Passion, creativity, and smart strategies can launch a successful hustle even without a huge upfront investment. There is a growing tribe of women who’d like to be their own masters, channeling their expertise into hitherto unexplored (to their optimum) fields.
In the new world of remote working, the good news is that with a bit of foresight, business ventures can take off far better than they’d have a couple of years ago.
This is on account of the network that gets made of entrepreneurs supporting each other, and the optimal use of social media and other tools for visibility and trade.
Low-cost business ideas for women
While there are several ideas, here are some we have seen working well:
1. Freelance Writing or Editing
Skills needed
Strong writing/editing abilities are non-negotiable. A good hold on the language and the ability to offer options as drafts for potential clients to take a pick from can get you meaty assignments. You should be able to understand the tone required in the writings and be able to modulate your use of vocabulary as per the need.
Quite a few women have started to opt for this very interesting job profile, given that it can be done from the comfort of your home, in the hours you set aside for work, and gives your ingenuity of ideas a free ground to play. It also gets you the challenge of making your skills in language change and fit as per the need of the assignments, keeping boredom at bay.
Tools
A laptop, internet, and a portfolio platform are all you need to get started. Have the necessary applications and tools you may need to fine-tune your work. Stay abreast of the new, improved applications for editing, formatting, etc.
A high-speed internet for faster uploads and quicker exchange of files is a prerequisite because most of this work is time-sensitive.
2. Virtual Assistant Services
Skills needed
You should have the ability to meet deadlines, prioritize tasks, and manage time well. Being proficient in using online calendars such as Google Calendar is a plus.
Keeping job sheets updated at all times is the way to ensure nothing gets overlooked. Be dependable and flexible to adjust to changed priorities. Hone your problem-solving skills and have a proactive approach in taking initiatives and anticipating client needs.
Tools
Familiarity with software like Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), CRM software, and other management tools like Trello is an added technical proficiency bonus. A good typing speed for emails, data entry, and documentation is needed.
Knowing how to navigate the internet efficiently and social media management to keep track of the traction your portfolio is getting will put you on the road to success. Hoard up on all software and tools like Dropbox, Google Drive, Hootsuite, Buffer, LastPass, and so on for facilitating your work. Keeping a printer, a webcam, and a microphone handy for those last-minute recordings is a life-saver.
3. Social Media Management
Skills needed
Understanding of platforms and content creation that picks up with the target audience better is essential. Posts and videos that are trending, the right keywords and hashtags, finding the right time to post for maximum engagement, regular posts, and keeping active engagement with similar accounts will scale up traction.
Tools
Scheduling apps, Canva, analytics tools are just a few that can be put to use. You are able to manage multiple client accounts from a single dashboard. Provide your clients automated reports with real-time insights.
Managing your work between your team members becomes easier with assigned roles and permissions. Setting up approval workflows for content creation and scheduling makes work smoother.
4. Online Tutoring or Coaching
Skills needed
Subject expertise and good communication can make you a much sought-after tutor. Add to these exceptional interpersonal skills, some technical proficiency, patience, and adaptability to individual learning needs and curves, and you have set yourself a good business.
Consider specializing in dealing with test preparations, having doubt-clearing sessions, assessing periodic worksheets and tests.
Tools
Video conferencing software, scheduling apps. Get comfortable with platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom, or whiteboard apps. Ensure you get familiar and comfortable with file management and navigating the internet. Get adept at using LMS (Learning Management Systems) to get your lessons ready and manage multiple students.
5. Handmade Product Business
Skills needed
Craft has started crafting its way into people’s lives a lot more than usual. As more and more people ask for unique, personalized handmade products, the craft industry is booming. Those with skilled hands and offbeat ideas can make fixed batches to start with against confirmed orders and then expand as demand grows by roping in a team for scaling up product making.
Good photography skills to populate your website and social media page are a must. Invest in a good camera or ask for a good portfolio from a professional photographer who has expertise in product photography.
Tools
Onboard yourself on marketplace platforms where multiple vendors or sellers can list and sell their services and products. This helps to widen the audience of potential buyers, connecting buyers and sellers in a single ecosystem. Listings, inventory, and orders get easier to manage. Some come with an integrated payment system to help with secure transactions between buyers and sellers.
Put yourself on one that offers customer support too. This helps with quick redressal and better community building with your customers. Use social media extensively to showcase your products. Run paid advertisements and get into collaborations with verified influencers. Share photographs of your customers with/in your products to engage with the audience. Offer occasional discounts or lucrative buying schemes.
6. Dropshipping Store
Skills needed
Begin with product research. Choose a profitable niche and supplier, build an e-commerce store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Next, start with marketing, customer service, and getting to understand order fulfillment.
Make sure to set competitive prices. Staying on top of all competition is important by analyzing and understanding the strategies of your competitors. Use various channels like social media, email, and paid advertising for marketing. Populate your website and social media page with compelling descriptions of your products. Attract organic traffic by creating engaging content for search engines.
Tools
Shopify provides an online platform to build a store, connect with suppliers, and tools and apps to manage inventory, orders, and marketing. This gives the sellers time to focus on growing their business without the hassle of managing the inventory. Tap into supplier directories like Spocket, AliExpress, etc., and find those with a proven track record and good reviews.
7. Content Creation (Blog, YouTube, Podcast)
Skills needed
If you can make stories out of the ordinary and let them run like a short movie that has colors, text, transitions, and maybe commentary/voiceover, you can make a place for yourself as a content creator.
If a good voice and command of language is your flex, you can do podcasts as per the trends on social media or as per the niche you choose to speak on/about. Stay updated on the changes that you may have to bring into your storytelling to rule out chances of redundancy and incorrect information. Research well and prepare your videos or podcasts accordingly, settling for the tone you’d prefer with your chosen audience.
Tools
Set yourself up on hosting platforms like YouTube for videos, WordPress for websites and blogs, and cloud hosting providers like Google Cloud or DigitalOcean for general web hosting needs. Make sure to get yourself the visibility that will get you the business you want to establish.
8. Event Planning Services
Skills needed
From arranging and hosting workshops, seminars, family events, or those of the official kinds, event planning is where a lot of people are hustling. Good reasons too, given the play of ideas and room for getting innovative.
All one needs to do is organize the anticipated requirements to be met in a seamless manner. It will require you to liaise with many other service providers. Build your network and make yourself a portfolio of successfully conducted events.
Tools
Customer Relationship Management is pertinent. Employ the use of all planning tools that can facilitate building good relations with them. Keep your online engagement high and work on building trust. Make use of testimonials from happy and satisfied customers.
9. Digital Product Sales (E-books, Templates)
Skills needed
This requires specific skills in design and writing or expertise in a niche. A blend of technical, marketing, and interpersonal skills is needed. You should have a good understanding of digital marketing channels, data analysis, and strong, persuasive communication abilities.
Understanding search engine optimization and search engine marketing is needed to drive traffic to your product listings.
Tools
An understanding of digital download platforms, payment gateways, and other relevant technologies along with the trending marketing tools will help you establish your venture better. Think Shopify, Sellfy, Thinkific, and scores of others.
10. Personal Styling or Shopping Services
Skills needed
A good understanding of fashion, what is trending or not, and being able to communicate the same through pictures and well-edited videos can get you visibility as a personal stylist. The shopping services will feel more authentic with a market recce and a comparison of prices and quality.
Tools
Create virtual styling platforms on YouTube, for instance, or speak through Instagram. Think of bringing a freshness to your presentation of what is trending, and leverage with regular posting on social media. Aesthetically made reels, videos, or still pictures should be able to convey all that needs to be done to create a look.
Conclusion
Start somewhere, no matter how small. Just research well and take the first few steps with the assuredness all entrepreneurs have in what they envision. Business building is a slow burn. Prepare your route map and get started.
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