What are some ideas for a small business?

@txgrl21 (819)
United States
October 8, 2012 6:43pm CST
I have one idea that I've been researching about for a while but it's too much money to start. I want to start a mini doughnut shop and just work big events and on weekends. The machine alone costs almost 4,000 and it's not even the one I prefer. If I had that kind of money right now I would definitely start my business but unfortunately I don't. Does anyone have any other ideas for a business that don't require too much money upfront? I've read about some online like a cleaning houses business but I don't think I would like that and that's kind of the whole point of owning your own business, to do something you actually enjoy and make money doing it.
3 people like this
20 responses
@celticeagle (159002)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Oct 12
If you have repair know how you could start repairing gadgets. I think that is going to be a rising need in the future and people will be looking for the cheapest one and alot of people will be in the business. The donut business is a great idea but on weekends only? People want donuts to go with the coffee during the week. ANd the police business you could get alone could put you in the millionaire bracket real fast. LOL
• India
9 Oct 12
IF YOU HASVE OWN COMPUTER OR LAPTOP THEN U CAN START DTP,PHOTOSHOP, DESIGNING, CD/DVD WRITING ,TRAIN TICKET BOOKING, MOBILE RECHARGE ,FLIGHT TICKETS, ETC. its doesnot cost much. why dont you think so
• Malaysia
9 Oct 12
This is a really good suggestion. You can start slowly by learning how these things work and start little so you wouldn't have to gamble your cash that you don't have. When things started getting better and making profits, that's where you can invest big for bigger profits.
@narnia007 (1050)
• India
19 Oct 12
Hey.you can get on with your doughnut business.Instead of buying a new machine,first try to get some doughnuts in large scale from a big factory in a discounted price and try selling them at a little lower price than other doughnut shops nearby,but see to it,you have at-least a 10% profit.If your business picks out among the crowd,get a loan or wait for your profits to reach 4000$ and then do business with your own machine.Once you get your own machine,your cost of input would be further reduced and thus you will start to get more profits.
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
14 Oct 12
Open a House of Ill Repute. I don't think there are enough of those. There ought to be one across from every church (especially here in Oklahoma City, where it seems like there's a church every 5 blocks).
• United States
15 Oct 12
Grow herbs. It's what I'm doing. With herbs you can make foods, teas, medicines, cosmetics, virtually anything. They are all natural, and the benefits are endless. Just look it up. I've been studying it lately and have plans to start the actual growing process by spring. Just and idea.
• Indonesia
10 Nov 12
Just search in search engine. Use PDF small business for keyword. It can more detail information
@artemeis (4194)
• China
9 Oct 12
Since you have a passion in culinary, I believe you will need to get the proper license for you to do your business which I think is a requirement by your country's law. If you cannot have your own shop space, then you may consider doing it from a service provider perspective like baking for special occasions i.e. birthdays, company tea receptions or even going door to door to introduce your confectioneries. Most of the successful confectioneries have such similar beginnings like this but I have to add that you will need to remember to start on the right foundation to protect your business and most of all, yourself. For the equipment wise, you may want to consider taking up a loan from family members or friends to get the right equipment than getting one that you do not have confidence or use of for your business. At the same time, you may want to offer providing home cook meals on delivery for working couples who cannot find time to make their own meals due to their lifestyle. You will probably have to come up with a weekly menu for each month and let interested couples order from you via mobile text or email or even have your own personal website.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Oct 12
I actually tend to think that it is really difficult for a stranger to give out ideas for a small business to a person that they don't know. The reason that I think that this is something that is difficult is because of the fact that when choosing a small business idea that will work for you, it is necessary to think about your own preferences and interests. With that said, I personally would like to be able to start a running service (running to the store, the pharmacy, etc.) in our area. It would fulfill a need that is not already fulfilled and it is something that I would enjoy.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
9 Oct 12
It depends on your expertise of which we know nothing of. Depending on the demand and supply ratio I think managing a creche for kids if you have the space or even taking up landscaped gardening would do well. I just surfed the net about rates for designing and executing a landscaped garden and this is what I found: "[i]Average charge $150 – $350 per square metre, based on - 60% for soft landscaping, (plants, soil, mulching, irrigation) - 40% for hard landscaping (decks, paving, walls etc)[/i]" This is just to give you a rough idea of the kind of money there is in this business.
• Philippines
9 Oct 12
Try your hand in food cart franchising businesses. They do have cheap working capital and good rate of return. The biggest hurdle will be the individual that you will hire to sell the stuff and the location proper. But I am sure that the franchise will always be there to support you out.
• Philippines
9 Oct 12
The most simple thing would be selling snacks to your office mates if you are allowed in the workplace. It should give you a small income which you can manage by yourself. You can also have a cellphone loading business. These are just my ideas.
@tinjan11 (75)
• Philippines
9 Oct 12
Starting a business really needs a capital. It also needs passion and determination.If you want a small investment that you can enjoy, I think you have to make a list first of the things that you enjoy to do. For example if you like to draw or paint, you can start a t-shirt printing business or a tarpaulin business. If you enjoy cooking, you can start a food delivery business. You can sell and deliver foods for snack or lunch to your co-workers or to your neighborhood. If you like gardening, you can grow flowers or vegetables in your backyard. Then, you can harvest and sell them to the market.I hope this simple tips can help you.
@superbadx (484)
• Malaysia
9 Oct 12
Well, i myself is still thinking about this. So far, all i can advise you is to that slowly and never bet on something you would regret is you lose the bet. Just start slowly and if you have extra cash, you can spend it on the business until it can stand on its own and you just got your own business.
@mikyung (2232)
• Philippines
9 Oct 12
You are right. They say that you should have a business that you really enjoy. It would be half the battle if we really like what we are doing. I believe this discussion is so timely that I'm also checking on some business ideas, even those small ones. Big ones came from those small enterprise, right. I hope that we can make our business plans into reality for we are not getting any younger now. Time is short indeed. Thanks and good luck.
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
9 Oct 12
Hi, Business always begin with a capital, the larger the amount, the bigger the return if managed properly. It is one immutable law of economics, land labor and capital. Without the one, there could be no business. You shall have to risk it or go bust.
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
9 Oct 12
Hi, I don't really have much ideas to share but I heard about this while attending a seminar before my husband and I got married. The speaker said that you don't really need a huge capital if you really want to put up a business. He said that there are products that you can actually sell that won't require capital. So if you're putting up a doughnut shop like you've mentioned, there are ice cream companies that would give you their products and you just have to pay them after they were sold. I am not really familiar about the terms and conditions. I am also thinking that if you're selling doughnuts, you can actually sell coffee or hot chocolate or sodas too. I saw this small coffee dispenser which only cost 5 pesos per cup of coffee or hot choco. You can also think about other items you can sell that goes with your product. My mother in law actually put up a small bakery in their house without really having a capital. All she did is ask the bakery owner to deliver pastry products early in the morning and she'll give the payment tomorrow morning when they came back to deliver again. I think it is like having commission to sell products so you don't really a capital. I hope that helps.
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
9 Oct 12
Hello! Don't you have a small machine or oven now at home? Maybe you should work from there first and do doughnut selling to friends, relatives and neighbors if you don't have enough capital now. What can you see is saleable now in your area? How about online selling? I can't suggest much because I don't know your neighborhood. For now, try searching here and learn from the others businesses. :)
@zhihao12 (363)
• Singapore
9 Oct 12
Basically, if you are selling products you will require a minimal amount of capital to start it off. And to push your business even further more capital will be required. You can say that its a tradeoff, the more expenses you spend, the more you will earn, its proportional. If you are thinking of earning without spending, then you are thinking of selling you services, which does not require much capital. This is somewhat less of a business since you are effectively working for others but it can still be called a smaller form business.
• United States
9 Oct 12
There are a lot of ways to start a small business with little money. You may take a look on considering selling something maybe on the sites like Ebay, Ioffer etc. As long as you have good source of the goods, you will make money and it does not require a lot for start
9 Oct 12
sorry my friends, I not understand with business or make money because my task now is study and always stady in school...