35 Example Small Businesses You Can Start in 2023

There were 32.5 million small businesses in the United States as of 2022. According to the SBA, 99.9% of all American businesses are classified as small businesses and 70% are individually operated. And in 2022 approximately 17 million new small businesses were formed. So, if you’re considering starting your own business, you have plenty of company.

Before you can get started, you need to spend some time selecting a business type, then planning and preparing to launch your new business. If you’re looking for inspiration and guidance, read on. We’ve got you covered with 35 example small businesses you might want to start, and lots of other useful information on becoming an entrepreneur in 2023.

The business landscape has evolved over the last few years, requiring entrepreneurs to adapt and adjust to shifting market conditions. Despite the challenges they’ve encountered, they are optimistic about the future. According to Bank of America, 66% of small business owners expect revenue increases over the next year and 52% plan to expand their businesses.

Additional 2023 entrepreneurship trends that the Small Business Administration (SBA) is monitoring include:

How do you recognize a good business idea when you find one? There are few things to consider when sizing up potential small business ideas such as costs like training, rent, and supplies. The best small business ideas:

There are many small businesses you can start with little or no money. In fact, many of these business can be started at home or remotely.

Service-based options typically carry minimal cost and can be a great side hustle or full-time gig. Check out the following low-cost or no-cost example small businesses you can start today.

You may be able to leverage your previous business experience to work with other businesses as a consultant. This involves offering your expertise and advice on various business issues.

If you want to interact with other people, set your own hours, and work outside, a landscaping business may be a great choice for you. You don’t necessarily need to buy a lot of equipment initially if you are a homeowner that enjoys caring for your own yard and have picked up knowledge along the way.

A similar option to landscaping is garden design. This is a terrific option for those with a green thumb with deep gardening knowledge and an eye for design. All you need is a reliable form of transportation.

A service business like house sitting can be easy to launch and quite lucrative, depending on the geographic area. This business involves keeping an eye on people’s homes while they are out of town as well as other services like collecting mail, and watering plants.

This is a service you can offer to small and medium-sized businesses quite easily from home or anywhere. This home business idea involves services such as social media management, creating social media business pages, and developing a social media presence.

Podcast and video producer often need great voice talent to boost the level of professionalism. In fact, some business hire a pro when recording their business’ voicemail greetings or welcome greetings.

This is another great home or remote business idea you can do from anywhere. It’s a great way to make some extra cash on the side or to pay your bills. Freelance writers offer a variety of project types including blog or though leadership articles, eBooks, case studies, newsletters, research papers, and web pages.

If you love dogs, offering a dog walking service is one of many local businesses you can start. It’s easy to get started and there’s often a demand. The only thing you may need is some type of liability insurance depending on your local and state regulations. So, do your research first.

Starting an online store is easier today than ever before with platforms like eBay, Shopify, and Etsy, to name a few. And there is minimal investment to get started since you don’t need a huge inventory to open your virtual storefront.

Like dog walking, pet sitting and babysitting are often under demand in many geographies. These services take care of pets or children when the owner or parent is away. An, like dog walking, you may be required to carry liability insurance depending on your local and state laws.

Another freelance service you can offer is web design. Businesses need a web presence to promote their business. A web designer can help make their website a reality.

Regardless of your native language, you can tutor people wishing to learn your native language. This can mean working with people of all ages to help them build language skills and practicing them in conversation.

Another online selling opportunity is selling online courses. If you have specific skills and experiences that others want to learn, you can create a course and sell it on your own website or a platform like Udemy.

Organized and efficient people are naturals when it comes to being a virtual or personal assistant. This entails helping business owners, and other professionals organized by keeping track of their schedules and performing other delegated tasks for them.

Many businesses need reliable delivery people. All you need to get started are a reliable vehicle, a business license, and liability insurance.

Coaching services have become quite common. Life coaches and business coaches are a couple of examples. There are even health coaches. All you need to do to get started is leverage your background and get certified as a coach in your chosen specialty.

This is the best small business to start for those great with numbers, balancing books, and tracking financials. You don’t even need an office to get started providing this financial service to businesses that need it.

Getting started as a podcaster only requires a high-quality mic and audio editing software. It can be a fun business, conducting interviews on subjects you’re most interested and/or knowledgeable in to inform and inspire your listeners.

Another option requiring minimal investment is to start a video blog (vlog) on a platform like YouTube. All you need are a quality camera, mic, and ideas to launch your vlog.

Another service you can provide from home or any remote location with a computer and internet connection, is data entry. Many businesses need reliable, independent contractors for data entry tasks of various levels of complexity.

If you have mastered multiple languages, an easy business to start is translation services. You can offer this service online or in person as live translation, simultaneous translation, and document translation.

Although the travel industry took a huge hit during the pandemic, people still seek help with non-traditional travel plans. They need assistance finding the ideal hotel, the best deals, and the perfect location as well as restaurants and activities for during their stay.

If you are detail oriented and knowledgeable of house structure and building requirements, you may want to become a certified home inspector. This small business offers flexible work hours and a stable income. Licensing requirements vary by state, so do your research before getting started.

If you are proficient at keeping your own home tidy and clean, you may be a natural to offer a house cleaning service. Not only is this a low to no cost small business opportunity, you don’t necessarily need to travel far from home to go to work since your neighbors may need your services. And you can boost your income by picking up a few small offices to clean routinely as well.

There are several editing services that businesses need. You can edit video, audio, or written projects to put finishing touches on them.

Not everyone likes to cook, even if they love to eat. If you are a great cook or even a professional chef who doesn’t want to work a rigorous restaurant schedule or pace, this may be a great opportunity for you. There are a variety of specialties you can choose including healthy meals, gourmet meals, family meals, or holiday meals. You can choose to prepare meals ahead and transport them or prepare them in the customer’s home.

Managing properties for out of town property owners, like a vacation property owner, is common. The service involves keeping an eye on the property, taking care of issues as they arise, providing access when repairs are needed, and acting as a local point of contact for renters.

Some homeowners choose to outsource the painful task of packing their belongings when moving to a new residence. Providing this service can be as simple as partnering with a local moving company as a referral source for potential clients. Then you can do the packing in time for moving day!

This service is a treat for some and a necessity for others. As a massage therapist you soothe sore muscles and provide a peaceful experience for your clients. Training and certification are available in most cities and states. You can choose to work as a contractor or invest in a portable massage table to take into client homes.

If you love to craft, creating and selling handcrafted items is a fun and easy small business to start. Some ideas include jewelry creation, knitted items, or decorative wooden pieces. Start by selling on social media or through platforms like Etsy or your own website.

If you have an eye for beautiful home interiors, furniture, and décor, then you can offer interior design services. Many people are stumped when it comes to figuring out what will work best in their homes and seek guidance. Promote your business by documenting your results in social media to attract new customers.

If you know a lot about your local area or about a specific landmark, you might be well suited to become a tour guide. Tourist sites often need knowledgeable tour guides so check out local attractions in your area for opportunities or strike out on your own to provide informative tours of the area.

If you are skilled at planning and organizing large events, event planning may be a great small business for you to start. Specializing in a type of event will help you gain credibility in the market faster and attract more clients as you build a reputation in your market. Some options include company meetings, weddings, or reunions.

If the personal chef option sounds interesting, but you prefer to cook for larger groups, catering may be a great fit. Be selective when choosing projects, work on a few larger events at a time, and manage your time wisely for success.

If you love to exercise and fitness is a personal interest you know a lot about, becoming a fitness instructor or personal trainer may be a great match for you. Depending on what you will be teaching and where, there may be certification requirements, so do some research before getting started.

Although there are risks associated with starting a small business, there is huge potential too. Here are 5 examples of small businesses that became incredibly profitable.

Now that you have all these small business ideas to consider, you need to know how to start your own business. So, here’s how you move beyond your dream and start taking action. Here’s how to open a small business or your own:

There is an endless variety of example small businesses for you to consider, so choose one that interests you and leverages your previous experience or knowledge and start your journey today! You don’t need to have a lot of money to get started, but keep costs in mind when evaluating small business ideas.

Set your goals and make a plan to achieve those goals. Then complete a SWOT analysis to determine the feasibility of your starting your own business of that type.

Identify what software is required to launch your small business and create your workspace. Decide on your legal business structure and get to work. Who knows, you might even launch a small business that will become one of the most profitable businesses in the world!

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