15 Easy Businesses to Start

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© The Balance, 2018

BY SUSAN WARD


Updated August 29, 2018
Want to start a business but don't have a lot of startup money or time to invest in developing specialized skills? Then you'll want to have a look at this list of ideas for easy businesses to start.
Each is a business that you can start inexpensively; some can be started for nothing if you already have the equipment. Every one of these suggestions will let you start a business quickly - in some cases, almost instantly. And all can be operated as home-based businesses.
Be warned though; these types of businesses are not suitable for anyone looking for a "get rich quick" plan or a way to become an instant millionaire. What these inexpensive, easy businesses offer to the person prepared to work at them is a good living - and of course, the satisfaction of being your own boss.

• 01

   Pet Sitting

  
  
  

  

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  More and more people are looking for someone to care for their pets when they can't - people who don't like the idea of putting "precious" into a kennel. Professional pet care givers come into the home to care for the pet while the owner is away, feeding, walking, and playing with the animal(s). If you love animals and are knowledgeable about them, this could be a great business for you. According to the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), in-home pet-care is one of the fastest growing industries in North America today.

  Requirements: Knowledge of and affinity with animals, good time management skills. Currently accreditation and special training is not required (although this may.           
• 02  Residential Cleaning Services
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  Having your house cleaned by someone else is no longer only for the rich and all you need to start this business is some basic cleaning supplies. With everyone getting busier all the time, more people than ever are willing to pay to get the benefits of a cleaner home and more free time to do things they consider to be more important. Residential cleaning services are normally provided on a once-a-month or once-a-week basis. If you're an organized person who can build a clientele, you could do extremely well if you start a cleaning business.

  Requirements: Knowledge of cleaning products and procedures. The ability to attract and keep reliable staff. Strong scheduling and organizational abilities.

  Variations on the theme: Specialized cleaning services, such as blind cleaning.
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  Talk about an easy business to start - a vehicle and a good driving record and you're good to go. We're all familiar with the "big names" in the delivery industry, but that doesn't mean that there's no room for the little guy (or gal). If you can deliver things quickly and efficiently in your local area at a reasonable price, this may be a good business idea for you.

  Requirements: Clean driving record and good driving skills. Strong organizational skills. A suitable vehicle; it may be necessary to transport large items.                        04 Grass Cutting /Snow Removal Services
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  We mow our own grass here (and remove our own snow). But we’re in the minority in our neighborhood. Many people would rather spend the money on having someone else keep their yard looking good. The great thing is that in many places, you can combine lawn care and snow removal and have a viable business all year long.

  Requirements: Equipment, such as power mowers, edgers, etc. You need to be prepared to trim as well as to mow. Trucks equipped with blades for snow clearing. Basic mechanical knowledge to run and repair equipment.

• 05

   Scrapbooking

  
  
  

  

  Image (c) Sharon Dominick / Getty Images

  
  

  I freely admit that I know little about scrapbooking. But I do know that scrapbooking is a growing industry (of about $3 billion a year currently) and that kind of popularity tells me that it's a business ideathat could be very profitable. You can start a business as a creator of original scrapbooks or by becoming a consultant for a scrapbook business that's already established.

  Requirements: Artistic talent. Knowledge of scrapbooking (which you can get through research and experience or by taking scrapbooking courses). Materials to make scrapbooks.

• 06

   Hauling Services

  
  
  

  

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  Ever try to fit a sheet of plywood into the back of one of those new compact SUVs? Then you know why the demand for hauling services is on the rise. Besides the size issue, there’s the whole issue of things that people don't want to haul in their own shiny vehicles, such as yard waste or loads of compost for the garden. All the things they don't want to or can't haul could be money in your pocket.

  Requirements: A suitable vehicle or vehicles and a clean driving record. Sometimes a strong back if you’re loading the material yourself.

  Variations on the theme: Specializing in hauling a particular product, such as delivering loads of compost or soil for gardeners.

• 07

   eBay Selling

  
  
  

  

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  eBay's popularity continues to explode. Very few people haven't bought or sold something on eBay. But did you know that eBay is also a solid business idea? If you have a product that there's a demand for and that is suitable for being sold online and shipped to the purchaser, eBay selling may be the way to go. It can be a more inexpensive option than setting up your own online store and eBay makes this such an easy business to start, offering all kinds of information to help you sell successfully - including eBay seminars.

  Requirements: A worthy product or products. A computer. Knowledge of online selling and shipping.

• 08

   Gutter & Siding Cleaning

  
  
  

  

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  One of the easiest ways to make money is to be willing and able to do things that other people don't want to do. For many homeowners, chores such as gutter and siding cleaning are right up there on the "I don't want to do that" list. Besides being messy, there's always an element of danger involved when people are working with ladders.

  But the great thing about this inexpensive business idea is that these are chores that need to be done repeatedly so once you've built up a clientele, you've created a regular flow of income - and there's nothing unpleasant about that!

  Requirements: Ladders, hoses, buckets etc. Have no fear of heights and appropriate safety equipment.

• 09

   Event Planning

  
  
  

  

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  Are you an extremely organized person who can successfully work to deadlines?

  Do you handle crises well and have strong interpersonal and communication skills?

  Then maybe becoming an event planner is a great small business idea for you.

  Obviously, event planners plan events. But you may not be aware of the scope of possibilities. Corporations, hotels, non-profit organizations, municipalities and government organizations all have a need for event planners to put together everything from conferences through pedestrian only days.

  Or you might specialize in a particular kind of event, such as becoming a festival or wedding planner.

  And you do not need a degree to become an event planner.

  Requirements: Strong organizational, planning and communication skills. Eye for detail and ability to work to deadlines.

• 10

   Gardening/ Landscaping Services

  
  
  

  

  Image (c) Tom Merton / Getty Images

  
  

  Gardening has been one of the most popular hobbies throughout the U.S. and Canada for the last twenty years and today its popularity is increasing, perhaps thanks to people's increasing interest in the quality of food they're feeding themselves and their families. (Plus, as an avid gardener myself, I can vouch for the fact that there's nothing tastier than something fresh pulled or dug from the garden!)

  But gardening is no armchair hobby; it takes time and work to make a garden flourish - two things that many would-be gardeners aren't able to provide. Working people with families are often short on time while many aging gardeners have physical ailments of one kind or another that prevent them from doing all the outside work they would like to do.

  Those are two problems you can solve by providing gardening and/or landscaping services. From basic weeding and spreading mulch through hardscaping, there are all kinds of business opportunities here for skilled, willing hands.

  Requirements: Physical fitness. Knowledge of plants, gardening techniques and possibly landscaping and design principles.

• 11

   DJing

  
  
  

  

  Image (c) Hill Street Studios / Getty Images

  
  

  Love music? Then maybe DJing is the small business idea you've been looking for.

  While many of us think of DJs as providing the music nightly in glitzy clubs packed with dancing hordes, the truth is that that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to DJ opportunities.

  There are many more DJs performing at events such as weddings and parties and in venues such as small pubs than spinning tunes in big clubs.

  Notice the use of the word "performing". To be a successful DJ, you need to have an entertaining personality as well as music mixing skills. See The Beginners Guide to Djing to learn more about DJing as a business.

  Requirements: DJ/mixing skills. Appropriate equipment - while some DJs spin vinyl records, others DJ digitally using one of these DJ apps. Desire/ability to work at night. That's when most of the gigs are.

  Variations on the theme: Specializing in a particular type of music or event. (If you choose to do this, be sure you thoroughly research your market first!)

• 12

   Painting

  
  
  

  

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  Painting, whether exterior or interior, is another of those chores that many people don't want to do - which makes it another of those chores that you can make money doing for them.

  One of the great things about this inexpensive easy business idea is that it's not seasonal; interiors can be painted any time of year.

  Another is that unlike a business idea such as DJing, painting is easily scalable; once you have the clients, you can hire others to do the actual work and either continue to work on some jobs yourself or become strictly a manager of your painting crew(s).

  Either way, it's something that's relatively easy work and something there's always a demand for.  Top 10 Ways to Paint Like a Pro will help you get started.

  Requirements: Physical ability, painting skill and equipment such as brushes, drop sheets, buckets.

  Variations on the theme: Creative? Interior design and/or home staging might interest you.

• 13

   Yoga Instruction

  
  
  

  

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  Perhaps because of its accessibility (practically anyone can do it) or because of its diversity (there are many different types of yoga), yoga is one of the fitness practices that's here to stay.

  And if you are a practitioner and enjoy teaching, why not share your expertise with others and become a yoga instructor? Business opportunities range from setting up your own commercial yoga studio (either in a retail building or as a home-based business) through freelancing and teaching classes in different venues.

  Requirements: Yoga expertise, teaching ability.

  Variations on the theme: Yoga-related products are good business prospects, too - The Economist predicts that Americans will spend in excess of $8 billion on them by 2017.

• 14

   Local Tour Guide

  
  
  

  

  Image (c) Zero Creatives / Getty Images

  
  

  Do you live in a place that others like to visit? Do you enjoy meeting and chatting with new people? Would you be comfortable leadingand addressing a group?

  Then here's one more question for you; have you thought about being a local tour guide?

  Now obviously, this is only an easy business to start if you live in a place that has something that tourists are going to be interested in. But the scope is wide; you don't need to live in a place chock-a-block with historical landmarks. While walking tours based on history are obvious candidates, don't forget about the natural wonders that we locals tend to take for granted. Guided nature tours, such as tidal pool tours or bird spotting tours can also be big winners with tourists.

  Requirements: Specialized local knowledge; cheerful, outgoing personality, strong communication skills, good physical mobility.

  Variations on the theme: Gallery or museum host

• 15

   Tutoring

  
  
  

  

  Tutor helping one of her students. Image (c) Hill Street Studios / Getty Images

  
  

  Knowledge is power. But knowledge can also be money in your pocket if you have the right kind.

  There is a steady demand for tutoring students of all levels in particular subjects such as Math, Physics and English, for example.

  Many English speaking people want to learn a second or third language, making French, Spanish and German (to name three of the most popular) tutoring a good business opportunity.

  There is also a steady demand for teaching people who aren't native speakers of English how to speak and write English (English as a Second Language, a.k.a. ESL). Influxes of immigrants from Middle Eastern companies means people who can speak and read Arabic will find there's no shortage of work available.

  Requirements: In-depth knowledge of the particular subject you're going to offer instruction in; teaching ability.

  Variations on the theme: The demand for translators is also on the rise, especially for people who can translate Arabic and Chinese (Mandarin) languages.

Best Small Business Ideas

Most articles you read about business have been written by freelance writers who have no business experience and have no idea of what they are talking about.

My name is Bob Adams. I have started dozens of businesses and made millions of dollars. I also have an MBA from Harvard Business School. I have run not just lots of businesses, but also many types of businesses, including a number of very small businesses that I ran before going to business school.

I learned what works in business. And I learned what doesn’t work. I learned what are good businesses and what are not. I have also learned that you don’t need lots of money or experience to start most businesses.

Many business ideas only require a small investment.

While this is a long list of business ideas—I have carefully pruned it for you. I started out with an initial list that was more than twice as long…and ruthlessly chopped off the weaker business ideas that I didn’t want you to consider starting.

Note that many of these ideas could have been listed in more than the single category I placed them in. But I thought it would easier and more interesting for you, if I only listed each business once.

Related: Businesses You Can Start with $2,000 or Less

If you are really want to be your own boss and build a highly successful business, I am sure that you will find an idea that you really like on my extensive list! And once you have chosen your idea, check out our guide explaining the 5 critical steps you need to follow to start your own business.

These are the categories:

#1 Really fun business ideas
#2 Best home business ideas
#3 Best part time business ideas
#4 Best low cost business ideas
#5 Best online business ideas
#6 Highest profit business ideas
#7 Steady income business ideas
#8 Easy-to-start business ideas
#9 Other good business ideas

And these are the business ideas:

Really Fun Business Ideas

Antiques Dealer

You can start this business in your garage with just one item!

Developing your expertise is crucial for this business idea. 

Start part time and build this business carefully! Only buy items you are confident that you can sell relatively quickly for a good mark-up, and avoid getting stuck with slow moving inventory. To really succeed, develop deep expertise in a specialty and build a loyal customer base.

Art Gallery

I see two routes to success in this business: 1) Focus on artists with well- established followings that you are comfortable that you can sell or 2) Take on less well-known artists on a consignment basis, meaning you don’t actually buy the painting from the artist until the day you sell it. This can be a finicky business–people’s tastes can change and a gallery that is successful one year can find itself struggling enough. So, keep your overhead manageable and watch for changing trends.

Bartending Service

Sign up for a bar-tending course at the local community college or adult education center, get a safety certificate if your state requires it, and then you’re ready to start serving. Usually the client will provide the booze and the glasses, you might bring a few mixing tools or even a service cart if you want to get fancy. Demand for this service will run strongest on the weekends, making it a great part time gig!

Boat Tours

You don’t need to own a big boat to take people on evening boat tours! You can lease the boat, market the tours and build a business without the overhead.

Would you like to drive a boat for a living? This is your chance! 

To make it more fun, you can buy a few small drive-it-yourself speed boats and lead your customers around the local harbor. What could be more fun than that!

Cake Making

I can barely “cook” a frozen dinner, but you may have the cooking skills that I lack! People will pay good money for a really awesome cake for special occasions. Get some great cake pictures up on your website, promote your skills to event planners and build your clientele!

Clothing Boutique

My kids did an upscale sneaker and related goods boutique. This can be a lot of fun but it may be harder than you think to make money. First make absolutely sure your location has great foot traffic—stand there and count heads before you sign a lease! Then develop a distinctive plan for merchandising, and don’t be afraid to mark down what isn’t moving.

Clothing Line

Yes, you can start your own clothing line with just a few items, be successful and have a lot of fun along the way! Look at Ralph Lauren who started by selling a couple neck ties and then built that into a multi-billion-dollar empire. Contract out the manufacturing which is the really hard part of the work. Then focus on developing eye-stopping designs and talking it up with potential re-sellers, or sell the items yourself online!

Clown Service

Wouldn’t you enjoy making kids smile and laugh? What a great way to earn some good money, especially at kids’ birthdays and Bar and Bat mitzvahs! Business will be heavily focused on weekends, so you can hold onto your day job as you build your clientele. I met a professional clown who told me that he charged $200 an hour…for that price I’ll put the clown suit on right now!

Coin or Stamp Dealer

I loved to collect stamps and coins when I was a kid. In Boston, the dealers’ stores were all side by side on Bromfield street. Today some coin and stamp dealers still have retail locations but many others work primarily online. This is a great business to start part-time and then consider going full-time later on. Or is it just a hobby with the potential for making a lot of money? American President Franklin D Roosevelt would spend many enjoyable hours alone with his stamp collection.

Coffee Bar/Tea Salon

Yes, you can compete with the Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts of the world! However, these chains have raised the bar, so your coffee or tea must be not just good, but awesome! Your ambiance better be good too. Your location needs to be good as well. Plus, you need to be distinctive. One way to stand out is to compliment your world class beverages with some fabulous foods. So yes, you can compete, but you’ve gotta be firing on all cylinders in this competitive space!

Cookie Business

To succeed, make sure to differentiate your products and don’t hesitate to set premium prices.

I met Wally Amos who made a blockbuster success out of famous Amos cookies, which he launched after a career as a Hollywood talent agent. Wally eventually lost control of his company to outside investors. However, he came back again with still another cookie line. Everyone loves a fancy cookie and it’s an easy food to both differentiate and to charge a premium for.

Craft Beer Pub

A few years ago, I overheard a conversation in a gym about a fellow who was planning on starting an Irish pub, of which there are close to million (well almost a million) in Boston, but then changed his mind and opened a pub focusing on craft beers. It was wildly successful! In addition to being a unique idea at the time, he also chose an excellent location and developed a solid food menu. Unless your overhead is extremely low, you are probably going to need to serve food to make a go of this business, so yes you can be extremely successful–but it is no small undertaking.

Creative Arts Day Camp

You could run this as a seasonal camp during the summer. But I find it’s tougher to make lots of money at seasonal businesses, so instead I would first consider offering a creative arts day camp after school or on weekends. I suggest doing surveys to find out what age groups of kids and what specific art activities have the most appeal.

Cupcake Business

There’s something magical about a cupcake that says fun and silliness and makes you feel good! You can cash in on that feeling and make others happy. But if you are specializing in cupcakes, people expect them to be excellent! And if you want to be remembered, they should be world class awesome!

Garden Center

Gardening is big and growing. And it is a business that is less likely to move totally online than many other businesses. You could start out with a supply center, expanding over time to add some plants to sell, and then, eventually vertically integrate with your own plant nursery. You could also expand into providing onsite services.