Top 5 Cheapest Businesses to Start in 2017

When looking for the cheapest businesses to start, there are many factors to consider. These factors include the need to be able to afford marketing, advertising, and setting up a website, social media channels, and other related activities.

However, we have found for you the top five cheapest businesses to start in 2017.

1. Blog / Magazine website

For those who have a flair for writing and want a cheap business idea, this one holds the crown as this is an ever-popular choice. For the cost of a domain (around £10-£15) and some web hosting (around £10 per month), you can start a blog or magazine website using WordPress.

WordPress is a free Content Management System (CMS), and blog/magazine themes run from being free to around £50. If you are able to learn Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and are adept at social media, then this is a cheap business to begin your online career.

All you need to do is build the website by adding unique content, and have some advertising in place through Google's Adsense and Affiliate Programs, and away you go. Earnings can vary from £50 per month up to £10,000 per month for the very best.

2. Pet Sitting / Walking

If you are an animal lover, you can set up a pet sitting business cheaply. All you need is to post a leaflet through the local neighbourhood's doors, speak to people you already know who have pets, and perhaps create a Facebook page.

There are also websites who check your credentials where you can register and where people searching for this service will find you. They also give reviews.

Pet Sitters charge £7 to £10 per visit, and around £15 to £25 per night for overnight pet boarding.

3. Window Cleaning

Although a saturated market, setting yourself up as the local window cleaner is very cheap. All you need is a bucket, a scraper, a sponge, some cloths, an extending tool set, and some diluting window cleaning fluid.  Start with people you know, and if you do a fantastic job, they will refer you to their friends, colleagues and family members in your local area.

Window cleaners charge from £10 to £20 per house, and the best can earn £180 per day, which is equivalent to £43,200 per year. Although, they can clean a three bed-roomed house in 10 minutes and have many, many clients on the books.

Commercial cleaners can earn around £50 per hour, which is £375 per day or £90,000 per annum. However, the minimum start-up costs can be around £5000 for a single-operator business.

4. Tutoring

If you have been to University and hold particular knowledge about a subject, or have worked in a field that others would like to learn such as marketing, or are skilled at playing the guitar, then tutoring may be for you. Advertising can be in supermarkets and on classified ad websites.

The costs of setting up this type of business can be minimal and the best place to start is with people you already know. You can set up some social media pages, and canvass the local neighbourhood.

If you are working with under 18s, you will need to get a DBS check to show people you are of good character, and that a parent or legal guardian must supervise the lessons. This will add trust, and protect you.

Tutors can earn £20-£50 per hour and can run courses with registration fees ranging from £100 to £500 per student depending on the field, demand, competition, and your own qualifications and experience.

5. Car Valeting

Like window cleaning, car valeting requires a small amount of equipment to start, and can be go ahead on a small budget. You will need car shampoo, polish, cloths, sponges, a bucket, interior polish, car window cleaner, a chamois leather, a vacuum cleaner, outdoor extension cables, and some dry cloths, wheel cleaner, and trim cleaners.

You can go to people's homes and/or places of work to execute your services. Be as convenient and accommodating as you can be.

You can begin this cheap business by canvassing friends and family, and they will spread the word when you do an excellent job. You can set up social media pages, boost posts, and promote your page for as little as £1 per day - and get all your friends and family to like, share and follow your posts too.

Car valeting services can charge anything from £10 to £25 per car - depending on the work they would like completed. Do not forget to leave a cheap air freshener and some business cards as well.

Are you thinking of setting up a cheap business?

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