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Business Ideas You Can Start For Free

If you want to start a business, you might want to think about business ideas you can start for free.

By Ossiana TepfenhartPublished 7 years ago 6 min read
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Photo by Jens Ingvarsson

Starting a business means that you often will need to find a way to cover costs out of pocket. Major business ideas, such as having an airline company, a hotel, or even a McDonald's franchise will mean that you will need thousands or even millions of dollars before you even make your first sale. For most of us, we won't have that kind of cash lying around.

Thankfully, it's possible to start being an entrepreneur without having money to invest in a business. Many people who were broke were able to start businesses for free by having the right business ideas. Here are some of the most affordable business ideas you can start for free.

Cleaning Service Groups

Many people started a business while flat broke - all by just choosing to help people tidy up their homes, businesses, and hotels. Just about everyone knows how to clean, but not many people really want to do it or enjoy doing it.

To start, you just need a lot of elbow grease, a willingness to reach out to people that need cleaning services, and maybe a form of transportation. Everything else, including advertising, can be considered an extra.

Of course, actually having an LLC tax status is a wise idea - as would be having insurance in case something happens while you're on a call. That being said, if you're wiling to risk lawsuits or other issues, it's still technically doable as a budget business option.

Pet Sitting And Babysitting

With the advent of sites like Care.com, it's easier than ever to be able to advertise pet sitting in a pinch. Much like with other service companies on this list, having official business tax stuff and insurance can help majorly - but in many cases, it's not 100 percent necessary.

Of all the business ideas you can start for free on here, this one may be one of the most family-friendly ones here. After all, even kids get gigs as babysitters and pet sitters these days.

No supplies are really necessary, but knowledge and experience go a long way. Getting CPR lessons at the local Red Cross, volunteer sitting at church, and just having a lot of connections can seriously help. Market the skills you have with caring for others, and you'll go far in life.

Tax Preparation

If you don't mind working for a season or two before you break out on your own, then you might want to consider the business idea of tax preparation. Many tax preparer jobs exist that are willing to hire people with no experience and train them for free.

After you work for them a while, you can apply to get licensed via experience. Then, after that, you can incorporate and start your own tax preparation shop. This allows you to keep costs low, bootstrap your way in, and also help people do right by Uncle Sam.

Logo Design

If you're handy with Photoshop and similar programs, then by all means, start a logo design company. Cheap, easy logos can be sold on freelance platforms like Fiverr.com, and if you're using a template, it can literally add up to a general income of as much as $20 per hour.

Assuming you already have the programs or know where to download them for cheap, this business idea you can start for free can be built right now at home.

Blogging

You don't need to venture too far to hear about how people made millions blogging. Major websites like YourTango, Slate, and even Lifehack started from humble blogging roots in one way or another. But, that's not what this is about - since most of these sites are making money off ad revenue. The price to start these kinds of business ideas you can start for free is now much higher than it used to be.

You can still make a killing by blogging for other people's sites. Writing isn't easy, nor is it something that many people want to do. This is doubly true about topics that most people don't find interesting, such as technical writing, math, or law.

If you have the gift of gab, you can start by just sending in writing samples to people who are looking for writers. It's really just that simple.

Dropship Tee Design

Photo by Eric T. White

One of the newest ways to make money online is to design your own shirts and then use an online platform to help connect people with your designs. You don't need to have a printing press, or even buy shirts in order to make this business idea work for you.

All you need is a little bit of intelligence when it comes to design, possibly some programs to help you design things, and some fashion savvy. The platforms do most of the work for you. Good sites for this include Zazzle, RedBubble, and RageOn.

Credit Repair

This one takes a lot of people by surprise, but it's true. You can actually help people repair credit scores for a fee - without having to be licensed to do so. As a result, it's a great business idea for entrepreneurs with no money to spend.

The way this works is simple. You write letters to credit bureaus on behalf of the people who buy your services, arguing their late payments. Ask the bureaus to prove delinquencies and tell them that they need to drop them. Get it in writing.

Charge a fee for each delinquency you try to remove - or a flat fee for just working with them. Either way, it costs nothing to dispute credit issues, and people will pay hundreds for this service.

This may require you to incorporate into an LLC, and possibly get insurance depending on your business model. It depends from state to state, though, and as a result, should be researched before you start advertising.

Professional Organizer

Some people are blessed with the ability to organize anything in a pinch and make it all look fabulous. These people are rare, but if you're one of them, you're in luck. There are many people out there who would pay cold, hard cash for a professional organizer to make sense of their lives.

If you want to be a professional organizer, you can very likely start by posting ads in your local area. People will respond to them, and making money won't ever be easier.

You might want to get insured if you choose to go this route. Even so, it's a great business idea you can start for free.

Web Design And Programming

If you're a tech geek, then you just need to start working on your entrepreneurial side to make a very nice living for yourself. Everyone these days needs a website, and most major companies will need programmers, IT people, and consulting.

All you need to do is start expanding your network of people, tell them what you offer, and you will likely find out that there will be at least a handful that will want your services.

Assuming you have a computer, programs and skills, you can start within a matter of minutes.

Consulting

Some people just have a knack for figuring out what others should do to improve their bottom line. These people are often paid handsomely for their knowledge, and as a result, are brought in to consult on major business decisions.

If you have a deep knowledge of one arena or another, then you probably can make a killing as a consultant. Groups like Upwork and Odesk make it possible for you to make money as a consultant without having to spend any money doing so.

Use Your Imagination!

The above business ideas you can start for free were only the tip of the iceberg. If you have a will to make things happen, they will happen. You can be a business owner, even if you're not filthy rich. Just take time to come up with the right ideas for your skill set, and you will be able to make some serious cash.

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About the Creator

Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is a writer based out of New Jersey. This is her work account. She loves gifts and tips, so if you like something, tip her!

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