8 businesses you can launch for $5,000 or less

8 businesses you can launch for $5,000 or less8 businesses you can launch for $5,000 or lessEvery tax season, Americans (hopefully) enjoy refunds and ponder what to do with the newly acquired stash of cash. Typicaladvice for spending a refundincludes paying down high-interest debt, building an emergency fund or investing in your future. And all of these ideas are definitely worthwhile. However, have you considered taking your tax refund to the next level by using it to fund your own side hustle?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIf you want to create a future for yourself that doesnt involve reporting to someone else or living from paycheck to paycheck, taking the entrepreneurial plunge might be the right decision for you. Looking for business ideas you can start for $5,000 or less? Easy peasy Here are eight small business opportunities just waiting to be launched.1. ConsultantIf y ou have an area of expertise you especially love to spend time thinking about, consulting can be a lucrative business choice. Consumers often seek out the help of experts when theyre making changes in home design or organization (think efficiency), building gardens, investing in green living or augmenting home security. Businesses often seek a pro to help them out with accounting and payroll, marketing, public relationsandhuman resource issues.A beneficial aspect of consulting is the fact that you can easily work from home or on the go. To get started, establish a website, invest in some marketing and get networking. Whatever skill you possess, consulting is one area where you can put it to work. Since there is little overhead involved, you can easily get going for under $5,000.2. Virtual AssistantVirtual assistants are a high-in-demand service. According to FlexJobs, this remote workfield is growingby leaps and bounds. Many businesses turn to virtual assistants to manage administra tive tasks that waste time better spent capitalizing on core competencies. If youve got a knack for detail, plusstrong written and verbal communication skills, this might be a good business for you. You need computer and communication equipment, along with any other specialized supplies required by the companies you work for - easily attainable with a tax return of $5,000 or less.3. Freelance ServicesIf youve got writing, editing, photography, video, programming or graphic design skills, you canmarket and sell your talentsto various types of organizations. Many companies need content for their blogs and websites. For instance, you can write articles, edit websites, develop web pages, create stock photo content, design infographics and more. Starting this type of service wont cost you much you need a laptop, a reliable internet connection and dedicated time to put together a portfolio before you start marketing your services.Pro Tip Websites likeFiverrhelp you sell your freelance se rvices and increase your client list.4. Jewelry DesignDo you have an eye for details in fashion and accessories? Are you creative and do you enjoy working with your hands? If so, consider designing your own jewelry. Once you get a few ideas put together, secure the intellectual property rights to your designs before you deutsche post dhl them online to see if your creations generate any interest. All you need is a website (you can even open a shop on Etsy) and invest in some advertising and social media marketing (hello, Pinterest and Instagram). If you need space, you can alwaysrent a storage unitto hold your inventory and bulk supplies. A tax return can generally cover these initial costs.5. Cooking ClassesAre you a master in the kitchen and think you might like to share your skills with others? Consider turning your love for cooking into a business. You can share your culinary talents with kids, adults or both. You just need to secure a space and supplies and then get thenecessar y certificationand insurance - all of whichcan be donewith a budget of $5,000.6. LandscapingIf you love the outdoors, landscaping is the perfect self-startup business opportunity. Initially, you need some small equipment, gardening toolsanda good word-of-mouth network. Buying a truck might be over your $5,000 budget, but you can rent any necessary equipment until your business is profitable enough to afford your own. Just be sure that yourelicensed to operate any heavy equipmentyou rent and/or use.7. BartendingIf you love people and spending time in festive atmospheres, bartending is a good entrepreneurial option. Often times, people throwing parties either dont know how to make drinks themselves or dont have the time. Event planners also often enlist the help of good bartenders to help their events run smoothly. To become credible, you need to take a reputable bartending course,gestalt a legal entityand obtain the necessarypermits and licensing. You also need to build some invento ry and gather supplies, but these costs together should come in under $5,000.8. Cleaning ServicesA cleaning service is one business that will never go out of style, especially with so many two-income households juggling busy kids schedules on a never-ending quest to find enough time to do it all. In that kind of chaos, a clean house is a godsend. To get started, you need cleaning supplies, any required state or local licenses and a good website for marketing your services. To further helpget your cleaning business off the ground, see if you can barter with other small businesses in exchange for startup items you need (like offer to clean a print shop in exchange for flyers).As you ponder your numerous small or home business opportunities, calculate your tax refund to see what kind of startup capital you can work with initially. Once you figure this number out, you can move forward. The good nachrichtensendung For anyone whos always wanted to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, now is a n ideal time to get started. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provided a number ofbenefits for small businessesin terms of expanded tax deductions and other startup-friendly provisions.If youve ever wanted to be your own boss, your opportunities are endless. Why not take that tax refund and invest in your future?This article first appeared on Swirled.