10 Low-Capital Business Ideas You Can Start From Your Phone
Interested to start a business with a smartphone but not quite sure what to start?
The good news is, there are so many opportunities to become an entrepreneur and build an innovative product/service in this line of work.
If you're looking to start your own business with a smartphone, there are several low-capital options you can choose from.
We put a list together below of the most profitable business ideas you can start today with a phone!
Here they are:
1. Start a tech support business
In today’s world, technology plays a crucial role in our day-to-day lives. Therefore, the need for technical support has become increasingly critical. A tech support business can provide invaluable assistance and troubleshooting services to individuals and companies facing software, hardware, or any other technology problems.
If you’re considering starting a tech support business, you must have a solid understanding of technical skills and possess experience in IT support roles.
Providing exceptional customer service is critical to the success of your tech support business. Actively listening to your clients and thoroughly diagnosing their issues is crucial. Additionally, offering clear and patient support will help you to build a loyal client base.
Finally, it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and maintain a comprehensive knowledge base to address a wide range of technical questions and problems effectively. This will help you to provide your clients with the best possible service and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
How much you can make: $150 — $1,500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
A passionate computer-coder entrepreneur shares the story behind his successful PDFShift business which after a year and a half generates $3.2k of monthly revenues with the focus now on growth.
2. Build an iPhone app
The iPhone is the most popular mobile device in the world. It has changed how we interact with information, entertainment, and communication.
The iPhone has also changed the way we interact with each other. Since its release in 2007, it has become a staple in most people’s lives. It is more than just a phone; it is a tool for staying connected to friends and family and creating new connections.
The iPhone app market is an ever-changing landscape of innovation: it’s not just about making something that works well; it’s about creating something that stands out from the crowd.
It would help if you had something that appeals to your audience to succeed in this market. This can be as simple as ensuring your app has a catchy name or as complex as developing an entire brand identity around your app’s functionality.
How much you can make: $150 — $2,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Payment.co, an app built on top of the Stripe payment gateway for creating card-present charges, has grown to process over $70M in volume annually since launching in 2015, with the app collecting a 1% service fee on every single charge.
3. Start an amazon business
Looking for a lucrative way to leverage the power of ecommerce? Consider starting an Amazon business. An Amazon business allows you to sell products directly on the world’s largest online marketplace.
You'll need to source or create products to sell, manage inventory, and handle customer service. It's not just a plug-and-play operation—meticulous product research and competitive pricing strategies are essential to stand out.
Amazon offers programs like FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), which handles storage, shipping, and even customer returns, allowing you to scale with less hassle. The upfront work involves choosing products that meet market demand, optimizing listings with compelling content, and preparing for logistics.
Intrigued by the potential? An Amazon business offers a substantial opportunity to generate income with access to a global customer base. If properly managed, it’s a business model that could transform your financial future.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Felony Case, a Toronto-based company designing unique iPhone cases, started as a small shop on Etsy and has grown to become an internationally recognized fashion iPhone case brand sold in top tier retailers like Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew, Indigo, Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Free People, and made over half a million dollars in revenue last year.
4. Start a youtube channel
For anyone looking to start a successful YouTube channel, there are plenty of YouTube channel success stories that can be used as inspiration and encouragement. In addition, YouTube has an established monetization system and boasts incredible popularity, making it a potential platform for revenue generation.
In this article, we'll look at different approaches you can use to help promote your channel and grow your viewers. While there's no quick and easy way to success, you can take these tips to build your own YouTube Channel Success story. If you love content creation, you can capitalize on YouTube's popularity to earn extra income.
If you want to join the Youtube partner program to monetize your channel, you will need to reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
5. Become a videographer
A videographer uses his video camera to record footage for different events.
Examples of events where videographers are common include weddings, documentaries, training videos, commercials, TV shows, infomercials, live events, corporate promotions, etc. Videographers are not only responsible for operating the camera. They must have the skills required for the production of a video, which includes the following:
- Lighting
- Sound
- Maintenance
- Equipment repair
- Video editing
To become a videographer, pursue a videography education, and attend internships to gain experience. Build a portfolio, so your target audience finds you online and starts hiring your services.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $110,000/month
How long does it take to build: 65 days (?)
Results Imagery co-founders Kyle Nelson and Eli Libby launched their digital agency that focused solely on media creation for brands and product companies, helping clients monetize their conversion-centric media, with their current monthly revenue at $45,000.
6. Start an event planning business
Event planners handle different tasks related to making the business a success. Some of the event planner’s responsibilities include:
- Conducting research
- Creating the event design
- Finding an ideal site
- Arranging for food, décor, and entertainment
- Planning logistics to and from the event
- Sending invitations
- Supervising at the site etc
To start this business on a budget, begin by honing your organizational and communication skills.
Next, create a detailed business plan outlining your services, target market, and pricing structure.
Utilize free or low-cost online tools for marketing, and consider starting small by offering services for smaller events before expanding your business as you gain experience and resources.
How much you can make: $20,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Akshay Patel's event rental and decor business, Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, saw an average ticket price of $2,000, as their advertising budget decreased from $20k to $5k, leading to 40% of their clients coming through social media advertising, 30% from expos, and 30% online in google, yahoo, and other platforms.
7. Start an Instagram or snapchat marketing business
Starting an Instagram or Snapchat marketing business is a great way to tap into the millions of users on these platforms. If you have a passion for social media and a knack for creating engaging content, this could be your perfect business opportunity. To start your Instagram or Snapchat marketing business, you’ll need to establish your target audience first. Are you targeting small businesses, influencers, or a niche like fashion or travel? Once you know who you’re targeting, you can create a content strategy that resonates with them and helps you stand out from the competition. To get started, you’ll need to set up a business account on Instagram or Snapchat and build your following. This can be done by creating and sharing high-quality content, using hashtags, and engaging with other users. You can also leverage your existing social media following to promote your new business. To run a successful Instagram or Snapchat marketing business, you’ll need to constantly create and share new content and stay up to date with the latest trends and algorithm updates on these platforms. It would be best if you also were willing to experiment with different content formats, like Instagram stories or Snapchat filters, to see what works best for your audience.
In addition to creating and sharing content, you may also want to offer additional services like Instagram or Snapchat ad management or social media strategy consulting. You can attract a wider range of clients and increase your revenue streams by offering various services.
To start and run a successful Instagram or Snapchat marketing business, you’ll need a strong understanding of social media, excellent communication skills, and the ability to create engaging content. With the right skills and strategy, you can tap into the millions of users on these platforms and turn your passion for social media into a profitable business.
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
8. Start a chatbot development business
Businesses use conversational AI chatbots to take customer engagement to the next level. Typically, chatbots deliver consistent responses to customers, which helps the business avoid issuing irrelevant or misguiding details to the customers.
As more people focus on using the internet in shopping, education, and research, businesses are deploying chatbots to provide 24/7/365 support to their customers.
For example, online shoppers interact with businesses through chatbots, while students can use chatbots to help with their studies and research.
Therefore, starting a chatbot development business can be a lucrative venture.
How much you can make: $7,500 — $180,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study article is about the founder of SiteGPT, an AI chatbot platform, who started the company as a side project and achieved $15k MRR in just 6 months, overcoming challenges such as building the first version of the product and finding product-market fit.
9. Become an Airbnb host
If you are interested in becoming an Airbnb host, the first step is to create a listing for your property or a portion of it on the Airbnb platform.
This will allow travelers from all over the world to rent your space and enjoy a personalized and unique accommodation experience.
By creating a welcoming atmosphere and providing excellent service to your guests, you can enhance your profile and attract even more visitors to your property.
With the potential to earn a steady stream of passive income, becoming an Airbnb host can be an excellent way to monetize your property.
How much you can make: $35,000 — $270,000/month
How long does it take to build: 215 days (?)
HostButlers is Ireland's first professional property concierge service for short-term rentals on Airbnb, boasting over 200,000 hosted guests and profitability from month 5.
10. Start a mcommerce selling business
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
