Ideas for Small Businesses Part 2 of 2
By James Pruitt, Senior Staff Writer
Small business opportunities are endless. You may have your own idea, but depending on your circumstances, there are so many potential opportunities. There is no limit to them. Some small business ideas require little overhead or almost no startup costs. Others do require a strong emotional commitment.
Remember, many of these fields require licensure. In some cases, such as accountants or lawyers, jurisdictions mandate these licenses to practice your profession. In others, the state or jurisdiction may offer a license that could step up your game as a small businessperson.
1. Home Organizer
Working in this field takes a special kind of expertise. Home organizing is an art form. As with many artists, home organizers should create a portfolio to demonstrate their skills. There are even companies that specialize in training home organizers as independent contractors. At the same time, sprucing up a messy house is in a field all its own. Professional organizers need to know what they’re doing before asking someone else to pay for their services.
2. Landscaper
Again, landscaping is an art. A portfolio might get you far. It helps to have experience or a special interest in the field. A green thumb can net you income on many fronts. A landscaping business may keep you busy with both residences and businesses. Also, growing your own plants can supply you with the stock for your own produce market! A talent for plants and landscaping can launch you on any of a series of trajectories as a small businessperson. With current water shortages, there are opportunities for creative, cost-effective low-water landscaping.
3. Moving Service
Management skills and a good means of transportation can suffice for a decent small-scale moving company. A local operator can employ two or three individuals part-time and serve their clients well. Perhaps contact a few furniture or appliance outlets to offer your services to their clients.
4. Music Teacher
Who said you can’t make a living off your musical talents? If you can play an instrument well, you can make over $50 an hour sharing your talents. To get started, you can connect with local music schools to find leads and get started. Again, music is a risky business to get into. For any artist, your heart needs to be in it.
5. Notary Public
A notary public verifies the legality of certain documents and bears witness to their signing. Once a notary has met certain licensing requirements, they can work from their own home or affiliate with a small business. There is a big demand for mobile notaries too.
6. Opening a Repair Shop
Whether computers, cars, bicycles, or electronics, the market for repairers is inexhaustible. Depending on your talents and interests, any of a range of endeavors can make a successful living for a talented repairperson.
7. Photographer
Weddings, headshots, family photos, and event photography can provide a skillful photographer with a steady income. However, the field is competitive, so a background in the field may help you stand out from the crowd.
8. Ride-Share Driver
Uber and Lyft have both provided opportunities for independent contractors. However, the status of these contractors is still up in the air. Cleaning up your car and creating a Lyft or Uber account may very well suit you well. However, a little creativity can get you further.
9. Personal Trainer
Fitness enthusiasts can have fun and make money at the same time by helping others on their fitness journey. Personal trainers can help their clients to avoid injury as well as get the right results in a reasonable time frame. Just consider any licensure requirements, depending on the jurisdiction. Certification in this field may increase your employment prospects.
Conclusion
Once you’ve made the decision to go out on your own, look to your own interests and talents. People who start small businesses may do so for many reasons. Small business opportunities may come naturally to you, or you may look to any of several ideas that might help you hang out a shingle.
In some cases, you may not be able to imagine doing anything else. In others, you may have obligations that restrict your ability to commit to a career where you don’t have flexibility. You may have your own idea for a small business. In other cases, you may need to start a small business because of your personal circumstances. In any case, the above leads can place you on a path and allow you to take your first steps toward an independent work life.
VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association hope that this first article of this two-part series has not only been valuable but provided some unique perspective. We work hard to bring you important, positive, helpful, and timely information and are the “go-to” online venue for Veteran and Military Business Owners. VAMBOA is a non-profit trade association. We do not charge members any dues or fees and members can also use our seal on their collateral and website. If you are not yet a member, you can register here:
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