Businesses You Can Start for Under $5,000, page 15

People who want a simple, high-margin summer cash business and accept that income is concentrated in a few warm months

Startup cost

$2,000 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $8,000 / mo

First income

1 to 2 months

People who enjoy teaching kids and can build relationships with schools, running after-school classes and camps without needing deep engineering credentials

Startup cost

$2,000 – $60,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $16,000 / mo

First income

2 to 5 months

Serious artists willing to commit years to an apprenticeship and licensing before earning, and to build a clientele on a permanent, high-stakes craft

Startup cost

$2,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$1,500 – $10,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 years

People who love tea, can develop a real point of view, and are willing to do the slow work of building a brand and distribution

Startup cost

$2,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$300 – $6,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

People who want a recurring-subscription route business and are willing to grind for the customer density that makes it profitable

Startup cost

$2,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$800 – $6,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Organized people-managers who can recruit and schedule reliable staff and keep clients and guests happy under pressure

Startup cost

$2,000 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

People who can hustle to secure good locations, are organized about routes and restocking, and want a semi-passive business they can scale machine by machine

Startup cost

$2,000 – $10,000

Monthly earnings

$200 – $4,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People comfortable with B2B sales and basic networking who want recurring per-seat revenue from business clients

Startup cost

$2,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

People with watch knowledge and access to capital who can spot value, authenticate well, and negotiate calmly

Startup cost

$2,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$500 – $7,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Detail-oriented, patient people who can master a hands-on craft where the skill, not the equipment, is what customers pay for

Startup cost

$2,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$2,500 – $12,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

Dedicated practitioners who enjoy teaching and are willing to build a personal following, not just collect a certification

Startup cost

$2,000 – $8,000

Monthly earnings

$500 – $5,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 months

Artistic, patient people with real planted-tank skill who can sell design as a craft, not just hardware

Startup cost

$2,500 – $20,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $6,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Hands-on people who enjoy 12-volt electronics and don't mind tearing apart dashboards and door panels for hours

Startup cost

$2,500 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $11,000 / mo

First income

2 to 6 weeks

Tech-minded, detail-oriented people who enjoy flying, can pass the FAA Part 107 exam, and want to combine creative or technical work with field jobs

Startup cost

$2,500 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $9,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 months

Patient, detail-obsessed people who like precise hands-on work and are willing to get licensed and build a recurring client base

Startup cost

$2,500 – $12,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $7,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 months

Hands-on people who are comfortable bidding B2B and want a niche trade with high per-job tickets

Startup cost

$2,500 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $12,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

Sociable, organized people who want a weekend, part-time-friendly event business and enjoy working a crowd at celebrations

Startup cost

$2,500 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$1,000 – $7,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

Design-minded people who love paper goods, can manage seasonal inventory, and want to build a recognizable physical brand

Startup cost

$2,500 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$200 – $9,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 months

People with real risk capital, patience for a long ramp, and an analytical mind for product research, sourcing, and numbers

Startup cost

$3,000 – $15,000

Monthly earnings

$0 – $10,000 / mo

First income

3 to 6 months

Patient people who can negotiate location deals, manage cash carefully, and want a semi-passive route business they grow one machine at a time

Startup cost

$3,000 – $25,000

Monthly earnings

$200 – $4,000 / mo

First income

1 to 3 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

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

Hands-on operators who like running events and don't mind heavy weekend hauling and setup

Startup cost

$3,000 – $30,000

Monthly earnings

$500 – $9,000 / mo

First income

3 to 8 weeks

People who want a skilled hands-on service with strong margins and a real choice between a low-cost portable start and a higher-volume truck-mount path

Startup cost

$3,000 – $35,000

Monthly earnings

$2,000 – $11,000 / mo

First income

2 to 4 weeks