Low investment business ideas
Ideas where the main investment is your time, not your savings.
"High profit" really means low cost per sale. When you sell a skill there's almost no cost of goods, so most of the price is margin, but your hours cap the income. Start low-cost, then raise prices and productise as demand grows.
8 ideas compared
| Idea | Startup cost* | Time to first sale* | Skills needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance writing / copywriting | $0–$300 | 2-6 weeks | Clear writing, research, pitching |
| Virtual assistant | $0–$200 | 1-4 weeks | Organisation, email/calendar tools, reliability |
| Online tutoring | $0–$200 | 1-3 weeks | Subject expertise, patience, clear explanations |
| Print-on-demand store | $50–$500 | 1-3 months | Design, niche research, marketing |
| Digital products (templates, planners, presets) | $0–$300 | 2-8 weeks | Design, a specific expertise, product thinking |
| Reselling / thrift flipping | $50–$500 | 1-2 weeks | Product knowledge, photography, negotiation |
| Pet sitting & dog walking | $50–$500 | 1-2 weeks | Reliability, animal handling |
| Data entry & research | $0–$100 | 1-3 weeks | Accuracy, spreadsheets |
*Solopreneur.co estimates for a lean, one-person start (equipment you don't already own, software, samples, basic insurance where relevant). Not survey data; your costs will vary by location.
1. Freelance writing / copywriting
Write web pages, emails, case studies or blog posts for businesses that don't have an in-house writer.
- Startup cost
- $0–$300
- First sale
- 2-6 weeks
- Skills
- Clear writing, research, pitching
How to start
- Pick one industry you already understand (e.g. SaaS, dentists, real estate).
- Write 3 sample pieces for that industry and host them on a free portfolio page.
- Pitch 10 businesses a day for two weeks with a specific idea for their site.
- Price per project, not per word, once you have two paying clients.
Watch out: Generic AI-written content is now cheap; you win on research, interviews and results.
Sources: BLS: Writers and Authors
2. Virtual assistant
Handle inboxes, scheduling, bookkeeping prep, travel or customer emails for busy founders.
- Startup cost
- $0–$200
- First sale
- 1-4 weeks
- Skills
- Organisation, email/calendar tools, reliability
How to start
- List 5 tasks you can do well today (inbox triage, scheduling, data entry, Canva graphics).
- Offer a fixed monthly package (e.g. 10 hours) instead of open-ended hourly work.
- Find first clients through your own network and founder communities.
- Document every recurring task as a checklist so you can raise rates later.
Watch out: Low barrier means price pressure; specialise (e.g. podcast VA, real-estate VA).
3. Online tutoring
Teach school subjects, test prep, languages or coding over video.
- Startup cost
- $0–$200
- First sale
- 1-3 weeks
- Skills
- Subject expertise, patience, clear explanations
How to start
- Pick a subject and level where results are measurable (exam scores, grades).
- List on one tutoring marketplace to get first reviews, then move repeat clients to direct booking.
- Sell packages of 8-10 sessions rather than single sessions.
- Ask parents/students for permission-based referrals.
Watch out: Working with minors may require background checks depending on platform or location.
Sources: BLS: Teachers (related occupations)
4. Print-on-demand store
Sell designs on shirts, mugs or posters; a print partner produces and ships each order.
- Startup cost
- $50–$500
- First sale
- 1-3 months
- Skills
- Design, niche research, marketing
How to start
- Pick a niche with identity and humour (a profession, hobby or fandom you are part of).
- Validate 10 designs with mockups before ordering samples.
- Order samples to check print quality yourself.
- Drive traffic from one channel (Pinterest, Etsy search or your own audience).
Watch out: Thin margins after production and fees; never use trademarked phrases or characters.
Sources: USPTO: trademark basics
5. Digital products (templates, planners, presets)
Sell downloadable templates (Notion, spreadsheets, Canva), checklists or presets.
- Startup cost
- $0–$300
- First sale
- 2-8 weeks
- Skills
- Design, a specific expertise, product thinking
How to start
- Solve one painful, specific job (e.g. 'freelance invoice tracker for photographers').
- Ship a v1 in a weekend and sell it at a low price to the first 20 buyers.
- Collect feedback and turn requests into v2 or a bundle.
- Grow with content that shows the product being used.
Watch out: Easy to copy; your audience and updates are the moat.
6. Reselling / thrift flipping
Buy underpriced items (thrift stores, garage sales, clearance) and resell online.
- Startup cost
- $50–$500
- First sale
- 1-2 weeks
- Skills
- Product knowledge, photography, negotiation
How to start
- Choose one category you know (sneakers, vintage clothing, electronics).
- Check sold (not listed) prices before buying.
- Photograph well and list on 2-3 marketplaces.
- Track profit per item after fees and shipping.
Watch out: Marketplaces report payments to tax authorities above thresholds; keep records.
Sources: IRS: Form 1099-K FAQs
7. Pet sitting & dog walking
Walk dogs or care for pets while owners work or travel.
- Startup cost
- $50–$500
- First sale
- 1-2 weeks
- Skills
- Reliability, animal handling
How to start
- Start with neighbours and local community groups.
- Get pet-care insurance and, if you like, a pet first-aid course.
- Use a simple booking and payment process.
- Build routes so walks cluster geographically.
Watch out: Liability: one bad incident can end the business; get insurance.
Sources: BLS: Animal Care and Service Workers
8. Data entry & research
Clean data, research leads, or enter records for businesses.
- Startup cost
- $0–$100
- First sale
- 1-3 weeks
- Skills
- Accuracy, spreadsheets
How to start
- Learn spreadsheets beyond basics (lookups, pivot tables).
- Offer lead-research packages to sales teams.
- Automate parts with scripts or AI to raise effective hourly pay.
- Move up to analysis work.
Watch out: Many 'data entry' job ads are scams asking for upfront fees.
Sources: FTC: job scams
How to choose between these ideas
Score each idea 1–5 on four questions and start the one with the highest total:
- Can you get paid in 30 days? Services usually beat products here.
- Do you already have the skill? Learning and selling at once doubles the risk.
- Do you know where buyers gather? A community, marketplace, local street or your old industry.
- Could it run on 5–10 hours a week? Most people start alongside a job.
Then validate before spending money: see how to test a business idea.
Frequently asked questions
What business can I start with $100?
Sources
- BLS: Writers and Authors bls.gov
- BLS: Secretaries and Administrative Assistants bls.gov
- BLS: Teachers (related occupations) bls.gov
- USPTO: trademark basics uspto.gov
- FTC: business guidance on advertising ftc.gov
- IRS: Form 1099-K FAQs irs.gov
- BLS: Animal Care and Service Workers bls.gov
- FTC: job scams consumer.ftc.gov
Checked 21 Oct 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Update history
- : first published; figures checked against the sources listed.