Startup Costs: As little as $6 per shirt.
Details: Come up with witty slogans and sell your T-shirts online. Online T-shirt makers like CafePress have no minimum order requirements. Let them handle the fuss of ordering and printing. If you discover your a natural Van Gogh in the process, give the Threadless competition a try for a chance to win $2000 in cash and fame.
Photo Retouching
Startup Costs: $100 for photo-editing software like Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Details: Remove unwanted red-eye and strangers from photos or bring old photos back to life. Photoshop Elements makes this super simple with their magic tools. Start with your friends and family, and the word about your service will spread like wildfire.
Start a Blog
Startup Costs: Free or ~$10 for a personal domain and ~$8/month website hosting.
Details: Choose a niche you’re passionate about and write about it daily. Place contextual ads from Google or Yahoo on it to reap in the money. Services like Blogger and Typepad are free, but you don’t get your own custom domain. Shell out a little cash and get your own domain for a more professional look.
Answer Questions
Startup Costs: None.
Details: Are you the lifeline call that everyone makes when they’re on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? If so, you can sign up to be a Cha Cha guide and make between $5-10/hr answering questions.
eBay Business
Startup Costs: $120 for a compact digital camera.
Details: That pile of stuff in your garage that you consider junk may be a goldmine. Take it out of the box, snap of photo of it and list the sucker on eBay. More than 2 million people visit eBay every single day, spending an average of two hours navigating through eBay’s pages and listings.
Web Design
Startup Costs: $100 for web design software like Microsoft Frontpage
Details: Every business needs a web presence. Although there a many free templates available on the web, most are crap and clients are looking for something more first class. You can make anywhere from $500-1000 just by making a simple site for the local mom and pop shop down the street. For the clients that already have a website, they’ll need someone to keep help update it with fresh content.
Podcast
Startup Costs: $50 for a microphone.
Details: Can’t keep your opinions to yourself? Then you might as well starting recording and broadcasting them to others via podcasting. If enough folks listen to your podcast, you can sign up with an advertising service like Podtrac and earn some nice dough.
Make Videos
Details: Create funny videos and post them online. Video sharing sites like Revver share 50% of their ad revenue with you. The guys that made the Mentos + Diet Coke videos made over $30,000!
Affiliate Marketer
Startup Costs: None.
Details: Join another company’s affiliate program like Amazon Affiliates. Earn a commission each time someone you’ve referred makes a purchase. Affiliate programs vary on commission so shop around for the best deal.
Sell Your Own Service
Startup Costs: Nothing more than what you already pay.
Detail: Whether you’re a photographer, legal consultant, real estate agent, tutor or anything in between, you can make money by selling your services online. It’s an easy way to increase the your market share and revenue. Start by creating an online ad of what you can offer on free classified listing sites like Craigslist, which receives over 14 million visitors a month.
Not matter what your interests and hobbies are, there is a company out there selling products for it. They are known as Direct Sale Companies. You earn money through person-to-person sales, retail, home parties or fundraising. Some companies will provide you with a website for online sales.
The worst thing about this type of job is that is based solely on commission and you need to sell consistently in order to bring in a profit. The good part? Commissions are usually high (20-50%) and you can earn free merchandise as a reward for good sales.
To get started, you need to invest in a Starter Kit from the company, which usually includes sample products, brochures or catalogs, and all necessary forms and applications.
Some companies with a proven record of good sales are: Pampered Chef (sells cookware, kitchen gadgets, and seasonings; Starter Kit is $90), Petra Fashions (lingerie; Bronze Kit is $79; others available), Discovery Toys (educational toys, books, games, and software; Standard Kit, $99), Country Bunny Bath & Body (bath, body, and spa products; their Managing Services Program is $89), White Lily Candles (Choice Kit, $80; cheaper kits are available).
Discount benefits plans can be medical only, or cover dental, vision, prescription, and sometimes chiropractic services. They are aimed to people without insurance that want to save money on medical assistance. This is a relatively new service, so there is little competition out there and a potential for great income.
Although you start with direct sales, you can also make money by enlisting other brokers, which would earn a percentage for you with every sale they make.
AmeriPlan is the top selling plan on the market. You pay $95 for the Basic Broker Kit and then $35 each month to continue as a broker. This includes a free coverage plan for you and all household members and a free website to promote your business. You make a 30% commission on every enrollment.
Contrary to popular belief, there are legitimate online companies that regularly conduct market research and will pay for your opinion. Besides monetary compensation, you will also get to keep any product you are asked to test.
There are also thousands of scammers that will ask you to sign (and pay) for something before you “qualify” to participate in a survey. Don’t do it! Legitimate companies will never ask for anything from you except that you fill out a questionnaire.
Some legitimate companies that pay for surveys: Baker Street Solutions, 20/20 Research, Bellwether Surveys, and American Consumer Opinion. Google them for more information.
Everyone knows by now how eBay works – You list an item for sale, let people bid, collect payment, and then haul the package to the post office to ship.
Start by doing your research. Look at what sells and for what prices, check out the fee structure (you pay both an insertion fee and a percentage of the final sale price), read the Public Forums and the Help section on the website. Buy something for yourself to experience the process firsthand.
Thrift stores and garage sales are a great source of designer clothes, popular toys, and other items that consistently do well on eBay. Always take advantage of end-of-season sales and after-Christmas specials.
Finding a niche can be the key to success. Maybe you live near an outlet that sells discounted brand-name merchandise? Maybe you have access to specialty merchandise such as As-Seen-On-TV products or hot collectibles? A few years ago, a woman made a remarkable income on eBay by selling high-end breastfeeding garments she bought from a local shop at steep discounts.
If you are an artist of some kind, you already have the foundation for a new business. Ceramics and pottery are especially saleable, but you can branch into anything you like, from wood ornaments to pressed flowers to scrapbooking.
Start small, attending craft or county fairs, flea markets, or renaissance fairs. Talk to other artists to see what sells and what doesn’t. If you strike a friendship with another crafter, you can offer to share the expenses of a booth with him or her. In smaller fairs, you can buy your own table. Unless you are thinking of participating only in fine art and juried shows, keep in mind that most crafts are impulse buys and they should be priced accordingly (usually under $50).
Other places to sell your crafts are consignment shops and farmers markets. Also check sampler, an online magazine that will advertise your crafts for a small commission on sales.
If you are qualified in an academic subject, you could take up tutoring. Math and foreign languages are always in demand, but many other subjects work as well. You can also offer after-school help with homework or test preparation.
Another option is to teach an arts and crafts or any other specialty class at a local community center. After you’ve gained some experience, or if you are truly an expert, search for a Learning Annex and explore the possibilities of teaching a workshop or presenting a lecture.
There is little to no investment required to set up this business, unless you count some incidentals, such as office supplies and maybe some used books (visit library sales for this) on the subject you plan to teach.
Start by advertising in the service directory of your local newspaper and taking on small, general house cleaning jobs until you get used to the dynamics of it. Later on you can target companies, building managers, office directors, etc. for large scale jobs, which offer the advantage of being more regular and can guarantee a fixed income.
Most jobs will provide you with their own cleaning supplies, so there is little investment required on your part aside from advertising costs.
Although not obligatory in many cities, consider getting licensed. Not only it will provide some sort of insurance should something happen to you while at work, but it will also open doors to major companies that may be reluctant to hire you otherwise.
Virtual assistants are the secretaries of the new millennium. Besides providing all the standard administrative support (word processing, copywriting, database management), they can also offer web design and maintenance, proofreading services, event planning, or public relations guidance. The more skills you possess, the more marketable you will be as a VA.
Work assignments are handled through email or overnight shipping, so there’s little to no need for commuting.
Since this is a freelance position, you could charge by the hour or by the project. Pay usually starts around $20/hour, although it can go much higher in large cities.
Small medical offices offer the most employment possibilities, as they may be in need of somebody to handle medical records, and insurance billing or transcriptions, but do not want to hire a full-time secretary.
To market yourself, print and distribute flyers to local businesses. Have business cards printed and hand them out at every opportunity.
A consultant is an expert in any subject who helps others make the best of an event or a situation. A classic example is the bridal consultant, who’s in charge of planning a wedding to the minimum detail. Other popular areas of consulting: Art, Image, Feng Shui, and Websites & Computers. Event Planners are also consultants with a different name; so are Life Coaches, a very popular and lucrative enterprise nowadays.
Find a niche you can fill –Although there are thousands of Feng Shui consultant, you can differentiate yourself by specializing in Feng Shui for busy people or Feng Shui for the newborn.
Start by picking a field you enjoy and learning as much as you can about it. Find an online class, attend workshops and lectures, or consider a professional certification if one is available on your field.
Build a portfolio. Offer your services for free to friends and family members in exchange for reference letters. Take a few representative photographs of the final product for your portfolio.
Subscribe to online forums or associations. Read what others have to say and ask questions. A good place to get started is The Association of Professional Consultants (CONSULTAPC).
Pet Sitting – Just as the name implies, it entails taking care of animals, usually when the owners go away on vacation. Many pet sitters take animals into their own homes (works only if you have the space and no pets of your own) or visit the animals twice daily. Don’t limit yourself to dogs and cats –There is an ever increasing market for owners of birds, fish, and other small animals.
Dog Trainer – Dog trainers help with proper housetraining techniques, teach animals to follow commands, and provide assistance with choosing the right type of breed for every individual. They can also handle common behavior problems (excessive barking, biting, etc.) and train animals for shows and competitions. The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) offers assistance to potential dog trainers, as well as a certification exam. Check their website for more information.
Dog Walker – Although the primary responsibility is simply to take the animals out for a walk, many dog walkers do much more than that. To set yourself apart, you can learn to plan exercise routines for overweight pets, administer medications, or offer pet boarding as part of your service. Most dog walkers take several dogs at a time and charge by the hour; you can also offer the option of “private walking” and charge more.
Dog Groomer – Dog groomers are in charge of maintaining the overall appearance of the animal, including trimming and shampooing the coat, nail clipping, and brushing and combing. Many start working at pet shops or boarding kennels to gain experience before opening their own business. Mobile dog grooming is a thriving business, which entails the groomer driving to the client’s house, usually in a van, which is equipped with all necessary tools for a complete grooming. For more information, check the NDGAA (National Dog Groomers Association of America) website.
It’s always a good idea to be prepared for emergency situations. The American Red Cross offer a First Aid/CPR for Pets certification. Even if you never have a need for it, it would show potential clients you are a serious professional.
Everybody is an expert on something.
Maybe your passion for something has lead you to be more educated than most when it comes to the topic. Maybe your current job has given you the skills and knowledge to be able to train others brand new to the industry. Whatever the case, there are plenty of people willing to pay for the information you have on top of your shoulders.
Scaling the business could mean developing a program to deliver to your clients either through email or a membership website. It could also mean hiring other employees which you have personally trained.
The key here is to realize that “expert” is merely a frame of mind on how to label yourself. You don’t have to be the best — just more knowledgeable than most. Of course, Startup Launchr is NEVER an advocate of ripping off your customers — be sure to always provide value.
Examples:
SEO/SEM consultant
Small business marketing consultant
Social/dating/life coach
Want to get started selling but don’t necessarily have the patience to create your own product? Maybe you came across a certain book or product that you find so compelling, and believe that you could spread the word about it.
Many people make good money as resellers and affiliates for products and services. You don’t need to keep an inventory, handle orders, deliver items, deal with pissed off customers, and every other headaches that come with your own business. Once the customer purchases an item through your link, you get paid and your job is done.
Examples:
Clickbank Marketplace
E-Junkie Marketplace
Other infoproducts that include affiliate programs
Got an eye and a hand for design and illustrating your own clothing? You can make money by selling your own clothes and accessories online. Publish-on-demand websites like Cafepress.com and Zazzle.com allow you to sell your own products without manufacturing anything.
Of course, your profits are much less per item sold, but this eliminates the need for a high investment in capital in something you’re not sure that’s going to sell just yet.
Examples:
Specializing in bags with environment-friendly designs
Selling shirts for people who frequent clubs, bars and parties
Selling merchandise (such as mugs, mousepads, etc.) with office humor (“I Heart Spreadsheets”)
Closely related to consulting, you might want to give freelancing a shot. Companies usually prefer outsourcing work to freelancers as this allows them to save on hiring permanent employees.
Be careful, however — set this up the wrong way, and all you’ll get for yourself is another job, not a business. Don’t sell yourself; instead, sell the company brand and the results you can deliver. This allows you to hire others in the future, employees that you’ll be able to train with your expertise.
Examples:
Copywriter
Graphic designer
Programmer
Photographer
Blogger
If you know your way around programming and computer languages, consider building a better piece of software or a web application. There are plenty of software out there that has a weak user interface (*ahem* Microsoft *ahem*) and can be drastically improved on.
A popular trend for web apps is the “freemium” model; that is, having a free option so users can test your product, and if they want more features they can opt to pay for it.
Examples:
Basecamp
PlanHQ
CampaignMonitor
Clicky
Can you build a website that connects two groups of people together? There are many profitable online companies whose model is based on matching two groups of people with each other.
One thing to consider with this business model is monetizing it. You can either charge people for using the service (Monster.com charges employers to post jobs), charge people when an actual transaction takes place (eBay takes money from the sale when the item is sold), or you can run with the free model supported by advertising (plentyoffish runs a free dating service supported by advertising).
Examples:
eBay.com
FreelanceSwitch job boards
WorldWideBrands.com
Match.com
It’s easier than ever to become a published author these days. If you have a knack for writing (either fiction or non-fiction), there are resources like Lulu.com and the aforementioned Cafepress.com that allow you to self-publish your own work.
Consider the blog-to-book model, or “blook.” Write out a chapter (or part of a chapter) one blog post at a time. It’s a great model considering you’ll get constant feedback from people who are eventually going to purchase your book.
Examples:
Hackoff.com
Getting Real
Stuff White People Like
Are you passionate about a certain subject and think you could devote the time to write dozens, even hundreds, of articles about it? You might consider blogging as an option.
Many high profile blogs out there pay at least $50 per post, which isn’t bad money for 1-2 hours of your time. You can build your own blog as well, and monetize it through selling advertisements or your own products. Blogging is an excellent method to develop a relationship with your potential customers.
Examples:
FreelanceSwitch
Copyblogger
Problogger
Startup Launchr ;)
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