Are you thinking about starting a small business? If so, having an entrepreneurial drive is only half the battle. To begin the journey into the business world, you need a practical business idea that is in demand and will have a competitive advantage over the hundreds or thousands of others already established in the industry. Better still, you can invent a brand-new concept and capitalize on it. Here are some lucrative startup business ideas that you can consider and which have the potential for growth.
Graphic Design Company
Despite the proliferation of digital communication devices, print media is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Businesses need graphic designers to create magazines, newsletters, business cards, information sheets, flyers, product labels, advertisements, and other types of print media. Even firms that have websites or operate online require graphic design services for their content creation and marketing needs. Starting a graphic design company can be a great way of tapping into this ever-growing industry.
As a startup graphic design business, you can target other startups and small businesses as you work your way up to medium-sized and large firms. If you want local clients, join local associations such as small business councils and attend local events. Create an appealing business card, brochures, and flyers which you can pass out during these occasions. Make the most effective use of social media platforms to advertise your business too. If there are design jobs that you can’t do, contract a few experienced freelancers. As your business picks up, you can expand by hiring other full-time graphic designers.
Cleaning Business
The residential and commercial cleaning service industry provides numerous business ideas for startups. Offices, retail spaces, restaurants, manufacturing stations, and homes need regular cleaning services. These include floor cleaning, window cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and parking lot cleaning, among others. All you need is to achieve this dream is invest in quality cleaning equipment and tools and find experienced personnel for the job. House cleaning is a good starting place as you may not have to spend much on advertising. Most clients come by word of mouth through recommendations. If you want to get into residential cleaning, consider approaching real estate agents. They often hire cleaners to prepare homes for sale.
As for commercial cleaning, you can approach hotels, businesses, retail stores, and offices in your target location. Hotels and restaurants are usually in need of thorough daily cleaning to attract and retain clients. Consider providing services during after-office hours, over the weekends, and on holidays as this can give you a competitive advantage over other cleaning services in the area. These periods are usually convenient for most businesses and commercial spaces as the cleaning does not disrupt day operations.
Online Freelance Writing
The freelance writing industry has been booming over the past decade, and you can easily build a startup business around your skills as a freelance writer. Several platforms offer hundreds of projects daily and which you can consider as a starting point. The greatest advantage of this business is that you don’t need much capital to start. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and exceptional grammar. Work is available in various fields such as graphic design, content writing, proofreading and editing, copywriting, technical writing, and transcription. You can make thousands of dollars every month from the comfort of your home.
As you grow in this field and acquire skills, you can consider starting a small freelance business. You don’t have to start your freelance writing agency, although this can be a very good idea in the future. You can hire other freelance writers who have the experience and expertise in various fields and provide work from the different writing sites. Within no time, you can be a successful sole proprietor with an established clientele base. Don’t forget to pay attention to any legal requirements, including tax information that may come with a freelance business.
Job Training and Career Counseling
Many individuals out there are looking for entrepreneurial ideas, ways to start and build a successful business empire, or how to change their career paths or excel in their fields. Such people would be willing to obtain professional advice from a trainer and career counselor. If you been in an industry for a while and have substantial experience in mentoring and training, you should consider starting a job training and career counseling company.
One of the benefits of this business is that it can be undertaken on the internet in addition to having a physical office. Webinars, conference calls, and instructional videos have lengthened the reach of a business like this to almost worldwide. Set up a website from where you can run online training programs and market the enterprise. To be successful in attracting clients for online products, you should consult with a reputed SEO firm that will provide search engine optimization strategies, tactics, and tools to help drive potential clients to your website.
Event Planning Company
Corporate events, birthday parties, weddings, and graduation parties are a norm in today’s world. Everyone wants to have a carefully organized event in a great venue with great food, decor, and music, but finding the time to put it all together can be difficult. This is why people turn to event planners. If you are an individual that takes pride in a well-planned itinerary, event planning may be the business for you. Although there is competition in the industry, you can rise above it by providing quality personalized services to your clients.
Starting an event planning business requires knowledge of the various locations that can be used for events, experienced caterers, marquee rental companies, decor specialists, and other stakeholders who come into play during a party. Develop close relationships with several vendors so you can give your clients options. The better your relationships, the more resources you will have to pull off events. Event planning also involves working under pressure and being able to coordinate different people. You can start with small events and parties and expand to corporate events as the business grows.
Interior Decorating
New home buyers, office owners, and contractors can often get overwhelmed with the numerous choices and possibilities in interior decorating. If you have experience in decor, you can start an interior decorating business and help individuals and commercial property owners determine the best furniture, furnishings, and color schemes for their properties. You can start by marketing your talents to building contractors in your target area. Contractors are usually in dire need of decorators, especially if they have a deadline to meet for listing a property on the market.
Another great way of marketing your skills is through social media. Utilize your profile for sharing decorating tips with your followers so that you can showcase your expertise. You can also create simple tutorials and how-to videos on the various social platforms. For instance, you can show your followers how to organize a small closet, decorate a bedroom on a budget, mismatch furniture, and so on. You can also offer online interior decor consultancy services at a fee.
Whichever business idea you choose, remember that you will have to face some hurdles along the way. However, through hard work, determination, networking, and smart marketing tips, you can overcome them and expand your startup business to serve the national and international market. Focus on quality services, and this will allow you to retain customers and win many new ones. Also, come up with ideas and strategies that will give you an advantage over the existing competitors so that you can rise above them.
