(Updated 8/21/2024) Starting a business seems impossible nowadays with inflation and high interest rates. But, what if you could start a business for free or less than $50?
As a stay-at-home mom, I often find my hands idle when I’m not teaching my son or taking him to a session of speech therapy. This is how I became motivated to start selling little things and making some cash to get that new thing I wanted or to pay off a bill quickly. Since I have time today, I’m going to make a list (that will continuously be updated) to inspire you to start moving those hands. It’s your time to start a tiny business! Here are some business ideas that you can start for free and then invest in others.
This list will keep updating! Check back often for new and supportive ideas!
- Garage Sale: Believe it or not, this is literally the best and easiest way to build up some cash. Sell the stuff you know you don’t use. Don’t be pricey about it either, it’s not like you were using it! Sell it for cheap. Clothes aren’t great sellers unless it’s a brand. Electronics of any kind are awesome, just make sure your data is off of it!
- Reselling Unused Items: Similar to the garage sale idea, you can sell items you no longer need on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, or Craigslist. I sold a lot on these websites and apps to get some petty cash or to invest in other things. Don’t forget that it can help you gather initial capital for future investments.
- Freelance Services: Offer any and all kinds of services through Fiverr. From singing songs or writing poems to building websites and proofreading, the options are limitless. Do virtual assistance, customer service, or email reading aloud too! Fiverr allows you to start with zero upfront costs.
- Online Surveys and Market Research: Participate in online surveys or join market research panels. Yeah, I know. It’s not a business, but it can help you get started with saving for one. Field Agent is one of my favorites. You have to drive sometimes, but it’s playing hide and seek!
- Teaching or Tutoring: Use free platforms like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet to offer tutoring or teaching services in subjects you’re knowledgeable about. I used Preply BUT I have a TESOL certificate. I started at $4/hour and made $170 in about three weeks.
- Affiliate Marketing without a Website: Promote products through your social media accounts which is only on Facebook and Youtube. Use Amazon associates or other affiliations with places like Target which can give you some quick links to get you started.
- Pet Sitting or Dog Walking: Offer pet care services to friends, family, or neighbors to get started. Use Wag or Rover if you have a bit of anxiety. However, you can advertise through word of mouth or local community boards.
- House Sitting: Just like above, you can offer house-sitting services in your community. I haven’t tried this, but it is something you can do! This normally requires no upfront investment and can lead to other opportunities, such as the next service.
- Senior Neighborhood Service: Offer to run errands for senior neighbors, such as grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions. While you can use platforms for this, it’s easier to help some neighbors first by letting them know you can help them out.
- Local Tour Guide: If you live in an area where everything is, try to offer guided tours. You can start by offering your services for free to get reviews and then charge for future tours. Create events on Facebook to get started.
- Babysitting: When I was younger, I loved babysitting. You can start with friends and family to build a reputation, then move to Care.com to build a profile.
- Flipping Free Items: Find free items on platforms like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Freecycle, and then clean them up and resell them. While I haven’t done this, but my Mom has and is very successful with reselling it.
Got a little bit of money? Let’s look at some businesses that you can start for about $50 or less.
- Handmade Crafts: Buy some Christian-inspired cup wraps to create small handmade items like glasses and mugs. Altogether, this should cost about $40. How: Peel the tape off one side, lay the sticky side of the sticker on the cup, and hold firm. Peel off and you have a handmade Christian-inspired cup! Shipping materials will need to be added if you want to do your own. Sell them in free marketplaces like Facebook, eBay, Mercari, or local flea markets.
- Blogging: Make a website and talk about things you love or recommend every day! Just sit and type away about the things you know a lot about and can explain to almost anyone. How: Buy a Namecheap domain name (www.yoursitething.com) for less than $10 and basic web hosting for about $6 for a blog. Monetize through ads such as Google AdSense and affiliate marketing platforms. These ads will need to be targeted based on the content you are writing about. So if you’re writing about diet and health, it probably isn’t a good idea to market cat food in the middle of it.
- Print-on-Demand T-Shirts: Use a platform like Printify to create custom t-shirts, bags, pillows, shoes, and more. It’s free to design, however, it costs to make it and ship. How: You’ll need a Wix, Shopify store, or WooCommerce (WordPress) to get started because this is where you’ll list your unique designs because it’s a shop. Create a worded design free in Canva and upload it to Printify. The options are limitless! You don’t have to pay until an order has been purchased by the customer.
- Freelance Graphic Design: Invest in a low-cost design software subscription for $15 like Canva Pro to create designs for anyone on social media. You can start easily with family reunions, book covers, and even videos. You can also make informational content on YouTube if you have the time!
- Mobile Car Wash: Want to do something local in the neighborhood? Buy basic car cleaning supplies and offer mobile car wash services in your neighborhood. Ask if you can use their water to wash their car, but remember to offer top-tier services. The water costs them money, so be very affordable the first time around.
- Etsy Shop: Speaking of handmade crafts, you can now afford an Etsy shop. Etsy now costs $15 to open a shop and $0.20 to list the items. You can also sell things you create with Canva. Make with a focus on digital products like printables, planners, or digital artwork if you prefer that, or stick with making handmade items like mugs.
- Landscape Decorator: I made this up (if you see it somewhere else, it’s stolen) but it’s a great idea! You can plant seeds, flowers, and other plants in someone’s yard. How: Ask neighbors if they are interested in beautifying their yards by adding plants to their garden beds. Buy some basic gardening tools, dirt, and plants or flowers. Your job is to put the plants in and make them look nice. Most seedlings are available to buy at almost any store, especially in the spring, for just $5 or less.
- Balloon Shop: Have you ever seen those huge balloon pillars? Did you know you can buy that on Amazon? I bought one and made it for a Christmas party I had in my home. It was huge and spectacular! Everything you need is in the box. I do suggest setting one up for free, and then getting some reviews about to build yourself up. This balloon kit is $40 and it comes with the whole enchilada. Your customers will want certain colors so be sure to keep that $10 handy for their balloon colors.
- Sanitization Services: Offer to sanitize your local commercial companies or even schools. This can become expensive if you buy every chemical, but you only need to use one product, Clorox. Clorox gives you the chart to make your own solution to kill all viruses, germs, and more. This means you only need to buy basic cleaning supplies including masks which should be able to be bought at the local dollar store. How: Focus on sanitizing, not cleaning. You’re there to clear out any virus that could have been there in the entire building and has gone around from person to person. You would ask to come in after hours to sanitize the place after their janitorial staff is finished. I do suggest that you should want to have a signature smell that certifies the place has been sanitized from their standard janitorial services. Research organic scents like lemon, oranges, and jasmine, to signify a refreshing smell that doesn’t scream bleach.
- (New!) Custom Travel Cups: Did you know you can buy things in bulk from Dollar Tree? I found out that you can draw on cups with personalized ideas from there. They cost $1.25 each, but you have to buy the bulk which is $30 for 24 custom travel cups. I would suggest starting with local churches, clinics, businesses, family reunions, or your child’s school. This would even work for a friend’s job. Simply ask if you can use their logo and create it for them. Offer the service for at least $60 for 24 cups and make a $30 return on every order. How: If you have a printer, start by purchasing some sticker paper from Amazon or your local store. Remove the paper cup from the insulation. Take the logo you are given and make duplicate designs on the sticker paper. Print it, cut the sticker out, peel off the sticker, and smack it on the paper cup. Once you have placed it, reinsert the paper cup into the insulation and you’re done!
I will be adding more! Stay tuned!
ideas for business, small business, small business ideas, best business ideas business ideas to start, home business ideas, new business ideas, business ideas 2024