25+ self-employed Ideas you can use to Startup your Business for under $100
“Starting your own business is the dream for many. The ability to set your own hours, to determine the type of work you do and earn your income as you wish, is a freedom many consider worth pursuing. Go for it !!!
Self-Employed Topics: Affiliate Marketing. Apps, Blog’g, Biz Plan, PC Repair & Tutor, Consult, eBay, Writing, Design, Photog, Net Security, Life Coach/Mental (no, Mentor), Tours, Logos, Trainer, Project Mgt, Social Media, Tutor, Translator, Virtual Asst.
Ready to live your dream and work for yourself? According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the US Department of Commerce, from the years 2000 to 2011, 99% of the total increase in employment was from the self-employed. Becoming self-employed is goal for many want-to-be entrepreneurs, but knowing exactly what business to start and being able to afford the startup costs can be a barrier. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities for those willing to learn and put a little elbow grease into their career path. If you’re looking for a little motivation or inspiration to get you started, below you’ll find 50 self-employed business opportunities (in alphabetic order) you can start for under $100. Now, pick the one that fits & fires-up you !!!
- Affiliate Marketing – also known as Referral Marketing – may be one of the easiest businesses to start. All you need is a Website or a Network partner with suppliers in a niche you are passionate about & knowledgeable in. While easy to start, you will need to put some real effort & time into getting Referrals to pay off.
- App Developer. The phrase “There’s an App for that” has never been more true, than it is today. But there’s always room for a new idea or a better implementation of something that’s already out there. From developing an App for a company to creating something for yourself. All you need is a great idea and the technical know-how to actually build it.
- Blogging. If you love to write, but don’t want to Freelance, you may find starting your own Blog more appealing. There are many revenue opportunities from Blogging including affiliate partnerships, sponsorship, product sales & advertising. Blogging in a topic you’re passionate about, can be deeply rewarding & fulfilling.
- Business Plan Service to helping other people start their businesses. Business plans are needed to help secure loans, investments & to make sure you keep your business running toward the goal. If you have a talent for writing & experience in business (ie, as a Founder, Owner or Officer), considering helping out the fastest growing areas –self-employed & startups. [Wiz4 has helped >30 co’s get started]
- Computer Repair. For many people, a computer problem that could be a simple fix winds up being a drawn out warranty nightmare. While we may know how to breeze our way thru Apps, many of us are not as comfortable with the hardware that powers our machines. Computer Repair is a great low cost business startup, especially if you offer “mobile” Computer Repair. Getting started is as simple as building up a reputation for being a computer expert. Get the word out to your friends & family about what you’re doing and you’ll be off to a great start.
- Computer Skills Tutor. In today’s connected world, people can often feel out of the loop when it comes to new tech. The constant stream of new products means it’s only going to get worse. If you have the patience & the teaching ability, it could be a great idea to start a business getting the “technologically inept” up to speed with the current software & apps.
- Consultant. Do you have specialized knowledge in a specific area? There are Consultants in just about any field you could think of. Their job is to advise others on their expertise to help them get more business or run more smoothly.
- Crafts Seller. Do you love making things? Use your talents to generate a profit with an online craft business. With sites like Etsy, selling your homemade goods has never been any easier. It’s especially helpful if you focus on a specific trend or niche that fits into a specific category. This will help you get found easier and will help people share your products on sites like Pinterest easier as well.
- Create Info Products. Similar to Blogging, creating info products for sale can also be a lucrative low-cost startup idea. If you have knowledge in a certain area, you can create Courses, eBooks and/or Videos – that others can purchase & download.
- eBay Seller. Selling your stuff on eBay can seem like a great way to earn a few bucks on the side, but for many people it’s too much of a hassle to research prices, take pictures, put together a good post and keep track of payments, shipping, etc. The idea of selling something online is appealing, but when it comes down to doing all the work, many would just rather donate the items in question or let someone else sell it for them. For this business idea, you would just need to reach out to friends & family to see if they have anything they’d like to sell. You can do all the setting up of the shop & products, then you can split the profits. And, if you don’t like eBay, consider Craigslist instead.
- Freelance (ie, Content) Writing. If you love to write, but aren’t quite ready to churn out a novel, you might want to consider Freelance writing. With Content Marketing become a key aspect for companies, there are more & more opportunities opening up for Writers. To get started, check with some local businesses in your area and see if they need help with Blog posts or creating other information products such as reports or short eBooks.
- Freelance Design. Design is certainly a skill that lends itself to self-employment. No matter what type of design you do, there are going to be companies that need your services. The key is to work on your portfolio and get a few referrals under your belt. If you can’t get any paying Cliets, help a non-profit. Use the Web to search for Freelance job opportunities and establish a Client base. If you don’t want to work with actual Clients, you may want to instead consider using your design skills to create products such as Website templates, Graphics, Clipart, Charts, etc, that you can sell on sites such as Etsy.
- Freelance Photography. If you have a love for taking pictures, consider making it your Business Venture. This is an area where having a speciality will help you stand out. You can focus on typical portraits or consider other areas of photography such as travel, nature, food, corporate portraits or corporate photography.
- Internet Security Consultant. With privacy and security concerns at an all time high, now is the perfect time to consider this. You can help educate people on setting up their home networks & securing their personal information. You can also work with companies by helping them secure their websites & their business/customer data.
- Life Coach/Mentor Service may be able to see exactly what someone else needs in a particular situation. That’s where a LC/M can be of help, especially if you specialize in a specific area. This particular business idea is lucrative because it’s inexpensive to get started and the fields of specialty are endless. You can coach or mentor in any area from sports to weight loss, business, organization to personal happiness.
- Local Tour Consultant. If you have a love for local history & lore, becoming a local Tour Consultant might be your perfect business idea. You can start off by simply offering Walking Tours of your city or specific historic regions within your city. You’ll need to contact your local city offices to make sure there are no laws or regulations that would interfere. However, if you’re good at it, the only thing you need to get started is a Website with your Tour info and some local word-of-mouth to start your first Tours. You may want to consider partnering with your local Visitor’s Bureau to help attract Tourists to your business. After you do a good Tour, ask for a Referral amongst their family & friends.
- Logo Design Services. If you’re a graphic designer, but don’t want to be attached to huge projects, you might want to consider becoming a Logo designer. The projects are typically simple & straight-forward + you probably already have everything you need to do the work. To get started building your portfolio, contact local businesses, non-profit organizations or government agencies for work. You can also expand your services by providing Logos and other Branding images for use on Social Media profiles as well.
- Mobile Repair. What’s better than finding someone who can repair your broken items? Someone who will come to you and do it. Mobile repair covers so many areas from cars to computers. If you have a knack for fixing things and you don’t mind driving around to do it, you may have your perfect business opportunity.
- Personal Trainer. Health is a high priority for many, and losing weight + getting fit are top concerns in this area. If you have a track record for helping people with their fitness in a specific area, you could have a very profitable business. Like many of these suggestions focusing on niche or target area can help you stand out as an expert in a growing industry.
- PT Project Management Services. Often projects go off the rails due to poor management – ending up costing companies extra time & $$$. However, not all companies can afford a full time project manager. They may only need one for a specific project. This is where a project management service comes in. As a project manager, you can work with all types of businesses and industries. Your job is to help the company get their project completed on time & on budget. With your experience, you can do it.
- Resume Writing Service. With so many people competing for desirable positions, your resume is one area you can’t afford to mess up. If you offer a service that can help job seekers stand out amongst other applicants and have a better chance at getting the job they desire, you could build a thriving business helping other people.
- Senior Home Companion. There’s something rewarding about taking care of someone else, especially in the later years of their life. With 77 million Baby Boomers entering into their senior years, the Senile (no, Senior) Business sector is a growing industry. In many cases, as they are getting older, Seniors are looking for a way to stay social + get out & about. If you have a passion for helping the elderly, a Home Companion business may be the perfect idea for you. You can also create a business in this sector by becoming a Senior Care consultant.
- Social Media Consultant. If you have time, know Social Media & love for talking to people, becoming a Social Media Consultant may be just right for you. To get started building your portfolio, consider working with a few non-profits in you area or offering your services at a discounted rate to local business owners. You can always raise your $$$ as you expertise grows
- Tutoring/Teaching. Not everyone “gets” the subject they are currently studying. In fact, people who need some extra coaching may not even be taking classes. There are many areas of our lives where we could use a little bit of help with improving, including art, computer skills, organization, etc. If you are skilled in a specific area that other people have trouble with and love to teach, those skills tutoring or teaching may be your calling.
- Translator. More companies are venturing into other countries and want to reach more customers. This means the need for Translation services are growing. Website translation is an especially growing area since their’s a global reach. If you know a few languages, you might consider offering your services as a new business opportunity.
- Virtual Assistant. The best part about being a VA is that you can do it from home. Most of the tasks for a VA are computer-related, so as long as you have a computer, internet access & a phone you are set. With this business you’ll want to make sure you have a few clients at a time to ensure you can work the hours needed. Since the benefit of a VA is that a person can hire them for as much or as little as needed, you’ll need to account for peaks & valleys in weekly hours.
Comments: Do you know of any other interesting Freelance, Self-Employment ideas?
from Self-Employed.com 24 Feb 15 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4.biz
For more Info, click on Freelance, Self-Employed.