Easy side hustles

Low-cost business ideas you can start with no money

Starting a business is often a pricey ordeal, but no- to low-cost ideas exist for aspiring entrepreneurs with unique and marketable talents. Take inventory of the skills you already possess, recommends Holly Reisem Hanna, founder of career blog The Work at Home Woman. List your past jobs, education, training, skills and passions to help identify vocational patterns that can guide you toward your new venture. “In this exercise, you want to go deep,” she says, “so include what you liked and didn’t like about past jobs, training and schooling.” Need more ideas to get the wheels turning? Consider these classic side jobs.

1 Consulting and teaching Your best assets are the knowledge and skills you already have. So whether you’re a math whiz, grammar guru or musical wunderkind, consider selling your well-honed expertise. While you may eventually want to spend a few dollars to get the word out about your services, you already have the tools you need to get started, which will help keep overhead low.

2 Manual work Everyday home maintenance and repairs have a habit of piling up, so if you’re naturally handy around the house, consider positioning yourself as a master of manual labor. Start by specializing in a niche area, like building your expertise in painting or landscaping to help build credibility among clients and not overextend yourself.

3 Pet services Americans shell out big bucks when it comes to their pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners spent $66.8 billion on their animals in 2016. If pets are your passion, you can start a dog-walking or pet-sitting business for little to no money. Later on, you could become a trainer, though you’ll want to invest in a certification to give your business credibility.

4 Personal training Cashing in on the fitness craze is a great idea for the athletic, and there are no required costs for starting out. You can start by working out with clients in public spaces like parks and focusing on body-resistance exercises. Consider investing in some gear, like resistance bands or weights. You’ll want to consider liability insurance to cover any client injuries.