Businesses You Can Start for Under $5,000, page 12

Patient, detail-oriented tinkerers who enjoy diagnosing and fixing devices and don't mind tedious micro-soldering and trial-and-error

Startup cost

$1,500 – $18,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $11,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

People who shoot confidently under pressure, enjoy working a room, and want fast-turnaround paid work without the all-day intensity of weddings

Startup cost

$1,500 – $9,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $7,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 months

Former senior leaders or seasoned operators with a real network and credibility at the executive level

Startup cost

$1,500 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $18,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 months

Detail-oriented, personable people who can handle background-check sensitivity, build B2B volume accounts, and navigate state and channeler enrollment paperwork

Startup cost

$1,500 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $9,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

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

Photographers with an eye for styling and detail who enjoy slow, controlled studio-style work and want commercial clients

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $8,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Sociable foodies who can build restaurant relationships and host a group through a tasting walk with energy and warmth

Startup cost

$1,500 – $10,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $6,500 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Strong players and patient teachers who can build a referral-driven student base and tolerate seasonal income in many climates

Startup cost

$1,500 – $40,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $10,000 / mo

First income

2 to 8 weeks

People comfortable with chemical safety and B2B/government sales who want recurring contract revenue rather than one-off residential jobs

Startup cost

$1,500 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $11,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

People comfortable working at heights who want to earn a large chunk of income in a short, intense seasonal push

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$4,000 – $20,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 months

Plant-savvy people who enjoy hands-on care and selling, and can absorb losses when living inventory dies or ships poorly

Startup cost

$1,500 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$300 – $6,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

People skilled at building trust and rapport who want to help clients with habits, stress, and performance within a clearly non-clinical scope

Startup cost

$1,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$500 – $7,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

Visually skilled people who are also organized, client-facing, and comfortable managing budgets, timelines, and contractors

Startup cost

$1,500 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

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 resellers who enjoy sorting, testing, and listing, can stomach buying sight-unseen, and have space and patience for a slow cash cycle

Startup cost

$1,500 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$600 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Strong local salespeople who can also write or edit, and who are patient enough to build advertiser relationships over time

Startup cost

$1,500 – $40,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

Creative people skilled at makeup who can market themselves and don't mind weekend, seasonal, and early-morning bridal work

Startup cost

$1,500 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$500 – $6,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

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

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

Outgoing people who can host a room, work nights and weekends, and enjoy live entertainment

Startup cost

$1,500 – $9,000

Monthly earnings

$600 – $5,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Theatrical, organized hosts who can write or license a tight script and confidently run a room of guests for two to three hours

Startup cost

$1,500 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $9,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

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, calm animal lovers who like driving and can earn the trust of nervous pet owners

Startup cost

$1,500 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$1,200 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks