business plans with zero investment

Small Business Trends

25 businesses to start with no money.

Whether you’re interested in e-commerce, freelancing, or passive income ideas , there are opportunities that can be explored with minimal upfront investment. Read on to discover what kinds of businesses you can start without requiring a large investment.

How Can You Start Your Own Business With No Money?

Business Ideas You Can Start With No Money

1. landscaping business.

A landscaping business can be a great idea if you are looking for a business where you can interact with many people and set your own hours. You may need a little bit of upfront capital to get the right equipment and reliable transportation to get to and from job sites. However, many people already have these items covered. And there are minimal ongoing costs to consider. Landscaping is great if you’re looking for ideas that are not home-based and where there are minimal costs to get started.

2. Consulting Business

3. social media marketing, 4. house-sitting business.

Another business model to consider is starting a service business such as house sitting. You can take care of homes while people are away, including keeping an eye on utilities, collecting mail, and watering plants. There are minimal startup costs required to start a housesitting business, but it can be lucrative depending on the area you are in.

5. Freelance Writing

6. dog walking, 7. start your own online store, 8. freelance web design.

There are many other types of freelance services you can pursue besides writing, such as website design if you are able to take relevant training. In addition, you can offer your services to other business owners needing a web presence, including basic sites on platforms such as Squarespace, Wix, and others. You do not need a business license to operate a website development business, so it is easy to get started and very flexible.

9. Language Tutoring Business

10. sell online courses, 11. pet sitting or babysitting, 12. virtual assistant services.

If you thrive on being organized and efficient, you can offer your services as a personal assistant or virtual assistant. For example, you could network with real estate agents, business owners, and other professionals who need assistance getting organized and keeping their schedules on track. You can balance multiple clients and build your business as a virtual assistant.

More Business Idea Examples to Start With No Money

13. delivery services, 14. life coach, 15. accounting and bookkeeping services.

If you are skilled at balancing the books and keeping track of financials, consider offering your services to local business owners. You can start without needing money or office space and provide a helpful skill for businesses seeking additional financial help.

16. Podcaster

17. vlogger, 18. data entry provider, 19. translator.

Another option for those that speak multiple languages is to offer translation services. Translation services can be offered online or in person and can include services such as live translation, simultaneous translation, and document translation. There are many ways to start a translation business, depending on your level of skill and how much time you have with clients around the world.

20. Personal Fitness Trainer

21. handmade crafts seller, 22. event planning services, 23. resume writing and career coaching.

With a good understanding of what makes a resume stand out and how to coach individuals for job interviews, you can start a resume writing and career coaching business. This service can be offered entirely online, making it a feasible option with little to no startup cost.

24. Home Organizing Services

25. content creation for social media, what is the easiest business to start with no money, launching your dream business with zero capital: our metodology.

Starting a business with no money might sound like a daunting task, but with the right approach and a clear set of criteria, it’s entirely possible. In guiding entrepreneurs towards starting businesses with minimal or no initial investment, we use a specific set of criteria. These criteria help in identifying opportunities that rely more on skills, creativity, and innovation than on financial resources. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the least importance and 5 the highest importance:

Can You Start an Online Business With No Money?

What is the most profitable business model to start without capital, how much does it cost to start a business.

The amount of money needed to start a business will depend on the service or product being offered. Some service businesses such as landscaping, cleaning, or becoming a podcaster or Youtuber will require a small investment to get the necessary equipment. Some businesses may also require other certifications such as business licenses or liability insurance. Other types of businesses, such as writing or consulting, do not require much money to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

What business ideas can you start with no money, are service-based businesses easier to start with no money, can you start a profitable business model without capital.

Absolutely, freelance services, such as writing or virtual assistance, offer profitable business models with no need for substantial capital. These ventures can be lucrative and efficient.

The initial cost to start a business varies based on the type of service or product offered. Some service businesses may require a small investment in equipment or certifications, while others require minimal capital to get started.

Conclusion: Thriving Beyond Financial Boundaries

The unique challenge of limited resources, entrepreneurship as a testament to ingenuity, leveraging constraints for innovation, the power of networking and time management, customer-centric approach in business, embracing the entrepreneurial spirit.

“I have earned $442,991 USD in just six months by building a dropshipping business that people loved”.

Up to 8 months off on annual plans

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Small-scale business ideas without investment: explore 25 unique opportunities.

Taking the first step of your business journey from the comfort of your couch offers a unique sense of freedom and flexibility. Whether you're seeking a side hustle to boost your income or yearning to break free from the traditional nine-to-five, tons of small-scale business ideas without investment are just waiting to be explored. 

...and we're revealing 25 unique business ideas here!

So, if you're in the following predicament:

'I want to start a business, but have no ideas'. ..you're in the right place. Let's dive straight in!

1. Dropshipping

If you've not heard of dropshipping before, here's a quick summary (spoiler: this is our favorite out of all the business ideas with zero investment in this list!):

In a nutshell, dropshipping is an online order fulfillment method where you don't have to purchase any inventory upfront. Instead, you only buy the product from your third-party dropshipping supplier once a customer purchases via your online store. Then, the dropshipping supplier picks, packs, and ships the order directly to your customer. As a result, you don't have to handle the inventory yourself.

Launching a small-scale dropshipping startup with zero investment is tricky but possible. 

Utilize free hosting solutions like Infinity Free and set up your online store using a free eCommerce plugin like WooCommerce or OpenCart. There are also free domain name registrars like Freenom.com . Then, all that's left to do is find high-quality suppliers on dropshipping directories like AliExpress and start filling your e-store with products. 

Yes, this takes lots of work, but with some tenacity, dropshipping on a budget could be a lucrative venture in the long term!

2. Start a Print-On-Demand Business

Print-on-demand (POD) is very similar to dropshipping (as mentioned above). 

However, the critical difference is that you can customize products with your own design/engraving. 

As such, print-on-demand lends itself to creatives wanting to sell products like apparel, accessories, home decor, and so on, with their unique twist stamped on them. 

Starting a print-on-demand startup without investment requires creativity, resourcefulness, and strategic planning. However, it's certainly possible. 

For example, Ecwid allows you to create a free online storefront (selling up to five products) and integrates seamlessly with Printful, a free print-on-demand service. 

Printful offers over 300 customizable products for you to choose from and sell on your own online store. Then, when a shopper makes a purchase, Printful prints and ships the order directly to your customers. 

Where graphic design is concerned, you can use free software like Canva to get the ball rolling!

3. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing can be both fulfilling and financially rewarding. Depending on your experience, you could turn your pen to writing blog posts, ebooks, email campaigns, website copy , ad copy, etc. 

To kickstart this venture, leverage zero-cost platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, or your own blog to showcase your writing skills and compile samples to show potential clients. 

There are also tons of freelance writer job boards out there. For instance, ProBlogger - when gigs come up that you like the sound of, apply for them offering your services. It's a competitive field, but the more you put yourself out there, the more likely you are to build your client roster. 

4. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants (VAs) offer administrative and organizational support to businesses remotely. For example, responding to customer support emails, social media management, data entry, etc. 

If you like the sound of becoming a virtual assistant, first, you need to identify which services you could provide and then clearly define the scope of your offerings. Organize your skills and experience into attractive packages, highlighting the value you bring clients.

Handy hack: Leverage free tools like Google Workspace to manage your email, calendar, and document collaboration. Trello is also useful for task management, and Canva is helpful for graphic design.

5. Proofreading

This side hustle is an excellent string to your bow if you're also considering launching a freelance writing or virtual assistant business. After all, it stands to reason that proofreading and writing go hand in hand. 

Of course, you'll need to boast excellent attention to detail and exceptional spelling and grammar knowledge to excel in this venture. 

Pro Tip: Use free grammar and spelling tools like Grammarly to help correct spelling and grammar mistakes in your clients' work. 

6. Social Media Management

As a freelance Social Media Manager, yes, you guessed it, you help businesses manage their social media presence.

Do you have experience building a social media following? How about running social media campaigns or creating engaging content? If yes, this could be a viable avenue for you. 

To hit the ground running, you'll need to determine your target market and the specific social media management services you'll offer, for example, content creation, scheduling, analytics reporting, strategy, etc.

Pro Tip: Use free social media tools like Buffer or Later to schedule posts, manage multiple accounts, and analyze performance.

7. Freelance Graphic Designer 

Freelance graphic designers create visual content for clients, such as logos, social media assets, email banners, etc. 

If you have graphic design experience (or are creative by nature!), you could monetize this by offering design services. 

To kickstart a freelance graphic design business without a budget, we recommend utilizing free design tools like Canva or Snappa. Although free platforms like these have limitations (compared to premium software like Adobe Creative Suite), they offer an excellent starting point. 

Pro Tip: Use a free platform like Behance to compile and showcase your graphic design portfolio to potential clients.

8. Online Tutoring

If you have teaching experience (or are an industry expert), consider turning your hand to online tutoring. 

What subjects are you knowledgeable about? Do you have experience in academic subjects like English or science? Perhaps you're bilingual and could school students in a second language? Or maybe you're proficient in a musical instrument, possibly a guitar, and you could teach that?

To jump-start your online tutoring business, utilize free communication and screen-sharing tools like Zoom to conduct your tutoring sessions. There are also plenty of platforms like Tutor.com and Preply where you can register your tutoring services. Platforms like this are excellent for extending your reach without spending a penny!

9. Sell Handmade Crafts

Do you have a knack for creating beautiful crafts? For example, handmade jewelry? Candles? Artwork? If so, monetize your hobby by selling these goods on platforms like Etsy, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc. 

Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for free opportunities to showcase your crafts at local markets. This works wonders for engaging with local customers, building your brand locally, and reducing advertising costs.

10. Start Your Own Blog

Do you have specialist knowledge about a particular niche, industry, or hobby? Perhaps tech? Fashion ? House renovations? Cooking? You name it, whatever you're passionate about, consider launching a blog and monetizing it through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content.

Generating an income from your blog takes time and effort; however, with perseverance, there's no reason your blog couldn't succeed. 

To get started with zero investment, use a free blogging platform like Blogger and promote your blog on social media. Share content frequently and engage with your audience to increase your blog's visibility.

Pro Tip: Learn the basics of SEO and optimize your blog accordingly; this is crucial for driving organic traffic.

11. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing can overlap with a few other options on this list—predominantly blogging, vlogging, influencer marketing, and podcasting—mainly because affiliate links are often embedded in blog posts, vlog descriptions, social media posts, email newsletters, etc. 

However, as it's such a popular income stream, we thought it deserved its own section. 

For the uninitiated, affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy in which a business rewards you, the 'affiliate,' with a commission for each sale/lead/click you achieve (the exact nature of your affiliate marketing arrangement will vary depending on the agreement you have with the business you're an affiliate for).

Affiliates typically give their followers/prospects an affiliate link containing a unique tracking code that's assigned to them. Then, when someone clicks on the link and performs the desired action, i.e., purchases/clicks/signs-up, this action is traceable via the link, and the marketer is renumerated accordingly. 

12. Language Translation

Do you speak another language? If so, you could put that skill to good use by offering translation services.

There are a few online translation marketplaces out there where you can register your services, such as Gengo and OneHourTranslation.com .

Aside from that, we recommend launching a website using a free website builder like Weebly to advertise and showcase your language expertise and any specialized areas you work in.

13. Event Planning Services

Do you have any experience in events management? You may have previously worked as a personal or executive assistant and want to flex your organizational skills. Or are you the go-to person for organizing get-togethers for your family and friends?

If any of these apply, an event planning business could be your venture of choice. 

It would be great if you already had a few events you could add to your portfolio. Did you plan the office Christmas party? Did you organize your own wedding? Did you throw a big surprise birthday party for a loved one?

Whatever your experience, be sure to shout about it and showcase your expertise on socials, your website, and free business listings like Yelp and Yell . 

14. Software Training

Businesses use all manner of software to keep operations flowing. However, some team members are more adept at picking up said software than others. This is especially true of larger organizations that regularly recruit considerable waves of new employees. These workers, of course, need training, which takes time.  

So, if you're proficient in a specialized software program like QuickBooks, HubSpot, Google Analytics, etc., you could run workshops or private sessions for companies looking for a quick and easy way to familiarize their employees with their ever-growing tech stack. 

15. Bookkeeping 

This might be surprising, but you don't need to be a qualified accountant to become a bookkeeper. 

So, suppose you have a head for numbers and have experience executing basic accounting tasks. In that case, there's no reason why you couldn't offer bookkeeping services to small businesses. 

More specifically, you could help with the following:

• Keep the company's preferred accounting software and filing systems updated
• Issue financial statements
• Prepare tax returns
• Create balance sheets
• Process payroll

...These are just a few examples, but hopefully, you get the gist. 

Pro Tip: If you want to pursue bookkeeping and are based in the US, you'll likely need to establish an LLC.

Again, we encourage you to use social media to promote your services. Take inspiration from Zeal Bookkeeping . They're a great example of using Instagram Reels to establish themselves as an authority in their niche.

16. Vlogger

Like blogging, Vlogging is somewhat of a slow burner, so don't expect to make money overnight. However, if you're passionate about a specific topic and enjoy being in front of the camera, then vlogging could be a great business idea!

To begin with, all you need is your smartphone and access to free video-editing software like Canva. 

Then, as your business grows and you have more money to invest, we recommend upgrading to a more professional camera, AV equipment, and premium video-editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro.

You can post your vlogs to YouTube, TikTok , and Instagram and upload them to your website. As previously mentioned in this round-up, Weebly is a free website platform, so that's worth considering. However, it imposes a video upload limit, so you may quickly outgrow it. 

Once established, you can monetize your venture by offering advertising space on your website, inserting affiliate links in your videos/video descriptions, attracting video sponsors, and/or registering an account on a funding platform like Patreon .

17. Sell Used Items

The worldwide secondhand market is forecast to almost double by 2027, totaling a staggering $350 billion , so as no investment businesses go, selling secondhand goods could be a lucrative option!

So, suppose you enjoy thrifting and have an eye for designer gear. Why not head to your local charity shops, collect boujey items, and then sell them for profit via your own website or on specialized marketplaces like Poshmark and Mercari ?

18. Sell Photos Online

Selling photos online is competitive. However, that shouldn't stop you from submitting your pictures to well-known marketplaces like Adobe Stock , iStockPhoto , or Shutterstock . 

Stock photo websites will license your photos to anyone looking to use them commercially and give you a revenue cut.

19. Become a Virtual Personal Trainer

Personal training is a $14 billion industry . If you have qualifications and experience as a PT, market your personal training packages on social media (particularly Instagram) to target people interested in home workouts. For inspiration, study Courtney Black's journey - she's absolutely smashed it!

20. Freelance Web Development/UX Designer

Creating stunning websites has never been more straightforward, thanks to website platforms like Wix and Squarespace. 

However, despite these platforms' intuitive interfaces, some businesses have a precise vision they can only achieve with coding know-how. 

In addition, businesses are always looking for ways to boost website conversions. So, if you have UX design and development experience, you could also upsell these services to your clients. 

Pro Tip: If you're the creme de la creme of web developers, it's worth applying to Toptal . They only work with the top 3% of web-developing talent and aim to connect freelancers with global clients, potentially leading to a steady stream of work for you.

21. Self-publish Kindle books

Have you secretly always wanted to be an author? Thanks to Kindle, you could transform that dream into a reality. As a self-published author on Kindle , you can earn up to 70% royalties on your books.

22. Podcasting

As with blogging or vlogging, consider launching a podcast if you have expertise in a specific niche . Again, podcasting is a slow-burning revenue stream, so don't expect to make money overnight. However, the more content you create, distribute, and repurpose, the higher your chances for growth.

23. Become an Influencer

Suppose you're launching a blog, vlog, or podcast. In that case, you may find that becoming a social media influencer goes hand in hand with these endeavors with the more content you distribute on your socials. 

However, if becoming an influencer is your primary aim, you have to choose your niche first. Beauty ? Fitness? Cooking? Whatever it is, pick something you're passionate about. When motivation is lacking, being passionate about the content you're creating will make it easier to get to work!

With that said, here are a few tips for building a following:

• Jump on social media trends relevant to your niche
• Use trending audio clips
• Post regularly
• Discuss issues your target audience actually wants to hear about.

Once you've started to amass a following, you can begin charging for sponsored content.

24. Resume Writing 

Job seekers often apply for hundreds of jobs each week. However, resumes aren't a one-size-fits-all deal. Usually, job seekers need varying resumes emphasizing their different skills depending on what the role they're applying for requires of them. 

This is where a resume writer comes in handy. So, if you understand what makes an engaging resume, consider offering this service.

Here are just a few ways to market your resume-writing business with zero budget:

• Create a portfolio website (and add client testimonials as you receive them)
• Advertise through social media
• Start a blog about resume advice and related topics

25. Freelance Data Analyst

It's not enough for entrepreneurs to be passionate about their business; they need data to back up their decisions. However, data analysis takes time and skill, which is often best outsourced to the pros. 

So, if you're a talented data analyst looking for the best business without investment , going freelance could be the right move for you.

Ensure you have a concise and compelling value proposition on your website that explains what you do, how you do it, and how you differentiate yourself (preferably backed up by results you've achieved for previous clients). This will go a long way to building trust with prospective clients.

Are You Ready to Launch Your Zero-Investment Business?

After reading this blog post, we hope you have a better idea of your options for launching a business without investment.

If we had to pick a favorite opportunity on this list, it would, of course, be dropshipping. 

Dropshipping isn't a get-rich-quick scheme, but you could kickstart a lucrative business with time, research, and perseverance. In fact, the global dropshipping market is forecast to reach $1,253 billion by 2030 - so now's the time to jump on the bandwagon. If you have any questions about how Spcoket could help you launch your own dropshipping business, contact us today!

That's all from us; let us know in the comments below which business with zero investment idea you like the look of, and don't forget to tell us how you get on!

Frequently Asked Questions About 0 Investment Business Ideas

We hope we've provided enough information to inspire you to research some of the above zero investment business ideas further. 

But in case you have a few unanswered questions, we'll endeavor to answer some of the most frequently asked questions on the subject:

What Are the Best Business Ideas Without Investment?

The best zero investment businesses from home will vary from entrepreneur to entrepreneur, depending on their expertise, skills, and experience. 

Most of the above ideas center around your knowledge and passions. So, a good starting point is to list everything you know a lot about and then see where your talents best align.

What Are the Best Business Ideas for Students Without Investment?

Students need to balance their coursework with their jobs, so running a business where you can set your own hours would be a convenient way to generate income while studying. 

That said, students usually need to generate income quickly. This discounts some of the business ideas mentioned above, like dropshipping, print-on-demand, blogging, podcasting, etc., as these tend to take a while to 'take off.'

Alternatively, students might be better suited to online tutoring (especially if they've already achieved good grades). They might also want to consider launching their own freelancing business, especially if that's something they're studying—for example, offering graphic design, writing, or other marketing services. 

What Are the Best Online Business Ideas Without Investment?

Fortunately, you can execute most of the above business ideas from home. You just need an internet connection to hit the ground running. As mentioned above, examine your interests, passions, and hobbies and then marry them to a potential business venture. For example, are you an avid yogi? If so, you could look into launching a dropshipping store selling yoga equipment and apparel. 

What Are the Best Part-Time Business Ideas Without Investment?

First, you need to determine what you mean by 'best.' For instance, are you looking to work on a side hustle that might not pay immediate dividends, like launching a dropshipping or print-on-demand store, but might prove fruitful in the future? 

Or do you want to start making money a bit quicker? If so, offering a freelance service in an area you already specialize in might be a better bet.

In either case, calculate how much time you can dedicate to your business, assess your skills, passions, and goals, and then use these insights to fuel your venture.

Rosie Greaves is a professional content strategist specializing in all things digital marketing, B2B, and lifestyle. In addition to Spocket, you can find her published on Reader's Digest, E-commerce Platforms, and Judicious Inc.

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Updated: Feb 4, 2024, 3:18pm

Table of Contents

20 businesses to start for under $1,000, business formation resources, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Whether the economy is slow, inflation is high or a recession is in full swing, you may be looking to make some extra cash. You may find some of the best businesses to start with little money are easier to get going than you think. For less than $1,000, you could have a side hustle that can help offset extra costs or rising prices.

1. Bookkeeping Service

Technically, you only need a high school diploma to work as a bookkeeper, so this small business idea is accessible to anyone. You can take courses at a local community college or find online classes to learn what to do as a bookkeeper and earn a certificate.

Finding contract work as a bookkeeper will require you to put in a bit of effort marketing yourself on sites including Upwork, social media or even traditional methods, such as putting an ad in your local newspaper. Generally, you can charge $20 to $60 per hour, depending on your location and your experience.

What you need: Accounting software, limited liability company (LLC) business license, professional liability insurance, professional website

Approximate cost: $300 (to start); $75 per month (ongoing costs)

Featured Partners

ZenBusiness

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

On ZenBusiness' Website

On LegalZoom's Website

Northwest Registered Agent

$39 + State Fees

On Northwest Registered Agent's Website

$0 + State Fee

On Formations' Website

2. Tutoring Business

Another great choice that doesn’t require higher education (though it helps) is to work as a tutor in any subject in which you’re an expert. As long as you have a high school diploma, you can work with students who are struggling in particular topics. Where you work is up to you and the student (and their parents); you can teach students in your home or go to their house or a library to work together.

To get your name out there, consider using social media to spread word of mouth that you’re available; join Facebook and Nextdoor groups to connect with families locally. Create a website that includes a calendar where students or parents can book a time with you. The average price range for tutoring varies, but $20 to $100 is standard.

What you need: A website, LLC business license, home office

Approximate cost: $250; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

3. Consulting Business

Similar to a tutor, a consultant is an expert in their field. The biggest differences are as a consultant, you’re likely to be hired by a professional or a business to help guide them. Typically, consultants have a college degree and plenty of experience (or experience that equates to a degree).

Networking is going to be your best bet for landing contracts as a consultant. Use professional social media, such as LinkedIn, go to local networking events for professionals and stay in touch with former colleagues. You should keep your personal website updated with contact information for your consulting business . Consultant fees vary wildly, depending on your area of expertise, so your rate may be $100 per hour or $500 per hour.

What you need: Professional business cards, a website, LLC business license

Approximate cost: $500; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

4. Delivery Service

If you’re looking to make extra cash after you get off work or you’re in between jobs, working for a delivery service, such as Uber, Lyft, Grubhub or DoorDash can help. While it isn’t necessary to form an LLC for your side gig, it might be worth it for protecting your personal liability. Plus, there are a lot of monthly costs (maintenance, insurance, fuel) that you could write off on your taxes.

The good news is that all you need to work for a ride-sharing service or food delivery service is a vehicle, time, a mobile phone and a clean driving record. You don’t even have to invest in marketing yourself. You could make around $400 per week driving 20 hours, according to Uber.

What you need: Vehicle, clean driving record, driver’s license, mobile phone, car insurance

Approximate cost: $500 monthly (assuming average car lease, insurance, mobile phone and car maintenance costs)

5. Online Store

Many people start an online store with just one product. You don’t need to have any technical skill or specialized training to be successful as an online seller, but it is a good idea to have some marketing and sales experience. To start, you need to find a product or products you want to sell, a great business name and a website.

You’ll need to get a domain name, build a website and then market your products. It’s probably one of the more involved businesses to start, but if you’re successful, it could replace your full-time job. Keep in mind that an online store comes with a lot of ongoing costs, from keeping your website up and running digital ads to email marketing and transaction fees.

What you need: An e-commerce website, products to sell, professional email address, domain name, business license, payment processor, sales tax ID

Approximate cost: $500; $50 per month (ongoing costs)

$17 per month

On Wix's Website

$1.95 per month

Customizable templates, easy grag-and-drop technology, SSL certificate

On Web.com's Website

Squarespace

$23 per month

On Squarespace's Website

6. Pool Cleaning Service

In warm climates, it’s common for houses to have pools, and pools need servicing year round. You will need some knowledge about pool chemicals and how to properly treat a pool to keep it clean, but you should be able to educate yourself on this. At the very least, you’ll need basic math skills to figure out how much of a chemical is needed for different sizes of pools.

Getting started with a pool cleaning service requires you to get equipment, chemicals and have a vehicle to transport those things from pool to pool. You can market yourself on sites, such as Angi and Thumbtack, or go hyperlocal with Nextdoor or Facebook groups. Typically, pool businesses charge $80 to $150 per month, which includes weekly services for each pool.

What you need: Pool equipment, chemicals, small business insurance, LLC formation, invoicing software, vehicle

Approximate cost: $750; $100 per month (ongoing costs)

7. Graphic Design Services

If you have some digital artistic skill, you can start a graphic design business from home. You’ll have to find clients, but you can do so through websites including Fiverr or Upwork. Alternatively, you can rely on networking and word of mouth, so try social media or get some professional business cards to hand out when the topic comes up.

In addition to graphic design software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Canva, you should create a portfolio website to show off your design skills. You can choose to create a personal website or a business site to sell services—either is fairly affordable if you choose one of the best website builders with the features you need. Graphic design can bring in about $25 per hour.

What you need: A website, graphic design software, business cards, business license

8. Pet Sitting Business

Turn your love of animals into a business that can make you a bit of money. Lots of people need pet sitting services from time to time and you can open your home to dogs, cats, birds and other animals that need someone to care for them. You may need to learn some specialized training, such as animal CPR and how to administer medicine to different types of pets.

Make sure you get some pet sitter insurance to protect yourself and pet-proof your home. There are a few ways to get your name out there including putting up posters around your neighborhood or joining a site, such as Care.com or Rover.com. If you’re a renter, this isn’t a side gig you can likely do, by the way.

What you need: Home with a yard, pet sitter insurance, flyers, a website

Approximate cost: $350; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

9. Property Management

There are a few ways you can get into property management: find part-time work as a property manager or start your own property management business. It doesn’t have to be a business in which you own the property you manage, rather you can offer your services as a liaison to connect contractors with residents or do the work yourself.

Although no degree is required, in some states you must be licensed to work as a property manager, so do the research before you jump into this line of work. You could offer your services to homeowners who want to rent out their houses or those who are using a service, such as Airbnb or Vrbo.

What you need: A license (possibly), business license, a website, business cards

Approximate cost: $700; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

10. Personal Trainer

If you have a knack for nutrition and physical fitness, you could turn that into a career or a side hustle. People often look for personal trainers to help them get into shape and you don’t necessarily need an advanced degree to pursue this job. It can help to have a degree in sport science or certificate in fitness (there are multiple certificates out there you can earn).

You can start this business with little money—especially as it pertains to ongoing costs. You should strongly consider filing for an LLC and getting personal trainer business insurance to protect your assets. How much you spend on marketing depends on the route you want to take. Use social media, content marketing, email marketing or run digital ads to get the word out and start making $20 or more per hour.

What you need: Certifications, LLC formation, a website, email marketing software, personal trainer insurance

Approximate cost: $850; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

11. Auto Detailing or Mobile Car Wash

A great weekend business to start with little money is a mobile car wash service. All you need to procure is a wet/dry vacuum, a pressure washer, a buffer, cleansers and microfiber towels. Aside from the equipment list, you should consider getting car detailing business insurance.

You’re going to need to spread the word about your mobile business, so it’s a good idea to submit your business information to Google Business Profile, Bing Places and other local directories. Make sure you have a website with at least your contact information, but you can also set up a website with appointments to make it easier for customers to book with you.

What you need: Car wash equipment, a website, small business insurance, LLC formation

Approximate cost: $800; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

12. Dropshipping Business

If starting an online store seems like a big investment of time and money, consider starting a dropshipping business . Dropshipping doesn’t require you to keep stock on hand or in warehouses—you simply purchase items at a discount as you sell them and the manufacturer or supplier ships products on your behalf.

You can create a website to showcase the products you want to sell or choose a marketplace, such as Amazon or eBay. It’s still important to put in the time and effort to be successful, and most of this will be by way of marketing, choosing the right items to sell and creating the listings.

What you need: Dropshipping supplier, a website, business license, sales tax ID, payment processor

Approximate cost: $100; $30 per month (ongoing costs)

13. Virtual Assistant

A lot of professionals hire virtual assistants (VAs) to help them organize emails and documents, schedule appointments and other administrative work they don’t have time for themselves. You can often find part-time work as a VA to make a bit of extra money on the side (or full time if you want). Consider joining a virtual assistant service to get placed with a company if you don’t want to work independently.

You don’t necessarily need experience to find work as a VA, but it helps to have good organizational and communication skills. If you’ve worked previously as an administrative assistant, a VA position could work well for you and you get to work from home. The average rate for a VA is usually around $15 to $20 per hour.

What you need: A computer, a good internet connection, a website

Approximate cost: $550; $130 per month (ongoing costs)

14. Staffing Business

Staffing businesses serve as the middleman between employers and prospective employees. They help businesses find great candidates, and in return, businesses pay the staffing agency a referral fee (often as a percentage of the new hire’s annual salary). It could be ideal for those that are well-connected with a large professional network and who enjoy talking to people. It is also a business that can be started at home for those focusing on filling fully remote positions.

While those that operate staffing agencies typically come from a background in staffing or human resources, it is possible to start a staffing business without prior experience. However, as with anything, do expect a steeper learning curve if you do not have experience in the field as you will need to learn about the industry from landing clients and attracting candidates to contracts and billing.

What you need: You may need licenses and permits (varies by state), business insurance, website, internet

Approximate cost: $700

15. Tour Provider

The minimum requirements to become a tour guide include a high school diploma and an intimate knowledge of the area (or nearby area) in which you live. Tour guides don’t always drive clients around, but it’s a good idea to have a vehicle and a driver’s license. There’s such a thing as walking tour guides in areas known for hiking and such.

Many local tour guides start off on their own and post listings on tour guide websites with their rates. You can also find websites that will do marketing for you for a small fee. To get started, research your area to find out whether you need a license to work as a tour guide. As a tour guide, you can usually make $20 to $50 per hour, depending on your area.

What you need: A license (maybe), a car and driver’s license (optional), liability insurance, marketing materials, a website

Approximate cost: $250; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

16. Website Design Agency

If you have experience designing websites (and even if you don’t), you can turn it into extra cash (or a full-time job). Find one of the best web hosts to get a low rate and create multiple websites. Alternatively, you could choose a website builder to help you create a website quickly.

It’s a good idea to learn how to use graphic design software, WordPress, coding (HTML and CSS) and some search engine optimization (SEO) tools . Marketing is a big part of being a website designer, so be sure to use sites, such as Fiverr, Upwork and online directories, to spread the word about your services. A website designer can make around $20 to $50 per hour.

What you need: A website, web host or site builder, subscription to graphic design software

Approximate cost: $200; $90 per month (ongoing costs)

17. Professional Cleaning Service

Housekeepers are often in need by busy professionals, people moving out of a rental and families. You don’t need much to get started, but you will need a strong work ethic, transportation and your own cleaning supplies and equipment. Check local laws to see if you need a business license to operate.

If you plan to do the work yourself, you don’t have to register a business, but it’s a good idea to have an LLC at least because it can protect your personal assets should anything go wrong. Liability insurance is more of a necessity in the event anyone is injured on the job. House cleaners make around $15 to $25 per hour.

What you need: Cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner and other cleaning equipment, vehicle, business license (maybe), business registration, a website, business liability insurance

Approximate cost: $750; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

18. Open an Etsy Shop

Lots of people have talents and skills that translate into goods to sell. You can turn your hobby into a money-making business with very little money to start. Whether you crochet or knit, paint or sculpt or print fun T-shirts, you can sell homemade goods on Etsy.

Etsy doesn’t charge you anything to start a shop, but it does charge you per listing and fees when you make a sale. How much you can make with an Etsy shop depends on what you’re selling and how popular your items are. It’s also difficult to say how much it will cost you to get started because it depends on the price of your materials.

What you need: Materials for items, marketing plan

Approximate cost: $0 to $999 (this really depends on how much your materials cost)

19. Lawn Care and Gardening Service

A popular business to start with little money is a landscaping business. It’s a good idea to have some experience mowing lawns, clipping hedges, gardening and using a weed whacker. The equipment you’re going to use likely requires you to have a truck to haul it from yard to yard, so this idea is best for you if you already have one.

To start, you’ll have to invest in a lot of pricey equipment, but you can likely find used pieces to lower the cost. Insurance is necessary, and you should register your business to protect your personal assets. Keep in mind you’ll need to pay for fuel, maintenance and marketing as ongoing costs. Landscapers’ rates usually range from $20 to $40 per hour.

What you need: Equipment, truck, business insurance, LLC formation, website

Approximate cost: $999; $100 per month (ongoing costs)

20. In-Home Caregiver

Although most caregivers work for agencies, you can work as an independent caregiver. In most states, you need certification, but it usually isn’t necessary to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Your duties are likely to include shopping, light housework, cooking and transportation to appointments, for example.

At the very least, you’ll need a high school diploma, a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and CPR certification. You should have transportation for a lot of the tasks you’re likely to do. Hourly rates for independent caregivers usually average out to $30 per hour.

What you need: CPR certification, business insurance, registered business, vehicle

Approximate cost: $150; $60 per month (ongoing costs)

Start A Limited Liability Company Online Today with ZenBusiness

Click to get started.

Whenever you start a business, there are a few things you need to do first to protect your personal and business assets. Setting up a limited liability company (LLC) is a good first step. Registering your business makes you more legit in the eyes of clients, too.

All new business owners should have a website with important information, including contact email address and phone number and a description of what they do. Some businesses would do well to find a website builder that lets clients book appointments from their site.

For more information about forming a business check out the following guides:

• How to start a business
• How to start a sole proprietorship
• How to set up an LLC in seven steps 
• Best Businesses To Start With $10k 

Bottom Line

Starting any new business is not an easy endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be a huge financial investment. The best business to start with little money is one you already have experience doing, whether it’s mowing yards, designing websites or helping students with a subject in which you’re an expert.

What is the cheapest business type to start?

Any business that you can do from home with the equipment you already have. If you have a computer and a fast internet connection, a virtual assistant, website designer or a tutor could be good picks. If you have reliable transportation, it opens up even more businesses that could be viable and cheap to start, such as a mobile car wash or house cleaning service.

What can I sell to earn money?

You can make some quick cash by selling items in your home you no longer need. Consider taking clothes to a consignment store, jewelry pieces to a jewelry store, along with selling furniture and collectible items.

What is the easiest home business to start?

Some of the easiest home businesses to start include a dog walking business, an Etsy store and a tutoring business. All three of those businesses have low startup costs and low ongoing costs.

What is the most profitable small business?

Profitable small businesses are those that have low overhead and high hourly rates. Consultants, information technology (IT) technicians and freelance accounting are all fairly profitable small businesses.

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Amy Nichol Smith spent more than 20 years working as a journalist for TV and newspapers before transitioning to software and hardware product reviews for consumers and small businesses. She has been featured in publications such as L.A. Times, Tom's Guide, Investopedia and various newspapers across the U.S.

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21 Zero Investment Business Ideas You Can Start With No Money in 2024

• November 26, 2023
• by Tom Wells

As a serial entrepreneur and small business consultant who has helped over 200 entrepreneurs kickstart their zero-investment businesses, I strongly believe that lack of capital should not stop you from pursuing your entrepreneurial aspirations.

The rise of the internet, the gig economy and innovative business models have paved the way for multiple zero-investment business ideas across diverse domains.

In this comprehensive guide, I will share 21 thoroughly researched business concepts you can launch with little to no money based on your skills and interests. Each section outlines key opportunities, startup steps, and tips to set you up for success.

So let‘s get started, shall we?

1. Dropshipping

The global dropshipping market is projected to grow at 16.4% CAGR to reach $591.77 billion by 2027 ( Statista ).

Dropshipping allows anyone to run an ecommerce store without managing inventory. As the store owner, you just process customer orders and forward them to your suppliers for fulfillment.

Getting Started

• Choose a dropshipping supplier and integrate their catalog into your online store
• Drive traffic to your store via marketing and partnerships
• Focus on providing stellar customer service

Tips for Success

• Select suppliers carefully – assess reliability, shipping times, locations covered etc.
• Build a brand that resonates with your target audience
• Ensure complete transparency and set realistic delivery timelines

My Experience I run a dropshipping store selling fitness equipment and activewear in the US. I onboarded suppliers from China and regularly engage customers via emailers and loyalty programs. Despite logistical challenges, dropshipping provides immense fulfillment in positively impacting lives.

2. Blogging

There are over 600 million blogs on the internet and nearly 77% of internet users read blogs ( Review42 ).

Blogging unleashes your creative and intellectual freedom to share your unique experiences and expertise. Choose from an array of monetization approaches – affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, online courses etc.

• Select blogging software like WordPress or Medium
• Create compelling content showcasing your signature voice/style
• Implement SEO best practices to amplify reach
• Establish a regular content production rhythm
• Interlink posts for better discoverability
• Actively engage with readers via comments/emails

My Experience I started my blog focused on mindfulness and mental health 5 years back while working a full-time job. Despite struggling initially, I persisted and now earn a consistent 6-figure annual income from my blog and related digital products.

3. Online Courses & Workshops

The global e-learning market is projected to be valued at $457B by 2026 as per HolonIQ.

Online courses are an impactful way to share your knowledge or expertise with students around the world. With platforms like Teachable and Podia, you can publish courses without any investment.

• Outline course curriculum & structure
• Record lectures and create reference guides
• List your course on e-learning marketplaces
• Offer bite-sized and visually engaging content
• Actively respond to student feedback
• Onboard guest instructors to widen scope

My Experience As a university professor, I have taught over 7000 students globally via my flagship online course "Data Science Masterclass with Python". The flexible format and diverse backgrounds of students makes this immensely fulfilling.

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Overcome the Challenges

• Develop a Low-Cost Idea
• The Role of Budgeting
• Financing Options

Bootstrapping Techniques

Leverage free resources, network and collaborate.

• Build an Online Presence

The Bottom Line

• Small Business
• How to Start a Business

Starting a Business With No Money: How to Begin

Master the art of bootstrapping and creative financing

• How to Start a Business: A Comprehensive Guide and Essential Steps
• How to Do Market Research, Types, and Example
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• Marketing in Business: Strategies and Types Explained
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• Business Development: Definition, Strategies, Steps & Skills
• Business Plan: What It Is, What's Included, and How to Write One
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Meaning, Types, Impact
• How to Write a Business Plan for a Loan
• Business Startup Costs: It’s in the Details
• Startup Capital Definition, Types, and Risks
• Bootstrapping Definition, Strategies, and Pros/Cons
• Crowdfunding: What It Is, How It Works, and Popular Websites
• Starting a Business with No Money: How to Begin CURRENT ARTICLE
• A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing Business Credit
• Equity Financing: What It Is, How It Works, Pros and Cons
• Best Startup Business Loans
• Sole Proprietorship: What It Is, Pros & Cons, and Differences From an LLC
• Partnership: Definition, How It Works, Taxation, and Types
• What is an LLC? Limited Liability Company Structure and Benefits Defined
• Corporation: What It Is and How to Form One
• Starting a Small Business: Your Complete How-to Guide
• Starting an Online Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Start Your Own Bookkeeping Business: Essential Tips
• How to Start a Successful Dropshipping Business: A Comprehensive Guide

Starting a business often requires significant planning, particularly in determining how much capital you’ll need to launch. While it’s feasible to start a business with minimal or no initial funding, this approach can pose significant challenges.

If your goal is to grow a business on a tight budget, it’s important to understand all of your available options.

Key Takeaways

• Starting a business with no money is challenging but achievable.
• Exploring creative financing options and ways to bootstrap a business can help you raise the capital you need to get started.
• While borrowing is an option, it’s crucial to assess its affordability in relation to your projected revenues.

An undeniable truth about starting a business is that money matters.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , nearly half of all startups fail within their first five years, primarily due to financial issues. SCORE reports that 82% of small business failures stem from cash flow problems, often linked to inadequate funding.

Furthermore, a survey by Skynova, which focuses on helping small businesses manage finances, revealed that 47% of startup founders attribute their failure to insufficient funding, while 44% reported simply running out of cash.

Starting a business with no money or minimal capital can significantly restrict your ability to grow and expand in the early stages. For example, a lack of funds makes it challenging to:

• Hire employees or support staff
• Purchase necessary inventory or supplies
• Advertise and market your business

The impact of limited funds varies depending on the type of business you intend to start. If you’re working with a minimal budget , it’s worth considering which types of businesses can be launched with zero investment.

It’s crucial to conduct thorough market research before starting a business. Identify your competitors and determine how you’ll reach your target customers. Consider gathering feedback from potential customers through focus groups or social media interactions.

Whether you’re starting a new small business or looking to expand an existing one, the U.S. Small Business Administration ’s (SBA’s) digital learning platform offers plenty of resources to educate yourself on entrepreneurial best practices and financing options, from its SBA Learning Center to its Investing in America program. Visit SBA.gov for more information.

Develop a Low-Cost Business Idea

Some businesses cost more to start than others. For example, you may need $100,000 or more to open a restaurant, while you may be able to get a food truck up and running for as little as $40,000.

When you have little to no startup capital, the best businesses to consider are those with minimal initial costs. Many such businesses can be operated from home using just your laptop and an internet connection.

Here are some low-cost business ideas to explore:

• Content creation for online businesses
• Freelance writing or blogging
• Virtual assistant business
• Social media manager or consultant
• Online course creator or online tutor
• Online bookkeeper
• Dropshipping
• eBay reseller
• Creating content on YouTube or TikTok
• Graphic designer
• Video editing

These are all businesses that you could run from home without having to spend a lot of money. Additionally, there are offline opportunities that require no startup cash, such as dog walking, pet sitting, local tutoring, or teaching art or music. These businesses may allow you to leverage your skills to earn an income with little to no money down.

Before launching a regulated business like a home day care or bakery, ensure compliance with local laws and regulations to operate legally and meet health, safety, and zoning standards, which can help you avoid fines and legal issues. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), or a business attorney for more specific advice.

The Critical Role of Budgeting

When starting a business, creating a detailed budget is crucial. Your budget serves as a financial guide to help you understand your costs when getting your business off the ground.

What your business budget looks like initially can depend on what kind of business you’re starting. For instance, startup costs for a low-cost, home-based business will generally be lower compared with those for a brick-and-mortar establishment.

To prepare a small business budget before launching, tally up all expected costs, including:

• Purchasing inventory or supplies
• Renting or leasing a business space
• Buying equipment
• Marketing or advertising expenses
• Hiring staff

Ensure that your budget provides a clear and realistic view of your anticipated spending. Compare this with your projected sales or revenue to understand your potential cash flow or earnings.

Remember, budgeting is an ongoing process. Review your budget monthly to monitor cash flow and keep expenses low, especially during the early stages of your business to help maximize financial stability.

Creative Financing Options

There are a number of ways to finance a new business without having to spend any money yourself. Comparing different options can help you decide what might be right for you. Consider the following options:

• Small business grants : These grants provide money to support entrepreneurship, and unlike loans, they don’t need to be paid back. The SBA supports a number of grant programs, including ones for minority-owned, women-owned , and veteran-owned businesses.
• Crowdfunding : This option allows people to contribute money to campaigns in small amounts in order to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Some of the most popular platforms for seeking support include GoFundMe, Indiegogo, and Kickstarter.
• Microloans : If you’re comfortable borrowing to fund your new business, you might consider a microloan. The SBA’s microloan program allows you to borrow up to $50,000 to start a business (although the average microloan is around $13,000). You can repay it over a period of up to six years, with interest rates ranging from 8% to 13%.  
• Credit cards : Business credit cards offer a revolving line of credit, making it easier to manage the expenses needed to start or operate your business. They can be easier to qualify for than loans. Depending on the card you choose, you might earn rewards such as cash back, points, or travel miles on your purchases.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending : Peer-to-peer loans let you borrow money directly from individual investors instead of traditional financial institutions. These investors collectively fund loans, which borrowers repay with interest over time. The interest rates and terms of these loans are typically based on your credit score.

Traditional small business loans might be harder to get if you’re still in the beginning stages of starting a business. Lenders typically require you to have one to two years of operating history and a minimum level of revenue to qualify. Working on establishing business credit could help you to qualify for loans later, once your business is up and running. 

Before launching a crowdfunding campaign for your new business, make sure you’re aware of the platform’s fees and policies for campaigns that don’t meet their funding targets. High fees can diminish the total amount you collect, and some platforms might mandate returning the funds to contributors if the funding goal isn’t achieved.

Bootstrapping simply means using the resources you have at hand to fund your business. Choosing to bootstrap a business could help you avoid taking on debt, but whether it’s realistic can depend on your financial situation.

Some of the ways to bootstrap a business include:

• Using funds in personal savings accounts or a certificate of deposit (CD)
• Borrowing against your 401(k)
• Taking an early withdrawal from an individual retirement account (IRA)
• Pulling equity out of your home
• Selling things you don’t need for cash
• Putting together a fundraiser locally to ask for donations
• Asking friends and family for a loan

Each of these options has pros and cons. For instance, borrowing against your 401(k) or taking money from an IRA can shortchange your retirement savings since the funds you take out won’t benefit from compounding interest . Additionally, you could be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty on distributions.  

Taking a home equity loan or line of credit carries its own risks. If the business fails, you’ll still be responsible for paying back what you’ve borrowed. Should you default on a home equity loan or line of credit, your home could end up in foreclosure . The bottom line is that before you bootstrap, it’s important to look at both the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

Starting a business is no easy task, and you may need some help along the way. You could hire a business coach, but that requires money, so it’s helpful to know where you can find small business resources for free.

Here are some of the places you can look to get free help when starting a business. 

• SBA : As mentioned above, the SBA offers a number of resources to help small business owners, including the SBA loan program as well as educational articles covering how to start a business.
• Small Business Development Centers : SBDCs are local organizations that assist small business owners with things like planning, accessing capital, and scaling for growth.
• SCORE: SCORE is a network of mentors who help small business owners find success. Entrepreneurs can connect with a SCORE mentor to get help with planning and starting a business, growing a business, or exiting a business when they’re ready to move on.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs : The VA offers support to veterans who are interested in starting small businesses. That includes access to educational resources and training for would-be business owners.  
• National Women’s Business Council : The National Women’s Business Council is committed to helping women entrepreneurs succeed. Specifically, that centers on helping women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) get the capital they need to start their businesses.  

You can also check for free resources locally. For instance, your local chamber of commerce might sponsor free workshops or seminars aimed at helping budding entrepreneurs. You can also look for local nonprofits that serve the small business community.

If you’re starting a business with no money, there’s one more free resource you can utilize. Social media can be an effective way to market your new business without spending a dime on advertising. It may take a little longer to build an audience if you’re not actively spending on ads, but it’s a zero-cost way to spread the word about your business.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces specific advertising and marketing regulations that business owners must follow to avoid penalties. Legally, all advertising claims must be truthful, non-deceptive, and supported by evidence. Also, certain products or services may be subject to more specific rules.

You might be starting a business on your own, but if you want it to grow, it can be helpful to focus on building the right connections. That’s where networking and collaborating come in.

Having a sizable network could benefit you in different ways. For example, you might have a connection who could introduce you to someone who’s interested in investing in your business. Or you might be offered an opportunity to promote your business on someone’s podcast or YouTube channel, which is a great way to get free exposure.

In terms of how you build your network, it can depend on what type of business you have. If you’re starting a brick-and-mortar business, for instance, then you might want to look for connections locally first. That might include joining your local chamber of commerce or small business development council.

If you’re starting an online business, then you could use online resources to connect. LinkedIn could be a good place to start your networking efforts. You can also branch out to other social media platforms to forge professional relationships with business owners or influencers in your niche.

Build a Robust Online Presence

With 67% of the world’s population using the internet and 85% of Americans getting online every day, it makes sense to establish a virtual presence for your business. This can include setting up a website or blog, launching a YouTube channel, getting active on TikTok, or building a presence on Facebook, X, or Instagram . 

One of the best things about using social media to market a new business is that it doesn’t have to cost anything. While you could spend money on ads, it’s free to create profiles on social media platforms. If you’re interested in setting up a website or blog for your business, platforms like Wix allow you to do that for free.

If you want to build an online presence without spending money, you can certainly do so. It’s also important, however, to think about which channels will offer the best return on investment for your time. Understanding where your potential customers gravitate when they’re online can help you identify which social media channels are worth targeting.

Can I Start a Business With $0?

It’s possible to start a business with $0 (or close to it) if you’re choosing something that utilizes the skills and resources already available to you. For example, if you’re interested in getting paid to write, you could start a freelance business from home and all you would need are a laptop and an internet connection.

What Is the Best Business to Start With No Money?

The best business to start with no money is the one that allows you to use your skills, knowledge, and resources in a way that produces maximum return and maximum enjoyment. If you love dogs, for example, then starting a dog-walking or pet-sitting business could be a good fit, and it doesn’t require a lot of money.

What Is the Easiest Business to Own?

The easiest business to own is one that generates passive income . Passive income is money that you earn without having to do a lot of ongoing work. For example, blogging can provide a passive income if you’re making money from affiliate marketing or online ads. You could also make passive income by selling digital products that you only have to create once, such as printables, journals, or ebooks.

It’s possible to start a business with no money if you have an organized plan and strategy . Knowing what you’ll need to do to get your business started is the first step. Once your business is up and running, you can explore the best ways to grow it in order to achieve the level of success you desire. That might include applying for small business loans , which can help you to scale and expand.

CO— by U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “ Top 3 Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail and How to Avoid Them .”

Skynova. “ Why Startups Failed in 2022 .”

U.S. Small Business Administration. “ SBA Learning Platform .”

Square. “ How Much Does It Cost to Start a Food Truck in 2024? Here Are 10 Ways to Save .”

U.S. Small Business Administration. “ Grants .”

U.S. Small Business Administration. “ Microloans .”

Internal Revenue Service. “ Retirement Topics: Exceptions to Tax on Early Distributions .”

Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice. “ Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit .”

U.S. Small Business Administration. “ Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) .”

SCORE. “ Homepage .”

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “ Get Support for Your Veteran-Owned Small Business .”

National Women’s Business Council. “ Homepage .”

Federal Trade Commission. “ Advertising and Marketing Basics .”

Statista. “ Number of Internet and Social Media Users Worldwide as of April 2024 .”

Zippia. “ How Many People Use the Internet? ”

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64 Best Small Business Ideas To Start in 2024

Looking to launch a new business in 2024? Discover the best small business ideas for your niche, budget and skill set to jumpstart your entrepreneurial journey.

Thinking about starting a business this year? Whether you're diving into full-time entrepreneurship or planning a side hustle , this list of more than 60 small business ideas is for you.

Each idea below is selected for its practicality, flexibility, and proven potential for success.

Whether you start a clothing line, pet service, or wellness brand, put your spin on one of these businesses to unlock financial growth in 2024.

Qualities of a good small business idea

Your small business idea should fit your budget, skills, and schedule. It should also meet a market need and have the potential to generate sustainable, long-term profit.

Here's a closer look at what makes a strong small business idea:

Market demand

Good small business ideas solve clear problems for specific groups of people. Before moving forward with an idea, research your target market , customer needs, and competitors' solutions. Study your industry's market trends , customer surveys, and sales data to see what consumers and businesses are doing.

Competitive advantage

How you meet market demand also matters. Competitive businesses often have original approaches that set them apart. This could be a new product, a unique selling proposition , or a competitive pricing strategy. Analyze your competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and develop a business plan that capitalizes on any gaps.

Scalability

Scalability is about the potential for growth and expansion. Can your business idea grow without hitting geographical, financial, or market limits? Many scalable businesses leverage ecommerce platforms to reach global audiences without a physical investment.

Low barrier to entry

Businesses are easier to start when they have lower initial costs, fewer regulatory requirements, less need for specialized training, and minimal technology needs. For example, business ideas like creating freelance content or opening a dropshipping store require minimal setup and no upfront capital.

Profitability

Ultimately, a small business idea needs to make money . Try to estimate potential profits and build a financial model based on predicted sales and operational costs.

Sustainability

Will your small business be part of a growing industry or a trend that's already peaked? Will your operations align with environmental , social, and regulatory expectations? Sustainable businesses not only benefit from increased consumer trust but also set themselves up for long-term success.

Best small business ideas

By using your existing skills and some readymade online tools, it's easier than you might think to launch a small business. Here are some small business ideas that you can start today.

1. T-shirt designer

Websites and apps that offer print-on-demand services are perfect for small businesses. With them, you can sell custom products like t-shirts without worrying about manufacturing, shipping, or pre-paying for inventory.

Print on demand is the process of choosing products from a catalog and customizing them with your designs. A print-on-demand company will produce and ship your t-shirts as orders come in. This allows you to create and sell original shirts and other items with branding and unique visuals.

T-shirts, hats, hoodies, tote bags, and more become canvases for your creativity. Create shirts with witty slogans for developers or cute graphics for cat owners. If there’s passion and pride within a community, a potential print-on-demand t-shirt business is waiting to be started.

If you’re not a designer, hire one from freelancer sites like Fiverr , Upwork , Dribbble , or 99Designs . You can even use t-shirt mockup templates , so you won’t need to spend money on a photoshoot to model your designs.

2. Digital freelancer

A freelance service business is another simple form of self-employment. When you offer a service, “time” is your inventory and your biggest investment. That makes it easy to get up and running if you have in-demand skills and a few spare hours each week.

Writers, graphic designers, virtual assistants, SEO practitioners, developers, and others can build a business around their skills. You could offer your expertise as an ongoing service or start a consulting business that advises on projects.

Once you’ve found your first customers, try apps like BookThatApp or Acerill Appointment Booking for easy booking and appointment management.

You can also offer your services through a freelance marketplace like Upwork to increase your chances of being discovered by people who need your skills.

3. Affiliate marketer

Affiliate marketing refers to a performance-based marketing tactic where a business pays people to promote products for them. Every time an affiliate brings in a new customer, they receive a commission from the business.

Affiliates can promote products on their blogs, social media accounts, websites, or in communities. For many, affiliate marketing is a low-cost way to earn passive income .

To join an affiliate program, do the following:

• Find an affiliate program on sites like ShareASale , CJ , or LinkShare
• Choose offers you want to promote
• Get an affiliate link
• Promote that link across your assets
• Get a commission every time someone signs up or makes a purchase through your link

Commission rates vary, depending on the company and the retail price of products. You could earn as low as 5% for each sale, while some commissions can be as high as 50% if you’re promoting a class or event. Some affiliate programs also offer a flat rate versus a percentage.

4. House or pet sitter

House and pet sitting are good business ideas to start if you feel comfortable caring for and staying in a stranger’s home, potentially with their pets.

You can create an online store to market and sell your services, or register for an account on dedicated home and pet care apps. Here are some examples:

• HouseSitter.com : This website is for both house and pet sitting. You can create a profile and apply to postings. People who need house/pet sitting can also browse sitters and reach out to them.
• Rover : Rover is a website and app specifically for pet sitting. On it, you can create a profile and apply to gigs. These arrangements include drop-in visits but not overnight visits (or house sitting).
• Care.com : Care.com is a listing site where pet sitters can create a profile and list their experience. You can also apply to jobs posted by people seeking pet sitters. Care.com is a good site to use if you offer senior care, tutoring, housekeeping, and child care services.
• TrustedHousesitters : TrustedHousesitters is a great place to start if you need experience or testimonials. The platform specifically prohibits paid gigs, so these arrangements are viewed more as an exchange—you get a free place to stay, and they get free sitting.

Consider that some pet sitters offer on-site services while others care for pets in their own homes. You can even add a dog-walking element to appeal to a wider range of people.

Tutoring school kids or adults who want to learn a new skill can bring in extra income around your regular working hours. You might be great at math, playing the drums, or speaking French, so why not teach others?

Promote your tutoring services on local Facebook groups and in nearby schools to get the word out and build up your client base. If you're planning to create courses for your students, start by watching this guide to making online courses .

6. Personal assistant

Becoming a personal assistant requires little upfront expenditure and means you can work with a range of businesses. You’ll essentially be helping business owners take care of admin tasks, like booking appointments, responding to emails, and taking notes in meetings.

Start by networking with business owners on LinkedIn to build relationships and market your services. Creative effective Linkedin marketing strategies with these tips .

7. Dog walker

Dog walking is a fun and rewarding job (and you get a bit of exercise at the same time). Build a dog walking business by checking your local state laws to see what licensing and insurance you’ll need, then set up a website to advertise your dog walking services. If you don’t want to manage the administrative aspects, sign up with a company like Rover, a directory that owners can use to connect with potential dog walkers.

8. Airbnb host

You don’t need a fancy second home to become an Airbnb host—in fact, the accommodation platform originally started as a way for homeowners to temporarily rent out their spare room for extra cash. If you have the extra space in your house, you can create an account with Airbnb and rent it out at weekends, for overnight stays, or whenever suits you.

Like the idea of running a rental business? Here are some other rental business ideas to consider .

Are you always called on to bake cakes and sweet treats for your friends and family? If the answer is yes, you can sell baked goods to locals in your community. In addition to baking cakes for birthdays and events, your bakery business plan could also include creating batches of baked goods to sell in local coffee shops and cafés, or distribute more broadly through an online store .

10. House cleaner

If you’re a stickler for cleanliness, starting a cleaning business can be a fulfilling way to make money. Create a batch of flyers to stick through doors in your neighborhood and advertise your services on local Facebook groups. If you do a good job, chances are word of mouth will help you organically pick up customers.

11. Car washer

Car washing has long been a source of fundraising for high schoolers, but it can also work as a business for adults too. If you’ve got space outside your house or a nearby yard, you can offer car washing and valeting services to locals. Alternatively, you can go door-to-door to hand out flyers and wash cars on the road while you build up your business.

Best businesses to start with little money

Short on cash and want to start a small business? Check out these cost-effective businesses you can start today.

12. Dropshipping store owner

Dropshipping is a fulfillment model where a third-party supplier stores and ships inventory to customers on your behalf. It’s one of the best businesses to start, because it’s low overhead, hands-off, and scalable.

💡 With Shopify, it’s easy to start a dropshipping business . Sell popular products without the hassle of managing inventory, packaging, or shipping. Orders are sent directly from your wholesaler to your customers, so you can work on what you do best—reaching your customers.

You don’t need to handle any products yourself—you just need to make the sales and pass orders on to your supplier. In fact, it’s one of the quickest and cheapest businesses to start.

You can curate products from one or more suppliers into your own online store under a theme that focuses on a specific dropshipping niche , like gear for yoga enthusiasts or water bowls for dogs. When a customer buys a product from you, the order is sent to your supplier, who fulfills it on your behalf. However, you are still responsible for marketing and customer service.

Dropshipping is a great way to sell trending products and launch a business before you invest in your own original products.

13. Influencer

In today’s connected world, the ability to capture and keep the attention of others is an asset. It’s one many businesses are willing to pay for and one many creators are able to convert into a business with multiple revenue streams.

Whether you choose to grow your following on YouTube , Instagram, TikTok , or a blog (or, ideally, on a combination of different channels), you have many avenues for monetizing your audience:

• Sponsored posts on behalf of brands
• Becoming an influencer
• Selling physical or digital products (via any of the ideas on this list)
• A combination of the above (they’re not mutually exclusive)

Taking an audience-first approach to your small business idea means you’re playing the long game (it might be months until you’ve figured it out). But you don’t need millions of followers to do it: Instagrammer Kat Gaskin, for example, pulled off a $10,000 product launch with only 3,000 followers.

14. Child care provider

The rise in demand for child care services with a decreasing supply is a perfect combination for starting a new business. If you enjoy taking care of kids and can get the proper licenses, a new child care business could be a good business idea for you.

Daycares are a particularly good business idea for parents looking to make money from home.

15. Handy-person

Everyone has a go-to maintenance specialist in their family. You know, the person who’s always doom chores around the house: a plumbing issue, installing tile, cleaning out gutters, putting up a fence. They’re always the person friends and family call on for odd jobs. If this is you, why not get paid for your work?

The home repair and improvement industry sits at around $540 billion in market value. Whether it’s fixing a boiler or building a patio deck, if you’re someone who likes to fix things, this could be a lucrative business for you.

16. Life coach

Life coaches help people navigate career changes and build wellness lifestyles they love . If you’re good at helping people make decisions, are a great communicator, and enjoy guiding people toward their dream lives, this could be a good business idea for you. You’ll need a qualification to get started, but otherwise, you can start picking clients up on social media, via local advertising, and, eventually, through word-of-mouth marketing.

17. Consultant

If you’re a specialist in a certain area or have deep knowledge of a particular subject, you can monetize that by opening a consultancy. For example, you might decide to offer consultancy services to companies looking to improve their hiring practices or, if you’re skilled at search engine optimization , you might open a business offering your knowledge as a service.

18. Newsletter author

Newsletters offer a direct line of communication to a prebuilt audience. If you’ve got an online presence and knowledge to share, consider starting a newsletter business. There’s little you need to get started—just an email marketing provider and a way to generate subscribers—then you can make money selling sponsorships, products, or services directly through your newsletter. Alternatively, when the numbers are high enough, you can charge subscribers to receive your newsletter in a subscription-style model.

19. Bike mechanic

Love fixing bikes? Start a business repairing and building bikes for your local neighborhood. Advertise your services in local Facebook groups, draw up some flyers to stick around local shops, and create a simple website to get the word out.

At-home business ideas

You can also start your own business at home, giving you complete flexibility and freedom. Whether you’re interested in writing a book, creating digital courses, or managing social media for brands, there are numerous opportunities for home-based businesses.

20. Self-published author

Cookbooks, picture books, comic books, poetry books, photo books, coffee table books, and novels—if you’ve got the knowledge or creativity, there are a variety of original books you can bring to the market. The options are endless—that’s why it’s one of the best small business ideas to start.

Print on demand book services are a safe way to test the waters and get started with self-publishing . It also gives you control over the quality and look of your book.

Lulu xPress and Blurb are popular platforms to create, order, and distribute your own books as physical and digital products. You could also sell it on third-party marketplaces like Amazon .

While you can order one book at a time, costs naturally go down when you buy in bulk. Consider preselling or crowdfunding your book idea to ensure there’s demand, and guarantee a certain number of sales so you can feel confident making a bulk order. Publishing your own book can be a great way to monetize a blog if you have or are looking to start one.

21. Digital creator

Digital products like music , courses, podcasts , and templates are unique on this list of low-investment small business ideas. Unlike the others, they’re not tangible. There aren’t recurring manufacturing or shipping costs to worry about, so your margins can remain high, making it another no-brainer for being one of the best businesses to start.

The trick is figuring out what makes for a good digital product, and how much people are willing to pay for it.

Some good digital products include original instrumental beats, stock photos that can be licensed to other creators, and information products and templates that help people level up their skill sets in a particular field.

If you’ve got a talent that can be turned into a digital product, think about packaging it into a new stream of income.

Shopify's has a free Digital Downloads app that lets you offer digital products in your store as easily as physical products.

22. App developer

Creating a million-dollar app business is not easy. In fact, 99.5% of consumer apps fail . Most apps don’t have product-market fit, need a ton of marketing, and are costly to create.

So, why include this business idea? Because consumer app development isn’t the only path for entrepreneurs. New B2B apps for the Shopify App Store crop up daily, with a market of motivated businesses eager to find the tools they need. By offering a simple solution to a common problem encountered by website designers or store owners, you can generate a healthy profit.

23. Coffee seller

Selling coffee can be profitable with a strong brand and the right marketing plan. Sure, coffee has a lot of competition. But that shouldn’t scare you away from this multi-billion-dollar industry . Selling a high-commodity product like coffee has many benefits:

• There is a high volume of customers.
• Customers typically associate small brands as having a higher quality than corporate brands.
• There are many positioning opportunities.

Because coffee is so widely available, it’s easier to sell. People already want coffee—you only need to make them want your coffee.

24. Social media management consultant

In 2024, there are more than 5 billion active social media users around the world. That’s over 60% of the world’s population. Between YouTube , Instagram , Facebook Messenger , TikTok , and all the other social networks available⁠—brands need help managing their accounts.

A social media manager is responsible for creating and analyzing content for brands’ social accounts . Clients will pay you to create engaging content, write attractive bios, respond to comments, run ads, and more. You could charge by the hour or by project rate.

25. Résumé writer

Resumes are crucial to landing a new job, so if you’ve had good responses from previous employers, consider helping job seekers optimize theirs. You can offer two different services:

• Writing résumés and cover letters from scratch
• Improving and optimizing existing résumés

It’s often much more difficult for us to write our own résumés than it is for an objective third party. Use this to your advantage and sell résumé writing services on your website or social media, or via local recruitment centers.

26. Translator

Are you fluent in another language? If the answer is yes, you have a great in-demand skill under your belt. Translators can do everything from translating website copy from one language to another to translating in-person conversations. Consider specializing in a specific form of translation, such as translating medical journals or finance publications. Then, create a website to advertise your services or create flyers to drop through doors.

27. Travel planner

If you’re always the person who gets asked to plan upcoming trips, there might be a career for you in travel planning. While people are using travel agents less and less, there’s still a market for bespoke, luxury travel planning. Set up a website and start advertising your services on social media to generate interest.

28. Virtual assistant

Similarly to personal assistants, virtual assistants help business owners manage tasks they don’t have time for. The only difference is virtual assistants don’t have to be in the same city (or even the same country) as the businesses they work for. Virtual assistant services vary wildly and can include social media work, graphic design, general admin, and sales.

29. Developer

The growing digital landscape calls for more coders (also known as developers). These are the people who build websites from the back end, turn designs into fully functional sites, and build apps from scratch. There are online courses you can take that arm you with the basics, but the best way to improve your coding skills is to practice. Build a website to showcase your skills, reach out to brands you’d like to work with, and create a portfolio of websites and apps.

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30. Data entry clerk

Every business uses data, which means data entry clerks play an important role in collecting, storing, and managing vast quantities of information. If you love a spreadsheet or are well-versed in setting up systems and processes, this could be the business for you. Start by reaching out to local businesses to offer your services and promote your business on social media to reach a wider range of potential clients.

31. Content creator

There are more than 200 million content creators —a positive sign the creator economy is a blossoming industry to get involved in. Content creators are people who post videos, stories, and content on social media to build an audience and make money. This can be done via brand partnerships, product promotions, selling products, or advertising revenue. If you already create content and enjoy sharing stories on social media, it may be a no-brainer to become a content creator.

32. Digital designer

Digital products include templates, journals, checklists, guides, and designs people can download and use from the comfort of their homes. It’s easy to experiment with a variety of different product types to see what sells—simply use a design tool like Canva to design your downloads , and create a website or use a marketplace like Etsy to sell them on.

33. Bookkeeper

Good with numbers? Why not start a bookkeeping business? You’ll be in charge of monitoring and recording small business accounts each month to make sure your clients are on top of their finances. You might need a relevant degree or certification before you get started, but once your business is set up you can work with clients from the comfort of your own home.

Unique small business ideas

Small business owners can also be innovative and make an impact on people’s lives. Want to change the game in a particular market? Check out the ideas below.

34. Nonprofit founder

Starting a nonprofit organization isn’t the only path you can take to help fund a better world.

Having a mission to go along with a business and setting aside some profit for a cause gives social entrepreneurs a unique way to position their company in the market while addressing the issues they care about most.

While many social enterprises offer their own original products, you can also take any of the low-cost small business ideas above and partner with a nonprofit or execute that social good with your own hands, as long as you’re transparent about how it works.

The Give & Grow Donations Shopify app makes it easy to partner with charitable organizations and incorporate your mission into your business. You can set it up to donate a specific amount or a percentage of sales or ask your customers to add a donation at checkout.

35. Pet business owner

The pet industry is an industry that’s worth more than $300 billion and ripe with opportunities. Your pet business could be product- or service-based—selling accessories, food, or toys, or offering grooming, walking, or training expertise.

Perkie Prints makes personalized printed pet products—everything from apparel to framed prints, plus fun projects in between. On the service side of things, Let the Dog Out offers dog walking and “bathroom breaks” to its customers.

36. Membership program founder

Online memberships are ideal for entrepreneurs with an established active and engaged community . They work much like a subscription-based business—customers make recurring payments in exchange for a virtual product or service.

Memberships are great for managing members-only access to content on a website, and even for physical businesses that offer guided sessions online. Yoga studios, gyms, clubs, and art schools are a few examples of businesses that can take advantage of this business model.

It’s easy to start your membership-based business with Shopify. Set up a new product just like you would for a physical product, but create a name and description that tells people about your membership services.

37. Virtual event planner

Virtual event planning is a profitable business idea if you enjoy organizing and connecting people. The significant rise in business events and the adoption of virtual tools for conducting meetings will keep this market growth high. As a virtual event planner, you’ll be responsible for creating virtual conferences, networking opportunities, and educational sessions for companies around the world.

38. Landscape gardener

Got a love for nature and outdoor design? A landscaping business is a great option for you. Landscaping, also referred to as lawn care, means modifying and maintaining the visible features of an area of land. You’re responsible for creating beauty out of natural, living elements like flowers, grass, and trees.

There’s growing interest in landscape maintenance among younger households, with seasonal demand making landscaping a potential summer business idea . Competition in the market is moderate. You’ll face a few leading landscaping companies, like TruGreen, as well as smaller local service providers.

39. Vending machine owner

Here’s a unique business idea : vending machines. Yes, there’s money to be made with vending machines. Though the industry took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, projections indicate vending machines will bounce back.

Offer the right products at the right location to make your vending business a success. Do your research to find high-traffic areas, who is walking by, and what they might need at that moment. Consider the various airport vending machines. You’ll find the expected vending machines with snacks and drinks, but there are also machines with makeup and accessories, like phone chargers and headphones. With a strategic approach, vending machines can be a profitable business with a small investment, and an overall great business idea.

40. Online dating consultant

Consider yourself a bit of a matchmaker? Become an online dating consultant and help singles find love. Besides helping people set up online dating profiles, you can source potential matches, and offer coaching through the initial first dates. Try it out on some willing friends first and use these success stories to promote your services to other singles.

41. Personal trainer

If you enjoy going to the gym and staying active, consider starting a personal training business. You’ll need a qualification to get started, but once that’s in place you can build up a roster of clients who regularly come to work out with you.

Take it a step further and offer personalized training plans, nutrition advice, and exercise mentoring to make additional income. You can advertise your business on local Facebook groups, create flyers to stick around the neighborhood, or create a website to attract remote clients that you can train with via video call.

42. Personal chef

If you love to cook and often find yourself hosting delicious dinner parties for friends and family, a personal chef business might be for you. Start small by cooking meals for your neighbors’ dinner parties and expand to include downloadable menus and personalized multicourse meal plans. It can help to specialize in a specific cuisine or style of cooking to build up your name, such as vegetarian meals or Japanese dishes.

43. Meal prep specialist

Meal prepping is all the rage as people’s lives get busier—just take a look at the success of meal subscription boxes like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron.

Tackle this pain point by offering a meal prep service where you batch-cook food for the week and deliver it to your clients. You can even enhance segments of your meal prep by offering related food, like a line of condiments. Promote your business locally and hand deliver meals or advertise online to a wider audience and send meal boxes by post.

If you’ve got a truck and enjoy physical labor, consider opening a moving company. Make sure you’ve got the correct permits and insurance to start and then build up a name for yourself by sending out flyers, advertising on local Facebook groups, and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals.

45. Voiceover artist

Got a voice smoother than Morgan Freeman’s? Become a voiceover artist who narrates television adverts and online videos. The sheer popularity of video today means there’s plenty of work to go around. Set up a website to advertise your services and sign up for voiceover directories to connect with potential clients.

46. Tour guide

Becoming a tour guide can be a fun way to show people around your city, especially if you enjoy and are knowledgeable about the local history. Consider differentiating your business from other tour guides by focusing on a specific activity, like food, music, or culture. Advertise your services online and create flyers to distribute in well-known tourist spots.

47. Masterclass host

While tutoring often takes place in person, you can also share your subject expertise to groups of people online by teaching online masterclasses. Decide what skill or activity you’ll teach and advertise your services online or through local Facebook groups. As well as teaching subjects like accounting or dance, you can also teach workshops on topics like cooking and wine tasting.

48. Professional organizer

If you’re known as the “organized one” in your group, consider starting a business as a professional organizer who helps people declutter and restore order in their homes. It can be really difficult for people to juggle day jobs and organize their homes to a high standard, so you might find yourself in high demand. This job is obviously geared more toward a local client base, so rely on local Facebook groups, handing out flyers, and word-of-mouth referrals; you can also increase your revenue with organizational videos and paid downloadables.

49. Personal shopper

Personal shoppers help their clients find the right clothes, furniture, or jewelry. If you’ve got a good eye for fashion or interior design, this can be a rewarding way to make money. Start by choosing what kind of personal shopper you’d like to be and then advertise your services locally via Facebook or flyers to spread the word.

Creative small business ideas

Start an exciting business that explores your creativity and self-expression with the following ideas.

50. Poster and card illustrator

If you’ve already got an engaged online following—say you’re a cartoonist or an urban photographer—you’re in an especially good position to sell your art online .

Depending on the printer you work with, you can turn your work into products such as posters, framed wall art, or even greeting cards. There are plenty of low-cost digital templates and mockup generators like Placeit that you can use to showcase your products without having to print out each item and conduct your own photoshoots.

51. Online boutique owner

If you love fashion and sharing your sense of style, you can consider creating your own online fashion boutique. You don’t need to become a fashion designer—you can curate items from other vendors into your own online store (using the dropshipping model we discussed earlier).

Dresses, shoes, swimwear, accessories, and more—you can build your own fashion brand using one of several product-sourcing apps , model them on your own with product photos and social media posts, and build an online following as a trendsetter . Apps like MyOnlineFashionStore let you import various styles into your Shopify store.

52. Crafts-person

If you’re a maker—whether that’s DIY soap, candles, sauces, or pottery—you’re in a position to find a small business idea, because product development and procurement are literally in your hands.

Unlike many of the other ideas on this list, you will need to consider shipping and inventory management , but you can start out simple on a per-order basis or with a small batch until you start generating consistent sales.

In fact, many makers on Shopify started out with a home business idea , selling on Etsy or eBay, or to friends and family through word of mouth, and grew into full-time small business owners after establishing demand for their products.

Just be mindful of any regulations in your product category , especially for anything customers will eat, inhale, or put on their skin.

53. Photographer

Got a passion for taking photos? Turn your hobby into a full-time online photography business . Today, you don’t just have to sell services for weddings and corporate ad campaigns. You can easily set up a store and sell prints, posters, NFTs, and more. Or you can sell your photos on stock photography sites.

54. Beauty entrepreneur

The beauty industry really pulled through the pandemic and the momentum continues to build. Businesses that sell online with unique positioning and enhanced delivery services will continue to win.

Some product ideas with high demand are:

• Personal care products like hand soap and sanitizer
• At-home spa rituals like face masks
• Beauty technology like massage guns, smart mirrors, and makeup refrigerators

Consider launching a makeup brand or a hair care line and targeting a specific audience segment, like curly girls or teens.

55. Phone accessories

Because so many people own mobile phones now, there’s a huge market for phone accessories. And there are many different ways you can go with these accessories—print-on-demand, handmade, niche by product type, dropshipping, and more.

Some ideas for phone accessories to sell include:

• Phone cases
• Car and desk holders
• Earbuds/headphones
• Bluetooth speakers
• Portable chargers
• Wireless chargers

When listing your phone accessories for sale , remember to include which devices they’re compatible with. You don’t want to create a negative yet avoidable experience for customers who receive an item they can’t even use.

56. Subscription box brand

If you’re not interested in creating your own products to sell, you can curate them. One of the best small business ideas is to sell subscription boxes with curated products that follow a certain theme.

One of the great parts about subscription boxes is you can create them for pretty much every niche out there. For example, featuring merchants and makers in your community is one of the best local business ideas for subscription boxes. You can also go for themes like yoga, beer brewing, or pets—the possibilities are limitless.

Like memberships, subscriptions are good business ideas to start because they create a recurring revenue stream. People have to proactively cancel their subscription if they don’t want to continue paying for it.

Subscriptions also lend themselves to collaboration. When you curate products from different merchants, you can get in front of their audiences—a whole group of potential new subscribers.

57. Alterations specialist

People will always need a button sewn back on or a hem altered. If you’re good with a sewing machine, you could be the person to do it. Start small by offering to hem or mend your neighbors’ clothes and, as you grow, add services to your repertoire like dressmaking and alterations.

58. Makeup artist

If you love makeup and enjoy making others look good, start a business as a makeup artist . You can offer your services for weddings, photoshoots, or special occasions and decide whether you want to work with locals or are willing to travel to build your client base. As well as advertising your services on local Facebook groups, create a website and flyers where people can find out more about what you offer.

59. Furniture restorer/upcycler

Furniture upcycling gained huge momentum during the pandemic as people upgraded their living space. If you’ve picked up a few restoration skills along the way and enjoy refurbishing a well-loved piece of furniture, why not open a furniture restoration or upcycling business? You can either buy items from local charity shops or reclamation centers to do up and sell, or you can offer to upcycle people’s existing furniture.

Physical small business ideas

These business ideas may appeal to those who enjoy face-to-face interaction and tangible services. People who are passionate about creating active income streams might find these business ideas appealing, as they require a personal touch and physical presence to succeed.

60. B&B owner

Opening a B&B isn’t a small feat, but if you’ve dreamed of creating a cozy place for travelers to stay in your area, it could be a great business idea for you. You’ll need a big enough space to get started, but after that, you can decide what theme you want your B&B to take on, what packages you’ll offer to guests, and how you’ll create a welcoming experience that keeps people coming back.

61. Delicatessen

If you’re a specialist in a specific type of food (or you simply love a specific product), consider opening up a dedicated food store. Whether it’s cheese, wine, craft beers, or specialty olive oil, you can create a commercial hub for like-minded people to share your passion. As well as sourcing products from local makers, you can use your store to host relevant events, like wine tasting or cheesemaking for extra income.

62. Food truck operator

Food trucks cost less upfront than a restaurant because you only need a vehicle and the cooking equipment to get started. Set yourself up for success by narrowing your offerings down to a specific cuisine or food type—remember, you have limited space in a food truck.

If you don’t want to (or can’t afford to) buy a truck upfront, you can always lease one from a company like the Food Truck Group to get you on your feet. If you’re successful, you can open a restaurant later on down the line, just like The Cheese Bar .

63. Massage therapist

Trained massage therapists are always in high demand. There are three ways you can operate your massage business:

• Visit client homes to provide massages.
• Open a salon where clients can come to you.
• Work on a contract basis for a chiropractor, salon, or acupuncturist.

You’ll need a qualification to get started, but once you’re all set up you can expand your list of services to include other beauty and relaxation treatments.

64. Barista

Turn your love of coffee into a physical coffee shop. Choose to invest in a franchise or start your own coffee shop from scratch. Once you’re set up, you can differentiate your business from competitors by running in-house events, offering special deals, and turning your coffee shop into a valuable community hub.

Market your business with Shopify’s customer marketing tools

Shopify has everything you need to capture more leads, send email campaigns, automate key marketing moments, segment your customers, and analyze your results. Plus, it’s all free for your first 10,000 emails sent per month.

How to start a small business

To start a small business, you need a plan as well as a dream. To put the wheels in motion, follow these steps:

• Use the time you have available: It’s good to have a balance of ambition and realism with your business aspirations.
• Identify a new business idea: This could come from your personal interests, a market opportunity, an experience—anywhere, really.
• Validate your business idea: This is where you identify if your idea is viable or not. Are people willing to spend money on this?
• Find a business name: A strong name should be short and simple, memorable, and original. If you need help, use a business name generator .
• Make a plan: Your business plan is critical for keeping your business on track, as well as securing partners, investors, lenders, and more.
• Understand business finances: Open your business bank accounts, secure funding, and set up strong bookkeeping and accounting processes. It might be a good idea to build out your goals in a business plan template to help secure funding.
• Develop your product or service: The fun part! This is where you bring your product or service idea to life.
• Pick a business structure: Your business structure influences taxes, operations, personal liability, and more. Choosing the right business structure is about balancing the legal and financial protections you need with the flexibility offered by different options.
• Research licenses and regulations: Your business is subject to the laws governing businesses in your area, as well as laws and regulations specific to your industry. It’s important to understand this to avoid bigger problems down the road.
• Select your software systems: Accounting, email, ads, project management—you need an entire tech stack to run your business.
• Find a business location: Identify where you can open up a shop based on space, retail needs, and fulfillment needs.
• Plan workload and team size: If you plan to do all of the work yourself, you’re limited by the time you have available to invest. If you plan on hiring help, you’ll need to account for those costs—as well as the time involved in finding and onboarding freelancers or employees.
• Launch your business: Leverage your network, build buzz with promotions, and test paid ads to get word out about your newly launched business.

Generating small business ideas

There are many ways to come up with profitable business ideas of your own. You or someone you know might have a poor personal experience with a company—and you know you can do better.

Or, maybe there’s a gap in the market: for example, demand for a specific product but no one meeting it. Other ideas come from everyday moments, in the shower or right before you fall asleep.

Brainstorming business ideas

If you’re feeling stuck on good business ideas, keep a brainstorming board. Whether tactile or digital, create a place to put down your ideas whenever they come to mind. Then, revisit your notes with fresh eyes.

There’s power in numbers, too. Recruit help from colleagues or friends and family to brainstorm new ideas. Survey your existing customer base or audiences and get their ideas. Look at what people are saying on social media or searching for online. Start with lots of ideas and then refine your list to the top ideas to explore further.

Protecting small business ideas

Most business owners have a few options when it comes to legal protection of their small business ideas, both now and in the future. The right one depends largely on the types of businesses you’re talking about.

• Copyright: Copyrighting protects your intellectual property, meaning others can’t use it without your permission. This applies to text, art, photography, music, graphic design, and similar mediums.
• Trademark: Trademarking is another intellectual property protection. Essentially, you “own” a word, phrase, logo, symbol, or design—preventing others from using it.
• Patent: Patents are applicable for inventions—a patent prohibits anyone else from making, selling, or using your invention in their business for a period of time.
• Confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs): These legal documents prohibit people from sharing information, as outlined in the NDA.
• Noncompete agreement: If you hire employees or contractors, you can have them sign this document, which prevents them from working with direct competitors.
• Work-for-hire agreement: Another document—this one is only for employees—that means any work they do during their term of employment belongs to the employer, not the individual.

Funding a business idea

One of the toughest but most important parts of starting a business is finding the money to get your idea off the ground. There are a few ways to get funding for your business idea .

• Small business loans: Shopify Capital offers funding for eligible merchants, who can apply to receive between up to $5 million in capital to grow their business.
• Investors: Lots of investors look for the next big thing—the types of businesses that go viral. Craft a pitch for your business idea to present to investors.
• Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding is similar to getting investors, except you need lots of investors who are each willing to make a small financial commitment.
• Fund it yourself: It’s not realistic for everyone, but less expensive business ideas make it easier to come up with the cash yourself . Just be aware of the risks involved.

💡 Need funding to run and grow your business? Shopify Capital makes it easy to apply for funding quickly to use for inventory, marketing, and more. Automatically make payments as a percentage of your daily sales. No compounding interest.

Got your business idea? Now start

Thanks to the latest commerce tools, third-party suppliers, and the ability to quickly test ideas online, it’s easier than ever to build a successful business and start making sales without getting caught up in sourcing products, renting space, and managing inventory.

The small business ideas above can be implemented directly, morphed into an original idea, or even combined to start a business that’s uniquely yours. If the idea of sourcing, storing, and shipping inventory has kept you from starting a business before, begin with an inventory-free, low-cost business model and grow from there.

The world of self-employment can be challenging, but with a little hard work and know-how, you can work toward building your own business.

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• How To Make and Sell Your Own Custom Phone Cases (2023)

Small business ideas FAQ

What are the most successful small business ideas.

The most successful small business ideas combine the skills and passions of business owners with simple, practical customer solutions. For example, ecommerce store owners and food truck operators make it easy for customers to access desirable products. Likewise, online courses increase access to education. Pet businesses and personal wellness services can also flourish by serving consumer lifestyle trends.

What are the top 10 small businesses to start?

Starting a business that aligns with online consumer trends can lead to success. Consider these top contenders:

• Dropshipping popular products
• Print-on-demand apparel
• Selling digital products like ebooks or courses
• Blogging on niche subjects
• Offering freelance services such as graphic design or writing
• Crafting homemade products to sell online
• Creating content for podcasts or YouTube
• Becoming an affiliate marketer
• Providing pet-sitting services or selling pet products
• Operating an online clothing store

What is the easiest small business to start?

Online businesses are accessible for new entrepreneurs due to low overhead costs and the ability to reach a broad audience quickly. Examples of online business models include dropshipping, selling digital products, or providing freelance services. Other benefits of online businesses include minimal physical inventory needs, flexible work locations, and scalable marketing strategies.

What’s a good first small business to start?

A good first small business matches your skills and interests with a low initial investment. For instance, launching a freelance graphic design service could be ideal if you have graphic design skills. Look for business ideas you can start from home with accessible, inexpensive equipment such as software. This allows you to keep costs low while you build a client base.

How do I create a unique small business?

To create a unique small business, identify a niche with an unmet consumer need. This could be an area you’re passionate about or have experience in. Offer distinctive products or services that stand out by providing novel solutions or through unique branding that resonates with your target audience. For instance, if you’re a vegan baker who regularly shares recipes and notice your community lacks a vegan bakery, this could be a unique small business idea.

What small business services are in high demand?

Demand continues for services that support businesses’ digital marketing and online activities. These include:

• Freelance writing and content creation
• Specialized consulting in marketing and SEO
• Web development services
• Translation and localization services
• Accounting and financial advisory

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As a professional web and software developer, the author possesses a strong foundational background in Computer Science. This equips him with both academic rigor and practical insights into the world of web-based entrepreneurship. As the founder of this platform, webpreneurships.com, he stands at the intersection of technology and business.

37 Zero Investment Business Ideas

Latest articles, 1999 general knowledge quiz: prove your knowledge, test your knowledge with this 1985 general knowledge quiz, spot the odd ones out and test your observation skills.

Finding zero investment business ideas used to be hard and almost impossible but with the improvements in technology, now anyone can start their own ventures even with no capital.

Zero investment businesses are ventures that entrepreneurs can launch with no upfront cost and operate completely using the money earned from their profits.

Traditionally, before the age of the internet and the online world, business owners often always invested a significant amount in things like office space, inventory, and human resources.

In the modern world, the term solopreneur was invented because individuals can now launch and manage a whole company by themselves, with no office, no inventory, and little to no employees.

So, here are 37 zero investment business ideas that can help you launch your own venture according to your skills, passion, and interests.

Key Characteristics of Zero Investment Business Ideas: Criteria Table

This is a table that showcases our criteria for selecting the best 0 investment business ideas on this list.

0 Investment Business Ideas

1. blogging.

Blogging is one of the most popular ways to start a business with zero investments. It is about publishing written content and articles on a website, earning through multiple different ways.

Your business goals and plan will depend on how you are planning to monetize your blog. If it is through displaying ads and sponsorships, then the higher the number of readers the better. However, if it is through affiliate marketing, the quality and buyer’s intent is more important.

Your potential income will vary greatly. From no earnings up to about $200k+ a month. But the best thing about this business idea is that you can write about any topic and interest you want, and improve it into a personal brand.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Often combined with the blogging idea above, affiliate marketing is another 0 investment business idea that anyone can start. It is done by promoting the products and services of another brand through your own platform. Then they will pay you a commission of the sale for every customer who has purchased their products and services.

Nowadays, with more online platforms available for you to promote an affiliate product, it is easier at the same time more competitive than ever. You have to find a way to differentiate and stand out from the crowd.

3. Tutoring Services

Tutoring is a business idea that you can do without spending any overhead costs. All you need is your own skills and expertise in a particular subject area that customers are willing to pay to learn. This business can be more fulfilling than the others on this list because you get to help someone grow and improve as an individual.

4. Personal Assistant

Since most daily tasks of companies and entrepreneurs can now be done online, a personal assistant business can be managed remotely. This removes the need for investing in human resources, and instead do all the job independently and only hire contractors if the need arises. Additionally, it is easily scalable by transforming the business into an agency when the opportunity comes.

5. Dropshipping Business

Dropshipping is one of the most popular zero investment business ideas where you sell products to customers without an inventory. Those orders go directly to the supplier and then they will ship it to the customer. The key is to identify an attractive product or find a great strategy for a successful marketing campaign.

6. Sell Baked Goods

Selling baked goods is another way to start a business without investing too much capital. The ingredients will not be as expensive and most of the equipment can be found in your home’s kitchen. Leverage social media such as Pinterest and Facebook to find interested customers and you have successfully started your venture.

7. Consulting Services

Consulting services is a business that relies on your expertise and skills. It does not need any initial investments and is relatively easy to start. First, choose the industry in which you want to consult, it must align with your experiences. This can include finance, business, marketing, and more. Then find clients online who are interested in learning what your experiences have taught you.

8. Life Coaching

Life coaching refers to a personal service where you help other people achieve their goals in life, or even in their businesses and relationships. A certification and rich life experiences would be required, however, it will not need any upfront investment making it a perfect part of this list.

9. Dog Walking Services

This business will not require cash investments, your love for dogs and time to walk them is all you need. You can start with your family’s and friends’ pets, and then expand your services to the local community. Advertising on social media is also a great strategy, once you are ready to take on more clients.

10. Photography Services

Professional photographers often will need a professional camera. Those can be quite expensive, however, if you already have one, then it can be a profitable venture to start a photography business . Also, a camera is not as expensive as other businesses where you need commercial spaces and inventory, so it is still an ideal item on this list.

11. House Cleaning Services

House cleaning services do not require any capital and are very flexible. You can decide which clients to take on, from individuals who are busy with their day jobs to elderly people who are having a hard time doing the cleaning, or even businesses that operate at home.

12. Child Care Services

Childcare services are a good business idea if you are comfortable with spending time with children. All it needs is your time and attention, and a few certifications based on the location you are planning to work with. The most important part of this idea is to build a reputation for being trustworthy and responsible.

13. Freelance Writing

Often associated with blogging, freelance writing is a great way to earn from your writing skills if you are not interested in starting your own blog and brand. All you need is your computer or laptop, and then register your services on platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork .

14. Data Entry Services

Data entry despite the age of AI is still as popular as ever. Companies rely on data and inputting and managing them are important which is why a data entry service is still in-demand. It will also only require your computer, attention to detail, and the ability to follow your client’s needs and demands.

15. Sell Digital Products

Selling digital products such as eBooks, online courses, stock photography, or digital art is a low-cost business to start. It is because once you have finished developing the product, you can now sell it to as many customers as you can find. The real challenge will be on the marketing side and how valuable the contents of the digital product are.

16. Event Planning

If you like arranging events such as birthday parties, business conferences, weddings, and other forms of gatherings, then an event planning business is a great low-cost venture to start. However, it will be a good idea to practice on a smaller scale event to learn that not everything always goes as planned and you will have to be creative on making any event work.

17. Print-on-Demand

Similar to how dropshipping works, print-on-demand does not need any inventory and you can work with suppliers and clothing factories. The main work is to design graphics for t-shirts, hoodies, cups, or posters and then only produce them when an order comes.

18. Content Creation

Content creation whether it is through publishing articles for a Website, videos for YouTube and TikTok, or posts on social media, is a relatively low-investment business idea. Monetization includes displaying ads, selling your own products, sponsored posts or videos, and brand partnerships.

19. Translator Services

With zero investment needed, a translation service business is a great business idea for those who can speak multiple languages and want to start a business around this skill. The only difficult part is finding clients and demonstrating your expertise in translating documents, files, and conversations from one language into another.

20. Web Design

Websites are the foundation of the businesses in the online world. It is where their products and services can be found, the contact information, and it provides a way to attract customers too through search engine traffic. A good web design is crucial for these businesses’ success and so its demand will not tank despite the rise of software that can develop a website by themselves.

21. Social Media Management

Social media management business only requires your knowledge and skills in growing your client’s accounts and boosting their brand awareness. It is a 0 investment business idea that can be done by anyone who has experience with social media platforms and is familiar with their algorithms.

Additionally, understanding the current trends and patterns is important to develop a successful marketing strategy. After gaining several loyal clients, you can expand the business into a marketing agency and hire other social media managers.

22. Digital Marketing Services

Digital marketing is a broad term that can include several industries such as SEO or search engine optimization, PPC or pay-per-click advertising, content marketing, email marketing, and a lot more.

When choosing a digital marketing service as a business to start with, it is important to focus on one or a few marketing channels rather than learning all of them. The best part is most if not all will not require any significant investments to start with.

23. Handmade Crafts

If you like to create artistic and beautiful crafts then you can try and turn it into a profitable venture. The key is to promote your products on various social media channels and even create your own Website to funnel the traffic to. Platforms like Pinterest, eBay, and Etsy will allow you to reach a broader market and higher chance for success.

24. Online Surveys

Online surveys on platforms such as SurveyMonkey and Swagbucks are a simple way to earn money without investments. However, it is not a great business idea as it will be harder to scale. If you are looking to make some money in your free time though, it is a good choice as everything is done online and with only a few qualifications.

25. Podcast Hosting

Podcasting has quickly become one of the most popular business strategies. It is a great and fulfilling business as it involves sharing insights, stories, and experiences of various successful individuals with your audience. Not only your listeners will learn, but you too as a person can share your passion and earn based on how many people you have connected and resonated with.

26. Ebook Publishing

An ebook is one of the digital products that we have talked about earlier. However, we thought it deserves its own section in this list because it is one of the zero investment business ideas that you can build your business around. Many entrepreneurs have begun their journey as writers and ended up creating a book that millions of people have bought.

Examples include James Clear who published one of the best-selling books, “Atomic Habits” and Mark Manson who wrote one of my favorite books, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”.

27. Cooking or Baking Classes

Cooking and baking classes are another business idea that you can start if you have good skills in the kitchen. You can manage it along with the selling baked goods idea earlier. This will involve teaching your expertise to beginners. It can be your special recipe or general knowledge. The key is to demonstrate your cooking or baking skills online and attract clients that way.

28. Home-based Catering

Home-based catering is a combination of selling your cooked meals or baked goods with event planning. Catering is often involved in large gatherings so you will have to learn how to cook for a large number of people, factoring in allergies, and several preferences from multiple individuals.

29. Online Fitness Coaching

With an increased focus on fitness and health, a lot of individuals are looking to start a workout routine that fits their schedule. However, most of the problem is that by the time they are finished with their day jobs or businesses, they will often have no energy to go to the gym.

This is where online fitness coaching is very helpful. With no investment needed to start, anyone who has mastered how to deal with different body types and how to coach them can launch their own online fitness ventures.

30. Freelance Illustration or Design

Graphic designs are needed by companies and individuals for various purposes which include advertising materials, marketing strategies, website design, and more. It is a great way to maximize your talent and monetize in a fulfilling way. All it needs is a drawing table or a computer and maybe a subscription to the software you usually use to design and illustrate.

31. Online Reselling

Online reselling will need some investment but it will most likely be not as significant as renting a commercial space or having an inventory of products. It refers to the process of buying underpriced items and then selling them on its right or slightly higher price. It can also mean just selling your own stuff that you are not using anymore.

More 0 Investment Business Ideas Inspired by Iconic Entrepreneurs

There are a lot of brands we know today that also began as a simple business idea by their founders. Aside from the iconic companies mentioned in the video above, here are some more zero-investment business ideas that you can replicate:

32. Fashion and Apparel Startup (Inspired by Sara Blakely)

Fashion and apparel is a business that has been proven to be feasible even without a significant investment as seen from Sarah Blakely’s Spanx brand. The key is to start small, focus on developing an MVP or minimum viable product, and then try to gain some potential customers through social media platforms.

33. Sports Apparel Company (Inspired by Kevin Plank)

Similar to Kevin Plank’s Underarmor journey, you can start a brand at home and choose other business models that require no upfront investment to launch your business. This can include dropshipping or print-on-demand. The goal is to create a brand and then scale from there.

34. Social Network Development (Inspired by Mark Zuckerberg)

Mark’s story is already widely known. He invented Facebook in his dorm room with zero investment needed. Just like Mark, you can try to develop your own app or software by yourself if you have the skills to do so and launch it. Just keep in mind, that millions of people are trying to do the same, so the competition is as hard as ever.

35. Communication App Startup (Inspired by Jan Koum)

Similar to Jan Koum’s WhatsApp , you can develop a communication app that is tailored to a specific group of people and their needs. The key to its success is how will you differentiate your communication app from the other established ones. If you can answer this question then the business will have a good chance of taking off.

36. Computer Assembly and Sales (Inspired by Michael Dell)

Michael Dell started a business idea in his garage and turned it into a multi-billion dollar company named Dell. This strategy involves leveraging the skill that you are already good at and focusing on being the best at it. Then find a good way to market and advertise your product or service, which in today’s world will surely include social media platforms.

37. E-commerce Platform (Inspired by Pierre Omidyar)

Pierre Omidyar’s eBay has been around for some time now and though they lost a lot of customers to Amazon, it is still a very profitable business model today, especially at their peak. When deciding to start your own eCommerce platform, choose a very niche industry and not a general category that will be competitive. Differentiate your business and craft a unique value proposition, those are the keys to staying relevant for as long as they did.

Final Thoughts

Starting a business with zero investment is totally possible in today’s age. You just have to be creative and adapt to the current changes in technology. There are prominent social media apps, but one could pop up anytime and instantly become a business opportunity for many. Be sure to prepare for that opportunity, so when the time comes you can take advantage of it and be a successful entrepreneur.

Interested in Testing Your Financial IQ?

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Business tips

How to start a business with no money: 22 low-cost business ideas

Real businesses that people have started for under $1,000.

How to choose your next business idea

The business ideas here are just the tip of the iceberg of low-capital opportunities. As you review the examples and come up with your own ideas, here are a few tips to be sure you're keeping your head on your shoulders.

Consider your skills . If you build on what you already know, you won't need to invest in extra training to get started—and you can begin faster with credentials. 

Use your current equipment . You may not have the best tools to start, but working with what you have until revenue flows makes it more accessible.

Fit your timeline . Some businesses (like a landscaping business) can turn a profit relatively quickly, while others (like a blog) will take time to gain momentum. 

Remember: because you're starting a business with no money—or very little—you'll need to be much more strategic about the rest of the process.

Local low-cost business ideas

1. landscaping business, 2. baker or personal chef.

Colin also shared a few words of advice for folks starting a new business from scratch: "You should be able to deliver the same level of service to your 10,000th customer as you did to your first customer. It involves more forward-thinking than I realized, so think about how to scale your business model early. Even if you're not investing a lot of money, you need to be investing a lot of time."

4. Pet sitting and dog walking

5. Organizing service

6. furniture refurbishing.

@cameronandsadie Easiest Side Hustle! 😊 #furnitureflip #furnituremakeover #sidehustle #sideincome #flips #couchflipping #couch #flippingcouches ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE - Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

7. Thrift store flipper

If you want to sell goods without large inventory costs, try buying discounted items and selling them to a niche audience. People who don't live near a thrift store or are looking for really specific types of items will love what you offer. Building an audience around a particular theme makes looking for inventory and building a brand easier. For example, the Vtgspice storefront on Depop sells '90s-era shirts and sweaters.

8. Used book reseller

9. personal concierge, online low-cost business ideas.

If you want to work without leaving the house, there are plenty of home-based business opportunities with low startup costs.

10. Virtual assistant

11. Build a blog

"A hobby blog, in particular, is a great way to get started because you're never going to run out of content ideas. You know what people are searching for because it's your hobby, and you've no doubt searched for similar things in the past. You'll also know what products and information people will need to get started."

12. Coaching and consultation

13. freelancing.

"Many new entrepreneurs think they need advertising, a fancy brand, or an expensive site to get going, but a freelance business just needs one thing: clients! You can start by pitching opportunities on sites like Upwork or Fiverr, which costs nothing. Or look for people who need what you have on Facebook Groups, Reddit, or Twitter."

"When I started freelance writing, it was 2006. I had my $200 laptop and an Internet bill that cost me $50 a month. That's it. That was the entirety of my overhead. I worked 100 percent remotely from my apartment, and I found all my initial jobs on the writing gigs section of Craigslist (of all places). Flash forward sixteen years, and I'm now a content marketing consultant and the founder of MACE Writing. My laptop has upgraded over the years, and I pay for things like a website and hosting. However, my overhead is still incredibly low."

14. Stock photographer

"The overhead costs associated with this type of business are relatively low. You won't need to lease office space or purchase expensive equipment. All you need is a drone and a camera to start offering your services to various clients, from real estate agents to wedding planners. The demand for this kind of service is often high, so you can charge premium rates and remain competitive."

15. Travel planner

16. affiliate marketing site.

Super happy with how my affiliate site is coming along. Started last August and now have 6.7k+ monthly visitors from organic search with <25 posts published on the site 💪 pic.twitter.com/gm9nxt7ybp — Elise Dopson (@elisedopson) August 17, 2020

17. Translation

18. dropshipping, 19. home tutoring, 20. online community.

"The upfront costs for Superpath were minimal. A Ghost website, Slack, ConvertKit, Zapier, Stripe, Airtable, Notion, and a few other tools. I ran the business for $500 a month for nearly a year. It was so, so lean. If someone is willing/able to do it without a salary for a while, a community-based business is a great option because it's nearly free to start," Jimmy shared. 

21. Micro-SaaS

If you have an idea to help an audience, but don't want to work hands-on as a freelancer or consultant, you might try building an app.

22. Job board

"When the pandemic broke out in early 2020, my friend Ed and I built a job board for writers using no-code tools like Webflow, MailerLite, Airtable, and Zapier to glue everything together. The building part was pretty quick and cheap (under $100 for software and four weekends to develop the early prototype). We bet on SEO and started by growing our organic traffic and curating writing jobs from other public job boards. We created a .css-yjptlz-Link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='ocean']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='ocean']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='white']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='white']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='white']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='primary']{color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:#2b2358;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:#3d4592;outline-color:#3d4592;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='secondary']{color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:#a8a5a0;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:#fffdf9;outline-color:#fffdf9;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-yjptlz-Link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;} free weekly newsletter and began charging companies to reach our audience."

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Steph Knapp is a freelance B2B + SaaS content marketer that loves educating and empowering curious humans. When she's not typing away, you'll find her volunteering at the animal shelter and obsessing over a new hobby every week.

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Home » Business Cycle » No-investment business opportunities

Start a business without investment

Starting your own business is one of the most empowering steps you can take in your life. When you launch a business, you’re expanding your options for financial freedom so you can pursue even bigger dreams down the road .

But many would-be entrepreneurs who want to start a small business without investment see few options. They put their dreams on hold until some future date when financing appears. But success isn’t about your resources – it’s about your resourcefulness. 

If you want to learn how to start a small business without investment , there are opportunities in today’s market . Gone are the days of high-investment enterprises being the only option for getting ahead. In today’s digital era, there are a wide range of no-investment business opportunities . With the right information, support and resources, you can turn your business vision into a reality. 

Want to start a business with no investment?

Tips for starting a business with no investment

Starting a small business without investment is an achievable goal. Here are Tony’s top guiding principles for how to build a sustainable, profitable small business.

• Start small

“I want to start a small business without investment , but I don’t know where to start.” The answer here is straightforward: start small. Begin by selling your product or service to friends and family, or selling through an already-established vendor. When you start small , you’re able to fine-tune your branding , marketing and advertising strategies while the stakes are still low. You’re also able to make a profit to fund your next batch of inventory.

• Look to your network

In business and all of life, your network is an invaluable resource. Are you surrounding yourself with people who are smart and talented? That will make it much easier to learn how to start a small business without investment . Your network of friends and colleagues is a source of feedback, encouragement and even sales as you master the art of building a company from scratch. And most successful business owners have at least one mentor – Tony has had several over his life. A mentor has been where you are and can provide helpful advice.

• Secure sales before you craft your product

If your product requires manufacturing, secure sales before you manufacture the item. Use the Internet to generate sales, allowing consumers to customize their order at the time of purchase. Etsy is an excellent example of this strategy. Customers are able to pre-order a product, specifying details like size, color and material. With payment in hand, sellers are able to craft the customized product without going in the red. The result is a pipeline of raving fan customers without excessive up-front costs. 

• Unlock your inner drive

No-investment business opportunities don’t require money, but they do require plenty of time and hard work. Only those with a deep belief in themselves and a true desire to follow their passion and purpose in life will succeed. That’s why hunger is a top trait of entrepreneurs and is the key to how to start a small business without investment . It will propel you out of your comfort zone, eliminate your fear of failure and help you spot and take advantage of no-investment business opportunities before anyone else.

Top 8 no-investment business ideas

You don’t just need a close network and inner drive if you want to start a small business without investment . You’ll also need outstanding no-investment business ideas.

1. No-inventory products and services

One of the largest cost categories in starting a business is the inventory required. If your product or service is a tangible item, you’ll need startup capital to purchase materials, craft the product and make your first sale. To get around the need for seed funding, learn how to start a small business without investment by making a non-tangible product (i.e. one that does not require materials for production). Consider products that use your communication skills , like coaching or public speaking.

2. Products and services that are minimally regulated

Business regulations create a safety net of consumer protections. But the more heavily a product or service is regulated, the more expensive it is to get started competing in that particular industry. The key to learning how to start a small business without investment is finding your niche in an industry without excessive regulatory requirements. Create a product or service without safety risks to keep your costs low.

3. Product reviewer

If you want to start a small business without investment , you don’t even necessarily need to create a product or service – you can go into business reviewing other companies’ products to help them refine their operations. There’s no initial investment required on your end, since your primary inputs are your time and expertise.

4. Online businesses

The only resources you really need to start a small business are a computer, an Internet connection and time. Your options are virtually limitless. You might work from home as a writer or personal assistant. You might provide e-commerce services for an existing firm. As long as you’re able to create, market and sell your product without purchasing supplies, you’ll be able to start without investment.

5. Graphic and art design

As people live more and more of their lives online, the market for quality videos, presentations and social media content is growing. Graphic designers take others’ ideas, video footage and photographs and turn them into high-quality, attention-grabbing pieces of content. Many graphic designers work in marketing, creating ads, videos or websites, but they can also create children’s books, greeting cards and other diverse content.

6. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets for how to start a small business without investment . With affiliate marketing, you promote another company’s product or service, taking a commission from any sales you make. All you need is a website and a pool of customers who are within the product’s target market .

7. Consultant

Everyone has monetizable skills, especially if they’ve been in the working world. Business, marketing and financial consultants are especially in demand, but there are many skills you can leverage as a consultant, from healthcare to cybersecurity. Pastimes can be turned into consulting careers too: gardeners become landscape consultants and clothes aficionados become fashion consultants.

8. Real estate agent

Real estate isn’t just for investing. If you have excellent emotional intelligence and sales skills , real estate could be a profitable small business for you. This is also one of the best no-investment business opportunities for those who will eventually want to expand the business . Once you’re a thriving real estate agent, you can bring in other driven individuals to build your own firm.

Want to start a small business without investment?

Learning how to start a small business without investment takes a game plan and commitment, but it’s well within your reach. Fine-tune your skills with Tony Robbins’ Entrepreneur Accelerator Toolkit  today.

© 2024 Robbins Research International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Start a Business with Zero Investment: Tips & Ideas

Starting a business is a dream for many individuals, but the thought of hefty financial investments can often be a deterrent. However, what if we told you that you could start a business without spending a single penny? Yes, it is indeed possible to embark on an entrepreneurial journey with zero investment.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the world of zero-investment businesses, exploring the various options, strategies, and success stories that can inspire you to take the leap.

Table of Contents

The appeal of zero-investment businesses, common misconceptions and myths, freelancing and consulting services, virtual assistance and administrative support, social media management and digital marketing.

• E-commerce Platforms and Dropshipping

Print-on-Demand and Custom Products

Affiliate marketing and influencer partnerships, renting out assets and spaces, peer-to-peer sharing platforms, shared economy platforms and apps, identifying your skills, passions, and expertise, conducting market research and identifying niches, building a unique value proposition, developing a solid business plan, leveraging free online tools and resources, establishing an online presence, building a network of collaborators and partners, utilizing social media and content marketing, managing time and prioritizing tasks, balancing personal and professional life, securing initial clients and customers, building trust and credibility, expanding your business and diversifying revenue streams, transitioning to a low-investment business model.

• Example 1: Sarah's Freelancing Success
• Example 2: Mark's Print-on-Demand Empire
• Example 3: Emily's Sharing Economy Success

1. Leverage Your Skills and Passions

2. focus on building relationships and trust, 3. embrace creativity and innovation, 4. continual learning and adaptation, 5. persistence and resilience.

• Inspiring Stories of Entrepreneurial Creativity and Resourcefulness

The appeal of zero-investment businesses lies in the fact that they eliminate the traditional financial barriers that come with starting a business. By leveraging your existing skills, resources, and the power of the internet, you can carve your path to success without having to worry about raising capital or securing loans.

This opens up a world of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those who have limited financial resources but possess a wealth of talent and passion.

Before we delve further into the intricacies of zero-investment businesses, it is important to dispel a few misconceptions and myths surrounding this concept.

Many people mistakenly believe that starting a business without any financial investment is synonymous with starting a business without any effort or hard work. However, this couldn't be further from the truth.

While the financial aspect may be eliminated, launching and growing a successful business still requires dedication, perseverance, and a strategic approach.

Another common misconception is that zero-investment businesses are limited to certain industries or niches. In reality, the possibilities are endless.

Whether you have a knack for providing services, selling products, or even leveraging the sharing economy, there are numerous avenues you can explore to start your entrepreneurial journey without spending a dime.

In the sections to follow, we will explore various zero-investment business models, discuss strategies for launching and scaling your venture, and highlight inspiring success stories that showcase the potential of starting a business with zero financial investment.

So, if you're ready to break free from the shackles of financial constraints and embark on a thrilling entrepreneurial adventure, let's dive in!

Exploring Service-Based Business Ideas

One of the most popular and accessible avenues for starting a zero-investment business is through providing services. If you have a particular skill set, expertise, or passion, you can leverage it to offer valuable services to clients and customers.

Whether you're a writer, designer, consultant, or programmer, there are numerous opportunities to showcase your talents and generate income without the need for upfront capital.

Freelancing has emerged as a thriving industry in recent years, offering individuals the flexibility to work on their own terms and provide services to clients worldwide.

Whether you're a writer, graphic designer, web developer, or marketing strategist, freelancing platforms provide a space for you to showcase your skills and connect with potential clients.

Sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr allow you to create a profile, highlight your expertise, and bid on projects that align with your abilities. By delivering high-quality work and building a solid reputation, you can attract more clients and increase your earning potential.

Consulting services, on the other hand, cater to a more specialized audience that seeks expert advice and guidance. If you have extensive knowledge in a particular field, such as finance, marketing, or business strategy, you can offer consulting services to businesses and individuals.

This could involve conducting market research, providing strategic recommendations, or offering personalized coaching sessions. By positioning yourself as an industry expert and delivering valuable insights, you can establish yourself as a trusted consultant and attract clients willing to pay for your expertise.

With the rise of remote work and virtual teams, the demand for virtual assistants and administrative support has skyrocketed.

If you have excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask, you can offer virtual assistance services to busy professionals and entrepreneurs. This could involve managing calendars, scheduling appointments, handling email correspondence, and performing various administrative tasks remotely.

Platforms like Zirtual and Time etc. provide opportunities to connect with clients in need of virtual assistance, allowing you to earn income while working from the comfort of your own home.

In today's digital age, businesses rely heavily on social media and online marketing strategies to reach their target audience.

If you have a knack for social media management, content creation, and digital marketing, you can capitalize on this demand by offering your services as a social media manager or digital marketer.

By helping businesses establish a strong online presence, develop engaging content, and implement effective marketing campaigns, you can play a crucial role in their success.

Platforms like Hootsuite, Buffer, and HubSpot offer tools and resources to manage social media accounts and track marketing metrics, enabling you to provide comprehensive services to clients.

Unleashing the Potential of Online Marketplaces

In addition to service-based businesses, another avenue for starting a zero-investment business is through online marketplaces. These platforms provide a space for entrepreneurs to sell products without the need for upfront inventory or manufacturing costs.

By leveraging the power of e-commerce and dropshipping, individuals can tap into a vast customer base and generate income without the burden of traditional retail expenses.

eCommerce Platforms and Dropshipping

E-commerce platforms have revolutionized the way businesses operate, allowing entrepreneurs to set up virtual storefronts and sell products to customers worldwide.

With platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, you can create an online store, showcase your products, and manage orders and payments seamlessly. The beauty of e-commerce lies in the potential for dropshipping, a business model where you partner with suppliers who handle inventory and shipping.

This means you can sell products without having to stock them yourself, eliminating the need for upfront investment in inventory. When a customer places an order, the supplier directly ships the product to the customer, and you earn a profit from the difference between the wholesale price and the retail price.

If you have a knack for design or a creative flair, print-on-demand (POD) platforms offer a fantastic opportunity to start a zero-investment business. POD allows you to create custom designs for various products, such as t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more.

Platforms like Printrove, Printful, Teespring, and Redbubble handle the printing, packaging, and shipping processes for you.

All you need to do is create and upload your designs, and when a customer places an order, the platform takes care of the rest. This means you can focus on the creative aspects of your business without worrying about inventory or order fulfillment.

Affiliate marketing has gained immense popularity as a zero-investment business model, particularly for individuals with a strong online presence or influential social media following.

By partnering with brands and promoting their products or services, you can earn a commission for each sale or lead generated through your unique affiliate link.

Platforms like Amazon Associates, Commission Junction, and ShareASale provide a wide range of affiliate programs across various industries. By strategically selecting products that align with your niche and target audience, you can leverage your online influence to drive sales and earn passive income.

Influencer partnerships offer a similar opportunity for individuals with a significant social media following. Brands are constantly seeking influencers who can promote their products or services to a targeted audience.

By collaborating with brands that align with your values and personal brand, you can earn income through sponsored posts, product endorsements, or brand ambassadorships. This allows you to monetize your online presence and leverage your influence to build a successful zero-investment business.

As we can see, online marketplaces provide a wealth of opportunities for individuals to start a business with zero investment.

By leveraging e-commerce platforms, dropshipping, print-on-demand services, affiliate marketing, and influencer partnerships, you can tap into global markets and generate income without the need for upfront capital.

The key lies in identifying a profitable niche, creating a compelling brand, and effectively marketing your products or services to reach your target audience.

Harnessing the Power of the Sharing Economy

The sharing economy has emerged as a revolutionary concept that allows individuals to monetize their underutilized assets, spaces, and skills. This innovative business model provides opportunities for people to start a zero-investment business by tapping into the demand for sharing and renting rather than owning.

By leveraging the power of online platforms and apps, entrepreneurs can connect with individuals in need of their services or resources, creating a win-win situation for both parties involved.

If you have assets or spaces that are not in constant use, renting them out can be a lucrative zero-investment business opportunity. Platforms like Airbnb, Turo, and Fat Llama enable individuals to rent out their homes, cars, and various other assets to travelers, locals, or businesses in need.

By listing your assets on these platforms, you can generate income without having to invest in additional resources or expenses. Whether it's renting out a spare room, a parking spot, or even equipment like cameras or tools, the sharing economy allows you to maximize the value of your possessions and turn them into a source of revenue.

In addition to renting out physical assets, peer-to-peer sharing platforms offer opportunities to start a zero-investment business by providing services or skills directly to others.

For example, platforms like TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, and Fiverr allow individuals to offer their skills and services to people in their local communities or even globally.

Whether it's handyman services, gardening, pet sitting, or graphic design, there's a demand for various skills and services in the sharing economy. By showcasing your expertise, setting your rates, and connecting with potential clients through these platforms, you can build a business without any upfront investment.

The rise of shared economy platforms and apps has further expanded the possibilities for starting a zero-investment business. These platforms connect individuals who are looking for specific products or services with those who are willing to provide them.

For example, platforms like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash allow individuals to become drivers and earn income by providing transportation or delivery services using their own vehicles. By joining these platforms, entrepreneurs can tap into the existing infrastructure and customer base, without the need to invest in their own fleet of vehicles or delivery infrastructure.

Similarly, there are shared economy platforms for various other services, such as home cleaning (Handy), pet care (Rover), and even personal fitness training (Gym-go). By leveraging these platforms, individuals can offer their services and skills to a wide range of customers, earning income without the need for significant upfront investment.

The sharing economy presents a wealth of opportunities for individuals to start a zero-investment business by leveraging their underutilized assets, spaces, and skills. Whether it's renting out physical assets, providing services through peer-to-peer platforms, or joining shared economy apps, entrepreneurs can tap into the demand for sharing rather than owning.

This not only allows individuals to generate income without significant financial investment but also promotes sustainability and efficient resource utilization.

Strategies for Launching a Zero-Investment Business

Launching a zero-investment business requires careful planning, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach. While the absence of upfront capital may seem like a challenge, it also presents opportunities for creative problem-solving and resourcefulness. In this section, we will explore key strategies that can help you start your zero-investment business successfully.

The first step in launching a zero-investment business is to identify your skills, passions, and expertise. Take some time to evaluate your strengths and areas of expertise. Consider your professional experience, educational background, and personal interests. By aligning your business with your skills and passions, you are more likely to enjoy what you do and excel in your chosen field. This self-reflection will also help you identify the services or products you can offer to potential clients or customers.

Once you have identified your skills and interests, it's essential to conduct thorough market research to identify potential niches and target markets. Look for gaps in the market where your skills or products can fulfill a need or solve a problem. Explore existing competition and analyze their offerings, pricing, and target audience. By understanding the market dynamics and identifying untapped opportunities, you can position your business in a way that sets you apart from the competition and attracts your ideal customers.

To stand out in a crowded market, it's crucial to develop a unique value proposition (UVP). Your UVP should clearly communicate the unique benefits and value that your business offers to customers. What makes your business different? How does it solve a problem or meet a need better than others in the market? By crafting a compelling UVP, you can differentiate yourself from the competition and attract customers who resonate with your brand and offerings.

Although you may not require financial investment, it's still important to develop a solid business plan to guide your zero-investment business. A business plan helps you outline your goals, target market, marketing strategies, and financial projections. It also forces you to think critically about your business model and identify potential challenges and opportunities. While your business plan may evolve over time, having a roadmap in place will give you direction and help you stay focused on your objectives.

One of the advantages of starting a zero-investment business in today's digital age is the abundance of free online tools and resources available. From project management platforms like Trello and Asana to graphic design tools like Canva and Pixlr, there are numerous resources that can help you streamline your operations and enhance your productivity. Take advantage of these tools to manage your tasks, create professional-looking marketing materials, and collaborate with clients and partners effectively.

In today's digital world, establishing an online presence is crucial for the success of any business, including zero-investment ventures. Create a professional website or blog that showcases your offerings, highlights your expertise, and provides a platform for potential clients or customers to learn more about your business. Leverage social media platforms to promote your brand, engage with your target audience, and build a community around your business. By building a strong online presence, you can expand your reach, attract customers, and establish credibility in your industry.

Networking and building relationships with collaborators and partners can significantly benefit your zero-investment business. Connect with individuals in complementary industries who can help you expand your reach or offer additional services to your clients. Collaborate on projects, share resources, and explore joint marketing initiatives. By tapping into the power of partnerships, you can leverage each other's strengths and create mutually beneficial opportunities for growth.

Social media and content marketing are powerful tools for promoting your zero-investment business. Develop a content strategy that aligns with your target audience's needs and interests.

Create valuable and engaging content, such as blog posts, videos, or podcasts, that establish you as an authority in your field. Share your content on social media platforms to reach a wider audience and encourage engagement.

By consistently providing valuable content and engaging with your audience, you can build brand awareness, attract potential customers, and foster loyalty.

Launching a zero-investment business requires careful planning, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach. By identifying your skills, conducting market research, building a unique value proposition, developing a solid business plan, leveraging free online tools, establishing an online presence, building a network of collaborators, and utilizing social media and content marketing, you can set yourself up for success in your entrepreneurial journey.

Remember, while financial investment may be absent, investing time, effort, and creativity is essential to thrive in the zero-investment business landscape.

Overcoming Challenges and Scaling Your Zero-Investment Business

Launching a zero-investment business is just the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey. As you gain momentum and start attracting clients or customers, new challenges and opportunities will arise. In this section, we will explore strategies for overcoming common challenges and scaling your zero-investment business to new heights.

One of the key challenges for entrepreneurs, especially those with zero-investment businesses, is effectively managing their time and prioritizing tasks. Without the guidance of a traditional work structure, it's easy to get overwhelmed or distracted. Implementing time management techniques, such as setting clear goals, creating schedules, and utilizing productivity tools, can help you stay organized and focused. Prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency, and consider outsourcing or delegating tasks that can be handled by others, allowing you to focus on core business activities.

Another challenge for entrepreneurs, particularly those running zero-investment businesses, is finding a balance between personal and professional life. When you're the sole proprietor of your business, it's easy to get consumed by work and neglect other aspects of your life. Setting boundaries, creating a designated workspace, and establishing a daily routine can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Remember to schedule time for self-care, hobbies, and spending quality time with loved ones. By prioritizing your well-being and personal life, you can avoid burnout and sustain long-term success.

Securing the first few clients or customers can be a daunting task for any entrepreneur, especially when starting a zero-investment business. Building trust and credibility is crucial in attracting clients who are willing to give your business a chance. Leverage your network, reach out to friends, family, and acquaintances who might be interested in your offerings, and ask for referrals. Offer introductory discounts or incentives to entice new clients. Additionally, consider providing free value through content marketing or offering a limited number of pro bono services to demonstrate the quality and value of your offerings. Over time, as you deliver exceptional service and gain positive reviews and testimonials, word-of-mouth referrals can become a valuable source of new clients.

Establishing trust and credibility is paramount for the success of any business, and even more so for zero-investment ventures. Since you may not have a large marketing budget or an established brand, it's essential to focus on building trust with your target audience. Provide exceptional customer service, deliver high-quality work, and go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations. Leverage testimonials and positive reviews to showcase your track record and build social proof. Actively engage with your audience on social media and respond promptly to inquiries or feedback. By consistently demonstrating your expertise and reliability, you can build trust and loyalty among your customers.

Once your zero-investment business gains traction, it's time to explore opportunities for expansion and diversification. Consider ways to expand your offerings, reach new markets, or target new customer segments. This could involve introducing new services or products, exploring collaborations with complementary businesses, or venturing into related niches. Additionally, diversifying your revenue streams can provide stability and open up new income opportunities. For example, if you're offering services, consider creating digital products or courses that can be sold online. By constantly exploring new avenues for growth and diversifying your revenue streams, you can create a sustainable and resilient business.

As your zero-investment business grows and generates revenue, you may consider transitioning to a low-investment business model. This involves strategically investing some of your profits into scaling your operations, expanding your team, or improving your infrastructure. By carefully assessing your business needs and identifying areas where investment can drive growth, you can make strategic decisions to take your business to the next level. However, it's important to balance investment with profitability and ensure that the returns justify the expenses. Gradually transitioning to a low-investment model allows you to maintain financial stability while continuing to grow your business.

Overcoming challenges and scaling a zero-investment business requires resilience, adaptability, and a strategic mindset. By effectively managing your time, balancing personal and professional life, securing initial clients, building trust and credibility, expanding your business, and considering a transition to a low-investment model, you can navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and set yourself up for long-term success. Remember, every challenge presents an opportunity for growth, and with determination and perseverance, you can overcome obstacles and achieve your business goals.

Success Stories and Case Studies

Learning from the experiences of others can be incredibly inspiring and educational. In this section, we will explore real-life success stories and case studies of entrepreneurs who have started zero-investment businesses and achieved remarkable results.

These stories highlight the potential and possibilities of starting a business with limited financial resources, showcasing the creativity, resourcefulness, and determination of these entrepreneurs.

Real-Life Examples of Successful Zero-Investment Businesses

(names have been changed to preserve privacy) 

Anita's Freelancing Success

Anita, a talented writer and editor, decided to start her freelance writing business with zero financial investment. She utilized online freelancing platforms to showcase her writing skills and attract clients.

By consistently delivering high-quality work, meeting deadlines, and building strong relationships with clients, Sarah quickly gained a reputation for excellence. Within a year, she had a steady stream of clients, allowing her to quit her day job and focus on her freelance business full-time.

Today, she runs a successful writing agency, working with a team of talented writers, and continues to thrive in the world of freelancing.

Example 2: Anirban's Print-on-Demand Empire

Anirban, a graphic designer and artist, launched his zero-investment business by creating unique designs for print-on-demand products. He combined his artistic skills with his knowledge of online marketing to create eye-catching designs and promote them on various print-on-demand platforms.

His designs gained popularity, and he soon garnered a loyal customer base. With his earnings, he expanded his product line, explored collaborations with influencers and bloggers, and even started his own e-commerce store. Today, his print-on-demand empire continues to thrive, with his designs being sold worldwide.

Example 3: Heena's Sharing Economy Success

Heena, a passionate traveler, decided to leverage the sharing economy to start her zero-investment business. She listed a spare bedroom in her parent's empty flat in Mumbai on Airbnb and began hosting travelers from around the world.

By providing exceptional hospitality, personalized recommendations, and unique experiences, she quickly became a Superhost and received rave reviews. Encouraged by her success, she expanded her offerings by partnering with local tour guides and offering curated tours to her guests. Today, she not only generates income through her Airbnb listings but also runs a successful travel experiences business, showcasing the hidden gems of her city to visitors.

These success stories and case studies serve as powerful reminders of the potential and possibilities of starting a business with zero financial investment. They showcase the entrepreneurial creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience that can lead to remarkable achievements. Whether it's freelancing, print-on-demand, or leveraging the sharing economy, these examples demonstrate that with passion, dedication, and strategic thinking, anyone can start a successful zero-investment business.

Lessons Learned and Key Takeaways

These success stories highlight some common themes and key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start a zero-investment business:

All these entrepreneurs leveraged their unique skills, passions, and expertise to create successful zero-investment businesses. By aligning their business with their interests, they were able to excel in their chosen fields and stand out from the competition.

Building strong relationships with clients and customers is essential for success in a zero-investment business. By delivering exceptional service, exceeding expectations, and building trust, these entrepreneurs were able to attract repeat business, gain positive reviews, and generate word-of-mouth referrals.

Starting a zero-investment business often requires out-of-the-box thinking and innovative approaches. These entrepreneurs found creative ways to monetize their skills, assets, or resources, embracing the opportunities presented by the sharing economy, freelancing platforms, or online marketplaces.

Successful entrepreneurs understand the importance of continual learning and adaptation. They stay updated with industry trends, explore new technologies, and adapt to the changing needs and demands of their target audience. By staying agile and open to new opportunities, they are able to sustain and grow their zero-investment businesses.

Starting a business, even with zero financial investment, requires persistence and resilience. These entrepreneurs faced challenges and setbacks along the way, but their determination and perseverance allowed them to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

You should also read:

Start amazon seller business in india, start a nutritional coaching business in india, starting a home bakery business in india.

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12 business ideas that require little or no startup capital

Starting a Business

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More business academy articles.

So you want to be your own boss? Start a successful business? But you worry about the risk and potential hardship that comes with funding your business ideas?

You’re right to do so. Only half of new businesses make it to year five . And these days, many successful entrepreneurs start out with businesses that require minimal investment, like freelancing or consulting.

Low-cost ideas may not be the sexiest, but they’re safe, won’t break your bank, and will provide you with ample more learning experiences than you’d get working for anyone.

Here are a few low-risk ideas to jumpstart your entrepreneurship or help fund your current venture.

Boats as event venues

People love the water, and there’s high demand for things to do around it. One of the coolest water events I’ve participated in was a craft beer-tasting cruise around Manhattan.

How do you pull something like that off without capital?

First, you’d get craft breweries on board (pardon the pun). Next, you’d call up boat rental companies and negotiate for a boat based on time, day, and size (number of people attending).

Then, you’d sell tickets BEFORE you pay for the boat. It’s essentially an event; you’re just securing a boat as the venue. There may be a down payment (deposit) required by the boat service – much like a venue. If you shop around, you can negotiate a lower deposit.

Sell your content for a subscription fee on Patreon

Do you make incredible youtube tutorials on how to design and develop websites? Do you love to write fiction short stories? Make music?

I discovered Patreon recently, and not to my surprise – there are people making a killing on the platform. Patreon allows writers, artists, and creators of all types to get paid a subscription by their fans, or “patrons” in exchange for access to content. Typical subscription fees range from as little as $1 to $10+ per month.

Freelance (designer, developer, writer, marketer)

I`m a fan of what I call the big four freelance genres: designers, developers, writers, and marketers. I was able to build a successful writing business within a couple of months. If you’re good at any of these sought-after skills, you can make money without spending a dime.

You need a solid portfolio (build one for free with WordPress ), and you need to learn how to sell and market your services based on VALUE and not TIME. You can only sell so much of your time before you don’t have room for more clients.

Selling value instead of time can be tricky, particularly if you’re not providing direct growth (like SEO or marketing services). Nonetheless, it can be done. One of the best explanations on how to sell value is in Alan Weiss’s book, Million Dollar Consulting .

Dog (or other pets) walking service

Love dogs and other animals? A dog walking or pet-care service might be your cup of tea (last week I saw a man walking cats near Central Park, for real).

You can create an affordable website using Weebly , Squarespace , or WordPress .If you optimize your website for SEO results in your neighborhood (example, Sugar Land, Texas), it won’t be so hard for your pages to rise to the top as local results tend to be less competitive (depending on the neighborhood).

You could also set up a local Facebook Ad with a small budget, targeting people in your neighborhood that also like pet-related topics or animal groups like PETA.

Party promoter

Know someone that owns a sweet bar or venue? Do you have lots of friends or a big social network that you could invite some place?

With party promoting, you negotiate a bar fee (commission) with a venue. In exchange for that commission, it’s your job to attract attendees to a party. Generally, you can expect to earn upwards of 15-20% of the bar.

You can also negotiate a “door split,” meaning, you take home a cut of the cover charges as well. There may or may not be a deposit required on the bar – like a $1000 down payment to cover any costs should you not be able to deliver your end of the bargain.

On-demand tire repair

I got a flat a couple of weeks back, and the first thing I googled was, “tire repair that comes to me.” I was astonished to find that there were only a couple of websites ranking for this, in one of the world’s largest cities. The company I called was professional and had done some excellent SEO work.

When I called, we agreed on a price based on the tire I needed. They showed up in a truck (about the size of a U-haul) with a rig on the back that could attach a new tire to my wheel once they got it off my car. They had the new tire on in less than 20 minutes.

On-demand anything

My first internship in New York was in a major recording studio. I worked with some busy artists who had to go from recording all night to a 7 a.m. appearance on Good Morning America. These people didn’t have time to run regular-folk errands, and so, everyone came to them. Barbers and hairdressers would come to the studio, or dog groomers, and anyone else they needed.

Nowadays (thanks to ride-sharing) everyone loves on-demand services. I wish I could book my hairdresser to cut my hair in my home office on busy days without paying $500 per visit.

It probably wouldn’t be too hard to partner up with a couple local barber shops or salons and negotiate a split with the owner for booking jobs for their stylists. You’d just have to foot the bill for the tech. Or, build a website yourself and optimize it for SERPs rankings.

Blog or vlog

This is an oldie-but-goodie. If you’ve got a talent for creating great content and telling stories, then you can build an audience easier than ever these days. The trick is to pick a niche that’s viable.

For example, let’s say you’d love to create a travel blog, but don’t want to be void in the massive sea of travel blogs that exist online. Why not create your videos in Spanish and target the growing Latinx market? (Which is a huge right now – there’s a reason that Despacito quickly became the most-viewed YouTube video of all time).

How to monetize your blog or vlog :

Affiliate commissions – You can earn money via commission of products that you promote. For example, if you write a travel blog you could setup an Amazon associate account . This means you’d earn commission on that special camera you mentioned and to linked in your latest post.

Sponsorships – Sponsorships differ from commissions in that you’re paid a fee up-front to mention or link something. So, instead of earning a commission on that camera you linked to, Kodak contacts you and asks you to link to their camera in your next post in exchange for a fee of $1,000.

Ads – If you get enough web traffic, you can sell ad space on your blog, like with Google Adsense .

Sell funny trinkets via Facebook Ads

I once read how a guy made six figures by putting euphemisms on coffee mugs and selling them via Facebook Ads. He’d photoshop the copy onto a photo of a mug he’d taken from the mug manufacturer’s website. He was probably selling the mugs at a markup and then buying them after he’d received payments.

You can do the same thing with t-shirts, posters, and any item that you can customize and then mark up.

I’ve also heard Gary Vee mention buying things on Amazon and reselling them on Ebay (and vice versa). This means you’d go to Amazon and find a product you want to sell, then post it on Ebay for a few dollars more. This is called drop shipping .

Beer and wine bottle supply

Craft beer, wine, and spirits is a growing industry in the U.S . and wineries and distilleries need bottles. Partner with a packaging manufacturer as a broker and sell to the wineries and distilleries for a commission fee from the manufacturer. You don’t need any special licenses to do this; you just need some education on bottling best-practices.

Hotel & airport car service

Ask local Uber and Lyft drivers if they’d like to earn extra money working for your company.

Next, partner with a few hotels as a provider of a car service, taking their guests to and from the airport. The best way to make this happen is to give a cut of your earnings to the hotel concierge.

A concierge is usually in charge of booking all-things-touristy for the guests of 4 and 5 star hotels. Concierges earn commission on nearly everything they sell to guests (tickets to shows and musicals, helicopter tours, wine tastings, etc). So, offer them a commission to call your car service when they need to send someone to the airport.

Internet Bots

This one is going to continue to grow as more and more people become aware of the possibilities of “robots.” I used a bot the other day to build a list of 11k leads for my business.

Scraping might be “questionable” according to some, but most businesses I know ( teams looking to grow anyway) do it in one form or another – whether it’s lists of contacts for sales teams or online store data.

If companies – particularly sales teams – can’t build their own bots, they buy lists that were scraped by businesses like exactdata.com . The problem with companies like this is that their lists are usually half-full of old email addresses. Bots that scrape in real-time avoid the issue of stale data.

And when it comes to starting your business, remember what Nike says

Just do it. When trying to launch your business idea, get it out there already ! Seriously, the longer you wait and try to perfect your product, or website, or whatever, the longer you’ll go without money flowing in.

To make things easier, you can use Looka’s business name generator to help you get started on your business idea.

How do you know if your business idea is good? Well, our best advice would be to seek counsel from those you trust. We’ve also created a post to help validate your vision. And if that’s not enough, Foundr has a great piece on online business ideas too.

If you’re not into testing one of the listed business ideas out, then hopefully you’ve at least been inspired to dream up your own low-cost startup. What are some of the best business ideas you’ve heard recently?

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List of Top Business Ideas with Zero Investment

Vibhavari Madki

There are hundreds and millions of ways and ideas to start any business for an entrepreneur. But the most important factor intervenes is capital investment for the business. It is never easy collect the required amount for the investment. Many people hesitate because of the risk and that risk is of the money they are going to invest. But there are certain ways and ideas which require Zero or minimum investment .

Businesses are very uncertain in initial stages and there's always a risk factor for money invested. There are particularly certain business ideas which helps to kickstart the business and they are also low maintenance.

Business Ideas with Zero Investment

Most of the entrepreneurs struggle with switching from one idea to another business idea and all of them end up confused and exhausted before even getting started. Below are the top possible options of business ideas with zero capital investment.

If a person has a deep sense of information and expertise in a particular field or subject, then there is an option of becoming a freelance consultant who can take up the clients projects and consult them in the required area.

There can be indefinite fields such as Law, finance, Technical, Software, Human Resources but consultant need to make sure they have enough knowledge they don’t misguide client.

Blogging is another business which is one of the most profitable full-time career option one can indulge in. It is one of the best ways to earn money online while working from home.

All a person needs to do is find the particular interest, and educate themselves with a little bit of SEO. Some of the best niches in blogging one can consider are Health and Fitness, Fashion and Beauty, Lifestyle, Technology, Hosting, News, Education and many more.

Digital Products or Courses

Online products and services like music, courses, and templates are unique to the users/customers. They are not tangible products so there won’t be any recurring manufacturing or shipping costs to worry about. The mre trick is to figure out what makes for a good digital product.

The answer to it ranges from original instrumental beats to stock photos/wallpapers that can be licensed to other creators, to information products and templates that help people level up their skills in a particular field.

Career Counsellor

The Career Counsellors are in demand now a days due to vast career options students are confused about what to choose. Counsellors' target audience is 10th appearing students to which subject to choose or 12th pass and graduates. Many schools, colleges or education institutes invite career counsellors for conducting sessions for their students.

Sell Handcrafted Goods

Interested crafty people can create and sell DIY soap, candles, sauces, or pottery whatever sounds unique to find in an online business idea since product development and procurement are literally in the creators' hands.

Unlike many other business ideas, one will need to consider shipping and inventory management, but they can also start out simple on a per-order basis or with a small batch until they start generating consistent sales.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a great way to start the business on a budget without owning a single product. The entrepreneur just needs to get pre-existing products from a supplier and let them take care of everything else, including fulfillment, packaging, and shipping.

With dropshipping, one can also run their business from anywhere because a warehouse is not required. Products are not required to be stocked in any physical location. Once someone buys an item from you, you make an order with a third-party on behalf of them, and the third-party handles everything else.

Event Planning

Event Planning is a great business when there are good number of restaurants, cafes and malls in the city. There would be a number of events like wedding, anniversary, birthdays, corporate events, kitty party, freshers, farewell, etc that needs to be planned and organized. Event Planners tie up with local venues, caterers, decorators etc and charge their management fees.

Estate Agent

The easiest way of earning with zero investment is to become an estate agent in India. Property agent helps a person sale, purchase or rent a house. For providing this service they charge a fixed method or percentage of payment from the cost.

Some agents/broker providing houses for rent charge the exact amount of payment as the rent. The biggest advantage no investment and 100% profits.

One can also become an online agent also by signing up on sites which qualify as online worker and look up to the business virtually.

Re-Selling Products

If entrepreneurs don't want to spend anything then they cannot create or manufacture anything in their business, reselling is always a smart thing to start a good business which does not include any investment. As a reseller, he/she is a middleman, where they get the merchandise at cheaper rates and gain some income in the same.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing allows the owner to earn by referring customers to specific websites. They can also share links on blog, social media etc. to get people to buy the third party's products.

Content Writing

Content is king in this digital world and you can build your kingdom while offering original content writing services. It is one of the most revered and paid skills in trend these days. If someone is gifted with the words and can skilfully pen down their thoughts on the paper, one should consider starting it as a business.

With this approach, one can test ideas or start making money on the side without all the inventory-related commitments that might stand in the way.

The business ideas covered above can be combined in a variety of ways to start a new one0. If the idea of sourcing, storing and shipping inventory kept you from starting a business before, begin with an inventory-free, low-investment business model and grow from there.

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Launch a Business on a Budget: 10 Small Business Ideas Under $1,000

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Syndicated from The Penny Hoarder

Sometimes we think of starting a business as some major, risky, life-changing expense that will require a huge loan or major funding from investors. 

But that’s simply not the case. 

Sure, if you’re opening up a downtown restaurant or a retail outlet, then you’ll probably need big bucks to get off the ground. 

However, there are many cheap small business ideas that don’t require near that amount of investment. With some small business ideas, you can even get started for less than $1,000. 

This might not be a life-changing business at first, but it could be enough to get your entrepreneurial skills tuned up for a long-term business that grows over time.

• Pressure washing
• Carpet shampooing
• Etsy seller
• Personal trainer
• Travel planner
• Laundry service
• Dog walking
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10 small businesses you can start for $1,000 or less

Keep in mind, you might think you have to go all out and buy brand new everything when you start your own business . But the idea here is to start small and gradually build your business revenue. That’s when you might be able to upgrade your materials and equipment. 

For now, the idea is to use what you already have that fits the job. Then, buy the bare necessities while keeping your costs as low as possible. You can always pursue financing later on.

1. Pressure washing

Launching an ecommerce gig has become popular, but it can be more complicated than digital-only businesses. Because ecommerce involves selling and shipping physical goods, starting an ecommerce business can cost more than the other options we’ve listed—you’ll need money to buy the inventory you’re planning to sell.

One way to get around that is to sell things you already have, like used items on eBay or second-hand clothes on Poshmark . You can use the income from selling your own used items to buy more inventory to sell and expand your business without much cash investment. Once you have goods to sell, you can establish your online storefront on one or multiple sites, such as Amazon , Wix Ecommerce , or Etsy .

But what if you don't want to take on the risk of inventory? In that case, consider dropshipping . This business strategy involves submitting customer orders to a supplier, which in turn processes and ships the order under your brand name. You're relieved of having to store the items yourself, but it isn't all peachy. For one thing , dropshipping has a low bar to entry. This downside means profit margins are tiny as anyone can theoretically offer the same products instantly.

2. Carpet shampooing

One big perk to a carpet shampooing business is that it’s easily mobile. Since you’re working offsite, you really don’t need to invest any overhead in an office space. You simply need space to store your equipment, like a garage or laundry room. 

New carpet extractors aren’t cheap and will run you at least $1,000, but you can also find professional cleaners for around $500 on Amazon . You’ll also need other related tools and cleaning products, so be sure to factor that in as well. 

Similar to the pressure washing business, you’ll need some type of transportation option. Ideally, you’ll already have a truck or SUV with space. If not, you might need to invest in a used option that could raise your starting overhead significantly.

3. Handyman

Most neighborhoods have one — the trusted friend and neighbor you can rely on to help with the leaky faucet, the hole in the drywall and the broken appliance. 

If that’s you, then why not make it a handyman business ? Since most legit handy people already have their own tools, your startup costs here might be next to nothing. Maybe you need to update some specific tools and spend $20 here and there, but most everything you’ll need is in your garage. 

That said, you might want to set aside a monthly budget for new tools or common items that get used up, like caulking, nails and so on.

4. Etsy seller

When it comes to low cost business ideas, selling on Etsy — or another ecommerce platform — tops the list. You can sign up for free and set up your online shop within minutes. 

However, that’s just the online storefront part of this equation. You’ll of course have expenses related to what you actually sell, but that can vary from art, stickers, jewelry, handmade clothes, digital files and so much more. We’ll leave that alone since the related costs have such a wide range. 

Etsy does expect you to know if you’re working on a business or hobby though. Here’s how Etsy explains it: 

“If you’re selling on Etsy without expecting a profit, your shop may qualify as a hobby. If your Etsy shop is something you dedicate time to on a regular basis (and the time you spend is not inconsequential), and your primary purpose for the shop is for income or profit, your shop qualifies as a business.”

In that case, you should look at setting up an LLC just like any other business.

Hobby or business aside, you may want to try dropshipping if you’re buried in inventory for your ecommerce business. A dropshipping company stores your product and fulfills customer orders under your brand name for you.

Top website builders for small businesses

Want to launch your ecommerce empire easily?

5. personal trainer.

The upfront costs to start a personal training business are minimal. In most cases, if you’re interested in this as a small business idea, you’ll likely already have everything you need from a supply standpoint. 

Make a checklist of everything you need — from exercise mats, kettlebells, balance balls, first aid kit, resistance bands and so on — then budget for whatever you don’t already have at home. 

In the United States, you’re not required to be certified as a personal trainer. But from a marketing standpoint, you’ll probably want to get certified. Plus, most gyms won’t hire you or allow you to use their space if you aren’t certified. Personal trainer certification can cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000 depending on the level of training you want. 

If weights and balance balls aren’t necessarily your thing or you’d rather stick to simple cardio like running, then you could always look into being a certified running coach . 

6. Travel planner

Going the traditional travel agent route can be pretty expensive in the beginning. That said, there is a new age of business models that allow you to get started at a much lower cost. 

For example, Thatch has a free mobile app that allows travelers to create their own travel-based businesses. Over the last decade, sharing a travel experience over Instagram or TikTok has resulted in many pop-up business models. 

Thatch has formalized that experience and allows users to curate, share and sell interactive travel guides and planning services. It’s free to get started on Thatch, and the company will take 10% of whatever you earn. 

Trova offers a similar model but is more group-focused. And not only do users plan the trip, they also travel with their group as a host. 

So, yes, you’ll spend more than $1,000 on trips but if you’re going anyway, you’ll only be out the time to gather your thoughts and share your experiences. That itinerary you made for yourself could sell over and over again on Thatch. Hello, passive income!

7. Tour guide

If you live in or near a town that offers sightseeing opportunities, you could start a tour guide business with fairly low overhead costs.

You can easily set up shop from a home, so your main expenses will be ensuring you have transportation, unless you’re strictly doing walking tours — which would, of course, be much cheaper, assuming you live in a metropolitan area fit for a good walking tour. 

If not, used vans can be had for less than $3,000 or maybe you partner with a local bike shop to do bike tours. You’ll also want to make sure people know about your business through some basic marketing, maybe through social media, Airbnb experiences, tour sites or a free website through a hosting company like GoDaddy or SquareSpace . (More on that too.)

If you’d like more help getting started, you can also offer your services through tour guide platforms . Basically, you can apply for free, they might conduct a brief interview or two, then you can be listed as a guide in your area. For every client you serve, they may take a cut — usually around 15% to 20%.

8. Laundry service

Yes, you could actually start your own laundry business . This is a perfect idea if you’re the type of person who uses laundry time as a kind of therapy. 

The easiest way to do this is by using a service like TaskRabbit , Care.com and Laundry Care — which might involve an initial registration fee between $25 to $100.

A laundry business is even more doable if you already own a washer, dryer and some form of transportation. Other than that, you might want to invest in things like laundry bags and hampers, garment covers, bag tags and a hanging scale. 

Your upfront investment on a laundry business will be next to nothing, assuming you already have a washer and dryer and a car if you plan to offer pick up and delivery.

9. Dog walking

Talk about almost non-existent startup costs! A dog walking business will cost you next to nothing. All you really need is the ability to walk and the patience to keep up with Rover — or slow down for the many potty breaks. 

Though dog walking businesses have been around for a long time, it’s taken off in some metropolitan areas like New York City, with some people making more than six figures a year ! In addition, more than 23 million American households got a pet during the pandemic, according to the ASPCA . That’s nearly one in five households, and a lot of pets who need to go for a stroll. 

Starting a dog walking business is easy through online sites like Rover and Wag. You’ll set your rates, pay an initial profile review fee ($35 on Rover and $29.95 on Wag), then Rover or Wag will take a percentage from each walk as well. A search in the Nashville area showed individuals making $15 to $30 per walk. 

Pro tip: You don’t even have to walk a dog to make money off the pet industry. You could rent your yard out as a private dog park on Sniffspot .

10. Professional organizer

If you’re gifted with the talent of organizing, you’ve already completed half the battle in starting an organization business. 

To give your new business some credibility, you may want to consider joining an organization like NAPO — the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. A provisional membership costs $319 and gives you loads of benefits, including access to many of NAPO’s certification courses. These certifications will only boost your organizational resume. 

After that, you can spread the word about your new businesses. Consider starting with friends and neighbors, so you can have few success stories to tout on your website.

Everything else you need to know to start a small business

If you’re really serious about this low cost business idea, you should set up a limited liability company (LLC) before you do anything. You could also set up a sole proprietorship or corporations, but most experts agree that an LLC is the easiest and best option for solo business owners getting started.

What you need to know about an LLC

The most important aspect of an LLC is the liability protections it offers you as a business owner. Basically your personal assets and net worth are protected from any legal action taken against your business. LLCs also offer more tax protections than a corporation, which are hit with corporate taxes in addition to the owners getting taxed on their dividends. 

You don’t necessarily need a lawyer to start an LLC. Depending on the state where you live, you may be able to register your LLC online. Once you get your business entity started, you also won’t have quite as many restrictions on how you operate your company as you would with a corporation.

Depending on your state, an LLC can run anywhere from $100 to $700 annually . Some states will require annual renewal fees too. 

But that’s not all you’ll need to think about on the legal front.

What about liability insurance?

While an LLC protects you personally, your business could still get sued. General liability insurance can help protect you from lawsuits for injury or property damage. Our top pick? Tivly .

The more risk you take on as a business owner, the more liability protection your business will need. For example, if you transport clients in your tour guide van or get into pressure washing, you may need liability insurance. Selling crafts on Etsy? Probably not.

General liability insurance can cost around $30 to $100 per month, depending on your business.

What about marketing?

You’ve started your business. You’ve got a client or two. But now you need to spread the word. 

The easiest and cheapest way to do this is through social media accounts . Instagram and TikTok are visual mediums that can be very effective when used strategically. You can also build professional connections through LinkedIn . 

To keep costs low, you can use one of the many DIY website builder platforms out there. Options include IONOS , Wix, Bluehost or GoDaddy. These site builders will cost you anywhere from a few bucks to about $25 per month, but you can get the word out about your business without having to invest too much on the front end. 

You can also hire a freelance designer to build your small business website, but you can expect to pay around a couple hundred dollars.

Start your business small and smart

A new business doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Start slow with the bare bones basics, then build up as your business builds. 

You don’t need a brand new van to start a tour guide company, and you don’t need every cleaning product under the sun to get your carpet shampooing business off the ground. 

Keep it simple and smart, build your client base, then watch as that small investment of $1,000 becomes a profitable business idea over time. 

Robert Bruce is a senior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder covering earning, saving and managing money. He has written about personal finance for more than a decade.

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5 Free Guides to Starting a Business with Zero Investment

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1. What are the best free guides for starting a business with zero investment?

Top 5 free guides for launching a business without investment.

Starting a business without any investment may seem like a daunting task, but several free guides can make the journey smoother. These guides provide valuable insights and show you practical steps to kickstart your business from scratch. Here are the top five that you can consider:

• "The $100 Startup" by Chris Guillebeau- This book is a treasure chest loaded with inspiring stories about businesses started with little to no investment.
• "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki- This guide isn’t specifically about starting a business, but the financial wisdom provided is crucial for any aspiring entrepreneur.
• "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries- This guide focuses on maintaining minimal overhead and iterating quickly to find a lucrative business model.
• "The 4-Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferriss- This guidebook contains detailed case studies demonstrating how to create a successful business with minimal overhead.
• "Business Model Generation" by Alexander Osterwalder- This guide is perfect for visual learners as it uses graphics to outline practical strategies for a startup's success.

Key Features of these Guides

While these guides are vastly different in their approaches, they all share a few common features that make them ideal for those aspiring to start a business without any initial financial investment:

2. How can I start a business without any investment, following free guides?

Starting a business with zero investment: the resources.

The dream of starting and owning a business is typically marred by the perceived need for significant financial backing. However, with the arrival of the digital economy and an abundance of free guidance available, you can indeed start a business without any initial financial investment. Below are five free guides to assist you on your entrepreneurial journey:

• Guide One: The Lean Startup Methodology
• Guide Two: Bootstrapping Your Business
• Guide Three: Harnessing Digital Marketing Techniques
• Guide Four: Utilizing Free Tools and Resources
• Guide Five: Building a Successful Business Model with Zero Investment

The Process of Starting Business without Investment

To kickstart your business without any financial investment, you need to understand and apply certain crucial steps. These steps give emphasis on creativity, lean methodologies, and hard work over financial resources. The table below broadly outlines these steps:

Practical Execution of Zero Investment Business

Each guide offers a wealth of knowledge and practical steps that you can apply directly to your zero-investment business venture. Incorporate insights from these guides to clarify your idea, conduct targeted market research, develop your business plan, apply lean methodology, and maximize your presence online. Remember, the path to entrepreneurship doesn’t require significant financial investment but requires the investment of time and relentless effort.

3. Where can I access these free guides for starting a no-investment business?

Online platforms to access free guides for starting a no-investment business.

Digital platforms are extensive resources that provide individuals with various access points for information. To get the best free guides for beginning a zero-investment venture, the following online resources are great platforms to check:

• Business-related blogs: There are numerous comprehensive business-related blogs online. They can be a rich source of information, offering free guides on how to start a business from scratch without any financial input.
• Educational platforms: Websites like Coursera, Skillshare, and Khan Academy offer free courses on entrepreneurship and business. While they may not be specifically geared towards zero-investment businesses, they provide foundational knowledge that can be leveraged in this direction.
• E-books: Several authors have written extensively about starting a business with zero investments and are offering free e-books online. Websites such as Amazon Kindle's Free eBook Collection, Project Gutenberg, and Google Books are worth exploring.

The Top Digital Libraries

Public and private organizations curate and manage digital libraries with resources covering a wide range of topics, including business and entrepreneurship. Some of these digital libraries that may contain guides for starting a no-investment business include:

Mobile Applications

Some free mobile applications provide comprehensive step-by-step guides on starting a business with zero investment. Here are some noteworthy ones to consider:

• "Startup CEO" App: This app incorporates start-to-finish advice for starting a business.
• "Entrepreneur’s Business Startup” App: It provides various articles about business startups, including those requiring no upfront investment.
• "The Business Plan Quick Builder" App: This application helps in the initial stages of business planning, which is essential for no-investment businesses.

4. Are these free guides for starting a business up-to-date?

Understanding the state of the free guides.

All the guides referenced in our discussion are regularly updated to meet evolving business needs and changes in the environment they operate. These updates are important to ensure the tips, tricks, and strategies provided are still valid and efficient in the present business climate. The guides cover essential areas like:

• How to start a business with zero investment
• Effective marketing strategies for small businesses
• Legal considerations when starting a business
• Finding and pitching investors for your business

Ensuring the Guides' Relevance

The revisions made to these guides are based on various industry changes, shifts in customer behavior, and technological advancements. All these aspects have a significant impact on how businesses operate. Therefore, the guides are made continuously relevant through the following ways:

Trustworthiness of the Guides

It's critical noting that these guides have been the cornerstone of many successful businesses started without any initial investment. They have weathered the shifting business climates and have adapted to ensure they still offer valuable advice. Therefore, aspiring entrepreneurs can confidently use these guides to kick-start their business ventures.

5. What topics are covered in these free guides for starting a business?

Overview of the topics covered.

The free guides to starting a business without any investment cover a plethora of topics crucial for the success of an entrepreneur. It ranges from understanding one's target market to marketing and promotion.

• Understanding the Market: This involves recognising your target market, customer preferences, potential competition, and market dynamics. It aids one in staying ahead of the curve.
• Developing Your Business Idea: This section covers how to spark creativity, brainstorm business ideas, and evaluate their market potential.
• Planning Your Business Structure: Here, the guide explains the different forms of business structures, their pros and cons, and how to select the best option for your venture.
• Marketing and Promotion: This includes strategies to market your business, build a brand, create an online presence, network, and leverage social media.
• Funding and Finance Management: Although the guide focuses on starting a business with zero investment, it outlines how to manage finances, costs, and revenues to ensure profitability and business sustainability.

Structure of the Guides

Each guide is structured systematically to ensure comprehensive coverage of all topics. Here is a tabular presentation of the general structure of the guides:

Key Highlights from the Guides

While all sections are worthwhile, there are a few key areas that stand out in these free guides. These include:

• Emphasis on Low-Cost Digital Marketing: The guides highlight the importance of using digital platforms for business promotion. This is cost-effective and can reach a wider audience.
• Innovative Zero-Investment Business Ideas: Drawing on real-life examples, the guides curate a list of practical business concepts that require minimal to zero capital.
• Navigating Challenges: The guides provide advice not just for starting a business, but also for navigating common challenges such as market competition, customer retention, and dynamic market trends.

6. Are these free guides for business beginners or they also cater to professionals?

Guides suitable for beginners and professionals.

The free guides promoting business startups with no investment cater to both beginners and professionals. Due to the comprehensive nature of the guides, they offer valuable insight and advice to a wide range of individuals. Each guide is structured to start with basic concepts and gradually move on to more complex issues, making them ideal for beginners as well as professionals seeking to refresh their knowledge or learn something new.

Key Features for Various Readers

Individuals new to starting a business can find the following qualities particularly useful:

• Simple Language – Every guide is written in easily understandable language, breaking down complex business terms and theories.
• Step by Step Guidance – They provide a step-by-step roadmap to launching a business from scratch.
• Practical Examples – The guides offer case studies and examples that make learning more practical.

Meanwhile, for experienced professionals, these aspects of the guides will appeal:

• Advanced Strategies – They cover a range of advanced subjects, including growth strategies and risk management.
• Latest Market Trends – The guides include current market trends and marketing tools useful for seasoned business persons.
• Expert Interviews – Some guides provide insightful interviews with successful entrepreneurs, providing inspiration and valuable tips.

Guide Content Breakdown

7. Are these free guides about starting a business accurate and effective?

Accuracy and effectiveness of free guides.

Like any domain of information, the accuracy and effectiveness of free guides on starting a business with zero investment can vary greatly. In fact, these guides can sometimes provide valuable insights, actionable advice, and proven strategies that have paved the way for many successful entrepreneurs. However, the key is to know how to tell the effective guides apart from those that lack depth, show little understanding of the subject, or offer off-the-mark advice.

• Accuracy: A good guide should offer accurate and up-to-date information. Check the publication date and cross-verify the suggested strategies with other reliable sources to ensure its accuracy. Remember, advice that worked a decade ago might not be applicable today.
• Effectiveness: The effectiveness of a guide is determined by its ability to offer actionable and achievable advice. Rather than giving vague tips, an effective guide will provide a step-by-step roadmap to starting your business, often supplemented with real-life examples and case studies.
• Relevance: Not all guides are one-size-fits-all. Business dynamics can vary greatly depending on your region, industry, and personal circumstances. Hence, the relevance of a guide will differ from person to person.

In order to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the guides, consider the source of the information and experience of the author(s), the practicality and flexibility of the advice, and its adaptability to your personal situation.

8. How reliable are these free guides for starting businesses without investment?

Reliability of free guides.

Free guides for starting businesses without an investment have become increasingly popular in the digital age. However, the reliability of these resources can vary greatly. While some offer valuable insights and actionable steps, others may lack depth and specificity. In determining their reliability, consider factors such as the author's credentials, the guide's comprehensiveness, and its relevance to your specific industry or business model.

• Author's credentials: The expertise and credibility of the guide's author or organisation should not be overlooked. A guide penned by an industry expert or successful entrepreneur is more likely to provide reliable, tried-and-true advice than one written by an unknown entity.
• Comprehensiveness: A reliable guide should cover all aspects of starting a business, from identifying a unique business idea to launching and marketing the product or service. It should also include a discussion on potential challenges and how to overcome them.
• Relevance: The guide should be relevant to your specific industry, business model, and location. Business practices and regulations can drastically vary by region and industry, so a guide that offers more specific advice will likely be more reliable.

Evaluating Guide Examples

Let's evaluate the reliability of a few popular free guides to give you a better sense of what to look for:

As depicted in the above table, "The Lean Startup" and "Zero to one" written by experts provide comprehensive and relevant content, thus qualifying as reliable guides. The guide "Startup without funding" is less detailed and its author remains unknown, hence it is less reliable. Ultimately, exercise critical judgment when navigating free resources and cross-reference information where possible to ensure its accuracy.

9. Do these free guides for starting a business without investment provide real life cases or examples?

Real life cases and examples in free business guides.

Indeed, these free guides for starting a business without an investment are remarkably packaged with plenty of real-life cases or examples. These guides understand that practical demonstrations greatly enhance comprehension. In light of this, every principal theory or concept is coupled with its corresponding practical application.

• For instance, a guide may break down the concept of lean business planning, then demonstrate it using a real-life example of a successful lean planned business from its inception.
• Another guide takes you through the dynamics of organic online marketing strategies, then concludes the topic with a few real-world examples of businesses built on the foundation of those strategies.

Lessons learnable from Real Life Cases in Guides

These real-life examples serve as practical proof that the principles discussed are not just theories but are applicable strategies in the real world. Lessons that budding entrepreneurs can learn from these real-life cases include:

Validation and Motivation from these Guides

The inclusion of these real-life cases in these guides not only serves for validation of the concepts but also act as a significant source of motivation. They reveal that:

• Establishing a successful business with zero initial investment is feasible.
• Anyone, regardless of background, can effectively start and run a business with strategic, tactical planning and focus.

10. Are there any prerequisites or skills needed before following these free guides to start a business with zero investment?

Prerequisites for starting a business with zero investment.

Starting a business with zero investment might sound like a golden ticket to financial freedom. However, it's essential to note that these business models demand specific prerequisites to succeed. These prerequisites generally consist of crucial skills that you need to equip yourself with before diving head-on into a zero-investment business venture.

Key Prerequisites and Skills

• Motivation and discipline: With zero-investment businesses, commitment and time management are essential as you don't have a financial risk keeping you focussed.
• Organizational skills: To keep your business running smoothly, efficient organization and planning are vital.
• Customer service skills: These are necessary for any business dealing directly with clients or customers. Handling complaints, inquiries, and providing service are all tasks that require good communication.
• Selling and marketing skills: While you may not be investing money directly into your business, you will need to invest time and energy into marketing and selling your product or service.

Understanding the Key Prerequisites and Skills

Guide 1: Conceptualizing Your Business Idea

This guide delves into the importance of brown and blue ocean strategies, identifying niche markets, and creating unique selling propositions. It's the perfect place to get started on your business journey.

Guide 2: Business Model Generation

Learn how to create an effective business model that will maximize profits whilst minimizing operational costs. Study proven models and discover how to adapt them to your goals and niche.

Guide 3: Lean Startup

The Lean Startup guide explores how to get your business up and running quickly and effectively, with zero investment. Learn to utilize iterative management and agile development to avoid common start-up pitfalls.

Guide 4: Growth Hacking

Discover how growth hacking can help your business gain traction even with minimal funds. Explore unconventional marketing strategies that can help your business thrive organically.

Guide 5: Customer Retention

Retaining customers is arguably just as important as acquiring them. Learn the strategies that will keep your customers coming back for more.

All these guides aim to help you start your business with zero investment. Although they provide an excellent foundation, a good piece of software can make things even easier. This is where Retainr.io comes in.

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25 Best Zero investment business ideas in india 2024

Explore 25 Best Zero Investment Business Ideas in India and Start Your Entrepreneurial Journey Today!

Table of Contents

Introduction.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business environment, not everyone has the privilege of having substantial capital to kickstart their entrepreneurial dreams. The good news, however, is that you don’t always need a hefty investment to venture into the world of business. Believe it or not, India, a land teeming with opportunities, is a hotspot for groundbreaking zero investment business ideas in 2024. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent seeking financial independence, a student looking to explore your entrepreneurial side, or simply someone eager to diversify their income streams, there’s a world of zero investment business ideas awaiting your discovery.

In this insightful blog, we’ll embark on a journey to unravel 25 of the most promising zero investment business ideas tailored for the Indian landscape in 2024. These ideas are not just pathways to financial independence; they’re the gateways to innovation, creativity, and self-expression. So, whether you’re tech-savvy, artistically inclined, or simply passionate about a particular niche, it’s time to explore the boundless opportunities that the world of zero investment businesses has in store for you. Let’s dive in and discover the entrepreneurial potential that awaits in the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of India.

What are Zero Investment Business Ideas in India?

Zero investment business ideas, also known as zero capital or 0 investment businesses, allow aspiring entrepreneurs to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey without the need for significant financial resources. These ideas rely on creativity, skills, and strategic planning rather than upfront capital. In India, with its vast and diverse consumer base, there’s ample room for such businesses to thrive.

25 Best Zero Investment Business Ideas

Here are the 25 best zero investment business ideas that will help you embark on your entrepreneurial journey without the burden of initial financial investment. Explore these creative and profitable opportunities to start and grow your business

1. Print-on-Demand

Create custom-designed products like T-shirts, mugs, and phone cases and sell them on platforms like BlinkStore (more on this later).

2. Freelancing

Kickstart your zero investment business by offering your writing, graphic design, or digital marketing services online. You can tap into the vast market of clients seeking skilled freelancers in India.

3. Content Creation

Launch your own YouTube channel, or podcast with zero investment and monetize your content through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships in India.

4. Affiliate Marketing

In the world of 0 investment business ideas, affiliate marketing stands out as a way to earn commissions by promoting products or services without any upfront financial commitment.

5. Online Tutoring

Share your knowledge through online tutoring in India, providing valuable educational services with zero investment

6. Dropshipping

Start your e-commerce journey in India without investing in inventory by becoming a zero investment drop shipper, connecting customers with products directly from suppliers.

7. Social Media Management

Help businesses enhance their online presence with your expertise in social media management, offering zero investment business solutions for boosting brand visibility in India.

8. Virtual Assistant

Provide remote administrative support to businesses and entrepreneurs, establishing your 0 investment business in India as a reliable virtual assistant.

9. Content Writing

Offer zero investment business solutions to websites and blogs in India by providing high-quality content writing services tailored to their needs.

10. Digital Marketing Services

Specialize in SEO, pay-per-click advertising, or social media marketing to offer business ideas with zero investment for clients looking to expand their online reach in India.

11. Handmade Crafts

Showcase your creativity by crafting and selling handmade jewelry, candles, and more, building a zero investment business around your passion in India.

12. Event Planning

Put your organizational skills to work by starting an 0 investment business in event planning, creating memorable experiences for clients throughout India.

13. Blogging

Monetize your blog in India by implementing zero investment business strategies such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and digital product sales.

14. Online Surveys and Market Research

Participate in online surveys and market research studies to earn money or rewards in India with zero investment.

15. Ebook Publishing

Publish and sell ebooks on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, a zero investment business with the potential for passive income in India.

16. Podcast Hosting

Launch your own podcast in India on topics you’re passionate about and monetize through sponsorships and listener support, a creative 0 investment business.

17. Cooking or Baking Classes

Share your culinary expertise with online cooking or baking classes, turning your passion into a zero investment business in India.

18. Dropshipping

Dive into the world of 0 investment business by setting up an online store in India and partnering with suppliers to fulfill orders.

19. Photography

If you have photography skills, offer portrait sessions, event photography, or sell your photos online.

20. Online Fitness Coaching

Become a certified fitness coach and provide personalized fitness plans and guidance online. Help clients achieve their health and wellness goals from the comfort of their homes, offering a convenient and effective way to stay fit.

21. Consulting

Share your expertise in a specific field, such as business, finance, or career, by offering consulting services.

22. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

Start a pet care service, offering pet sitting and dog walking to pet owners in your local area. Provide convenience and peace of mind to busy pet parents while enjoying quality time with furry companions.

23. Home-based Catering

Launch a small-scale catering business from your home, specializing in unique cuisine or catering to specific dietary preferences. Offer customized menus for special occasions, bringing delectable flavors to events.

24. Freelance Illustration or Design

Utilize your artistic talents as a freelance illustrator or graphic designer. Worked on creative projects, from designing logos and graphics to illustrating children’s books, while collaborating with clients worldwide.

25. Online Reselling

Turn clutter into cash by reselling second-hand or vintage items online. Use platforms like eBay or Olx to reach a broader audience, recycling pre-loved items and making a profit.

These ideas cover a wide range of skills and interests, offering diverse opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to explore in India without the need for significant initial investments.

How to Start a Business Without Investment?

Starting a zero-investment business in India requires planning and dedication. Here are the essential steps to get you started:

• Identify Your Niche : Choose a business idea that aligns with your skills, interests, and target audience.
• Create a Business Plan : Outline your business goals, strategies, and marketing plans.
• Build an Online Presence : Create a website or use social media to establish your brand and reach potential customers.
• Market Your Business : Utilize free or low-cost marketing methods like social media, content marketing, and email marketing.
• Provide Exceptional Service : Deliver high-quality products or services to build a positive reputation and customer loyalty.
• Scale Your Business : As your business grows, reinvest profits to expand and offer more value to your customers.

Benefits of Zero Investment Business

Zero investment businesses offer several advantages:

• Low Financial Risk : You can start without a significant financial commitment, reducing the risk of financial loss.
• Flexibility : These businesses often allow you to set your schedule and work from home.
• Skill Enhancement : You can develop and sharpen valuable skills in marketing, communication, and entrepreneurship.
• Income Diversification : You can diversify your income sources, reducing reliance on a single job.
• Scalability : Some zero investment business ideas can be scaled up over time as your revenue grows.

Start Your Zero Investment Business with BlinkStore

Blinkstore is a pioneering ecommerce platform in India that simplifies the process of starting a zero investment business. Whether you want to try your hand at print-on-demand or sell custom-designed products, Blinkstore offers an easy-to-use platform for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here’s what sets Blinkstore apart:

• User-Friendly Interface : You don’t need technical expertise to set up your personalized web store on Blinkstore .
• Wide Product Range : You can bring your unique designs to life on over 50 different products, from T-shirts to phone cases.
• Inventory Management : Blinkstore handles everything, from printing your designs to delivering products directly to your customers’ doorsteps.
• Comprehensive Guide : For those new to print-on-demand, Blinkstore provides a detailed guide on “ How to Start a Print-on-Demand Business With Blinkstore. “

With Blinkstore , creativity meets convenience, making it the ultimate choice for aspiring online sellers in India.

Steps to Start Your Zero Investment Business with Blinkstore

• Sign Up : Visit the Blinkstore website and sign up for an account.
• Design Your Products : Create or upload your unique designs for the products you want to sell.
• Set Your Prices : Determine the pricing for your products, keeping in mind your profit margins.
• Publish Your Store : Once you’re satisfied with your store’s appearance and product listings, publish it.
• Promote Your Products : Use social media, online marketing, and networking to promote your products and attract customers.
• Monitor and Adjust : Keep an eye on your sales and customer feedback, and make adjustments as needed to improve your business

If you are looking for ways to promote your business online, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. You can refer to our blog titled ‘ Best Ways to Promote Your Business Online in 2024 ‘ to learn more about effectively marketing your business and products online.

In conclusion, the landscape of zero investment business ideas in India for 2024 offers a wealth of opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. The essence of these businesses lies in their ability to empower aspiring entrepreneurs with limited financial resources. Whether you’re tech-savvy, creative, or passionate about a particular field, there’s a niche waiting for you to explore.

The key to success in the world of zero investment businesses lies in your ability to match your skills and interests with the right idea. It’s not just about making money; it’s about pursuing your passion and creating value for others in the process.

Moreover, platforms like Blinkstore exemplify the accessibility and convenience of starting your zero investment business. With Blinkstore, you can bring your creative visions to life and reach a broad audience without the need for extensive capital or technical expertise.

So, as you contemplate which zero investment business idea resonates with you the most, remember that your journey as an entrepreneur is a reflection of your skills, interests, and unwavering determination to succeed. In 2024, seize the opportunity to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into a reality and embark on a path that offers both financial rewards and personal fulfillment. Your journey begins now!

What exactly is a zero investment business?

A zero investment business, also known as a zero capital or 0 investment business, refers to a business venture that can be started and operated without a significant initial financial investment. These businesses often rely on creativity, skills, and strategic planning rather than requiring substantial upfront capital.

Are zero investment businesses profitable?

Yes, many zero investment businesses can be highly profitable. However, success depends on factors like your dedication, marketing efforts, and the quality of the products or services you offer. It’s essential to choose a business idea that aligns with your skills and interests to maximize your chances of profitability.

Can I start a zero investment business part-time?

Absolutely! Many zero investment businesses can be launched and managed on a part-time basis, making them ideal for individuals with other commitments such as full-time jobs or studies. As your business grows, you can consider transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship if desired.

How can I promote my zero investment business?

Promoting your zero investment business can be done through various channels, including social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, networking, and word-of-mouth referrals. It’s essential to create a solid marketing plan tailored to your specific business and target audience.

Are these business ideas suitable for beginners?

Yes, the zero-investment business ideas presented in this blog are suitable for beginners. They are designed to be accessible and offer a low-risk entry into entrepreneurship. Starting with a business idea that aligns with your interests and skills can make the learning curve more manageable.

How can I choose the best zero investment business idea for me?

Selecting the right zero-investment business idea for you involves considering your skills, interests, and market demand. It’s essential to research each idea thoroughly, evaluate your own strengths, and identify which idea aligns best with your goals and resources.

Is technical expertise required to use Blinkstore?

No, you do not need advanced technical skills to use Blinkstore. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with an intuitive interface that simplifies the process of setting up your online store and designing products. Even if you lack technical expertise, you can easily navigate and use Blinkstore to bring your creative ideas to life.

What types of products can I sell on Blinkstore?

Blinkstore offers a diverse range of over 50 different products that you can customize with your designs. These products include apparel (T-shirts, hoodies, etc.), accessories (phone cases, tote bags, etc.), home decor items, and more. This variety allows you to cater to a wide audience and expand your product offerings as your business grows.

Is Blinkstore suitable for both individuals and businesses?

Yes, Blinkstore caters to a wide range of users, including individuals looking to start their own online businesses and established businesses seeking to expand their product offerings. It provides a flexible platform for both newcomers and experienced entrepreneurs.

What marketing strategies can I use to promote my zero investment business in India?

Promoting your zero investment business in India can be done through various marketing strategies, including social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and influencer partnerships. The choice of marketing channels should align with your target audience and business niche.

What types of designs can I use on Blinkstore products?

Blinkstore allows you to use a wide range of designs, including your original artwork, illustrations, graphics, photographs, and text-based designs. You have the creative freedom to bring your unique ideas to life on their products.

Can I scale a zero investment business?

Yes, many zero investment businesses can be scaled up over time as you gain more customers and generate revenue. Reinvesting profits and expanding your offerings are common strategies for growth.

Zero Investment Online Businesses: The Complete Guide for 2024

The internet economy has broken down capital barriers and leveled the playing field allowing anyone to start highly lucrative online businesses without upfront investment capital or loans.

As per industry reports, 325 million Indians are expected to start their online entrepreneurial ventures by 2025. The market potential for online business models requiring zero to minimal seed capital like freelancing, blogging and ecommerce marketplaces is projected to cross $5 billion by 2024 .

However, beyond the numbers lies real stories of salaried individuals, homemakers and students embracing online businesses to take control of their financial destinies.

This article will decode this lucrative segment sharing:

• 25+ Online Business Ideas with Zero Capital
• Their Income Possibilities Compared
• Success Stories to Motivate You
• Essential Strategies for Long Term Success
• Resources to Acquire Relevant Skills

Let‘s get started!

25+ Online Business Ideas with Zero Financial Investment

Digital services: monetize your knowledge.

The internet allows instant access to billions making it a thriving hub for digital consultants across niches. The flexibility of online business models enables starting these gigs without worrying about recurring overheads.

*Income potential after 12 months dedicated effort

An indicative comparison of income possibilities across online digital services reflects lucrative potential. But statistics reveal only part of the story.

32-year old Rajat left his software job during the pandemic to start his YouTube channel on stock investing and personal finance. By leveraging SEO and social media coupled with consistent high quality content, his earnings now top Rs 2.5 lakhs every month – that too working just 10-15 hours per week!

Gig Economy: Showcase Your Expertise

Online gig work has erupted in popularity owing to its flexibility and income generation prospects. Micro businesses across functions thrive on websites like Fiverr and Upwork .

We‘ve compiled some of the most lucrative ones below:

*Beginner level income potential

36-year Sheetal left her corporate analyst job after her maternity break to pivot into online writing leveraging past research experience. Within two years she scaled to top rated marketing writer status on Upwork bagging exclusive retained projects from overseas clients earning over Rs 1 lakh monthly through flexible work schedules.

Online Marketplaces: Sell Without Inventory

Inventory free models like dropshipping have become popular allowing entrepreneurs to run full-fledged product businesses without major capital outlay.

Let us assess income metrics across the top online marketplace models:

*Returns based on runway to scale after initial launch

26-year old Ashish started his own gadget dropshipping store in 2018 leveraging emerging platforms like Spocket . Through smart digital marketing across Instagram and Google Shopping Ads, he scaled it to Rs 40 lakhs in annual revenues within 3 years.

The possibilities for online marketplaces thus reflect varied potential depending on one‘s niche. But sustainable implementation remains key.

Scale Beyond Passion: Essential Success Strategies

The attractions of online business models are apparent. However, developing competence and gaining mastery in your profit vertical alongside business fundamentals separates the achievers.

Continuously Develop Micro-Expertise

The internet enables hyper specialization – master skills allowing you to deliver better value compared to mass players. Develop obsessive micro-competence in video editing, Shopify customizations, Google Ads etc that help your niche vs superficial knowledge.

Build Personal Authority

Your name, brand needs to stand for mastery in providing solutions. Whether as a social media strategist or Kindle ebook author on mindfulness – share personal experiences, case studies establishing credibility. The 80/20 content marketing rule needs implementation.

Create Digital Assets

Website copy showcases expertise, evergreen YouTube videos keep returning profits when you sleep. Create online assets like digital products , courses, ebooks allowing passive income generation alongside active consulting projects.

Explore Pockets of Opportunity

As niches get competitive, sub-niches with unsolved pain areas emerge. Beyond saturated domains like social media marketing or affiliate blogs, can you spot underserved requirements around Shopify-Amazon integrations or drone photography?

Reinvest Time & Profits

Leverage initial profits to acquire productivity tools, high value online courses allowing you to provide better solutions faster – retaining flexibility of an online business to keep overheads controlled while staying asset-light.

Skill Enhance: Resources to Acquire Relevant Mastery

While domain experience adds credibility, continuous skills upgrade ensures you stay abreast with industry innovations to fulfil rising customer expectations even better.

Thankfully, online education makes access to world class coaching on niche topics available at zero to nominal costs through mediums like YouTube, MOOCs, paid courses allowing anyone to upgrade technical expertise rapidly.

We have compiled key resources for self-learning across highlighted online business opportunities:

Technical Skills

Mobile & Web Development: Freecodecamp , Udemy Web Developer Course

Graphic Designing: Canva Design School , Shillpa Arora YouTube

Digital Marketing: Google Digital Garage , Hubspot Academy

Creative Pursuits

Blog Writing: Problogger Blog Writing Course , Blogging Youtube Channels

Book Writing: Udemy Book Writing Courses , Kindlepreneur Podcast ,

Business Strategy

Y-Combinator’s Startup School

MIT OpenCourseware: Entrepreneurship

Continuous skills enhancement thus works in tandem with testing ideas based on market potential and contributing original value allowing sustainable customer retention.

The extensive resource list equips you with actionable skills to embark on your online entrepreneurial journey in the niche of your choice without worrying about financial constraints or prior experience alone limiting you.

Join the Creator Economy Revolution

The rise of the passion economy aligned with digital adoption has broken down infrastructure and financial barriers enable individuals to turn expertise into online businesses catering to market gaps through narrowly focused models.

Lucrative returns backed by scalability of online distribution models clubbed with promoter-friendly platforms around payments, logistics allows bootstrapped entrepreneurship barriers like working capital constraints traditionally thwarting small business success.

However, competency enhancement whether in technical expertise or niche content creation remains vital – with the right guidance and self-motivation ensuring individuals take the first step.

This era belongs to the solopreneurs, convertible generalists and online course creators able to spot underserved niches before competitors.

It‘s time to back your skills and take a shot at prosperity!

I am an online marketing specialist with 8+ years of experience in SEO, PPC, Funnel, Web and Affiliate marketing. My expertise as an online business and marketing specialist lies in helping individuals and brands start and optimize their business for success online.

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Online Business Ideas You Can Start With No Money

Candice Landau

7 min. read

Updated October 29, 2023

The great thing about starting an online business is that it’s one of the more affordable business options, and for the most part, can be started from home.

Beyond making sure you’re registered as a business entity, all you really need to get going is a home office (and even that isn’t a strict requirement), a good internet connection, and some great entrepreneurial follow through.

If you’re not sure you’re cut out to be an entrepreneur, take our quiz;  otherwise, keep reading. Hopefully, one of the ideas listed below will strike a chord and excite you enough to download our startup checklist —your first point of reference as you begin your entrepreneurial journey.

• Freelance writer

It’s hardly a surprise that freelance writer makes the list of online businesses you can start. With the rise of content marketing, online writers have never been more in demand.

To kickstart your career, set up a profile on popular freelance websites like Upwork and Freelancer  and start building your portfolio. A website will also be essential as people will want to see your writing collated in one place so they can get a sense of your style, the topics you cover, and of course, your personality.

Beyond being an excellent writer (and a good editor), if you really want to excel as a freelance writer, you will need to be a pretty speedy writer too. To learn more about this career, read this article on becoming a freelance writer by the Freelancer’s Union.

• Social media consultant

Do you have a knack for social media? If you’re a strong writer, creative, and love staying on top of the latest social media trends, this might be the perfect opportunity for you.

Many business owners either do not understand the intricacies of using social media to build a brand and cultivate a loyal online following, or don’t even know how to use social media at all. By offering your skills as a social media consultant, you can either help businesses craft a social media game plan, or take control of their social accounts directly and post updates to various platforms.

To learn more about making money as a social media consultant, check out this great list of resources compiled by Alexis Grant, and if you want to become a social media guru (who doesn’t?) read this excellent in-depth guide by Ian Anderson Gray.

• Web designer

If you know how to design websites, you have a potentially broad client base, including website developers (many of whom can build websites but not design them) and entrepreneurs themselves.

If you’ve got an eye for design but no formal web design training, you can still break into the industry with a little informal education and a good portfolio. In fact, in this industry, your portfolio is going to be everything—not your degree! That being said, make sure to only showcase your best work.

To learn more about becoming a web designer, check out Roberto Blake’s YouTube channel, which includes a number of great videos about both web design and graphic design.

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• Graphic designer

In the same vein as a web designer, if you have the skills to design logos, brand packages, social media graphics, brochures, posters, and other materials companies and individuals frequently request, this is a business you may love running. You’ll have to be self-motivated, have an eye for detail, and be clear about setting expectations.

In the early days before you have many clients, you may want to build your portfolio by offering your services on sites like Fiverr and Etsy.

• SEO consultant

Search engine optimization, more commonly known as SEO, is the practice of optimizing web pages, advertisements, and other online content so that it is more likely to be picked up (and ideally ranked highly) by Google and related search engines.

If you are data-driven and internet savvy, this is a good potential career opportunity for you. Make sure to have a good handle on Google Analytics, as you will likely be using it time and time again.

Don’t know much about SEO? You can learn more on Moz,   Lynda (access available via your local library), and on Search Engine Land.

• Business coach

If you have a knack for helping people achieve success via coaching, you may enjoy this line of work.

Rather than being hired as a consultant to help people problem solve issues in their business, you’ll be helping people find success by focusing on personal development. This might include mastering time management, putting an end to procrastination, improving decision making, and ultimately, getting your clients to take action.

You won’t be giving advice (that’s what a consultant does); instead, you’ll help people figure out how to do it themselves. To learn more, check out this Udemy course on becoming a business, marketing or life coach, and then read this article on how to become a successful business coach (hint: it’s all about how you package yourself or your services).

• App developer

According to SimilarWeb’s State of Mobile Web U.S. 2015 report, approximately 56 percent of consumer traffic to leading U.S. websites is from mobile devices. And, given that apps are now more popular than the mobile web, it makes sense to consider this online business if you have coding skills.

You can either look to creating your own apps as a way to earn money, or offer to create apps for others. To learn more about becoming an app developer, check out this Udacity course, or sign up for Google’s Android Developer Nanodegree —a cool new program that will set you apart.

• Online retailer

Does the idea of setting up an online shop excite you? If so, you’re not alone. This is an increasingly popular profession, made even easier by the host of websites that will walk you through the process.

If there’s something you’d like to sell, be sure to know how to set up a home-based business, make sure you have a space to store all of your wares, and set up an online account with the post office so that mailing is as easy as possible. You may also want to look into cross-selling on sites like eBay —if so, read our eBay guide!

Otherwise, start looking into platforms that will make selling online easy. You might consider Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, and Weebly, though no doubt there are many others for you to choose from.

Everything said and done, this is also one of the professions that may require you have at least a little startup capital as you will need to purchase inventory. Read the Bplans Funding Guide to learn more about getting access to funding, or consider starting a side business so that you can earn that initial capital yourself.

• Virtual assistant

We mentioned this career opportunity in our article on home-based businesses, but it’s a great online business to mention too. There are a number of online platforms that make running a VA business easy, including TaskRabbit, Zirtual, Upwork, PeoplePerHour and so on.

If you’re super organized and can quickly and efficiently carry out tasks, you may want to put your skills to use—becoming a virtual assistant is like becoming a personal assistant or task master. Services you might offer include project management, writing, running errands, performing research, and so on. The list is really endless.

If you’re interested in this topic, be sure to read Amy Lynn Andrews’ Guide to Becoming a Virtual Assistant, and the Virtual Assistant Website Checklist by the VA Handbook.

If you’re creative, crafty, and have the ability to make handmade items in bulk, you may just want to turn your hobby into a business.

People love buying handmade goods, and sites like Etsy break down barriers, making it easy for just about anyone to sell their wares for a very modest fee. If you can knit, sew, design graphics, turn wood, make jewelry, paint, make soap, create paper products, and so on, you may be sitting on a perfect business opportunity.

To learn more about starting an Etsy business, read our article How to Start an Etsy Shop, as well as this interview with jewelry artist Stephanie Maslow, owner of Metalicious.

• Patron-backed creator

Ever wondered how musicians, aspiring movie-makers, comedians, and comic book artists make money before they make it big? Well, beyond the local gigs, they now have online opportunities to help them fast track their way to fame and glory—sort of.

Sites like Patreon allow interested patrons to donate either a monthly fee (in exchange for content produced by the artist/entrepreneur) or a fee per creation. To learn more about how you can make this model work for you, read our guide on How to Use Patreon to Start a Business,  and check out our favorite Patreon profiles,  which should give you some good ideas. If you’re looking to start a side business online, this one might be right up your alley!

Candice Landau is a marketing consultant with a background in web design and copywriting. She specializes in content strategy, copywriting, website design, and digital marketing for a wide-range of clients including digital marketing agencies and nonprofits.

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How to Start a Business With Zero Investment

Starting a business  is an incredibly exciting prospect – but it can also come with financial risk. Even with a compelling idea and commitment to success, many entrepreneurs fall short when it comes to finding the capital to launch a business. With this in mind, it’s no surprise zero investment business opportunities are a hot topic in startup communities.

In fact, some of the world’s biggest brands – think  Hewlett-Packard ,  Shopify  and  Starbucks  – were brought to life on a shoestring budget. This just goes to show it’s possible to start a successful business even without the help of financing or investors.

Could a zero investment business be the right move for you? Let’s take a closer look at how they work, and what it takes to start one of your own.

What is a zero investment business?

As the name suggests, a zero investment business is any business that requires no money to start up. Technically speaking, there might still be a few startup costs associated with a zero investment business, such as the cost of  registering a domain name  or creating a base for your business with a  virtual office workspace .

But compared to businesses with traditional startup costs (such as inventory, warehousing or permanent office space), zero investment businesses are a great entry point for beginners. This includes entrepreneurs with limited capital, or people looking to start a business as a side hustle. 

The pros and cons of a zero investment business

Aside from the obvious financial benefit, there are several advantages to starting a zero investment business:

• Lower risk than starting a traditional business, as potential losses are minimised
• Lower expenses mean a higher profit margin
• Flexibility to scale up or down as your business needs change
• Easier to pivot your strategy because of lower sunk costs

However, there are some potential drawbacks as well:

• You still have to put effort into building and marketing the business – just because a zero-investment business doesn’t require an initial cash injection, it doesn’t mean the business will grow on its own
• Low investment can mean having less support, whether that’s support with cash, expertise or business connections.
• It could be more difficult to  scale up quickly  because that usually requires some investment, and a new business’s income stream probably won’t yet be fully up to speed.

Of course, every industry is different, so it’s a good idea to figure out your specific needs before deciding whether it’s possible to launch your business with little to no upfront costs.

Zero investment business opportunities

Want to start a business but not sure where to start? Here are some low-investment business ideas you can get off the ground quickly.

1. Start a dropshipping business

With a  dropshipping business , third-party supplier stores and ships inventory to customers for you. It’s an easy and cheap business to start because you don’t need to buy or store inventory yourself. All you need to do is find the right supplier and  market your business .

The dropshipping model works well with product categories such as:

• Accessories
• Beauty and lifestyle products
• Tech gadgets

2. Create a digital product

A business based on intangible products tends to be cheaper to start because there aren’t costs such as manufacturing, inventory purchasing and warehousing to worry about. The question is: what expertise do you have that would translate into a compelling  digital product ?

Popular ideas include:

• Online courses such as web design, music, development etc.
• Design and photography templates
• eBooks, tutorials and guides

3. Sell a service

With a service-based business, the biggest investment you’ll need to make is time. If you have an in-demand skill, selling a service can be a lucrative business model, and you can even offer your services while supplementing your income by selling complementary products.

Depending on your skill set, you could cost-effectively build a business around:

• Writing, graphic design, photography or creative arts
• Digital services such as résumé writing 
• Professional coaching 
• Pet-minding or babysitting
• Accountancy or bookkeeping
• Interior design and real estate consultancy

4. Join an affiliate marketing programme

Affiliate marketing  is a strategy where businesses pay people (‘affiliates’) to promote and sell products for them. Every time an affiliate brings in a new customer, they receive a commission. 

If you already have an established following online via a blog, website, social media or other community, joining an affiliate marketing programme could be a quick way to make extra money as a side hustle.

To get started:

• Find a programme on sites like  ShareASale ,  Solvid Affiliate , or  Amazon Associates
• Choose the offers you want to promote
• Get an affiliate link
• Promote that link across your website, social media etc.

Once you’ve signed up, you’ll earn a commission any time someone registers or makes a purchase through your link. Commission rates depend on the business and the offer, but can range from 5% to as much as 50%.

5. Start an online membership programme

Like affiliate marketing, online membership programmes are best for entrepreneurs who have an established online following. What’s unique about online membership programmes is they’re subscription-based, so customers make recurring payments in exchange for a digital product or service.

Examples of popular online membership programmes include:

• Fitness programmes
• Clubs and communities
• Creative arts 

Depending on your business, membership programmes can include downloadable content, exclusive live streams or a mix of both. 

How to start a zero investment business

Once you have a solid business idea, follow these steps to give yourself the best chance of success.

1. Research the market

Conducting a market analysis  will help you assess demand in the market and what customers are looking for. This information will guide you in defining how your product or service can solve customers’ problems, as well as how to stand out from the competition.

2. Seek advice

One of the best ways to launch a successful business is to follow the advice of those who have done it before. Find an expert or mentor who can offer guidance and help you navigate the inevitable challenges that come with running a business.

3. Figure out the logistics

You might not have much to worry about from a finance perspective, but there are still many logistical factors to work out when starting a business. Consider:

• What you’ll need to launch and market your business – do you need a website, social media profiles or another type of platform?
• Who will be responsible for what – will you need support or can you run the business on your own?
• How you’ll launch the business – what’s your strategy and  business plan ?

4. Get ready to hustle

Thanks to technology and the rise of eCommerce, it’s possible for almost anyone to start an online business or a home-based business without investing a lot of money. The flipside, however, is that today’s business landscape is hypercompetitive, which means you’ll be up against many other entrepreneurs who are trying to drive their business forward just like you.

One of the biggest advantages of a zero investment business is that it’s relatively low-risk, so even if you don’t succeed right away, you can test different approaches until you find one that sticks. Resilience is key: be willing to put in the hard work, and you’ll no doubt find the sweet spot in the market for your business venture.

No matter what industry you’re in, having a strong business network is essential. With a virtual office workspace, you can join a thriving community of individuals and businesses just like yours, and tap into a whole world of new contacts and opportunities.

Wrapping up

We at ShopShipShake have been working with businesses like yours with fulfilling experiences. We offer one-stop services, including an efficient supply chain, over 10 thousand of China’s suppliers, and more. With a successful track record of over 20,000 clients, we are sure to deliver your orders requirements. Let’s get in touch to build, sustain, and grow your businesses.

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Best Retirement Plans for Employees

Best retirement plans for self-employed individuals.

• Best Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

Other Retirement Savings Options

• Why You Should Trust Us

Best Retirement Plans for 2024: Choosing the Right Path for Your Future

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate products and services to help you make smart decisions with your money.

Why Start Saving for Retirement Now?

Financial experts all agree: The sooner you start saving, the better. Retirement savings accounts offer long-term wealth-building features like compounding, tax advantages, and retirement-focused investment strategies. 

Compound interest allows you to earn interest on your interest. The longer your money grows, the faster it accumulates and the closer you are to achieving a financially secure retirement. Contributing a little here and there is better than not contributing at all. 

Moreover, retirement plans like IRAs and 401(k)s offer tax benefits. You can contribute pre-tax money to lower your taxable income today. Or you can contribute after-tax money for tax-free growth and withdrawals. 

Here are Business Insider's editors' top picks for the best retirement plans in 2024. 

401(k) Plans

401(k)s are popular retirement savings plans offered by for-profit companies. Employees can open a traditional 401(k) or a Roth 401(k). Traditional 401(k)s grow with pre-tax dollars, but Roth 401(k)s rely on after-tax contributions, just like with IRAs.

Employees can contribute up to $23,000 in 2024, and individuals age 50 and older can contribute additional "catch-up" contributions of $7,500. 

Many 401(k)s offer employer-matching contributions. Your employer matches up to a certain limit for every dollar you put into your account. This is generally considered "free money" toward your retirement. For instance, if you make $50,000 annually, and your company matches 50% of your 401(k) contributions up to 5% of your salary, you would need to contribute $2,500 into your account to receive the full match amount. Your employer would then contribute an additional $1,250 a year.

403(b) Plans

403(b)s, or tax-sheltered annuities, are retirement plans for public school employees, tax-exempt organizations, churches, and other nonprofit companies. Similar to a 401(k), 403(b)s may offer the benefit of an employer match. You can contribute pre-tax or after-tax money. 

If you're under 50, you can contribute up to $23,000 in 2024. Employees 50 and up can contribute an additional $7,500. In addition to pre-tax and after-tax contributions, you can contribute to your 403(b) by allowing your employer to withhold money from your paycheck to deposit into the account.

Thrift Savings Plans

Thrift savings plans (TSPs) are retirement accounts for federal and uniformed services employees. Like 401(k)s, these plans let you contribute pre- or after-tax dollars. But, unlike many 401(k) employer matches, most TSPs offer a full 5% contribution match. Your employer will match your contributions up to 5% of your salary.

The annual contribution limit for 2024 is $23,000. The catch-up contribution limit is $7,500. 

457(b) plans are retirement savings accounts offered by certain state and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. Like 403(b)s, you can contribute to your 457(b) plan by asking your employer to withhold a portion of your paycheck and deposit it in your retirement plan. Some employers allow you to make Roth contributions. 

The annual contribution limit for 2024 is $23,000. The catch-up contribution limit is $7,500. Folks 50 and older can contribute up to the annual additions limit, currently $69,000. 

Pension Plans

Pension plans are retirement plans fully funded by your employer, who are required to make regular contributions toward your retirement. However, depending on the plan's terms, you may not have control over how the money is invested. 

There are two main types of pension plans: the defined contribution plan and the defined benefit plan. 401(k)s are technically considered defined-contribution pension plans, and your employer is not responsible if your investments perform poorly.

Traditional pension plans are defined benefit plans (plans with fixed, pre-established benefits). Employers are liable to provide retirement funds for a certain dollar amount, calculated based on employee earnings and employment years.

Solo 401(k)

Solo 401(k)s are an option for business owners who work for themselves and have no employees. They can contribute as both an employer and employee (and spouses of business owners may be able to contribute as well), meaning they can contribute twice as much. You can make pre- or post-tax (Roth) contributions to your account. 

As an employee, you can defer up to $23,000 of your self-employed income in 2024. If you're 50 or older, you can make an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution. As an employer, you can contribute up to $23,000, plus the catch-up contribution if you're 50 or older. The total contribution limit is $76,500. 

Simplified employee pension (SEP) IRAs are retirement vehicles managed by small businesses or self-employed individuals. According to the IRS, employees (including self-employed individuals) are eligible if they are 21 years old, have worked for the employer for at least three of the last five years, and have made a minimum of $750. 

SEP IRAs also require that all contributions to the plan are 100% vested. This means that each employee holds immediate and complete ownership over all contributions to their account, including any employer match. You can contribute up to $69,000 or 25% of your employee's compensation 2024.

Vesting protects employees against financial loss. For instance, according to the IRS, an employer can forfeit amounts of an employee's account balance that isn't fully vested if that employee hasn't worked more than 500 hours in a year for five years.

SIMPLE IRAs are for self-employed individuals or small businesses with 100 employees or less. According to the IRS, these retirement plans require employers to match each employee's contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to 3% of the employee's salary.

To qualify, employees (and self-employed individuals) must have made at least $5,000 in the last two years and expect to receive that amount during the current year. But once you meet this requirement, you'll be 100% vested in all your SIMPLE IRA's earnings, meaning you have immediate ownership over your and your employer's contributions. 

Employees can contribute up to $16,000 in 2024. You can also add a catch-up contribution of $3,500 if you're 50 or older.

Payroll Deduction IRAs

Small businesses and self-employed people can set up employee IRAs even simpler. With payroll deduction IRAs, businesses delegate most of the hard work to banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions.

After determining which institutions their employer has partnered with, employees can set up payroll deductions with those institutions to fund their IRAs. These accounts are generally best for employees who don't have access to other employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s and 457(b)s.

For 2024, you can contribute up to $7,000 in annual contributions and up to $1,000 in annual catch-up contributions for employees aged 50 or older. 

Best Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)

One of the most appealing components of independent retirement plans like IRAs is that you can open one as long as you've got taxable (earned) income. And even if you have an employer-sponsored retirement account, you can usually set up a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and other independent retirement accounts.

Traditional IRA

Traditional IRAs let you save with pre-tax contributions toward your retirement savings. You'll pay tax when you withdraw during retirement. Traditional IRAs are recommended for higher-income workers who prefer to receive a tax deduction benefit now rather than later.

The 2024 contribution limit is $7,000, with up to $1,000 in catch-up contributions.

Roth IRAs are funded by after-tax dollars, meaning you pay taxes on your contributions now and make tax-free withdrawals later. As long as you're eligible, experts recommend Roth IRAs for early-career workers who expect to be in a higher tax bracket when they withdraw. Traditional and Roth IRAs share the same contribution limits: $7,000 in 2024, with up to $1,000 in catch-up contributions.

If you want to open one of the best Roth IRAs , single filers can only contribute the maximum amount in 2024 if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $146,000. Married couples must earn less than $230,000 annually to contribute the full amount in 2024. You can still contribute less if you earn a little more, though. 

You can find your MAGI by calculating your gross (before tax) income and subtracting any tax deductions from that amount to get your adjusted gross income (AGI), then adding back certain allowable deductions.

Spousal IRAs

There's also an option for married couples where one spouse doesn't earn taxable income. Spousal IRAs allow both spouses to contribute to a separate IRA as long as one spouse is employed and earns taxable income. This account allows the nonworking spouse to fund their own IRA. 

In 2024, each can contribute $7,000 (or $8,000 if they are 50 or older) for up to $16,000 annually.

Rollover IRAs

The best rollover IRAs let you convert your existing employer-sponsored retirement plan into an IRA, something experts generally recommend doing when you leave a job for a few reasons: primarily because you have more control over the investment options in an IRA than in a 401(k), and also because it's easier to consolidate your accounts for record-keeping.

Many online brokerages and financial institutions offer rollover IRAs; some will even pay you to transfer your employer-sponsored plan to an IRA.

Self-Directed IRAs (SDIRAs)

You can fund a self-directed IRA using traditional or Roth contributions ($7,000 and contribution limits in 2024, plus another $1,000 for catch-up contributions). But the difference between these accounts is mainly one of account custody and investment choices.

Unlike traditional and Roth IRAs, the IRS requires that all SDIRAs have a certified custodian or trustee who manages the account. These third parties handle the setup process and administrative duties of the IRA (e.g., executing transactions and assisting with account maintenance).

SDIRAs also give investors access to a wider range of investment options. With traditional and Roth IRAs, you're limited to mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, and other traditional investments. But, SDIRAs allow you to invest in alternative assets like real estate, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies .

Nondeductible IRAs

Nondeductible IRAs are for people who earn too much to get the full tax benefits of an IRA. Contributions for these accounts aren't tax deductible, meaning you'll fund your IRA with post-tax dollars like a Roth IRA. The difference is that you'll still have to pay taxes on any earnings or interest from the account once you withdraw at age 59 1/2.

Annuities are investment vehicles purchased from insurance companies at a premium. You'll receive periodic payouts during retirement once you purchase an annuity using pre-tax or after-tax dollars. Annuities offer a reliable income stream for retirees and reassurance they won't outlive their savings. 

The funds in an annuity can also be invested. Before you start receiving payouts, the investment gains grow tax-free, but you'll still be liable to pay income tax. Plus, annuities have limited liquidity and high fees that may diminish potential gains. 

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are savings accounts designed to cover medical expenses but can double as retirement savings. Once you're 65, you can withdraw the funds from your HSA penalty-free for non-medical expenses. 

While an HSA isn't a great main retirement savings vehicle, it can be a great addition to a different long-term savings account. In addition to penalty-free withdrawals on qualifying expenses, HSAs are funded with pre-tax dollars and grow-tax-free. But you'll still be subject to income tax. 

In 2024, you can contribute up to $4,150 for self-coverage and $8,300 for family coverage. Folks 55 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution. 

Choosing the Best Retirement Plan for You

If you're not a small-business owner or self-employed, the best retirement plan for you usually depends on your type of employer, marital status, and short- and long-term savings goals. 

However, for most employer-sponsored retirement accounts, you can decide whether to make pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) contributions to your account. Roth contributions are best for those who expect to pay more in taxes as they age, but you should consider pre-tax contributions if you don't mind paying taxes when you withdraw money from your account in retirement.

You can boost your retirement savings even more by opening a separate IRA in addition to your employer-sponsored plan (you can still save toward retirement with an IRA if you're unemployed).

FAQs About Retirement Plans

Your best retirement option depends on your income, employer, financial situation, time horizon, and goals. If you can access a retirement savings account through your employer, especially a pension or 401(k) plan, that is likely your best option. If not, a traditional or Roth IRA offers tax advantages, compounding power, and flexible investment options.

A traditional or Roth IRA may be a better retirement saving account than a 401(k) due to the low fees and flexibility. Although 401(k)s come with great benefits like an employer match, they have high fees that can eat away at gains. An IRA may be a better option if your employer is not covering those fees. 

A Roth IRA may be the better option, depending on your situation. In most cases, a 401(k) is the stronger retirement account due to the convenience of automatic payroll deduction and the additional benefit of an employer match. However, Roth IRAs can double as emergency funds. A Roth IRA may be better if you're looking for increased flexibility and Roth tax benefits. 

Why You Should Trust Us: Our Expert Panel For The Best Retirement Plans

We interviewed the following investing experts to see what they had to say about retirement savings plans. 

• Sandra Cho , RIA, wealth manager, and CEO of Pointwealth Capital Management
• Tessa Campbell , Investment and retirement reporter at Personal Finance Insider

What are the advantages/disadvantages of investing in a retirement plan?

Sandra Cho:

"The main advantage is the tax implications of the account. Depending on the account, taxes will either be deferred or not included at all. For employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s, contributions to the plan are made with pre-tax funds, and the account grows tax-deferred. Taxes are then owed upon withdrawal.

"Roth IRAs, on the other hand, are contributed to with post-tax funds but grow tax-free. Both should be included in an investor's portfolio. Another advantage is that 401(k)s often have an employer matching component. That is, an employer will match your contributions up to a certain point (usually around 3% of your salary). 

"The disadvantage is that retirement accounts have a max contribution limit. Another disadvantage is that these funds cannot be used until age 59 1/2. For younger investors, that can be a long time wait."

Tessa Campbell: 

"Tax benefits and compound interest are two of the major advantages of contribution to a retirement savings plan like a 401(k) or individual IRA. Depending on the kind of plan you open (traditional or Roth), you can benefit from contributions after- or post-tax dollars. In addition, some 401(k) plans are eligible for employer-sponsored matches, which are essentially free money.

"The disadvantage of a retirement plan is that you won't be able to access the funds in your account penalty-free until you're at least 59 1/2 years old. Unless there are no other options, early withdraws from a retirement savings plan isn't advised."

Who should consider opening a retirement plan?

"Every individual should be investing through a retirement plan if they have the financial capability to. At the minimum, investors should try to contribute up to the matching amount for their 401(k) and the maximum amount for their Roth IRA. The growth in these funds compounds over time, helping to enhance the long-term return."

Tessa Campbell:

"I can't think of a single person that wouldn't benefit from a retirement savings plan, other than maybe someone that is already well into retirement. Although some younger individuals don't feel the need to start contributing quite yet, it's actually better to open an account as soon as possible and take advantage of compound interest growth capabilities."

Is there any advice you'd offer someone who's considering opening a retirement plan?

"I would advise them to work with a financial advisor or trusted professional. This will give them insight into where they should be investing their money, whether that be a 401(k), Roth IRA, or another vehicle. There are plenty of people and sources out there who provide important information and can help you create a strong financial future."

"Don't contribute huge portions of your salary if it doesn't make sense with your budget. While contributing to a retirement savings plan is important, you must still afford your monthly expenses and pay down an existing debt. If you're having trouble establishing a reasonable budget, consult a financial advisor or planner for professional help."

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U.S. Moves Ahead With Plan to Restrict Chinese Technology Investments

The Treasury Department unveiled rules to curb financing of Chinese semiconductors, quantum computers and artificial intelligence systems.

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By Alan Rappeport

Reporting from Washington

The Biden administration on Friday outlined its plans to curb new American investment in critical Chinese technology industries that could be used to enhance China’s military, further straining economic ties with Beijing at a time when trade tensions are rising.

The proposed Treasury Department rules would prohibit certain U.S. investments in Chinese companies that are developing semiconductors, quantum computers and artificial intelligence systems. The Biden administration is trying to restrict American financing from helping China develop advanced technology that could be used for weapons tracking, government intelligence and surveillance.

The regulations are expected to be finalized later this year. They come nearly a year after President Biden signed an executive order calling for the investment ban, which will largely affect venture capital and private equity firms that do business with Chinese companies.

“This proposed rule advances our national security by preventing the many benefits certain U.S. investments provide — beyond just capital — from supporting the development of sensitive technologies in countries that may use them to threaten our national security,” said Paul Rosen, the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for investment security.

The restrictions require investors to notify the Treasury Department about certain kinds of transactions, and some types of investments are explicitly prohibited. As part of the program, the Treasury Department has the power to force a divestment and violations could be referred to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.

The rules apply to equity investments, debt financing that could be converted to equity, and to joint ventures.

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The Big Zero Show...2024

• The Big Zero Show 2024!

We're at The Big Zero Show again this year!

Published: 25/06/24 2-minute read

The Big Zero Show is back for another year, five years on since net zero was written into law, and what a five years it's been. From a quiet yet competitive market in 2019, through to the energy crisis, price shocks have driven consumers and businesses to take energy, sustainability, and net zero seriously today. With carbon reduction plans now a priority, and the energy transition well under way, the Big Zero Show is a great opportunity to learn more. So, as one of the principal partners, TotalEnergies will be attending the show again this year, and Mark Rose, our Sales and Marketing Director joined the team at Future Net Zero to talk about our commitment to net zero, the Big Zero Show itself and why it just won't be the same this year without Mark there.  Take a watch to find out more...

The highlights:

Take a peek at some of the key highlights from Mark's chat with Future Net Zero.

• Energy prices are significantly higher than they were 2-3 years ago, and given this, the challenge for consumers is to be able to invest in the reduction of energy, projects, and the investment in infrastructure. 
• For businesses, competing in various markets, they must have a carbon reduction plan and consider net zero, and to do this, it needs to be straightforward to invest in development. 
• Procuring green energy has been expensive, but with investment in wind and solar, this has become more attractive and there are more options now.
• The evolution of TotalEnergies has been fast with an enormous transformation. We're invested in renewable energy and with a focus on our independent power unit as we want to be here in the long term.
• The workforce needs to transition with us and with this comes education and new skills for the future. We want to attract talented individuals with the right attitude to succeed. We'll be there for Day 2 - 'Net Zero: Your Future Workplace' too!

Get in touch

For further information on anything discussed in this interview, or if you want to explore our products and get some guidance and support on which one is best for your business, get in touch with our team today.

We've a comprehensive product line up available to meet your procurement needs and a variety of renewable options to get you started on the road to net zero !

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US proposes rules to stop Americans from investing in Chinese technology with military uses

FILE - The Treasury Building is viewed in Washington, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department on Friday fleshed out a proposed rule that would restrict and monitor U.S. investments in China for artificial intelligence, computer chips and quantum computing.

The proposed rule stems from President Joe Biden’s August 2023 executive order regarding the access that “countries of concern” have to American dollars that fund advanced technologies, which the U.S. government says would enhance their military, intelligence, surveillance and cyber capabilities. The order identified China, Hong Kong and Macau as countries of concern.

The Biden administration has sought to stymie the development of technologies by China, the world’s second-largest economy, that could give it a military edge or enable it to dominate emerging sectors such as electric vehicles.

In addition to the proposed rule, Democrat Biden has also placed a stiff tariff on Chinese EVs , an issue with political implications as the president and Republican Donald Trump are both trying to show voters who can best stand up to China, a geopolitical rival and major trading partner.

The proposed rule outlines the required information that U.S. citizens and permanent residents must provide when engaging in transactions in this area, as well as what would be considered a violation of the restrictions.

It specifically would prohibit American investors from funding AI systems in China that could be used for weapons targeting, combat and location tracking, among other military applications, according to a senior Treasury official who previewed the rule for reporters on the condition of anonymity.

J. Philip Ludvigson, a partner at King & Spalding and a former Treasury official for Investment Security, said “companies and investors are now getting a much better look at what will be expected of them” under the new outbound investment program. “These added details are particularly important because the private sector will be shouldering the many due diligence and compliance burdens associated with making new investments,” he said.

Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, a nonprofit organization of American firms that do business in China, said his organization “supports the Biden administration’s efforts to protect U.S. national security while also ensuring robust commercial exchange with China for the benefit of American companies, workers and our economy.”

Treasury is seeking comment on the proposal through Aug. 4, 2024, and after that is expected to issue a final rule.

Biden administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have insisted that they have no interest in “decoupling” from China — however, tensions between the two nations have increased in recent years.

After the U.S. military in February 2023 shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America, China threatened repercussions.

Since then, incidents between the two nations based on national security concerns have regularly occurred.

For instance, Biden in May issued an order blocking a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land near a Wyoming nuclear missile base, calling its proximity to the base a “national security risk.”