Businesses for a Larger Investment, page 10

People in snowy regions who can handle odd hours, physical work, and income that swings with the weather

Startup cost

$1,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $15,000 / mo

First income

Within the first snowfall (often days to weeks)

People with food-retail or community ties who can serve a specific niche big chains ignore and tolerate thin margins and perishable risk

Startup cost

$80,000 – $500,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $15,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

Marketing-driven founders who can build a brand and tell an honest sustainability story while managing inventory and a crowded, premium-priced market

Startup cost

$8,000 – $80,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $15,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 months

Hands-on people with plumbing aptitude who can sell solutions honestly and build recurring service and salt-delivery income

Startup cost

$4,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $15,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Marketers or agency owners with a clear niche and audience who want recurring software revenue without building software

Startup cost

$1,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $15,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 months

Hands-on people comfortable in attics, crawlspaces, and on ladders who like problem-solving and don't mind handling live animals and droppings

Startup cost

$3,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $15,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Hands-on operators who can invest in real equipment and are willing to build trust in an industry with a bad reputation for overselling

Startup cost

$4,000 – $35,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 weeks

Mechanically minded problem-solvers who like diagnosing and fixing things and want a mobile, recession-resistant service trade

Startup cost

$2,000 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

People with real automotive diagnostic skill who want a seasonal-demand specialty with strong margins and repeat work

Startup cost

$6,000 – $40,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Outgoing, responsible people in a beer or wine region who can manage transportation, intoxicated guests, and serious liability while delivering a fun experience

Startup cost

$6,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Hospitality-minded operators with capital who can pick a great location and grind through long hours and thin margins

Startup cost

$90,000 – $450,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $14,000 / mo

First income

8 to 18 months

People who love cats but treat this primarily as a real food-and-beverage business with strict separation of the two operations

Startup cost

$60,000 – $250,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $14,000 / mo

First income

8 to 14 months

Detail-obsessed people who want a higher-ticket specialty than basic detailing and will invest in paint-correction skill

Startup cost

$4,000 – $35,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 months

Skilled fabricators, painters, or mechanics who love old cars and have the patience to manage long, capital-heavy projects

Startup cost

$15,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Detail-oriented people with strong writing and admissions knowledge who want a high-margin, advisory education business built on trust

Startup cost

$1,000 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

People who want predictable recurring revenue and are willing to do nightly work early and shift into bidding, hiring, and managing crews

Startup cost

$1,000 – $10,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Confident facilitators who can sell to companies and run a room full of skeptical employees

Startup cost

$1,500 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 4 months

Experienced dance teachers who can build a loyal community of families and are ready to run a real, location-based small business with staff and rent

Startup cost

$8,000 – $90,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

Tech-comfortable people who can sell to local businesses and want recurring software revenue layered on top of one-time installs

Startup cost

$3,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Technically minded, physically capable people who can manage gear, work intense weekend setups, and build relationships with venues and event planners

Startup cost

$4,000 – $40,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 months

Organized, people-driven operators who can recruit reliable staff and juggle weekend logistics

Startup cost

$2,000 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

People who can secure low-cost land or a building, enjoy managing crowds of vendors, and want recurring weekend income

Startup cost

$3,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Hands-on people who can cut, lift, and set glass precisely and want a trade with strong margins on custom and commercial work

Startup cost

$4,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

Experienced drivers or ranch-raised people who are comfortable with livestock, long hours behind the wheel, and heavy regulation

Startup cost

$8,000 – $95,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months