20 Businesses You Can Start With $30k [Updated for 2024]

Updated: February 22nd, 2024

If you're looking to start a business on a budget, you'll be pleased to know that there are plenty of options out there. You can start many businesses for under $30k.

So if you're ready to take the plunge, here are some great ideas to get you started.

Under $30K

1. Start a beauty franchise business ($225K/month)

Ready to capitalize on the ever-growing beauty industry? Consider starting a beauty franchise business. This concept involves partnering with an established beauty brand, offering their proven products and services under a franchising agreement.

Operating a beauty franchise means you'll be buying into a tested business model, complete with branding, marketing strategies, and a loyal customer base. It also includes ongoing support from the franchisor, which decreases the risk compared to starting a beauty business from scratch.

Investing in a beauty franchise allows you to focus on delivering top-notch services while leveraging the brand’s reputation. The initial investment might be steep, but the potential for steady revenue and growth is significant, especially if you're passionate about beauty and customer care.

If you’re seeking a business idea with built-in support and high demand, a beauty franchise might be the right path for you. With the right mindset and work ethic, this venture holds promise for substantial rewards.

How much you can make: $100,000 — $350,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

2. Start a respite care service

Starting an in-home respite care service can give seniors the quality care they need, and allow families to get a break from the daily responsibility of providing around-the-clock care. Respite care is a different kind of senior care, but it provides valuable relief for family caregivers and retirees alike.

The USA care services market is expected to reach $748.5B by 2030. Care services for the elderly and other care recipients are relatively underserved at the moment, but this doesn't mean that there's no money to be made in the industry. In fact, it is a growing market.

3. Start an electronics repairing service

Electronics repair businesses repair damaged or malfunctioned equipment such as televisions, stereos, computers, phones, and gaming devices. If you love working with electronics and are interested in working as a repair technician, consider starting your own electronics repair business.

The electronics repair business can be profitable and fun if you love and enjoy keeping the devices working.

To start, hire electronics service technicians to keep your business growing. Find someone who will treat customers with trust, honesty, and the highest degree of courtesy while exhibiting the highest levels of technical competency.

4. Mobile pet grooming business

A mobile pet grooming business offers the convenience of professional grooming services right at the doorstep of pet owners.

With this service, your day-to-day activities involve traveling to clients' locations with a fully equipped mobile grooming van, providing personalized grooming services for their beloved pets.

How much you can make: $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

5. Start a chatbot development business ($48.3K/month)

Businesses use conversational AI chatbots to take customer engagement to the next level. Typically, chatbots deliver consistent responses to customers, which helps the business avoid issuing irrelevant or misguiding details to the customers.

As more people focus on using the internet in shopping, education, and research, businesses are deploying chatbots to provide 24/7/365 support to their customers.

For example, online shoppers interact with businesses through chatbots, while students can use chatbots to help with their studies and research.

Therefore, starting a chatbot development business can be a lucrative venture.

How much you can make: $7,500 — $180,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

6. Start a the maids franchise business

Looking for a proven business model with a structured system? Consider starting a maids franchise business. This franchise option allows you to run a cleaning service backed by an established brand, offering housekeeping and cleaning solutions to residential or commercial clients.

By purchasing a maids franchise, you gain access to already successful operational procedures, marketing strategies, and support networks. It's an opportunity to dive into the booming cleaning industry with guidance every step of the way, reducing some of the risks associated with starting a business from scratch.

If you’re detail-oriented and customer-service focused, a maids franchise might be the perfect fit. It requires a dedication to maintaining high standards and managing a team, but with the backing of a recognized brand, the pathway to profitability becomes clearer and more attainable.

How much you can make: $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

7. Start a health and wellness podcast

Do you have knowledge and passion for health that you'd love to share with others? Or perhaps you are a health blogger or content creator looking for ways to expand your revenue streams? If you match these criteria, starting a health and wellness podcast host could be the perfect opportunity.

In today's world, podcasts are the new radio. Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing mediums for online audio, and it's not expected to slow down any time soon. But unlike traditional radio, podcasts are driven by content creators passionate about sharing stories with their listeners.

One of the main benefits of starting a podcast is the minimal investment needed. All you need is a computer or phone with a microphone and a way to host it online. You can even create one on your website if you want.

How much you can make: $3,600/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

8. Start an online franchise and licensing opportunities business

Looking for a promising way to enter the dynamic world of online business? Consider launching an online franchise and licensing opportunities business. This model allows you to offer aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to buy into a proven business system, with the added benefit of online scalability.

Essentially, you'll be the bridge between franchise owners and prospective business buyers, providing a platform for them to connect. You’ll manage the intricacies of franchise agreements, licensing rights, and compliance – allowing franchisors to focus on their core operations while you handle the digital logistics.

The appeal lies in the potential for ongoing revenue streams from franchise fees and licensing agreements, making it an attractive venture for those with strong organizational and marketing skills. If you’re looking to be part of a thriving sector with endless opportunities for growth, this business idea warrants serious consideration.

How much you can make: $100,000/month

How long does it take to build: 48 days (?)

9. Start a white label marketing automation business

Businesses that do not want to own an internal marketing department are turning to market agencies that can help to deliver digital marketing services. To save time and resources and to deliver superior service, the marketing agencies engage a white label marketing platform, subscribe to their tool, rebrand it, and resell the marketing tool.

A white label marketing software eases the most time-consuming marketing tasks like data analytics, social media posts, email marketing, reports generation, etc.

The agencies add their branding to the software and sell the services as if they develop themselves. With the increased demand for digital marketing services and market analytics, starting a white label marketing tool can be a profitable business.

How much you can make: $11,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

10. Start a cybersecurity app business

In an era where cyber threats are constantly evolving, a cybersecurity app business stands out as a crucial and timely enterprise. This venture involves developing mobile or desktop applications that protect users from online threats like malware, phishing attacks, and data breaches. With increasing dependency on digital platforms, demand for robust cybersecurity solutions is surging.

As a business owner, you'll need to understand the complexities of cybersecurity, from encryption techniques to threat detection algorithms. Collaborating with skilled cybersecurity experts and developers is essential. The first steps include market research, identifying target users, and shaping a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

This business not only addresses a growing concern but also offers a meaningful service to individuals and organizations alike. The landscape for cybersecurity is ripe with opportunities, making it an exciting space for innovation and impact. Starting a cybersecurity app business presents a balanced mix of technical challenge and societal benefit, suited for those ready to tackle real-world problems.

How much you can make: $91,000/month

More business ideas

  • 11. Start a virtual assistant services

12. Start a garden cleaning business

If you want to start a gardening-related business, you may consider providing garden cleanups to residential and commercial customers. Your role will be to provide garden cleanups to prevent pests, weed seed, and diseases and prepares the garden for fun activities while providing a clean slate for perennial and vegetables to grow.

13. Start a remote working business

With the shift toward remote work, starting a remote working business is a timely and lucrative opportunity. Remote working businesses facilitate work-from-home arrangements, providing tools, software, and services to help companies streamline their remote operations. This could range from offering project management software to virtual office space solutions.

The appeal of this business lies in its relevance; as companies increasingly embrace remote work, there is a growing demand for effective remote work solutions. It's a sector not only poised for growth but also for innovation.

What sets this idea apart is its scalability. Whether you’re offering specialized software solutions or consultancy services for remote team management, the possibilities are broad. For those with organizational skills and a knack for tech, it’s an opportunity to shape the future of work itself.

How much you can make: $350,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

14. Start a the ups-store franchise business

Starting a UPS Store franchise can be a fantastic business opportunity for anyone looking to be their own boss and take control of their career. At its core, the UPS Store is a retail shipping and printing center offering a wide range of services to individuals and businesses. These services can include shipping packages, printing documents, and providing mailbox and mail forwarding services.

One of the best things about starting a UPS Store franchise is that you will join a well-established and reputable brand already well-known to consumers. You will have a built-in customer base to tap into from day one, which can help your business thrive in the early stages.

To operate a successful UPS Store franchise, it’s essential to be detail-oriented and organized. You will be handling a lot of different types of packages, documents, and paperwork, so it’s essential to have a system in place to keep everything running smoothly. Additionally, you should be comfortable interacting with customers and providing excellent customer service.

Another key to success with a UPS Store franchise is being proactive in marketing and advertising. You can take advantage of the brand’s marketing resources and materials, but you should also think outside the box when promoting your business. This could include reaching out to local businesses to form partnerships to host events and promotions to attract new customers.

Starting a UPS Store franchise can be a fantastic way to take control of your career and start a business that offers a wide range of services to a diverse customer base. With hard work, attention to detail, and a commitment to providing excellent customer service, you can be well on your way to running a successful and profitable business.

More business ideas

  • 15. Start a yard work service business
  • 16. Start a re/max franchise business
  • 17. Start a scooter's coffee franchise business

18. Start a hearing aid dispensary business

Hearing dispensers interpret hearing assessments and use the information to select the best hearing aid possible for their patients.

The hearing aid dispensers are fully qualified clinicians who assess hearing and provide aftercare for hearing aids.

To start the hearing aid dispensing business, you need on-the-job training from an audiologist and apply for the audiologist license.

19. Start a blockchain services business

Unlock the potential of the digital economy with a blockchain services business. This venture involves offering specialized services that leverage blockchain technology to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency in various sectors.

As a provider, you'll help businesses integrate blockchain solutions into their operations, whether it's for secure transactions, supply chain management, or data integrity.

Blockchain is rapidly gaining traction, and businesses are increasingly keen to adopt it but lack the expertise. By becoming a blockchain consultant or developer, you address this gap, making you an invaluable asset.

If you have a knack for technology and a desire to drive innovation, this could be a promising avenue. The growing demand for decentralized solutions makes now the perfect time to dive into the blockchain services market.

How much you can make: $1,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,050 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

20. Start a bike rental business

A bike rental business involves providing bicycles to customers for a fee.

To start this business on a budget, first, you'll need to acquire a small fleet of bikes, which can be bought new or refurbished.

Find a convenient location to set up your rental station, such as a popular tourist spot, park, or near a busy urban area.

Create a simple pricing structure, set up a basic rental system (like paper forms or a simple online booking platform), and market your business through social media, local advertising, and word-of-mouth.

Offer safety instructions and basic maintenance tips to your customers, and consider providing optional extras like helmets or bike locks for an additional fee.

How much you can make: $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.