If you are thinking about starting your own business but have no capital, here is a list of small business ideas you can start with little or no money.
Once you are satisfied that you have the potentials to succeed as an entrepreneur, you must decide on which business is best for you.
However, starting the wrong kind of business is the most frequent mistake start-up entrepreneurs usually make.
If you have not yet decided on a business, we have put together this list of over 30 proven business ideas for you to consider as a starting point.
Obviously, some of these business ideas have relatively low capital intake and are flexible to work with.
Business Ideas You Can Start With Little or No Money
1. Graphic Design Business
While having a formal background in graphic design is absolutely going to be helpful, it’s also relatively easy to learn the foundation of graphic design on your own.
If you are a bit creative, motivated and with little computer skills, you can get paid to create or alter images using your personal laptop computers, installed with some necessary applications like Corel Draw, Photoshop, AutoCAD or Adobe Illustrator.
2. Web Design and Development
Web designing is all about mastering the art of creating a beautiful, value-driven websites or Mobile Applications.
There are always new demands for professional web designers. Designers are incredibly valuable for technology and construction companies.
3. Sales/Marketing Rep
If you have the skill for connecting with people and the willingness to take on some personal selling activities, then a commission-based freelance sales role could be a great fit for you.
Many startups businesses are looking for part-time and commission-only salespeople. Which means you can always make this a home based business option.
If you are good, you could get a big-time profit or get hired if the startup succeeds.
4. Writing of Books
If you are talented at researching and creating great content within a certain subject or field, you can quickly package your skills and knowledge into a downloadable eBooks or Printed Books.
You can take the time to deliver your values to those seeking to learn or find a solution in your relative projects.
World renowned novelists and writers are creating very lucrative career for themselves – by writing inspiring literature books.
5. Computer and GSM Businesses
With the number of personal computers, tablets and smart phones out there today, you can actually startup these kind businesses and earn good money if you have the technical skills as a computer or GSM hardware/software engineer or service personnel.
There is a huge growing market for mobile phone technology and its accessories, including selling of recharge and SIM cards in retail and wholesale basis.
6. Catering Business
Eatery is a great way to test a chef!
If you have enough experience in this aspect, you can turn your knife skills into a full-time business.
However, this doesn’t happen overnight because you may have to learn the business by working for someone else first.
Though food stuff businesses are quite moving well in different countries of the world, however, it’s important to note that most people don’t just play with their stomachs.
7. Travel and Tour Agency or Consultant
If you love to travel and find yourself randomly searching for flight tickets sales or browsing places across the globe, why not carve out a niche for yourself as a travel agent for any of the leading companies?
You can start with word of mouth recommendations from friends who can count on you for the cheapest flights and other travel information like hotels or pickup arrangements.
8. Social Media Expert
Nowadays, we’re all guilty of spending too much time on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram, so why not get paid to put your expertise to work?
Lots of companies, especially those in retail or travel businesses are constantly in need of people to help build their brands online and through social media presentations.
You can start a course in this area and before you know it, you become an expert.
9. Blogging Business
Blogging is now a viable source of income.
Thousands of bloggers are creating content on diverse topics like travel, lifestyle, sports, entertainment, fashion and more.
Launching a self-employed career, with a combination of blog subscribers, adverts placements on your website, can be a way to start.
Since the business will always need high quality content to bring in new customers, your skills will always remain an asset to invest in other revenue sources.
10. Car Renting Services
If you own a car but barely use it, you can make some extra cash by renting it out on app-centric taxi services like Uber .
Yes! This can be a very lucrative way to earn money on nights and weekends – working only at your own time.
But before you start out, please know that there is comprehensive insurance policy on all cars, franchise agreements and drivers are trained and screened.
11. Product Distributor
Licensing a foreign or well known domestic product like Coca-cola or Chivita drinks for wholesale can lead to a big payoff down the road.
When starting this kind of business, always invest intelligently and choose a well-accepted product you believe in so you can reap the rewards in years to come.
12. Fitness Training Business
Most people love moving their bodies and this is fun.
If you are a fitness professional, with the right combination of charisma and business sense, working as a fitness trainer can be both physically and financially rewarding.
All you need is the passion for the business.
13. Auto Repairs and Vulcanizing Business
If you have developed valuable skill sets and experience within this industry over the years, you can turn this vocational skills based business ideas into a lucrative money-maker.
You can start by building up a strong network of customers and finding a good location, getting up everything you need to launch.
14. Song Writing and Music DJ
You can take the time and develop your skills at either making your own music, or becoming a professional sound mixer.
Starting your performance in local events or clubs could turn this business idea into a much bigger music career.
15. Clothing and Tailoring Business
Fashion and style continued to be a lucrative business across the world.
If you know how to sow and design clothes, then you have a growing market of continued customers.
There is no harm in learning and starting small here, as long as you can make magic with needles and threads.
16. Bakery Business
It’s always funny how baking can relate to making money.
But by kneading flour, mastering the oven, and sweetening everyone’s mouth, you can start making your cool money just like that.
Don’t be surprise; some people have already turned baking into their “sole bread and butter”.
Find out how they are doing this!
17. Modeling Business
If you’ve got the attitude, there are product and service companies out there looking for the right model to promote their brands.
All you have to do is to sign up with the right agency and get mentored through some of the early challenges before establishing your own.
Depending on your preference, you can specialize in a single media format such as videos or images.
18. Real Estate Business
The real estate market is on the heights today, and people are buying and selling properties in many locations across the globe.
That means there are a lot of opportunities for professionals who know how to navigate the legal, financial, and commercial aspect of this kind of business.
If you consider yourself an expert in the aspect, it won’t be a bad idea venturing into real estate businesses.
19. Furniture Making Business
With more and more people demanding a higher degree of personalized furniture in their homes and offices, count yourself lucky if your craft happens to be the creating a custom furniture.
Depending on your experience and location, you can easily turn your skills into a revenue-generating business.
20. Laundry Service Business
We all wear clothes at least some of the time – Which of course makes the laundry cleaning business a lucrative one.
If you have the right skills, experience and finance to back it up, you can include new technology into this business.
Like using modern washing and ironing machines, a website to handle online customers’ orders; home, school, and hotel laundry pickups and delivery services, depending on your location.
21. Wedding and Event Planning Businesses
Seminars, corporate events, birthday parties, and marriages happen all the time.
Today, wedding is a recurring fountain of business opportunities.
Wedding cakes, dresses, jewelers, food caterers, ushering job, event rentals (chairs, canopies, venue, etc.), photographers, videographers, printing souvenirs, and a host of other ventures would earn big money every weekend.
Imagine if you can form networks of these service providers and then can offer engaged couples a range of hassle-free wedding packages.
22. Public and Vehicle Advertising
You can turn your car or bus into a money-maker by driving across the streets of Lagos, but be careful about LASMA.
One way to start your vehicle advertising business is to get the vehicle branding, get a power generating set and some public addressing systems or song mixers, and you are ready to start looking for clients.
23. Public Speaking Business
If you have the gift of speech, public speaking is a great business to pursue.
Many authors, medical practitioners, scientists, politicians, and other subject matter experts and professionals will earn extra income by delivering seminars and presentations to different groups and associations.
Motivational speakers can also earn good money with this part of their businesses.
24. Music Instructor
Do you play a musical instrument well enough to teach others? This business is certainly fun and so is the pay.
Private music instructors are making cool money. You can start by getting family, group or church customers and works also.
Once you build up a reputation for yourself, you could easily turn this into a full-time endeavor.
25. Makeup Services
Looking good is a good business really!
If you have talents for helping people look their best through hair dressing and barbing services; and you know how to play with eyeliners and lipsticks; then consider using your beauty skills to create a profitable business for yourself.
You can start your own make-up artist, hair salon business by first attend the necessary classes to learn the arts.
26. Financial Investments
If you have been keeping your money including your retirement benefits hidden in a savings account, you might want to consider putting it to better use through smart investing.
However, with the current economic recessions, there are risks to look out for when buying shares or planning to start a Forex Business.
Most finance experts like brokers will advise you to start learning about the stock market if you want to grow your wealth.
But we think you can become an 'angel investor' to small businesses within your communities.
27. Professional Services
Many companies and startups now outsource jobs that are not part of their core businesses (such as admin, HR, logistic, and accounting).
Because companies always need to track their cash flow, you can really benefit by offering them part-time accounting and bookkeeping services.
We have a platform to help support some of your freelance services if that is your thing.
28. Buying and Selling Cars
You can turn your love for cars into a quick profit if you have the capital.
Buying and selling of cars are similar to other “buy low, and sell high” business models – with a high-profit potential and inherent investment risks.
You can learn how to start a car dealing business by investing some time in learning the trade though.
29. Waste Management Services
As the saying goes, one man’s food is another man’s poison.
Without cleaning up our environments, the world would be a mess than it already is.
This business might not be glamorous, but you get to make the world a better place while earning your income.
To start this kind of job, you will need a second-hand truck and standard equipment like shovels, wheelbarrows, rakes, and garbage cans.
30. Car Washing Business
A lot of car owners don’t have time to personally care for their vehicles.
With simple equipment such as car shampoo, polishing wax, and water supply, you can start earning a decent income by taking good care of your customers’ vehicles.
31. Coaching Sports Teams
Nothing beats playing your favorite game.
And coaching a sport team or officiating community sports events can be an exciting way to earn extra income on weekends.
Not only will you learn new skills, you will make money for getting your team into shape.
32. Child Care
Many families with kids have very limited time due to work schedules.
If you love kids and have some spare time, you can start earning income by looking after children while their parents are away.
This can be in the form of operating a nursery or daycare center.
Just be sure to identify the particular age group you’re comfortable caring for, with the necessary training in home-based daycare services and first aid.
33. Customer Service Center
Some firms like Airtel, MTN, and most banks outsource their customer service operations today.
If you’re already a CSR specialist with management skills, then you can form and lead a virtual team and engage clients as a bona fide customer service company.
You may need more information on this, including service training for your team.
34. Personal Chef
Busy schedules can stress people out.
It can also disrupt family life to the point that busy parents barely have time to prepare decent dinners and weekend meals for the family.
Hence, the surprising demands for part-time family chefs.
If cooking healthy and delicious meals is your thing, then this business idea can supplement your regular income.
35. Subject Teacher/Tutor
Teaching and tutoring English language, Mathematics and other subjects is a great way to make a solid income.
If you have the technical know-how, you can start by offering home lessons and tutorials within your neighborhood.
36. Interior Designing
Some families out there would like to remodel their house and needs to pay you for giving them the shade, wall portraits, landscaping, etc that will match best with tile flooring.
If arts and decoration is your line then this is going to be a good source of finance.
37. Online Business
If you’re an expert at something, there’s likely an audience of people online who would be willing to pay to get your products or service.
For example, developing the Best E-commerce Website is another strategy for creating and launching your successful online retail businesses like many others such as Jumia, eBay, Amazon, Flipkart, etc.
38. Dance Instructor
Most people love moving their bodies and this is fun too.
If at some point in your life, you had to hang your dancing shoes for a more sensible office job, there’s nothing stopping you from earning money on the side with this passion project.
You can start a weekend dance instructing job and enjoy some thousands of Naira each month.
39. Property Manager
A property manager is essential for most real estate investors who rent out property to others.
You can make a decent amount of money from getting tenants, connecting buyers, providing building caretaking and maintenance, etc.
40. General Cleaning Business
House and office cleaning services cover carpets, floors, lawns, garages, windows, walls, and roofs, requiring a whole range of cleaning tools.
A lot of people also include fumigation services.
You can hire people to do the actual cleaning while you handle administrative and customer service tasks.
Or, you can start small by actually getting your hands dirty by learning on the job before launching your own cleaning company.
Conclusion
There are many more businesses out there to discover and this is just a starting point.
More businesses such as food packaging, poultry raising, art and sign making, blocks and concrete molding industry, fish farming, soap production, coco production, bricklaying, plumbing, electric welding, etc.
All we were trying to do here is to inspire your brain about innovating the business concept you want.
This list will continue as you embark on your new side of business and life hustle.
Remember that you are only limited by your own imagination and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t succeed.
However, you must not fear to hear the negative aspects of the business; it is much better to be aware of them and face them early on. Courtesy: Abbakin
- Be Inspired.
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