Startup Resilient Business Ideas
We have crossed a year into the pandemic, and the world has changed forever. There is light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the successful development of several vaccines. But we still have a way to go before enough of the global population is safe from the spread of the coronavirus.
The impact of this pandemic on job losses and the global economy is enormous. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t strike out on your own and start a brand-new business right now. In fact, now may be a perfect time if you can fill a much-needed niche.
Here are the top 10 small business ideas that will survive and thrive through the pandemic, and into the future:
1. An Online Consultancy
Whatever your industry, you can probably find a way to operate online as a consultant to other companies.
If you work in marketing, offer your services straight to businesses. You can advise on their current campaigns and put together new strategies all via videoconferencing.
If you work in fitness, offer online classes, or if you work in the food industry, give talks on how to make a restaurant safe for patrons during these hard times.
With a little of out-the-box thinking, you can create a resilient business model by sharing your expertise with those who need it most.
2. Online Tutoring
With schools going virtual, and parents never completely sure if their kids will attend classes for an entire semester, there’s a big demand for tutors.
If you’re an expert in a particular field, get in touch with local schools and offer your services. You’re sure to get a number of parents contacting you for online tutoring sessions. As far as business ideas during the pandemic go, this may be one of the simplest.
3. A Personal Shopping Business
There are many people either unable or unwilling to leave their homes right now, even for simple tasks like grocery shopping.
Personalized shopping service for essentials is likely to get a lot of attention. If you focus on going hyperlocal and listening to the little details about what products your clients like, you can offer strong competition to the larger food and online delivery businesses already in operation.
After the pandemic passes, your reputation will precede you, and your startup’s resilience will pay off.
4. Home Services Solutions
There will always be a need for service providers who can do the jobs that people don’t want to do, or don’t have time for.
There is still a need for home services like handymen, plumbers, garden services, cleaning (extreme and regular), interior decorating, and pool maintenance even though life has changed—our properties still need attention. You could look at offering just one of these services, or become a hub with a range of trusted providers who homeowners can book via your business.
5. Commercial Cleaning Services
Speaking of cleaning services, the commercial sector has an even greater need for providers than ever before.
Regular deep cleaning of business premises has become the norm, especially in industries that deal with people off the street regularly. You can look into providing regular cleaning services and COVID-19 deep cleaning services and establish a resilient business model now and in the future.
6. PPE Fashion
Even with several vaccines being introduced, it doesn’t look like masks and other Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) are going anywhere, anytime soon. Business ideas during the pandemic don’t have to be boring! You can design and sell masks and visors suitable for different occasions—dressing up, going to a ball game, and other events and activities.
You could also look at making personalized equipment with people’s names or company logos. Just make sure that you follow WHO recommended guidelines for all equipment and that it’s manufactured properly.
7. Online Entertainment Provider
Unless you have the capital or know how much you’ll need for a business loan and where to find an investor, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to compete with the likes of Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. However, you can still jump into the online entertainment industry.
Look at starting a YouTube channel and building your following so you can monetize your videos. Alternatively, produce shows that you can Livestream to audiences who’ve paid for tickets, or filmed and provided as on-demand content. There are plenty of platforms cropping up for such purposes.
8. Cyber Security
In a world, whereas many people as possible are now working remotely, cybersecurity has become one of the biggest concerns for businesses. If you’re in the software development world, this is an area you should focus on heavily. You can offer bespoke solutions to clients, or build your own product that you sell as-is.
If product development is not your strong suit, offering IT support and a security consultation service is also an excellent idea. Post-COVID-19 a large portion of the world will either work remotely or embrace a hybrid home-office model, so your startup’s resilience will be an advantage.
9. eCommerce And Dropshipping
The world of dropshipping and e-commerce has been expanding massively in the last few years, and the pandemic has pushed it into overdrive. Essentially, as a dropshipper, you operate as an online reseller of goods. You facilitate the sale and then pass the order on to a 3rd party supplier who fulfills it.
Take a moment to examine your area and see what people can’t purchase easily online, or at all. This is where you can step in and design a resilient business model.
It’s important to ensure you get the goods at a low price so you can make a proper profit on reselling. You need to ensure that your suppliers have a constant and reliable supply and that their shipping processes are reliable.
10. Courier Services
If you don’t want to be responsible for sourcing products and selling them to clients, you can become the middleman—the courier.
Online shopping is at an all-time high and is likely to become so entrenched in our lifestyles that people will continue to go this route long after the pandemic ends. The one thing that online shopping will always require is someone to make deliveries. And why shouldn’t that be you?
If you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit, any of these top 10 small business ideas may well appeal to you. If you can get your business off the ground during the pandemic, you’ll build a startup resilience that will benefit you greatly in the long run.
