Make your passion your purpose. If you have an idea you believe in, a strong skill set, and the determination to make your dream a reality, you are perfectly poised to start your own small business.
It used to be that starting up a small business was much riskier than being employed. Not anymore.
So, if you’re ready to launch a business, start a side hustle to supplement your income, or simply seek inspiration, this guide will help you get started with these 31 small business ideas.
Skill-based business ideas
Are you looking for an online business idea? These ideas leverage your professional skills or expertise and require little to no additional training.
1. Bookkeeper
If you have a flair for numbers and an eye for detail, use your skills to help other small businesses with their books, tax preparation and payroll from the comfort of your home office. Most small companies can’t afford a full-time bookkeeper, allowing you to help multiple entrepreneurs.
2. Tutor
Do you have a subject you know well? Something that you can teach people? People of all ages want to learn a new language or are interested in playing an instrument like guitar or piano. Whether teaching online or in person, your expertise could translate into a successful online business.
3. Freelance writer
Wordsmiths are always in demand. Suppose you can create compelling content, convey unique selling points, and are comfortable crafting for various mediums (from digital articles to marketing materials). In that case, you will find that remote businesses must have the skills of a freelance copywriter.
4. Graphic designer
Like freelance writers, skilled graphic designers and web designers are in high demand to create everything from logos to website designs to merchandise. Most companies can’t afford to have a full-time UX/UI web developer on staff, where experienced freelance designers can fill a need.
5. Beauty therapist
If you have training as a hair stylist, beautician or nail technician, you have valuable skills. Look for opportunities that salons and spas don’t offer, like mobile services or being a regular provider of assisted living facilities or local events.
6. Landscaper
Landscaping can be a lucrative, year-round business if you have the know-how and equipment. From small businesses to campuses to homeowners, there’s no shortage of grounds that need maintenance and improvement.
7. Consulting business
Put your expertise to use. Do you know how to implement successful communication strategies? Are you an SEO wizard or great at content marketing? Can you advise businesses on sustainability? Hone in on your area of knowledge and market yourself as a consultant.
Tips for success:
- Communicate your experience to potential customers through a portfolio of work and professional recommendations.
- Lean on your network. You’ve spent time establishing contacts in your industry. Ask them for help, advice, and support.
- Be confident. You know your industry, and you have hard-won experience.
Hobby-lead business ideas
Are you looking for a home business idea? These ideas leverage your passion. It may take some time to build up a customer base, but in time, you’ll make a living doing what you love.
8. Dog walker
If you love dogs, are trustworthy, and enjoy exercise, dog-walking might be your ideal business. Many people own beloved pets and will pay to see they get the midday attention they deserve.
9. Event planner
Are you the go-to organiser in your friend group or family? Becoming an event planner means earning a living from what you already do naturally and well. An event planning business where it’s easy to start small and grow big.
With a vibrant and diverse event management industry that encompasses everything from corporate events and weddings to festivals and community gatherings, there are endless opportunities for creativity and collaboration.
10. Mobile personal training
If you’re passionate about moving and enjoy getting other people moving, consider taking your skill set on the road. Many people would rather pay for a coach than a gym. You can start training people one-on-one or set up group sessions in local parks.
11. Gardening
Green thumbs can help other people’s plants and gardens thrive through lawn care services. Whether it’s regular maintenance or a holiday watering, use your love of plants to set up a growing business.
12. Travel consultant
Do you know the ins and outs of all the current travel apps? Do you know how to hack systems to get the most points, the best upgrade, or a prime deal? If you’re travel savvy and organised, offer your skills to people who aren’t and help them explore and enjoy the world.
Tips for success:
- Look at other people who are doing similar things and study what they’re doing well and where you might have a point of difference.
- Make sure you’re up-to-date on any training or certifications that you need, especially if you’re selling online products.
- Be enthusiastic and authentic, whether you’re running a home business or traditional business ventures. Your love for your business will engage customers and foster loyalty.
Solution-based business ideas
Some of the best business ideas solve an existing problem. If you identify something that would be helpful to you, it’s likely to help other people. That’s an instant customer base for your new business. Here are some business ideas to consider.
13. Handyman
If you’re handy at fixing things around the home, use your talents to help others. Many people could use help with simple things, from hanging pictures to building a bespoke set of shelves to unclogging a drain. Set yourself up as the go-to fix-it person in your local area.
14. Seamstress
This is an in-demand (and vanishing) profession. People always need pants hemmed, zippers repaired, tears mended, and buttons replaced. Larger services can be prohibitively expensive, causing people to throw out old favourites rather than repairing or altering them. If you have sewing skills and the right equipment, you have a customer base waiting for you.
15. IT support
With technology advancing rapidly, many people (especially small businesses and older individuals) are getting left behind. If you know your way around phones, laptops, and printers, you can help people set up systems and troubleshoot problems.
16. Pet sitter
Pet sitting can be a lucrative business if you have an affinity for animals and the flexibility to live in other people’s homes. Consider offering additional services like dog walking or pet grooming to attract more clients and provide comprehensive care that’ll allow your pet business to grow.
Advertise locally or use an existing service to market yourself. Once you gain experience with different animals and receive glowing recommendations, repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals will help your pet care business take off.
17. Translator
If you can speak another language fluently, consider establishing a translation service. You can keep your services general or focus on a specific niche market, like medical or legal fields.
Tips for success:
- Make sure to collect referrals from happy clients. This will increase confidence in your business.
- Do your homework. Study the market to determine where you should be pricing yourself. If you can afford to undercut larger businesses, especially as you’re starting out, that will help build a robust client base.
- Market yourself successfully. Create a website and social media channels, and utilise traditional marketing strategies (job boards and radio ads) to get your business name out there.
eCommerce business home business ideas
The online space is ripe with opportunity, and starting an eCommerce business allows you to reach an almost limitless audience. Here are some business ideas you can start.
18. Trading cards
Trading cards can be a lucrative and exhilarating business. Rare cards can sell for millions of dollars, and a steady business model exists for buying and selling cards online.
19. Craftwork
If you have a talent for making things (from knitted blankets to pottery), start an eCommerce website and transform your hobby into a job. You can create your own website or sell items via sites like Etsy.
20. Dropshipping business
This business idea is growing in popularity. Dropshippers accept customer orders while running online stores to sell products, including digital products like eBooks, online courses, and software as well as physical items through online reselling platforms.
When a customer makes a purchase, the dropshipper places an order with the supplier.When a customer makes a purchase, the dropshipper places an order with the supplier. This model effectively avoids supply issues, unsold inventory, and the expenses associated with investing in warehouse space.
Tips for success:
- Know your market. From t-shirts with cool artwork to trading cards, the better you understand your market, the better your chance at success.
- Be prepared to adapt. As technologies and platforms evolve, keep your business (and mindset) nimble to stay ahead of customer service trends.
- Be social media savvy. E-commerce success relies heavily on self-promotion. Be proactive.
Niche-based business ideas
These business ideas cater to specific interests and can lead to a profitable business. They are small but mighty. Doing one thing passionately can make a business boom and be a great business to start.
21. Florist
Recently, many creative people have become florists, growing their own blooms, arranging colourful bouquets, and selling/delivering them locally. It has become such a lucrative business that many people who start this as a side hustle never return to their previous jobs. If you have a knack for growing things and an eye for design, this might be a small business idea that appeals to you.
22. Chef
If you’re a talented chef and love creating masterpieces in the kitchen, consider starting your own business. You could become a personal chef for people who are too busy to cook (or who don’t enjoy it), or you could market your skills to local businesses. You could also create ready-to-eat meals that you deliver to clients.
23. Storyteller
Everyone has a story. Many people would love to tell their stories, preserving them for family or posterity, but they don’t know where to start or don’t feel confident writing them down.
If you have interviewing, freelance writing, and editing abilities, offer your services as a storyteller, recording and transcribing memoirs and collating them (possibly with photographs) in a book for your clients.
24. Sustainable products
There is a huge market for eco-friendly alternatives to mass-produced products. If you have an idea, from chemical-free dishwashing tabs to environmentally friendly soap in recycled packaging, use it to start your own small business. Not only will you do your part for the planet, but your passion project might end up becoming a serious success.
25. Costume designer
If you have a talent for sewing and a creative mind, there’s a market for costume designs. If you love dress-up, create and sell Halloween or cosplay costumes. Alternatively, look into creating costumes for local theatre productions or even your regional film industry.
Tips for success:
- With niche-based business ideas, the more skilled you are, the more business you’ll attract. Put the effort into becoming the best in your trade.
- Start your business as a side hustle to grow your client base. There will be a pinch point when your business grows to the point when it can nearly support itself. Persevere. Soon, you’ll be able to quit your day job and focus on your burgeoning business full-time.
- As with eCommerce business ideas, social media can be a fantastic marketing tool, showcasing your creations.
Community business ideas
These business ideas not only fill local needs within the community but also create opportunities to build strong, enduring relationships with your customers.
26. Property stylist
If you have a natural eye for aesthetics and live in a real estate hot spot, start a property stylist business, preparing and presenting homes for sale. You’ll need to have access to a large collection of furnishings and fine touches (either hiring them or buying and storing them), but after that initial investment, you’ll have what you need to get started.
27. Cleaning business
This is a high-demand profession with plenty of scope for diversification. In addition to cleaning local homes, consider marketing your services to small businesses and real estate agents (tidying up before tenants move in or after they vacate).
28. Photographer
Are you talented with a camera? Think about the number of pictures you see in your community on a daily basis: business portraits, team or club photographs, or images from events. These all require a photographer, and that could be your photography business.
29. Social media specialist
Most small businesses don’t have a thorough understanding of social media — which platforms they should be active on, the pros and cons of paid versus organic, how to handle partnerships, etc.
It’s also likely they don’t have time to post regularly and keep their accounts up-to-date. If you have a passion for social media marketing and know how to use it, you can take the weight off business owners’ shoulders and start a robust business as a social media consultant.
30. Food truck business
If you’ve toyed with the idea of owning a restaurant but are (understandably) concerned about the risks and costs associated with opening a brick-and-mortar store, think about launching a food truck specialising in gourmet or specialty food. It’s an excellent way to dip your toe into the restaurant business, trying out concepts while researching market and demand.
31. Tour guide
Do you know your backyard better than anyone else? If you have a handle on the history, wildlife, and hotspots in your region, set yourself up as an independent operator. You can set your own tours and schedule, meet new people, and share what you love.
Tips for success:
- Cultivate your network of local businesses and connections. This will help you create a steady customer base and generate valuable word-of-mouth referrals.
- Market yourself effectively. Showcase what makes your business stand out.
- Budget for and invest in the equipment to help you do your job effectively and well.
A small business success story from New Zealand
New Zealand retail brand Mons Royale is an excellent example of a solution-based business idea. Founders Hamish and Hannah Acland were frustrated with ineffective winter wear. As young ski enthusiasts, they wanted clothing that could perform on the mountain but still look good in town at day’s end.
Image source: Mons Royale
They had grown up on high country stations in New Zealand and were familiar with merino wool, a high-performing, soft, natural fibre that regulates temperature. This farming background, passion for adventure sports, and concern for sustainability established a unique platform from which Mons Royale was launched in 2009.
Originally, Mons Royale started with an underwear and base layer offering, cleverly employing a well-known skiing phrase as their business tagline: “First on, last off.” They based their business in the small South Island town of Wanaka, eventually growing their offering to include a larger apparel offering for various action sports. They now have more than 700 global retail stockists, a team of 50 staff, and offices in Canada and Austria.
Throughout its journey, Mons Royale kept true to its small business origin story, which helped the brand maintain its core base while reaching new customers. They continue prioritising sustainability and base their offices in mountain towns worldwide rather than cities. Most importantly, they encourage their staff to take the day off and go skiing if it’s a perfect powder day.
What makes a strong business idea?
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur and love the idea of being a small business owner but are casting around for inspiration, chances are you already know where to start. Create a list of your skills — what background or talents do you have?
Next, think about what brings you joy — what do you love to do in your own time? Lastly, look for gaps in your industry or local community. Where are there opportunities to fill a gap or improve on existing services? Somewhere in there is your big idea.
Any business idea has the potential to succeed. Strong business ideas often begin with a unique selling point (USP). To effectively reach your target market, identify a gap in the market or a differentiator that sets your business apart from the competition, and you’re off to a great start.
Here are a few other considerations:
- Keep start-up costs low (but dream big). The more practical your idea and the lower your startup costs, the more manageable it will be to launch your small business idea. But don’t forget to plan for growth — if your business is ready to expand, be prepared to seize the opportunity.
- Do your homework. Research your industry and create a robust business plan and marketing toolkit. If you can afford it (or have a savvy friend), engage a business mentor to review your idea and give you honest feedback and suggestions.
- Follow your passion. Being your own boss is hard but rewarding. Having a genuine passion for your idea or industry will help you through the lows so you can reach the highs.
10 steps for getting started
Once you have your idea, you need a plan. These 10 steps will help you create a roadmap for getting your idea off the ground.
- Check and obtain any licences and certifications that you need.
- Seek professional advice on business insurance and liability protection to ensure you look after yourself and your business.
- Consult with an accountant to determine the best structure for your business, identify any tax implications, and establish basic accounting practices. List items and expenses that can be tax deductible.
- Set up business banking and register for taxes. Having a business bank account right away will help you avoid mixing personal and business finances, making it easier to track expenses, manage cash flow, and simplify tax reporting.
- Secure website domain names, trademarks, and social media handles.
- Create a business plan and a marketing plan and run it past a business mentor.
- Start networking. Build relationships with other entrepreneurs and industry professionals by attending industry events and joining professional organisations.
- Explore funding options. These can range from personal investments to crowdfunding to business loans and grants — or a mixture of all of these.
- Get your technology in place. What systems and software will help streamline your business, improve efficiencies, and protect your data?
- Celebrate. Seriously. A business’s early achievements will be overshadowed by the list of things that still need to be done. Celebrate and acknowledge your progress and victories with family, friends, and your team. Keep your enthusiasm and momentum — you will get there.
Most business ideas do not start off with a flashy office; instead, they are often started at home. That’s why when starting a business it’s crucial to reduce overhead costs from the get-go.
What to consider before starting a business?
Your ingenuity and hard work benefit you as a successful small business owner. You also have more control over when and how you work, which is helpful if you have a family, are studying, or are navigating other scheduling considerations. Here are some things to consider as you balance these responsibilities.
What is your unique selling point?
All businesses bloom from an idea. Start with a unique selling point (USP), a term coined by Rosser Reeves, and identify a gap to fill or a distinguishing feature that makes your business stand out from the competition.
Is small business ownership risky?
It can be. Many small businesses, including sole proprietorships, fail; however, many entrepreneurs believe the risk is worth the potential rewards: equity, flexibility, and job satisfaction across various types of businesses.
How much money do I need to start a business?
Depending on your starting point (amount of expertise, equipment, etc.) and your end goal (business expenses, staffing requirements, etc.), the amount you can get started with as little as $100 can range up to $100,000 or more.
The best way to calculate your startup costs is to list all of your expected expenses and assign a dollar amount to each item. Then, factor in a slush fund to cover unanticipated expenses.
Summing up
Starting your own small business might be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. However, it is risky and demands hard work, responsibility, and weathering uncertainty.
However, it could bring financial success over what you might achieve in a traditional job working for someone else. In addition, being your own boss brings greater freedom, control, and flexibility.
Best of all, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of seeing your idea take flight. Ready to get started? Now is the time to sketch out your idea and start researching how you’ll bring it to life.
Are you ready to take your small business idea to the next level? Discover how Sales Cloud can streamline customer relationships and boost sales today.
