11 Businesses You Can Start Up Now.

Introduction

Every day we speak to entrepreneurs and new business owners who want the freedom and potential earnings of launching a successful self-owned business. We understand the challenges of starting a business and that it takes time and effort. BizUp strives to reduce that effort by providing turnkey business solutions to help our clients get up and running quickly. 

We also find that many aspiring business owners do not know what type of business they want to start, but they are motivated to start "something" quickly. As a result, we will list 11 easy-to-start business ideas to help you begin generating side income. We will also share some additional considerations to ensure your new business has the best chance of success.

Quick-start Business Ideas

Below are 11 easy-to-start business ideas meant to provide inspiration for new entrepreneurs and point them toward business ventures that they will love and grow. Most of these have minimal startup costs. Be sure to consider your unique strengths, skills, interests, and resources when choosing your new business. 

1. Yardwork

If you have a 9-to-5, spending weekends doing yard work may not be very appealing. However, with a little flexibility and creativity, yardwork may be an easy-to-start business venture.

A simple landscaping company may cut the grass but not do things such as weeding, planting, raking, and fertilizing. Yardwork can earn year-round income as it can offer snow removal, leaves removal, and pre-season yard care services.

There is no shortage of people who perform yardwork at very reasonable rates. So, if your lawn care service can simply manage others actually performing the work for a very good profit.

2. Software training

Today's digital world moves quickly. And with so many types of software available on your desktop, online, and mobile, people are always seeking training. Not everyone is inclined to read technical manuals and watch YouTube for programs like QuickBooks, Shopify, MS Office, and Photoshop.

If you're a master of these or other programs — and have patience and enjoy teaching others — marketing yourself to software users who need assistance and training could be the way to go. There's flexibility and multiple revenue opportunities because you can schedule one-on-one sessions for a premium price or group sessions.

3. Errand service

Running errands for other people is becoming more and more popular. Platforms like TaskRabbit, Abgi, and Handy give you access to multiple opportunities to earn money by doing chores, tasks, pickups, and drop-offs in your community. The world is busy, and people will hire you for services they don't have the time, talent, or equipment to handle themselves.

4. Social media management

There are companies that cannot afford to have full-time staff to run their small-to-medium-sized business social media efforts. If you're good at social media, you could offer freelance social media management services to these companies.

Services could include photography, editing, and post-scheduling for a flat or package fee. In addition, there are tools such as Hootsuite, Sendible, and Zoho Social that make social media management a breeze.

5. Freelance services

As more people are "quiet quitting" and working from home, this part-time economy requires so many companies to look for freelance or contract employees. Building a business around providing freelance services is a wonderful business idea. Whether your skills are writing, editing, graphic design, coding, or even managing, there's likely a freelance opportunity out there.

Websites like Upwork and Freelancer will show the type of work that's out there. And using their paid services will allow you to begin bidding on projects. Freelancing is also a great way to start a business.

6. Selling on eBay

Selling on eBay is a fast way to start an online resale business. Whether you're selling handmade products or items you don't use anymore, eBay is a great way to earn extra money.

List your items with set prices, or take bids to get the most value. Starting a business on eBay takes a few minutes. You can consign old clothes, vintage items, handmade products, equipment, and more. You could even scour flea markets, yard, rummage, and estate sales to add to your inventory.

In addition to eBay, there are other platforms in this space such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, Etsy, and Amazon Marketplace. 

7. Pet sitting

Pets are part of the family and people are always looking for trustworthy people to walk, feed, play with, and shelter their pets while they're away. If you love animals and have enough knowledge to care for them over a short period, consider a pet-sitting business.

Pet sitting has become popular as a student startup, but the business is suitable for any responsible animal lover. Pet owners are willing to pay a premium to ensure their pets are cared for with love and respect. This is an easy business to start and does not require a lot of equipment or inventory to begin.

8. Cleaning service

The days of housekeeping only being for the rich and famous are in the past. As people are becoming busier and busier every day, they are looking for ways to make their lives easier. 

Cleaning services can be general or very specific to a particular chore. The initial investment is relatively small considering that you only need basic cleaning supplies to get this business off the ground. You should also know basic cleaning techniques and generally be neat and organized. Most importantly, you must be reliable and able to maintain a schedule.

9. Delivery service

With a reliable vehicle and a joy for driving, a delivery service may be the business for you. People and businesses are willing to pay for the convenience of having items delivered. There are so many delivery-company options out there, but the market is still competitive. The Department of Transportation has been warning for over a decade that there is a shortage of drivers, which means there is a market. If your business provides reliable, cost-effective, efficient, and personalized delivery options, then this business may be for you.

10. Hauling

Many people are downsizing. Others have old sofas or appliances that just are not going to fit in their vehicle. Hiring an expensive commercial moving van and movers, waiting for schedules to match with theirs, or finding a way to move bulky items or piles of smaller items is a daily challenge for several people. There is an entire market that needs hauling options and is willing to pay a premium for it. If you have a roomy vehicle or trailer, setting up a hauling business may be the way to go.

11. Tutor

Having graduated four children from college, I fully understand the challenges of keeping your children focused. Tutoring is an excellent business idea that can extend to students of all ages and abilities. Whatever you're good at — or excelled at in school — offering your expertise to others can pay very well. Select the subject matter, age, and skill level you're most comfortable with and offer both in-person and online sessions. Similar to Software Training, your business offering can include both individual or group sessions.

Starting a business takes time and effort

This list of business ideas that are easy to start does not mean that they are easy. BizUp provides multiple products to make starting a business as turnkey as possible. Starting the business with the right foundation of legalities, financial organization, operations, and marketing are just a few areas that every business must address in order to succeed.

But you don't have to go at it alone. BizUp is here to help understand local, state, and federal regulations. We help do your due diligence so you don't have to carry all of the freight. Below are a few items to start:

Decide on a business legal structure.

Choose the best legal structure for your business. Most businesses we've highlighted will do fine as sole proprietorships, however, familiarize yourself with the differences between sole proprietorships, LLCs, S-Corps, C-Corps, and non-profits. Weight the pros and cons of each business structure before making a decision.

Understand your tax situation.

There's nothing more important than to protect yourself and your assets. Some of this is handled with the business structure, but you will also want to understand the tax implications of starting your business. Feel free to contact our partners at BOSS Taxes to help demystify business and taxes. 

Obtain insurance.

At a minimum, the business should be bonded and/or have small business insurance that includes liability protection. This is particularly important if the business will handle other people's property.

In Conclusion

From these 11 businesses we hope that you can find an idea that is sound and help you launch your new business venture. We have helped people, just like you, launch their businesses in a matter of hours, not months. Share your idea with people you trust, start small, and ensure you are always in compliance. 

There are people out there who need your services and are happy to pay you to help them. Get started today!

**Adam Uzialko contributed to the reporting and writing of this article. 

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