Businesses You Can Start for Under $25,000 — page 20

Patient, safety-minded people who can handle heavy state regulation and want a steady, recession-resistant local service

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 months

Operators who can handle perishable inventory, recurring-subscription logistics, and cold-chain packaging — not first-time cooks chasing a food brand

Startup cost

$8,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 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

Experienced remodeling or construction contractors who can manage permits, foundations, and high-ticket sales without underbidding

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$5,000 – $22,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Hands-on people willing to master both glass installation and modern ADAS recalibration, and to navigate insurance billing

Startup cost

$8,000 – $45,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Tech-comfortable people willing to invest in programming equipment and master a high-margin, lockout-driven mobile niche

Startup cost

$8,000 – $45,000

Monthly earnings

$3,500 – $15,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Experienced dog people committed to a single breed who treat it as a long-term, ethics-first pursuit rather than an income stream

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $4,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 years

Experienced builders comfortable with excavation, concrete or base prep, and selling four- and five-figure projects to homeowners

Startup cost

$8,000 – $45,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $22,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Hands-on operators with capital, a truck, and a crew who can handle heavy seasonal install work

Startup cost

$8,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $18,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People willing to train for years to earn a real trade credential, who want a high-earning, recession-resistant business where the license itself is the moat

Startup cost

$10,000 – $50,000

Monthly earnings

$6,000 – $25,000 / mo

First income

6 months to 3+ years (including training)

Disciplined people comfortable with direct-sales marketing, real estate due diligence, and irregular, deal-based income

Startup cost

$10,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $8,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 months

Physically capable, safety-minded operators who can serve remodelers reliably and manage permits, disposal, and hazardous-material awareness

Startup cost

$10,000 – $80,000

Monthly earnings

$6,000 – $30,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 months

People wanting an accessible, low-down-payment entry into real estate who are willing to live alongside tenants to build long-term wealth

Startup cost

$10,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$400 – $2,500 / mo

First income

2 to 6 months

Licensed electricians (ideally with gas experience) who want high-ticket installs plus recurring service-contract income

Startup cost

$10,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$6,000 – $25,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 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

Hands-on people comfortable blending welding, electrical, low-voltage, and electronics troubleshooting

Startup cost

$10,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $20,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People who want a seasonal, cash-heavy mobile business and enjoy being out in neighborhoods and at events

Startup cost

$12,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $9,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Experienced plaster/concrete tradespeople who can manage crews and exacting finish work on tight schedules

Startup cost

$12,000 – $75,000

Monthly earnings

$5,000 – $30,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

People who understand consumer packaged goods, distribution, and razor-thin beverage margins — not hobbyists who just have a great recipe

Startup cost

$12,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $8,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

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

Experienced roofers or contractors ready to carry heavy licensing, insurance, and crews for high-ticket work

Startup cost

$15,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$5,000 – $40,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 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

Experienced trades or construction people who can sell high-ticket jobs, manage a crew, and stand behind long warranties

Startup cost

$15,000 – $80,000

Monthly earnings

$6,000 – $40,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Operators comfortable with logistics, capital, compliance, and hands-on hardware work who can build downstream and client relationships

Startup cost

$15,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $25,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 months