Small business ideas with low startup costs can help anyone become an entrepreneur. Business ownership is a proven path to wealth - just look at the fact that 90 percent of millionaires own their companies. The best part? You can start many businesses with $500 or less if you have the right skills or can learn them quickly.
The market is full of profitable business opportunities that need minimal investment. A virtual assistant can make $25 to $50+ per hour with the right expertise and experience. Subject matter experts who teach online can earn $25 to $75+ hourly as the e-learning sector keeps growing. The used clothing market shows amazing potential too - it hit $43 billion in 2023, almost double from $23 billion in 2018.
This piece explores budget-friendly business options perfect for new founders, freelancers, and aspiring coaches. These ideas work great as side hustles or full-time ventures and need very little money upfront. The telehealth industry presents another exciting opportunity - it's now worth over $300 billion. Platforms like Bask Health let wellness entrepreneurs start their care businesses easily.
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Key Takeaways
- Low-cost business ideas let you launch with $500 or less and scale with smart tools and simple strategies.
- Freelancing, coaching, reselling, and fitness instruction are flexible, remote-friendly, and ready for solopreneurs.
- Telehealth is booming—Bask Health gives you a full platform to launch your care business with zero tech headaches.
- Scalable business models and automation are key to growing without burning out or overspending.
- Start lean, stay flexible, and build something that frees your time and income. You don’t need a big budget—just a bold plan.
What Makes a Business Idea Affordable and Viable
Successful business ideas that last share three lifeblood traits. These traits make them affordable to start and viable for years to come. New founders can use these elements to spot opportunities that align with what they want to achieve.
Low startup costs and minimal equipment
The lifeblood of an available business venture starts with a small original investment. Affordable business ideas usually require less than $500 to launch. Many entrepreneurs start with just a computer, fast internet, and a few basic tools for their industry. You should calculate both one-time costs and monthly expenses before you launch. This helps you understand exactly how much capital you'll need.
One-time startup expenses usually include:
- Equipment and supplies
- Licenses and permits
- Legal and accounting services
- Website development
- Original inventory
It's worth mentioning that you can often deduct these one-time expenses at tax time, which could save you money.
Flexible work hours and remote-friendly
The pandemic changed everything about how we look at work schedules. Remote-friendly businesses help you avoid expensive infrastructure, leases, and physical inventory costs. You can grow your business at your own speed while keeping costs low.
Remote businesses are a great way to get a better work-life balance. You can work comfortably in your own space. More than that, you can adjust your schedule based on your priorities and work when you're at your best instead of sticking to regular office hours.
Scalable with growing demand
Your business idea must be adaptable, ready to grow without costs rising at the same rate. A scalable business model lets you increase volume and revenue while keeping resource and production costs steady.
Five main patterns help businesses scale:
- Adding new distribution channels
- Breaking free from typical capacity limits
- Letting partners handle capital investments
- Having customers play multiple roles in your business
- Creating platforms where competitors might become customers
Automation helps create scalability by freeing up your time. You can focus on activities that drive growth. The best low-cost business ideas can double their profits without doubling their resources as they grow.
Top Low-Investment Business Ideas to Explore
Want to make money from your skills? Here are four small business ideas you can start with minimal investment that offer great earning potential.
Freelance graphic design or web development
A graphic design business costs between $500 to $5,000, which makes it available to creative professionals who already have the skills. Web development businesses need just a computer and a home office space. Most graphic designers charge $20 to $50 per hour, while web developers with experience can charge even more. These businesses work well remotely and online, so you can run them part-time while keeping your day job.
Online course creation or coaching
The e-learning market will reach $319 billion by 2029, so now is the perfect time to jump in. Online courses help you get passive income because you create content once and sell it many times.
Your original investment is mostly time - you'll need to develop your curriculum and record quality videos. You can add coaching services to your courses, too. Life coaches earn between $100-$300 per hour, especially when you have expertise in a specific niche.
Reselling items on eBay or Facebook Marketplace
Reselling needs almost no startup money except for inventory. You can find profitable items at thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales. Facebook Marketplace is budget-friendly since it charges no fees for local sales.
One reseller makes approximately $3,000 monthly by working just five hours weekly. They focus on furniture and home goods. Auto parts, vintage music players, and printer ink sell well on eBay consistently.
Personal fitness training or yoga instruction
You'll need to get relevant certifications first - personal trainer certification costs about $500-$1,500. The fitness industry will grow 19% over the next decade, which suggests a strong market need. Personal trainers earn around $25-$35 per hour, and experienced trainers can charge more. You can start by offering sessions in clients' homes, parks, or online. This way, you won't need expensive gym space.
Starting a Telehealth Business: A Growing Opportunity
Telehealth has grown from a pandemic necessity into a thriving industry that gives entrepreneurs a chance to start a small business with reasonable costs. The global telehealth market will reach $180.86 billion by 2030, with an impressive growth rate of 11.5% from 2024.
Why telehealth is booming in 2025
Telehealth's rise continues beyond the pandemic surge. Patient visits jumped from 1% in 2020 to 17% in 2023, and the market keeps growing strong. The industry, now worth about $101.15 billion, shows remarkable growth because of several key factors.
Better technology in artificial intelligence, remote monitoring devices, and smooth internet connectivity has made virtual care work better. The government's supportive initiatives and regulatory changes have created a better environment for telehealth entrepreneurs. Healthcare worker shortages have increased the need for remote solutions that help providers reach more patients.
How to start your own telehealth business
Starting a telehealth business needs careful planning:
- Identify your niche - Pick a specific demographic or type of care that sets you apart
- Understand legal requirements - Learn state-specific regulations and licensing rules
- Choose your technology - Pick HIPAA-compliant platforms that match your services
- Develop a workspace - Set up a professional environment with reliable internet and quality equipment
- Establish your business entity - Create an LLC and get the necessary licenses
Understanding telemedicine startup costs
Starting a telehealth business typically costs between $10,000 and $250,000. Here's what you'll need:
- Licensing fees: About $1,500
- Technology and equipment: $20,000-$40,000 for HIPAA-compliant systems
- Legal services: You'll need these to navigate telehealth regulations
- Marketing: Money to attract your first patients
Choosing the right telehealth business model
The telehealth space has three main models:
- B2B model - Selling to healthcare organizations brings steady revenue through multi-year contracts but takes longer to negotiate.
- B2C model - Working directly with patients means faster startup, but it needs more marketing money.
- Hybrid model - Using both approaches gives you diverse income streams and broader market reach, though it's more complex to manage.
Each model has its benefits depending on your goals, expertise, and resources.
Bask Health: The Go-To Platform for Wellness Entrepreneurs
Bask Health offers a purpose-built platform that makes launching a telehealth business simple and hassle-free for wellness entrepreneurs. The platform has served more than 750,761 patients and handled over $178 million in transactions. This makes Bask a leader in providing reliable telehealth infrastructure.
What makes Bask Health different
Most healthcare systems need multiple separate tools to function. Bask Health changes this by providing an all-in-one solution built for solo practitioners and small wellness businesses. Their white-label telehealth platform lets entrepreneurs brand the experience as their own. This gives new founders instant credibility.
The platform's design stands out. It's powerful enough for large enterprises yet remains easy to use for individual practitioners. The cloud-based system cuts down startup costs by a lot. This makes it perfect for anyone looking for low-cost business ideas with high profit potential.
Tools and features for solo care providers
Bask gives you the essentials to launch your practice quickly:
- Patient management interface with custom analytics, payment reports, and intake forms
- Drag-and-drop builder to create telehealth questionnaires without coding
- Nationwide pharmacy network that delivers medications across all 50 states
- HIPAA-compliant secure communication channels for private patient interactions
These tools let entrepreneurs concentrate on patient care rather than technical complexities. Starting a telehealth business becomes possible with minimal upfront investment.
How to build your telehealth business plan with Bask
Bask Health uses a four-step process to guide new wellness entrepreneurs:
- Original Assessment: Evaluate community needs and available resources
- Service Planning: Define healthcare services, target audience, and delivery models
- Technical Setup: Configure secure platforms for patient communication
- Staff Training: Provide detailed training for the core team
The platform helps spot market opportunities and funding sources while building strategic collaborations that line up with business goals. Their data shows that AI technologies in telehealth businesses can reduce administrative costs by 13-25% and medical costs by 5-11%. This creates lasting profitability for new ventures.
Conclusion
Starting a small business today doesn’t require deep pockets. From freelance services to online coaching and fitness training, there are plenty of low-cost paths to entrepreneurship.
Telehealth is one of 2025’s fastest-growing sectors, with the market projected to hit $180.86 billion by 2030. It’s a golden opportunity for solo providers and small wellness brands. Bask Health makes it easy to launch by removing technical barriers and offering HIPAA-compliant tools built for healthcare pros.
The best small businesses thrive on three essentials: low startup costs, operational flexibility, and scalable tools. Start small, test your idea, and scale smart.
Nearly 90% of millionaires built wealth through business, so why not you? These ideas aren’t just affordable; they’re your first step toward financial freedom and owning your time.
References
- Shopify. (n.d.). Low-investment business ideas. Retrieved from https://www.shopify.com/blog/low-investment-business-ideas
- BuildFire. (n.d.). Low-cost, easy business ideas that make money. Retrieved from https://buildfire.com/low-cost-easy-business-ideas-that-make-money/
- Shopify. (n.d.). Scalable business models. Retrieved from https://www.shopify.com/blog/scalable-business-models-1
- Business Insider. (2022, November). How to sell on Facebook Marketplace: A Beginner’s side hustle. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-sell-on-facebook-marketplace-beginners-side-hustle-2022-11
