SMALL BUSINESS IDEAS 2023(40+ IDEAS AND BUSINESS PLAN)

Yes, it is possible to start a business that could one day become a multinational company without breaking the bank. All you need is the right small business idea to ignite your enterprising nature. Small businesses are great because they require little to no capital and do not usually need a physical base or office. If you’ve ever wished to stop working under someone, here is a guide with over 40 small business ideas and plans to get you on your way to becoming your own boss and owning your own business.

Fashion Designing

With a little capital to purchase the necessary equipment, you can commence this lucrative small business but only if you already have some knowledge in tailoring. If that is not the case, you can start by becoming an apprentice to a good tailor with the goal of establishing your own business.

You can distinguish yourself from the roadside tailors by having a brand name, adhering to a strict timetable for each work you are to handle, providing a variety of well-illustrated styles for your clients’ perusal, making home deliveries, and investing in a customized label for your brand. All these take very little to achieve in terms of finance but require unwavering dedication.

Plumbing

Every now and then, people go searching for handymen who can fix their sink or unclog their pipes. If you have the knowledge and the knack for fixing such things, you can open a plumbing business; this small business could see you making a whole load of cash in a very short time. You can print out handbills and distribute them to inform people about your business. You can also put your business on social media where it can get to a large number of people around you.

Painting

Never underestimate the work of your hands. Anyone who has done a DIY paint job can appreciate the work of a professional painter. If you have the necessary skills or are willing to learn, you will find this small business a very profitable enterprise. Having a catalog of designs for the client to choose from, billing reasonably, as well as, using only quality materials can widen your clientele and ensure their loyalty and patronage.

Carpentry

Furniture making is one of the numerous small business ideas you will likely never regret considering. Schools, homes, offices, and what have you, often need chairs, tables, stools, bed frames, and the likes; as such, carpentry remains an extremely buoyant business. Put some creative flair into your furniture designs, it will set you apart from the bunch of roadside carpenters and attract important customers.

Home Lesson Teacher

Offer your services as a private tutor, all you need is some patience and a good knowledge of the subjects you want to teach – you can gain teaching experience as you go. A lot of money can be made putting young and old students through in their academic work. You can also help those who are looking to sit for national and international examinations come off with flying colors.

Solar Panel Installation

Solar panels have become hot cakes as can be seen by the number of roofs they appear. Get in on the action by acquiring the knowledge needed to create your own installation business. Do not rely on just word of mouth to publicize your business, take it online via social media by posting pictures and text about what you do.

Hair Dressing

Ever in demand, hairdressers make a lot of money from making people beautiful. The mobility of your service and your sensitivity to individual customer needs will further increase your clientele.

Barbing Services

Similarly, barbershop services are often sought after by men and women looking for a neat professional trim. Although you can offer home services, you will need a salon where customers can come to have a haircut. However, if you are good at the job, you will make more than enough to cover the rent and other expenses incurred for the comfort of customers.

Graphic Designer

In today’s world where everyone is invested in taking their business online and therefore needs attractive designs for their social media, blogs, websites, and what have you, the graphic designer has never been more important. Your knowledge of the principle of designs – colors, shapes, and fonts will help you produce great projects that will keep the client happy and satisfied.

Fitness Instructor

The perfect body is a commodity everyone wants; it is therefore not surprising that fitness instructors are in great demand. As a fitness instructor, you can help clients achieve their desired shape and weight through exercise and healthy living. This small business idea is quite remunerative.

Freelance Writing

Be it for the Internet or otherwise, good writing is widely clamored for. There are a good number of jobs you can get as a freelance writer that can fetch you some cool cash. Aside from commissions, you can also write magazine articles, blog posts, news articles, short stories, poetry, etc., and submit to paying markets. Inklancers is a great platform to sell your writing services.

CV Writing

New job seekers are ever on the lookout for a professional curriculum vitae writer who will write or touch up their new CVs in such a way that they will find good jobs easily. Ensure that the price of your service is reasonable so as to attract clients.

Photography

As a photographer, you can earn money from covering events like marriages, funerals, and birthday parties. You can as well run a photo studio where clients can have photoshoot sessions. Also, you can create visual art with the camera and sell these online. Creating a social media account where you post your photographs will help publicize what you do.

Personal Cook

Many people, especially those from the working class, do not have the time to prepare the meals they want to eat. You can offer your services to such people by creating handbills, posters, and social media posts. To succeed in this small business, you must keep detailed notes of your clients’ dish specifications. 

Snack Making

This is one of the most profitable small business ideas. You can make snacks like meat pies, eggrolls, and buns, and distribute them to small shop owners in good quantities. You can also make branded chin-chins, chips, and peanuts to sell, do however ensure that these branded snacks can last for several days without losing their quality.

Domestic Cleaner

If you are up for it, you can offer cleaning services to professionals and others who are looking for such. This service requires patience and fastidiousness. It can also be an opportunity to meet people looking for other services you can offer.

Makeup Artist

Everyone wants to be beautiful, it is therefore not surprising that makeup artists are one of the most sought after. Good makeup artists are however a dime a dozen but your ability to be quick, mobile, flexible, and reliable will single you out from the pack.

Interior Designing

If you have an eye for good furniture and a great sense of modern style and color composition, you should try your hand in interior design. Ensure you document every project you undertake for future references. Also, have an active online presence on social media platforms like Instagram.

Event Planning

Event planning involves organizational prowess, attentiveness to details, good communication skills, and imaginative power. You can specialize in one kind of event, like weddings or birthdays, or ply your trade in every kind of event.

Caterer

Be responsible for delivering Item 7 every guest tries to patiently wait for at events. You will require a team to successfully cater an event and will have to work with the event planner, if there is any, to ensure everything goes smoothly. Just remember that an event is not considered successful except the food served is great.

Day Care Service

You can offer your services to working-class parents with young children. This is a very important business that requires attentiveness, safety consciousness, and trustworthiness. You will have to get a safe and appropriate space for the kids in your care as well as the necessary permits to operate.  

Voiceover Artist

If you possess an attractive voice and know how to enunciate your words with punch and emotion, you should consider doing voiceovers for a living. You can work with broadcast stations, advertising companies, and the likes to bring their scripts to life.

Audio and Video Editing

If you are patient and determined enough to learn the ropes of audio and video editing, this small business can earn you huge amounts of money. Many business people from different walks of life are now in the market for quality audio-visual promotional content and are willing to pay a lot of money to get the best.

Baking

Whichever way you look at it, cakes – be it birthday cakes, wedding cakes, etc. – and confectioneries like cupcakes are in perpetual demand. You can bake visually appealing cakes and confectioneries and share pictures of these on your social media to attract customers from far and near.     

Property Manager

You can help manage properties like commercial and residential buildings on behalf of people who live abroad or in distant places. You can also oversee building projects and connect potential buyers with people looking to sell properties.

Read Also: Property Management Business: All You Need to Start From Scratch (+ a Workable Model)

Jewellery Maker

If you can design necklaces, earrings, bangles, and what not using materials such as beads, gold, and silver chains, you should consider opening a small business as a jewelry maker. You could operate right out of the social media page where you share pictures of your craft.

Disc Jockey

With the added benefit of the cool factor and having lots of fun, the disc jockey can make a lot of money providing well-curated music for events. As a disc jockey, you can liven up the event with great music or set the tone with every selection you make.

Club Hype Man

Hype men are people who, using their voice and mannerism, get people excited about something in clubs or concerts. They are professional praise singers with charisma who can amp up any event or gathering.

Dance Instructor

Dance instructors can operate from dance studios or offer mobile services where they go to the client to teach well-choreographed dances in a variety of genres.

Keyboardist

There is a paying market for keyboard accompanists, especially in places of worship. Your versatility and adroitness in playing the musical instrument will keep your clients happy and satisfied.

Blogging

It is no longer news that blogging can make you serious money. With dedication, good communicative ability, and knowledge of best blogging practices, you could attract enough regular traffic to start monetizing your blog.

Music Teaching

Music is an important part of our lives; everyone and their mother wishes they knew how to sing or play a musical instrument. You can share the theoretical and practical knowledge of music you know for good money.

Artist

Painting, sculpting, molding and just generally creating art is a process that requires a lot of patience and dedication. While a few artists get their big break early on in their careers, many others have to wait longer. In any case, when art rewards, it rewards greatly.

Proofreading

It is time you stopped losing friends and started making money from your fixation with correct grammar. Offer your services as a proofreader, it will require patience to do the necessary research and crosschecking, not to mention, attentiveness to details, however minute.

Delivery Services

Good knowledge of the city you live in and a fast means of transport are the major things you need to start a successful delivery business.

Thrift Shop Vendor

The selling of second-hand clothes and household items can prove to be a very lucrative business. Good pricing and a quality stock will certainly attract patronage.

Read Also: Ecommerce Delivery: Best Strategies, Services, Solutions (+Free Tips)

Smartphone Repair

From the veranda of your house, and with the knowledge of how smartphone generally works and a few instruments, you can start your phone repair business. Ensure you use quality parts for your repairs otherwise, you will be met with many unhappy customers.

EBook Publishing

Books in EPUB and PDF formats have become very popular and money can be made from the publishing of such. Wattpad and Okadabooks are useful platforms for those looking to publish eBooks.

Dropshipping

This is a great small business idea for those looking to start a business with very little capital. Dropshipping offers so many advantages over regular buying and selling and with the advances being made with online shopping; the sky is the limit for those involved in this business.

Car Tracking Installation

The rise in car theft brought about a new business idea. Car trackers ensure that you can trace the GPS location of your car wherever it may be. People who deal in car trackers and their installation make a lot of money from them.

Perfume Making

Perfume oils and sprays are hot cakes today because everyone wants to smell good. Branding your products can differentiate you from every Tom, Dick, and Harry involved in the perfume business.

Face Mask Making

The making of facemasks in today’s world is no doubt a great business idea. Do ensure you are making use of good materials that can protect customers who buy your masks. Interestingly, anyone can start this business, even as a temporary enterprise.

The Best Small Business Ideas

Beyond the ideas listed above, here are some of the best and feasible small business ideas in 2023.

Handyman

Do you have a habit of repairing things around the house? Are you frequently contacted by friends who require assistance with modest projects? If yes, create a website, conduct a competitive analysis to determine the value of your time and talent, and seek recommendations from friends you’ve previously assisted.

Online Dating Advisor

The majority of dating consultants charge a fee for their services. They assist people in creating successful online dating profiles, locating potential matches through sources other than traditional online channels, and providing a level of personalization that a service like Tinder cannot. Do you think you’ve got a talent for the game? This could be the perfect business for you.

Alteration and Sewing Expertise

Clothing will always need to be hemmed and buttons repaired, and you may be the one to do it. If you enjoy sewing, start with modest services like the ones listed above and work your way up to dressmaking and design as your customer base and demand grow.

Independent Developer

Quality web development is in high demand right now, from building websites for other small businesses to giving technical help for specific projects. As a web developer, you’ll have a technical skillset by default. Distinguish your knowledge and skills so that consumers who don’t have your background may grasp what you’ll be assisting them with.

To aid with this, practice your communications with friends and family who aren’t familiar with your business. Your message is likely effective with those outside your circle if they can summarize what you do.

Personal Trainer

To get the word out, offer in-home consultations, individualized nutrition and exercise regimens, and community boot camps. Don’t forget to fill your Instagram business account with motivational quotes, free workout videos, and delectable snack ideas – it’s a regular approach for fitness experts to promote their businesses in today’s digital age.

If you select this path, it’s fine to start small and grow from there. MOURfit, for example, is a personal training firm in Indianapolis that began as a communal gym and has since expanded to include group exercise, personal training, and nutrition services.

Career/Life Coach

Put your experience effectively navigating career, personal, and social transitions to good use as a life or career counselor. Many of us are seeking for career advice, but finding someone who has the time to mentor us might be difficult.

Life/career coaches aren’t inexpensive, but they may provide clients with the intensive training and guidance they need to achieve significant changes in their personal and professional life. After all, we could all use some encouraging words now and then.

Translator

Do you know how to communicate in a foreign language? Establishing a translation service is a great way to get started. Consider specializing in a certain type of translation, such as medical or financial translation, to meet a unique demand in your community.

Garden Designer

Many people are prepared to perform the grunt labor in their backyards, but few have the know-how to complete the initial step of the process, which is to design and plan the space. Draw up plans for your clients’ outside spaces and then delegate the digging to them.

Landscaper

Mowing, tree trimming, and seasonal decorations are all necessities in the community. A landscaping business might be profitable if you have or can acquire the necessary equipment.

Travel Planner

The days of the travel agents may be numbered, but individuals with a penchant for unorthodox travel arrangements are still in demand. Consider selling your services as a more modern approach to travel planning if you always organize the perfect vacations with beautiful hotels, the perfect location, and a bevy of wonderful restaurants set up for every evening.

Home Inspector

Working as a home inspector necessitates certification and extensive experience, but it can provide a flexible work schedule and a steady income. Before starting this type of small business, double-check your state’s license requirements. You’ll want to make sure you’re giving your clients the greatest service possible by making sure you have all of your credentials in order.

Private Chef

We all enjoy food, but few of us have the time or energy to prepare nutritious, tasty meals. Local families and companies will be interested in your services if you advertise them. Consider scheduling particular groups of clients together — for instance, vegetarians — to save money on startup costs by cooking larger quantities of the same cuisine.

Packing Service Facilator

Moving is inherently inconvenient, and many individuals outsource the entire packing process. Do you want a consistent stream of customers? Partner with a local moving company that will send you new customers.

Massage Therapist

As a massage therapist, you can relieve painful muscles and encourage relaxation in your clients. Investigate training and certification programs in your area and state, as well as purchasing a portable bed for client visits.

Craftsman

Making handcrafted novelties is a fun and unusual way to start a small business. There’s undoubtedly a market for whatever you manufacture, whether it’s jewelry, knitted comfort goods, or even personalized wigs. Use innovative social media marketing to reach out to your audience, and use keywords that describe your products to optimize your website for search engines.

Bed and Breakfast Owner

This is another business opportunity that will necessitate study into the proper licensing requirements in your state, but it will be well worth it to see your ambitions realized. Consider the kind of visitors who will be visiting your area and offer customized packages and themed stays that correspond to their interests.

Tour Guide

Do you enjoy learning about your city’s or state’s history? Consider pursuing a career as a tour guide. Sure, you’ll have to do a lot of study in order to do a good job, but that’s half the pleasure. Offer tours that focus on a certain aspect of your community’s history to set yourself apart.

Educator

There’s someone out there who needs a little help in your area of expertise and is prepared to pay for it, whether you’re a math wiz, a piano master, or a Shakespeare fanatic. To get the word out and establish a customer base, advertise your services through local schools, community colleges, community centers, and even social media.

Consultant

Consider becoming a consultant if you have extensive experience or understanding in a certain field. Perhaps you’re an expert in hiring techniques, SEO, or have led many sales teams to six-figure revenue. Determine your area of expertise, position yourself as a consultant, and charge the market rate.

Personal Assistant

Again, if you’re a detail-oriented, organized person, a career as a personal assistant might be right for you. Don’t want to be confined to a workplace or person all day? Consider working as a virtual assistant, which allows you to have a more flexible schedule.

Food Truck Entrepreneur

Have you always wanted to own a restaurant but aren’t sure if you’re ready to take the plunge? With a food truck, you can test out your ideas. It’s a great method to learn about your state’s food and restaurant licensing laws, see what people enjoy and don’t like, and establish a loyal following before opening or investing in a physical site.

Coffee Shop Owner

Turn your coffee addiction into a more successful business. Opening a franchise or purchasing an existing store are less risky ways to get into the coffee business, but they usually need a larger initial investment. Starting a shop from the ground up takes a little more planning and a lot more labor, but it maximizes your future earning potential.

Relocation Services

Starting your own relocation business requires a vehicle, moving equipment, labor, as well as the necessary permits, and insurance. Start small with a moving van and keep your costs low before purchasing your first fleet of trucks.

Home Staging

A staging service could be your creative release and professional calling if you have an eye for interior design. By staging properties with the owner’s existing furnishings and decor, you can establish a portfolio with minimum upfront investment. As they gain experience and network with local realtors, most stagers eventually build up a furniture inventory.

These small business ideas have the potentials of becoming large corporations but it takes creativity and dedication to actualize.

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