabarty is committed to helping beginners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in starting, managing, and growing their businesses.

Share This Article:

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Making Smart Investments: A Beginner’s Guide

• Matthew Blume

Reduce the risk factor, increase the reward factor, and generate meaningful returns.

If you make smart decisions and invest in the right places, you can reduce the risk factor, increase the reward factor, and generate meaningful returns. Here are a few questions to consider as you get started.

• Why should you invest? At a minimum, investing allows you to keep pace with cost-of-living increases created by inflation. At a maximum, the major benefit of a long-term investment strategy is the possibility of compounding interest, or growth earned on growth.
• How much should you save vs. invest? As a guideline, save 20% of your income to to build an emergency fund equal to roughly three to six months’ worth of ordinary expenses. Invest additional funds that aren’t being put toward specific near-term expenses.
• How do investments work?    In the finance world, the market is a term used to describe the place where you can buy and sell shares of stocks, bonds, and other assets. You need to open an investment account, like a brokerage account, which you fund with cash that you can then use to buy stocks, bonds, and other investable assets.
• How do you make (or lose) money? In the market, you make or lose money depending on the purchase and sale price of whatever you buy. If you buy a stock at $10 and sell it at $15, you make $5. If you buy at $15 and sell at $10, you lose $5.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Are you a saver or spender?

• MB Matthew Blume  is a portfolio manager of private client accounts at  Pekin Hardy Strauss Wealth Management . He also manages the firm’s ESG research and shareholder advocacy efforts. He earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Valparaiso University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Matthew is a CFA charterholder.

Partner Center

Myinvestmentideas.com

Best Investment Plans in India and Money Saving Ideas

50+ Online Business Ideas without Investment | Zero Investment Business

The technological advancement has made it possible to work from the comfort of your home.  This concept has opened several opportunities for housewives, college students and even other qualified individuals to work online and earn money online. There are thousands of business ideas that can be started. However, there are only few online business that can be started without investment or with low investment. Which are the best Online Business Ideas without investment? Which are the best ideas to start online business without investment? Who can start these zero investment business ideas?

Also Read: 20+ Zero Investment Business Ideas [Profitable]

What are online business ideas without investment?

Online businesses can be carried out from any place without being physically present at that particular point. Many of them can be carried out without investing a penny from your pocket. They can be run with the help of basic resources like computer/ laptop and an internet connection.  These could be for full time or part time (e.g. for college students). This is a big list of business ideas. One should review this list of business offers without investment and select in which they are passionate about.

50+ Online Business Ideas without Investment / Zero Investment Business

Here are list of 50+ online business without investment / without investment business ideas. These do not require any kind of investment or might require small investment. This includes trending hot new business ideas too.

1)  Freelance writing

If you are capable of writing articles or reports with good flow in language, there are huge opportunities for you. There is a plethora of websites like upwork.com, guru.com, elance.com that provides vacancies to hire freelance writers at good pay-scale. This is one of the good part time business ideas without investment.

2) Blogging

Blogging is creating useful and educational content for a targeted audience. If you have good knowledge of a particular subject, you can make good chunks of money by sharing it with a large audience via blogs. If your blog has good content it will gain popularity with time. If your blog attracts very high traffic, you can attract advertisements to to make money. You can apply for Google Adsense or approach advertisers and offer them the Ad space on your website. In simple terms, whatever I am doing on this blog is called blogging. This is zero investment business that can be started by any one who is passionate about creating content.

3) Dropshipping

Dropshipping allows you to sell items online without stocking them physically. This is another unique concept gaining ground and popularity these days. For this, you need to open a free store on any selling platform like Amazon, Ebay, etc. now. Now, search for a wholesaler of the product that you wish to sell. You would find a lot of wholesale drop shippers on platforms like Aliexpress or Oberlo. Crack a deal with them and ask them to send photos of their products. Upload these photos on your store with SEO-Optimized descriptions. As soon as you get someone to buy a product, deduct your profit and channelize the amount to drop shippers’ store to place the order with the client’s address. This way, you can easily make profits without investing anything in stocks.

4) Editing and proofreading

If you have an eye for every detail and can catch even the smallest of mistakes, this business is made for you. It is another zero investment business which can be easily run from home.

5) Create online courses

If you are looking for without investment business , this could be right one for you. Some people are always in hunger to learn new things and internet is one such place to do so. If you are a master in any particular topic, package it into a course and start selling it on platforms like Udemy, Teachable, Thinkific, etc. You need to have extraordinary knowledge about something that the people are keen to learn like cooking, yoga exercises, etc. If you are passionate about teaching, this could be good Online Business without Investment in India.

6) Online books

If you are capable enough of writing a book, but do not want to spend on publishing, you have an opportunity to publish the entire book and make good sums of money from selling it to Amazon. Kindle publishing is a platform that offers you this opportunity. If you want to boost your sales, you can do some social media advertising for it.

7) Graphic services

If you are excellent in graphic designing, it is one of the businesses you can think of. There are lots of people who look for a good graphic artist.

8) CPA marketing

Cost per Action (CPA) marketing is a concept in which you have to convince people to take a particular action like to take a quiz, play a game or sign up for a newsletter. If you can  convince people to do so, you will be paid for the number of actions taken.

9) Instagram Marketing

Business owners always search for platforms where we can reach out to a large number of the target audience. If you are capable of building a large fan-following on an Instagram account, you can start accepting paid advertisements from clients who are looking to advertise on your platform.

10) Sell videos online

If you can produce really good videos to teach people something or entertain them, you can consider recording and selling videos on YouTube and other video publishing websites. If you have the art to cook different delicacies or do something amazing and creative, create a video and put them online, you will be amazed to see the response of the people.

Now let us see balance 40 Online Business Ideas that can be started with zero investment

11) PowerPoint presentations – Many business executives do not possess the art of creating professional PowerPoint presentations. So they need to hire people to create it on their behalf. You can earn as high as $20 for each slide for creating PowerPoint presentations, but for it, all you need is your creative talent along with excellent marketing skills.

12) Online surveys – Business owners and survey companies often require people to respond to the surveys conducted about their product and services. Along with getting paid for the surveys, you can get free products and services for testing.

13) Language translation services – Many people need translators for the languages that they do not know. For example- there are many people from other countries who do not know English language, but when they have their documents written in English, they need translators to help them. If you are an expert in any language, you can easily sell this service online and make good sums of money.

14) Data analysis – Another business idea which can fetch you good sums of money is data mining and analysis. If you can learn the ropes, you can earn a lot by offering these services on freelancing platforms.

15) Online news correspondent – Associate with any online news platform and start contributing news to their platform. You can start this from home as you will be contributing news online.

16) Work on Amazon Mechanical Turk – It is a platform owned by Amazon which allows you to complete small tasks in exchange for a few cents like you can be asked to fill a form or respond to a survey and several other tasks. Small tasks can add up to some significant income.

17) Photography – If you are a good photographer, you can sell stock photos online. You can click beautiful photos of sceneries or the world around you and sell them online. This one of the best online business Ideas without investment who are passionate about photography.

18) Document transcription services – This business involves translating audio scripts and documents into written ones or converting written documents into audio books.

19) CV writing – There are millions of people in the world who do not possess the skill of writing their CV in a professional and presentable manner. If you are good at writing a CV, this is one service you can easily render from home.

20) Link Building expert – In this business, you can help blog owners and webmasters create links all over the internet so can they can attract more traffic and add more visibility for their website or blog.

21) Virtual Gaming – If you are very good at playing games, you can visit virtual gaming websites to play games and win prize money. However, some websites may charge you some fees before you play, but there are many others that offer you free credits to play their first few games. This is an activity which involves fun while earning money.

You may also like: Top 10 Latest Small Scale Manufacturing Businesses to start now

22) Online Maid Agency – specialized maids and trained servants are in great demand. For this business, you need to create a network with maid agencies in different cities, help them list the services online and you can earn good commission from this type of business.

23) Online foreign language teaching – Many people are keen to learn a foreign language. If you have great command of more than two international languages, you can make money through internet. You just need to compile them into a compact learning course, list this service online and people who need the services will contact you. This one of the good online business Ideas without investment if you know any of the foreign language and passionate about teaching.

24) Online Consulting Services – If you are an expert in any field, you can provide online consulting services to your client. The advice could be in any field like business matters, relationship or technical advice. The fact is that with the technological advancement you can easily do video calling and live chat with your clients that may be residing in any part of the world but you need to be an expert in your industry. If you are good in proving consulting advice, you can start this zero investment business online.

25) YouTube Advertising Channel – Even this is without investment business. If you are into the field of advertising, this is one of the ways you can make huge sums of money. All you need to do is to source for YouTube videos that are in trend and help your client advertise their product or services on those videos.

26) Remote technical support – Many small businesses do not employ their own in-house IT manager. Mostly they require someone who can remotely perform the task as it cost them less. This is yet another lucrative service that you can offer online without investing a penny.

27) Programming services – If you possess some knowledge about web programming, writing web scripts, or coding you can start offering these services to web developers online.

28) Professional Review Services – You can take up the tasks like testing new products or services or reading a book and writing reviews about them which in turn helps other potential buyers to form a decision.

29) Start an Online School – If you are eager to impart knowledge, you need to get a license and other necessary legal requirements to open a school and can start a school online compiling up some interesting courses of diplomas. This one of the top online business Ideas without investment in India if you are passionate about teaching.

30) Mobile Application Development – If you are capable of developing mobile applications, you have a very good chance of making money from freelancing platforms like Freelancer and Upwork.

31) Software Installation and Coaching Services – If you have technical knowledge about some software you can make money by helping individuals and businesses to install them as well as to train them how to use them.

32) Web Designing Services – This is yet another lucrative online business in which you need to design websites for the people. There is a large market for this business as a plethora of websites are getting launched on a daily basis and the demand for web designers is increasing day by day. If you are passionate about website designing, this could be good Online Business Ideas without any Investment for you.

33) Ghostwriting

If you possess good, creative writing skills, you can start your own online business as a ghostwriter with zero investment. There are many people who are overdue to the author to write a book or a piece of writing, but they are unable to do so because of their busy schedule. All you need to do is collect their thoughts and compile them to frame a book. You are writing on their behalf.

34) Virtual Assistants – There are many busy business people or organizations who look for virtual assistants to help them in their day to day jobs like checking up with emails, replying them, product listing, etc.

35) Offer voice-over services – If you have a very good voice and excellent elocution as an asset you can generate extra income with it. You need to search for Google voice-over outsourcing jobs and you will find loads of them. Choose a suitable one according to your voice as a voice artist. You can sign up with an advertising company and they will help to secure voice-over jobs for you.

36) Online Art Gallery – This is yet another interesting business in which you need to form tie-ups with artists and open an online art gallery by selling art products online. All you need to do is to display the artwork along with their prices and shipping expenses.

37) Selling Online Wallpapers – Another business idea is creating and selling online wallpapers. Although this business will not give you a lot of money, but it will not consume your time as well. It can be continued along with your regular employment. If you have creativity this could be one of the best online business ideas without any investment.

38) Podcasting – Choose a topic that is interesting and capable of engaging people and start a podcast series as soon as your audience begins to grow. With time, you can start selling advertisement slots to companies and business owners.

39) Teach people how to cook online – if you are marvelous at making both local and international cuisines, one of the best online businesses is you can start teaching people online about it. You will be amazed to see the level of response if your dishes are delicious and different too. This is one of the best online zero investment business ideas.

40) Electronic Cigar (e-cigarettes) Business – There is a huge demand for E-cigarettes and with the help of proper publicity you can make this business a big hit. You may need meager capital at initial levels to launch this business. One should note that such business is banned in some countries (example in India), hence check whether it is legally permitted in your country before opting for such plans.

41) Selling domains – This is yet another business that can be done online with zero investment. For this you need to open up domains you feel available and then source for those who are interested in buying such. It is similar to real estate investment which appreciates with time. One don’t need to spend too much time, hence this is a good part time business without investment.

42) Online skill acquisition training – The era of internet has made it possible for professional trainers to mint money via training people without even meeting them physically like if you want to train people on how to make handmade hats, bags, mats etc. You can find people who are interested in learning this type of art skills. You can send them videos and training manuals as well. This is one of the good online business without investment.

43) Online car dealership business – Possessing a physical car garage or showroom requires huge capital, but this is a new trend that you can sell cars online. All you need to do is to open a website where the cars you want to sell can be listed- it can be second hand or brand new as well.

44) Online gaming business – People from all over the world like to play online games. Game lovers visit gaming websites regularly to register and play games of their choice. If you are looking for making money from the internet you can do so by starting your own online gaming business. If you have love games this could be one of the nicest online business ideas without investment in India.

45) Online marketing – Many organizations employ different types of marketing strategies to reach out to the target customers and one of them is online marketing. You need to sign up with an organization and they will assign some leads to you. You have to follow them up until you generate sales and on that basis, you will be paid commission.

46) Online flight booking services – For this business; you do not need to get the required IATA certificate. What all require is a computer, internet, basic knowledge about operating computer and partnership agreement with registered and certified ticketing company. Under this arrangement, you will be required to book flights for your clients and you will be making a commission. You can carry on this business with your regular business or job.

47) Online research jobs – If you are good at making research and writing reports, then this business is for you. You can make good money as a freelance researcher for many organizations and individuals all over the globe.

You may like: 20 Part Time Business Ideas without investment / low investment

48) Online hotel booking business – If you are residing in a country or a city that attracts visitors then you can look forward to this online hotel booking business with zero investment. You are required to enter into a partnership with hotels around you so that when people book their hotels from your website, they will pay you commission based on the agreement.

49) Online sports betting business – Sports betting has always been one of the favorite activities of people and with the advent of internet distance is no matter now. So you should consider starting your online sports betting business if you love sports and betting. One has to review any legal issues that might impact in specific locations.

50) Matchmaking website – If you are very good at making relationships and passionate about it, then you can look forward to generating income by starting a matchmaking website. It is an online community where you can help people look for their partners. You have to create a website and start asking people to post their bio-data on it. You can charge money by making them members.

51) Become a social media expert – If you are good at handling various social media platforms you can start this online business in which you have to manage social media for various busy business executives. For this, you must have some level of professionalism and expertise and you can manage social media pages for organizations, celebrities or famous personalities. If you are a good social media expert, this could be a good internet business without investment.

52) Online photo editing services – If you are a skilled photo editor you can start this online business. If you have an eye for details by editing the pictures professionally and minutely you can make huge sums of money not within the country but from overseas too.

Conclusion: With the advent of the internet, the entire world is at your fingertips. If you have consolidated knowledge about any art or skill, don’t wait for anything. Just go and hit the world with it.

If you enjoyed this article, share it with your friends and colleagues through Facebook and Twitter.

• Recent Posts

• IREDA IPO – Issue Details, Positive & Risk Factors and Review - November 14, 2023
• 10 Largecap Mutual Funds offered maximum returns in 5 years - November 11, 2023
• ASK Automotive IPO – Details, Positive & Risk Factors and Review - November 5, 2023

Related Articles:

• Small Business Ideas

23 comments

I am searching part time working like typing etc or selling without investment

14) Data analysis – Another business idea which can fetch you good sums of money is data mining and analysis. If you can learn the ropes, you can earn a lot by offering these services on freelancing platforms.

Nice business ideas

Dear all My name is badar durrez i wNt to start blogging and intagram businese i do not have money to start plz help me by email id

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

About Suresh KP

Hello, this is Suresh KP , the founder of this blog. I have written over 2,500 articles on this blog covering various investment options in India. I am a Certified Investment Adviser and a Certified Research Analyst. However, I am NOT a SEBI Registered Investment Advisor . The articles on this blog are created for educational purposes only. Please consult your investment adviser before making any investment decisions.

Top Posts & Pages

• IREDA IPO - Issue Details, Positive & Risk Factors and Review
• 30+ Future Business Ideas in India for 2025 | 2030 | 2050 and beyond
• 50 Small Scale Manufacturing Business Ideas with Low investment
• 30+ Profitable Retail Business Ideas | Small Shop Business Ideas in India
• 90+ Small Food Business Ideas with Small Capital
• 30 Best Manufacturing Business to start with 10 Lakhs or 15 lakhs
• 30 Most Profitable Transportation and Logistics Business Ideas
• 20+ Small Business Ideas to start in India with Rs 1 Lakh
• 60 Profitable Small Scale Business Ideas [with low investment]
• 20 Small Manufacturing Business Ideas with Low Cost

Category of Articles

• Classroom Lessons (183)
• Crorepathi Ideas (26)
• Fixed Income (387)
• Insurance Plans (252)
• Money Saving Ideas (41)
• Mutual Funds (406)
• New Fund Offers (NFO) (123)
• Other-Ideas (223)
• Retirement Planning (48)
• Small Business Ideas (77)
• Stocks (423)
• Taxation (124)

Ini Patrick Notes

Top 50 Small Business Ideas with Low Investment

Looking for small business ideas with low investment for your next project? Read on, this article is the answer to that question.

In the following sections of this article, you will find proven and profitable small business ideas with low investment in different niches that are already working for many millions of people around the world.

Starting a business is an exciting prospect. However, many ideas require time, money, and risk. It is better to start with a small Business Idea with Low Investment.

So, if you’re wondering what business to start, whether it’s worth starting your own business, or just looking for a business idea, we have you covered on this.

There are two important principles by which people succeed in business:

• First, you must have an interesting business idea.
• Second, you must be determined to be successful.

Now you’re probably wondering how to find that one brilliant idea…

Before we get into that, though, let’s look at what three top mistakes you shouldn’t make when thinking about starting your own business.

Table of Contents

Mistakes To Avoid

Most people are afraid to start their own business because of the risk of losing financial liquidity. There have been many cases where even the best business ideas didn’t allow entrepreneurs to build a stable revenue stream from the start.

However, that’s probably not what you’re here for. So, we’ve identified the three most common mistakes when starting your own business so you can avoid any sudden surprises.

Very often people are not properly prepared to run their own business. The most common mistakes made by entrepreneurs are:

• They do not examine the demand for a specific service or product in the region.
• Most of them quit their full-time job before they reach financial liquidity.
• They invest all their money at the beginning of the company’s operations.

You can combine your full-time job with starting your own business with the ready-made business ideas listed in this article. Over time, as customers and orders grow, you can switch to half the time and after some time just focus on running your own business.

Alright. We already know the main mistakes to avoid. Now let’s take a look at a few things…

The Best Small Business Ideas with Low Investment You Need Right Now

Despite popular opinion, there are many ways to set up a business that allows you to focus on getting started rather than on logistics and upfront fees.

These small business ideas with low investment are ideal for novices, bootstrappers, or anyone with a busy schedule, as they allow you to start a side business without leaving your day job.

You must still come up with a great idea, build a brand, market your business and deliver exceptional customer service. However, an advantage for these small business ideas with low investment is that many of the typical starting expenses, such as initial inventory, warehousing, and retail space, can be avoided. 

It may seem that all good small business ideas with low investment and in most cases “No investment” business ideas have already been taken, but this is not the case.

Individuals who work for someone else but believe they can do better come up with most of the concepts of a successful small business venture.

Some begin their careers as employees or apprentices for other companies, then progressively gain experience and skills before setting out on their own.

For you to be successful in any of these small business ideas with low investment businesses, it is essential that:

• You love the business ideas
• Acquire the required skill set to accomplish the business idea
• You have an idea that consumers need

50 Best Small Business Ideas with Low Investment

Here is the list of the top 50 small business ideas with low investment you can start this year and beyond:

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy in which a company pays people, known as affiliates, to promote and sell its products.

The affiliate receives a commission every time a new customer is brought in from the company.

Click here to Learn How to Project from Affiliate Marketing Business Model

2. Fashion Designer

Isn’t it nice to have your clothing line? It is now easier than ever. You can outsource production and sell online.

You can sell on platforms like Amazon and eBay, on your website, or even at traditional retailers.

3. Self-Publishing

Some self-published authors make over a million dollars a year. All you need are a few publicly available tools and the skill to create an intriguing book that will sell for the same level of success.

This is a very good small business idea with low investment that can be started with little or no investment.

Want to learn how to profit with self-publishing?

4. Social Media Consultant

This business is great for someone who understands how to use social media to achieve business goals.

You can either be an expert (for example, running Facebook ads) or be a generalist managing LinkedIn, Snapchat stories, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

This task has become easier with the use of social media platforms.

5. Content Writer

Content marketing is the most effective strategy for businesses of all sizes to acquire customers and establish themselves as market leaders. 

6. Blogging

  It’s free to get started, but be patient, it will take time to gain visibility and grow your audience.

There is a lot of competition nowadays. There are over a billion websites and blogs, with over 200 million very active.

As excellent content creation requires a solid understanding of SEO.

7. Start A YouTube Channel

Beyond live game streaming, there are still vast, unknown waters that are full of possibilities for anyone brave enough to pursue them on YouTube .

8. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an online business concept that eliminates the need to store physical products. 

All you have to do is create an online store and collaborate with suppliers who are ready to store, package, and ship orders to your customers.

Plus, you won’t have to waste hours researching merchandise because you can use dropshipping apps to find great items to sell.

This is a small business idea with low investment that can fly organically if set up properly. Click here to learn how to set up your dropshipping business.

9. House Cleaning Services 

Starting a home cleaning business can be a very simple route to business ownership for individuals who enjoy, or at least don’t mind, cleaning.

Very little investment is required to kickstart this business idea. Just buy basic house cleaning supplies, keep a customer base, and clean, clean, clean! (Hopefully, you will employ others as the business grows)

10. Fitness Instructor

With “Hot Girl Summer” becoming official, the demand for “summer bods” is high. Here is your chance to make a name for yourself and the best part is that you need very little investment for this small business idea.

11. Uber or Bolt Driver

If you have a car that you rarely use or if you enjoy driving. Here’s a business idea that makes money at a cost.

12. Virtual Assistant

Anyone who is compensated for doing another person’s work is called a “virtual assistant” .

Let’s say someone owns and operates an Internet store. He may need help dealing with consumer questions and queries.

A virtual assistant is paid by the hour and often works with multiple clients at the same time. The obvious constraint in this business is time.

13. Digital Marketing Campaign Manager

In a world where we have all gone digital, even the marketing sector had to jump on the bandwagon. All that is required of you is a computer, smartphone, and your creative mind, then voila! The world is yours to win.

You can also take people under your wing, mentor them and eventually hire them.

14. Child Care Services

If you love kids then this news is just for you. All you need to do is babyproof your home, to get the necessary supplies and you can go ahead and start taking care of the neighbourhood kids. (You’ll be the best version of day-care)

15. Landscaping

  This is for my ‘Green Thumb’ folks.

If you already have a passion for gardening, you most likely have the basic tools you need. You don’t have to break the bank to invest in this small business idea .

Start by helping close friends transform their gardens and then build your clientele from there. 

16. Messengers

A courier is one of the small business ideas with low investment that provides only such a service that carries messages from one person to another.

So, you don’t need much in terms of supplies or experience to get started.

17. Logistics Company

This is an era where we are all getting lazy, you too can take advantage of it.

Get bikes that can provide dispatch services for food, files, or anything else. It will be a fast, economical and profitable business.

18. Transcription Service

A transcription service is a great business idea if you have a good ear and can type quickly.

It allows you to work from home and have a flexible schedule.

Consider becoming a certified transcriptionist and delve into some of the specialities to boost your business prospects and justify charging more.

19. Freelance Copywriter

You can make a living as a freelance copywriter if you are a natural wordsmith with some marketing knowledge.

There are lots of companies that will pay you to write blogs, web content, or press releases.

You can add value by bringing SEO knowledge to the table and helping your customers develop a strategy for targeting the specific keywords that their target audience is already using in their online searches.

20. Home Care Service

Fortunately, you don’t need to have a background in healthcare to help seniors and run a successful business at the same time, although those skills will undoubtedly be in high demand.

Many seniors need assistance with everything from errands to home repairs.

21. Real Estate Agent

Many people find it difficult to navigate the housing market. As a real estate agent, you can help people find the home of their dreams.

To become a real estate agent in many states, all you need to do is complete a few months of classes and pass an exam.

This is a small investment business idea.

22. Social Media Influencer

Yes! You read that right. You can dedicate more time to developing your social media accounts, to eventually establish a business as a social media influencer.

An influencer is a type of small business that can make money by blogging about different companies and promotions.

23. Pop-up Shop Vendor

If you are someone who already has the products and has a good customer base, then this would be ideal for you.

There are always pop-up events looking for sellers, this is your chance to take your online market to the masses. bonus; It offers you a wide range of clients

24. Dog Runner

Are you a lover of furry friends? With the busy schedule of people today, this is a wonderful business idea.

You can start it without any cost and earn a good amount of profit.

25. Medical Courier Service

For individuals looking to have an organized, responsible, and reliable vehicle, this low-cost startup is an attractive option.

Couriers earn an average of $36 per hour or more than $70,000 annually. You can start as a single driver and later hire other drivers as your business grows.

26. Decluttering Services

This is a low-cost business idea that is in demand. Not only do you help your clients get rid of unnecessary things in their homes, but you also become their psychologist for the day.

Tip: You have to be a good listener for this job.

27. Personal Shopper

Shopping for food, clothing, or electronics can be time-consuming. In exchange for a nominal fee, a personal shopper can help busy people reclaim this time.

This is one of the easiest small business ideas that require little or no investment.

28. Career Coaching

The job market for the Millennial generation is tougher than ever.

There is no doubt that many people will be unsure about which path they should choose to increase their chances of a great future.

A career coach may work in a physical location or over the Internet.

29. Tour Guide

Starting a guided tour company can be a good investment for the future.

It can be used to supplement your income over the summer, or it can be the start of a very large company that hires other people to serve as guides.

Consider building a website where customers can schedule trips online.

30. Event Planner

An event planner uses his organizational talents to organize a wedding or a trade show.

Entry fees, sponsorships, on-premise sales to participants, and other sources of revenue can be generated later.

31. Online Teaching

You can sell your knowledge as video content on YouTube, or you can create your website and charge your students by the hour for Skype or Zoom lessons.

You can start shooting and editing content for this small business idea with your mobile phone and avoid investing in gadgets until the reward is sustainable.

32. Language Teacher

Language teaching has long been a popular way for students and even full-time high school or university teachers to supplement their income.

With Zoom and widespread Internet access, anyone can now start teaching languages ​​from the comfort of their own home.

33. Makeup Artist

It’s one of the few jobs where you can start in your bedroom and end up on a Hollywood movie set in just a few years.

34. Craft Sales

If you are fond of arts and crafts then this news is for you. Make sure you create a profile to inform your customers about your new products.

35. Consultant

Starting a consulting business can be an attractive option if you are knowledgeable and passionate about a specific topic (business, social media, marketing, human resources, leadership, communication, etc.).

You can start your own consulting business, and then expand and hire other consultants as your business grows.

36. CV Writer

Writing a good resume isn’t easy, and many people are willing to pay for help. If you know how to write the perfect CV, then this is a potential business to consider.

You can also offer resume or cover letter services to job seekers who need a little help creating these pieces for their job search

37.​​ Bed and Breakfast

You can earn as much money as you expect in this business. And getting money can be relatively simple.

However, there may be more work and problems in business than you expect.

38. Turn your Hobby into a Business

Whatever passion you have can become a source of income for you. the possibilities are endless.

39. Food Cart

A cheap alternative to the food truck. You can cook your food at home, take them in a cart and make a profit. 

40. Online Bookkeeping

Many bookkeeping services can now be done online along with education.

If you are an accountant or bookkeeper who wants the freedom and autonomy to run your own business, you can use modern technology to start your online bookkeeping service while accepting clients from other businesses.

41. App Developer

If you are well versed in technology and have prior experience, you can consider pursuing a career in app development.

Smartphones have become an everyday accessory for many people, resulting in a rise in demand for mobile apps.

Similarly, as the popularity of virtual reality software has grown in recent years, so has the demand for the development of VR apps.

It requires a small investment, and price knowledge, to run this business idea.

42. T-shirt Printing Business

If you have a sharp artistic sense, you may enjoy starting a T-shirt printing business just as you might enjoy taking someone else’s scenes and screen printing them on a blank shirt.

In any case, if you have the required space for a T-shirt printing setup, you can easily acquire the necessary equipment and start your small business.

43. Digital Product Manufacturer

In this list of small business ideas with low investment, digital products such as music, courses, and templates are unique.

They are not tangible, unlike others.

Since there are no recurring manufacturing or shipping costs to worry about, your margin can remain high, making it a no-brainer for the best businesses to start.

44. Nomad Company

Another great business that you can start small and grow at your own pace is moving company.

You can also keep your day job and focus on the busiest days – weekends and holidays.

Since most of the movements are local, the market for local moving services is huge.

45. Car Wash Services

If you have a passion for cars and are extremely careful, then this could be a great business for you.

But let me be clear; These customers will pay you well. However, they will not compromise on quality. And you should try to please them.

If they like you, the talk will spread quickly, and their friends will be interested in your services.

46. Photographer

There are many ways to make photography a profitable business .

Portrait photography, commercial photography for businesses, real estate photography, and wedding photography are all options.

Photos can be sold through stock photo services. You can also do photojournalism or sell your excellent photos in the world of photo art.

47. Home Bakery

If you can bake in your home, then you can start and run this business with little investment. Then you can sell your food in many ways. You can sell it online and send it to your customers.

Alternatively, you can arrange for delivery at a local grocery store or restaurant.

This is another small business idea with low investment.

48. Home Boutique

Building a successful boutique is less about selling personal items and more about creating an environment and clothing collection that people want to be a part of.

49. Painting Business

You can paint houses or even renovate furniture. This is a plus if you are an artist. Not only will this benefit you but it will also help you express your creative side.

50. Flower Shop

If you do well with your flower shop, you will be asked to provide flowers for special events such as weddings, parties, and corporate events.

You can increase your sales by contacting wedding and event planners for such special events, as well as local venues that cater to large groups.

This is another small investment business idea.

Which of these Small Business Ideas with Low Investment Would Be a Good Place for you to Start?

If you want to maximize your profits while minimizing your workload, any of the following small businesses may be a good place to start.

On the other hand, if you want to incorporate your passion into your work while earning enough money to make a living, there is little investment to start a good small business idea that caters to you, you need to use your skills.

Because there are so many great business ideas, there is no objectively right answer to this question – you know better than anyone which small business ideas will bring you happiness, success, and stability.

How can I start my own business if I have no money?

You do not need money to start a small business.

The first step in starting a business with no money is to keep your current job while launching your small business as a side project for the time being.

Then, create a business plan and analyze your consumer base, market, and potential challenges. You will have a better idea of ​​how much money you will need to start your business at the end of this planning process.

This concludes our list of 50 small business ideas with low investment that will make you money in 2022.

Focus on one idea at a time until you find one that matches your abilities and gives you the best chance for success.

Thousands of entrepreneurs have used these business ideas to make money, so you can rest assured that you are putting your time and effort into something viable and proven.

Whether you’re a college student, a stay-at-home parent, or someone else looking to start a business, keep in mind that there are many ways to earn a substantial income.

All the above small business ideas can help you earn a decent income even with low startup costs.

Ultimately, we recommend you start something online like a Self-Publishing , affiliate marketing , or YouTube as these are less vulnerable to market shifts.

Did you like one of the business ideas? What did we miss? Maybe you know friends who recently started something exciting or want to show off your original business idea? Let us know in the comment section below.

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

How to Make Money Online with Minimal Investments

Coronavirus Pandemic: How To Start An Online Side Hustle

How to Make Money Writing Online as a Freelance

About the author.

Ini Patrick

Hello, I'm Ini Patrick, a Serial Entrepreneur, Business Analyst, and Web Business Strategist. Am committed to helping entrepreneurs grow their business by sharing hybrid information and ideas that teaches strategies and systems to start and grow any business.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

CAPTCHA Code *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Login/Register

6 Low Investment Small Business Ideas You Can Start Right Now

Now you can start your business with these low investment small business ideas

You want to start a business but don’t have much money to throw at it. Is that right?

I’m guessing you’re researching new business ideas with little or no up-front investment.

A business you can start right now with no capital. And one you hope would potentially help you quit your 9-5, live your dreams, marry your dream woman, and travel the world.

In this post, you’ll learn about real businesses you can start without initial capital.

Also, you’ll get to read about real business owners running these businesses.

Side note: All the businesses listed here can be started with little or no capital; however, two things you must have is – skill and an undying ability to hustle.

That said, here are low-investment small business ideas you can start right now:

You Might Also Like: The Top 15 Small Business Challenges and How to Navigate Them

Online Bakery

If you’re a foodie, love baking, and can actually wipe up delicious yummies with pasta – baking might be for you.

However, instead of going the traditional set-up-a-store kind-of-bakery route, you will rely on the internet – social media precisely to build up your bakery business.

First, we’d assume you already know how to bake. Let’s say you can make cakes.

Secondly, since you’re opting for an online bakery you don’t have to worry about getting that expensive baking equipment yet.

Set up shop on social media platforms – Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook in that order for Nigerians. For non-Nigerians, plus Pinterest, maybe.

Then, create a business account for a messaging app – Download Whatsapp for Business app so you can easily chat with your customers.

Finally, start posting on your new account – follow relevant accounts, engage with your audience, and market the hell out of your business.

This online baker, Ibadan Baker (@TheCakeChancery), leverages Twitter and Instagram’s power to grow her baking business.

What’s interesting in her story is that she was scared of the future at the beginning of this year. She wasn’t sure how the business would turn out. And she wanted to quit.

A scroll through her Twitter feed shows that she is doing great now. She shares her latest work with her audience and is always on hand to respond to comments from her followers.

Home-made Office Food Delivery

Still on the food niche, here’s another great low-investment small business you can start immediately.

It’s a common sight in Nigerian cities to see roadside food vendors. These food vendors often stay near office complexes or construction sites, hoping the workers would need some food.

• 6 Definitive Reasons to Consider Starting a Business While in School, Just Like Zuckerberg
• 5 Proven Tips to Overcome your fears of starting a business
• 5 fears stopping you from starting your new business.

Now, imagine setting up a home-based, freshly cooked food delivery service where you offer to provide these office workers with freshly prepared hot meals delivered right in their workplace.

Ada Anyagwa (@adyvafoods) does good work leveraging Twitter to grow her business.

She and her team currently offers corporate lunch and catering to businesses in Lagos.

Over the years, her client list has grown to include Andela, Affordable Cars, among others.

You see, people want to eat good food and often, especially career people, they don’t have the time to prepare those meals for themselves.

So, if you’re able to position yourself as a good cook who knows what she’s doing – you’re in for a killing.

And the best part is you don’t need any upfront capital to start.

Photography

People want to capture special moments forever. Weddings, birthday parties, pre-wedding shots, graduation ceremonies…

… there are tons and tons of events where photographers are needed.

Sure, with the prevalence of smartphones, photography is on a decline.

However, for the smart photographer who leveraged the internet to position themselves; there’s no shortage of clients to work with.

If you’re in doubt about the viability of this business idea, check out this photoprenenur – Eze Ezindu CEO of Eje Studios, a premium photography and creative agency in Umuahia.

With your camera, knowledge of photoshop, and picture editing you can start this business.

Use social media like Instagram to build up a following. If you’re comfortable facing the camera – you can even record photography tutorials.

Start Online English Class

Wondering what to do with your English language degree?

Are you interested in teaching English online?

Let me shock you: over 1.7 billion people are currently speaking or learning the English language globally.

And this number is expected to double to 2 billion by 2020; this is good news as it shows strong demand for the language.

Now, here’s where you come in – you can offer to teach English remotely to students across the globe.

All that’s required is your passion to teach the language; a secure strong internet connection; and laptop.

Meet Iniobong Etuk, a freelance English as a second language tutor who works with a Japanese company to offer English tutorials to their clients from around the globe.

Resume Writing

You can earn a decent amount of money writing, rewriting, or polishing job applicants’ resumes.

Sure, you must stay abreast in the recruitment industry. Be adept at using persuasive words to sell your candidates. And know how to format CVs to stand out from the crowd.

Dr. Dipo Awojide does a pretty good job with his (@BTDTHub) resume writing, a career resource hub that helps individuals polish their CVs, master key interviewing tips, and handle recruitment processes for businesses.

However, the good thing is, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to begin.

Your social media handles are probably enough to get the word out. And all you’d need is a computer with an internet connection, a bit of branding, and you’re in business.

Or you can work for a resume writing company as a freelancer. Jobberman in Nigeria, Upwork, RiseStart, and Flexjobs are some platforms where you can offer your services as a freelance resume writer.

Social Media Services

Businesses, regardless of size – whether big, small, or medium – are online and on social media.

And often, they search for versatile, experienced social media managers to handle their accounts.

So, you can start a boutique social media management agency to help these organizations.

Keep in mind, though, you may need to make an upfront investment in training and certification to understand how social media management and marketing work.

Of course, there are free courses to start off with. Check out online learning platforms like Udemy, Allison, Teachable, among others, for free courses.

Or you can go the MOOC – Massive OPen Online Courses – route. These are free premium courses offered by the world’s top universities.

Offering social media management is a lucrative business idea you can start right from your home and If you know what you’re doing, and is able to get results for your clients, you can make a decent living offering the service.

Here’s one entrepreneur that has leveraged social media to build a thriving online business. Mazi Ibe popularly called @I_Pissvodka on Twitter started out just like you.

He joined the platform as a student in 2010 and with consistency, was able to build a large responsive following on Twitter.

Today, he leverages his large following to offer PR, influencer marketing, and brand promotions, and social media marketing for corporate and individual brands.

Final thoughts on low-investment small business ideas you can start right now:

Most of us want to start a business; but the thought of raising the initial fund often becomes a stumbling block.

Now, with this list that wouldn’t be the case anymore.

If you notice, the business ideas listed here can be started right from your home – so the cost of renting an office or workshop is eliminated.

Also, with just your laptop or smartphone plus a bit of hustle, you can get started on any of the low-investment small business ideas above.

Now, there’s really nothing stopping you from starting a business .

What do you think? Do you have any low-investment business ideas you’d like us to include in the list? Let us know in the comment section.

Hand-Picked For You:

• FAQs: How to Start a Business In 2022
• FAQs: How to Grow Your Business In 2022
• FAQs: How to Fund Your Business In 2022

Sam Steve is a strategic content marketer and founder of Emira Digital Publishing. He helps clients grow their online presence by writing primarily about digital marketing, SME growth hacking strategies, and productivity. Connect with Sam on social media:

View all posts

• 4 Harsh But Valuable, Lessons I Learned From Starting My Business. You Won’t Believe What’s on #3.

Improving Workplace Productivity: Is your smartphone killing your productivity?

7 untapped reasons to start a youtube channel for your business, other recommended posts, 4 harsh but valuable, lessons i learned from..., 6 definitive reasons to consider starting a business..., 5 proven tips to overcome your fears of..., 5 fears stopping you from starting your new....

• Want to start a Blog?
• Business ideas
• Business plans
• Digital Marketing
• Marketing Hacks
• Social Media Marketing
• Profit Boosting Tips
• Critical Business Concepts
• management and staffing
• Accounting Basics
• Understanding taxes

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Keep me signed in until I sign out

Forgot your password?

Do not have an account ? Register here

A new password will be emailed to you.

Have received a new password? Login here

Have an account? Login here

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

• Financial Planning
• Life Insurance
• General Insurance
• Skills & Productivity
• Start Business

21 Online Business Ideas with low investment

Online Business Ideas – Today we find many young & dynamic individual is looking for good business ideas to earn more money. Starting online business is best way to earn money without losing sweat. I am herewith 21 online business ideas with low investment. These online business ideas do not require big investment even you don’t need executive office to start with. You just need few technical skills and reliable internet connection. So, here are 21 online business ideas to start in 2015.

21 Online Business Ideas

Sell Creative Products Online

First Small online business idea is to sell creative products online. Make some creative products like paintings, jwellery, handbag, craft items and sell them online on ebay or artfire .

Online Customize Item Store

Second online business idea is starting online customize item store. This item store should allow end customer to customize gift items as per user need. Success example of this type of store is Chumbak .

E-commerce Website

Another very good online business idea is to start E-commerce website. Flipkart and Snapdeal is example of successful e-commerce websites. You can use shopify to create online store. Alternatively you can use free ecommerce toolkit woocommerce for building wordpress based e-commerce website. You can sell anything like mobile, electronic items, furniture, cloths etc.

Hosting Paid Webinars

If you are highly skilled person with extraordinary domain knowledge you can host paid webinar. Webinar is web based seminar presentation or video hosted on internet. It requires unique skills to build successful webinar.

Most simple way to start online business is to start blog on the topic you like. Yes Blogging is a very good online business idea. You can earn a lot of money by advertising networks like google adsense, chitika or buysellads.

Also Read – Google can make you financial independent

Paid Writing

This idea goes in hand with blogging. If you are very good at writing online business idea of paid writing is waiting for you. Today people are ready to pay for accept paid content. If your content is good you will be paid between 12$ to 50$ per piece.

Affiliate Marketing

Another online business idea is to become affiliate for online store like Amazone and earn commission on sales. You can also explore affiliate network like VigLink , CJ or Shareasale

Youtube Channel Partner

Creative Videos on youtube can also earn you lot of money. Create your own youtube channel post creative videos and generate huge fan following. Advertising on these youtube videos is very good online business idea. Recently I have come across news that 8 year old child is making $ 1.3 Million per year by just posting videos in youtube.

Flipping Domain

Flipping domain means buying domain at lower price and flipping at higher price. Flippa and Godaddy auction is very good market place of buying and selling domains.

Freelancing

You can start online business of freelancing. In order to work as freelancer you must possess programming skills. You can earn lot of money by doing freelancing.

App Making or App store

If you know android programming you can start online business for making App. Alternatively you can start your own App store which will serve different type of apps to end users.

Making Themes

Another very good online business idea is making website themes and selling it online. If you are not good at developing theme you can hire developers for making themes.

Making Plugin for wordpress

You can make premium plugin for achieving unique functionality for wordpress. Selling this plugin online will give you lot of money.

Also Read –  10 Best Side Business Ideas

Selling Photos

Unique and creative photos can earn you lot of money. You can sell these photos on photodune , istockphoto or imgembed .

Virtual Office Assistant

You can become virtual office assistant or technical assistant and serve clients remotely from your office or home. You can take help from oDesk for finding work.

Google Helpout

Another Unique way of setting up online business is Google Helpout . You can help other over live video and charge them money. This help could be anything like fixing computer, removing virus, installing wordpress, installing software etc.

Voice over Artist

If you have good voice you can become audio narrator. Voicebunny and Voice123 allow you to post your audio project online. Buyer listens to audition and picks voice talent to work with.

Music Selling

Music Selling is another online business to start with. You can record and sell your music online at marketplace like AudioJungle , Pond5 or Bandcamp.

Webhosting Company

You can start your own webhosting company online. This idea requires setting up server, cpanel, hosting website etc. Alternatively if you don’t want to setup your own server you can tie-up with other webhosting companies and sell web space on commission basis.

Data Entry Job

People today outsource many computer related jobs like data entry. You can grab this opportunity to set very good business.

SEO Consultancy

If you are very good at Search Engine Optimization you can setup your own business for providing SEO Consultancy.

If you like this article, please share it on facebook and twitter. This would be special gift which you would be giving to our blog.

• online best business ideas
• online business
• online business ideas
• quick business ideas
• small business ideas
• small scale business ideas

Is There Money in Gold?

Best Lead Generation Tools in 2024: Unleashing the Power of Digital...

Best Algo Trading Platforms in India 2024

Simplifying financial transactions: The advantages of mobile banking in 2024

How to start a dropshipping business using shopify, best customer service support tools to boost your business, podcasting for business: how it can grow your business, a comprehensive guide to becoming an it professional, how to become a freelance digital marketing professional, a career in it industry india – job, salary, how to start, popular category.

• Stock Market 374
• Personal Finance 296
• Business Ideas 182
• Incometax 160
• Investment 146
• Mutual Funds 145
• Money & Wealth 113
• Life Insurance 112

Moneyexcel is the blog that talks about business, career, skills & money making ideas. We do not offer any stock tips, investment, insurance or finance product related advice.

Contact us: [email protected] Designed & Developed by - RR Media Net

© Copyright 2012-2023 - All Rights Reserved

• Privacy Policy