Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorship's. What businesses are defined as "small" in terms of government support and tax policy varies depending on the country and industry. Small businesses range from 15 employees under the Australian Fair Work Act 2009, 50 employees according to the definition used by the European Union, and fewer than 500 employees to qualify for many U.S. Small Business Administration programs. However, in 2006 there were over 18,000 "small businesses" with over 500 employees that accounted for half of all the employees employed by all "small business". Small businesses can also be classified according to other methods such as sales, assets, or net profits.
Small businesses are common in many countries, depending on the economic system in operation. Typical examples include: convenience stores, other small shops (such as a bakery or delicatessen), hairdressers, tradesmen, lawyers,accountants, restaurants, guest houses, photographers, small-scale manufacturing, and online businesses, such as web design and programming, etc.
Starting a business requires a significant investment. If you have a low start-up budget, however, you can focus on investing your time and talents rather than significant amounts of money. To enjoy the best chance of success with little financial investment, choose a business you can start on a shoestring budget.
Start a new business
New year, new business. If you're like most people who dream about starting their own business, finally taking that leap is likely one of your New Year's resolutions. For many would-be entrepreneurs, however, not knowing what kind of business to start is holding them back. Having the entrepreneurial spirit running through your veins is rarely enough — entrepreneurs also need a great business idea to make their dreams come true.
Here are plenty of great small business ideas to get you started:
Antique refurbishment
This is a perfect side business for people who love antiquing. Take worn-out antiques home with you, invest the time and care needed to transform those old items into something amazing, then resell them at a profit.
Babysitting
Got lots of evenings free? Like kids? Babysitting may be a great side business for you. Keep an eye on multiple children on Friday and Saturday nights and you can earn some solid income.
Blogging
If you enjoy writing, find a topic you’re passionate about and start a blog on the topic. All you need is a computer, some time, and some energy to consistently write. It can start as a hobby and turn into a business.
Cake decorating
Enjoy baking and have a bit of an artistic touch? Learn how to decorate cakes and make them for special events. One of my mother’s old friends does this and makes quite a bit of money on the side.
Candle making
Candle making is a great little craft to learn. You can often easily sell the candles at local shops and also through websites like Etsy.com, eBay and more.
Catering
If you love to cook, take the “Blondie” route and start a home catering business. Catering is a business that’s perfectly designed to reward those who plan well and can often fit perfectly into weekends, lining up wonderfully opposite a normal workweek.
Childcare service
Many states allow people to start up in-home daycares with minimal licensing and paperwork. If you love children and have plenty of time and space at home, this is a perfect business to get into.
Cleaning services for businesses
Many businesses and civic institutions have a need for individuals who will provide cleaning services at a low cost outside of business hours. This is a great side business for those who can put in a few hours late at night or on weekends.
Computer troubleshooting
I had some success with this in the past, though I've largely moved away from it now. If you have a knack for fixing computers, this is a good place to start.
Consulting Business
Put your talent, skills and experience to work with a consulting business by helping others succeed in career, business or educational goals. You can get started in this business with many of the things you already have, such as a phone, fax and Internet service. Your most significant start-up expenses most likely will include advertising and any licensing your jurisdiction requires. Most places require general business licensing for this type of business, and some may require professional licenses if you want to practice law or medicine or deliver financial advice as a consultant. You can learn what you need by contacting the licensing agency in your jurisdiction. In Houston, for example, you can contact the One Stop Business Center for information about general business and professional licensing.
Cookie making
Much like candy making, homemade cookies can be a great seller. Bake the cookies, package them well, and resell them through a local gift shop. Often, you can find people in your social network who will buy batches from you for special occasions.
Exercise teacher
Many gymnasiums will trade membership and often a bit more for a person willing and able to teach an exercise class. You can also find people who do not want to go to the gym that you can train from home as a personal trainer. If you’re in good shape, this is a great opportunity to earn some extra money, plus it can often lead to additional income with one-on-one teaching opportunities.
Furniture making
If you’re adept at woodworking and have just a bit of basic equipment, it’s easy to get into business making deck furniture. It only requires a few items – a saw, a drill, a sander – and some creativity and passion for working with wood. If you have the tools or just want to turn your hobby into a business this may be a great small business idea for you.
Gardening services
I've actually had requests from others for people willing to do this, so the demand is out there. To put it simply, some people are willing to pay others to get a vegetable or flower garden started for them in their yard so they can have access to ultra-fresh produce without all the legwork.
Housecleaning
Many people simply don’t enjoy cleaning their homes and are willing to pay a reasonable price to have someone do the work for them. This is a great way to earn extra money in a flexible way, particularly if you have time off during the workweek. Still, you want to be professional and treat it as a business.
Interior decorating
Fascinated by interior design? Have a huge collection of interior design materials around? Many people are quite happy to hire individuals to help them decorate their home – I know, for one, that I have no eye for this type of thing.
Jewelry
If you have a good eye for detail work and a lot of patience, homemade jewelry can be quite profitable. As with other items on this list, there are many opportunities to sell such items through local gift shops or at sites like Etsy.
Landscaping services
Willing to mow lawns and trim bushes and trees? Many people are quite happy to pay for such services. Not only is this a great side business for a fit adult, it’s also a great way for a teenager to get a small business started.
Produce selling
Like to grow vegetables? Focus in on one vegetable and sell the excess to grocery stores and at farmers’ markets. My father does this with tomatoes and earns some solid extra money during the summer months. You can do really well, though, if you can grow things inside during the winter – February fresh tomatoes can sell quite well.
Scrapbook making
Many people dream of having beautiful scrapbooks. They collect all the materials they want in the scrapbooks but never follow through on the actual creation. You can step in here – take their ideas and materials and assemble a scrapbook for them.
Sewing and alterations
My wife is quite handy with a sewing machine and often hems and modifies our children’s clothes. She could easily take this a step further and offer her services to others, doing basic garment repair and modification for a small price on lazy evenings.
Social media
Almost everyone uses Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. these days but did you know that many companies will pay people to help them manage their social media accounts, even part time from home. If you are a social media junky already then this may be a great way to start your own business that you enjoy, simply by playing around on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites all day. Check out PaidSocialMediaJobs.com for more information on how to get started with this type of business and find companies willing to pay for your services.
Soap making and Spa products
Making amazing homemade soaps and other spa products isn’t as hard as you might think – it just takes time and patience. Again, items like these can easily be sold via local gift shops and through websites like Etsy.
Toy making
From simple things like sock monkeys to more elaborate things like handcrafted chess sets, many people are willing to pay good money for handcrafted toys that you can easily make at home in your spare time. Again, gift shops are the place to go with items like these.
Tutoring
Did you major in a particular topic in college? Do you have patience with children? You likely have what you need to tutor kids in particular subjects. Seek out parents and let them know that you tutor in a particular subject and provide materials for them to share and phone calls will often trickle in. You can get going locally or across the country online.
Video preparation services
Many people like to have videos made for special events, such as weddings, or for gifts. This may mean actually taking the video yourself at a special event, or it may mean simply assembling materials and creating a video from those items. Either way, with a well-equipped PC, some taste, and some patience, you can make quite sophisticated video productions at home.
Virtual assistant
Many ultra-busy professionals appreciate having someone who can check and answer their email, organize task lists for them, update their calendars, and so on, with minimal interaction. The best part is that you can provide this service from home with a good internet connection.
Web site design
Many small businesses in your community could use a very basic web presence to tell others about their business. Quite often, these businesses don’t have a large budget for such things. That’s where you come in – get a bunch of clients from the local community by beating the pavement, create sites for them, and maintain them for a small fee. Get enough businesses and you have a nice side business of your own that doesn't require a ton of maintenance time.
Wedding planner
If you’re one of those people who can’t help but flip through bridal magazines and think about various wedding arrangements in your daydreams, wedding planning might be the perfect thing for you. A great way to get started is to develop a website on the topic, get to know people online, and offer your services throughout the community.
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