Are you a full time employee and wish you could start something along the time? Do you want to explore some business opportunities while you are still in paid employment? Are you ready to try out your business skills? Then, now is the time to explore. You can start a side hustle while you continue with your current employment. Many people have started their business this way and you can do the same. It just takes a decision and a personal commitment from you to learn and apply the necessary skills. In this article, I will show you 14 businesses to start with little or no capital.
Starting and running a small business is not just about working for yourself, it is also about solving a problem. In addition, you need to have the necessary management skills, industry expertise, technical skills, finance and a long-term vision to grow and succeed. With the COVID-19 situation and economy situation, you won’t be alone if you decide to take the plunge this year.
Although thousands of people dream of starting their business, many are still unsure of what to do. Aside this, many don’t know how to go about it. So, this forever remains a dream. You can change that right now with the right support systems. This can come from your friends and family. Also, it can come from government agencies or even organization supporting startups in your community.
READ ALSO: 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
So, I have come up with a list of different types of business you may want to start up in the next few weeks. These are businesses you can start right away. However, you need to dig deep to understand what is required to start each one. No matter the one you decided to focus on, you can actually make your business profitable.
1. Sell your skills on Fiverr and Upwork
Whatever experience, someone out there need your skills. You can freelance your skills on Fiverr and Upwork. In addition, you can set your own rate for each project. For example, If you enjoy writing and can show some sample work on your profile, you can easily sell your freelance writing skills online. This is one of my favorites out of the 14 businesses to start with little or no capital.
2. Photography business
When your school photo was being taken, you probably gave little thought to the fact that the photographer would soon be off to another job, maybe a wedding, to make ends meet. If you have a passion for photography, get a clear picture of what is involved in setting up your own firm. There are a lot of information online on how to start this type of business. You can also make money posting pictures on Shutterstock. Over time, the more you earn increases how much you earn per image.
3. Sell items on eBay and Kijiji
Selling items online is one of the easiest side hustles you will see on this list. It requires little investment and is low risk. Items that you can easily sell include collectibles, brand name clothing, and accessories, electronics, computers and accessories, antiques, etc. If you have items you currently don’t use, this is one of the businesses to start with little or no capital. You can start by selling those items and then turn the money you make into your working capital.
4. Sell stuff on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace makes it possible for you to list and sell items in your local area. The interesting thing is that you keep all the communication within Facebook.
5. Deliver for SkipTheDishes
A reliable source of transportation, a valid driver’s license, and car insurance are all you need to pull off this side gig. SkipTheDishes is one of the easiest food delivery services you can work for. Earn more money in your spare time delivering food with your car. If you are in United State, you can check DoorDash.
READ ALSO: HOW TO START A FOOD BUSINESS IN ALBERTA
6. Rent out your extra space on Airbnb
If this isn’t for you, skip to the next one. If you have extra space in your house or on your property, Airbnb is for you. Depending on where you are located, you can easily make an extra cash a month from renting out your space. Also, if you can outsource the cleaning and maintenance of the rental space, you can turn your Airbnb side hustle profits into passive income!
7. Rent out your car
This is another one of those ideas that allows you to get paid to rent out your car it out to others.You get paid now for renting out your car in a similar way to renting out space in your home on Airbnb. If this something that interests you, check out Turo.
8. Offer Domain Registration and Web Hosting service
This is indeed one of the easiest businesses to start right now. With little or no capital, you can pick up a reseller plan from a reliable web hosting provider. The interesting thing is that you may not have to worry about the support.
9. Write an eBook
Do you have an awesome idea for an eBook? Maybe you have a success story about your life or a specific skill set you want to share with others to improve their own lives or careers? Write an eBook about it and self publish it on Amazon! Interesting thing is that you can work on your writing on nights and weekends while you continue with your day job.
10. Make money answering other people’s questions on JustAnswer
Justanswer.com is a site where you can get paid for answering other people’s questions. People come to this site to ask questions to a variety of different categories of experts.
11. Become a social media manager or virtual assistant
If you are great with social media, this could earn you some extra income. Starting from today, you can start your own social media management side business. You can also be a virtual assistant and complete admin tasks such as email and customer service.
READ ALSO: CHECKLIST FOR STARTING A BUSINESS IN CANADA
12. Promote items and brands on social media.
You can get paid by promoting your favorite stuff on social media. If you have a lot of followers, a brand can pay you to post the content. Also, the brand can hire you as a brand ambassador.
13. Test websites for UserTesting.com.
Another side hustle you can start today is testing websites and apps online. If this interests you, you can get paid for it on UserTesting.com. If you pass their application process, you can get paid up for every test you carry out.
14. Sell your handcrafted items on Etsy
So many people now utilize Etsy to sell their uniquely crafted goods and digital products. This is definitely something to consider.
I would be sharing some insights on how you can start out on your own with little capital. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, just make up your mind to do something with your time from this moment.
If you like this article “14 businesses to start with little or no capital”, share it with your friends and family. Also, subscribe to our newsletter to ensure you don’t miss any update from us. Finally, don’t forget to join our community to connect with others. Lastly, you can also follow us on our social media pages – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
This article was brought to you by Startupcourt. Startupcourt works with founders to conceive, build and scale new business. If you have a business idea and need the right support, reach out to them.
Featured Post Image Credit: Forbes
