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self employment ideas

40 Self-employment Ideas for Financial Freedom

What does financial freedom mean to you?

Financial freedom, in a nutshell, means being in control of your finances and having a reliable income.

Did you know that you can be financially free just by being self-employed? Yes, financial freedom doesn’t always equal having a traditional job. In fact, you can start your own business and do one of these self-employed jobs.

Self-employment has its ups and downs, so you must choose the right business to start. If you need ideas on what type of business can put you on the path to financial freedom, keep reading.

This article will provide over 20 business ideas for you to choose from.

So, let’s get right to it.

Personal Training

Are you a fitness enthusiast passionate about training others to become better versions of themselves? This might be a good business idea for you because it never works if it’s something you love, right?

Personal training involves creating tailored workout and meal plans for your clients—meaning you need some education to do this well. Our personal training courses will provide you with all you need to start your personal training career.

Once you have the right certifications, you can be well on making this a business that can make you financially free.

Blogging

If you love writing and have different topics you are passionate about, consider starting your blog. For one, it is less demanding than starting a freelance writing business, and you can write about topics you like. You can make money from blogging through advertising, affiliate partnership, product sales, and sponsorship.

Besides, blogging doesn’t require much capital from you as there are ready-made blogging platforms like Medium, Substack, and WordPress, except if you want to develop your website.

Social Media Management

Social media management is constantly in demand, as we live in a digital world where businesses need social media to survive. If you understand how social media works and love being online, you can offer your services to businesses that need them. You do not have to do full-time social media management, as there is always the option of social media consulting. With consulting, you will tell the businesses what is wrong with their social media strategy and offer solutions.

Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is the way to go if you are ready to offer your writing skills to different businesses in exchange for money. Here, you can commit to more than one company and work for several of them simultaneously.

There are different freelance marketplaces available, like Fiverr, Upwork, and freelancer, that you can use to get freelance writing jobs. Also, you need to have a portfolio of your work available to make it easy for new clients to see your skills at play.

Virtual Assistance

Virtual assistance involves doing different administrative tasks from the comfort of your home; you only need a computer, phone, and internet connection to get started.

Depending on your chosen business model, you can work fully for one company or multiple, ensuring that you work all the hours needed.

Resume Writing

Job seekers are always searching for resume writing services, so this is a business opportunity that you should tap into if you know how to write a good resume. All you need to know to do this is how to write and the templates for different industries.

Besides, because this is a valuable and in-demand service, there will always be a supply of work.

Freelance Graphic Designer

Are you skilled at graphic design and do not want to work full-time at a single company? Or do you have a full-time graphic design job but want to venture into freelancing?

If yes, this may be the right business idea for you. You must create a portfolio of your work and apply for freelance opportunities on different platforms.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to get money while doing something you love, but it is only successful if you already have an audience. Do you have consistent blog readers or website visitors?

If yes, you should consider affiliate marketing as an extra income source. All you have to do is add your affiliate link to your blog, video, or social media post, and anytime someone uses your link, you get a commission.

Life Coaching

Do you have experience with successfully moving through personal and career changes? If yes, you should consider becoming a life or career coach, as many people need guidance. Since life coaches are not cheap, this business can be a way for you to attain financial freedom.

All you have to do is to train and get certified, and you are ready to help clients become their best selves. Besides, you can be a coach in different areas like organization, career, relationship, weight loss, happiness, and others.

Create and Sell Online Courses

The e-learning industry is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2027, a continuously growing industry. Do you know about a topic that you want to share?

Consider creating an online course, as an audience is available for every type of content. You can also utilize established platforms like Skillshare to get your online courses to the right audience. However, you must ensure that you offer excellent content, especially if you want a steady income.

Tutoring

There is a constant demand for tutors spanning a wide range of subjects. So, if you excel in a particular subject, you should consider tutoring others. Additionally, you can tutor physically or virtually, depending on your business model.

Pilates Instructor

Do you have a passion for Pilates? If yes, you should consider becoming an instructor. However, you must become an instructor after a while; you must become certified before you can train others. Our Pilates instructor courses will provide you with level 3 and level 4 certifications that will make you stand out and enable you to offer your clients the best service.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is one business idea that requires minimal capital but yields profit. With this business, you do not have to store any stock.

All you have to do is create a storefront for products, and when customers order from you, you send the order to the manufacturer or wholesaler, who will then send the product to the customer. This means you will only spend money on getting your eCommerce store up and running.

Consulting

Businesses in different fields need consultants, so you should consider this idea if you have specialized knowledge. For example, if you have successfully run businesses, you can become a business consultant and help businesses grow and avoid mistakes.

Eldercare

There is a shortage of care workers for the elderly, making this an opportunity you can take advantage of.

However, you must like caring for people because eldercare requires patience and commitment. There is another eldercare adjacent business that you can consider, seniors companion. Here, you will be in charge of keeping the elderly company and ensuring they have all they need.

Photography

If you love photography and have a key eye for detail, you should consider starting a photography business. You can choose any type of photography that you want to do, from portraits to events, nature, etc. However, to get clients, you need to build your portfolio and ask for referrals. Additionally, investing in photography courses will enable you to be ahead of your peers while offering a unique service.

Event Coordinating

Do you love planning events? Can you handle high-stress situations? If yes, event coordination may just be the right business for you. You will ensure that events, like weddings, company parties, social gatherings, etc., go off with little to no hitches. So, if you can manage people successfully, you should consider going down this route. Also, you can build your client base through referrals and reviews.

Useful resource: 20+ fitness events in the UK

Childcare

Childcare, like eldercare, is always in demand, as parents want to ensure that their children are in the right hands. So, you can decide to run a daycare, babysitting businesses, or care for individual babies – you can choose any model that appeals to you. However, you must ensure that you follow all the local rules and regulations concerning childcare businesses. This way, you avoid running into any issues in the long run.

Editing and Proofreading

If you have a keen eye for detail and do not want to become a full-fledged writer, you can look into editing and proofreading. Here, you will be tasked with ensuring that content of all types is readable and error-free. You can do this business as a freelancer; all you have to do is apply via platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Additionally, you need a portfolio to show prospective clients you know what you are doing.

Web Development

Web development is in high demand, so you should consider a web development business if you have the skills. Web development involves developing and designing websites for businesses in different industries. You can use different channels like referrals, social media, and communities to get the word out about your business.

But, as stated earlier, it is in demand, meaning that if you have the right skills, there will be no shortage of jobs. If you do not have coding skills, you can also learn them and increase your earning potential

E-commerce

If you have goods that you want to sell, you should consider running an e-commerce business, like, for example, this e-commerce shop selling steering wheels.

You do not have to develop your eCommerce store from scratch as there are platforms available like Shopify, Amazon, and eBay, ensuring that you reduce your overhead cost. You can purchase products in high demand in bulk and sell them in retail on your eCommerce store.

Besides, this is a good way to keep money coming in and get yourself on the road to financial freedom.

Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is a good business venture that you can choose. All you need is to get trained and certified in the massage type of your choice, and you are good to go. With the high-stress levels people experience daily, the demand for massage therapists is constant. You can use this demand to grow your business, ensuring you have customers all year round.

Besides, our massage therapy course will give you all you need to start your new business.

Travel Consulting

If you are a seasoned traveller and know ways people can travel with minimal stress, you should consider starting a travel consulting business. Here, you can offer your clients the best deals on plane tickets and hotel bookings, ensuring they get to their destination with minimal hitches.

You can even go as far as creating an itinerary for your client’s entire trip, making sure they have the best time on their trip. Besides, people are always looking for certified ways to enjoy new countries, so you can tap into that and offer, for example, exciting routes for walking holidays in Italy. So that people who climb the mountain can see the best natural wonders of this country.

Dog Training/ Groomer

The pet industry is very successful, meaning that any pet-related business has the odds in their favour. Do training is a business venture to consider if you have the skills to train dogs to be better. Family pets are always in need of rain, meaning that your business will always be in demand. You can choose different training models – you can offer office, home, or online dog training services, enabling your clients to have the flexibility of choice.

Another pet-related business that you can do is grooming. You will be in charge of bathing and offering basic grooming to the pets.

Short-term Leasing

If you have a building or a vacant room, rather than leaving it vacant, you can lease it for short periods. To ensure you are always in demand, you must provide your clients with the best service. This way, you will have income from your short-term leases all year round. Besides, you can use Airbnb or social media platforms to list your space for lease.

You can also use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to advertise your space.

Personal Shopping

If you love shopping, you should consider becoming a personal shopper. You can help people shop for everything from clothes to shoes, jewellery, and even groceries. This is a business idea that requires minimal skills and has a low barrier to entry.

Makeup Artist

If you know how to do makeup, starting a makeup artist service is very simple. You can also train to become a makeup artist, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the skill. Depending on your level of training, you can charge higher. Plus, people need professional makeup artists all year round, meaning you will always have work.

Bookkeeping

If you have a background in finance or accounting, you can decide to open a local bookkeeping business where you can help other local businesses. You can also expand as your business grows. Also, you do not need certifications to start a bookkeeping business, but accounting knowledge is important.

Selling Digital Products

If you have any skill set or knowledge, you can make money by monetizing it. Some digital products you can sell include digital artworks, eBooks, printables, online courses, and others. If you already have a website or a blog, including digital products is a good way to increase traffic to your site.

Personal Chef

If you love cooking but a catering business is too challenging, you can consider becoming a personal chef. All you have to do is ensure that your clients have meals available in their homes, and you do not have to make it at their houses except specified. Besides, you can be a personal chef to multiple clients.

Interior Decorating

Only a few people know how to decorate the interiors of a building successfully. So, starting a commercial interior design service business should be your next step if you are one of these people. You can start with small interior décor ideas and volunteer your service to build your portfolio. Besides, sharing your process from start to finish on social media can also help grow your business.

Cleaning Business

Cleaning as a business has a low barrier to entry. So, if you like cleaning, you should consider starting a cleaning service. You can start doing free or low-cost cleanings to get the word out about your business and grow your portfolio. Additionally, you can choose to be a commercial or residential cleaner– but you need to know that you may need to have a team for the former.

Catering Business

Do you love cooking for a large number of people? If yes, a catering business might be right up your alley. However, you need to check with the local rules and regulations before starting to ensure you understand all that it entails, especially if it starts as home-based. You do not need to know how to cook all types of food, as you can just have a signature dish that keeps your phone lines buzzing daily.

Grant Writing

If you know how to write grants successfully, this is a special skill that most organizations need. You can offer your services to non-profit organizations and other businesses to help them write proposals to apply for different grants. Plus, you can find grant writing jobs on freelance websites.

App Development

If you have the skills and expertise needed to develop apps, you can offer your services as a freelancer instead of getting full-time employment. Every day, more companies are churning out apps for their services, so you can take advantage of this demand. You will be responsible for developing the app features and updating them when necessary.

Besides, you can get app development jobs in different ways, but if you are a beginner, you can use freelance websites. The total app development cost UK might vary from £65,000 to £400,000, giving freelancers the opportunity to offer varying costs for their services.

Logo Design

As a graphic designer, if you are not interested in big projects or want to take smaller gigs, you can delve into logo design. All companies need logos, whether it’s new or redesigned logos – meaning this skill is constantly in demand. However, you need a portfolio to showcase your skills to potential clients. Also, you can apply directly for log design jobs or use freelance websites to get freelance logo design gigs. Alternatively, referrals and reviews also help to build your customer base.

Crafts Seller

Are you crafty and know how to make things like candles, homemade soaps, footwear, knitted clothes, pottery, etc.? If yes, you can turn this hobby into a lucrative business. You can either sell your craft items on social media sites and marketplaces like Instagram and Facebook Marketplace or use sites like Etsy that already have an audience for your niche. You should stick to a particular niche and find your audience before expanding, but it all comes down to what you want.

Videography

Videography is a very lucrative business that involves time and dedication. This business idea is in demand, as businesses in different industries need videos to advertise their products and services. You can take advantage of this opportunity and train to become an excellent videographer, enabling you to set your prices high. There are different types of videographers, so you need to figure out the type you want to be.

Do you like weddings? You can be a wedding videographer. If you like nature, there’s nature videography. Additionally, there is also videography that involves in-studio interviews and social media video content.

Project Management

Not many businesses can afford to hire full-time project managers. So, you can take advantage of this opportunity and provide freelance project management services to companies that need it. This is the right business for you if you have the skills and expertise needed to manage multiple businesses. You can work in all industries to ensure their projects are up to par, on budget, and completely on time.

Translation

Can you speak and write in more than one language? If yes, you can consider offering translation services to companies as many need to reach more demographics in other companies. You can offer website translation, as this growing field is currently in demand. You can get translation jobs from job sites like LinkedIn or freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, freelance, and Upwork.