25 Unique, Low Investment Business Ideas
Welcome to our guide on 25 out-of-the-box business ideas (that you maybe have not heard of yet) that require little to no startup investment and minimal specialized education or certifications.
No joke, these are 25 business ideas that you can start quickly (like this month!) with very little cash in your pocket!
As a small business coach who’s bootstrapped a few of her own businesses, I understand the importance of accessible opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. That's why I've curated this list of easy and fast businesses to start, designed to inspire and empower individuals to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams without breaking the bank.
The barriers to entry for starting a business right now are lower than ever before. With the rise of technology and the sharing economy, there's a wealth of untapped potential waiting to be explored. Whether you're looking for a full time venture, a stay-at-home parent, a college student, or someone looking to supplement their income, these business ideas offer a low-risk way to dip your toes into the world of entrepreneurship.
From online ventures to local service-based businesses, there's something here for everyone. Whether you have a passion for crafting, a knack for organization, or are good with tools, you'll find plenty of inspiration here. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's explore the exciting world of easy-to-start businesses together!
25 Unique Business Ideas:
Professional Organizer
You can cater to a few different niches, choose one you like from homes, offices, or find a niche like organizing people’s computer files, photos, etc.Paint & Sip or Craft Party Business
Starting a mobile art party business is a great low-investment business to start that’s also FUN to run! Check our webinar on how to start a craft party business here.Trash Concierge
Take trash cans and bins to the curb for elderly, handicapped, airbnbs, etc.
Trash Can Cleaning
Just what it sounds like! Trash cans get gross and smelly and people do actually pay for you to come clean them. There are special trucks you can buy for the purpose but for a low cost option, maybe work out a deal with a local car wash or somewhere with a water disposal system already in place to get started. ***I highly advise against dumping waste, cleaning agents, and dirty water just in people yards, etc.Mobile Car Detailing
Everyone loves a clean car (mmm that new car smell!). No need for a fancy location when you can grab your bucket of supplies and shopvac and offer a PREMIUM service like going to people at their home or work and taking care of their car while they go about their lives.Mobile Anything Business
Take your service to the people! Personal trainer? Do makeup? Give massages? Take kids pics? People are busy and they LOVE feeling like they’re treating themselves, so go to them at their homes or businesses. BONUS: This also cuts down on costs for you since you don’t need to rent space for your business PLUS you are offering a premium service coming to them so you can actually charge more. It’s a serious win win.Concierge Service / Personal Assistant
Speaking of people being busy. Helping people out with their everyday to-do lists can be a lucrative opportunity. Offering a general help with things like chores, take the dog to the groomers, pick up shopping, clean out the fridge, wrap birthday presents.Plant Sitting - Plant Hotel
You’ve probably heard of pet sitting and house sitting which of course are also great businesses but people get attached to their plant babies and have to travel as well. They need someone to take care of those little greenies! You can also cater to offices, apartment complexes, etc. to care for their decor plants.Travel Friend - Tour Guide / Translator
It's hard to go on vacation to a foreign land where you don't know the culture or language. Even trying out the local coffee shop can be a stressful endeavor. If you live in a high tourist area and you speak any other languages, you can offer your services to show tourists around and translate for them on their vacation.Many people are also traveling solo these days and look for groups to join and there are businesses popping up where you can "rent a friend"!
Elderly / Disabled Concierge
Many people have limited mobility but are still able to live on their own. You can help with everyday tasks like changing light bulbs, hanging pictures, etc. These are things nurses don’t do but that become challenging for the elderly and disabled who would like to live on their own.Pet Focused Business
Spending on Fido and Whiskers is up over 70% since 2013. It's a multi-billion dollar industry you definitely want to tap into. Whatever business you’re thinking of starting, if you love animals, think of catering your new venture to fur-babies.
For example: If you sew, make doggie collars and clothes. If you’re a photographer, take pet pictures. If you’re a carpenter, make cool dog houses and cat trees.Photographer - Reels & Content Creation
Taking photos, b-roll, and video for social media content is time-consuming and frustrating for many businesses and solo-entrepreneurs alike. Offer to help businesses take photos and videos for their content. Offer a subscription to go on a weekly / monthly basis so they have fresh ongoing content to use.Create Digital Products
The possibilities are endless with this one if you have some computer skills and a design eye! Find a niche that suits you, create your digital products, and sell!
Some ideas are: printable party decor, home decor prints, instagram templates for different businesses (landscaping, bars, etc.), website templates, etc.Handle Estate Sales
Organize and sell items and clean out the house after.Teach Your Skills
Know how to do something? Teach others! Host cooking classes, teach people to play an instrument, teach craft classes, teach people how to change a tire, teach people how to do their own blowouts.
Whatever your skill, you can host in person workshops, create online video workshops, write e-books, etc. Share your knowledge with the world (and make money doing it!).Mobile Mechanic
Go to people's home or work and do their oil changes, do basic maintenance, and make minor repairs. We love "premium services" that come to us at home or work especially if it saves us exorbitant towing fees!Start A Local Craft Fair or Farmers Market
Be the person that arranges to use a space such as in mall parking lots, brewery or coffee shop parking lots, etc. and then market for vendors to come sell their wares at your market days!Handyman
Put together Ikea furniture, hang TV's, etc.Copywriting
Great writer? You can offer resume writing services, pre-written content templates for websites and social media for businesses, write people's linkedin or dating profile bios, custom romance novels, and so much more!Chicken & Goat Rental
People are hiring chickens to clean pests our of gardens and using goats to handle landscaping! This one could involve a good deal of startup costs but it was too good NOT to include! You may already have some land and animals or you could work out something with local farmers to use their animals and cut them in.Marquee Signs
Jazz up events with giant custom marquee signs. Spell out names for birthdays, weddings, company names at corporate events, etc.Balloon Displays
Large, fancy balloon displays are great event decor but they're time consuming and hard to get right. People gladly pay for someone else to do the work!Charcuterie Boards
Design cute sculpted fruit, beautiful charcuterie and dessert boards for all kinds of events.Novelty Gifts
Companies like Potato Parcel or this brownie company will send people custom messages from you and we can't get enough of it! We also love prank gifts like bagofdicks.com and companies that send exploding glitter cards to your best friends (or your worst enemies!).
Don’t copy! Come up with your own weird, custom, or silly item for people to order and ship to their family, friends, and co-workers. Works especially great if you're a baker or crafter, just change your products to a fun niche!Ancestor Detective
Many people are interested in their family history and sites like Ancestory.com and companies like 23andMe are proof but it can still be a lot harder than you think and TIME CONSUMING to track down your ancestry correctly. Offer services to do this for people!
This roundup of 25 unique, low-investment businesses are easy and fast to start. With a little setup and some networking or marketing, you can be on your way to making sales and getting clients in no time!
Check our our other resources on starting a business here or get 1-on-1 coaching to get your new venture off the ground smoothly!
