by Alison Stapleton
Here are some ideas for your micro business
Many people share the dream to have their own little business which will make a bit of money and through the actual art or craft involved will satisfy their creative urges and needs.
A micro business that you run from your home, or on the go from your virtual office, will typically fall into one of five main categories:
- Craft – Crochet, knit, sew, bake, art
- Writing and editing
- New age skills
- Personal services
- Selling digital products
You may do more than one activity and some will appeal to you straight away.
You have to be realistic. Clearly if you are not a hairdresser you can’t cut hair as a micro business. But if you can crochet then you can make crochet your micro business.
Craft and Handiwork
If you can do any of the crafts in the list below then you can sell your items at flea markets and wholesale to shops.
- Knitter
- Crocheter
- Artist – painter
- Wood worker – bird houses
- Cookie baker
- Sandwich maker
- Dressmaker
- Artist – fibre
- Jewelry maker
- Candle maker
- Candlestick maker
Writing and Editing
If you can write compelling copy you could turn your hand (or your pen) to one or two activities and projects on this list.
- Write feature articles
- Write patterns – knit and crochet
- Write stories and memoir
- Write “how to” articles
- Write recipes
- Travel writer
- Horoscope writer
- Cooking writer
- Restaurant critic
- Stringer
- Novelist
- Author
- Poet
- Lyricist
- Local ad newsletter (selling ad space in the coffee news)
New age services in your home
If you have skills in the New Age professions as listed here you could easily start a micro business or practice in one of them.
- Astrologer
- Palmist
- Tarot reader
- Reiki master
- Clairvoyant
- Crystal ball reader
- Tea leaf reader
- Runes reader
- Numerologist
Personal services
This list is slightly more skilled and maybe you did go to hairdresser school years ago and if so you can dust off your scissors and start your micro business right now.
- Hairdresser
- Dressmaker
- Manicurist
- Makeup artist
- Bookkeeper
- Personal trainer
- Garden lady
Things to sell online – digital items
Selling digital downloads online does need you to have some skills in computers and a bit of writing but is can be done. Make sure you write about a topic that interests you and your passion for the subject will come through the words.
- Worksheets “how-to” ideas
- Ebooks
- Webinars
- Videos classes on YouTube
- Copy writing and editing services
- Resume writing
- Form filling in for non English speakers
- Blogger – Adwords
- Images – info graphics
Not all will appeal to everyone. If you can be quite clear on what you can do and what you can’t do then that makes the choice easier.
Know your limitations
Most people can fry an egg but that doesn’t mean you can be the cookie baker for a vegetarian deli down the street.
It can be seductive to fall into the trap of doing something that you are nearly good at (like baking). If you are not passionate about the thing then dismiss it as an option for you.
If your sister-in-law knows a dahlia from a dandelion and can weed gardens that doesn’t mean you can too.
Back to your notebook. Draw three columns titled, “Yes I can”, “No I can’t” and “Maybe I could.”
Take the list above and write five options in each column.
This will make your choices clearer.