21+ Cheapest Business Picks To Start At Home 2023 (Updated)

You can launch a ton of cheap businesses with little to no capital, whether you want to be your own boss or just shore up some extra cash. But while you probably won’t be able to launch the next Facebook or Apple with just $500 and an idea, there are plenty of opportunities to launch a small business with a similarly modest investment. So, if you want to start now, here are 21+ of the cheapest business options to help you start at home.

Cheapest Business To Start At Home

Content Creation

Social media and the 24-hour news cycle have created a perfect storm of opportunity for creative professionals such as writers and graphic designers to use their skills to create high-quality, shareable content for businesses and media outlets. It’s easier than ever to market yourself as a professional service provider, thanks to a growing gig economy of freelance and contract workers.

Virtual or Personal Assistant

Those with good organizational skills are also in high demand for other entrepreneurs who are growing their businesses and want to focus on high-return tasks. Many of those secretarial or front-desk functions are handled by a personal or virtual assistant who works remotely. These individuals frequently work from home for a variety of clients, keeping track of calendars, making flight arrangements, and performing clerical duties.

Event Planning Services

If you’re a highly organized, detail-oriented person who enjoys throwing parties, you might be the right person to start an event-planning business. Event planners make it simple for others to host exciting parties such as weddings, birthday parties, and class reunions. Planning a few pro bono events will help you gain the necessary experience. Build a solid database of vendors and contacts through LinkedIn and cold calling so you can assist your clients in planning the event of their dreams.

Errand Services

Most working parents have very little time to run personal errands like grocery shopping, mall returns, or mailing packages between caring for their children and handling their professional responsibilities. A self-motivated individual can handle these time-consuming errands for clients, freeing up their days for the important things in life. Consider travel expenses when setting your rates, which can be hourly or per task.

Professional Editor

Yes, this is a real thing. Companies of all sizes have taken note of positive feedback. Many businesses give their products and services to individuals in exchange for a review. They want a positive, but, more importantly, honest review. They pay for your time or by the review, and you get to try new things, read new books, experiment with cutting-edge technology, and do a variety of other things while being compensated.

Larger companies can hire an agency or a full-time employee to manage their Facebook, Twitter, and blog accounts, but small businesses frequently have to handle their own social media marketing. With so many other responsibilities, business owners may be too preoccupied or overwhelmed to devise an effective social media strategy. You can assist them in determining the best tactics, posting schedules, and content for their target audience as a consultant.

Etsy Store

Etsy is a popular online marketplace that hosts thousands of small businesses and larger productions, such as the highly rated Wildflower + Co., which sells jewelry, patches, and DIY items. Starting an Etsy shop is extremely inexpensive. Joining the site and starting a shop is free, but there are three selling fees: listing, transaction, and payment processing fees.

Online Education and Tutoring

What do you find interesting? Yoga? Baking? Web design? If you know something inside and out, you can help others enrich their lives by offering virtual classes. Make downloadable instructional packets and videos, or arrange for live Skype lessons with clients. A virtual or home-based tutoring service is another option for aspiring educators.

Personal Chef

This job requires you to plan and prepare weekly or daily meals for your clients, so you must have strong cooking skills as well as a working knowledge of nutrition and special diets. You don’t have to have attended culinary school, but having some cooking classes under your belt will help your credibility. While you may need to travel to and from supermarkets and client homes, your customers should pay for the cost of ingredients in addition to your service fee.

Translation Service

If you speak a second language fluently, you may be able to find work converting written and spoken words from one language to another. Broadening international ties, as well as an increase in the number of non-English speakers in the United States, make this a fast-growing field, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a 19% increase by 2028. You can start your own independent business and market to companies, schools, hospitals, courtrooms, and conference centers.

Software Education

Do you know how to use a highly specialized software program? Amateurs and professionals looking to expand their skill sets are increasing their demand for training. Technical manuals for programs such as QuickBooks and Final Cut Pro are available, but they are frequently expensive and difficult for the average user to understand. When giving a full program tutorial, schedule small group workshops or private sessions and charge by the hour. Patience and a positive attitude are essential.

Music Classes

Offering lessons to others who want to learn an instrument can be a great source of extra income for those who are musically gifted. Unless you teach piano, students can probably bring their own instruments to your house for hour-long lessons. Stock up on sheet music or songbooks in a variety of genres and skill levels so you can offer a diverse selection to your potential clients. If you market yourself to local high schools and community theater groups, you can make a lot of money teaching voice.

Sustainability Expert

Businesses across the country have taken a closer look at their environmental impact in recent years. However, even for the largest enterprises, eco-friendly business solutions are frequently prohibitively expensive, and businesses of all sizes are looking for experts to advise them. Sustainability consultants come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from management to engineering, implying that practical experience and skills are more important than a specific degree.

Accounting Services

To work as a freelance bookkeeper, you do not need to be a certified public accountant, contrary to popular belief. All you need is a knack for numbers and hands-on experience with basic accounting tasks (though an associate degree in accounting or equivalent business experience is preferred). As an outsourced bookkeeper, you could provide the following services:

Upkeep of accounting software and filing systems
Publication of financial statements
Developing balance sheets
Payroll administration

Digital Marketing Service

If you have marketing experience, starting a solo digital marketing agency is a low-cost business idea that you can get up and running quickly. If you don’t have a background in marketing but are interested in learning more, you can take inexpensive online courses to improve your skills. One of the best and most difficult aspects of marketing is that it is constantly evolving. As a result, if you have a talent for storytelling and learning, a digital marketing firm is a business you can start quickly and affordably.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is simple and, as you can tell, one of the cheapest business options you can start from home, but it requires commitment and a long-term vision to succeed. It entails promoting the products and services of other companies in exchange for a commission on leads generated.

All you need to get started is a blog or website, as well as a product or service to promote. To be successful in affiliate marketing, you must attract a large number of visitors to your website and persuade them to buy products or services from your affiliate partners.

Online Dating Consultant

If you enjoy meeting new people and playing matchmaker, you should think about working as an online dating consultant. Filtering messages and finding interesting people to meet can be a full-time job, as anyone with multiple online or app dating profiles can attest. An online dating consultant can create engaging profiles, manage multiple client accounts, filter spam messages, and provide text or phone updates on potential matches.

eBay Seller

An eBay seller is also known as an eBay assistant, and the primary function of the job is to sell other people’s products on eBay for a small commission. Becoming an eBay seller is simple and one of the cheapest business options you can start from home, but the platform is riddled with scammers. So ensure that you are cautious about who you work with, as you may be held liable for packages that your customers do not receive. Be cautious when selling on eBay, and never share any personal information, such as credit card or banking information.

Internet Security Expert

If you’re passionate about IT, communication systems, and computers, you’ll be in high demand from small businesses looking to improve their online security. Assisting business owners in avoiding viruses, hackers, and scammers can be a very profitable business, especially if you have the ability to secure sensitive client and customer information.

Graphics Design

Every business requires visual assets of some kind to brand their company and attract customers. To work as a freelance graphic designer, you’ll need a computer, a design program like Adobe Illustrator or Canva, and a large portfolio of your work. You can offer a wide range of graphic design services or specialize in one area, such as these:

Logos
Display advertisements
Brochures
T-shirt designs
Flyers
Images of heroes
Infographics
Instagram images

Blogging/Vlogging

Consider starting a professional blog or vlog if you are passionate about a specific topic or field and enjoy writing or being in front of a camera. To start a blog, all you need is a computer and a website. Vloggers, on the other hand, should invest in a high-quality camera, video-editing software, and other AV equipment as needed. You can earn money by selling advertising space on your website, finding video sponsors, or creating an account on a funding platform like Patreon or Indiegogo.

Domain Name Buyer

A domain name buyer, also known as a domain broker, is someone who buys domain names that they believe people or businesses will want and then sells them for a profit. The concept is simple, but becoming a successful domain name buyer requires quick action on trends and identifying profitable domains – with a dash of luck thrown in for good measure.

Resume Writer

Few people are skilled at writing resumes, and even fewer enjoy doing so. To become a professional resume writer, all you need is a computer. To begin, sign up for a freelance platform such as Fiverr or Upwork and promote your services on social media.

Meal Planner

Most people enjoy eating, but not everyone knows how to prepare healthy, delicious meals on a budget. Your responsibilities as a meal planner would include making a list of ingredients, writing simple recipes, providing nutritional information, developing a budget plan, and educating your customers.

Video Production/Editor

Many businesses, influencers, and potential YouTube celebrities want to take their videos to the next level but lack the necessary skills and equipment. If you have prior video production experience, a strong portfolio, and the desire to assist individuals and businesses in creating visually stunning videos, becoming a freelance producer is an excellent career move.

What You Should Know Before You Start Your Own Business

Are you ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship? Before starting a business, there are a few things you should do and understand:

Business viability: Make certain you have a good business idea. That doesn’t mean you need a 20-page business plan, but you should be passionate about or interested in the business you’re launching.
Track industry trends: This also involves conducting market research, its growth potential, and the initial investment required. According to experts, if you want to start an online business, you should look for a market niche or need and start there. If you try to ride a trend, you’ll find yourself in a crowded market with little demand for your product or service. It’s also critical to understand your customer’s shopping habits and what makes them prefer your products or services over a competitor’s.
The four P’s: You should be aware of their “four P’s”: price, product, placement, and promotion. Keep this concept in mind both before and during your entrepreneurial journey. You’ll want to know exactly where your company stands in each component so you can execute accordingly.
Industry jargon: The business world has its own set of jargon. Reviewing the ABCs of running your own business can help you understand the jargon and tools you’re likely to encounter.