14 easy businesses to start individually

Have you always dreamed of opening your own business? It may be that you are out of work and want to start making your own money now. It may be that you are no longer happy with your current job and want to move on to something you enjoy doing. Regardless of the reason, looking for an individual venture can be a good way for those who want to start their own business.

To become an entrepreneur, you need to have confidence in your business and be ready to seek success on a path that is not always easy.

“There are some characteristics that are attributed to successful entrepreneurs. Among these characteristics, I highlight the entrepreneur’s ability to set goals and persistence. In addition to these, it is important that the entrepreneur likes the field of activity in which he intends to start the business”, says Maria Alice Alves Moreira, regional manager of Sebrae-SP, Capital Leste.

Entrepreneurship individually is simpler than starting a company itself – even if it is small. This is because the MEI (individual microentrepreneur) requires less bureaucracy to be legalized, represents lower tax costs and does not need to hire employees, rent large commercial points or complex operational maneuvers. Everything can be done just by you and, in some cases, in your own home!

However, entrepreneurship is always a challenge. Although the chances of achieving success are strong, one must be prepared for obstacles in the way. “The ‘no’: this will be the most heard word. The entrepreneur needs to prospect a high volume of customers, take several ‘no’s and, with that, maintain his argument to increase the number of ‘yes’. But this will only happen with time, after a lot of persistence”, recalls Luís Lourenço, CEO of Plug CRM.

Planning, dedication, research and attention at each stage cannot be left out. Keep in mind that being your own boss doesn’t mean you can relax in the role! In individual business, the responsibilities are great, entirely yours, and success largely depends on you.

“Being alone is a great challenge! Even if the individual entrepreneur has an employee, all decisions regarding the business are restricted to his person”, warns the Sebrae consultant.

14 small business ideas

Investing in a micro-enterprise is not easy and will demand a lot from you. But, the rewards can be well worth it! In addition to not having to worry about rules imposed by others, it is possible to make your own schedule and have a good financial income.

When choosing what to do, it is important to take into account your identification and knowledge of the area in which you intend to work, how much you can invest (in time and money) and if your region has an audience to consume your products or services. Check out some ideas for investing in a micro enterprise:

1. Sell products by catalog

Becoming a catalog seller for a brand is a simple way that can serve both to earn extra income and as a sole income. Several companies and brands offer this feature, which gives a good variety in the product mix – cosmetics, perfumes, utensils, accessories, jewelry and costume jewelry.

To adopt this activity, the first step is to choose the brand and check how the linking process is – in most brands, the first contact is by filling out a registration on the internet. Remember: it is essential to carefully read the terms and conditions of the company! With the material in hand, your main task will be to find customers and make sales.

Some options for brands that work with the reseller and consultant system are:

• Cosmetics and perfumes: Avon, Natura, Mary Kay, Yes! Cosmetics, Eudora.
• Jewelry, semi jewelry and costume jewelry: Francisca Joias, Ágata Semi Joias, Skillus, Metaus, Carol Nader.
• Clothes: Kaisan, Via Blumenau, Marisa.

2. Making food to sell

If you like to cook, marketing food can be a great alternative. After all, the food market is one of the most consolidated in the country, which proves a constant demand. Among the options to bet are snacks, sweets, cakes, breads, meals in lunchboxes, fruit salads, pizzas, among others.

In this case, in addition to thinking about the best way to make these products reach the consumer, it is essential to pay attention to the quality of the ingredients and foods used in production. Anvisa has three divisions: foods that require registration before sale, foods that only require manufacturing communication, and foods that are exempt from registration and notice. Before making a decision, it is worth seeking information from the local health surveillance agency or Anvisa’s portal.

3. Taking care of pets

Those who like animals and are willing to spend time researching and understanding more about how to take care of them have a good option here. Among the possible services are taking dogs for a walk, bathing and caring for pets in periods of absence of the owner. Great care is needed to always ensure the well-being of the pet.

4. sew

Making clothes to order or making small repairs to ready-made pieces can also be an attractive undertaking. For this, it is necessary to invest in the necessary machinery, in addition to materials such as threads, needles, buttons and other accessories. Cutting and sewing courses are also good bets to refine your techniques and professionalize the service.

5. Make makeup and hairstyles

Offering services as a makeup artist and hairdresser, without setting up a salon itself, is also something that can attract a good audience. The investment, in this case, must be made in courses for professionalization and in the products to be used by clients – try to assemble a good makeup bag that can meet different profiles of people.

6. Photograph professionally

Those who have a knack for photography and are willing to seek courses in the area can start their business by photographing rehearsals and events. Keep in mind that professional photographic equipment does not come cheap and you will need to invest in cameras, lenses, tripods and lighting.

7. Manufacture and sell handicrafts

Skilled people can jumpstart a craft enterprise. Here, what counts is to use your imagination: knitting or crochet pieces, souvenirs for weddings and other events, decoration objects. It all depends on what you’re willing to create, what audience you want to reach and what materials you’re going to invest in. As the internet is full of very useful tutorials for those who want to learn new models and the materials are usually not expensive, the biggest investment of the business will be the time to manufacture the products.

8. Private lessons

Private tutoring is not limited to tutoring in math, physics or any other school subject. In addition to covering these areas, it is possible to offer language and arts classes – dance, painting, embroidery, musical instruments. In this case, the biggest challenge is finding and winning over students.

9. Professional cleaning services

The cleaning service market is performing well. In the rush of everyday life, it is common for people to choose to hire professional services to carry out specific cleanings: after the end of a renovation or work, after parties and events, car washes, upholstery cleaning, etc. Without the need for large investments in materials, offering this type of service is a good option for an enterprise.

10. DJ Services

To become a DJ at parties and events it is not only necessary to like music and meet different artists; but also look for professional courses in the area. You must also be available to work at night. Also, depending on the type of venue and event you will be performing at, you may need to invest in your own equipment.

11. Manicure and pedicure

As with hair and makeup, it is possible to offer manicure and pedicure services without having a salon. Invest in a good mix of nail polishes, with various colors and brands, in addition to other tools such as sandpaper, pliers, remover and cotton wool. It is important to schedule yourself to properly sanitize objects such as pliers and spatulas between customers to ensure that there is no possibility of any contamination.

12. Facilities in general

Offering installation services is a good alternative. According to your knowledge and skills with equipment, it is possible to work with WiFi configuration, installation of security cameras and other electronics, changing the shower, assembling and disassembling furniture. Investments vary according to the type of service provided, but, in general, are made in tools and professional courses in the electrical field.

13. Blogs and YouTube

Blogs and YouTube channels are gaining more and more space in the market, attracting the attention of brands and companies and it is possible to have a good income with them. Communicative, creative people who are interested or know a lot about a subject have the right profile for this type of venture.

However, the variety of channels and blogs is huge! In order to gain space and succeed in this field, it is necessary to differentiate yourself from what already exists, whether in format, subject or content. Money usually comes in through advertisements and, with the highest visibility, partnerships.

14. Set up an online store

E-commerce is constantly growing and you can take advantage of it by setting up your own online store. For this, it is necessary to be attentive to logistics issues: how to fulfill customer orders, packaging for shipping, visits to the Post Office, availability of products in stock. In addition to investing in this part, it is essential to invest in a good website, with intuitive navigation and good product images.

Some platform options that provide the virtual sales service are Tanlup, Enjoei, Elo7, Mercado Livre and OLX. Study the possibilities and adopt the one that most closely matches your profile, target audience and the products you want to sell.

Microfranchise x ready business: how to decide?

One of the options for those who want to invest in a business is to bet on a franchise. Unlike creating your own business, in this model it is not necessary to start everything from scratch and the franchisee already starts the activity supported by a large company, alongside a brand that already has its name known and accepted by consumers.

“When the entrepreneur opts for a franchise, he will have the advantage of an already validated business model, where he will be able to seek reference and even receive training on how to operate, according to each franchisor. There is greater support than when you undertake on your own”, guarantees Maria Alice.

However, this system does not come free of responsibilities: once franchised, the unit’s responsibilities are also yours. In addition, those who invest in franchising must be prepared to follow the rules imposed by the franchising company.

“It is important to assess whether you can adapt to the franchise format, as it needs to adapt to the rules…