List of Small Business Ideas

Marketing Expert

If you're an entrepreneur at heart, there are a variety of small businesses you can start from home or embark on with very little investment capital. What business you choose to start will depend on your skills, interests and experience. Use one of these ideas as a springboard to jumpstart your entrepreneurial dreams.

Small Business Ideas

The following list is by no means a comprehensive list of every potential small business idea. It will, however, provide you with new avenues to explore as you prepare to develop your business idea.

Home-Based Businesses

Many businesses get their start in an entrepreneur's basement, garage or living room.

Ideas for home-based businesses include:

Commission sales such as selling Avon, Mary Kay cosmetics, Pampered Chef tools, handbags and other items.
Freelance writer
Graphic designer:
Website designer
Administrative support
Accounting or bookkeeping
Cleaning service
Child care
Tutoring
Music lessons
Craft or sewing lessons
Pet care

Franchises

Franchises offer a turnkey operation, a ready-made product and corporate marketing support. Most franchises require a substantial deposit and have rules governing aspects of the business such as marketing and promotions, product selection, and even where the franchise may be located. There are franchises for nearly every type of product or service you can think of including fast food, beauty and personal care, automobile repair, animal and pet products and much more.

Retail Stores

Retail stores provide many small business opportunities. If you love fashion, a clothing store may be an option. There are stores designed to draw people who love to shop for bargains and others that cater to the very wealthy who want opulent excess.

Ideas for retail stores include:

Clothing - specialty shops, niche boutiques, baby items, formal wear, lingerie, shoes and more
Card and gift stores
Furniture stores
Books, music and DVD stores
Variety and discount stores
Garden centers and stores selling plants and gardening supplies
Computer and technology-related stores
Art galleries
Sports equipment catering to a specific sport - tack stores for equestrians, ski equipment, snowboarding, golf, other sports

Depending on your location, there may be other great retail store concepts to explore. A tourist location may host several souvenir shops while a busy mall may include a t-shirt store or another type of specialty gift store.

Restaurants and Food Service

From a little kiosk in a mall selling pretzels to a lush catering hall, the food service industry continues to grow and prosper. It takes an enormous amount of hard work plus great food and service to create a successful restaurant, bar and grill, deli or diner, but many people have made their fortune in the food service business. You can explore franchises or open a store selling ethnic food or a certain cuisine.

Food services business ideas include:

Deli
Diner
Restaurant - family dining, one specific cuisine, ethnic food, breakfast only, lunch only, etc.
Catering
Personal chef
Bakery
Sweet shop and pastry shop
Coffee shop
Specialty coffee shop selling coffee, espresso and other specialty beverages
Bar and grill
Sandwich shop

Service Businesses

Dry cleaners, dog groomers, laundromats, car washes, salons and other service businesses also offer unlimited opportunities. If you love working with people and have experience or licensing in a certain industry, such as a beautician's license, opening your own service business may be your ticket to riches.

Base Your Business Choice on Your Background

You can start nearly any kind of small business imaginable, but you'll improve your chances of success, if you choose a business that suits your personality, skills, experience and interests.

Before investing in any business idea, ask yourself:
Why do I want to start a small business? You can achieve personal fulfillment or become a multimillionaire, but the real reason driving your passion for starting a small business often points you into one industry or another.
What experience do I have? You probably have expert insight into one or more industries thanks to your work experience. Can you tap into any of that experience to identify untapped opportunities in an industry?
What do I love to do? Is there something you'd do even if you never earn a dime doing it? Many entrepreneurs find that they must work extra long hours, often without pay, until their business takes off. Having a passion for your business concept fuels your desire to keep working at an idea even if it isn't turning a profit right away.

Such questions can help you narrow the list of ideas below, to find one best suited to your personality, experience and desires.

Remember the Basics of Starting a Small Business

A list of business ideas offers many possibilities for starting your own company. As you explore ideas, keep the following basics in mind.

Be sure to consult a business attorney and determine which among the various business structures is right for you.
Save up at least three years' worth of your salary to live off of while your business gets off the ground. It can take 3 to 5 years for a new business to become profitable. You'll need money for your living expenses, health insurance and so on until you can draw a paycheck from your startup company.
It can be difficult to find loans or investment capital. Prepare to invest your own savings into your business idea.
Never quit your day job, until you are sure your new business is growing.

Using these tips and this list of small business ideas, you should be well on your way to finding the right business concept. Be sure to explore resources related to business planning, cash flow and investment and learn all you can about sales and marketing, too, for small business success.