The answer is surprising. I’ll show you how to start your own business with the least amount of capital.
Which is the Easiest Business to Start: Starting your own business can be an exciting endeavor, but it can also feel overwhelming to even know where to begin. You might have an idea of what type of business you’d like to start.
Which is the Easiest Business to Start?
But the prospect of starting something entirely new can be scary when you have no idea how to make it work. That’s why it’s important to get information from all of the resources you can find, including friends and mentors, before taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
1) Pet Grooming
If you enjoy working with animals and like to be around others that feel the same way, you might find yourself right at home in pet grooming. Pet grooming is big business. You can make money for dog or cat-sitting as well, but most people who choose pet grooming really like dogs and cats – a lot.
And you can make good money if you are passionate about it. One bonus? Many cities offer educational programs that lead to certification and pay while training, so there’s no cost associated with getting started. That said, start-up costs can be significant, including professional grooming tools (which run more than $100) and insurance costs for each employee in your business.
2) Maid Services
If you’re handy with a mop and broom, starting your own cleaning service could be just what you need. After all, many people are looking for someone they can trust to help keep their home in tip-top shape. If you already have some skills and supplies, starting an in-home maid service could help you get started. Or if you need something new to learn, look into becoming an expert maid yourself—perhaps on a budget of your own making.
Many online resources are available for learning how to go from amateur cleaner to independent entrepreneur. When it comes time to market your business and fill jobs, try listing on a few different services like Craigslist or Thumbtack for easy customer acquisition and scheduling.
3) Sewing
Sewing is one of those awesomely rewarding jobs that comes with very few downsides. Although it’s not easy and takes time, sewing can be done on your own schedule and you’ll never have to worry about getting fired! All you need are some scissors, thread, fabric, measuring tape, and an iron. That’s it! You don’t even need a machine — just free-hand. Just don’t forget to get samples of your work as soon as possible so you can get paid for them.
After all, samples are how you find clients who might become long-term clients! They also serve as great PR tools when showing off your skills. And if you do decide to get a machine, there are tons of options out there – from basic machines that will cost around $100 to more advanced ones that run in excess of $1,000. So what kind should you go for? It depends on what kind of sewing you want to do.
But I recommend starting small and simple before investing in something pricey. If nothing else, think about taking a class at your local community college or high school – or try YouTube videos first! There’s tons of information out there for beginners. And remember: Practice makes perfect! So start small (and cheap) and then upgrade once you know what type of projects you want to take on next.
4) Online Tutoring
Giving tutoring lessons online is one of the most convenient ways to make money from home. You can help students learn any subject they need to know, whether it’s math, English, or a foreign language. In addition, you’ll be able to spend your time at whatever pace works for you and make money with no strings attached.
You can hire tutors through reputable websites or work as an independent tutor. If you’re looking for part-time opportunities or seasonal work, online tutoring might be a good fit for you.
5) Tax Filing
Every type of business entity has its own special tax-filing requirements. That’s why it’s essential to understand your business structure before you startup. Once you’ve selected your legal form, it’s important that you become familiar with IRS Form SS-4, which you’ll need in order to get an employer identification number (EIN). This nine-digit number identifies your business and is used for all types of tax purposes including withholding and filing payroll taxes.
Many forms are used in conjunction with an EIN, such as W2s and Schedule Cs. A tax professional can walk you through all of these requirements. Every business owner needs a good bookkeeper! If you’re just starting out, don’t forget about sales tax—you’ll have to register with your state department of revenue and file quarterly sales tax returns. Sales tax varies by state so make sure you check local rules when setting up shop.
6) Bookkeeping
One of the easiest and most straightforward business ideas, bookkeeping businesses can be started by virtually anyone. This business is great for people who are organized and detail-oriented, as work generally revolves around making sure you have all your client’s financial records in order. Another perk of starting a bookkeeping business is that there aren’t many restrictions on where it can be located.
An ideal location is one with an affordable rent rate. Some cities/countries are better for starting than others, however. If you want more information about how to start a bookkeeping service, read our guide here. You might also like our interview with Joy Cho, who owns Oh Joy! Studio and runs her own bookkeeping business. You can learn more about her story here.
This content was created collaboratively by 7 Greenlight Hub members
7) Vacation Rentals
Airbnb and VRBO are two of our favorite ways to generate some extra income from an unused asset: your home. These services allow you set your own price—so if you’re looking for passive income, they’re excellent options. If you want to go all out with renting out space in your home or other property, definitely look into these sites.
Another similar option is HomeAway (owned by Expedia), which also includes campsites, vacation homes, condos, and more! But honestly, we don’t think any of these areas user-friendly as Airbnb or VRBO—but they all make money so there’s that. And they—don’t forget about those local auction websites like Craigslist!
8) Life Coaching
Life coaching is a great business idea for people who want to help others. Aspiring coaches can start by developing and marketing a solid business plan. Once potential clients are on board, life coaches can leverage those relationships into more business opportunities. For example, if your client pays you $100 per hour for an hour-long meeting, find ways to upsell them on books or other resources that will help them with their particular challenge or situation.
In many cases, you’ll be able to work with clients over email as long as they’re willing to commit during set times each week or month. Eventually, your new coaching enterprise could grow into something that replaces your current job entirely—or at least brings in several hundred dollars each month while you focus on other things.
9) Meal Planning and Prep
If you’re taking your time getting your business off of the ground, it might help to focus on reducing unnecessary expenses. Meals are one of those areas where we often overspend without realizing it. A healthy home-cooked meal every night can feel luxurious at first, but with rising grocery prices and utility bills, there’s no shame in looking for cheaper options.
Meal planning will let you take advantage of sales and coupons while avoiding expensive restaurants and convenience foods. That said, if you’re operating on a tight budget or just don’t have a kitchen right now, delivery services like HelloFresh (on sale) can be an inexpensive way to feed yourself healthfully for an entire week.
10) Event Planning
Starting an event planning business is easy, given that you have experience in events. You can make money with an event planning business by creating your own events and becoming a production company, or helping other companies manage their own events. If you love networking and being organized, event planning may be for you.
To get started, go to local bridal shows and start making contacts in order to build your clientele. You’ll need a certain amount of startup capital—the average cost per wedding is $12k-$20k—but once your reputation grows, you should be able to charge hundreds of dollars per day depending on where you live. Event planners make an average salary of $48k-$56k annually.
Also Read: How do I Start My First Business?
Conclusion
Starting a business takes hard work, perseverance, and time, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. To put it simply, if you want your business to be easy then don’t start one.
For everyone else who is looking for an opportunity, a challenge, or just wants to work for themselves in their own way here are my top ten easiest businesses. Which makes sense because it’s going to be easiest for you? What kind of skills do you have?
What kind of hobbies do you enjoy that can translate into profit and how does what you’re good at fit with what other people want? That’s really where I’d start when I’m trying to come up with something that is most easily started by me.
