20 Low Cost Small Business Ideas With High Profit Potential for 2022

Are you planning to start your own business, but don't know where to start? Maybe you're in search of low cost business ideas high profit potential that maximize your time spent.

I truly believe that everyone is capable of owning and operating their own business. With the right idea, approach, and resources, you too can launch your business. In this article, we'll help by giving you ideas for the types of business you can start.

20 Low Cost Small Business Ideas With High Profit Potential

No matter what type of business you decide to start, there are three important factors to consider before you start. Remember these three pillars once you begin to explore a business idea of your own:

1. Marketing. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it even make a sound? Without awareness of your business, it doesn't matter how skilled you are. There are many marketing techniques, (more on that later) but make sure you carve out time and effort to spread the word.
2. Compliance. Make sure that your business is operating legally. Based on the type of business you choose to start, there may be laws around how and where you operate the business. Check with a local attorney and do your own research to ensure you don't create a future legal issue.
3. Insurance. Accidents happen regardless of the type of business you operate. Make sure that you've got proper insurance to cover your business in case of an accident.

Now, let's look at 20 ideas for small profitable business ideas. You're sure to find one that you can do!

1. Freelance Technical Writing

Technical writing is one of the best small profitable business ideas for 2022. That’s because it uses knowledge you already have. All of us have expertise in something. Why not put it to work?

Technical writing is always in need. Great technical documents can take complex information, distill it down, and explain it to an audience.

Think about skills that you have. They may be highly technical or very basic, but someone out there wants to learn them too. Documenting your favorite app or tool and providing well-written instructions can spark a business. Position yourself as an expert and share what you know.

2. Web Design

Web design is a prime example of low cost business ideas with high profit. All you’ll need is a computer. Many popular websites run through online platforms such as WordPress. Many people with websites don’t have the time or skills needed to design them from scratch.

Web design is easy to learn, and the buy-in is quite low. After all, you probably already have a computer. It’s a prime example of high profit business ideas for 2022.

On Envato Tuts+, we've got a deep library of resources to sharpen your web design skills. Check out our site dedicated to web design. As an example, learn the art of wireframing with our beginner-friendly tutorial below:

• 
  Wireframing
  A Beginner’s Guide to Wireframing
  Winnie Lim

3. Proofreading and Editing

Let’s face it: we all need a good editor. Proofreading is one of the top-earning small business ideas because it’s in high demand. And the cost to enter this business is incredibly low: you might only need a red pen and paper!

Writers and creators are increasingly outsourcing the editing tasks. Why not jump in and make it one of your top fun profitable businesses to start? Make sure to check out our guide to becoming a better writer below. 

• 
  Writing
  How to Become a Better Writer: 10 Steps (Good to Great)
  Laura Spencer

4. Video Editing and Production

Enjoy filming and the art of video production? Take advantage of your hobby and consider it one of the best low cost business ideas with high profit. That’s especially true if you've got camera equipment.

If you're more comfortable behind the camera, you can always stay on the editing side of the fence. The software required is far less expensive than the potential income you'll generate as a skilled editor.

Make sure to check out our video editing content section as well. These courses are some of our most-loved resources for learning and mastering the art of video production.

• Introduction to Video Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro
• Adobe After Effects for Beginners 
• Dope Transitions in Adobe Premiere Pro 

5. App Design

More than ever, users turn to mobile apps for information instead of opening a web browser. With app development skills, you can tap into one of 2022’s top high profit business ideas.

All you need is a laptop and the knowledge to bring creative app ideas to life. If you've got the skillset, you can become part of a global team tasked with building apps for brands large and small.

The cost of entry is relatively low, but the demand for skilled developers leads to high profits for you. Check out these tutorials to learn more:

• 
  Swift
  How to Learn iOS App Development: Start With These Courses and Tutorials
  Kyle Sloka-Frey
• 
  Android SDK
  Understanding the Android App Development Kit
  Esther Vaati
• 
  React Native
  Create Your First React Native Android App
  Esther Vaati

6. Photography

If you enjoy photography, did you know that you’re sitting on unearned money? It’s true. Photography services are always in demand. That makes the art a top candidate for fun profitable businesses to start.

With a bit of practice, you can capture weddings, real estate, or engagements as a profitable business venture. Quality cameras can be found for a few hundred dollars, and you can recover your cost with only a few sessions.

7. Graphic Design

Any brand or creator needs a logo and more. But most people don’t have the time or design skills necessary to build them. That means graphic design work is often outsourced. Fill this void by offering your graphic design services to the world.

You can create quality designs using low-cost web platforms, so you won’t face major startup costs. It’s a key example of small profitable business ideas that are cheap to start in 2022.

8. Pet Care

Love your canine and feline friends? With the return of travel, many people are searching for help taking care of their pets. This is one of the best low cost business ideas with high profit today.

To you, the costs are essentially zero. You can promote yourself through friends or on social media at no cost to you. Plus, pet owners are often willing to pay top dollar when they know their best friends are in great hands.

9. Marketing Management

Online marketing is a key part of success for any 2022 business. But many businesses don’t realize this, or don’t have the time to spend with it. If you've got creative marketing skills, offer your services to brands large and small.

Odds are, you’ll just need a computer, or even a mobile device. The key is to deliver value creation to others by leveraging skills you already have. As a freelance marketing manager, you can help chart their future course from your own home.

10. Content Marketing

Brands everywhere seek to sell their products. This is increasingly true with the rise of search-engine optimization (SEO) techniques. The global customer base is almost unlimited. The bottleneck comes with brands trying to tap into it.

Rise to the occasion and provide content marketing services. Once again, you’ll just need a word processor, which you can find for free online. High profit business ideas like this offer low costs of entry and great earnings.

Content marketing sits at the intersection of well-written, organic content and the ultimate goal of helping to promote a product. Learn more in our introductory tutorial below:

• 
  Content Marketing
  What Is Content Marketing?
  Andrew Blackman

11. Bookkeeping

Any business needs a good bookkeeper. If you enjoy basic accounting, this is one of the top fun profitable businesses to start. With a copy of Excel or QuickBooks, you can perform a valuable function for any company. This might include basic financial transactions, or even tax preparation steps every April.

Again, it’s one of the top low cost business ideas with high profit. That's because it leverages skills, not pricey equipment and staff.

• 
  Accounting
  Bookkeeping 101: What You Need to Know to Run Your Business
  Andrew Blackman

12. IT Management

Basic IT management is needed by almost everyone, but many don’t know it. By performing services like maintenance, updates, and backups, you deliver an incredible service. It’s one of the top earning small business ideas in 2022 because it delivers so much value.

You can perform it with almost no initial costs. You’re using others’ equipment, so you won’t have to spend much to enter this lucrative field from home.

13. Photo Editing

Small profitable business ideas often share something in common. They let you provide services that others don’t have time for. Photo editing is a prime example. Top photographers may take thousands of photos per day, and they’re always booked.

That doesn’t leave much time to perform the edits required for their success. If you’re skilled in Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, this is one of the very best high profit business ideas for you.

14. Cleaning Services

Many busy people don’t have the time to keep their homes and businesses as clean as they might like. This is an opportunity for you. Cleaning is one of the leading low cost business ideas with high profit in 2022. Again, your costs of entry are very low.

Basic cleaning supplies can be obtained at a low cost. And many people may already have them in their homes! Plus, promotion is easy by word-of-mouth or social media. It’s an in-demand service because it allows people to pay up rather than tackling tasks themselves.

15. Childcare

Childcare services are in demand, especially from travelers and busy professionals. Licenses may be required, but this is still one of the great small profitable business ideas.

Babysitting services are popular as the world reopens, and parents try to leave the house for a few hours. Offer this service and enjoy the high profit potential of these low cost business ideas.

16. Resume Consulting

Hiring is back, and you can help. Resumes are an all-important step towards making a good impression. Many people don’t want to build them alone. If you’re skilled with page layouts and resume design, why not market your services?

With an app like Google Docs, you can help others land their dream jobs. It’s lucrative for you, and life-changing for them. That’s why resume design is one of the top fun profitable businesses to start in 2022.

Start by sharpening your resume skills with 30 of our best tips:

• 
  Resumes
  30+ Best Resume Tips: That Will Get You Noticed and Hired
  Charley Mendoza

17. Delivery Services

Have a car or bicycle? Or maybe just your own two feet? No matter what, you can step into the lucrative arena of delivery services.

You might be carrying paying customers in a car or delivering food on your bike. Or perhaps you’re delivering a bag of groceries in one hand. Delivery services are exploding in popularity, and you might be left behind. Use the mobility you already have and reap the rewards sooner than later.

18. Voiceover Work

Have a voice for radio and a microphone to spare? Congratulations. You hold a ticket to one of the top small profitable business ideas. Voiceover work is in demand by clients large and small.

Many don’t have the equipment (or voices) to do their own work well. Bring your services to market and reap the rewards. Often, the time investment is also low. You’ll have scripts, and your work is as easy as reading out loud.

Already own a microphone, but need tips on how to use it? Check out this helpful guide on microphone placement:

• 
  Voice-Over
  Microphone Placement for Voice Overs: What You Need to Know
  Rob Mayzes

19. Social Media Management

Social media is a key element of business success in 2022. But many firms don’t have the time or skills needed to effectively market online. If you’re a lover of social networking, why not put that love to work for you?

By offering your social media coordination services, you can become the voice of a brand. And you’ll just need a few account logins and a way to access them. You can even provide these priceless services with only your mobile phone!

20. Online Teaching

Have some skills that you want to share with others? Others want to know. Teaching online is one of the best low cost business ideas with high profit. With a webcam - or even just an email account - you can teach others around the globe.

You might share technical skills like software development. You might tutor students in math and science. Or you might teach others foreign languages.

The Best Resource for Starting Your Small Business in 2022

Now that you've seen 20 of the best ideas for starting your small business, I hope that you're thinking about your next venture. If you're ready to start, I'll bet that you're looking for help.

There's a great saying in business: "if you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together." With Envato Elements, you're starting your business with the help of thousands of artists and creatives who have built so many helpful resources for you. It's an all-you-can-download creative library of assets and projects.

Here are just a few of the resources you'll unlock with a subscription to Envato Elements, and ideas on how you can use them:

• Presentation templates. High profit business ideas need presentation templates to package the offer into an easy-to-share format.
• Website templates. Everyone needs a website to market their small business. Use a template to make that easy.
• Video templates. Many videos follow a relatively standard format - it's just a matter of adapting the specifics. With templates for every project, Elements dramatically cuts your production time so that you can produce more videos.

Best of all, Envato Elements is a flat rate subscription. That means that each of these costs you nothing extra. You won't overrun your budget while building out one of your top earning small business ideas.

Sign up today for Envato Elements to use all these assets and so much more. It's truly a small business owner's best friend.

Kickstart Your Small Business Today

With the help of this article, you've got all the high profit business ideas you could need. Our low business ideas help you keep costs low and capture the upside of owning your own business.

Remember: anyone is truly capable of starting a business. Marry the knowledge you've got with our fun profitable businesses to start earning today. The best business is the one you actually start, so don't delay.