30 Low-Cost Business Ideas For Beginners

30 Best Small Business Ideas To Start In 2022

For most of these small business ideas, all you’ll need is a laptop and access to an internet connection. Plus, a big drive to learn, work hard, and experiment.

And remember: what really makes the difference is action.

At some point, you just need to stop reading and start doing.

One step at a time.

1. FREELANCE WRITING

There is a certain romanticism to freelance writing. Picture Hunter S. Thompson sitting at a typewriter, smoking from his Cruella Deville cigarette holder.

But these days, freelance writing is so much more than that. Whether as a side hustle or full-time, it is, quite simply, one of the best small business ideas out there.

Don’t believe me? Check out Holly, who started freelance writing in 2011 while still working a full-time job. When she earned $40,000 from writing in her first year, she quit her job to pursue freelancing full time. She now consistently makes over $200,000 per year!

But where do you start?

First, ask yourself what type of writing you would like to do.

Feature writing

You could be writing feature articles for online magazines or newspapers. Ideally, you want to specialize in a field and become an expert. Think about real estate, nutrition, health, digital marketing.

But don’t niche down too soon. Start by creating a portfolio of articles on different topics, and practice your writing as much as you can. Publish your posts on Medium, Reddit, or Quora, to get feedback and figure out what you are good at.

Once you have a solid grasp of what you want to write about, look for jobs on websites like Flexjobs or small gigs on Upwork and Fiverr.

Ghostwriting

If you don’t mind writing for someone else and letting them take credit for your work, ghostwriting can be something to consider.

As a ghostwriter, you will be creating articles, blog posts, books, or other materials for someone else who then puts their name on it.

A great place to start is looking for gigs on the Pro Blogger job board.

Copywriting

There is an incredible demand for written content online. Think about it: every business out there needs content for their website, emails, and sale pages.

As a copywriter, you will produce creative content to help businesses engage clients and market their goods. You’ll basically need to be able to sell boring products like hotcakes!

Copywriting can be an extremely lucrative business to be in. An experienced copywriter can charge over $200 per hour.

Want to know more about starting a freelance writing business? Check out my in-depth guide: How to Become a Freelance Writer.

And if you want to get serious, check out Holly’s course for online freelance writers.

2. START A BLOG

Ok, so maybe I’m biased, but the absolute best way to become a freelance writer is one not mentioned above.

It’s simple. If you want to turn a love for writing into a profitable business, start a blog!

You are, of course, reading my blog right now, and for that, I thank you. Back in 2017, I launched Gathering Dreams with no prior experience, nothing to draw upon except big dreams and hard work.

And guess what?

Today, I am the humble proprietor of a six-figure blog that receives over 600,000 page views every month!

Believe me, if I can do it, so can you!

I know what you’re thinking.

When you write for a magazine, a business, or an individual, obviously, they pay you. But what about a blog? How do you actually make money blogging?

The secret is two little words – affiliate marketing.

In short, affiliate marketing is when you earn a commission for recommending products or services to your readers. Businesses will pay you, the affiliate, every time your recommendation leads to a sale.

Does this really work?

Well, after only four months of blogging, I was making over $1,200/month from affiliate marketing alone.

But there are plenty of other ways to monetize your blog, depending on the stage of your blog and the approach you want to take:

• Advertising
• Selling physical products
• Selling digital products
• Get paid to sponsor products or services
• Hosting webinars

Want to know more about starting a blog? Check out my in-depth blogging guide, in which I share all the steps you need to take to start a successful blog that makes money.

Build a niche website

What’s the difference with a blog, I hear you ask?

Well, in principle, there is no difference. They are both a type of websites with articles about specific topics. But niche websites are normally targeting a much more specific set of keywords.

The aim is to nail down exactly what you want to sell and create high-quality content around those products or affiliate offers by going after profitable keywords.

So what does this mean in simple terms? Succulents And Sunshine is a gardening blog. But its niche is succulents. It focuses on a smaller segment of the gardening niche.

Niche websites normally create content optimized for Google, and once they are set up, they can provide a great source of passive income.

If you are interested in building a niche website, check out Income School YouTube Channel! They have some incredible free content to help you get started.

3. FREELANCE PROOFREADING AND EDITING

So, you like the idea of working with words but not necessarily the thought of creating them all?

Quick! What is your opinion on the Oxford comma?

If the mere consideration of this question makes your blood boil, then you may make an excellent freelance editor or proofreader.

• Editors work with writers throughout the writing process, checking their work for spelling, grammar, and sentence structure (potential editors will see where I stand on the Oxford comma from this sentence). Editors can even comment on storylines or characters, helping with the foundational development of the work.
• Proofreaders, on the other hand, give a piece of writing the final once-over to ensure it’s free of errors, standing as the last line of defense before a piece goes to market. It’s kind of exciting if you think about it, being the only thing standing between the writer and disaster.

In short, writers want to pay you to correct their mistakes. And they pay well.

Just look at Nikki from Precise and Be Smarter Now.

As a struggling single mother of two looking for home business ideas with a low start-up cost, she turned to provide freelance proofreading and editing services to businesses, writers, and students.  Nikki now makes $4,000-6,000 every month!

Ready to get started? Learn how to become a proofreader then check out my definitive guide to the best online proofreading jobs. Or check out this incredible free training that will have you earning money as a proofreader in 30 days!

4. ACCOUNTING AND BOOKKEEPING

Perhaps it is not words that you love. For all you number crunchers and excel fanatics out there, I see you!

Tax preparation is one of the most lucrative small business ideas you can start.

Bookkeeping

Every small company out there needs to keep track of expenses, invoicing, and payrolls.

And as a freelance bookkeeper, you will take care of that. You will help with recording sales, filing receipts, and paying their bills.

Here is the best news: you don’t need any specific qualifications to become a bookkeeper. Yes, if you are good with numbers, you can start a freelance bookkeeping business today!

In fact, there are many freelance bookkeeping jobs listed right now on marketplaces like Flexjobs.

For inspiration, check out Jenna’s story.

Jenna left her corporate career to have more flexibility. After taking a course to brush up on her skills, she set out as a freelance bookkeeper.

These days, Jenna works with 15 clients and is on track to make $75,000 in her second year while working from home and looking after her 2 kids.

How can you be like Jenna? Start by checking out my guide: How to Become a Bookkeeper from Home. Then look for the best online bookkeeping jobs here.

Tax Preparation

If you’re a numbers wiz looking for side business ideas, consider freelance tax preparation for more seasonal work. Normally, you’ll be helping individuals to prepare their tax returns as it’s less complicated than businesses.

It’s not hard to get started – of the just under 725,000 tax preparers in the US, some 600,000-700,000 are non-credentialed.

Just look for tax training resources at your local community college or low-cost courses at national tax preparation firms like H & R Block, Liberty Tax Service, and Jackson Hewitt Tax Services.

Then get an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number, and you’re good to go!

5. VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

With so many people working from home, the virtual assistant industry is now one of the top five fastest-growing industries in the US.

It’s been said that a virtual assistant does everything a regular assistant does except bringing their employer coffee. You will be working remotely and carry out all types of tasks for your clients.

As a virtual assistant, you may be responsible for:

• Booking appointments
• Making travel arrangements
• Data entry
• Website Management
• Content Production
• Customer Service

If this small business idea intrigues you, check out my comprehensive breakdown to find out how to become a virtual assistant with no experience.

Then start looking for jobs on websites like Flexjobs.

Need motivation?

Look at Abbey, who started a virtual assistant business just after having her first baby and managed to get enough clients to be fully booked in just one month.

Want to learn more? Head on over to Abbey’s page here, where she’s giving you access to an incredible free training video to help you get started.

open next page to continue reading….