Small Business Ideas

Although the market may seem dominated by mega corporations and brand name companies, communities are built and sustained through small businesses run by local people. Maybe you're hoping to jump on the small business bandwagon and open a shop of your own as a way to express your personality or help your town with something. The desire to open a business is the first step to working for yourself, but the next is having an idea of what you could sell or how you could make money. This can be more difficult than it sounds. Luckily, there are tons of options to fit all lifestyles and goals!

Determine Your Goal

Before applying for small business loans, you want to assess what your business goals are and how you plan to meet them. Some people create stores, but only keep them open part-time. Some people quit their job and are the only employee in their new business. Others will create a larger enterprise that requires all of their time and multiple employees. It all depends on how much time you have to dedicate to founding your business, how much time you want to spend with it after it's up and running, and if you want to hire other people or go solo. If you don't want to worry about the overhead costs of renting a space and paying for utilities or building costs, then you could even consider an online business you could run from the comfort of your own home. Carefully consider some of these points before you set your heart on an idea that might not align with your goals.

Slow Starters

Perhaps you just want to dip your toe in the water of ownership. You might have a part-time job you love or other commitments that make it difficult to sink all your time into developing a thriving enterprise. Luckily, there are tons of businesses that don't require full time hours to get started. For example, if you love shopping estate and yard sales, you could open an antiques shop part time. If you prefer baking or cooking, consider doing a personal meal prep service or offer cake decorating services. This can be done either from a business location or from your home, depending on the laws in your state. You can even use your favorite hobby as a way to make money by teaching classes or offering private lessons for things like knitting or crocheting, playing a musical instrument, or gardening.

Outdoor Options

Not everyone is a fan of staying inside all day, and if this is you, then consider careers that keep them outdoors for most of the day. If you're good at tinkering with bicycles or lawnmowers, you could open a repair shop for small machines from your garage. This is a niche service people are always searching for, so you could make great money in your spare time doing something you enjoy. Maybe you enjoy spending time with animals and want to find ways to help busy pup parents take care of their pooches. You could start a dog walking business in your community where you take people's dogs out during the day for some much needed exercise. Finally, if you spent time honing your skills in a specific sport, you could offer private coaching services to help kids who are training in that area. Baseball clinics or private track sessions can be a great way to help someone else and keep yourself in shape.

Online Businesses

As the digital world creeps into your life more and more, you might consider taking your business to the internet. There are plenty of options to dominate this space and make just as much money as with a brick and mortar store. Some traditional tactics are starting an eBay shop to sell things around your house or that you find at antique shops, or an Etsy shop to sell things you make in your home. Managing your shop might not be your thing, but don't worry, you could also sell services such as writing for blogs or content developers as a freelancer. If you're a creative type and want to put your skills to use from your personal devices, consider becoming a graphic designer. You can do this as a freelancer as well or snag a remote job with a company. Online businesses give you the options to spend as much or as little time with your business day-to-day so you can find the perfect work-life balance for you.

Starting your own business is a way to create the life you want at the pace you need. Remember to establish your goals before picking a business idea, then consider what types of businesses would help you achieve the life you want. There are part-time, outdoor, and online options, so you're sure to find the right fit!