Starting a business doesn’t have to require a large investment. With the right strategy, mindset, and a bit of creativity, you can launch a profitable venture without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or a full-time income, here are 20 businesses you can start on a low income and scale over time.
Service-Based Businesses with Minimal Investment
Service-based businesses often require little to no upfront capital and can be started using skills you already have.
Freelance Writing
If you have a talent for writing, you can start a freelance writing business with just a laptop and an internet connection. Choose a niche such as technology, finance, or health, and build a portfolio by writing samples on platforms like Medium. Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn can help you connect with potential clients.
Freelance writers’ incomes vary widely based on experience, niche, and workload. Some writers earn between $5,000 to $60,000 annually, depending on their commitment and client base. Many writers have transitioned from side gigs to full-time careers, building reputable portfolios and securing high-paying clients.
Social Media Management
Many businesses struggle to maintain an active social media presence. If you understand social media marketing, you can offer services to manage posts, create content, and engage with followers. Start by offering services at a low cost to build testimonials, then scale by working with multiple clients. If you need to build your skills up and improve then you can check out SkillShare for professional courses done by experts.
Entry-level social media managers can earn around $15 per hour, with experienced professionals earning up to $50 per hour. Many have turned their knack for social media into thriving businesses, managing accounts for multiple clients and earning substantial incomes.
Virtual Assistant
Entrepreneurs and small businesses often need help with tasks like email management, scheduling, and customer service. As a virtual assistant, you can work remotely and provide administrative support. Create a profile on sites like Belay or Time Etc to find clients.
Virtual assistants typically charge between $10 to $20 per hour, with specialized skills commanding higher rates. Numerous individuals have built successful careers offering virtual assistance, expanding their services to include specialized tasks like bookkeeping or social media management. Susan from The Techie Mentor started a successful virtual assistant business bringing in six figures a year.
House Cleaning Services
Starting a house cleaning business requires only basic supplies, which can be purchased for under $100. Offer discounts to your first clients to generate referrals and grow your business through word-of-mouth marketing.
Starting a cleaning service in the UK can be initiated with a budget of around £500, covering essential equipment and marketing. Entrepreneurs have scaled small cleaning services into profitable ventures, employing teams and servicing commercial clients.
Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Pet owners are always looking for trustworthy people to care for their pets. You can sign up on platforms like Rover and Wag! to find clients, or market your services locally through social media and community boards.
Pet sitters and dog walkers can earn between $15 to $30 per hour, depending on location and services offered. Animal enthusiasts have grown their pet care services into full-time businesses, often expanding to include grooming and training.
Lawn Care and Landscaping
If you have access to a lawnmower and basic landscaping tools, you can offer lawn care services in your neighborhood. Start by offering competitive pricing and promoting your services on Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor.
Starting with basic lawn care can lead to earnings of $30 to $50 per hour, with potential for more through additional services. Many have transformed small lawn care operations into landscaping companies, securing both residential and commercial contracts.
Handyman Services
If you have basic repair skills, a handyman business can be a great low-cost startup. Services like furniture assembly, painting, and minor plumbing repairs are always in demand. List your services on TaskRabbit and build a reputation in your local community.
Handymen typically charge $50 to $100 per hour, depending on the complexity of tasks. Skilled individuals have built reputable handyman services, often expanding into specialized home improvement areas.
Tutoring
Teaching others is a great way to make money with minimal investment. Whether it’s math, science, music, or language tutoring, you can offer lessons online or in person. Platforms like Wyzant and TutorMe help connect tutors with students looking for help.
Tutors can earn $25 to $80 per hour, varying by subject matter and expertise. Educators have established successful tutoring businesses, both in-person and online, catering to a wide range of subjects.
Personal Shopping and Errands
People with busy schedules often need assistance with errands, grocery shopping, and gift selection. You can offer personal shopping services and build clientele through social media, local advertisements, and platforms like Instacart.
Car Detailing
Starting a mobile car detailing service requires basic supplies like soap, wax, and microfiber cloths. By offering on-the-go services, you can attract customers who prefer convenience and save on renting a physical location.
Mobile car detailers can charge $50 to $200 per vehicle, depending on services. Entrepreneurs have grown car detailing services into full-time businesses, often securing contracts with dealerships.
Product-Based and Resale Businesses
If you prefer selling products, there are several low-cost business ideas that allow you to start with minimal inventory.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping lets you sell products online without handling inventory. Set up a Shopify store, choose a niche, and work with suppliers like AliExpress to fulfill orders. With a strong marketing strategy, you can grow a profitable e-commerce business.
With effective marketing, dropshipping businesses can generate significant monthly revenues, though profit margins vary. Many have built successful e-commerce stores using dropshipping such as Burga and Be Active. They have done this by focusing on niche markets to maximize profits and maximising marketing strategies.
Print-on-Demand Store
With print-on-demand, you can sell custom-designed apparel, mugs, and phone cases without stocking products. Platforms like Printful and Teespring handle production and shipping, so you can focus on creating and marketing designs.
Earnings vary based on product pricing and sales volume, with some successful entrepreneurs generating six or even seven figures in revenue. For inspiration check out Fierce Pulse and Dogecore. Creative individuals have launched successful print-on-demand stores, leveraging unique designs to attract customers.
Handmade Crafts
If you enjoy making jewelry, candles, or home decor, selling handmade products can be a great business. Platforms like Etsy and Amazon Handmade provide exposure to a large audience looking for unique, handcrafted goods.
Artisans can earn a wide range of incomes, with some turning their crafts into full-time businesses. Crafters have scaled their hobbies into profitable businesses, selling on platforms like Etsy and at local markets.
Flipping Items
Buying low-cost or undervalued items from thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, then reselling them online, can be a profitable business. Platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Poshmark allow you to list and sell products quickly.
Rob and Melissa from Flea Market Flippers turned flipping into a full time job and teach others how to do it too. Earnings can earn vary, with some making significant profits by identifying undervalued items.
Subscription Box Service
Curating themed subscription boxes for niche audiences can be an exciting and scalable business. From beauty products to snacks and books, you can start small and grow by partnering with suppliers and promoting through social media. You cna use Crate Joy and WordPress as the platforms to host your subscription site
This guy bought a failing subscription box service and turned it around and made it profitable.
Digital and Online Businesses
The digital world offers endless opportunities for low-cost business ideas that can be run from anywhere.
Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
Starting a blog in a niche like travel, finance, or health can generate income through ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. Use WordPress and SEO strategies to attract traffic and monetize your blog over time. Check out our full guide on how to start a blog and and make money from blogging and affiliate marketing.
Blogging is very much still a one of the best businesses you can start on a low income and with hard work and consistency can help you bring in anywhere from a few thousand a month to even six figures a year and more. Just take a look at Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income, who got laid off from his architect job and started looking at online ways to make money and stumbled upon starting a blog. Fast forward and his blog is now a seven figure business.
YouTube Channel
YouTube allows you to earn money through ads, sponsorship’s, and affiliate links. Choose a niche such as tech reviews, fitness, or tutorials, and create engaging content. A smartphone and basic editing software such as Capcut are enough to get started.
YouTube can be hard to break through since there is so much competition and the low barrier to entry but you need to be consistent at uploading quality videos and stick to a routine. Not only that but you want to model other successful channels in your niche and gather inspiration from them. Use VidIQ or Tubebuddy to get video ideas, keyword research and more.
YouTube can be a one of the greatest businesses you can start on a low income. An example would be Gary Vaynerchuk who started his channel Wine Library TV, when he was unknown. The channel was for his fathers liquor store, and for the first couple of years he hardly saw any views but after consistently posting his hard work started paying off and this got him recognized and even appearances on national television.
E-Book Publishing
If you enjoy writing, self-publishing e-books on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) can be a great passive income source. Choose a profitable niche, write valuable content, and market your book through social media.
When it comes to publishing your ebook on Amazon Kindle, because like YouTube, publishing ebooks on Kindle has a low barrier to entry and has more competition, it is important to focus on effective marketing. Use social media and consider using Amazon ads to promote your book to get it in front of more eyeballs.
You can also publish your ebook to other platforms other than Amazon but Amazon is one of the most popular when it comes to selling ebooks. However with that being said it can beon of those businesses you can start on a low income. An example of an author that has become successful with Kindle books is Steve Scott who published a series of self-help books on Amazon raking in tens of thousands of dollars per month.
Online Course Creation
If you have expertise in a particular skill, creating and selling online courses can be highly profitable. Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and Gumroad make it easy to reach students worldwide.
You would need to set the curriculum of the course and set out what the objectives of your course would be for your students as well as record the content and any accompanying worksheets or PDFs. You can check out a full guide on how to make money online creating online courses with Udemy here.
Stock Photography
If you have a passion for photography, selling stock photos can generate passive income. Websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images allow photographers to upload and sell their images.
This guy made $170,000 selling stock photos. You can also offer freelance photography for businesses and individuals looking for your services.
Final Thoughts on Starting a Business On A Low Income
Starting a business on a low income is entirely possible with the right mindset and dedication. Focus on leveraging your existing skills, offering value to customers, and using free or low-cost marketing strategies. Many of these businesses can be started from home, allowing you to build your income gradually without taking significant financial risks.
Whether you choose a service-based, product-based, or online business, the key to success is consistency and learning as you grow. Pick an idea that excites you, take the first step, and watch your business flourish!