The Top 5 Easiest Ways to Start a Business

The good news is that it has never been easier to start a new business. The rise of the digital economy has created an entirely new set of opportunities, as well as many free off-the-shelf tools that simplify every aspect of launching a new business. It’s no surprise, then, that the Internet is filled with stories of entrepreneurs launching new businesses seemingly overnight, for as little as $100. With that in mind, here’s a closer look at the Top 5 easiest ways to start a business.

#1: Create an e-commerce storefront

Remember a few years ago when it seemed like everyone was running a side eBay business? That’s because eBay makes it incredibly simple to get started selling online. You don’t need to worry about building a sophisticated e-commerce platform because eBay does all the heavy lifting for you. The same is true if you decide to build an Amazon storefront or an Etsy storefront.

And, if you don’t feel like hitching your wagon to one of the big e-commerce giants, you can always build your own e-commerce storefront using a service like Shopify. What makes Shopify so easy to use is that it handles all the back-end tech support and financial transactions for you. Plus, it gives you plenty of customizable templates for you to build your own unique-looking website. All you have to do is find the right products to sell and find some time to market them online.

#2: Transform a side gig or passion project into a business

Just about any hobby, side gig or passion project can be transformed into a business. You’re already spending a few hours a week on this project, so why not turn it into a business? What makes this such an easy way to start a business is that there are probably thousands, if not tens of thousands, of fellow hobby enthusiasts who could become potential customers for your business.

Let’s say, for example, that you have a passion for photography. You could launch a blog dedicated to photography, hold photography workshops for fellow enthusiasts, or publish an e-book on photography. Once you start to build a name for yourself, you might choose to specialize in a certain aspect of photography, such as wedding photography. One “hot” area of photography right now is drone photography, in which customers like real estate agents will pay big bucks for aerial drone photographs of properties they are trying to sell.

Or, let’s say that you have a passion for cooking. You could transform that passion into a catering or restaurant business. The Internet is filled with stories of people who turned their love of baking sweets into vibrant, dynamic businesses. Remember when everyone seemed to be launching new cupcake businesses? The hardest part is simply finding a venue for people to “discover” your food. This might be a weekend farmer’s market, an urban street festival, or a summer food and wine festival.

#3: Get involved with the Gig Economy

The term “Gig Economy” applies to the types of new businesses that empower people to make extra money in their spare time. The classic example here is Uber, which has made it easy and convenient to make some extra money on nights and weekends by driving passengers from Point A to Point B. Another classic example is Airbnb, which has empowered people to make money by renting out their apartment or house to complete strangers. At one time, people stayed in hotels when they were traveling to a new city. Now, they are just as likely to book an Airbnb. Just about any type of service is now available as part of the Gig Economy.

#4: Launch a consulting business

If you have deep industry expertise, you can launch a consulting business. For example, every business needs help today with building out their social media presence. So, if you have experience working with a social media agency, for example, you could easily parlay that experience into becoming a social media consultant. All it takes is creating a website (which is very easy to do with a service like Shopify or Wix), printing up a batch of business cards, and building out your presence on social media. There are all sorts of groups and forums online, too, where people share tips about social media and ideas about how to line up new clients. Another popular tech consulting business to launch involves website design. If you have experience building and designing websites, you can transform that knowledge into a profitable consulting business.

#5: Start a training or coaching business

One popular solo entrepreneur business to launch is a training or coaching business. All you have to do is find an area where people are trying to transform themselves, and then offer them a service that will help them reach their goals. That’s why personal trainers are in such high demand these days – everyone is trying to get into better shape, lead a healthier life, and follow a better diet. You could start off with personal training 1-on-1 sessions, and follow that up with nutritional advice and coaching. With just a few clients, you suddenly have the basis for a business! You could really ramp things up with a brief e-book, a website, and an active social media presence.

Moreover, there are a growing number of online platforms that enable anyone to build their own online instructional courses, and offer those for as low as $9.99 to potential clients. People are more convinced than ever that learning should be a lifelong pursuit, and as a result, people are taking short one-week online courses, or opting for “micro-certifications.” That has opened the door for many people to share their advanced knowledge and experience with many others via training courses.

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Of course, there are many more ways to launch a business, and many of them cost less than $100 to start. Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur or a serial entrepreneur, there are plenty of ways to get started. Often, the best business ideas are those that build on your past experiences, skills, and background.