Businesses You Can Start for Under $25,000, page 24

Experienced teachers or managers who want to build a multi-teacher studio with a real location, not just teach solo

Startup cost

$15,000 – $90,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

Licensed occupational therapists who want clinical autonomy and a higher income ceiling than employment, and who can handle billing and the slow credentialing process

Startup cost

$15,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $20,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

Experienced welders and fabricators who can design, build, and install structural and decorative metalwork to code

Startup cost

$15,000 – $90,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $20,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Experienced techs or serious enthusiasts who understand engine management and accept the legal and liability realities

Startup cost

$15,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Skilled groomers ready to commit to a lease and fixed location, or owners who can hire and retain grooming talent

Startup cost

$15,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $15,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

Strong cooks who enjoy live, on-site events and weekend work and want a premium per-event catering niche

Startup cost

$15,000 – $75,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Experienced, broker-licensed agents who can recruit and retain producing agents and run a compliant, leveraged business

Startup cost

$15,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $30,000 / mo

First income

6 to 18 months

Audio-savvy creatives with a network of musicians, podcasters, or content creators who can keep the room booked

Startup cost

$15,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 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

Operators who want to run a staffed learning center as a manager and marketer rather than do all the tutoring themselves

Startup cost

$15,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $20,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

People with a sharp eye for fashion and eras who can source cheaply, merchandise well, and stomach retail overhead

Startup cost

$15,000 – $90,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $6,500 / mo

First income

2 to 5 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

People who can pick a high-traffic location, run tight inventory on perishables, and handle the operational grind of a small food business

Startup cost

$18,000 – $250,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

3 to 9 months

People with retail or wellness experience who can fill a recurring-membership space and are comfortable describing benefits accurately, not overselling

Startup cost

$18,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$3,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Experienced waterfront-area builders who can handle permits, heavy equipment, and high-ticket marine construction

Startup cost

$20,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$6,000 – $30,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

People with strong floral and design skill plus the stomach for retail hours, perishable inventory, and tight margins

Startup cost

$20,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

Outgoing people who like running events for kids and can handle a big upfront equipment investment and weekend-heavy bookings

Startup cost

$20,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $8,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People with retail or merchandising sense and enough capital to fund inventory, rent, and losses through slow seasons while building a loyal local base

Startup cost

$20,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $9,000 / mo

First income

4 to 9 months

Hands-on people in golf, retirement, or coastal markets who can manage inventory cash flow and basic 12V/48V repair

Startup cost

$20,000 – $250,000

Monthly earnings

$5,000 – $25,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Experienced instructors with real rank and teaching ability who also want to run a member-retention and sales business

Startup cost

$20,000 – $120,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $16,000 / mo

First income

1 to 4 months

Hands-on people comfortable with welding and fabrication who want a focused automotive niche with strong repeat and custom demand

Startup cost

$20,000 – $90,000

Monthly earnings

$6,000 – $22,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Hands-on, mechanically inclined operators with capital who can buy the right inventory, keep it running, and chase high utilization

Startup cost

$20,000 – $200,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 months

Product-minded creatives with capital who can navigate strict safety compliance and are patient through a long, seasonal product cycle

Startup cost

$20,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $18,000 / mo

First income

6 to 12 months

Hands-on people who know trucks and can balance quality installs with retail sales and product margins

Startup cost

$20,000 – $150,000

Monthly earnings

$5,000 – $22,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months