Contrary to popular belief, there are many ways to start a profitable business with a relatively small budget. This article will go over 18 small business ideas that can genuinely make $300 dollars in a week or less.
How to Make $300 Fast: 18 Small Business Ideas
1. Dropshipping
Dropshipping allows you to package and ship inventory on behalf of your customers through a third-party supplier. It is a great business because it requires little overhead, is easy to scale, and doesn’t require any staff.
All you need is to sell products through your website and send orders to your supplier, who then fulfills it.
You can combine products from different suppliers to create your own online shop. This allows you to focus on specific niches, such as gear for yoga lovers or water bowls that are suitable for dog owners.
Your supplier fulfills the customer’s order when the customer buys a product. You are responsible for customer service and marketing.
You can work with both local and international suppliers, provided you establish trust with them. An unreliable supplier can reflect badly on your brand.
Dropshipping can be a great way to launch your business and test the product-market fit before you make any investment in original products.
2. Print-on-demand T-shirts
Print on Demand is another dropshipping model. It allows inventory to be shipped and fulfilled by a third-party supplier. The difference is that you can customize orders to your specifications and create unique products.
You can print t-shirts, hats, phone cases, hoodies, and much more. If you’re not good at designing, you can hire a designer through freelance sites such as Fiverr and Upwork.
Print-on-demand is a service that charges per product. This means that the unit price will be higher than if you order in bulk. The advantage is that even if a particular t-shirt design does not sell, you won’t pay for it.
3. Write a book
When you look at it, a book is simply another product. You can write it to meet specific market demand.
You can sell picture books, cookbooks, comic books and poetry books. There are many options, which is why it is one of the most popular business ideas.
Print-on-demand can be a safe way to get started in self-publishing. You also have control over the look and quality of your book.
You can pre-sell or crowdfund your book idea to guarantee demand and a certain amount of sales, so you feel confident placing a bulk order. If you already have a blog or are interested in starting one, publishing your own book is a great way of monetizing it.
4. Create digital products
Digital products include online courses, templates, NFTs, music, etc. They are not tangible and don’t have recurring shipping or manufacturing costs, which means your margins can stay high. This makes it an easy business to start and make $300 fast.
It is important to determine what makes a digital product great. Is it useful enough to be downloaded? Are people willing to pay for it?
5. Print-on-demand greeting cards and posters
This small business idea is ideal for those who already have a large online following, such as a cartoonist or urban photographers.
You can make your work into posters, framed wall art, or greeting cards depending on which printer you use. You can showcase your products using digital templates and mockup generators such as Placeit, without the need to print each product and do your own photoshoots.
6. Sell a service
What is that one thing you’re better at than most people? Ask yourself that question, and once you figure it out, you can then create a business around it. Nowadays almost any marketable skill can be sold online as a service.
If you’re good at photography then you could create a photography course (or license your photos on stock photo sites). If you’re good at singing then you can create a singing course or become a tutor. If you’re good at SEO then you can start an SEO company. There are really no limits as to what you can or cannot sell – as long as there is demand.
7. Create an online fashion boutique
You can start your own clothing boutique online if you are passionate about fashion and want to share your style with other people. You don’t have to be a fashion designer. You can just curate items from other vendors and sell them in your online shop (using the dropshipping model that we mentioned earlier).
8. Sell hand-made products
This is another business idea that banks on your skills. Many people place a high value on hand-made goods. You can start selling organic soaps, scented candles, pottery, artwork, etc.
The challenge with this idea is that you will need to think about shipping and inventory management. It’s not like dropshipping where everything is done for you.
9. Create an audience that you can monetize
The ability to attract and hold the attention of others is a valuable asset. This is a skill that many businesses will pay for, and which many creators can turn into multiple streams of revenue.
You have many options for monetizing your audience, whether you want to grow it on YouTube, Instagram, or a blog. When you have a large enough audience, you can make money through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, Patreon, or even by selling your own products.
You must approach your small business idea from the perspective of the audience. It can take months to figure it out. You don’t have to have millions of followers in order to succeed.
10. Start a pet-related business
There are many small business opportunities in the pet world. It’s a huge industry with a market value of nearly $100 billion. Your pet business could be product- or service-based, such as selling accessories, food, toys, or offering grooming, walking, or training.
11. Start a membership program
Online membership programs are great for entrepreneurs who have a strong, engaged network. These programs work in the same way as a subscription-based company: customers pay recurring fees to receive a virtual product or service.
Your program can be for members-only content, or for guided online sessions such as a virtual yoga class or a cooking club.
This content is locked behind a gate that subscribers can access through their accounts. No matter what route you choose, ensure that you record in a quiet area so that the audio is clear.
12. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where businesses pay people (a.k.a. affiliates) a small fee for all the sales they generate. Each time an affiliate brings in new customers, they get a commission.
Affiliates can promote products through their websites, social media accounts, blogs, or communities. Affiliate marketing can be a side hustle with low costs that eventually turns into a lucrative business.
Commission rates can vary depending on what offer you are promoting and the company. For example, hosting companies such as Bluehost pay up to $100 for every sale. This means you’d only need to make 3 sales to make $300 dollars fast.
13. Start a landscaping business
Do you have a passion for nature and the outdoors? If yes, then you should consider starting a landscaping business. Landscaping involves the modification and maintenance of visible features on a land area, such as grass, trees, and flowers.
The demand for landscape maintenance services in residential areas is increasing among younger homeowners across the country. The market is relatively competitive. There are a few large landscaping companies, but also smaller local service providers.
14. Child care services
Right now, there is a crisis in the child care services industry. Parents are forced to take care of their children at home due to rising costs. Many care centers have also been forced to shut down due to the effects of the pandemic.
Rising demand for child care services and decreasing supply makes it a great combination for starting a business in the niche. A child care business is a great idea if you love taking care of children and can attain all the necessary licenses.
15. Become a handyman
The market value for the home repair and improvement industry is approximately $450 billion. This could be a lucrative venture for those who are handymen and enjoy fixing things.
16. Photography
This is a great way to turn your passion for photography into a full-time business. You can choose a niche to focus on, such as weddings, or also sell your photos online on stock photo sites such as Shutterstock.
17. Become a social media manager consultant
Many companies need assistance managing their accounts on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and all other social networks.
Social media managers are responsible for creating and analyzing content for brands as well as influencers. Your job will mainly entail creating engaging content and responding to comments. You can charge hourly or per project.
18. Sell phone accessories
There are many product fulfillment options with this business idea. You could do dropshipping, print on demand, or buy from wholesale suppliers and resell for profit.
Here are some ideas for accessories you could sell:
- Phone cases
- Car/desk holders
- Tripods
- Earbuds/headphones
- Bluetooth speakers
- Portable chargers
- Wireless chargers
