Best Business Ideas For Small Towns
If you live in a small town, you might think that opening a business is not a good idea. However, there are numerous business ideas for small towns that are unique to this type of area. There are many options and since small towns are usually close-knit, this could actually help to increase your chances of success. Learning more about potential business ideas for small towns can aid you in getting started.
Affiliate Marketing
This is one of the best business ideas for small towns because you can do it from anywhere. You also have a global client base since most of the work you do will be over the internet. You can start a blog and write articles that pertain to the affiliates that you are working for. Insert your affiliate codes or links where they are relevant so that you can start earning commissions when people use your links or codes to make a purchase.
To really get started right with affiliate marketing, we suggest taking a course to learn what it takes to succeed. Our course of choice is Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing.
Amazon Sales
No matter the size of your town, you can sell products on Amazon. It is best to start small so that you can learn how to get the most out of the platform as you go. Sell one or two small items and once you start having steady sales, you can add more products to your offerings. It is a good idea to stick with items that are lightweight because these will be easier to store, and you can ship them for a few bucks.
To get started on the right track selling on Amazon, taking an Amazon course is recommended. You can read our article on the best Amazon course to choose the right one.
Bed and Breakfast
On occasion, people will come to town and need a place to stay. If you allow your home to double as a bed and breakfast, you can make a little extra money when guests are in. All you need is one or two extra bedrooms for this business. When you have guests, you will make them breakfast and ensure that their room stays clean. Other than this, you do not have to worry about a big investment of time or money.
Book Store
Every small town should have a book store. This is one of the best business ideas for small towns because you usually have no competition nearby. All you need is a small commercial space and books to get started. You can choose to sell new books, used books, or a combination of the two. If you sell used books, flea markets and thrift stores can provide you with a wealth of stock for a low initial investment.
Bookkeeping Business
Every other small business in your town could use the help of an experienced bookkeeper. You can start a bookkeeping business and work on a freelance basis. This means that local businesses can hire you as needed. This will save them money and give you a chance to earn some extra cash. You can also advertise your services online and work with other businesses all throughout the country if you want to expand.
Ready to start a bookkeeping business but not sure where to start? Read our complete guide on how to become a bookkeeper.
Childcare
Small towns often do not have any nearby childcare facilities. You can run a childcare facility out of your home to reduce the costs associated with your business. Before opening the business, check with your state to determine the licensing and insurance you need for this type of business. Then, all you have to do is advertise your services to the families in your town to let them know that you are open for business.
Clothing Repair
When you have nice clothing, you do not just want to throw it away if it gets a little too small or big. The same is true if a small tear occurs. As a clothing repairer, you can work out of your home, so there is no need to rent a space. People will bring their clothing to you so that you can make repairs or alterations, depending on their needs. You can advertise your services and rates on community boards throughout town so that people know that you are available.
Coffee Shop
One of the best business ideas for small towns is opening a coffee shop. This will provide a gathering place for the residents when they want to relax and spend time with their friends. You can keep it simple and stick to just serving coffee. To increase your profits and give customers a little something more, you can consider adding some teas and small snacks, such as sandwiches or baked goods, to your menu.
Delivery Service
The app-based delivery services that are common in major metropolitan areas might not be available in a small town. You can fill this gap by creating a delivery service of your own. You an choose which items you want to deliver. For example, maybe offer to get groceries or pre-made foods for those who do not want to leave their home. This is a flexible business and you can decide if you will only deliver during certain hours.
Farmer’s Market
A farmer’s market is one of the best business ideas for small towns because it ensures that your neighbors always have access to fresh produce. You can get your produce from local farms so that you know exactly where it is coming from. You can also choose to grow your own if you are good at growing and harvesting food. You can set up a stand every day, or just on weekends, depending on how much you want to work your business.
Fitness Instructor
Even if there is no gym in your town, you can offer fitness instruction to the residents. You can offer to provide your service at their home, or if you have a finished basement, you can transform it into a gym for this purpose. It is best to get your certificate in personal training so that people know that you know what you are doing. You can choose to instruct people one-on-one or you can offer group fitness classes.
Freelance Writer
You can start a freelance writing business anywhere in the world. All you need is a reliable computer, internet, and good writing skills. You can choose a niche or be a generalist, writing on a variety of topics. If you have a degree in something, specializing can often be more profitable than just writing on any topic. You can also choose which type of writing you will do, such as scientific writing, copywriting, or even just casual blogging.
Furniture Fixer or Upcycler
In a small town, there is likely not many repair businesses around. You can start your business in this niche if you are handy. You can offer to fix furniture pieces or take old furniture and turn it into something new. If you choose the latter, you can sell your items to people in town by advertising on the town’s website or even at a flea market. This is one of the best business ideas for small towns since you can do it in your spare time.
House Cleaning
You can start a cleaning business to help your neighbors to maintain their homes. If your town is really small, you can usually be the only employee without issue. However, as your client load increases, you can choose to hire someone else from town to help you with overflow work. You usually need at least liability insurance for this type of business. Check with your state laws to determine if this is needed.
Landscaping
In small towns, there are usually no big landscaping companies nearby making this one of the best business ideas for small towns. You can choose which services you will offer. All you need to do is get the equipment necessary for the services your business will offer the residents of your city. This means that the investment is small. You can work out of your home, so there is no need to invest in commercial real estate.
You can also check out our database of incredible business ideas.
Proofreading
Since you can do all of this work online, you can start a proofreading business in any city. You should set up a website so that clients can learn more about your business and the proofreading services that you offer. You can also offer your services to the businesses in your community. For example, if they want to put out an advertisement, you can do the proofreading so that the finished product is flawless.
To learn to become a proofreader and turn it into a thriving business, check out our review of the Proofread Anywhere course.
Scopist Business
If you have a legal background, but no lawyer to work for in a small town, consider starting a scopist business. You can work via the internet so that you can take on clients from all over the country. They will send you the printouts of the court reporter’s shorthand and you will transform it into a full-length transcript. You can choose to charge per word or by the hour, depending on what you think is most fair for your time and skills.
Scoping is not as well known as other businesses. This means there is an amazing opportunity to turn this into a lucrative career. To learn how to become a scopist and succeed, read more about the Internet Scoping School program.
Thrift Store
If there is no thrift store in your area, you can open one. Residents can drop off the stuff they no longer need, and you can resell it. You can also get stock from storage locker options that happen in the nearest bigger city to you. You will need to get a storefront for this purpose. Consider your budget and you can even start small by selling items out of your garage before you expand to a storefront.
Transcription Business
As long as you have an internet connection, you can start a transcription business. It will greatly benefit your speed and accuracy to get a pedal that connects to your audio equipment. This way you can stop and start the audio at a pace that is comfortable for you. You should also consider a good set of headphones so that you can hear the audio without any sound distractions interrupting you as you work.
Can transcription be the right business for you? It’s easy to find out. Read more about a program called Transcribe Anywhere that will teach you how to launch a successful career as a transcriptionist.
Tutoring
Wherever there are kids or college students, there will be a need for a qualified tutor. This is one of the best business ideas for small towns because you can work it from home or meet your clients at the local library. Think about your education level and the subjects that you are good at. This will help you to decide the type of tutoring that you can offer. You should also have some basic school supplies before you get started.
Virtual Assistant
You can work as a virtual assistant for local businesses or for people throughout the country. The flexibility of this position makes it one of the best business ideas for small towns. You should start by determining which services you want to offer your clients. For example, you may just want to focus on clerical tasks, such as helping with emails, scheduling meetings, and organizing files. You can also offer additional services, such as writing or helping with their marketing efforts.
Web Design and Development
All you need are some website skills, a computer with the right software, and the internet to start this business. It is a good idea to create a website that you will use to showcase your skills. This can be your business website. Let potential clients know what you can do by putting a list of services on your website. You can also choose to add graphic design to your services by offering to make things like logos for your client’s websites.
1 thought on “22 Business Ideas For Small Towns”
Hi there, great post! So my question is this: Do you know of a website I can learn how to start a small business? I’m trying to start a landscaping company but I’m really worried because I know the failure rate for new businesses is really high. Have a good one. 🙂