Are you looking for a great at-home, or mostly-at-home business idea to start in 2017. If your are great with domestic services and looking for a business to do on your own time, think about starting a laundry service. Another idea for domestic divas is starting a personal chef business. And finally, if you are looking for a business that requires event planning and connecting community businesses together, check out our listing for Arts and Craft Show Promoter.
These three business ideas are great for the micro-entrepreneur. If you are looking for an opportunity with low-overhead where you can to most of the labor during the start-up of the company, one of these ideas may be right for you.
Laundry Service- Ironing
What the Business Does: Providing laundry services entails washing, drying, and folding or hanging clothes for individuals. This is a great service for busy professionals, doctors, and dual-income households with no one available to do the household task. This is a great business for a thriving community with people that don’t have the time or the desire to do the job. Some people will wash their own clothes but need someone to iron their husband’s shirts for work. When people are busy they have to pick and choose what chores they can and cannot do. A lot of the time, laundry is the chore that suffers.
Startup Costs: $100-$500
Earning Potential: $15,000-$35,000
What to Charge: wash, dry, and fold for $8-$12 per lb of clothing; ironing $1-$3 per item
Equipment Needed: washer and dryer, iron, ironing board or professional presser; or access to them
How you find clients: word of mouth, flyers on homes and in professional buildings, bulletin boards, day care centers, place a flyer at the coin laundry mat
Skills Needed: attention to detail, knowledge of soaps, chemicals, and cleaning process; many books offer how-to tips regarding laundry cleaning
Time to Start Earning: 1 to 3 weeks
Home-based business: yes
Additional Staff: not necessary; potential for staff members as service demand increases
Other Costs: liability insurance, and hangers, detergent, special spot cleaners
Setting yourself apart: Provide great service and go above and beyond. Make repairs and fix buttons when needed, be sure to refund for any damaged goods.
Additional Services: Add pick-up and delivery services at houses or business locations. Also, errand services, housecleaning, and cooking are good services to add for already busy professionals. Give a small discount to customers that use multiple services.
Tips for Super Simple, Super Small entrepreneurs: Use a printed receipt with a disclaimer that states that you are not responsible for damages due to commercial laundry facilities. Also, get paid before you launder or iron the items.
Personal Chef
What the Business Does: Develop menus, shop for ingredients, and provide meals to individuals and families in their homes. Provide great food to busy professionals and dual-income households that want nutritious meals but don’t have the time. Consider catering to specific dietary needs or working with a set budget. Remember, some clients will be super specific and very picky when paying for food prepared by a personal chef. You may prepare
Startup Costs: $500-$1000
Earning Potential: $35,000-$50,000
What to Charge: $200 per day plus the cost of groceries; or on a per serving basis
Equipment Needed: computer, printer, phone, automobile; cooking utensils or use theirs
How you find clients: local newspaper, website; flyers at workplace
Skills Needed: cooking, food safety, and organization skills
Time to Start Earning: 2 to 4 weeks
Home-Based Business: yes
Cons: Make sure your food is cooked well and you follow food safety guidelines. Also, you may be asked to cook food you don’t like or don’t know how.
Additional Staff: not necessary; acquire interns from the local college and expand as needed
Other Costs: disposable containers to leave at the customer’s house
Setting Yourself Apart: Simply make really good tasting food. People will rave about your service and tell their friends. Provide flowers on the dinner table. Offer an additional dessert.
Additional Services: You can specialize in freeze-ahead meals or specialty low-fat diets. Niche markets include busy families, new moms, elderly that cannot travel to the grocery store, brides, family reunions, and children’s birthday parties. Anyone that does not want to cook.
Arts and Crafts Show Promoter
What the Business Does: An arts and craft show promoter schedules venues and vendors to display their wares for potential customers. These shows range from health fairs to festivals and holiday expos.
Startup Costs: $500- $1000
Earning Potential:$20,000-$40,000
What to Charge: Percentage of booth rental; percentage of ticket sales
Equipment Needed: computer with desktop publishing software and printer, cell phone
How you find clients: direct mail; bulletin board; internet
Skills Needed: project management skills
Time to Start Earning: 6 to 8 weeks
Home-based business: yes
Cons: you have to get enough booth renters to fill your space as well as a lot of publicity for the event. You also have to be able to draw a big crowd for your vendors.
Additional Staff: no; possibly some volunteer staff
Other Costs: insurance costs
Setting Yourself Apart: focus on creating a one of a kind event and getting as many people to the event as possible
Additional Services: wedding shows; food shows, kids expos
