10 Businesses You Can Start Right Now
If you’ve been debating whether or not to start your own business, now is the time! A lot of work has slowed down since going on lockdown, and you’re not alone if you suddenly find yourself unemployed or on a reduced income. Remember, businesses do take time to gain momentum, and these will not immediately replace your full-time income, but these will help you earn additional money and may even turn into something more! Read on for my list of 10 businesses you can start today.
1. Start an Etsy shop
Do you make products? Maybe you’re a knitter, jewelry designer, or an artist. Or maybe you like to make candles or have a calligraphy hobby. Maybe you sell digital created products. Any product or DIY kit can be sold on Etsy. You can always set up your own online shop through your website, but Etsy is a trusted marketplace and already has its own base of customers. Think of your hobbies and talents or look at other Etsy shops to get some ideas of what you can sell.
2. Create a course
Are you a social media expert? Or maybe you’re an accounting genius. You have knowledge and training that people will pay to learn. Online courses are extremely popular right now. People at home are looking to learn new skills and expand their knowledge. There are a lot of platforms you can choose from (I like Teachable ), so take a look around and then get started! Courses are great sources of passive income once you’ve filmed and created the content. Your course can range from mini, introductory, or advanced. Or you can make all three! The sky is the limit.
3. Tutor online
With schools closed, parents are quickly becoming teachers so they can homeschool their kids. Online tutoring is a quickly growing field and is a great option right now because you can make your own schedule. Tutoring sessions typically last one hour at a time, and the more educated you are, the more you can charge per hour. Depending on your knowledge, you can tutor any subject. This is a great option for teachers, college students, or anybody knowledgable about a particular subject.
4. Become a Virtual Assistant
Businesses are still running, even if they have slowed down. As work pivots online, business owners need help scheduling email and social media platforms or handling administrative tasks. Reach out to local businesses, or check out entrepreneurial Facebook groups to see if anyone is looking for some extra help. This is a great option if you are organized and analytical.
5. Become a Social Media Manager
Social media management ties in with being a virtual assistant, but is specific to social media. Businesses often hire someone to run their social media channels, scheduling posts, engaging with followers, and creating content. You can charge an hourly fee, or arrange for a monthly retainer. Reach out to smaller businesses or single entrepreneurs – they’re more likely to outsource social media.
6. Join Fiverr or Upwork
Websites like Fiverr or Upwork are good places to find freelance projects, where you pitch a project based on your skills. Websites like these are a trusted platform that provides a space dedicated to freelance work. You can filter searches based on your skills, for example, graphic design, copywriting, translating or many more services. The more work you do on these sites, the more “trusted” you will be, and the more you can charge for your services. This is a great way to start a side hustle!
7. Start an editing business
Every business needs editors, and there are different types of editing services you can provide.
If you’re a good writer with a working knowledge of proper grammar, you can edit websites, emails, and articles/blog posts. If writing is your thing, you can also provide writing and copywriting services. If you’re not a writer, you can still be a video or podcast editor. Youtubers and podcasters are great people to reach out to, and you can charge more for high-quality work.
8. Join an affiliate marketing program / become an Influencer
Podcasts, just like blogs, and Youtube channels, can be monetized by joining an affiliate marketing program. Affiliate marketing helps you earn money promoting products you use. Every time someone purchases a product or services using your link or referral code, you earn a commission. There are different programs, but Amazon has the biggest affiliate program. Affiliate marketing works best if you are already talking about products or courses you use on your platform. For example, if you are already planning to link to a book on your blog, link to programs on your youtube channel, or beauty products you use on your social media, make sure you are part of a program that allows you to make money any time your readers buy that product you are recommending. Once you have enough big of an audience on your social platform, you can sell advertising spots or sponsorships trough your appearance.
9. Join a Network Marketing Company
There are so many Network Marketing Companies online that offer you a job without any experience or knowledge in their field. They train you step by step with a mentor how to start your online business selling their product. Different than in Affiliate marketing, you concentrate on only one product/service and get coaches how to grow in this business. Additional you also have severel income sources, not only the comission of the products but sometimes up to 6 different ways to get paid. You have recources, tutorials, and a community to support you. With Network marketing you wanna make sure that you truly love their product to sell from an authentic place. I think this is a great way to start if you are someone that needs to be pushed and supported.
10. Offer design services
Web design and graphic design services are always needed, especially now that businesses are focusing their efforts online. If you are good with visuals, this can be a side hustle that quickly turns into a full-time business. Reach out to businesses, look at Facebook groups, or take a look at Fiverr and Upwork for projects to get you started. Even businesses that already have websites can use a refresh or rebranding!
I share some simple online courses and option I did experience myself here:
Good luck, and remember, we’re all in this together! You’ve got this!
