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Guest post by: Teresa Bohannon Become an Author

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If you think that you cannot afford to start your own business—think again. You can do so if you are willing to work. I know because I did it myself when I suddenly lost my job about fourteen ago, and you can do it too.

This list of businesses, and similar ones that it will probably bring to mind for you, given your own background and experience, can be started by almost anyone and with almost no money at all.

Will you get rich overnight? Almost surely not; but with these virtually cost-free ideas, anyone, man or woman should be able to quickly and easily start their own business, become their own boss and support themselves and their family at least as well as you could on unemployment, welfare, or some minimum wage job that you were forced to take out of desperation. Beyond that point, it is your business and therefore any degree of success or failure will be entirely in your hands.

Service Businesses Are HOT! HOT! HOT!

Here are some more examples of businesses that require little or no money up front:


Babysitting (See Also Sitter Companion Service For The Elderly And Disabled and Children's Taxi)

This one seems obvious, though most people tend to take it for granted and quickly dismiss it as a job for teenagers. Babysitting may be actually be one of the world's most perfect businesses since you are probably never going to run out of clients who need to work or play and need a trusted sitter to watch the kids.

You can baby-sit in your home or the home of the children in which you are babysitting. The choice is really up to you. If you are thinking of babysitting children from more then one family at the same time, then you will definitely be required to baby-sit in your own home or location, otherwise on location babysitting may be preferred by your clients.

Some babysitters offer to provide meals, while other require the parent to supply a lunch. It is really up to you.

Did you know that the Federal Government actually has a program that will help you plan menus “and” reimburse you for the meals you feed the children in your small home-based daycare? Well they do, and all you have to do is contact your local Department of Human Services and ask about signing up on the Child Care Food Program.

You will want to provide some type of stimulation for the children you baby-sit. The last thing any responsible parents wants is their babysitter to allow their children to sit in front of the television the whole time they are with you. Try to make whatever you do as active and education as possible.

When you begin advertising your business, you will want to focus on places where parents and children are likely to be found. Many schools, churches and communities, have bulletin boards where you would be able to place one page fliers, or even brochures. You may also considering placing an ad in the local paper or on your local free classified ads website, or a specialized website that allows parents to search for potential babysitters.


Pet Sitting or Walking or Grooming

Like babysitting, pet sitting is often overlooked. Many pet-lovers think of their beloved pets as their children and they would not dream of leaving them home alone while they are at work, or when they want or need to go out of town.

Some pet sitters only sit when the client is away for long periods of time, or go on vacation. Others pet sit on a daily basis while their client is at work. Still others only have to visit the pet once or twice during the day to walk them and let the our to use the bathroom.

It is important to remember that even the nicest pet can become upset and mean in the presence of other animals. Make sure that if you decide to take on more then one family's pet at a time that the all the families involved know in advance, and that their pets get along.


Pet Poop Removal

Another business that complements pet sitting, is pet poop removal. Animals that go outside to defecate leave behind a grass killing, unsanitary mess where children should not be allowed to freely play. Many suburbanites do not have the time or inclination to clean up after their pets so in many areas pet poop removal on a regular basis is a thriving business.

Advertise these businesses at your local pet store, vet, or along a dog walking path. You may also want to consider placing an ad in the local paper as well and on your local free classified ads online or real-world bulletin board.

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It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one’s dignity, to work unhampered, to
be generous, frank and independent.
– W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965) Of Human Bondage, 1915

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