Starting a Local Business: Easy Ways to Begin

Becoming a local small business owner does not always require the expense of a rented storefront or a small business loan that barely covers operating costs. Some of the best small businesses emerge from the comfort of home, parlaying skills you already possess and connections you have already established in the community where you have settled.

The beauty of starting small and local is that it allows you to take baby steps without risking too much while simultaneously and organically growing at a pace that makes more sense for your life.

How Do You Know What Kind of Business to Start?

Most of the best small businesses emerge from what people are already doing for free in their communities. Is there someone down the block who’s always bringing in your dog? Is a co-worker always making cakes for the office? Is there a fashion savvy friend who always wears thrifted and preloved clothing? Do you know someone who loves to clean and organize? These are all types of services that people will pay for.

Sometimes doing the things you love that you are already doing can turn into money making enterprises. Sometimes dog walkers become pet sitters and eventually offer boarding services. You don’t need a super innovative idea, you just need to do something well that people are willing to pay for and then spread the word.

Even if you choose a small business that someone else is already running in your community, that’s okay because competition is healthy. But also, most communities can support multiple businesses in the same industry. One person can’t mow all the lawns alone or clean all the houses so you might see a few lawn care or house cleaning businesses popping in your neighborhood. Customers will choose the business that best aligns with their needs, budget, and proximity. Word of mouth is often the best marketing technique for small community based businesses. And if you are easy to work with, the good word will spread and most customers will continue to hire you.

Where Are Profitable Ventures Born?

Craft winemaking has become an unexpectedly small, home-based business in a niche market. It often starts with small batches made in-home. You perfect some recipes and share a bottle or two with family and friends. When your wine becomes worth selling and you’re ready to kickstart your brand, you can start researching local laws and attempt to scale small productions from home. For those interested in a wine making business, proper sourcing of wine bottles for sale becomes a necessary component that affects brand presentation as well as cost.

Baking is another small business venture that is easy to get started. Many bakers begin with orders from family, friends, and co-workers. This could lead to selling at local farmers’ markets or coffee shops. Everyone loves a sweet treat every now and again so there will always be a customer base for well made baked goods.

Thrifting and flipping has become another popular small business idea over the last few years. You can build your inventory by shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales. If you are creative and crafty, you can buy secondhand items cheap, give them makeovers on a budget, and resell your one-of-a-kind goods for a profit. The startup costs are minimal as you begin building an inventory of upcycled goods. Just focus on the best deals you can find with the highest profit margins on resale. It may take some trial and error to find the types of items that sell best, but once that’s figured out, you can let your creativity flow freely and start earning money.

Advertising and Promotion

Social media helps but often local businesses thrive on word of mouth referrals and old school marketing like flyers at local coffee shops, recommendations from former customers, or just showing up where your services or products are needed. If you’re a dog walker, leave some business cards at the vet. If you’re a baker, bring samples to a local township meeting. If you do lawn care, mail flyers to your neighbors to spread the word.

However, keep in mind that many people are uncomfortable with self promotion. It can feel awkward and pushy asking someone if they would be interested in your service or products. But remember that many people do want to support small local businesses in their communities so it really isn’t as obnoxious as it might feel. The only way for your community and neighbors to know what you are offering is to tell them. If they need or want your help, they can take the next steps from there. But if they have no idea that you even offer a service or product, then they can’t support your business.

Word of mouth truly is the best marketing for local businesses. When someone has a great experience, they will tell other people. This is especially true regarding services in which trust and safety matter, like dog walking or pet sitting or anything that involves entering people’s homes.

Where to Source Materials

Sourcing materials depends on the nature of your business especially if it involves the sale of goods. If you’re a baker, you source your materials from grocery stores. Once your business starts growing, you may want to invest in memberships to restaurant supply stores and bulk sellers for cost effectiveness without compromising quality.

If you are going the thrifting and upcycling route, you would be sourcing your materials from thrift stores, yard and estate sales, and other online sale sites such as Facebook marketplace or storage unit auctions. Many small businesses like to support other small business by sourcing their needs locally. However, this can be a bit more expensive so many crafters end up ordering bulk up front via online resources while sourcing smaller components locally when available.

What Community Resources Are Available?

Small local business ventures are never done alone. The most successful local entrepreneurs utilize their families to support them and help get their businesses off the ground. Friends and neighbors are the first customers who will provide meaningful feedback without being too critical. If you continue to deliver a high quality product or service with a friendly and accommodating personality, your first customers will become life long patrons of your business.

Some family members might be more involved than others. You might employ your spouse to do the bookkeeping while you run the rest of the business. Your parents or friends may offer to babysit your kids if you are in the midst of a busy production. Your teens and their friends can help with your social media imprint or make deliveries. Running a small business doesn’t have to be formal or complicated, it just has to get done.

Growth at Your Own Pace

The biggest downfall for new entrepreneurs is thinking they can grow too quickly. Don’t quit your paying job immediately. Small businesses need to watch for demand and adjust their production accordingly. This will take time as the good word about your business spreads. This will also allow you the opportunity to grow your business organically and at a pace that you can keep up with.

If you are walking dogs or cleaning houses, don’t take on too many clients right away. You need to feel it out to see how much business you can accommodate and do it well. If you take on more clients than you can handle, the quality of your services or products will suffer and you will lose the business you are trying to build. Be patient and offer the best quality you can and success will follow.

In the end, being your own boss is worth all the extra work.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee