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Whether you're worried about job security at work or simply dream of captaining your own ship, you're not alone. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy, 99.9% of American businesses are small.
Small businesses employ more than 46% of the private sector. There are more than 33 million small businesses up and running, meaning a whole lot of us have left corporate life behind and headed for greener pastures. If you have a big dream but a small budget, here are five small businesses that can take off, even without a bank loan or venture capitalist financing.
Auto detailing
If you cannot understand why anyone would allow their vehicle to look like it's just been driven through a desert, auto detailing may be for you. Basic cleaning equipment is all you need to get started. For around $100, you can pick up all you need, including soap, rags, a bucket, squeegees, and automotive cleaning solutions.
Professional auto detailers charge between $65 and $450 per vehicle, depending on the degree of work required. And as long as a water source is available, you can meet your clients wherever it's convenient. That might be their driveway or the parking lot outside their workplace (as long as the business owner approves). As your business grows, appointment scheduling software can help you stay on track.
Home-based meal preparation
If you have time and are confident in the kitchen, there's a market for home-cooked meals. Start by meeting with interested clients and learning more about their dietary preferences. Based on the foods they enjoy, offer them a small number of meal options to get started. They may only need your services a few times a week or daily.
The average profit margin for meal prep businesses ranges from 10% to 20%, which is not huge. Once you get your feet wet and are comfortable with your meal prep and delivery process (unless meals are to be picked up at home), you'll need to scale up to make a healthy profit.
That means adding new clients and offering a single weekly menu from which clients can choose. That way, you can prepare large batches of meals ahead of time and freeze them until they're delivered.
Gardening and landscaping
Your expertise determines the services you offer to those who lack the time or physical ability to beautify their property. You can start small by offering to plant, weed, and water gardens or branch out to mowing, trimming, and fertilizing.
ZipRecruiter reports that the average hourly rate for gardeners nationwide is $21. Like at-home meal preparation, you'll want to scale your business if you're seeking a full-time income. Otherwise, it's a great way to earn extra income while enjoying the great outdoors.
Note: Some states require you to have a license if you work with fertilizers. If you live in a state without such a requirement, your local county extension office or state agriculture department can provide you with fertilizer-related requirements for your area. While fertilizer may be helpful, it can harm plants or the environment if improperly applied.
Professional organizer
Research shows that clutter leads to increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Looking at a disorganized room or pile of unorganized papers can overwhelm us. The opposite is also true -- our brains find a well-organized space restful and restorative. In short, a tidy home inspires a tidy brain.
However, some people don't have the time to organize their homes, while others aren't sure where to begin. That's where you come in as a professional organizer. If organizing is your game, why not turn that talent into a profitable business?
Your start-up costs will be minimal. Other than basic cleaning supplies (rags for dusting those items that haven't seen the light of day in years and trash bags to toss or donate items your client is willing to part with), you won't need much.
If you love what you're doing, you may want to take a professional organizing course from an organization like the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) or even become a Certified Professional Organizer. ZipRecruiter reports that professional organizers earn, on average, $1,080 per week or $27 per hour.
Translator
If your superpower is speaking and reading multiple languages, why not turn it into a business? While translators don't need a formal education, you may want to gain some experience before advertising your services.
Gaining experience can be as simple as volunteering to translate for a small business or civic organization. The goal is to practice your skills and gain endorsements from people who can act as references as your business gets off the ground.
One of the great things about translating is that you can work entirely online, in person, or a mix of both. According to ZipRecruiter, document translators are paid an average of $28 an hour, and in-person interpreters earn an average of $32 per hour.
Get help getting started
Is starting your own business a sure thing? Unfortunately, no. There's not always a market for the goods or services a new business offers. That's what makes research so important.
Before determining the right business for you, figure out what's in demand. If you need help, the Small Business Administration (SBA) can serve as a great resource. Whether you need entrepreneurial training or want to work with a mentor, the SBA's experience helping small businesses is unmatched.
The good news is, like each business idea listed here, you don't have to spend a small fortune to get your business off the ground.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. Dana George has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .
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