Are you looking to start a business with low investment?
You’re in luck.
I’ve started three profit-generating businesses from my home and know exactly what it takes to get started with your own home-based business.
In this post, I’m going to share eight smart business ideas with low investment you can start right now.
The best part?
Every business on this list meets the following criteria:
- Requires less than $5000 to start up.
- You can run all of these businesses from home.
- There’s lots of customer demand.
- They require little to no training or qualifications to get started.
Let’s get started.
1. Graphic Design Business
Start-Up Cost: $500
Do you have a passion for drawing?
A graphic design business could be the perfect fit for you and the good news is there’s no shortage of work available.
You can quickly find your first customer by joining ‘graphic design’ Facebook groups and advertising yourself on Upwork.
What kind of work will you do?
- Logos
- Flyers
- Banners
- Magazines
- Information sheets
- Infographics
- Letters
- Advertisements
Skills/Qualifications Required
No formal skills required. However, you’ll need to become confident working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create your work. There’s a ton of free information online (YouTube videos) to get you up to speed quickly.
2. Digital Marketing Agency
Start-Up Costs: $3000
Starting a marketing agency has a low barrier of entry, it can be lucrative and there are thousands of businesses looking for help with marketing their business. In fact, this is the exact business idea I chose, starting a digital agency in Melbourne.
What kind of work will you do?
- Develop marketing strategies
- Write ad copy
- Run social media campaigns
- Create and manage paid Ads online (Google Ads, Facebook Ads)
- Email marketing
- Build marketing funnels
- Rank websites in search engines (SEO)
- Consult on company branding and messaging
Skills/Qualifications Required
No formal skills required. However, you will need a certain level of background knowledge before offering your services so I’d recommend checking out the huge amount of free knowledge available online and think about investing in some online training courses.
3. Bookkeeping Business
Start-Up Costs: $1000
Are you great with numbers? A bookkeeping business could be the perfect fit for you.
Better yet…
Every business on the planet needs a good bookkeeper to keep their finances in check so finding new clients won’t be too hard.
What kind of work will you do?
- Create balance sheets
- Provide income statements
- Prepare monthly financial reports
- Manage banking and staff payrolls
Skills/Qualifications Required
No formal skills required. However, you will need to be good with numbers and have a good understanding of finances. If you’re preparing tax reports then you may require some basic accreditation, you can check with your local business institute or government on what’s required for preparing tax reports.
4. E-commerce Store
Start-Up Costs: $5000
If you have a great product or product idea but not enough money to launch a physical store then starting an e-commerce business is a cost-friendly alternative.
With platforms like Shopify, WordPress, Amazon and eBay, selling products online has never been easier.
I’ve personally started two e-commerce businesses and there is nothing more rewarding than waking up in the morning, checking your notifications and seeing you’ve made a few sales overnight!
What kind of work will you do?
- Stock management
- Run marketing campaigns
- Social media promotion
- Picking and packing items
Skills/Qualifications Required
Anyone can start an e-commerce store; you don’t need any formal skills or training. However, you will need to learn a few basics like how to create an online store or if you have the budget, outsource this and have a web design company build an e-commerce shop for you.
5. Personal Training Business
Start-Up Costs: $4000
Do you love the idea of keeping fit and healthy while earning money at the same time?
Starting your own fitness company could be the perfect business idea with low investment!
To save costs, you can start in a local neighborhood park, as your customer base and cash flow grows you could invest in a small studio space and eventually an entire gym.
What kind of work will you do?
- Build nutrition plans
- Create training plans
- Coach & guide customers on proper form and technique
- Motivate customers to train hard
Skills/Qualifications Required
Like everything on this list, there is lots of useful information online about fitness and nutrition but you will need to get some necessary accreditations before starting which can be completed in as little as 6-8 weeks.
6. Market Stall
Start-Up Costs: $5000
Do you have any local markets in your area, perhaps Saturday morning markets?
Well, setting up your own market stall is a great way to earn some serious income fast and it’s relatively easy to get started. The most challenging part is deciding what to sell. Maybe you have a secret recipe and can begin selling food items, or maybe you have a passion for hand-crafted jewelery, leather goods or homeware?
There are literally hundreds of different products you could sell at local markets and if you’re not sure what to sell, that’s OK too, just visit a few local markets in your area and look at what kind of things people are selling. You can get a good idea of which items are popular with the number of people visiting each stall.
Skills/Qualifications Required
You’ll have to register for a spot with the organizer of the market. Most markets have websites with information on how to do this. If you’re setting up a food stall then check with your local government for the requirements regarding proper food handling and safety, you may have to do a small online ‘safe food handling’ course.
7. Dog Walking, Training and Washing Service
Start-Up Costs: $450
You’d be surprised how many people require the services of a professional dog walker. Most people work 9-5 and between commuting, preparing dinner and putting the kids to bed there simply isn’t enough time left over to walk the dog for a lot of people and that’s why this is a smart business idea that requires low investment.
There’s one thing I can tell you with certainty: 99% of pet owners are more than happy to spend a small fortune on their furry friends. As a dog owner myself, I can vouch for this.
In addition to dog walking, you can upsell your customers with weekly grooming packages, pet sitting and obedience training.
Skills/Qualifications Required
This business doesn’t require any formal training or qualifications. You’ll just need to have a love for animals and be confident with dogs of all shapes and sizes.
8. Gardening Service
Start-Up Costs: $1500
If you love being outdoors instead of behind a computer all day, then it could be time to bring out your green thumb.
Lots of people take great pride in having a beautiful garden, so there’s never any shortage of work and you can offer lots of different services, such as lawn care, general landscaping and pool maintenance.
What kind of work will you do?
- Lawn mowing
- Pruning plants and trees
- Weed control
- General garden maintenance and landscaping
Skills/Qualifications Required
No formal skills required.
Final Thoughts
Ok, it’s your turn.
Which of these business ideas with low investment interest you?
Maybe you see yourself selling products at a local Sunday morning market?
– Or –
If you’re still unsure what’s the right business idea for you, that’s ok. It’s better to take your time. Discuss your ideas with a mentor before you decide to commit to a business idea.
Either way, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
