So, you’re thinking of starting your own business but don’t have any capital to start with. Is it still possible to start your side hustle? We say YES.

With the internet, there are many businesses you can start for FREE. Here, we’ll dive into some business ideas you can jump into even if you don't have capital on your hands.

Bootstrap by starting a home based business

If you’re tight on your budget, you’ll want to cut any unnecessary costs. That’s why a home based business is a great starting point. You don’t need to pay rent and it’ll cut costs on traveling.

That said, you’ll need to have a few amenities at home to help support your home business:

1. Good internet connection
2. A computer
3. Appointment/ order taking system

With that established, let's dive right into some great business ideas you can start with for FREE in the comfort of your own home.

Print on demand (POD) t-shirts

Selling POD t-shirts is a great business model for those who want to start selling online but don’t have enough cash to hold inventory. Here’s how it works:

1. You create your t-shirt design
2. Make a t-shirt mock-up of your product
3. List it on your website

Once customers visit your website and order a t-shirt, you’ll work with your POD printer to print the number of t-shirts you need to fulfil your order. It’s that simple!

The POD t-shirt business keeps you from headaches that come with holding inventory and avoids large initial startup costs. All you need is a free Cococart website to list your products. 

In-home pet care

If you’re an animal lover, you’ll love to be a pet sitter! Pet owners are always on the lookout for great pet care services, especially if they need to travel often. There’s definitely demand in this space and having an in-home pet care service is a great business opportunity.

Before you start sharing about your pet care services online, you’ll want to make sure your home is prepped and ready for your business. Here are a few considerations to take note of:

1. Ensure all wires are hidden especially in areas where your new furry clients are going to roam around
2. Keep expensive furniture (leather sofas, glassware, decorative items) away from reach
3. Put up a fence at your kitchen entrance
4. Nice to have: set aside a pet-friendly room

It’s up to you how pet-friendly you want your space to be—that’s totally up to your discretion. Our advice is to start with daycare services first just to test the waters and see what adjustments you might need to make before opening up your home for overnight stays. 

Besides keeping your home pet-friendly, you’ll also want to have a system to make appointments easily. You can easily set this up with Cococart’s timeslot feature, which is available in the free account!

Printable digital art

Love drawing, painting, and being creative? Having a side business selling printable artworks is going to be perfect for you!

These days, homeowners are getting more interested in home decor and giving their space a little personality. They want to spruce up their space but don’t necessarily have a big budget to spend on expensive paintings.

That’s why the demand for printable wall art has been on the rise! Selling printables can let you do what you love. If you’re already familiar with digital programs, you can easily upload your artwork and list them for sale on your website.

Sounds right up your alley? You’ll want to read the detailed guide on how you can start selling your digital art prints online.

Design typefaces

Have a knack for graphic design? Put your skills to work by selling custom typefaces online! 

With more businesses going digital, there’s now more emphasis on building a strong brand image. Creating unique typefaces that run on Adobe, Figma, and other design platforms is a great business idea to exploit. 

If you already know how to design typefaces, this is a business opportunity you can start right away at no cost!

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a business model that’s similar to selling POD t-shirts. Except that with dropshipping, you won’t need to design anything. 

Dropshipping is a form of retail business. However, instead of holding stock, dropshippers only make orders with their suppliers after customers first make an order with them. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

1. Dropshipper lists products on their website 
2. Customers make an order
3. Dropshipper contacts their supplier to ship orders directly to customers.

Dropshippers act like a middleman between customers and suppliers. When customers make an order with them on their website, they charge a markup and keep the profit. If you’re looking for a $0 cost business to start with, dropshipping is definitely an area you want to explore.

Oberlo and AliExpress are some dropshipping websites you can check out.

Set up a website to reach customers

There are lots of great business ideas out there, but to build a successful business, you’ll need to get the word out.

That’s why having a website is so important. Your website is your storefront on the internet and the good news is, you can get your very own website for free.

With Cococart, you can easily set up a website for free and start listing your products on services at no cost. 

However, if you’re serious about growing your business, you’ll want all the features that give you customer insights. Premium subscriptions start at just $5/ month—or the price of a coffee. 

Create an account below and get started on your business idea now!

FAQ

Do I need a license to start a home-based business in Singapore?

You'll first need to get your business registered in ACRA. Read this step-by-step guide to find out how you can start your home-based business.

Should I sell my products on my own ecommerce website or in a marketplace?

Marketplaces like Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon give you access to a pool of consumers who are ready to shop online. That said, it's difficult to stand out and build your brand on these platforms. Having your own ecommerce website helps to build your brand's reputation as you own all communication channels with your customers. Having direct communication with your customers builds your relationship with them and increases brand loyalty.

Read this article on the pros and cons of ecommerce websites and marketplaces.

What niches should I go into?

There are lots of profitable niches out there. Pick a niche that makes the most sense for your current financial circumstance and risk appetite.

If you're looking for more home-based business ideas, check out this article.

Your Success is Our Success

‍Cococart is proud to be a company that puts local businesses first. After all, you’re the reason we’re here. We're on a mission to transform independent businesses to accept online orders. If you are ready to  sign up for a free trial simply register your store here, it only takes a couple of minutes.