Living in Canada doesn’t mean you have to work for someone else in order to make money. In fact, there are plenty of successful entrepreneurs who started their own business without ever having to be an employee. If you have the drive and ambition to start your own business, these seven ideas will help you get started.
1) Handyman/Handywoman Services
You may not have the skills or the funds to start your own company, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be your own boss. If you’re good with your hands and want to do some work on the side, consider getting a small toolbox and starting up as a handyman/woman. Check out sites like Kijiji for jobs in your area that need doing.
You can go even bigger and do handyman/woman services to larger companies in your area. These jobs may be harder to find, but if you have a good reputation for quality work you’ll eventually find more work than you can handle. Just make sure you always show up on time and offer an efficient service; nothing will make potential clients run away faster than turning up late or doing a subpar job. A handyman/woman should always carry basic hand tools, such as screwdrivers, wrenches, hammers and measuring tape. You should also carry rope, cloths and cleaning products if they’re part of your service offerings.
2) Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is a great option for people who want to make money from home but don’t want to work for someone else. Freelance writers can work on their own schedule and are often paid by the word, making it possible to earn good money without having to put in a lot of time. One downside is that freelance writing isn’t always steady work; sometimes the market will be slow and freelance writers may struggle financially. However, it can be a great option for people who are looking to work at their own pace and earn some extra income while they do so.
3) Personal Shopping
Personal shopping is a business idea that you can start with very little investment and make good money. This is a business that’s proven to be profitable for many people. It’s well suited for those who are naturally outgoing, love meeting new people, and don’t mind working long hours. You might even get the chance to travel a bit. Here are some other advantages of this type of business:
- It’s easy to do while raising kids or caring for elderly parents.
- You’ll never work on weekends or holidays.
- You can get started with only a little bit of startup capital.
Personal shopping is one of those industries where you can make an excellent living without having to cough up big dollars for inventory. While some clothing stores need a lot of money for goods in stock, personal shoppers work with what people are already buying from them. Plus, you’ll earn commission on anything that is sold.
4) Home Cleaning Services
A home cleaning service is one of the most profitable business ideas for Canadians. This type of business allows you to work at your own pace and enjoy the rewards of your hard work. There’s no need to worry about marketing or advertising because it’s all done for you! You’ll be provided with all the supplies necessary, including eco-friendly products, so all you have to do is put in the hours and get paid.
5) Virtual Assistant Services
If you’re looking for a business idea that can be done from home and requires little to no startup capital, consider starting your own virtual assistant service. Most businesses have enough work that doesn’t require their full attention but still needs to get done. Some examples of the types of services you could provide are:
- Researching and compiling information for a blog post or other project
- Creating sales funnels for a business or managing and maintaining their current website.
Some businesses even need assistance with back-end tasks like updating websites, performing data entry, and social media management. If you have excellent communication skills, strong problem solving abilities and basic computer skills, virtual assistant services can be a great idea. Since there are many parts to running a successful VA service, you might want to consider hiring a VA assistant of your own to assist you with these tasks!
6) Social Media Consultant
One of the most profitable business ideas for Canadian entrepreneurs is starting a social media consultant company. With how much time people spend on their phones these days, it’s no wonder that social media platforms have become such a huge part of our lives. In Canada, there are thousands of potential customers just waiting to get in contact with you. All you need to do is start building your customer base by connecting with them on Twitter or through Google ads and soon enough, you’ll be off to the races.
Here are a few great social media platforms to get your business started: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. You should also consider setting up a website where you can store all of your contacts and lead information if you want to keep things tidy.
7) Event Planning
Event planning is a business that is always in demand. From weddings to corporate events, there is always a need for event planners. Event planners work with clients to manage their budgets, create timelines, find venues and vendors and more. Event planners also do the actual day-of work which includes setting up tables and chairs, making sure everything runs smoothly on the day of the event and breaking down afterward.
Since event planning is in high demand, you have plenty of options when it comes to location. This can mean setting up shop anywhere from a large city, to a small town and anywhere in between.