Today, February 18, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the second reading the draft...
In a financial crisis, when the number of jobs is declining, but at the same time the consumer and service sectors remain in demand, ideas or even businesses from scratch occupy the minds of ordinary citizens.
The desire to find opportunities for additional income is an important reason for searching for activities without capital investments. The benefit of such a business can be considered a minimal amount of risks, and if a person believes that he is strong in some area, then this will serve as an additional guarantee of the success of the new endeavor.
Business from scratch - does it happen?
No, such a business does not exist. In any case, you will have to invest:
- Education.
- If there is no education, time.
- And, in any case, great enthusiasm.
There is a point of view that all the proposed ideas for beginners are not a business, but a craft. But there are no other options with a zero start. If there is no money for hired workers, you have to be your own hired worker. And only with the growth of your business, your own skills, abilities and income, will it be possible to delegate some of your functions to someone else. Moreover, very often even “grown” small-scale businessmen are forced to create an adequate replacement for themselves over the years. This is the specificity of small business. Small business is a way of life. To dream that in a couple of years the gears will turn without any of your participation is at least naive.
This material contains proven ideas in which you can still find your niche. Think about what your highlight is among the masses of the same, and go ahead. Each of these ideas fits perfectly into the “low start” requirements.
Types of businesses you can start without large investments
We will present at least 100 ideas that allow... There is no clear division into separate groups, but for a better understanding of the field in which you can go, we will accept a conditional classification by type:
Services
Automotive business ideas
The best ideas in the car business include the following:
Earn money online
For women
Video review
This article from To Biz looks at the newest ideas of 2017, and the authors argue that these ideas are indeed promising, work, but have not yet become too competitive.
Production
The production sector includes a large number of different ideas, but you should be prepared that a certain amount of start-up capital will be required.
Creative ideas
Some business ideas may be initially focused on achieving results, since they are distinguished by creativity and unusualness.
Home business
You can also find ways to earn money while sitting at home. Most home ideas are related to the hand-made industry.
Ideas for 2017
Every year new types of business appear, designed to generate, albeit small, income and capable of meeting the needs of society.
Ideas in crisis
In the wake of the crisis, you should choose ideas for business in areas that remain in demand even when opportunities for potential clients are scarce.
Ideas for business in Moscow
It is difficult to surprise the metropolitan public, and the market is so saturated that ideas are required that are either not yet very developed or have competitive advantages.
Some examples of investments and payback periods for a business idea
The main thing that will concern everyone who decides to open their own business is the amount of investment and the payback period of the project.
| Business idea | Investment amount | Skills | Payback period |
| Tutoring | ——— | Knowledge in a specific field, diploma | Depending on the number of students |
| Vending massage | 1 chair 35 thousand rubles | Not required | 1 person - 100 rubles, per day throughput 10 people = 1000 rubles. 30 thousand per month. Payback in three months |
| Mafia game or similar | Renting premises and organizing advertising (approximately 30,000) | Not required | Income per month 28,000, payback two months |
| Sewing clothes for pets | Buying fabric, 1 meter = 300-500 rubles | Sewing skills | One ready-made suit costs from 1500 to 2000. Payback period is a month |
| Home beauty salon | 30,000 rubles | Knowledge of hairdressing | 4-5 months |
Opening your own business with minimal investment is real. The most important thing at the initial stage is to monitor the market situation, identify a niche area and draw up a business plan. Next you will need only perseverance and desire to make a profit. You should not expect that the money will flow like a river; in the first months you will have to work hard.
Do you live in a small village or town and have a commercial background?
At the same time, you think what can you open in a small town?
Then the article is written for you.
Of course, there will be fewer potential buyers, but the costs of opening a project will also decrease (compared to a metropolis).
Competition in small towns and villages is usually low.
A small town is a populated area with a population of 50,000-100,000 people.
There are more than 80% of such towns, cities and villages in Russia.
Experts believe that opening a business in such towns is more profitable than in megacities.
What to open in a small town: taking into account the pros and cons
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of the idea of opening a business in a small town:
| pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
| Lower capital investments than in a metropolis: lower rental costs, lower advertising costs. | Low purchasing power reduces profits. |
| Lower employee salaries. | It is difficult to select qualified specialists. |
| Word of mouth will reduce advertising costs. | Word of mouth can quickly destroy a reputation if it gets screwed up. A personal negative reputation can also affect a business. |
| Cheap local raw materials. | Expensive imported raw materials. |
| There is less competition: it is easier to open something that is not yet available in the locality. | There is higher competition for the main, traditional groups of goods. |
| When competition is low, the demand for goods and services is higher. | Fewer buyers means less profit. |
| Starting a business has fewer obstacles than in a metropolis. There are preferential programs. | A narrower choice of business ideas due to conservative tastes. It is better to refuse exotic ideas. |
Let's analyze the table and try to decide on the choice of case:
Are there not many entrepreneurs in the city selling basic consumer goods (food, clothing, shoes)?
Choose this particular line of business.
Basic goods should be understood as products that you cannot do without in everyday life.
There is always a demand for it.
Occupying this niche means ensuring your success.
Let's say the niche of traditional goods and services is relatively occupied.
Then you need to determine what there is demand for, but what competitors do not yet have.
You can offer these products to your fellow countrymen, simultaneously expanding the range of consumer goods.
The highest profits can come from organizing a small plant or production using local raw materials.
But you should immediately take into account one very important point characteristic of.
The main end consumer is not city residents.
Such an undertaking will bring profit when producing large quantities of products aimed at delivery to regions.
This is the most capital-intensive type of business in a small town.
Options for starting your own business in a small town
You are not the first to think about the question of what to open in a small town .Let's look at various projects that have already been successfully implemented more than once in different localities of Russia.
Maybe one of these business options will appeal to you and will suit the area.
Its business in food and agriculture
“A man who is lucky is a man who has done what others were only about to do.”
Jules Renard
Therefore, selling food is an eternal business.
If you are located near a major city, you can arrange deliveries there.
Sell the surplus products in your village.
What kind of business can you do?
- Engage in milk processing (cottage cheese, cheese, cream are in demand).
Prepare pickles, marinades, preserve vegetables, fruits and berries.
They are sold to factories, cafes, and restaurants.
Open a small cheese making shop.
A business in a small town can easily be positioned as an eco-economy.
And this topic is popular now.
Semi-finished products are also in demand today due to the total employment of people in large cities.
Good quality minced meat, dumplings, pasties, pancakes, dumplings, meatballs, meatballs, cutlets, dough is the key to your income.
Take up baking bread and baked goods.
The service will definitely be in demand.
Grandmothers now are not what they used to be: working and not in a hurry to burden themselves with grandchildren, knitting and staying at home.
A young mother often has no one to entrust with looking after her child.
Service station with driving school services.
This endeavor can be combined with a store selling auto parts and car resale services.
Photo salon.
Business can be combined with organizing the design and holding of special events (video and photography, production of booklets, photo books, portraits, toastmaster for parties, corporate events);
Sewing and clothing repair studio.
Additionally, you can open paid training courses.
Shoe workshop.
An establishment that, in times of total price increases, only becomes more popular.
Business can be combined with shoe making.
Creative activities for children.
Fitness, yoga for kids, foreign languages, drawing.
"Green tourism".
If a small town is located in a picturesque place.
Internet cafe.
With photocopying services, printing photos and texts.
Additionally, you can open training on using a PC.
Repair service for household appliances and appliances.
Like a shoe workshop, the business will definitely be in demand.
Workshop for reupholstery, repair and production of furniture.
Household services service.
An analogue of the “husband for an hour” business: chop wood for a client, dig a garden, hang a chandelier, fix a faucet, an electrical outlet.
The demand will be not only from single women, but also from retirees and busy young people.
Accounting.
You can start such a business without any start-up investment at all.
It is only important to have sufficient qualifications.
Vet clinic.
It also requires a specialized education.
It’s a big plus if clients have the opportunity to contact us around the clock.
After all, in small towns few people have such a competitive advantage.
How to open a business in a small town in the field of trade?
Trade is a simple and popular line of business.Often in small towns and villages, one store offers different product segments at the same time.
In this business niche you can open:
Flower shop.
In addition to arranging bouquets, they organize the sale of indoor plants, seeds, household and garden chemicals, tools, and related literature.
The organization of banquets and celebrations can be combined with the services of a toastmaster.
Baby food and goods store.
In especially small cities, it is better to present this product segment in a regular store.
Classic store (groceries or clothing,).
Online store.
You can organize the delivery of large equipment and other goods, and the buyer will not need to go to another locality to pick them up.
Your own business in handicrafts
You can try to make money from your hobby or skill, teach your craft.But here the final consumer of the product will definitely be in large populated areas.
You will have to participate in fairs and outdoor events.
This will incur shipping costs.
If you don't have any ideas for what to do, take a look at these ideas:
Involves making original blankets, pillows, bags, and panels from scraps.
Making jewelry and jewelry.
They use cold porcelain techniques, quilling, soutache embroidery, wool felting, wood carving, beadwork, tatting, and a traditional set of jewelry made from beads and stones.
Leather production.
Such products (saddles, harnesses, belts) are sold only to special categories of buyers.
Finding sales points is not so easy, and this needs to be understood.
Wicker weaving.
There is a prospect of expansion into furniture production.
Demand, however, cannot be called high.
Pottery.
You can present products not only at exhibitions and public events, but also in online stores.
Blacksmith craft.
A promising business that can be combined with welding work.
At the moment, the trend is voluminous scarves - snoods.
They are easy to produce and the demand for the product is high.
Making soap and candles.
It has become especially popular in recent years.
What else to do in a small town and how to generate business ideas,
explained in the video:
An example of what you can open in a small town: your own apiary
Capital investments (30 hives): 130,000 rubles.Payback period: from 1 year.
Let's look at how to open your own business using the example of an apiary (for central Russia and to the south).
To begin with, you can purchase 10 hives and work without assistants.
Such an apiary will allow you to become familiar with the business, especially if you have never dealt with it.
You will pump out honey for yourself and sell the excess.
But in fact, such a volume of production is not a business yet, but only additional income.
An apiary of 20-30 hives is the minimum volume for self-employment status.
Such an enterprise can become the main source of your income.
As a rule, this is a family affair.
Apiary staff
We can talk about 50-100 hives.
Such a business cannot be opened without additional workers.
You will need at least 2 people for every 20-30 hives during the honey harvest season to look after them.
Duties need to be organized in shifts.
What tools will you need for your business?
- overalls (gloves, suit, mask with mesh);
- frames, wire;
- foundation;
- beekeeping chisel;
- bee knife;
- smoker;
- fork;
- drinking bowls, queen cells;
- preparations for the treatment of bees;
- honey extractor;
- wax grinder;
- hives.
From the second season, the apiary can generate on average from 20% to 150% of net profit.
It should be noted that beekeepers make money not only from honey.
wax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee-bread, bee-bread, and wax are in demand.
You can also sell young bee colonies - offsets.
The provided list of 40 ideas is far from complete.
However, it can help you navigate how to open a business in a small town, and whether it’s worth getting down to business at all.
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A successful business person is distinguished by the ability to obtain the most effective return from existing assets, that is, the conditional “factories, newspapers, ships” that belong to him. What if a person has no factories, no magazines, no airplanes, and only owns empty non-residential premises suitable for an office? What to do in this case and how to “squeeze” the optimal income from such property? From a business person's point of view, there are many possible solutions to this problem.
“Three pillars” of a balanced choice
Having choice is always good. The main thing to remember is that the choice made should not be random, thoughtless or contrary to common sense. To determine the optimal type of use of office space, the owner first needs to decide for himself:
- whether he intends to directly participate in the activities of the office in the future;
- how serious commercial risks he is willing to bear;
- whether he agrees to invest additional funds in furnishing the premises.
It is these points that make sense when further considering the available options.
A smart choice is 50% of success in business, but it is not possible to find the optimal solution right away
For the wise and cautious: rent
Let’s say the owner prefers to receive passive income (without personal participation in the office business), wants to minimize risks and is not ready to invest additional funds in the premises. Then the most suitable way is to rent out an office.
The profitability of the project in this case will be determined by many factors:
- geographical region;
- location of the premises within the populated area;
- physical characteristics of the office (area, availability of high-quality repairs, office furniture);
- surrounding infrastructure (the presence of inexpensive and “tasty” cafes, shops, transport parking nearby);
- proximity to transport interchanges;
- number of direct competitors;
- rental period.
According to ROSRIELT, in July 2017, prices for renting office space in Russian cities ranged from RUB 2,993. per sq. m. per year in Orenburg up to 12,870 rubles. per sq. m. per year in Vladimir (excluding prices in the capital). In Moscow, the requested rental rates for office space were up to 25,500 rubles. per sq. m. per year.
It must be admitted: an ordinary office owner will hardly be able to get rich this way. But there are minimal risks and costs. In principle, you can rent out anything and in any condition: everything here is determined by the price of the issue. With the consent of both parties, even repairs to the premises can be carried out at the expense of the tenant. It is categorically not recommended to save only on the services of a lawyer in drawing up a competent lease agreement: property-monetary relations are a thing potentially fraught with conflicts and proceedings, so it is better to discuss really important and controversial issues right away.
A professionally drawn up contract will help minimize risks when leasing an office
However, nothing will work if:
- healthy ambitions require you to actively participate in business;
- the presence of commercial risks seems a fair price to pay for the opportunity to obtain higher income;
- the thought of additional cash spending does not cause rejection.
In this case, renting as a business is not for you: it makes sense to consider other options.
Active and creative: coworking center
If the space of the premises allows, an interesting way to use it would be to create a coworking center. Coworking (from the English co-working, “joint work”) is the bringing together of people of different occupations on one territory for creative and work interaction. The services of such a center are aimed primarily at freelancers, translators, students and entrepreneurs who do not have their own or rented office and the ability or desire to work from home.
Providing the target audience with the most comfortable working conditions is the main task of the owner of a coworking center. Her solution comes down to creating a single open creative space, comfortable like a home and functional like an office.
This path involves costs for the organization of individual and collective workplaces, areas for negotiations and recreation areas, as well as for office equipment and modern means of communication. In addition, we should add here the costs of high-quality repairs and ergonomic design of the premises, advertising events when promoting the center to the market for similar services, and the maintenance of at least the most limited staff: a hall administrator, a system administrator, a cleaner. The result is far from the most cost-effective option. But it also promises benefits that are much greater than just renting out premises.
The income of a coworking center comes from rent for workspaces. The pricing policy usually varies depending on the duration of such rental (hour, day, month, year) and the time of day at which the workplace will be used. At the same time, it is advisable to set payment for collective events (business meetings, presentations, conferences) at a separate rate. Additional income comes from related services, for example:
- granting permission to use the legal address of a coworking center when registering its clients with the Federal Tax Service;
- courier or secretary services;
- conducting trainings, master classes, seminars, educational programs;
- organizing the delivery of hot lunches and installing a coffee machine;
- arrangement of showers and children's rooms.
The more individual and convenient the style of a coworking center, the wider the range of additional services it provides, the higher the quality of the service offered, the more profitable the project will be.
A review of thirty-two coworking centers in thirteen cities with a population of over a million, published on the website of the Netology University, allows us to conclude that for such cities the average cost of working in a coworking space is about 5–6 thousand rubles. per month.
To be successful with clients, the workspace of a coworking center must be comfortable, functional and memorable
However, despite all the attractiveness of such a business, its inherent commercial risks are quite high. This is largely due to the traditional Russian distrust of remote work: the employer is accustomed to having all his employees in sight, and is in no hurry to change this system. In addition, not all potential clients of a coworking center are willing (and able) to pay for the opportunity to work in an office environment. Finally, an open floor plan is not suitable for those who are used to working in silence and isolation.
For people who are sociable and persistent: a recruitment agency
Hiring qualified personnel, like finding a well-paid job, is an eternal thing and requires time and effort from each interested party. In this situation, the position of the intermediary, helping the employer and the applicant find each other, becomes a win-win situation.
Such an intermediary always has a choice: to work with employer clients (as a recruiting agency) or with job seeker clients (as an employment agency). But the most profitable is to organize a business that allows you to provide services to both parties. In this case, employers pay the recruitment agency a remuneration for selecting a candidate in the amount of one to two monthly salaries of the corresponding staff unit. Applicants pay either a small amount for providing a list of vacancies, or a remuneration for employment in the amount of a monthly salary.
Setting up such a business will be easy even for a beginner. But for a project to truly become successful, you need to remember the main components of its success:
- about a positive image that guarantees customer trust;
- about the completeness, quality and reliability of the information that the agency has.
An extensive and reliable database used in the work can be formed through personal contacts with the personnel services of enterprises and by monitoring the media and Internet sources. In the future, this database should be constantly updated and expanded.
For a recruitment agency, the most profitable thing is to provide services to both employers and job seekers
When opening a recruitment agency, you should not count on excess profits. But a stable income with persistent and systematic work is quite real.
All-all-all and crowdfunding
Generally speaking, the number of options for using office space in business is limited only by the imagination of a particular owner. Among them there are those that require special knowledge (for example, legal support service for the population); there are those that require special permits (for example, a currency exchange office).
There are those that are almost always profitable (pawnshop, grocery store) and those whose profitability is constantly at risk (for example, a real estate office). There are people who are very nice (marriage agency or agency for organizing celebrations). There are high-tech ones (for example, a web design studio).
The IT sector generally fits perfectly into the office business format. Moreover, the owner does not even have to be a programmer. It is enough to be able to generate (or find) fresh, promising ideas and captivate professionals with them. For example, one of the founders of the crowdfunding platform Planeta.ru was BI-2 bass guitarist Max Lakmus.
By the way, about these sites.
Crowdfunding (from the English crowd - crowd, funding - financing) is a relatively new thing both for Russia and for world practice in general. This is a voluntary collaboration of a random group of people in which they pool their money (usually via the Internet) to finance other people's new projects.
Simply put, this is a public charity in which anyone can contribute funds to support a start-up or social initiative they like.
Crowdfunding allows everyone to pool their resources via the Internet to finance new projects.
It works surprisingly simply: an author who has an idea for a project, but no money for its implementation, turns to strangers for financial help via the Internet. He can do this through his own portal (which happens relatively rarely) or through an intermediary site, which is a crowdfunding platform (this happens disproportionately more often). After this, any visitor to such an intermediary site has the opportunity to respond to a request for help and transfer an arbitrary amount to the author of the idea.
The platform itself plays the role of a third party, whose responsibilities include highlighting the project and redirecting the collected funds to the recipient. For the services provided, she is entitled to a commission: 5% of the funds collected. And only on the popularity of the site, its ability to present the “product face” and, ultimately, on the interest of visitors in the project depends on how much money will be collected. Agree, it’s quite a worthy example of an office business.
Open secret
In theory, the algorithm is clear: choose a suitable business option, invest some money, a lot of desire to work and a lot of strength - and you will be happy and prosperous. But for some reason, in practice, hundreds (if not thousands) of projects created with inspiration and love do not live up to their first anniversary. Why?
This is the promised open secret, which is not such at all, because it has long been known to everyone. The fact is that achieving the desired result requires more than just work. We need to work correctly. This is one of those cases that violates a philosophical postulate when quantity does not necessarily turn into quality.
Steve Jobs: “You need to work not 12 hours, but with your head!”
The basis of any successful project without exception is adherence to the general principles of proper business conduct. They form a reliable foundation that allows a business to survive, grow stronger and become profitable. There are not many of these principles, but it is recommended to feel them before starting your own business:
- Any business exists only as long as the product it offers is needed by the client. Be prepared to work in a constantly changing market environment. If a client no longer wants to pay for what you are selling, look for other ways to make money.
- To exist successfully, a business must have a competitive advantage, that is, offer something better than its competitors. If the business already has it, don’t lose sight of your competitors: what if they are preparing to get ahead? If your business doesn't already have this advantage, don't lose sight of your competitors: you can learn a lot from them.
- To achieve a competitive advantage (become the best), a business must be properly organized. With rare exceptions, business is a team game. The team must be professional, well-structured and act coherently. This will help you effectively delegate functions, distribute tasks and track their execution.
- To run a business, constant monitoring is required. Many processes take place within every business: financial, production, personnel. Vigilant control over them will allow you to timely receive the information necessary for making operational decisions and managing your business.
- There must be profit. This is what everything was started for. Downturns are possible, but long-term losses lead to bankruptcy. If your business has stopped making a profit, look for new ways to make it.
Actually, that's all. Try to follow these principles and be successful! If you have a lot of ideas, but don’t yet have your own premises, then pay attention to the owners of business centers, for example, to the offers of the New Life Group company.
If you look around carefully (from the right angle and in the right lighting), you can see a space of unrealized possibilities. There are many office business options in it. Listen to yourself, find the one that suits your preferences and is waiting for you. Determine the goal, choose the path and move forward, no matter what. Nobody promises that it will be easy. But, as the heroine of the old film used to say, “nothing is impossible for a person with intelligence.”
Who among us does not strive for material independence, self-development and self-realization as an individual? I think there are few of them. One of the many ways to achieve financial freedom and a certain social status is to open and develop your own business.
First independent steps in business
Initially, this will require start-up capital and a good business idea. And if capital is the foundation, then ideas are the entire structure. Its development should be taken very seriously. First you need to decide what you want to do. Having decided, conduct a market analysis in this area, find out the wishes and preferences of consumers, get acquainted with the proposals of potential competitors, the legal framework in the chosen industry, and also evaluate the influence of other significant factors. Then calculate the costs and risks and draw up a business plan.
And when you have this fundamental document in your hands, compare the planned profit according to the business plan with interest rates in banks for deposits.
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Opening a business with start-up capital
But a situation is also possible when you have the necessary amount for the initial investment, you are firmly convinced that you want to open your own business, and the whole problem is the absence of the idea itself. Well, this happens too. Let's look at several options for business ideas that involve working in an office, for example.
Thus, currently the services of interior design firms are in great demand. Clients approach them, roughly describing their wishes, often with the words “well, so that everyone is stunned.” And after these or similar magic words, the company’s designers begin to work on giving this ephemeral image a real embodiment, creating, using a special program, not only a beautiful three-dimensional picture, but also drawings for it. These services are paid quite well, but carrying out such activities will require creative and qualified personnel.
A worthwhile option is to organize an online store base in the office. It will be necessary to assemble staff who will be responsible for advising clients, helping with placing orders, and dealing with issues of timely and high-quality delivery of products.
In the context of the rapid development of companies and their cooperation with foreign companies, there is a need to train accounting employees to prepare and maintain reports in accordance with the requirements of IFRS (international financial reporting standards). It would be a sin not to take advantage of this need. However, again, you will need to select highly qualified personnel who will provide consulting and training at the appropriate level.
Not going far from accounting, it should be noted that the services of audit firms are also in demand. They, at the client’s request, conduct an independent assessment of the organization’s activities and the correctness of financial reporting. Based on the results of the audit, an audit report is drawn up and provided to the client. These services are highly paid, but an appropriate level of staff is required.
On the basis of the office, you can carry out activities aimed at providing sales outsourcing services. The essence of this idea is that the client company transfers on a contractual basis the functions of its sales department (in part or in full) to the company providing these services. That is, the service company searches for clients for the customer’s company, negotiates with potential buyers, sends them commercial offers and brings transactions to their logical conclusion. This type of activity is becoming increasingly popular in the CIS and does not require a high level of managerial qualifications. Everything you need can be taught on the job. This type of service is paid quite decently.
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IT technologies and your own business: how to realize yourself in business
In addition, IT technologies are in great demand in the market. Therefore, if you, for example, are a talented programmer and are able to create a team of similar professionals, try to put your strength into this idea.
There are a lot of ideas for business. In addition, there are wide opportunities to choose the field of activity, as well as unlimited access to all kinds of literature containing necessary and useful information. It is not difficult to find information about the experiences of people who have already paved the way for themselves in the direction you have chosen. And if you have your own original business idea in your arsenal, this is like a significant ace up your sleeve.
Having decided on the fundamental idea, drawn up a business plan and have the necessary amount of funds, do not forget about the next step. In order to legalize a business, it is necessary to register as a person engaged in entrepreneurial activities. You also need to register with the relevant government agencies. And if you don’t want to get involved in a bottomless bureaucratic quagmire, there is an opportunity (for a fee) to shift this responsibility to third-party companies. On your behalf, they will resolve all issues related to registration and help with the preparation of financial and tax reporting. Running your own business will allow you to realize your ambitions, aspirations and gain the desired financial independence!
Entrepreneurial activity based on the exploitation of existing office space is attractive due to its simplicity and accessibility. The office can be used in different ways, depending on the capabilities and preferences of the owner and the specifics of the room itself.
General principles for choosing an office business
For any business, the need for an initial investment of capital is obvious - to open a business, purchase materials and means of production, promotion, advertising, etc. A significant part of the costs falls on the acquisition and then maintenance of fixed assets. These costs are significantly reduced in a situation where the existing office space serves as a tool for making a profit.
An entrepreneur who owns an office, with proper organization of the business, can make a profit with minimal expenditure of finances, time and moral strength. The purchase of office real estate is also commercially justified, provided that it is used skillfully.
Like any business, office business requires informed decisions based on detailed research and analysis.
The main parameters influencing the choice of direction of activity are both internal, related to the characteristics of the office and the capabilities of the entrepreneur, and external, directly dependent on market conditions.
There are many ideas for using an office to make a profit.
Table: external and internal factors for assessing office business
| Factors of influence | Criteria for evaluation | |
| Domestic | Legal | Legal status of the object - private property or rented, individual or group |
| Financial | Investments that an entrepreneur can make in a business - personal or attracted, in cash or in material form | |
| Geographical | Office location - metropolis or small town, residential, business, historical or central area | |
| Physical | Dimensions of the premises - room or separate building, area and dimensions, communications and maintenance | |
| Status | Quality of renovation and decoration of the office, appearance, prestige of location | |
| Personal | Intellectual property of an entrepreneur, his skills, abilities and abilities | |
| External | Infrastructure | The immediate environment of the building - organizations and structures whose activities are useful in the long term or, conversely, unprofitable |
| Clientele | Identification of a market segment, drawing up a profile of a potential consumer | |
| Competitive environment | Identification of direct and indirect competitors, assessment of possible threats from them | |
| Resources | Monitoring of likely suppliers | |
| Legislation | Studying political and tax legislation in order to obtain information about the state’s intentions in a particular area of activity | |
In order for the business to be in demand, we take into account the strengths and weaknesses and choose the appropriate idea for using the office.
It is not easy to answer the question: “What to do if you have an office?” Ideas for business in the office
An office business can be either dynamic, with the active involvement of the owner, or inertial, aimed at generating passive income. Both the first and second methods are attractive in their own way. There are many interesting and profitable ideas for using an office.
Renting out office space
The simplest method does not mean bad. If the office is located in the business part of the city, has a decent renovation, and the owner is satisfied with receiving a small stable income - renting out the premises or subletting may be the best option.
You can rent out the premises for a short or long term. With short-term rentals, the profit is higher than with long-term rentals, but finding clients will require more effort and financial costs.
The property owner's costs are usually limited to the costs of routine repairs and the purchase of furniture, although it is possible to shift part of these costs (or the entire amount) to the tenant. The presence of good repairs and high-quality office furniture will make the premises more interesting in the eyes of the client and increase the rental price.
The rental price for 1 square meter of office space ranges from 5,000–8,000 rubles in regional centers to 15,000–25,000 rubles in the capital. The rent rate in small cities is much lower - from 500 rubles per 1 sq. m.
Seek professional help from a lawyer when concluding a lease agreement - it is better to foresee in advance conflict situations related to the responsibility of the parties during current and major repairs, in the event of force majeure, damage to property, etc. A qualified approach to documenting the transaction will save you time, money and nerves.
The landlord must know the intended purpose of the premises being rented. Legally, the owner is not responsible for the activities carried out in the rented office, but in fact, any unauthorized actions of the tenant compromise the owner himself, thereby reducing the prestige of his property.
When renting out an office, you can look for clients yourself, using the media, online advertising and other types of promotion, or you can contact a real estate company. The cost of intermediary services averages 10–20% of the monthly rent.
The payback period for such a business is at least two years, the risks of market conditions are minimal.
Discuss all the nuances before deciding to rent out the premises Coworking center as a type of office business
A large office space (or office building) is suitable for creating a coworking center. This type of activity, new in our conditions, is at the stage of active formation and can become an excellent idea for business.
A coworking center, in essence, is a collective office that is used jointly by representatives of various professions and specialties for a small rent.
This room provides separate workplaces and common tables for business communication, modern communications and office equipment, meeting rooms and conference rooms, cafes, sports corners, libraries and relaxation areas - everything you need for comfortable productive work.
But a coworking center is not just a large office. Its fundamental difference is that the territory of the center acts as a single creative space, bringing cooperation between people of all kinds of professions to a qualitatively different level. Multidisciplinary specialists gather under one roof for productive work, communication, free exchange of ideas and mutually beneficial partnership.
It is better to decorate a coworking center in an original way, with the help of interior design specialists. The space should harmoniously combine business formality, which stimulates work, and creative enthusiasm, which awakens inspiration. A successful design can be the feature that will attract customers, especially at the initial stage. A coworking center can be either universal or specialized
Nuances of coworking center design
- When planning the creation of free office space, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of this business. The location of the office premises largely determines potential consumers.
- A lawyer or financial consultant will prefer to work in a high-status place, in the central part of the city. For representatives of creative professions, proximity to home, transport and the external environment is important. In any case, it is worth taking into account the infrastructure - for example, if there is a suitable catering establishment nearby, it makes sense to conclude an agreement with it on the delivery of food to the office, and in the very center limit yourself to a cooler and a coffee machine. The target market segment depends on the direction of business development.
- Experience shows that those centers that are focused on a specific group of potential clients in related industries pay off faster.
- For example, a coworking center that brings together architects, planners, interior designers, representatives of estimating and construction firms, etc. In addition, a good center is like a self-sufficient mechanism, a kind of “thing in itself” - the basic needs of its members are satisfied without the involvement of external contractors. In other words, it is worth inviting (possibly on preferential terms) specialists in accounting and legal services, office management and copyright, marketing and advertising, investing and other areas of economic activity to the coworking center. Financial returns consist of several types of cash receipts.
- This is, first of all, rent from the rental of workplaces - for an hour, day, month or year. It can be fixed or change during the time of day (a 24-hour schedule is convenient for representatives of creative professions). Coworking centers host business meetings, mini-exhibitions, presentations, conferences - such events are paid for at a separate rate. Ongoing educational programs, courses, and trainings also bring in good revenue (in this case, it is advisable to take a percentage of the cost). You can rent out space for corporate events, you can earn income from additional services - cafes, fitness services, vending, etc. The staff of a coworking center at the growth stage is formed from a small number of like-minded people.
- It includes hall administrators (2-3 people working in shifts), a marketing and advertising specialist, a system administrator, a technical worker, and a cleaner. It would be useful to resort to the help of volunteers (students gaining experience and business contacts), as well as to cooperate through the provision of barter services.
The ergonomics of the space inside the center is adjusted during its operation based on the results of monitoring the behavior of visitors. A successful solution could be the installation of mobile partitions, the purchase of transformable furniture and block furniture, movable and rotating decorative elements, and modification of levels. Technological design of the “high-tech”, “functionalism”, “loft”, “futurism” styles should be diluted with light inclusions of eclecticism.
Properly zoned space is one of the important components of the successful functioning of a coworking center Organization of a recruitment agency
Another type of office business that does not require special investments is opening a recruitment agency. The demand for qualified personnel and the search for well-paid work require effort and time from both parties, and both parties are willing to pay for the assistance of an intermediary - that is, a recruitment agency. There are both positive and negative aspects to this business.
Table: features when opening a recruitment agency
The defining factor of a successful recruitment agency is information. The completeness and reliability of available information about potential employers and employees will allow you to act quickly and purposefully. Constant monitoring of the media, Internet resources and other sources will help create an active, reliable database.
One of the most expensive items in the budget of this business is advertising, especially during the opening period and in the first 3-6 months. It should have a wide audience reach and contain a unique difference between your company’s services and similar services.
For serious recruiting, specialized and headhunting agencies, the presence of an experienced psychologist on staff is mandatory, as he can reduce the risks associated with the human factor.
A recruitment agency as a type of office business will not allow you to get rich instantly. For those who are ready to persistently and systematically engage in this activity, real stable income will appear in the second or third year of the company’s existence and will reach impressive sizes.
To work with applicants, you can organize trainings and advanced training courses Other office business ideas
There are many interesting ideas for using office space. Among them there are both popular ones, which have repeatedly justified monetary forecasts, and rare ones, which open up new promising market niches.
Financial business in the office
Working with cash and other valuables requires not only start-up capital, but also extensive specialized knowledge. If you are ready to learn, you can try yourself in the following areas:
Opening a pawnshop is an excellent business idea that will only be successfully implemented if you scrupulously follow the laws. High technology business
To create a company in the IT business, it is not necessary to be a programmer; it is enough to have a promising idea and be able to organize the work of a group of professionals.
Service agency
The service sector is perhaps the widest field of activity for an enterprising businessman. If you have your own premises, there are a lot of ideas for starting your own business:
- Travel agency is an intermediary between the tour operator and the client, selling ready-made tours. Promotion in a highly competitive environment requires constant effective advertising and competent personnel. Expanding the range of services will help smooth out seasonal fluctuations in demand. Payback period is 1–2 years.
