The Best Small Businesses to Start in 2021

If you want to break free from the corporate hamster wheel and be your own boss, the best option is to start and run your very own business. But when it comes to setting one up, perhaps one of the most challenging steps is not building the business itself, but coming up with an idea in the first place. While business ideas are a dime a dozen, it's hard to arrive at one that you genuinely love and would be willing to spend your time and hard-earned money on.

If you're planning on starting a business next year, maybe all you need is a bit of a push and some inspiration. Here are some ideas you can get started with:

Online Reselling

While you can always join the e-commerce space and sell brand new goods, it seems that there's more money to be made in reselling pre-loved, vintage items. The "re-commerce industry" is currently on the rise, with resale activity being a $24 billion sector and affecting traditional retail sales both online and offline.

As millennials and Gen Z gain more purchasing power, the consumer market is becoming more passionate about sustainability. It's then worth looking into reselling clothing and accessories, as those tend to resonate more with the younger demographic. Just be sure to take the time to curate the items you're planning on selling, and maybe even customizing or altering them further to make them more appealing to consumers.

T-shirt Business

The pandemic is predicted to wane thanks to the production of vaccines, and soon enough, people will be wanting to get back to their company outings and events. People will also likely go back to buying fashionable custom T-shirts. Indeed, beginning a T-shirt business has always been a viable option for entrepreneurs, with personalized T-shirts being particularly appealing. This is because the global market for personalized shirts is predicted to hit $10 billion globally by 2025.

Newer and more cost-effective technologies in the industry like digital printing have also made setting up a business so much easier. The best part is there are several ways to start this kind of venture. You can either buy wholesale pre-printed shirts and resell them, or print your own line using your own equipment. The ideal option is of course to print and design your own shirts via a third party.

Graphic Design

Even though the internet and digital media are practically inextricable from our daily lives, there's reason to believe that print media is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Printed materials still have the power to appear more credible to consumers, which is why businesses still rely on fliers, newsletters, magazines, letters, and more to market their respective products and services.

With this continued reliance on print, the demand for graphic designers who can fashion stunning designs on paper remains high. Ideal for those with a knack for art, graphic design is an ideal business because you can have multiple streams of income. On top of designing print materials for clients, you can also offer web design services. If you wish, you can even have a side hustle of selling your personally-designed stickers, postcards, and even tote bags.

Cleaning Service

The pandemic has without a doubt triggered an uptick in cleaning services. Considering how COVID-19 was found to persist on surfaces, both homeowners and business owners are on the hunt for cleaning crews that can render their places germ-free. Janitorial services are even more in demand because sanitation and disinfecting today has become a more complex process.

Now, you don't necessarily have to offer such a service, and you can start small by offering basic cleaning to offices, retail business, or maybe just the houses within your own neighborhood. The best part? You don't have to spend tons of money on advertising because customers will come by referral or word of mouth.

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