For entrepreneurs, there’s no such thing as a summer slump. In fact, long, hot days are perfect for researching, planning and executing new business ideas (provided there’s an air conditioning unit nearby). But if you want to get something off the ground before September, you’ll need to act fast. Here are 10 businesses you can start before the dog days of summer are over.
Professional organizer
Are you a Marie Kondo aficionado? If so, great! Put your tidying up skills to the test by launching an organizing business. As a professional organizer, you’ll help people sort through the clutter of their home or office to decide what’s worth keeping and what can get tossed in the bin. Before you actually start an organizing business, review the writings of those who are already in the biz. Many professional organizers, like Heather Rogers, president of Simply Organized, have an active web presence and update their blogs regularly. Look to them for tips and inspiration.
Grocery consultant
If meal planning is one of your best skills, why not make it a career? Grocery consultants learn clients’ preferences and dietary restrictions and then help them plan meals. And, of course, they do the food shopping on their clients’ behalf and deliver the goods right to customers’ homes. You can help your hungry (but time-starved) customers develop healthy menus, share recipes with them and even show them how to cook certain foods they may not be familiar with. It’s a great way to turn a passion for cooking and nutrition into a lucrative career.
Not a foodie? Here are nine other businesses you can also start from home.
Pet sitting
In case you haven’t noticed, the pet economy is booming. Pet owners are willing to shell out big bucks to care for their beloved furry friends, and that includes hiring a reputable professional to babysit Fido (or Felix) while they’re on vacation or just at work for the day. To get started, you can advertise your services with folks you know and then branch out by posting your information on bulletin boards at local libraries, coffee shops or community spaces. Online platforms like Rover also help connect pet sitters with the families who need them.
Online reseller
Have an eye for cool vintage handbags? A taste for throwback threads? Then you’ve already got the basic skills to become an online reseller. These savvy entrepreneurs can make a tidy profit by scooping up in-demand items — like retro sneakers, vintage designer bags and sunglasses or collectable merchandise — for cheap and then reselling those items online at a profit. Most resellers hit up yard sales and flea markets to find the treasure they seek, then list those same items on eBay or Etsy. To make your finds stand out, focus on capturing dynamic photos of each item and creating product descriptions that entice shoppers to click that ‘buy’ button. Having an active social media presence to advertise your online shop, especially on image-first platforms like Instagram, can also go a long way toward getting your reselling business off the ground.
Hate shopping? Here are a few other easy-to-start businesses you can consider.
To get started, you can advertise your services with folks you know and then branch out by posting your information on bulletin boards at local libraries, coffee shops or community spaces.
Natural landscaper
We know what you’re thinking … aren’t all landscapers “natural” landscapers? But the answer is no! Unlike landscaping businesses that use chemicals to bolster nature’s beauty, natural landscapers work exclusively with indigenous plants and natural materials to bring an outside space to life. If you’re already an avid home gardener, then you likely have many of the skills necessary to turn your green thumb into a business. Start by researching (or even taking a class about) the flowers, trees and shrubs native to your region. Then go out and help your clients reclaim their backyards in a way that doesn’t harm the environment!
Gardening isn’t the only way to go green. Here are five other environmentally friendly businesses you can consider starting.
B&B owner
If you have enough room in your house to host guests (and if hosting is something you love to do anyway), then you should seriously consider turning your home into a bed and breakfast. Sites like Airbnb and Vrbo have popularized the trend of renting temporary space in someone’s home, rather than renting a hotel room. This business option is particularly viable for those who live in or near major cities or travel destinations. If you live near a teaching hospital or university, chances are professional travelers and students will also flock to your B&B. Start by reviewing the listings for other Airbnb (or traditional B&B) rentals in your area, then get to work on creating a listing of your own.
Here are a few more business ideas that are perfect for retirees, including public speaking and crafting.
Influencer
Do you have a strong social media or blog presence? If so, why not put it to good use? If your following is fairly large and engaged, then it might be time to reach out to brands that you already admire to see how to become a micro-influencer. Before you reach out, do some thinking about your particular niche. What do you have to offer brands and why should they give you the opportunity to promote their products? You should also spend some time honing the image you want to convey to potential brand clients. But once you’ve made a solid plan for how to approach clients, you’re in luck: All you have to do is keep being yourself and growing your following.
Social media consultant
Of course, not everyone is cut out to be an influencer. If you’d rather spend your time working on social media behind the scenes, then you might consider becoming a social media consultant. Lots of businesses are looking for help creating and maintaining a social presence. If you happen to be good at writing engaging content or taking interesting photos to post on platforms like Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, then those businesses would likely welcome your services.
Here are nine other potential businesses that are a good fit for social-savvy entrepreneurs.
Tutor
Do you speak another language? Are you great at math? Perhaps you excel at staying up to date on current affairs. Whatever your nerdy skill may be, there is almost certainly someone nearby who could benefit from you sharing that skill with them. While school-aged kids may need someone who can teach them how to conjugate Spanish verbs or complete their algebra homework, adults also seek out tutors. To start a tutoring business on the right foot, make a list of all the potential clients who could benefit from your services, then figure out how to market your business to those people.
If teaching others isn’t your thing, read up on other businesses you can start in your free time.
Virtual bookkeeping
Gone are the days when bookkeepers need to crunch numbers in the same zip code as the business they’re working for. Online accounting software and cloud-based data storage services mean that you can keep the books for businesses without ever entering an office. Be sure to create a resume (or LinkedIn profile or website) that highlights your past experiences as a bookkeeper and ask previous clients to write recommendations on your behalf. With these credentials in hand, plus familiarity with the most popular accounting software programs, you can start a bookkeeping business right from home.
Here are eight other businesses you could start tomorrow.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
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