Businesses You Can Start This Week — page 5

Patient, organized, tech-comfortable people who like long-term projects and working closely with families on something personal

Startup cost

$800 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $5,500 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

Detail-oriented people who like creative setups, can work early mornings, and want a flexible side business with low ongoing costs

Startup cost

$800 – $4,000

Monthly earnings

$300 – $3,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Detail-oriented people who love baking, can sell a signature product, and want to start small from a home or cottage kitchen

Startup cost

$800 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $7,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Outgoing, performance-comfortable people who love working with children and want flexible, weekend-heavy creative work with low startup cost

Startup cost

$800 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $6,500 / mo

First income

2 to 4 weeks

Detail-minded people who enjoy transforming a car's condition and want a mobile, low-overhead business with a clear premium upsell in coatings

Startup cost

$1,000 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $9,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 weeks

Detail-oriented people who want stable, recurring route revenue and are willing to learn pool chemistry and equipment rather than chase one-off jobs

Startup cost

$1,000 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $10,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Detail-oriented people who like hands-on work, can manage prep and crews, and want a scalable trade with a low entry cost

Startup cost

$1,000 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 weeks

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)

Analytical, process-driven people with working capital who can source patiently for thin margins and tolerate platform and account risk

Startup cost

$1,000 – $10,000

Monthly earnings

$500 – $6,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

People with real product knowledge and risk tolerance who can buy and sell coolly without getting emotionally attached to cards

Startup cost

$1,000 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$500 – $6,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

People who want B2B recurring work, can manage dusty physical jobs and small crews, and can build trust with builders and general contractors

Startup cost

$1,000 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $14,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Detail-oriented, handy people who measure carefully and enjoy a mix of in-home sales and clean installation work

Startup cost

$1,000 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Comfortable-on-roofs, safety-minded people who want a recurring service riding the growth of solar adoption

Startup cost

$1,000 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $8,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 weeks

Trustworthy, detail-oriented people in or near a seasonal or vacation-home market who want flexible, recurring, relationship-based work

Startup cost

$1,000 – $6,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $7,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Hands-on people who like recurring routes, are comfortable with water chemistry, and can learn basic equipment repair

Startup cost

$1,200 – $9,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $8,500 / mo

First income

2 to 4 weeks

People comfortable working at height who can sell a higher-ticket upgrade and want a focused, product-driven trade niche

Startup cost

$1,200 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $11,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 weeks

Physically capable people who want a low-barrier service business with fast first income and a clear path to adding trucks and crews

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 weeks

People who want active outdoor work, recurring weekly income, and a clear path from mowing into higher-margin landscaping

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $10,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 weeks

Hands-on people who genuinely enjoy bike mechanics and want a low-overhead mobile service that trades a storefront for convenience

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $7,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Energetic, motivating coaches who like leading groups and building community without a gym lease

Startup cost

$1,500 – $10,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $7,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Skilled cooks who enjoy working directly with people and want a flexible, relationship-driven food business

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $8,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

Reliable, fast-turnaround photographers who want recurring B2B clients rather than chasing one-off creative gigs

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Skilled hangers and finishers who want to subcontract to builders and remodelers and don't mind hard physical work

Startup cost

$1,500 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $15,000 / mo

First income

2 to 8 weeks

Sociable, organized people who enjoy events, weekend work, and serving alcohol responsibly for weddings and parties

Startup cost

$1,500 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $9,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks