Have you decided to invest everything you've saved up in a successful business? What you need to do is find the right business idea for you. Unfortunately it's not always easy and sometimes the competition can be fierce in the city, that's why you need a guide that shows you today's best opportunities.
In this complete guide on how to open a business I'll list the most popular ideas of this year (for each one I'll explain how it works and how you can earn), I'll explain how opening a franchise business works, how to apply for loans and financing and finally, when it's convenient to open at abroad.
Idea
The period is not the best, that's true. Surely you are wondering which business to open in times of crisis, what are the more profitable and innovative companies that can make you money, even if you live in a small town. There are so many businesses that you can undertake, some with bigger investments, some with low cost and some even free, which could be your choice if you are out of money.
1. Drop Ship
No, don't be scared by the name. It's an activity whose functioning is really simple to understand: the dropshiper is the person who sells something, without physically owning it. Once the buyer receives the order, he simply turns it over to a seller who owns the asset. He therefore acts as an intermediary.
Example
You create an online store of baby party supplies. You don't have any stock of these items, but you've simply found various scattered online vendors selling everything you have on your site. Your site has added value compared to other online sellers, because it contains all the products of several sellers and therefore, over time, it could become a point of reference for users. Furthermore, you do not even harm the vendors you "supply" from, because you acquire them and the greater your online sales, the greater the profit for them too, since they are your suppliers, even if not directly.
2. Website or blog
Surely you've thought about it at least once in your life: who knows how much you would have liked to open a blog, where you can tell your passions! There's good news: starting a blog costs nothing and you can take care of writing the posts yourself. In fact, there are many online services that allow you to create your blog on your own and without having particular computer skills.
Suggestion: read how to start a blog and then how to make money with a cooking blog and how to make money with a fashion blog.
3. Do it yourself
They have always told you that you have "fairy hands", that you are a creative person and that you could sell your objects. The right time has come. in fact, thanks to the web, even if you live in a small country, you can address a national and even global market. The web offers you this great opportunity. Read how to sell your own creations on the internet to get clearer ideas on how to start a craft business.
4. Agricultural activities
If you love being outdoors and want to make your passion into a business, then now might be the right time. Among consumers, the taste of "organic" or "zero km" is becoming increasingly popular.
Typical examples of innovative and profitable activities in this sector are: beekeeping, cultivation of saffron, goji berries, hemp, bamboo, a zero km or organic orchard or vegetable garden. Read how to open a farm, both on a practical and bureaucratic level and find out the benefits you can take advantage of.
5. Boarding for animals
If you love animals, you can offer yourself as a pet sitter. You can place ads in pet stores, subway stations, schools, on the internet. If you have a house where you can host them, you can even make a guest house, where the owners will leave their friends for you while they are away, for vacation or work.
6. Home daycare
To open a family asylum, special requirements are needed which, at the moment in the absence of a single national legislation, are different from region to region. For example, in Lazio and Veneto it is necessary to attend a course recognized by the region and then an internship. In other Regions, a former master's diploma is required, which today is called socio-psychopedagogical high school, while in Puglia, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Tuscany, a degree in educational sciences is required.
7. Ludoteca
Always in the children's area (but not only), you can think of opening a playroom. At this link you will find all the information to open a playroom for children, adults or the elderly, the necessary requirements to start it, how much it costs and franchise opportunities.
8. Baby parking
If you like working with children but don't have a suitable educational qualification, you can opt for baby parking. These are activities that arise near strategic points, where parents leave their children "parked" for a certain period of time. Surely you have seen at least one of them in your life in shopping malls. To open one you need a high school diploma (any).
9. Wedding planner
He is a figure born years ago, but whose success is increasing lately. More and more brides-to-be decide not to stress before the wedding and to entrust all the management practices to a professional. Others, on the other hand, only want the advice of an expert person. So here's how to become a wedding planner, the courses to follow and how much you could earn with this profession.
10. Drone activity
It is a market that is still nascent, but which hides excellent potential for work and earnings. You can open a drone sales shop (physical or online, perhaps drop ship) or a rental shop. In fact, quality drones cost from 1.000 euros upwards, up to 10.000 euros and more. The future of this market is certainly in video shooting and surveillance.
11. Chef at home
If cooking is a great passion of yours, but you don't have the funds to open a restaurant, you can start as a home chef. Getting started is quite simple: you can sign up for one of the many sites that act as intermediaries between chefs like you and people looking for chefs instead. These include takeachef.com or chefbooking.com.
12. Shopping tour agency
They are often small agencies, managed by the owner alone, which offer tourist packages including many little-known destinations and therefore much more fascinating than the more famous ones. There are shopping tour companies that also accept franchise affiliation, useful if you want to start "accompanied" by a team of experts.
13. Nail saloon
Once upon a time it would have been difficult to think of a beauty center dedicated exclusively to nails. But time has shown the opposite. In small and large cities it is possible to see nail saloons with a good clientele. Strengthened by the latest fashion that more and more women decide to join.
14. Coin-operated self-service laundry
If someone told you one day that you would work all day in a laundry, you would not have believed it. Well now you can have a laundry without you being there. Self-service laundries are increasing more and more, especially in the northern areas, where in winter the laundry takes days and days to dry due to the lack of sun.
Still few have a dryer at home, so a self-service laundry, cheaper and faster than a traditional one, is certainly appreciated. In this case, however, to start a business of this type, you need a certain amount of money to invest: from 10.000 to 20.000 euros.
15. Soap shop
In an age where everyone has everything, finding a gift becomes increasingly difficult, especially when the budget available is not very high. Soap shops are those shops where only soap, liquid or solid, natural, very perfumed is sold. Much appreciated by anyone who receives it. It might be the job for you – start-up costs aren't high and you can start a franchise as well.
16. Home restaurant
If you like cooking and welcoming people, but you don't have the necessary funds to open a restaurant, you can open a "home restaurant" in your home, complete with seats and customers, obviously paying. A website that puts managers in touch with potential customers is gnammo.it. You can sign up, put your photos, those of your dishes and your biography. Those who wish can book a dinner at your home, prepared with your own hands.
17. Sandwich shop
Who knows how many times you've wanted to have lunch with a quick sandwich! And maybe nearby there was only one Russian restaurant and one for 50 euros per cover each. Opening a sandwich shop is much cheaper than you might think. a room is enough, no appliances are needed except a small oven, a toaster and a fridge for drinks. The rest are sandwiches at will, of all tastes and for all tastes.
18. Fruit shop
The new food trends are based on a healthy, natural diet that includes more and more fruit and vegetables. Fruit shops are expanding like wildfire throughout Italy and the success lies in a simple but effective concept: a relaxing place, plenty of fresh fruit and the ability to present it in an artistic and appetizing way.
19. Yogurt
A fresh and tasty snack and a seat: this is the offer of yogurt shops, whose customers range from the youngest age to the elderly who like to enjoy a moment of relaxation, tasting a product that often represents the success of those who sell it .
Fast food outlets that combine product authenticity, speed and affordable prices are increasingly in demand. Also in this case the investment is minimal: a small room, an excellent quality oven and some seats are enough.
The VAT number
When considering starting your own business, don't forget to consider costs and taxes. Unfortunately, Italy is not a particularly favorable country in this sense but, to start with, there are still some opportunities that not everyone knows about. For example, that of the flat-rate regime which, in the case of activities with earnings within a certain limit, provides for the payment of a single tax (substitute tax) instead of VAT and IRPEF. Below you will find everything you need to know about costs and taxes for the VAT number.
Franchising
Franchising is a great opportunity if you want to start a business, but you don't feel sure. The operation of the franchise is very simple: there is an important company (the parent company, called "franchisor") that sells its brand to another subject, the franchisee. The latter must open a shop with the same characteristics as that brand and must pay the parent company a share of the earnings for using the brand.
Furthermore, the franchise company, helps you choose the venue, furnishings, supplies. Throughout the life of your business you are accompanied by already expert personnel, who can support and direct you thanks to the know-how acquired and made available to you. Here you will find all the information on how the franchise works.
Loans and financing
If you don't have the money to start your business, you can apply for a loan. There are various possibilities:
- Classic loan. Some banks, also by virtue of particular state conventions, offer loans at subsidized rates to new entrepreneurs, but also to those who want to take over already started businesses.
Worldwide
Opening a business abroad is a dream that more and more people cultivate. The typical choice of overseas Italians often falls on restaurants. On the other hand, Italian cuisine is among the most popular in the world and a place, if managed well and with quality raw materials, represents an almost guaranteed success, when the right position and collaborators are chosen.
To open an Italian restaurant though, some investment is required, ranging from 15.000 euros upwards. However, there are countries where the prices, even of premises, equipment and machinery, are lower and therefore the cost can even drop to 10.000, 5.000 euros. For example in Bali, Mauritius, India, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Zanzibar.
Among the most popular destinations for Italians, especially Switzerland, Malta, Tenerife, Formentera, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Malaga, but also cities like New York and Las Vegas, for those starting out with a nice nest egg to invest. The choice of the former, on the other hand, is often dictated by fiscal reasons, but also by the scenic beauty, which allows you to combine a quiet life in contact with nature and an activity that represents a passion for every Italian.
Therefore, before venturing abroad, try to get to know the place, the culture and above all the tax system with specific trips. It is of paramount importance to know what are the taxes to pay and the concessions provided. In fact, the latter can have a great impact even on high taxation. A typical example is that of Malta, where a 35% tax is applied to companies but, if the company is owned by a foreigner, he is entitled to a 30% refund. for which, on balance, the taxation drops to a meager 5%.
