The 7 Best Businesses You Can Start With 10k in the US

In today’s world, we’re constantly bombarded with stories of businesses that deal in billions, if not trillions, of dollars every year. When the business leaders we’re exposed to on a regular basis are Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk, going into business for yourself can seem incredibly intimidating and expensive. 

One of the best things about starting a business is that there is a very low bar for entry. You don’t need unthinkably high amounts of start-up capital to create a profitable and successful business. 

Here are some of the best businesses you can start with just $10,000.

1.Dropshipping

Dropshipping is simply a method of selling where the seller of a product doesn’t keep the products they sell in stock. Instead, the seller, upon getting a purchase from a customer, buys the item from a third party and ships the product directly to the customer. In this manner, the seller doesn’t have to handle the product directly or own any inventory. 

Let’s say you’ve identified demand for a particular type of chair that is popular with office workers in your local. You could set up an e-commerce website to catalog and advertise this product, and then, once you receive an order, you contact a wholesaler (who inventories these chairs) to send the purchased item to the customer directly. 

Technically, you don’t need any startup capital to start a dropshipping business, though you may need some cash to set up and run a good e-commerce site. There are lots of great website hosting services out there, including those dedicated to e-commerce retail, such as Epos Now’s website builder. 

2.Hauling

Moving something from one place to another - what could be a more basic need? Whether it’s people moving into new homes or companies needing to get rid of waste, there will always be a demand for haulers. 

The largest expense of starting a hauling business is a truck. It’s fairly easy to find a used truck or panel van for under $10,000 [1]. You can use this vehicle to transport your cargo to wherever you need to take it. The only other costs you would need to worry about would be insurance, licensing, and maintenance. 

You will need to build relationships with the people who run dumps, junkyards, recycling centers, and scrap metal yards. 

3.Personal training

Starting a business as an independent personal trainer is a perfect idea for people who are passionate about fitness and who like helping people reach their goals.

The barriers to entry into the personal training industry are very low. All you really need is a background in athletics, sport, or fitness and a personal training certificate. Personal training certificates are widely available throughout the US and can cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000. 

Apart from the cost of certification, you may need some equipment like resistance bands, medicine balls, stopwatches, yoga mats, and more, all of which should cost you no more than a few hundred dollars. Alternatively, you could work in a gym, where you won’t be required to pay for equipment, just cover rent and insurance instead.

4.Fashion accessories designer

If you have a flair for fashion and enjoy making beautiful things, you might excel as a fashion accessories designer. To get started, pick a fashion accessory you’d like to design. It could be anything, from shoes, jewelry, handbags, belts, hats, gloves, or wallets. You can create your own designs, or work with a fashion accessory manufacturer to start a collection in your name. Once you have your product, you can sell them on any number of platforms, like eBay or Etsy. You can also attend craft fairs where you can sell your wares to people in person - just be sure to invest in a great retail point of sale system first. 

5.Youtube content creation

YouTube is the most popular video streaming platform on the planet, generating billions of views every day [3]. It’s the most widely used and popular social media platform there is. 

Many people create their own YouTube channel for different reasons. You might be an entertainer and want a platform where you can reach an audience. You might be a well-known expert in your field and want to create informative videos for your peers in your industry. Or you might be a company that needs a place to store, access, and distributes their promotional videos. 

Creating your own YouTube channel is incredibly easy. The platform is free to use, and recording videos can be as easy as recording yourself on your smartphone and uploading the video directly to the platform. 

However, the most successful YouTube channels use professional equipment. This usually involves buying things like cameras, microphones, stands, lighting fixtures, and video editing software. There is a range of products you can choose from, and prices for a full set can range anywhere from $500 to $10,000 [4].

If you’ve got something to say, and want to share it with the world in video form, a career as a YouTube content creator might be for you. 

6.Freelance copywriting

This is perhaps one of the easiest businesses to start. You’ll need an expert in writing for commercial purposes. A background in marketing, advertising, or technical writing will also certainly help. 

You can take advantage of freelancing sites like Upwork to pitch yourself and your skills to clients and post portfolios and details about your experience. If someone likes your style of writing and thinks you have the right skills, they’ll hire you for their project. 

The only cost of starting this business is having a personal computing device, like a laptop or computer, and an internet connection. The average price of a laptop in the US is around $300-$700, so this business is very easy to get into [5].  

7.Food truck/trailer/kiosk

Much like buying a truck for a hauling business, there are lots of used food trucks, trailers, and kiosks you can buy for less than $10,000. Operating a food truck is probably your best bet if you’re looking for a fairly inexpensive way of getting into the food service business. The cost of setting up a food truck is far lower than setting up a restaurant, after all.

For $10,000, you’d probably be able to buy a small used trailer or kiosk that you can transport to and from areas with your car. You may also want to invest in some repurposed cooking equipment and power generators. You’ll also need to be aware of other costs like licensing, permits, food costs, fuel, and other equipment costs. 

TIP: If you're thinking about buying a business, check out all the questions you should be asking, both yourself and others, before signing your name on that dotted line. 

A POS for all seasons

There are many great business ideas out there. If you’re going to dedicate yourself to a business where you’ll be taking payments directly from customers, you’ll need an Epos Now system for hospitality businesses or retail stores. 

With an Epos Now POS, you can:

• Track single item performance so you can forecast with accuracy
• Receive stock alerts so you never miss a selling opportunity
• Easily add, edit and bundle items to create new revenue opportunities
• Create automatic purchase orders so you never run out of stock
• Full barcode management. Import, update, and manage 1,000s of products
• Manage your online and physical stores from one place​
• Track your online orders and in-store purchases together​
• Offer safety and convenience with Click & Collect services​
• Create an omnichannel proposition, fit to weather any storm​
• Connect to over 100 apps, including leading accounting and marketing tools

Contact Epos Now today to learn more about our systems.