Business.com lists 20 low-cost business ideas you can start under $1,000
Starting a new business does not always take thousands of dollars.
The short version
- A computer and an internet connection are often all you need.
- Business.com shares 20 home-based ideas under $1,000.
- Options range from online tutoring to virtual assistant services and content creation.
Starting a business on a budget has never been more accessible. Business.com, which is an online publisher that provides guides and resources for business owners, published a guide detailing 20 home-based business ideas you can start for under $1,000. Many of today’s most practical ideas require little more than a computer, an internet connection, and skills you already have.
Melissa Schneider, an executive and leadership coach at Melissa Schneider Leadership Coaching & Development, shared the example of a chef in Nashville, Tennessee, who lost his job and used his love of cooking to start online cooking classes with minimal startup costs.
The list highlights options like content creation, bookkeeping, tutoring, social media marketing, and virtual assistant work. Global digital advertising spending is forecast to top $950 billion in 2026, driving demand for skilled online creators. Meanwhile, the global private tutoring market was valued at $66.96 billion in 2025 by Fortune Business Insights, and is projected to reach $160.50 billion by 2034.
The global influencer marketing industry is also projected to surpass $31 billion by 2027, according to Statista. Whether you want to replace a full-time income or bring in extra cash on the side, these low-cost businesses let you work from home without a commercial lease. You do not need a massive bank loan to test a new idea.
