Nine Businesses you can Start on a Shoestring

Businesses you can start on a Shoestring

Everywhere you go nowadays, the story is the same. People are looking for work, but there just aren’t enough jobs to go around. Since this did not happen overnight, we’ll have to assume that it won’t get better overnight either, and that people will still need to make money to feed their families and pay their bills. Desperate times do indeed call for desperate measures, and many people might have to leave their 9 to 5, payday on Friday comfort zone in order to keep their families and homes together.

Starting a business of your own may seem like a daunting task, but it really does not have to be that way. There are businesses that can be started quickly, simply, and inexpensively so that you can put some money in your bank account fast enough to pay your rent.  Almost everyone has hobbies and interests or special talents that can be parlayed into income, often with just the costs for printing up some flyers and business cards and purchasing needed equipment.

1. Stitch together a new business.  You can build a business around your sewing machine, and you do not need to be an expert seamstress. Lots of people will pay for someone else to take in clothes when they lose weight, hem pants, make special window treatments or special comforters, even stitch up some cool Halloween costumes. The better you get with the machine, the more money you will be able to make. You can work on your own, or partner up with a local dry cleaner for a good source of steady customers.
2. Writing for a living. Much like I am doing right now, you can write content for websites and blogs and actually get paid for doing it. Think about how big your market is—every website or blog on the internet, with hundreds if not thousands being created daily. You do need a good grasp of the English language and decent research skills. Freelance opportunities, both online and offline, abound. There are even sites which will pay you a flat fee for a 500 word article, which is just one typed page.
3. Landscaping and snow removal. You would be surprised how quickly this type of business can grow. You can get started with just a lawn mower and a few shovels for summer landscaping work. It is labor intensive, but can be started by just about anybody and people are willing to pay for this type of work that they either can’t do or don’t want to spend their days off doing. You should set your customers up for weekly grass cutting for steady work, and as an outgrowth of that you will see what needs done as far as landscaping around their yard. Then just ask!
4. Play with pets. Pet sitting, dog walking, doggie day cares, pet training, actually, anything that has to do with man’s best friend should be a hit. People love their pets and spend lots of money on them. My grandmother wanted to go into business making doggie coats about 30 years ago- she was ahead of her time, but I think you could make a killing doing that now!
5. Trucking. Lots of people have downsized their vehicles or gotten rid of the extra wheels they used to have, which means they may no longer have a way to haul things when needed. If they buy a new refrigerator, they’ll have to wait till next Thursday for the store to deliver it or rent a vehicle. Why not offer to deliver and haul things? You can also hit yard sales in the afternoon and offer to take the rest of the stuff to Goodwill. Not only will they pay you, but you might find some interesting stuff! You can haul brush, gravel, mulch, all sorts of stuff, and make some money.
6. Organizing. Lots of people are disorganized and can use some help getting things together around their houses and in their garages. If you’ve ever seen the show “The Hoarders” you know what extreme cases of that look like, but there are others who are heading in that direction and could use your “neat” help to head them off.
7. Go green. You can do a few different things in this area. Solar panels are beginning to come into the mainstream and many people would pay to have them installed. Energy saving efforts of all types can also earn you some green for your bank account. You can replace regular light bulbs with the new fluorescent versions, weatherstrip doors and windows, blow insulation into attics, and plant bushes and trees specifically for their effect on the environment.
8. Lights. Camera. If your photos are the ones that all of your friends ooh and ah over, chances are you have a great eye for the camera and can make a living with it. Photographing people will likely pay the bills most easily, but you could also photograph homes and buildings for real estate agencies or events for the local newspaper. The trick to finding work as a photographer is to put together a great portfolio. You should use that portfolio to show potential customers (they are everywhere) what you can do.
9. Party like a rock star. Okay, maybe not, but you can definitely earn a great living by planning events, meetings, and weddings. If you are good at building relationships with business people, like caterers, florists, and golf course managers, you will have everything you need to be successful.

These are just a few ideas to help you put together a plan using your own special skills and abilities. If none of these things sounds right for you, what does? Think of something that you actually enjoy doing, and then figure out how to start a business doing that.  For instance, if you love to bake, you could make pumpkin rolls at Thanksgiving, and cheesecake for the Fourth of July and whatever else in-between. The idea is simply to take what you have already and use it to produce income.

Driving people and their belongings is another business you can start inexpensively by repurposing one of your own vehicles. Be sure to get adequate coverage by checking taxi insurance quotes.