Thirty Low Cost Businesses You Can Start

If you have been looking for work, and just can't seem to find a job that really fits your skill sets, have you ever thought about starting your own business? Most of us think having a business involves a lot of planning and a great amount of start-up money. In some cases, this may be true, however, there are many low cost businesses you can start. You don't have to be a business major to begin-- just begin.

As you get started, things will begin to fall into place. Give yourself a generous three years to build up your clientèle and iron out the kinks. Then savor the good feeling of knowing you can now generate your own income. If you like being your own boss, that too, is a bonus point to consider.

Here are 30 low cost businesses you can start:

1. window washing service
2. janitorial and cleaning services for homes and businesses
3. in-home day care for infants and children
4. in-home day care for seniors
5. lawn and shrubbery service
6. landscaping
7. rototilling/garden preparation
8. tree trimming
9. gutter cleaning
10. rug cleaning
11. house sitting -- living in a house until the occupants return
12. dog sitting - caring for the dog/dogs until the owner returns
13. cat sitting - caring for the cat/cats until the owner returns
14. horse grooming and care
15. dog breeding
16. massage therapy - (There are 11 states in the United States which do not regulate this business . The other 39 have regulations and rules. Check with your state's rules for giving massages. You may call a school of massage. )
17. catering - private affairs/weddings
18. tutoring
19. musical instrument lessons (piano, organ, guitar, and others)
20. buying and selling used musical instruments
21. making and selling artificial floral arrangments
22. designing and making custom made pillows
23. grant writing for clients needing finished proposals
24. buying and selling goverment auctioned lands (Most municipalities have annual land auctions acquired when owners default on their taxes. Many pieces of land are sold far below market value. Check with the assessor's office in your locale.
25. selling and installing burglar alarm systems
26. junking-- collecting items on trash days for recycling or resale
27. resale shops -- rent consignment booths
28. light hauling of small items/furniture
29. bicycle repair and sales
30. transporting Medicare/Medical patients to and from the hospital or doctors' appointments.

Most locales require a DBA or a "Doing Business As" permit. These can generally be gotten at your local court house for a small fee. The DBA allows you to open up a checking account with your business' name.

Check with your country and state to see what other requirements are needed. Please be advised that advertisements (ads, business cards, word of mouth, or referrals) will be your first order of business. As you build your clientèle, you will soon see you have more business than you can handle. Don't panic at that point-- be happy!