5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Cut to Length Line？

Imagine you're asked to describe what your company does. Naturally, you might detail your standout products, exceptional services, and the unique value you offer. This is usually the kind of answer people expect – a succinct and compelling elevator pitch.

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Yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, your organization is a complex machine with countless "moving parts," a phrase that may seem cliche but aptly captures the intricate reality. Each of these parts represents an internal process, vital cogs that keep the business running smoothly and efficiently.

In essence, the heart of your organization's success lies in these internal processes. Each internal business process helps to shape your company's identity and its capacity for growth. Therefore, continuous improvement of these processes is not just a good practice but a crucial strategy for your business's health and success.

 By refining and improving these internal processes, you're not just keeping things as they are; you're driving your company toward greater efficiency, adaptability, and overall excellence. And that's why understanding and improving your internal processes is one of the most impactful investments you can make in your organization's future.

What is an Internal Process?

An internal process is a series of steps or actions that take place within an organization to achieve specific goals without the involvement of external partners. These processes are crucial for accomplishing day-to-day tasks and identifying areas for improvement.

Understanding internal processes can help clarify team members' responsibilities and enhance your company's efficiency and productivity. These processes can range from simple tasks like managing purchase orders to more complex ones like adhering to federal regulations.

Internal processes can be categorized as formal or informal:

• Formal Internal Business Processes are those that are standardized, documented, and routinely followed in a uniform fashion. Teams usually focus on formalizing processes that are most crucial to the business’ core operations, such as employee and customer onboarding, safety training, and team-specific procedures.
• Informal Internal Business Processes are not standardized or documented, and can be approached in myriad ways while accomplishing a singular task. For example, team members don’t always need to use a specific channel or follow certain protocols every time they communicate with one another.

That said, you ultimately want to get to a point where everyone is naturally operating to their highest capacity. Ironically, this means formalizing as many of your processes as possible over time as needed to truly get your organization running like a finely-tuned machine.

How Can Improving Business Processes Benefit Your Company?

Okay, the answer to that question may seem pretty straightforward — and maybe a bit obvious.

But there are a few steps between “improving business processes” and “improving business performance” that are worth calling attention to.

1. Uncovers Major Roadblocks

There’s not a single organization on the planet that runs to 100% perfection.

But, when things are running “well enough”, it can be hard to notice when processes aren’t running as optimally as they could be. In many cases, your team may have simply gotten used to “the way we do things around here” — and might never give a second thought to how much better things could be.

(This is especially true of informal processes. Due to their inconsistent nature, it can be near impossible to say whether a process is or isn’t working as well as it could be — or to identify when certain processes just aren’t working at all.)

Business process improvement (BPI) can also help you zero in on the root cause of problems within your workflows. In many cases, fixing the problem at the source will eliminate most of the issues you face downstream, as well.

2. Minimizes Error (and the Impact of Errors)

Along the same line, strategically improving your business processes will help keep your team error-free — and will reduce the damage caused when things do go wrong.

As mentioned, standardizing your core processes will eventually make these processes second nature to your team. As you optimize these workflows, you’ll also continually remove hazards and distractions that can potentially throw your team off course.

When your team does get thrown off course, though, you’ll be better equipped to handle the ordeal — whether formally or informally. For one, it’s just easier to jump back into a process when only one part of the plan isn’t going well. Moreover, you’ll likely have developed contingency plans to fall back on should you encounter these issues in the first place.

3. Improves Employee Productivity

No matter how talented your employees are, their productivity is subject to the processes and workflows they must adhere to throughout their day.

On just the surface, then, optimizing these workflows will enable your employees to make the most use of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. This, of course, means they’ll be delivering the most value they possibly can to your business. 

(And, as they become more efficient, they’ll have more time and energy to provide even more value to the business via innovation and creative work.)

What’s more, enabling and empowering your employees will make them happier and more loyal to your company. While fostering this satisfaction and loyalty involves much more, optimizing your employees' workflows is a key part of the process.

4. Improves Teamwork and Company Culture

Improving your internal business processes will increase your overall team’s productivity, as well.

Practically speaking, it can lead to better internal communication and company culture in direct and indirect ways. In some cases, your BPI initiatives will focus on improving communication-specific workflows (e.g., adding new chat tools, refining contact protocols, etc.). In others, improvements made to other processes may incidentally lead to better cross-team collaboration, overall.

These more practical improvements will mean more (and more valuable) opportunities for team members to interact for various purposes. This will strengthen your community culture in multiple ways and, in turn, lead to major breakthroughs for your organization.

5. Optimizes Use of Resources

Friction-laden processes don’t just hold your employees back.

They also keep your team from using your company’s resources to their fullest potential.

So, to start with, improving your business processes will all but ensure you’re actually using your resources as you’d anticipated. At the very least, you’ll be minimizing the number of resources wasted.

Better yet, you’ll be allocating resources more effectively — leading to operational improvements that allow your team to squeeze even more value than you’d anticipated. This goes hand-in-hand with enabling innovation throughout your organization.

6. Enhance the Customer Experience

Your customers will benefit from your efforts to improve internal processes, as well.

Obviously, working to improve your customer-facing processes (e.g., sales engagements, user onboarding, customer service, etc.) will have a direct impact on their overall experience with your brand.

Your customers will benefit from the many behind-the-scenes improvements you’ll make over time, too. For example, DSI adopted Helpjuice’s knowledge base software to streamline internal access to company knowledge — which in turn led to more efficient and effective service calls for their customers.

"Since using Helpjuice, we've seen a lower AHT for our calls. Our pilot agents are able to find information in a timely manner. Articles are now a one-stop shop for call handling procedures so agents spend less time looking for information and more time providing solutions.”- Reagen Read, DSI Training Specialist/KB Admin

7. Increases Profit

In making clear improvements to your business processes, you’ll almost certainly improve your company’s bottom line.

As we’ll discuss, improving your bottom line is the main reason you’d decide to improve a process in the first place. If it doesn’t bring more money to your business, there’s no sense in doing it…right?

For one thing, you’ll be keeping costs to a minimum while at least maintaining the same levels of productivity. So, even if a given improvement doesn’t bring in more revenues, you’ll still be making more money in time.

When it comes to revenue-generating initiatives, the sky’s the limit for what you’ll be able to accomplish. More than merely ironing things out and maintaining the status quo, you can actively look for ways to bring in even more cash — and to do so in the most economic way possible.

Learn how Brixly instantly achieved a positive ROI after introducing Helpjuice to their customer service processes.

Business Process Improvement Methodologies

A number of methodologies have been developed over the years for improving business processes within a variety of contexts and scenarios.

Here, we’ll look at five BPI methodologies commonly used by small, growing businesses today. 

(Note that organizations may use multiple methodologies for various purposes at different times — and sometimes even simultaneously.)

Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a BPI methodology holding that all processes within an organization can be defined, measured, and improved — and that positive financial results should always be the ultimate goal when doing so.

Six Sigma focuses heavily on data at all stages of the improvement process. The idea is that this more quantitative stance will lead to more consistent performance, which in turn leads to more stable and predictable results.

Six Sigma offers two separate processes for improvement:

• For new processes, DMADV: Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify
• For existing processes, DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control

In both cases, the 6M’s of Six Sigma drive all efforts to improve performance in a comprehensive, cohesive manner.

Source

Agile

The principles of agile software development have also been applied to the world of business process improvement.

Essentially, the agile approach to BPI involves:

• Making iterative, prioritized improvements to a given process
• Using collaborative sprints to make singular, laser-focused improvements to the process
• Quickly pivoting to higher-priority tasks as they become known

The idea behind agile is to make the most immediately practical and impactful improvement possible at any given moment. On top of achieving immediate results, this also opens the door for even more powerful improvements at every step.

Theory of Constraints

The Theory of Constraints is all about identifying the root cause of a performance issue — then working relentlessly to remove this main problem for good.

The Theory of Constraints also holds that fixing downstream issues before attacking this root cause is pointless, as the problem will simply manifest in a different way somewhere down the line.

The foundation of this methodology is that there will always be bottlenecks within your operations, and that identifying and fixing them is an ongoing, never-ending task. As such, the Theory of Constraints follows these steps:

• Identify the root cause of the problem
• Exploit the root cause using your current resources
• Subordinate related tasks and processes to support improvement initiatives
• Elevate the issue as a priority for investing more resources, as needed
• Repeat this process to make further improvements to your operations

Lean

Based on the practice of lean manufacturing, lean BPI aims to minimize waste, and to ultimately squeeze the absolute most value possible out of every resource used.

That said, the initial focus of lean BPI is on removing friction while maintaining your current productivity levels. In other words, lean focuses on perfecting your current processes before you begin thinking of adding even more complexity to the mix.

There are a number of subsets to lean BPI, such as kaizen, PDCA, and 5S. Despite their variations, each methodology adheres to the principles of lean operations:

• Identifying the most valuable procedural improvement to make
• Mapping the flow of resource usage throughout the process
• Removing waste while streamlining processes
• Adjusting related operational plans accordingly
• Making further improvements based on performance

Best Practices for Improving Internal Business Processes

While the methodologies discussed above differ in many ways, you probably noticed some considerable overlap between them.

These commonalities are where we can find the foundational best practices for improving your business processes. Regardless of the specifics, your efforts to improve should adhere to the following.

Be Focused & Committed

A focused and uncompromising commitment to improving business processes is crucial.

Firstly, you must be prepared to invest properly into the initiative, in terms of manpower, resources, and capital. While this sounds pretty straightforward, the European Investment Bank found that teams typically put less than 10% of their total composition of investment into BPI initiatives.

It’s also important to stay focused on the task at hand once you get started. Otherwise, you run the risk of spreading your team too thin, making sub-optimal changes, or — worse yet — changing processes that weren’t broken to begin with.

Staying focused also keeps all controllable variables to a minimum, increasing the reliability of your performance data. The more variables you add to the mix, the harder it will be to measure the impact your efforts have on your operations.

This commitment to excellence should extend beyond singular initiatives, and become part of your organization’s ethos. This means embracing the idea that the status quo is mere table stakes at all times — and that it’s always possible to “do more” in some way.

…But Keep Tunnel Vision In Check

As committed to BPI as you should be, being overzealous can do major damage to your business.

This overzealousness can manifest in a number of ways, such as:

• Focusing too heavily on symptoms while ignoring the root cause
• Investing too heavily into a minimum-impact initiative
• Creating change for the sake of change

In any case, you’ll be wasting a ton of manpower, time, and money for minimal results. Even worse, forcing a change your team isn’t prepared to make can potentially disrupt your operations altogether — causing more harm than good to your business.

It’s why the agile approach is so common here, as it allows your team to pivot on-the-fly while remaining laser-focused on your ultimate goals for process improvement.

Be Data-Driven

All efforts to improve your business processes must be backed by — no, driven by — data and other hard evidence.

This means using data to:

• Identify and prioritize areas in need of improvement
• Create plans for improving the process
• Gauging the effectiveness of your efforts, and making plans for the future

Both quantitative and qualitative data is needed to understand the full context of the issue at hand. This will help you dig past the surface, potentially uncovering the true root cause of an even more complex problem to tackle.

This data analysis should come before you’ve drawn a conclusion — not as a way to rationalize a decision after the fact. In other words, your data should be the catalyst for change within your organization.

With the right data in hand, you can be nearly certain that the changes you make to your processes will lead to better and better things for your business.

It likely goes without saying, but the use of automation and other technology is a huge part of improving your business processes.

In fact, 84% of teams surveyed by Camunda in plan on investing more into automation technology for those specific purposes.

Source

As shown above, organizations typically invest in technology to:

• Automate routine processes
• Centralize processes and information across platforms
• Maximize visibility of data and processes for all stakeholders

The following, then, are all but essential to your BPI efforts:

• Project management tools like Notion or Trello to keep improvement efforts focused and on-track
• Internal communications tools for real-time and asynchronous collaboration and messaging
• Knowledge base software for immediate reference and documentation of processes

Steps for Improving Internal Business Processes

While we touched on some of the key steps for improving business processes when discussing methodologies, let’s now take a more comprehensive look at what these all entail.

1. Prioritize Areas to Improve

Your first order of business will be to identify:

1. Which business processes are in need of improvement, and
2. Which of these areas should be your top priority

A holistic approach is critical here, as it will keep you from experiencing the dreaded tunnel vision we discussed earlier. 

On top of considering the severity of the myriad issues you’re facing, you also want to think about:

• Which problem you’re most equipped to handle
• The cost of fixing each issue you’ve discovered
• Which problems, when fixed, will lead to the best outcomes for your business

Similarly, consider the downside of not taking action — on your operations and on your business.

Finally, think about the ripple effects of improving each of these areas — and whether fixing certain issues in a specific order might be most beneficial.

Remember: 

None of this happens in a vacuum. 

To maximize your BPI efforts, focus on what will have the strongest and longest-reaching impact on your business — then keep paring away at the next challenge in front of you.

2. Map & Document Your Current Processes

Ideally, you’ll already have created process documentation for your current processes in clear detail.

If not, now is the perfect time to begin mapping your processes.

For informal processes, you'll need to create documentation from scratch. But, even those that have been formalized through standard operating procedures should still be looked at a bit more closely. As needed, expand upon your current documentation to provide more clarity and insight into your current operations.

This documentation should include:

• Step-by-step details of the process
• A list of the team members and resources involved
• Diagrams, illustrations, videos, and other multimedia illustrating the process

You’ll also want to know whether the process looks the same in practice as it does on paper which can be done by:

• Analyzing employee performance data
• Collect feedback from team members
• Observing processes in action to determine whether or not your documentation matches reality

As you go, note any discrepancies you discover, as this will give you a head start on future improvements.

3. Analyze & Assess Your Current Processes

Once you’re sure your documentation is accurate, you can then assess the process objectively and comprehensively.

Start by looking at things from the top down. Ask yourself:

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• Is performance matching expectations?
• How wide is the gap between each?
• Are there any glaring issues noticeable from this vantage point?

(Note: You may already have this background info in hand from previous steps.)

From there, you’ll switch to a bottom-up approach. Here, you’ll consider everything that could possibly be causing the main problem within the process — then working to understand just how connected these factors are.

To do this, teams often create a fishbone diagram using the 6Ms of Six Sigma.

Source

Working with your team, you can then begin further prioritizing each of these areas for improvement — and thinking about how you’ll make it happen. Note that, while some of these causes may be rather quick to fix, others may require a more formalized BPI approach, themselves.

(Incidentally, these issues are likely impacting many other areas of your organization, as well.)

4. Set Clear Goals

Now, you’ll need to set goals for your BPI initiative.

The SMART methodology is effective here, as it leads you to set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based.

Using the above example, you can transform the basic goal of “decreasing invoice errors” by answering the following questions:

• Specific: Decrease invoice errors by how much? (Amount or percent?)
• Measurable: How will you measure the number of errors? What’s considered an error?
• Attainable: Can you do what’s needed to reduce invoice errors given your circumstances?
• Relevant: How will reducing invoice errors impact your operations and your business?
• Time-Based: How long should it take to reduce invoice errors by the intended amount?

On top of giving you clear goals to strive for, being this comprehensive will help you assess your improvement efforts over time.

5. Plan & Implement Change

Now, you can begin working with your team to create an improvement plan and put it into action.

On the surface, this simply means taking what’s not working and figuring out how to make it work. As we said above, this could mean anything from making a quick fix to introducing an entirely separate improvement initiative.

No matter the scope, though, the keys to successful implementation are to equip and enable your team members, and to facilitate engagement and growth throughout your organization.

(In short: Implement strategic change management.)

Depending on the situation, enabling your team may involve:

• Giving them additional time and resources to improve
• Introducing new technology to your tech stack
• Providing appropriate training and development sessions and other learning opportunities (for example, making use of communities of practices) 

You might need to let your team practice implementation of the new process before actually doing so. Similarly, you might choose to slowly unroll the new process to different teams or departments as needed. 

(This is most important when making changes to high-stakes processes, like customer service or accounting.)

Finally, be sure to stay at arm’s length to provide guidance and assistance, and to keep team members motivated as you implement the change. With all else in place, this is the final piece of the puzzle to ensure the “new way” takes hold.

6. Review, Solidify, & Document Procedural Changes

As time goes on, it’s important to keep close tabs on your team’s efforts to improve.

Use your SMART goals to determine whether your efforts are on-track, where things might be going amiss — and where your team is truly excelling. Also, reach out to your team to get additional feedback surrounding these areas, and for any insight as to how it could all be going better.

Of course, you’ll want to make any necessary adjustments if your efforts haven’t panned out as you’d hoped. Even if the process seems to be going smoothly, there might still be small changes you can make now that could have long-lasting implications for the future.

Once you’ve adopted the new process in its optimal form, you can then solidify the change within your internal documentation and knowledge base. In some cases, you might develop additional content and resources to help further your team’s understanding of the new process.

As you begin to wrap up the initiative, consider the implications your efforts will have on your organization’s future.

Consider:

• How you can improve the process even further
• How other processes have been enabled by your efforts
• Where you should shift your focus to next

From there, it’s on to the next business process in need of improvement.

Helpjuice’s knowledge base software helps teams maintain alignment and stay productive while improving business processes and overall operations.

If you want to start a business but aren’t sure what kind, you may just need a little bit of inspiration. From opportunities for sole proprietors to ambitious projects that could scale into massive corporations, your next successful business could start with any one of the business ideas below.

30 great small business ideas

Whatever your skills and interests, this list includes business ideas for every type of entrepreneur. Read on to find yours!

Launch Your BusinessTipAlready have a great business idea? Check out our useful resources for everything you need to successfully build your business from the ground up.

• 11 Things To Do Before Starting A Business
• How To Start A Business: Step By Step
• Tax and Business Forms You'll Need To Start A Business
• Startup Costs: How Much Cash Will You Need?
• 20 Mistakes To Avoid When Starting A Business

1. Lawn care service

If you grew up with a lawn, chances are your parents made you maintain it. For many, lawn care is bothersome, but for some it offers a sense of peace and serenity. Working outdoors with your hands to tame and beautify the natural landscape can be a rewarding experience, but since so many people find the work tedious, it can also be profitable.

Lawn care services require little more than some basic equipment, a trailer and perhaps some staff, depending on how many clients you have and how big the jobs are. You can grow a small lawn care service into a full landscaping company by offering premium services and establishing a reputation as a brand that does a thorough job with a smile. If you like working outdoors and creating elegant landscapes, this could be the business for you.

TipTipSome states require landscapers, especially those using pesticides, to have a license. Check your state’s requirements to help you determine if you need to obtain a license for your business’s services.

2. Rideshare driving

If starting your own business seems daunting or too much of a risk, you can always use your car to become a rideshare driver. The overhead and responsibility of running the company fall on the rideshare service, giving you the freedom to work as much or as little as you want. Rideshare applications such as Uber and Lyft allow people to start side hustles that pay well and require little more than a willingness to drive people to their destinations and make occasional friendly conversation.

Rideshare drivers have the independence of a small business owner without the heavy workload required to manage behind-the-scenes logistics. If any of the other business ideas seem to require too much effort or upfront capital, ridesharing might be the way to dip your toe into the world of entrepreneurship.

3. Pet sitting

About 70% of U.S. families have a pet. When these families go away for extended periods, your pet-sitting small business can give them peace of mind. As a pet sitter, you’ll watch over your clients’ dogs, cats or other pets at their house. As part of the job, you’ll need to feed them, give them water, play with them, and (with dogs) walk them as needed. To help keep clients satisfied, you’ll need to regularly update them on how their pets are doing.

If you have other sources of income that require nothing more than an internet connection and a laptop, pet sitting may be an especially apt small business idea. Almost all pet owners will be glad to let you work on your laptop while you spend time at their home with their pets, meaning that you can run two income streams simultaneously.

4. T-shirt printing

If you have a sense of fashion (or humor), you might enjoy launching a T-shirt printing business. You can also license someone else’s designs and screenprint them onto a blank tee. Either way, if you have space for a T-shirt printing setup, you can easily acquire the necessary tools to get started.

Did You Know?Did you knowT-shirt printing can be a great e-commerce business. You can allow customers to place online orders and sell T-shirts in bulk. This way, you can sell to customers around the country and even the world.

5. Cleaning service

If you like to clean, you can easily turn that into a business. With a few staff members, a host of cleaning supplies and transportation, you can offer cleaning services to homeowners, apartment complexes and commercial properties. Most cleaning services charge $25 to $50 per hour. Cleaning services are straightforward businesses that require relatively little overhead; you simply need planning, dedication and marketing to attract customers.

If you’re looking to differentiate yourself from other cleaning services, consider adding premium options like floor waxing or exterior power-washing for an additional fee. These services could be the deciding factor between your new cleaning service and seasoned companies that maintain too large a client list to provide that level of cleaning.

6. Online reselling

If you’re interested in clothing and sales, you might consider starting an online reseller business. Although it takes time, dedication and an eye for fashion, you can start your business as a side hustle and turn it into a full-time resale business. You could start by using online store websites like Poshmark and Mercari to sell your unwanted clothing and items, then expand to your own resale website.

Consider shopping estate sales and flea markets for hidden finds at a low cost and then listing them for a profit online. You may be able to collect a substantial inventory of items that are in good shape for very little overhead if you’re diligent enough and search the right places.

7. Online teaching

The demand for online education has opened up possibilities for entrepreneurs. Since this is an online venture, you can choose any subject you know about and teach a course regardless of location. If you don’t have advanced knowledge in any particular subject, consider teaching English as a foreign language online to students overseas.

8. Online bookkeeping

As with education, technology allows many bookkeeping services to be performed online. If you are an accountant or bookkeeper who wants the freedom and autonomy of running your own business, take advantage of modern technology to start your own online bookkeeping service.

9. Consulting

If you are knowledgeable and passionate about a specific topic (like business, social media, marketing, human resources, leadership or communication), consulting can be a lucrative option. You can start a consulting business on your own, then grow your business and hire other consultants over time.

10. Medical courier service

If you have a reliable vehicle and good time management skills, consider creating your own courier service – more specifically, a medical courier service. As a driver, you would be responsible for transporting medical items like lab specimens, prescription drugs and equipment. You could start your courier business on your own or hire other drivers to work for you.

Did You Know?Did you knowThe healthcare industry is expanding, which is a good sign for medical courier service job stability. There’s a wide range of client groups your business can serve, including hospitals, nursing homes, labs and private practices.

11. App development

If you are knowledgeable and experienced in technology, you may want to consider a career in app development. Smartphones are an everyday accessory for many Americans that has increased the demand for mobile apps. Similarly, virtual reality software has become popular in recent years, so there is also a demand for VR app development. 

12. Transcription service

If you have a good ear and can type quickly, a transcription service would allow you to work from home with a flexible schedule. Medical transcription services are especially needed as voice recognition technology proliferates for healthcare provider dictation. 

You can accept as few or as many transcription jobs as you’d like. This flexibility can be especially beneficial if you’re not looking to start all at once or if you have a day job you would like to keep for now. To boost your business prospects and justify charging more, consider becoming a certified transcriptionist and delving into a few specialties.

Medical transcriptionists typically charge 6 to 14 cents per line of transcription, which adds up quickly. The typical turnaround time for transcription work is 24 hours, so it’s important to stay on top of the jobs you accept. However, the ability to accept only a few requests at first means you can scale up as you are ready. Best of all, there is very little startup cost and overhead. You only need a computer, the appropriate software and a secure messaging service.

TipTipWhile not required, a medical transcription license can increase your business’s competitive advantage while expanding your customer base to include larger companies. Some service providers prefer that their transcriptionists have training from a certified program.

13. Professional organizing

Looking for a small business idea that can really spark joy? Professional organizers, like Marie Kondo, help people declutter and minimize for a living. In an age of materialism, many people are desperate to downsize and take control over their possessions. Minimalism is becoming extremely popular, but people often find it hard to part with things they’ve owned for a long time. Part of being a professional organizer is helping clients develop a system for downsizing.

If you’re a highly organized person who enjoys making spaces functional and comfortable, you might be good at coaching others to do the same. People will pay you to help them devise a method of minimizing their possessions and maintaining an organized space. To promote your business, ask if your clients will let you take before-and-after photos of the areas of their homes you’ve organized. If so, you can use those to create a portfolio that you can put on social media to attract more clients.

14. Freelance copywriting or content writing

If you’re a natural wordsmith with a bit of marketing knowledge, you can establish yourself as a freelance copywriter or content writer. Whether you write blogs, web content or press releases, plenty of companies will pay for your services. Increase your value by using SEO knowledge to help clients craft a strategy around specific keywords that their target audience is already using in their online searches.

Freelance copywriting is a great business to run because as long as you have an internet connection, you can work. It’s a business that you can operate from the comfort of your own home or even from the road if you travel. If you establish a large enough network and gain referrals from satisfied clients, you could even make freelance writing your full-time job.

15. Home care service

A background in care and hospitality can go a long way to support housebound seniors who require in-home care. It’s also a service for which demand is only going to grow. According to the Population Reference Bureau, between and , the 85-and-over population is projected to triple from 6.7 million to 19 million. The global number of centenarians (those over age 100) has already reached nearly 600,000. Many will need care and assistance, often in their own homes.

Luckily, you don’t need a background in healthcare to help seniors and grow a successful business at the same time, although those skills will be in demand as well. Many seniors need help with all kinds of tasks, like errands or repairs around the house. With some experience, you could consider growing your business to help seniors transition from their homes to assisted living facilities, offering services such as packing, transporting, setting up, or storing their furniture and possessions.

Key TakeawayKey takeawaySenior home care is a rapidly growing industry. As a senior care provider, you can tap into this market while offering seniors premium care and assisting them with everyday tasks.

16. Translation service

According to research from IBISWorld, the translation services industry saw a decline in , as did many industries; however, IBISWorld forecasts a “major uptick” for the industry over the next five years. That projected growth isn’t surprising, as the internet has opened up entrepreneurs in other countries to English-speaking markets, and vice versa.

This trend has created an opening for multilingual speakers to offer specific services, such as document translation and the translation of website information into languages for use in other markets. If you’re fluent in multiple languages, you could be successful in carving out a niche in the translation services industry.

17. Digital marketing

The importance of the internet grows with every passing day, but it also becomes harder for businesses to cut through the online clutter and properly market themselves. Digital marketing services are always in demand. Yet, many small and midsize companies would rather outsource them than establish a costly in-house team. If you have chops in SEO, content marketing, pay-per-click advertising, web development or social media management, you could seize a business opportunity that allows you the freedom to work from home.

Digital marketing is an important part of any brand, so you’ll need to respond to developments in your clients’ marketing strategies. Social media management entails watching for comments and messages around the clock, not just scheduling posts with a set-it-and-forget-it mindset. If you enjoy strategizing and implementing marketing plans meticulously, digital marketing could be the right business for you. You may also consider becoming an affiliate marketer, which is another form of digital marketing.

18. Food truck operator

Food trucks come in all shapes and sizes, serving up a wide range of snacks and cuisines. Take your favorite style of food on the road, and sell your culinary passions directly to hungry customers. Sure, you’ll be working, but you’ll be in a space you’re passionate about, with a chance to connect to people who have similar interests. 

Starting a food truck is a great small business idea for entrepreneurs with a taste for the culinary. The overhead and upkeep for a truck is significantly less than for a restaurant, and you have the added benefit of mobility. [Check out our recommendations for POS systems for your food truck.]

TipTipStarting a food truck business can be profitable. However, there are some startup costs to consider, such as purchasing a food truck and modifying it to meet local regulations. If you’re interested in serving up smiles with a food truck, get more information in our guide to starting a food truck business.

19. Real estate

For many people, navigating the housing market is overwhelming. As a real estate agent, you can help people find their dream home at a price that fits their budget. In many states, you only need to complete a few months of classes and pass an exam to qualify as a real estate agent. Keep in mind that even with a certification, you’ll need strong social skills, so if you’re not a people person, this might not be the route for you. [Read related article: How to Become a Real Estate Agent]

20. Graphic design

Corporations, small businesses and sole proprietors all need eye-catching promotional materials, but not everybody has an eye for what looks good. If you have an artistic streak and know how to organize content into a visually pleasing format, start a graphic design business to provide flyers, digital ads, posters and other engaging visual materials. Graphic design requires few physical tools beyond a laptop and a desk.

21. Dropshipping

Not all companies that sell goods store them on-site. In drop-shipping, people who run e-commerce sites go to a third party to fulfill all orders. The third party is likely a wholesale retailer or other entity that runs a warehouse and shipping operation. The minimal inventory and tools needed for drop-shipping make it an especially great startup idea if you’re worried about overhead costs and physical space.

22. Personal training

If the gym is like your second home, you might want to share some of your expertise and help others reach their fitness goals. As a personal trainer, you can offer in-home training sessions that cater to each of your clients’ exercise capabilities. You can also help clients build customized nutrition and meal plans so their diets complement their physical goals.

Many personal trainers start their client acquisition process with social media pages that detail their experience in the gym along with some motivational quotes. While a certification can help expand your customer base, you aren’t legally required to have any specialized training to start this type of business.

23. Resume writing

People are always applying for jobs, whether they want to make a career shift, increase their pay or switch work environments. Of course, most job applications require candidates to submit resumes to detail their professional background. As a resume writer, you can help job applicants’ resumes stand out from their competition.

You’ll also help your clients create cover letters and portfolios that show off the best of their work. Plus, you don’t need any special schooling to be a resume writer – just some basic organizing and proofreading skills. If you know what makes resumes appear professional and ready for employers’ eyes, you’re already off to a great start.

24. Host a podcast

Podcasts have become extremely popular, with more than 100 million active podcast listeners in the U.S. alone. Best of all, you can start a podcast on any topic that interests you, from business to history to pop culture and more. Starting a podcast requires consistency and dedication, as well as a basic understanding of audio editing (and video editing if you want to start a companion YouTube channel for subscribers to follow).

Once your podcast has built up a substantial following, you can sell time to advertisers or establish partnerships with companies that generate revenue. As your brand expands further, you may even be able to charge to speak at events or moderate panels on topics your podcast focuses on. Of course, in order to get to that level, you need to come up with a unique small business idea that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about, and then make sure you can relate to your target audience. 

25. Launch a newsletter

If podcasts aren’t your thing but you like the idea behind building a robust list of subscribers and then selling space to advertisers and partners, consider creating an newsletter. More than 90% of Americans subscribe to newsletters. This means if you can capture the attention of a particular audience, you could build a substantial following and monetize it. 

To do so, come up with an umbrella topic you can write about at length, and then work to establish a brand voice and mission. Explore the best marketing software that can help you manage your subscriber list and sends, and then you’re ready to get started. Solicit feedback from your audience over time to give them more of what they want and less of what they don’t. After all, their continued engagement with your newsletter is what will help you build it into a successful business. 

26. Event catering

Do you have a passion for the culinary arts? If so, event catering may be a great business idea for you. There’s no shortage of people who need delicious food to serve their guests, whether that’s at parties, weddings, fundraisers, or family reunions. If you have a knack for cooking or baking and love to serve hungry guests, event catering could be a fun and lucrative way to do just that.

To get started, you’ll need to set up a menu and price sheet, as well as obtain all necessary permits and licenses. Start small to get the word out about your catering service, but when your food speaks for itself don’t be surprised if your business grows by leaps and bounds through word of mouth alone.

27. Handy repair and maintenance services

If you have practical skills in home repairs, painting, minor construction, or general maintenance, a handyman service could be a solid business. iT requires basic tools, transportation, and a reputation for reliability. You’ll likely also need to be licensed, bonded and insured in accordance with the rules of the state in which you operate, so be sure to look those up. 

Handy repair and maintenance services do best with word of mouth referrals, so do a great job for a small group of clientele and ask your satisfied customers to pass the word on. You can simply leave a few business cards for them to share when you’re just starting out. Consider using social media to show off some of your skills as well—just think about how many views powerwashing videos can get! As your business grows, you might consider investing in printing flyers or brochures, as well as building a small business website.

28. Personal shopping service

Do you love to shop ‘til you drop and have an eye for style that everyone acknowledges? You might be well suited to starting a personal shopping service. Personal shoppers provide services like wardrobe consultations, personal styling, and go on shopping trips to find the perfect outfits and accessories that suit their clients’ needs. 

You won’t need much to get started, just a bit of marketing and a way to demonstrate your fashion know-how—we recommend an active social media presence for a low cost way to achieve this.

Want to take your service to the next level? Go beyond fashion to be a complete lifestyle personal shopper. This can include everything from appliances to furniture. Consider partnerships with other experts, like nutritionists, to offer your clients a premium service that helps curate their whole lifestyle to meet their goals.

29. Professional organizer services

These days, people have too much stuff and not enough time, and that usually leads to a lot of clutter. Professional organizers can help clear up the mess and set clients up for success when it comes to not letting it grow out of control again. 

Organizers have an eye for tidying up and improving the efficiency of a space. This doesn’t just mean getting rid of things and tucking the rest away; it means finding new ways to store items and incorporating useful furniture, such as ottomans with container space, to maximize the usability of a room. 

Organizing services are relatively low cost to start. You’ll need to invest in some marketing, though an active social media presence should be good enough to start, and general liability insurance since you’ll be operating hands-on in other peoples’ homes. Otherwise, all you’ll need is a working knowledge of organization techniques and useful storage equipment that’s on the market today.

30. Photography and videography

If you have a passion for capturing precious moments or high-flying action, photography and videography might be a business for you. Whether you enjoy capturing special moments like weddings or milestone birthdays, you prefer to attend sporting events, or you’re game to capture whatever your client needs, this business offers varied experiences to suit your preferences and aptitude. 

Photographers and videographers also spend a considerable amount of time editing the image and footage they capture, so you’ll need some skills when it comes to managing editing software. This is also a business that’s probably best left to hobbyists that already have some equipment and experience—the hardware you’ll need is not cheap and you’ll require some knowledge of how to operate it effectively if you want to monetize it. 

If you already have a passion for photography and videography, though, and a bit of experience behind the camera, this could be a great way to spend more time doing what you love and making a bit of cash.

What are the most successful small businesses?

Small businesses that involve website design, a subset of digital marketing, are among those that make the most sales and bring in the most profit. People learn about businesses on the internet more often than via other avenues, so finding clients and a steady income stream isn’t as difficult. Cleaning services and real estate businesses also have high success rates, which makes sense – all people need homes, and they prefer them to be clean.

What would be a good small business to start?

If you want to maximize your profit while minimizing your workload, try any of the small business ideas that most frequently prove successful. However, if you’re more interested in pursuing your passions while earning enough money to live, start a small business that fulfills you, requires you to use your skills and offers you a good work-life balance. There are so many great business ideas – and you know better than anyone what small business ideas will bring you happiness, success and stability.

How can I start my own business with no money?

You don’t need money to become a small business owner. The first step in starting a business with no money is to keep your current job and launch your small business as a side pursuit at first. Then, develop your business plan and analyze your consumer base, market and potential challenges. 

Near the final stages of planning, you’ll better understand how much money you need to make your business a full-time job. You can find this money through crowdfunding platforms and investors. Consider taking out a business loan only as a last resort.

You should also work with reliable professionals, including an attorney and an accountant. Most of the businesses on this list require particular permits or licenses, and legal counsel can help you make sure you do it all by the book. Meanwhile, an accountant is critical for managing finances properly, especially in the early days when you’re still establishing your revenue stream. While these professionals represent an upfront cost, they’re well worth it and can help you build a healthy business.

TipTipChoose a small business idea with low startup costs. If you still don’t have enough money, finance your business idea through crowdfunding or investors.

How do I start a small business from home?

Home-based businesses tend to be the most convenient and manageable ones. That said, not all great business ideas are suited for home offices, so make sure your business can be conducted from home – jobs with on-site needs and heavy in-person demands might not be suitable. In your business plan and budget, incorporate any office supplies and tools that make your online business ideas feasible, such as a separate business computer, a suitable desk, high-speed internet, filing cabinets and a business website.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Servo Feed Line Custom Service. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.