There are so many stories out there of entrepreneurs who have beaten the odds and started successful businesses, even with little to no money. No matter what you think currently, if you want it enough, you can definitely start a business too. The internet is making it easy for just about anybody to start a business. Here are 11 business ideas you can look into starting, even when you’re broke:
1. Virtual Assisting
Virtual assisting is so easy on the internet. All you have to do is find a platform to advertise your services and then use that to get clients. You could answer emails for your clients, take care of admin work, and even screen calls. It all depends on what you’re willing to do and what they need.
2. Jewelry Making
While you will need the cash for the jewelry supplies, advertising and marketing your business doesn’t need to be expensive to start with. You can easily advertise and market your jewelry brand using platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, and even Facebook. It’s also possible to list on sites like Etsy, Depop, and eBay. You don’t even need the money for a professional looking website. If jewelry making is something you have enjoyed, this could be something worth looking into. Eventually you can invest in better equipment, such as a laser cutter for personalised pieces which will set you apart from the rest. It’s all about starting small and then building your business with the money you earn.
3. Card/Invitation Making
Card and invitation making is another exciting business that you can start for cheap. If you like to get creative, then this could be something you try regardless of whether you’ve ever considered it before. All you need are a few basic supplies and your imagination. People cry out for unique wedding stationery, for example, not to mention fun birthday cards.
4. Content Writing
Content writing can be done on a number of platforms. You don’t even need qualifications; you just need to apply following the platform’s guidelines and if you’re accepted, you’ll be able to earn money by writing various pieces on different subjects. Of course you will need to have good spelling and grammar skills, and be willing to research a wide range of subjects. You won’t always get to choose what your projects are if you work for certain firms, however, with others you can simply advertise yourself and what you’re good at and then people can come to you before you decide whether to accept. The former guarantees more work although you may get lower pay, while the latter requires you to be proactive in getting clients, although you get to write about things you want to write about.
5. Writing Ebooks
If you’ve got a skill for writing but you don’t fancy being a freelance content writer, you could even put together your own Ebook collection. There are people out there who make a living solely from creating and selling Ebooks. This allows them to continue making money, even once the work is over. It’s a way to make money while you sleep! That being said, your Ebooks should be high quality and informative if you want people to buy them and get great reviews. Anybody can publish an Ebook these days, and you don’t need a publishing agent to help you. However, you may want to look into marketing your book for the best results.
6. Pet Sitting
If you love animals, then pet sitting could be the gig for you. Remember, though, you’ll need good reviews and testimonials before people put their precious pet in your hands, so you might need to offer to help out friends and family for free first, or offer discounted rates before you have enough feedback. This isn’t a regulated industry, but it’s a good idea to have insurance and things that could protect you.
7. Blogging
Blogging doesn’t mean you’ll begin to immediately make money, but if you’re a consistent blogger then it’s definitely something you can monetize going forward. With affiliate links and ads on your blog, you can make money just by getting clicks. Depending on what you blog about, you may even get sent free products to review.
8. Child Care
Again, child care is something you should have the relevant insurance for. It’ll also help if you have childcare qualifications from school or college. Many carers look after a few kids at a time, but you’ll need to be sure that you can handle them all. You may also be required to pick them up from school. This is a job you can do around your own kids too, which makes it beneficial for parents who have a lot of patients and get on with kids.
9. Cake Making
Cake making is an industry that’s taking off these days, what with the Great British Bake Off and other programs. There’s a demand for people who can make cakes into different shapes, with realistic looking fondant to create characters, letters, and more. Plus, there is more of a demand now for cakes with special dietary requirements, such as veganism and gluten-free.
10. Mentoring/Tutoring
Do you have a good amount of knowledge in a certain subject? If you do, and you’re passionate about it of course, you could start mentoring/tutoring on the side. You could teach guitar, history, maths – anything you like and are good at. This doesn’t require you to have as many qualifications as a fully fledged teacher.
11. Commissioned Art
If you consider yourself an arty person, people will pay for commissioned art that you create for their homes. Perhaps you can paint something unique on canvas, or perhaps you could even paint a mural for them. You’ll need to use social media to showcase your work, and you may then get some offers when you become more known and popular. Sharing your journey as an artist is important for getting your business of the ground.
There are businesses you can start that are more online based, but there’s a good mix here for those who want to get creative and use the web to advertise their talents. Which one of these jobs sounds fun to you? Leave a comment!
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