BUSINESSES YOU CAN DO WITH LOW CAPITAL

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.

11 THINGS YOU MUST DO TO CREATE LIFE OF YOUR DREAMS

Here are eleven must-have inner tools that one must find within themselves in order to create a life that creates a feeling of tranquility, fulfillment and true contentment.

1. Be brave. A life without bumps is a life spent following the dictates of those around us (spouses, parents, friends, the world, etc) as to not disappoint, disrupt or anger anyone. But in doing so, one loses themselves and tosses aside the gifts that the world can only discover from one such unique individual.

2. Be willing to let go. I’ve spoken quite a lot about the importance of being able to let go, but in order to create the life you want, you have to let go of what is holding you back. And the only way to do that is to be honest with yourself. Are you wrapped up so tightly with the rules your friends have engrained in you regarding how you should spend your evenings/weekends/etc? So much so that to dare to do something they may laugh at or tease you about causes you anxiety? Part of any similar anxiety is not accepting what you’d rather do as absolutely acceptable. Who cares if they laugh? You’re creating a life that you enjoy living, not one your friends enjoy being a part of. Whose life is it anyway?

3. Speak up for yourself with intelligence and composure. The key to speaking up is knowing what you are speaking up against, having a sound solution and being able to keep your emotions intact. The last necessary key is often the most difficult because often we are speaking up about something that we value greatly or have great passion for. However, similar to the success of the American Revolution, the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Suffrage Movement, and endless other long-fought successful battles, those who chose to speak up and keep speaking up until a wrong was corrected relied on understanding their opponent and becoming clear about all of the tools that were at their disposal.

4. Use fear to your advantage. Fear of taking a path that few others have traveled, if any, can be very daunting. And even just the thought of stepping down such a road can stop us in our tracks. However, find strength in feeling the fear in this situation because it is telling you that you are indeed on the right track. Your fear is actually built-up excitement anxiously wanting what you desire to come true, and fearful that it won’t. If you weren’t a bit fearful, it would signify that you didn’t have the passion within you to put forth the effort to make it your reality.

5. Become savvy to others’ attempts to manipulate, guilt or cajole you away from what you know is the right path for yourself. It may be a parent who refuses to support you, a sibling who inflicts a tone of voice when you say “no” to their requests of babysitting their children that you’ve elected not to have for yourself or a friend who keeps nagging you to head out every Friday night when you’d rather go to bed at a decent hour so you can get up bright and early and keep puttering away on your project – slowly, but certainly making progress. Once you are able to recognize what they are doing (whether they consciously realize it or not), let their attempt to deflate, derail or cause you to doubt your direction roll right off your back. Do not expend energy toward someone who doesn’t truly wish to see you happy, but instead wants you to fit inside a box that makes sense for their life and their limited understanding and perspective.

6. Seek knowledge and become able to distinguish propaganda from truth. Propaganda has been around as long as there have people wanting to gain something from other people – power, money, control. The key to successfully navigating the many different messages our minds are bombarded with in any given day is to know what the truth is and what is fiction disguised as truth. Keep educating yourself.

7. Show gratitude. No matter how rich or poor you may define yourself to be, you have something to be thankful for every single day. We all do. After all, we are here – on this planet earth with an opportunity to leave it better than when we found it in whatever way we are capable.

8. Refuse to accept limits. Limits are for people without vision, determination and creativity. On your way toward your dream, there will be barriers to push through, obstacles to climb and lessons to learn. Often we are the ones putting the limits on ourselves based on what we believe we should do or cannot do. Remove the blinders, broaden your horizons and stop saying you can’t . . . because whatever you think you are capable of doing, you’re right.

9. Find regular moments of stillness and choose to listen to what you hear from within. With constant access to news, the internet and other people’s social networking pages, it seems even when we are alone, we’re not truly alone. While there are many benefits to technology, the ability to be still with our thoughts is free therapy. A moment to help us evaluate, assess how to move forward or get back on track. Take it. More is not always better and faster is not always better either.

10. Remove yourself from situations and people who can’t, or refuse, to accept you as you are or are striving to become. The aesthetics of your life help to create the life you wish to live. If someone causes you to feel uncomfortable, inferior, less confident, remove yourself. If, on the other hand, you are inspired, supported and loved for exactly as you are and applauded for the improvement you wish to make, foster these relationships and environments.

11. Trust yourself. As a young girl, one of the many quotes I was drawn to and have since kept with me to this day is “Trust yourself, and then you will know how to live.” I didn’t always know what this meant or what “trusting yourself” would look like, but what I’ve come to discover is that we each have an inner compass. However, often it is drowned out by the exterior noise that we place ourselves in trying to fit into someone else’s vision of what a “good life” looks like, or we ignore it because we realize that it is pushing us to do something many people around us aren’t, and that can be frightening.

The good news, based on my experience, is that even though it may be frightening, the results surpass following anyone else’s definition of true fulfillment. Recognize that even when you trust yourself, you will have moments of fear, but then revert back to the advice given in #4. And always keep in mind, the life you wish you could be living is waiting for you to begin living it

 - Be Inspired.

REALITY OF LIFE

Circumstances certainly have a great effect.

They can be overcome by using the essential reality of life, rather than bemoaning them.

If you are alive, you cannot escape some simple realities.

If you are alive, you need to understand, and remember to abide by, some basic principles of life, or suffer the results.

Would you rather be the fish or the bear?

To navigate life well, remember, and use these simple rules. Then, develop your own uses of them.

1-Pay attention! The bear in the image paid careful attention to time, location, and opened the mouth at the right time.

2- No one is exactly like you in all aspects, and you are not exactly like anyone else in all aspects... Remembering this will reduce annoyance, suspicion, anger when someone is different. You can have dialogs, rather than debates.

3- You depend on the world to produce, and maintain, what you want, and need. Remembering this will let you feel more appreciation for your life. Would you rather feel appreciation or resentment?

4- Whatever you do affects everything else. Just living has an impact.

5-Things change. Your reflection, your loved ones, the seasons, the flowers, and fruits are never still for long. Yet, there may be a reflection tomorrow, and loved ones, and seasons, flowers, fruit.

There is change, and there is persistence.

  -Be Inspired.

THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON.

Too often, life doesn't turn out as expected. And money, or the lack of money, plays a large role in people's ability to handle life's ups and downs. Perhaps that's why, in the 1920s, banks and insurance companies decided to distribute short parables written to educate people on important financial principles. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason began in 1926 as a series of pamphlets, the most famous ones later compiled into one of the best-loved money guides of all time.

The book begins with two men realizing that, while they lived a meager existence, one of their childhood friends had become known as the wealthiest man in Babylon. Despite growing up in similar circumstances, their friend seemed to have created a life of gold while they barely scratched out a living.

The situation is all too familiar even today. And like the men who'd come to the realization that they'd failed to think beyond the day at hand, readers have the opportunity to sit at the feet of the richest man in Babylon and learn how to build wealth. They learn how to plan for the future, make wise investments and how to view money as a tool rather than a measure of success.

With time-tested principles and an engaging format, The Richest Man in Babylon is an excellent introduction to finance, and a classic. 

Read & Be Inspired.

7 THINGS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO BEFORE 7:30 a.m

Successful people come from all walks of life, yet they all have one thing in common: where others see impenetrable barriers, they see challenges to embrace and obstacles to overcome.

Their confidence in the face of hardship is driven by their ability to let go of the negativity that holds so many otherwise sensible people back.

Obstacles do not block the path; they are the path.

This perspective helps successful people to think differently to everyone else, which is important, because if you think like everyone else, no matter how smart or experienced you are, you’ll hit the same ceiling. By thinking outside the box and going against the grain, successful people rise above their limitations.

And it all starts with their morning routines. Here's how ultra-successful people utilize the first hours of the day:

1. They drink lemon water.

Drinking lemon water as soon as you wake up spikes your energy levels physically and mentally. By improving nutrient absorption in your stomach, it gives you a steady, natural energy buzz that lasts the length of the day. You need to drink it first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) to ensure full absorption. You should also wait 15-30 minutes after drinking it before eating (perfect time to squeeze in some exercise). Lemons are chock full of nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants. If you weigh less than 150 pounds, drink the juice of half a lemon (a full lemon if you’re over 150 pounds). Don’t drink the juice without water because it’s hard on your teeth.

2. They exercise.

Richard Branson, Tim Cook, and Disney’s Bob Iger all wake up well before 6:00 a.m. to get their bodies moving. While their ungodly wake-up hours and exercise routines may seem crazy, research supports the extra effort. A study conducted at the Eastern Ontario Research Institute found that people who exercised twice a week for 10 weeks felt more competent socially, academically, and athletically. A second study conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol found that people who exercised daily had more energy and a more positive outlook, which are both critical for getting things done. Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. Exercising first thing in the morning ensures that you’ll have the time for it, and it improves your self-control and energy levels over the course of the entire day.

3. They disconnect.

Howard Schultz starts his day with a motivational e-mail to his employees, after this, he disconnects and dedicates his time to exercise and family. When you wake up and dive straight into e-mails, texts, and Facebook, you are far more likely to lose focus, and your morning succumbs to the wants and needs of other people. It’s much healthier to take those precious first moments of the day to do something relaxing, which sets a calm, positive tone for your day.

4. They eat a healthy breakfast.

Eating anything at all for breakfast puts you ahead of a lot of people. People who eat breakfast are less likely to be obese, they have more stable blood-sugar levels, and they tend to be less hungry over the course of the day. And these are just the statistics for people who eat any breakfast. When you eat a healthy breakfast, the doors to a productive day swing wide open. A healthy breakfast gives you energy, improves your short-term memory, and helps you to concentrate more intensely and for longer periods.

5. They practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness meditation has become increasingly popular among highly successful CEOs. Its growth in the business world is largely due to the huge dividends it pays in productivity and overall well-being. Research shows that mindfulness fights off stress by reversing the fight-or-flight response, improves your ability to focus, boosts creativity, and increases your emotional intelligence.

6. They set goals for the day.

Benjamin Franklin was obsessive about planning his days. Each morning, he would wake up at 4:00 a.m. and meticulously piece together a schedule. There’s a clear message to take from Franklin’s habit: prudent goal setting pays dividends. When you plan out your day as carefully as possible, your chances of successfully accomplishing your goals skyrocket. I like to set my daily goals after my mindfulness practice, because the added calm and clarity help me to set effective, specific goals.

7. They say no.

No is a powerful word, which will protect your precious mornings. When it’s time to say no, avoid phrases such as “I don’t think I can” or “I’m not certain.” Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments, and your morning time is an important commitment. Research conducted at the University of California in San Francisco showed that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression.

Bringing It All Together

While the above strategies are tried and true, you should build upon them with other activities that work for you.

How do you like to spend your mornings? Please share your thoughts in the comments section, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

Be Inspired.