Alternative Business Ideas

The internet has opened up the whole world to us, increasing both our communication and our knowledge of how people are making money a little differently. You might be toying with the idea of working for yourself. If you’re feeling trapped with the nine to five, and are looking for an escape, find freedom to live on your own terms. Are you self-sufficient – you don’t need validation for the good work you do and time that you put in – but, instead, you can motivate yourself to find new resources and upskill to meet the demands of your workplace? These attributes are all excellent signs that working for yourself might be the right step for you. Make today your day of action, not tomorrow.

But it can be difficult to know where to start. What sort of possibilities are there for someone who wants to work for themselves? Below, we’ve gathered some suggestions that just might springboard you into the world of freelancing. Just make sure you do your research and do everything above board when you’re setting up.

Property Magnate

You do need capital upfront to start this one off. But there are definitely ways and means you can get round the financial side of things (talk to your bank, get an accountant), if this is what you want to do. We’ve all seen ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ and, if you’re great at seeing the potential in old or disused buildings and love getting your hands dirty, this could be the ideal job for you. Every day is different and, with housing prices rocketing, we should be looking to revitalise the existing buildings we have rather than letting them go to waste, as well as build new ones. If this is ticking all the right boxes for you, then have a look for some property auctioneers and start putting together a plan.

Tutoring

With our overworked and underpaid teachers, more and more people who would be exceptional at the teaching side of the job are veering away from it because of the long hours and poor pay. However, if you have the calling but working in a school isn’t for you, then it’s worth having a look at tutoring. You can make on average between £30 and £40 per hour (although a little planning is required). The only start up you need is a car, if you live in a smaller city or town as many of your potential pupils will live in places outside good transport links, and a printer. Look at tutoring sites and set up a profile to get you started.

Virtual Assistant

More and more people realise that they can get better administrative skills by opening the field and hiring someone virtually. If you have an administration background and want to work from anywhere, then this might be a great option for you. Without the office environment, you’ll need strong problem-solving skills as well as the ability to think on your feet and take the initiative. Have a look at sites like Virtalent to get started.

Personal Trainer

If you love fitness and your pals are always trying to collar you into joining them for a workout, then this might be your calling. If you enjoy helping people reach their fitness goals and stay motivated towards living happy and healthy lives, then this could be for you. Starting out, it’s best to go through a gym. Some gyms offer personal trainer programmes where you don’t pay your training fees back until you start working – ideal if you don’t have the upfront fees to take on course fees.

Writer

If you have strong writing and research skills, then the internet has opened up pathways into becoming a professional writer that didn’t even exist ten years ago. There are two avenues you could pursue if you want to make money from your writing. You can quickly earn a living as a freelancer through ghostwriting ebooks, writing advertising copy, websites and blogs and marketing emails. A few simple searches will reveal a whole world of jobs that you might not have known existed. However, if you’d rather write in your own voice and style, then how about setting up a blog yourself? You make your income through advertising revenue and there are simple ways you can monetise your blog. Have a look into the competition and make sure what you’re saying is unique – or at least a unique take on something – and get typing!