What Type of Business Should I Start? 20 Low Capital Ideas 2025

Did you know that with little or no capital, you can start a business that will bring in a lot of money? The world has changed, and you don't need to have an office to become a business person.

Many successful business ideas have taken the world by storm and made the many richer. If you want to join the trend, pay close attention to the details in this article and get insight into the top types of businesses you can start in 2023.

Let's get started.

What Type of Business Should I Start? Ask These 6 Questions

Do you want to start a low-cost business with little stress and great profit? If yes, here are some vital questions you must ask yourself before you proceed.

Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint-hearted. But with the right information, training, and motivation, there is no limit to how big your small business idea can get.

The answer to these questions will help you determine the right business to start, which can result in high profit and a platform to impact your world.

Note: On Founderjar, we have a free business idea generator that will give you several noteworthy ideas based on your skills, industry experience, and hobbies. After choosing your idea, you can proceed to our free business name generator, select your name, and register a domain with it. Starting an online business is simple!

1. What Experience Do I Have?

Experiences are great teachers. Without experience, you can't have mastery. It matters what quality of experience you have acquired in the business world.

Due to a lack of experience, entrepreneurs can fail even when they have a great business model. If you want to avoid this same fate, look inward to discover which areas you have quality experience in and act.

Your experience can range from a small business you started in your home, like a garage sale, to working under someone as a personal assistant or a store attendant.

If you have acquired enough experience in any business-related field, you have a higher chance of excelling as an entrepreneur.

2. What Am I Passionate About?

Passion is a driving force. You can't stop a man that’s passionate about a cause. Starting a business takes a lot of courage and passion to succeed.

Business is full of obstacles and challenges. Being your own boss with a profitable business idea is a lot of weight on your shoulders. To navigate through various stages, you need passion.

So ask yourself, what am I passionate about? With the answer, you can select the best business idea to start. For example, if you are passionate about things like nature and animals, you can start a landscaping or pet care business.

Passion ensures you don't give up halfway and that you see the process through.

3. What Problems Can I Solve?

Problem solvers are world changers. As long as you can solve a problem, no matter how little it may seem, you can make a profit.

People's needs are endless. After one problem is solved, another one will naturally arise. With this knowledge, you can conduct research and find out which issues are pressing and easier to solve with low startup costs.

The higher the severity of the problems, the more relevant your business will be and the more money you will earn. You can acquire various problem-solving skills through online courses or by physical observation.

After identifying areas where you can serve as the solution provider, come up with a lucrative small business idea focused on meeting people's needs.

4. What is My Lifestyle Preference?

Your lifestyle preference is a major influencer on your choices and decisions. Before starting a business, I suggest you consider your preferences and how they match your business idea.

For example, are you an outgoing person who loves engaging with people from various spheres, or are you introverted and love the comfort of your home?

If you can answer these questions objectively, then you are ready to start your business.

The category you find yourself in will determine the kind of business you should go for. If you love to stay indoors, profitable online business ideas, such as graphic design, digital marketing, and blogging, are ideal.

On the other hand, if you love exploring, visiting places, and interacting with people, you can settle for a business that fits such a lifestyle. You can go for a food truck business, cleaning services, bed and breakfast business, and personal training business.

Conduct in-depth research to ensure these physical and online business ideas fit your lifestyle preferences.

5. How Much Capital Do I Have Access to?

A word of advice, don't invest all your life savings in a business idea you are unsure of. Before making any rash decision regarding capital, discover the amount required to start your business venture.

For most small business ideas, startup costs are relatively low. Small business statistics estimate that the cost of starting a business ranges from $10,000 – $80,000.

After conducting your research, narrow down your options to ensure you have only the most profitable business ideas with minimal cost on your list. Structure your list and pick the idea that ticks all the boxes, such as how well-integrated it is with your lifestyle choices.

Business capital is a foundational tool in building an enterprise. Ensure you get accurate information in this regard before making any decision.

When choosing from the types of business entities (business structures), consider the startup cost and how much capital access it provides.

For example, a sole proprietorship has a low startup cost but doesn't encourage capital investment. On the other hand, a C corporation has a high startup cost but attracts lots of capital investment.

6. What Ideas Can I Test Easily?

As times change, so do the operation and functionality of things. Remember, there is nothing new under the sun. If you follow certain principles, your business will give you specific results.

One of these principles is to test-run a business with few resources to see if it thrives. It does not matter if you have great business ideas because If you lack the proper approach, you will flop.

Before making any decision, find out what business ideas you can easily test. During the testing phase, you will see a lot of facts you never thought were possible. A successful test run will determine if you can continue with the idea or go for something else.

Once you have answered these questions, then you are ready to get started. One advantage you get from your assessment is confidence in your ability to scale your business and minimize losses.

Types of Businesses You Can Start With Little Investment

Many people have asked this question time and time again, what type of business can I start with little capital? The answer is quite simple. There are many successful business ideas you can launch with little investment.

Let’s look at some suggestions you can pick from and begin your journey as an entrepreneur.

1. Start a Freelance Writing Business

As a freelance writer, your job entails creating content for clients that attracts some form of reward or payment after the job. To swim in these waters, you must have perfected the skill and the diligence to deliver excellent content.

If you want to be your own boss, this is a great business idea. Every website needs content, which makes you a vital problem solver. As a freelance writer, you can function remotely and have time for other important things.

In case you are thinking I don't know how to write, the solution is simple. You can apply for online courses in your writing niche. Additionally, you can decide to start by being a volunteer writer to gain the required experience.

There are several ways to find freelance writing jobs online. You can use job boards, cold pitching via email, and social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to find clients.

You can choose to write on areas that you find interesting or are passionate about and, at the same time, earn significantly.

2. Start a Landscaping Business

Do you love nature or have a green finger? If yes, this is an area you will enjoy. Landscaping is one of the reasons our planet is as beautiful as it is. Not everyone has time for gardening, lawn care, and tree planting. You can earn a fortune by offering landscaping services.

A fun fact about the landscaping business is that starting it requires low startup costs. You can decide to expand later with more capital and resources.

To run your business, tools like rakes, pruning shears, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, lawn aerators, vehicles, and gloves are needed.

You can't launch the business without obtaining the necessary licensing requirements in your area of operation. For example, in most states in the US, you require licensing to spray pesticides. Once you have all these requirements in your bag, you can proceed.

Since we live in a digital world, getting customers is a lot easier than it used to be. As long as you have your own website that customers can visit to book your services, the rest is easy. You can run ads designed to reach the ideal target market with compelling offers.

Platforms such as Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, or Houzz are communities where you can get jobs. Ensure you do the work diligently to get positive reviews and high ratings.

3. Offer Interior Decoration Services

Arranging and rearranging things to make them look more appealing and conducive is an area of interest for some people. On the flip side, most homeowners don't have the time or creativity to invest in making their homes look beautiful.

Since this is an identified problem, you can offer the solution for the right amount. Your role here is not the same as a property manager, but your job is to make the space look beautiful and homely.

This type of business requires experience and skills you can easily acquire by taking courses, researching, and practicing. You don't need much capital to startup. The most vital asset in this business is goodwill. You must ensure you always deliver satisfactory results.

You can collaborate with real estate agents to find clients that require your service since they have the right network.

Remember, people spend most of their time on the Internet and are more open to well-advertised services. Ensure you take high-quality pictures of every job you do to attract more clients and build your social media presence.

Additionally, you will require a business license, pricing plans, and a website to get started.

4. Sell Your Jewelry or Artwork Online

People love to look good but may have issues getting quality material that can make this dream come true. You can build a profitable business by selling affordable jewelry or artwork.

The internet is a vast community with both passive and active customers. What you require is the right product and the skills to sell to the right customers.

Apart from producing the goods yourself, you can perform the role of a retailer. This role helps to reduce the overhead costs and stress involved.

Before you choose the specific goods to sell, research the most appealing, in-vogue artwork and jewelry.

Take high-quality pictures and upload them on your social media accounts dedicated to the business. You can also market on platforms like Ebay, Threadless, Etsy, Big Cartel, and RedBubble.

5. Provide Pet Care Services

Are you an animal lover? You can start your own business based on your passion.

Pets require special care and attention to enjoy healthy and long lives. Most pet owners don't have the time or resources to carry out these duties, and that's where you come in.

Providing pet care services is a very lucrative business that's making waves because of people’s love for pets. You can start with your family and friends' pets and proceed to establish your business on a more solid scale.

Your services would include grooming services, pet sitting, or doggy daycare. You can also have a dog-walking business to maximize your earnings.

Having an online store where you sell pet-related items can boost your customer reach and sales. Additionally, you can visit platforms such as Wag or Rover to meet new customers who require your services.

6. Start a House Cleaning Business

A house cleaning business is one of the world's best small-scale business ideas requiring low investment to generate high profit. Cleaning is a difficult task, especially when you have to clean a whole house.

The market for this business is vast because you will always have people who want their house to look clean and fresh but can not do it themselves.

You do not have to employ an extra hand to start this profitable business idea. All you need to start are two hands, specific cleaning supplies, and a good vacuum cleaner, and you are good to go.

You can begin with your friends’ houses, and as your business grows, you can move up to external clients. Always deliver excellent services so your ratings will remain high and attract customers.

Online platforms such as TaskRabbit or HomeAdvisor are places where you can find potential clients.

7. Start a Food Delivery Business

Food is a vital part of basic human needs. People will always get hungry and need to eat; this implies that you will always have customers.

Sadly, people do not have the time to enjoy well-prepared homemade meals. Due to demanding jobs and tight school schedules, buying food from vendors has become the order of the day.

You can make money by functioning as a third-party agent for food vendors and restaurants regarding food delivery. You don't need much capital or experience to start.

If you plan to expand, structure your business by getting all the required documents and employing an extra set of hands.

Initially, you can start as a small business owner with little capital and assets. Due to the size of the food industry, it would not be long before you start generating a high return on investment (ROI) and expanding into new markets.

8. Start Your Graphic Design Business

The first step in starting your graphic design business is to be an expert. If you lack the skill and expertise required, you can take an online course to broaden your knowledge.

On the other hand, if you have experience, you can jump right in and configure your portfolio to wow your potential clients. You can begin by freelancing or applying for a full-time job in companies where your services are needed.

There are different graphic design types you can specialize in to boost your chances of landing jobs.

• Visual Identity Graphic Design
• Marketing and Advertising Graphic Design
• User Interface and Web Design
• Publication Graphic Design
• Product Design
• Packaging Graphic Design
• Motion Graphic Design
• Environmental Graphic Design
• Lettering and Typeface Graphic Design
• Art and Illustration for Graphic Design

Most businesses need a creative designer to make their website visually appealing and engaging to visitors. You will need drawing and design tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDraw, and InDesign to navigate your way as a designer.

You can also list your services on freelance job services like Upwork, Freelancer, Guru, and Fiverr to connect with clients for high-paying gigs.

9. Start a Digital Marketing Consulting Business

Are you an expert in Google advertising, social media marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO)? Starting a consulting business is a good fit. You can offer solutions to other business owners who are having issues in the aspect of marketing.

Your vast knowledge and expertise make you qualified to teach entrepreneurs what steps to take to attract more customers and give their businesses the right image.

Your skills are not all you need to get started. To ensure success, you must do everything by the book, such as acquiring a business license and a portfolio to showcase your work.

Specialization in unique digital marketing areas will give you an edge over your competitors, so your client can trust your skill level. Digital marketing statistics show that digital advertising and content creation are the most sought-after skills in digital marketing.

Additionally, you have to put yourself out there. Let your target audience know what you do. LinkedIn is an excellent platform to connect with potential clients and offer your digital marketing services.

10. Work as a Freelance Accountant

Not everyone likes anything that concerns calculation and numbers. Some people get confused and create a mess the moment they spot numbers.

If you have a degree in accounting, you can offer your services to potential clients that need help calculating their taxes and auditing their financial records. Do not worry if you do not have formal education because there are several online accounting courses that you can master.

It is true you don't have to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to start your new business, but the certification can serve as a bonus.

Decide which accounting area you want to specialize in. You can choose from bookkeeping, tax planning, or personal financial planning. Job platforms where you can get a job easily include Upwork, Freelancer, LinkedIn, and Fiverr.

11. Sell a Service

Selling your services can be a profitable way to gain self-employment. If you want to succeed with this business model, you must pitch your services to the right audience.

Time is an essential asset with services-based small business ideas. Why? The more services you can offer, the more money you can earn, and all these are subject to time.

Services such as web development, copy and content writing, project management, and graphic design are hotcakes in the services market. If you possess any of these skills, you should put yourself out there.

Additionally, virtual assistants, digital marketers, SEO practitioners, social media managers, real estate professionals, cleaning service providers, and dog walkers, are in high demand.

If you do not have any experience in these fields, you can acquire the knowledge required and build a business around your skill.

12. Start a T-shirt Printing Business

Do you love fashion, particularly beautifully looking T-shirts? If yes, a good business idea you can develop is printing beautiful designs on t-shirts to sell.

Clothing is a fundamental need of people, so buying clothes will never stop. You can acquire the necessary skills to launch your business and reach customers via social media and other platforms. Start with friends and family and proceed to the outside world.

Your customers can be individuals that want specific designs on the T-shirts they buy. You can have big organizations as clients and print T-shirts for special events for their employees.

If you are not good at designing, you can hire a designer and focus on the business aspect alone. Sell your products on platforms like eBay, Amazon, Alibaba, Poshmark, Etsy, Craigslist, and Ruby Lane.

Setting up your own online store will go a long way in boosting your brand. Your customers can visit it at any time to explore the variety of products you have.

13. Become a Handyman

As long as you have the required skills to fix and repair items in a house, you will love this business. Apart from being your own boss, you can interact with people daily.

You can begin by researching to find out how the business works. Pay close attention to your competition because you can learn a lot from them.

• How to structure your price.
• How to build effective customer relationships.
• Which areas are competitive?

Remember, there is always something new to learn. Ensure you keep improving yourself and provide the best services to attract referrals.

You would need to create a brand name, write a business plan, and set up a website. With these items in place, you will appear more customer-friendly. Customers can identify your brand and visit your website for more information.

Some handyman services you can offer include;

• Furniture Assembly.
• Interior Painting.
• Minor Electrical Tasks.
• Babyproofing.
• Window Washing.
• Drywall Maintenance and Repairs.
• Minor Plumbing Tasks.
• Screen Installation and Repairs.
• Minor Carpentry Tasks.
• Fence and Gate Repairs.

You will have to get certain documents and a license to operate legally. After acquiring these documents, start advertising. You can have your friends and family refer you to people in their neighborhood.

The internet is the best place to advertise your handyman services. If your business is local, target local SEO to help you become visible to clients near you. Relevant platforms like Mila, Jop, Thumbtack, Lime Mechanic, Porch, and TaskRabbit are available for you to get jobs.

Dating for most people is not so enjoyable as they struggle to get the best match. Many people have dating issues. This problem is a great opportunity to earn income if you have the skills to help people with their love life.

14. Become an Online Dating Consultant

Dating for most people is not so enjoyable as they struggle to get the best match. Many people have dating issues. This problem is a great opportunity to earn income if you have the skills to help people with their love life.

You don't need an official license to start an online dating consultant business. But you can boost your stats by acquiring relevant certifications like the IAP College’s Relationship Coach certification.

The basic requirements for becoming an online dating consultant include top-notch interpersonal communication skills and empathy.

You will perform vital tasks like offering personalization beyond what regular dating sites provide. Additionally, creating engaging online dating profiles and sourcing possible matches beyond the usual channels are tasks that guarantee your desired results.

To get started, you must have a superb online profile displaying all relevant information about you and some positive testimonials.

You can offer visitors free materials designed to help them with dating. After downloading the materials, encourage them to take a free session that can lead to a paid session.

Getting customers is easy because your skill is in high demand. You can run social media ads to reach your target audience seamlessly.

15. Become a Life or Career Coach

The transition phases hit differently for various people. Its effects can either be negative or positive depending on how prepared the individual is.

For example, in the educational sector, the transition occurs in different grades and different curriculums. You also get to meet new people, change the routine and eventually leave home for another environment if you decide to go to college.

Transitions occur throughout life. The problem here is not having to go through various transition phases but how best to navigate.

If you have acquired enough experience navigating career, personal, and social transitions successfully, you can help others by coaching them through these phases.

People need direction, and due to its absence, they make various wrong decisions that cost them a lot. With a coach in their life, there would be significant differences.

Being a life or career coach is highly valued as people constantly source for someone to give them hands-on training and relevant advice in decisions.

You can't function as a life coach without proper certification. Apply to life coach schools to get certified and begin your journey as a life or career coach.

16. Start a Rideshare Driving Business

If driving is among your hobbies or you don't want to risk investing in any conventional business, you can become a rideshare driver. Your capital is your car.

As a rideshare driver, you don't need to worry about branding, adverts, or getting and keeping clients. These responsibilities belong to the rideshare service you registered with. You are free to determine how much effort you want to put in. It's a flexible system that pays handsomely.

Rideshare applications like Uber, Bolt, and Lyft offer willing drivers to convey people from one location to another for a percentage-based pay. You can be a rideshare driver full-time or run it as a side hustle in your spare time.

Before you begin, your car must be in perfect condition with all documents up-to-date.

Being a rideshare driver requires less effort and risk than other small businesses. There’s the added advantage of visiting various places and interacting with people from different spheres of life.

17. Offer Home Care Services

The two major groups of people that need proper care and attention are children and seniors. Most families usually have all their members busy with various activities such as work and school, and they spend less time with their old folks. This development has increased the demand for qualified personnel that offer in-home care to their old folks.

Jobs like this come with a huge paycheck because of their difficulty and demand in most parts of the world. Many seniors require assistance with feeding, helping with their needs, exercise, and in some cases, bathing.

At the basic level, you may require official certification to grow your business significantly. For example, setting up an old people’s home. You can offer services like packing, transporting, setting up, or storing their furniture and possessions when they move to assisted living facilities.

18. Host a Podcast

Podcasts are getting more popular by the day. Many people host and listen to various topics across different areas via podcasts.

Starting a podcast is not rocket science, and it’s one of the best ways to generate passive income. You don't need certification to start, only your expertise in your topics of interest, like music, business, history, pop culture, education, and religion.

Take note of key action points like consistency and dedication. Additionally, your knowledge of audio and video editing goes a long way in ensuring success as a podcast host.

If you don't have the adequate skill, you can take a course that teaches you how video and audio editing works. Furthermore, ensure you conduct in-depth research to get all your facts right before hosting.

Your focus should be getting quality and engaging content that will help attract and keep your target audience.

After growing your followers to a significant number, you can make money by selling time and establishing partnerships with companies.

19. Become a Videographer

As a videographer, you must be passionate about your art before you start your business. Videography equipment is not cheap, but every penny you spend investing in your business is worth it.

Some of the relevant equipment include:

• Video camera.
• Tripod.
• Camera lighting.
• Microphone.
• Audio cables.
• Headphones.
• Lenses
• Batteries.

These instruments will not cover up for your lack of expertise in this field. You must acquire all the required skills for you to be at the top of your game. With your skills and equipment, you will offer superb services to your clients.

Personal branding is vital for your videography business because it gives your enterprise the professional image it deserves. Your website should have original content for visitors to explore and also contain your details so clients can book your services.

You don't need official documentation or licensing to start a video production business. Different video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro can enhance your videos’ quality.

Specialize in specific areas like real estate videos, wedding videos, in-studio interviews, and testimonials. By specializing, you target a customer base that needs your services and will benefit the most from you.

20. Start a Photography Business

People have a sentimental attachment to pictures. This attachment makes the demand for photographers high.

You will hardly find an event without a professional photographer moving around and taking pictures. Photos are one of the ways people tend to relieve both sad and happy moments in their lives.

If you have experience in this area, your work is half done. You can attend a photography school or take courses online to acquire the skill.

The relevant equipment for photography includes;

• Camera.
• Prime Lenses.
• Tripod.
• Speedlight.
• External Hard Drive.
• Memory Cards (and Memory Card Holders).
• Reflector.
• Polarizing and ND Filters.
• Bag/Carrying Gear.

A combination of these high-valued pieces of equipment will result in your producing masterpieces. You can start by practicing with family, friends, and nature. Ensure you create a portfolio where you can store your content.

Take advantage of the potential of social media like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to publicize your art and get positive reviews from your followers. You can specialize in product shoots or portraits, wedding or fashion photo shoots, or look for other niches that fit your style.

Running a photography business does not have educational or licensure requirements. On the other hand, investing in a few photography courses, like the New York Institute of Photography course, will give you the needed advantage.

As a photographer, invest in the best photo editing software and photo enhancer tools like Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop to improve image quality.

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