Low-tech Business Ideas

Article by Luke Richbourg.

Though it is easy to imagine starting a business requires a background in computers and coding, the fact is most business are not “high tech”. Possibly more importantly, you may want to look for a business opportunity that does not require a great deal of capital upfront. In each of the examples below, consider how much capital would be required to launch the business. This capital represents your equity in your business; should the venture fail, that capital is at risk. Here are some low-tech business ideas to get you thinking about business opportunities.

Cleaning Business: What do you need to make it happen? Cleaning supplies, uniform, transportation, andmarketing, that’s pretty basic. This is a relatively low-risk proposition. Any investment in cleaning supplies will have value even if not used in the business. Best of all, no need to invest in any upfront costs until you have a confirmed client first. At the outset, your marketing might consist of nothing more than putting up posters, social-media, or word-of mouth

Selling household junk: What do you need to make it happen? Stuff to sell, a place to sell it, and maybe transportation. Again, effectively zero genuine capital costs here; do you or your friends and family have useful clutter around the house? There’s your stuff to sell. While many organized flea markets require a seller-fee, many do not; of course locations such as your yard may be a place to start; and platforms such as eBay permit you to sell items anywhere in the world directly from your home.

Day Care: What do you need to make it happen? On a small scale, of course, your home (and some elbow grease to kid-proof the place), as well as your time and patience with children, as well as the trust of a parent or two. On a larger scale, you’d need credentials, staff, a suitable location, insurance, proper equipment, and some solid branding to generate trust.

Neighborhood help – If you live in a place with sufficient density nearby, many opportunities to earn extra cash present themselves. Lawn mowing? Pool care? Landscaping? Light home repair and painting? Moving or assembling furniture? Many such activities are easily scalable and require modest upfront investment. Should you find your client list growing, consider employing neighborhood teens to pick up the slack in lesser skilled jobs like pool care.

Pet care – For someone who loves animals, this is a great way to spend your day. Just put out some flyers around your community that you offer dog-walking services.

About the Writer:

Luke Richbourg aims to use his proficiency in the fields of law, finance, and business to provide practical and perceptive counsel for early-stage entrepreneurs looking to achieve success with their startups. Visit Luke Richbourg on Instagram.