Women have been a significant part of the world with their inherent strength, wisdom, and tenacity. However, today, we are starting to be appreciated for all these qualities, albeit a bit slowly. Today is International Women’s Day and at StartupWill, we believe that our wishes and congratulatory messages to all women should also have a practical side.
And what better than some practical advice on some simple but effective small business ideas for women? Yes, there are many successful women business owners and entrepreneurs out there and they have done well for themselves. Even careerwise, women have made significant strides across all areas.
Our humble contribution will be dedicated to all those women who have taken a break in their work life for many reasons or those who always wanted to do something of their own but have not done it yet.
Business ideas to help you make money in your comfort zone
While we have called out that these ideas will work for women, men with the right skills and interests can work with these ideas.
Catering and homemade food
Many women who have been slotted into the role of homemakers are experts in cooking healthy food for the whole family and for the extended family on occasion. This means they have the knack for planning healthy and tasty menus that will resonate with all family members no matter how picky they are.
Today, in most places, we have a lot of single people staying away from their families, who long for simple, tasty, and healthy food. This can be a match made in heaven for women who like cooking and have free time as the family has grown and moved on to follow their own pursuits.
Tips to make your catering business a success
- Invest in heavy-duty kitchen equipment to make cooking easier and quicker
- Tie up with vendors for bulk purchase of groceries to keep profit margins up
- Recruit and train a couple of assistants to help you ensure quality and consistency
- Collaborate with a few local apps for a consistent flow of business and deliveries
- Speak to offices nearby and tie up for team lunches and other events
- In the initial months, invest your profits to refine your business and improve quality
Personal tip: Schedule off days for you and your team to ensure you are fresh and energetic at work.
Tutoring and mentoring
Personal circumstances or a deliberate choice has had many educated and qualified women take on the role of stay-at-home mom-and-wife. While this is a good choice and works out well for most, there’s a chance that many women may feel bored as children grow and head toward their lives.
When this happens, women want to start working but feel under-confident because of the huge gap they have had in their careers. One of the ways they can do something worthwhile and earn money at the same time is by tutoring and mentoring others. Tutoring and mentoring is a good way to use their knowledge and help others.
Tips to make your tutoring and mentoring gig successful
- Update your knowledge and qualification (if required) to take it forward
- In the beginning, opt for online sessions to keep the overhead costs down
- Start with smaller groups and then move on to bigger groups
- Make your business stand out by offering to coach students one-on-one
- Touch base with local schools and colleges to get referrals
- Tie up with someone else with similar qualifications to create a backup
- Record sessions with students and share at a price on request to add to your profits
Personal tip: Create a professional workplace and keep it separate from your personal space.
Babysitting and kid care
Most women take a break in their careers due to childbirth. And let’s be honest, when it comes to children, women fall into 2 distinct categories. One category of women love motherhood and want it never to end. The second category of women love children but also want a career separate from the various aspects of motherhood.
If you fall into the first category, babysitting and kid care can be a viable business option. It offers the joys of watching small kids and caring for them while making a living. But wait there’s more!
Starting a babysitting and kid care business will require serious planning and investments from you. You may have to formally qualify for the same and ensure a safe and suitable space to get things going.
Tips to ensure the success of your babysitting and kid care business
- Start by checking the demand for childcare services in your area and the competition
- Establish a fair and attractive price for your services to remain competitive and profitable
- Put together a trustworthy team of people who will work with you to provide childcare
- If possible, tie up with nearby office premises to offer creche services to their employees
- Offer discounts for longer-term contracts for babysitting and childcare for better bonding
Personal tip: Do not start the business out of your residence to avoid overlaps between your professional and personal lives.
Planning events
Yes, we know event planning is a crowded space with much competition. But as a woman, who has pulled off smashing events with a shoestring budget, you can find your own niche and make it work.
However, this will work only if you enjoy the wheeling and dealing with vendors, bargaining for the best prices, and the constant buzz that comes from being able to handle numerous aspects at once.
Even today, many upper-middle-class families hesitate to go to a big event planner to get their event going because they feel it can be too pricey. You can fill this niche by offering your services at a reasonable budget and personal attention.
Tips for your event planning business to succeed
- Pick a particular kind of event you are good at and stick to it initially
- Have a professional card and brochure made to market your business
- Don’t under-price your events and make it clear it’s a business
- Tie up with suppliers to get bulk rates and discounts to improve profitability
- Have a small team of gig workers to help you out for each event
Personal tip: Avoid taking event requests from friends and family and if you do, get the payment in advance.
Virtual marketing assistant
Today, marketing your product or service is essential no matter which industry you are from or the size of your business. If you are a woman who wants to share her expertise in digital marketing with the world, it is a great business idea.
There are many options for virtual marketing; content writing, graphic design, social media marketing, search engine optimization, or numerous other options. All you need is the requisite skills and tools to get started. You can pick up free courses from reputed sources like HubSpot if you need to catch up with the latest skills.
Start talking to small businesses you know personally and do a pilot project to prove the value of your services and get started. Yes, you will need a robust internet connection to keep the work going.
Tips to make your virtual marketing assistant business a great success
- If you have difficulty getting started, do one or two assignments for free or at a very low cost to get started
- Join hands with complementary services (eg. content with SEO) to make a concerted effort
- Be part of online forums of likeminded individuals to learn about pricing strategies, etc.
- When you have numerous clients for your work, ensure that you plan your time well for each one
- Do not hesitate to bargain well to get the rates you require and offer a proper breakdown of cost if asked
Personal tip: Don’t be shy about talking your skills up and provide examples when required to prove your value.
We hope this International Women’s Day helps you get started on your own journey as a successful business owner.
