By Starting a small business is one of the top goals for many people. It gives them the freedom to work when, where, and how they want.
Finding a small business idea that matches your interests and skillset is important to start-up success. Ideally, it will require minimal to no training, reducing your startup costs.
Makeup Artist
If you love being creative and want to work in a hands-on profession, becoming a makeup artist may be the right small business idea for you. Not only is it an excellent career choice, but you can also avoid the debt associated with traditional college degrees.
Makeup artists are often called on to consult with their clients and create custom looks based on their specifications. They may also work on film sets and perform special effects.
Working as a makeup artist requires you to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in beauty and fashion. You can take classes in this area to ensure you’re constantly improving your skills and enhancing your knowledge.
You can become a makeup artist by earning a cosmetology license, which is a certificate that can be earned in a short amount of time from a trade school. This avoids the financial constraints of a traditional college degree and can help you get started in this business quickly.
As a makeup artist, you can choose to freelance and set your own hours or have an in-house position at a makeup shop or salon. This can be a great way to maintain a desirable work-life balance and determine how much time you want to spend working each week.
Home Organization Consultant
If you have the right skills and passion for organizing homes and businesses, you might consider being a home organization consultant. The work of a home organizer includes assessing a space, developing a plan, and helping a client implement the plan within their budget.
The best home organizing consultants help their clients achieve organizational goals and solve problems, no matter the size of the space. This includes helping clients clear their closets, organize their kitchen and other areas of the house, and design custom storage solutions.
Many organizing professionals offer a free in-home consultation and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about their services and rates. Some organizers charge a flat rate for their services, while others will have pricing packages that include multiple hours or larger projects.
Clutterbusters is a budget-friendly company that charges $75 per hour with a four-hour minimum. They also have a package that gives organizers 30+ hours of organization for a discounted rate.
Resourceful Consultants is a New York-based organization service that serves clients throughout the country. The company has a team of professional organizers and offers in-home or virtual sessions.
The best home organization consultants are passionate about helping their clients de-clutter and get organized, but they have the ability to be compassionate, encouraging and motivating in their work as well. They can assist clients with lifestyle changes, rearranging rooms, and dealing with a major life transition such as getting married or moving into a new home.
Consulting
If you’re a problem-solver, and want to help businesses grow, a consulting business is an ideal small business idea. Consultants offer business owners advice about how to improve their organization, manage changes in the industry, or take steps to increase sales.
In most consulting engagements, consultants analyze a client’s situation and make recommendations for improvement. They may recommend that the client change a business strategy, structure, marketing approach, or financial policies.
When analyzing a client’s situation, consultants try to understand the company and its history. They often meet with management, collect data, and gather input from employees.
Once the analysis is complete, consultants provide a report that outlines the findings and recommendations for improvement. They might also assist with implementation of the recommendations if requested by the client.
A consultant’s feedback to a client is often critical, but it should be treated as objective advice rather than personal criticism. The consultant is there to serve the client and the best interests of the company.
When starting a new consulting business, you’ll need to establish clear objectives and measurable results for the work. This will help you determine whether the project is a success or if it needs to be adjusted. It’s important to establish goals and deliverables that are SMART — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-oriented.