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Today, many people are looking to give up their day jobs to become self-sufficient and start their own business. Even if they prefer not to completely leave their job, the general population has already realised that with the economic strain on income generated these days, you need to have multiple sources of income in order to feel financially secure.
Unfortunately, starting your own business is not as easy as it sounds. There are many restraints that stop people from starting a business venture. The most hindering of them being the funding required to do so since many of the young entrepreneurs are looking to avoid bank or small business loans although in some cases, it might be perfect for them. Luckily, it is now increasingly easy to start a business from scratch without spending a fortune so here are five small business ideas with low investments.
Freelancing
In this modern day and age in which almost every single person has access to a computer and an internet connection, freelancing tops the chart for business ideas with a low investment. If you have a particular set of skills that you feel people are ready to pay for, freelancing is the way to go.
With different online portals like Fiverr or freelancing.com, you already have a platform to work off, and all you need to invest in is a modest internet connection and a useable computer (if you already don’t have one).
The advantages of freelancing are numerous, the top of them being its low-risk investment involved. Besides that, you get to work on your own time because of the flexible hours and get to keep all the profits made.
Marketing Services
Companies are always looking for their business to reach out more to their potential clients, and you could provide just exactly that. You don’t need an expensive marketing degree to get into this line of work. If you’re going down the affiliate marketing route, companies themselves will provide you with the products you have to sell or the operations you have to advertise, so almost none of your own money is involved.
However, you can also use digital marketing, which involves very little investment since companies are always looking for digital marketers to be able to provide marketing copy that is search engine optimization (SEO) friendly and can transform websites visitors into actual customers. You can provide this service through the comfort of your own home, provided you have an internet connection and a computer.
Online marketplace seller
Being an online market assistant or seller is similar to being a marketing affiliate, with the difference being instead of marketing a company’s product; you are selling it to the customers directly online. Online marketplaces like eBay and Alibaba feature this option, and it requires no personal investment of your own, just being familiar with the company’s product directory.
For every product you’ve sold, you will get to keep a commission from the revenue generated. Although this option may sound attractive, it does come with its drawbacks. Because of the scammers that sell bogus products, people are hesitant to order anything in bulk online.
Offering services
While every business venture you set off on does require some funding, offering services to people requires no investment cost at all. There are many services that you can perform and get paid for without having to be an expert in that skill as described below.
- Bookkeeping Service: If you are good with numbers, then you do not need to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPO) to become a freelance bookkeeper. Many small startup companies usually can’t afford high-end accountants, so they usually opt for a freelance bookkeeper and contrary to popular belief, they do offer them a handsome salary. You can provide this service from the comfort of your own home, and it involves virtually no investment cost apart from purchasing a few supplies.
- Recruitment Services: Many small businesses are looking for new employees, and you can start your firm of providing recruitment services to other companies. You will just need a good database of potential candidates looking for a job and will have to match them up with the companies you think will be a fit for them. Often the candidate pledges their first income or a part of their income for some months to the person providing the recruitment service, and it also involves little to no investment cost.
Selling used products online
Thanks to digital marketplaces, you don’t have to sell your old stuff in a pawn shop anymore. You can do that online and make money off it. However that’s not the only way to earn money, people will often pay extra for something that they can easily order online than to go out and look for it which can be time-consuming. This provides a unique opportunity to those looking to sell online because now you can go out into a pawn shop or a garage sale, purchase items that you think can be sold online, and sell them on the internet for a profit.
Don’t let the fear of massive overheads and expensive funding stop you from wanting to pursuit the start up of your own small business. If you have a computer, a good internet connection and a bit of ingenuity, you too can start a profitable small business without costing you an arm and a leg.
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