Cheapest Ways to Start a Small Business from Home: 13 Ideas for Beginners
In 2025, launching a business is easier than ever, and you can do it right from home. Reddit users note that many small ventures started with under $500, or even no money at all! If you hope to seize profitable opportunities, you need to identify options that align with your skills and interests while meeting market demand.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the 13 most affordable business ideas and explain how to start a profitable home business with minimal investment.
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13 Affordable Businesses You Can Start From Home
One of the most common questions on Reddit is, “How can I start my own business with no money?” While launching a business entirely for free may not be realistic, there are several low-cost options to consider. Here are 13 lucrative ideas for businesses you can start with minimal costs:
Freelance Writing and Editing
You can provide writing and editing services for businesses, websites, and publications, where quality content is in high demand. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr make it easy to find clients. Costs are minimal, and consist primarily of a subscription to editing tools like Grammarly or generative AI (although strong writing skills are also essential for these tasks).
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a popular way to start selling online without having to manage any inventory. You partner with a supplier, import their products to your store using an app, and each time a purchase is made, the supplier ships directly to your customer. To get started, you’ll need to invest in a supplier subscription and pay fees for the platform hosting your store.
Finding the Best Product Ideas
The key to success with dropshipping lies in selecting profitable products, but knowing where to begin can be overwhelming. Assessing market demand is vital to identify the right products before choosing a supplier, saving you both time and money.
To illustrate, let’s use the example of Amazon, a top e-commerce platform reflecting global customer trends. The AMZScout Product Database, which offers insights on over 600 million products, can simplify the research process and help you pinpoint lucrative options for your dropshipping business.
Here’s how to use it:
1. Access the AMZScout Product Database. Sign up with your email address to start a free trial—no credit card required.
2. Define your product criteria. Leverage the database’s 16 filters to narrow down your search, focusing on these key metrics:
Category: Choose from 24 categories based on your interests.
Revenue or Monthly sales: Make sure these align with your financial goals.
Rating: Target products with 4.5+ stars for high customer satisfaction.
Number of competitors: Aim for 2-10 sellers per listing to avoid oversaturated niches.
![Which AMZScout Product Database Filters to choose]( "AMZScout Product Database Filters")
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3. Get a list of product ideas. After applying your filters, click "Find Products" to generate a curated list of items that meet your criteria.
Once you identify promising products, find a supplier who offers items from your list and import them into your store. This approach ensures that you focus on advertising products with proven demand, rather than importing an endless array of items from suppliers without a clear strategy.
Note: Consider using the AMZScout Dropshipping, Arbitrage, and Wholesale Extension. This tool helps you determine an optimal selling price, assess a product’s financial viability in greater detail, and check restrictions on platforms like Amazon and eBay, which often limit certain sales.
The insights gained from AMZScout and Amazon are versatile, as market trends tend to apply across other e-commerce platforms, making this approach broadly applicable.
Social Media Manager
This self-employment option involves helping businesses boost their social media presence through creating posts, responding to comments, and more. Though it may initially appear to be an easy and cheap way to get started, it does require investing in self-promotion to attract clients, plus staying updated on trends and modern strategies.
Content Creation
You can launch a blog or YouTube channel on a niche topic and monetize it through ads, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing. Success hinges on posting high-quality content, which may require investing in equipment, shooting locations, or editing tools. Once established, this venture can generate semi-passive income.
Affiliate Marketing
Select a niche that interests you, such as gadgets or makeup, and enroll in affiliate programs like Amazon Associates to share links on your blog or social media, while earning a commission for each sale. You’ll need an audience of at least 1,000 followers, along with access to apps like Canva to create engaging content and a budget for promotions to increase traffic and revenue.
Online Tutoring and Teaching
Connect with students and teach a subject you excel in (such as math, guitar, or Spanish) through platforms like Zoom or Tutor.com. You’ll need expertise, plus equipment such as a computer, and a microphone. This option is great for people who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and explaining concepts clearly. Keep in mind that some platforms may take a commission, and you might also need to invest in ads, although word-of-mouth promotion can help drive success as well.
Graphic Design Services
You can offer visual content creation services (such as logos or marketing materials) on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. In addition to a good foundation and strong design skills, you’ll also need a subscription for tools like Adobe software. Beginners may struggle to secure orders initially, so building a robust portfolio and earning positive reviews—possibly by offering a few free projects—will be necessary.
Etsy or Online Resale
Reselling products online offers high profit margin potential—you can buy items cheaply from sources like Alibaba, and sell them at a premium on platforms like Amazon. To start up your business, you’ll need to invest in inventory and subscribe to analytical tools to identify the most profitable products to sell. However, for those who craft their own products (such as straw bags for ladies), the main investments include your time, raw materials, platform commissions, and ads to promote your work on Etsy, (which is the most suitable platform for these types of products).
Pet Sitting
Offer pet-sitting services from your home and quickly attract pet owners by posting a listing on Rover or through local groups. You’ll need to invest in creating a cozy, safe space for animals, along with dedicating your time to their care. Success comes from engaging and connecting effectively with pets while providing exceptional service. You may even consider sending the owners photos and videos of their pets in your care, or organizing fun activities for their furry friends.
Print-on-Demand Store
A print-on-demand store can be a great side hustle—use services like Amazon Merch to upload your designs and choose products like t-shirts or phone cases for printing. Each time an item sells, you earn a commission with no inventory hassle. Your main investment is in design tools like Photoshop and a platform account to get started.
Virtual Assistant
Support entrepreneurs by managing their emails, schedules, or social media, and list your services on Upwork with an affordable hourly rate to get started. This option is ideal for beginners, as it only requires a computer, strong organizational skills, and a reliable internet connection to kick things off. While this route provides a great entry point, scaling your income can be challenging due to competition from lower-cost assistants overseas.
Online Courses or Coaching
If you’re an expert in any field, you can create a recorded course or offer one-on-one coaching, using platforms like Teachable or Zoom. You’ll need solid content creation skills, plus equipment such as a camera and microphone, and a budget for marketing to promote yourself, along with fees for the platform where you list your services. Recorded courses offer passive income, while enabling you to share your expertise with minimal effort required after initial setup.
Digital Product Sales
You can sell digital products like stock photos or e-books, which provides a flexible, creative way to generate income. You’ll need specific skills (such as photography for images, writing for books), plus tools like a camera or editing software, including generative content tools, to craft quality products. This is a low-overhead business option with steady income potential, but it also relies on smart marketing to succeed.
The best business to start depends on your skills and interests. Selecting one that matches your strengths can really unlock your potential to generate a profit. Read on to learn how to launch a business with minimal investment.
How to Start a Business with Minimal Investment
While the potential for success of a new business will vary based on your chosen venture, certain universal principles apply to launching any business with minimal investment. Let’s explore the top four essentials you’ll need:
Leverage Existing Skills
To keep costs low, focus on what you already know. By tapping into your own skills and experience, you can avoid spending on training or unnecessary equipment. Numerous online tests can help you pinpoint your strengths and guide you toward a cost-effective business idea.
Automate Processes and Outsource Key Tasks
Running a business involves juggling many tasks, and it’s impossible to handle everything at once, or to be an expert in every area. That’s why outsourcing tasks like accounting to a professional and automating processes with the right tools or strategies is essential.
For instance, if you sell on Amazon, the AMZScout PRO AI Extension can help you analyze products, estimate sales, and provide insights into competition and profitability directly on the platform. This streamlines your research and saves valuable time.
Establish an Online Presence
While an online presence is particularly essential for affiliate marketing, it’s also a valuable asset for any business. It builds an audience of people who are ready to purchase your products or services, simplifying promotion and growth. Identify platforms that best align with your target audience (such as TikTok for membersGen Z) and engage consistently by posting there.
Start Small and Scale Gradually
Many beginners launch their businesses expecting to generate millions in the first month, only to quit when results fall short. In reality, success rarely comes quickly—it demands patience and persistence. Start small, reinvest your profits, and scale gradually. In time, growth and success will follow.
By weaving these strategies together, you’ll set the stage for a successful business. Eventually, you’ll discover what works best and what doesn’t, allowing you to fine-tune your approach effortlessly.
FAQs
What is the cheapest from-home business to start?
One of the cheapest businesses to start from home is selling your own products. For instance, creating and selling digital books requires a minimal investment—mostly just your time. For traditionally costlier ventures, like selling on Amazon FBA, expenses can be minimized using analytical tools like AMZScout to assess costs and boost profitability.
What is a “low-risk” business?
A low-risk business is one where the potential for financial loss or operational setbacks is minimal. For example, dropshipping reduces risk by avoiding upfront inventory or warehouse costs. Additionally, risks can be further mitigated by leveraging analytical tools like AMZScout in e-commerce to identify market trends, enabling data-driven decisions.
What is the easiest type of business to run?
The easiest kind of business to start is one that requires minimal operations, new learning, or equipment, as this lowers complexity and entry barriers. For example, reselling is often considered straightforward—buy low, sell high using existing markets. Likewise, offering services based on your own current expertise is simple, as this allows you to leverage skills you already have without additional training or tools.
What is the cheapest business to start?
The cheapest business venue when you’re just starting out is online (like a blog or freelance graphic design), as this option doesn’t necessitate any physical space or inventory. For offline options, the most affordable businesses are those that avoid heavy investments in equipment or facilities. Dog sitting, for instance, is ideal—you can start with just a love of pets and local marketing efforts, like flyers or word of mouth.
Conclusion
While many low-cost business ideas may seem enticing, it’s important to prioritize scalability and profit margins, which gives you an edge when selling products. Consider leveraging the AMZScout toolkit to find high-profit products and boost your small business’s success. This strategy secures long-term growth and revenue while enabling you to start out with little money.
