Businesses for a Larger Investment, page 11

Hands-on, systems-minded people who can troubleshoot multiple trades and like working on the road

Startup cost

$5,000 – $45,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Mechanically capable people who want to bring tire service to customers and build recurring fleet accounts

Startup cost

$10,000 – $75,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Physically strong, reliable people who want a high-demand service with per-job pricing and a clear path to crews

Startup cost

$2,000 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 weeks

Licensed nail techs or detail-oriented owners who want a fixed-location service business with recurring clients and can manage staff and health-code compliance

Startup cost

$30,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 months

People who want a high-volume, repeat-service automotive business and can either run a fast bay or a reliable mobile route

Startup cost

$8,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 8 weeks

People with hardscape or earthwork experience who can move heavy material, build to engineering standards, and want high-ticket project work

Startup cost

$5,000 – $40,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

4 to 8 weeks

Detail-oriented finish carpenters and remodelers who can learn acoustics and set honest client expectations

Startup cost

$3,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$3,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 months

Retail operators comfortable with strict regulation, equipment-heavy economics, and a business facing real health scrutiny and shifting demand

Startup cost

$50,000 – $300,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

People who want a skilled, physical craft with high earning potential and don't mind precise, demanding work

Startup cost

$3,000 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

People who can read grade and water flow, do heavy excavation work, and want problem-solving trade work with strong per-job revenue

Startup cost

$3,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$3,500 – $13,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 weeks

People with grooming skill (or willing to train seriously) who want premium convenience pricing, recurring clients, and to work alone with animals

Startup cost

$15,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $13,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People committed to a multi-year licensed clinical career in Chinese medicine, not a quick start

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

3 to 4 years (education and licensure first)

Experienced aquarists who understand fish health and water chemistry and can run a disciplined retail operation through tight margins and daily livestock care

Startup cost

$40,000 – $200,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

6 to 12 months

People with patience, sewing or craft aptitude, and an eye for detail who enjoy restoring and customizing interiors by hand

Startup cost

$3,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Experienced bakers or restaurant operators who understand labor, food cost, and retail foot traffic and can survive a slow first year

Startup cost

$70,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

6 to 12 months

Active, personable people in a tourist or scenic area who enjoy storytelling, the outdoors, and managing a fleet and seasonal demand

Startup cost

$4,000 – $40,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People near busy water with a long warm season who are organized about safety, maintenance, and insurance and can live on seasonal income

Startup cost

$15,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 4 months

Physically capable, weekend-available people who want a rental business with real assets and are willing to handle delivery, setup, and strict safety practices

Startup cost

$3,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 weeks

People with food and dairy experience who want to build a regulated, craft product brand and can survive a long cash cycle before profit

Startup cost

$25,000 – $250,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

6 to 18 months

Detail-oriented, safety-minded people comfortable on roofs who can manage a strongly seasonal fall and winter workload

Startup cost

$4,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Hands-on operators who can work long retail hours, manage tight margins and inventory, and treat the store as a full-time job

Startup cost

$50,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

3 to 9 months

People who want a hands-on storefront food business, enjoy making a craft product, and can ride out a strong seasonal swing

Startup cost

$70,000 – $350,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

Designers and marketers who want to build a real product brand and can stomach holding inventory and slow early sales

Startup cost

$2,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Experienced storage and electronics specialists who can invest in specialized tools and tolerate high-stakes, irreplaceable-data work

Startup cost

$1,500 – $40,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months