These six business ideas are a good place to start if you live in the country or a small town and want to start your own business.
People often think that to start and run a successful business, you have to be in or near a city. This is not true. People in rural areas have a huge need for goods and services, and they tend to be very loyal to businesses in their area. Even though only 17% of U.S. businesses are in rural areas, more than 97% of the country is rural land. This shows that there is a lot of untapped potential and many benefits to owning a business in these areas. And there are special loans and other forms of help for people who want to sell things in rural areas.
Rural ride-share
Ridesharing has a lot of different effects on communities. It gives people who don’t have access to transportation more freedom and a better quality of life, and it cuts down on pollution from cars. It can be a great help for people in rural areas where public transportation isn’t always available. One of the biggest problems is that cell service isn’t always reliable because there isn’t as much digital infrastructure. This can make it hard for riders and drivers to connect on a phone app. As connectivity gets better, though, you can become the Uber of your town if you’re tech-savvy, care about people, and like to move around.
You will need a group of reliable drivers who have been checked out (people with a valid U.S. driver’s license and a car with proof of registration and insurance, etc.) and, depending on your state, a transportation network company permit. You will also need to spend money on building an app or subscribing to a ride-sharing business platform where drivers and customers can talk, schedule and track rides, and receive or send payments.
Bed and breakfast owner
The $3.4 billion bed and breakfast industry could be your ticket to business ownership if you love having people over for brunch or the weekend, have concierge-level skills, and know the area well. Bed and breakfasts have the atmosphere and service of a high-end hotel and the comfort and charm of a cozy home. You’ll need to buy a property with four to ten guest rooms because that’s how most B&Bs work. Then, you’ll need to plan for renovations, which can cost between $20,000 and $50,000 per room. A good innkeeper knows how to run a business and cook, but they also like to talk to people and learn about them. They will also share interesting facts and places of interest with their guests.
Local tour guide
Who better than the people who live in a town to tell you about its interesting landmarks and interesting stories? People want real and meaningful travel experiences, which means you can become a “tourpreneur” if you live in or near a place with a lot of history and local flavor and know its best-kept secrets. You will need to love people almost as much as you love your location and have a way with words that makes your guests want to write a great review on Tripadvisor, Facebook, Google, or one of the other many review sites that are known to build trust and bring in business ideas.
Once you’ve made your tour, you can promote it on one of the many sites that connect tourists with tour guides based on their interests and preferences. If you have a lot of competition in your town, maybe niche food tours, tours that focus on architecture, or even a tour of a haunted cemetery could attract people who want to do something different.
Tech support service provider
Connecting to the Internet and getting broadband are problems that rural communities have to deal with. If you have a background in computer science or information technology (IT) and know a lot about hardware, software, and networks, you can help people, schools, hospitals, and businesses in your area.
IT support is a field that is growing. People who want to start their own business can do things like offer online technical support or even a mobile support service. This could be a good fit for you if you are a good problem solver who is patient and works quickly and well. IT service calls can cost as much as $70–$80 per hour. So, you will get paid well for your technical expertise.
Thrift shop owner
The secondhand market is expected to bring in $77 billion in sales by 2025. Not only is vintage cool and thrift shopping a hobby for people who like to save money. It also has the potential to help the environment in a big way. More and more people are paying attention to and changing the way they shop. This is great news for entrepreneurs who care about the environment, fashion, and retail.
You will need to make a list of what you have. Start by looking for donations at yard sales and estate sales. Helping friends and family clean out their closets, and asking for donations on social media. Before getting a storefront, you might want to see how things go at a local flea market. Talk to shoppers there to find out what they want.
Organic food delivery service
If you live in an area with a lot of farms, you could start a business ideas that delivers organic food. In 2020, sales of organic foods grew by 12.8% and hit a record $60 billion. The pandemic caused everyone to eat at home and choose healthier foods, which helped the category do well.
As people continue to eat at home and focus on fresh, better-for-you foods. Or you can be the convenience they’re looking for. You can buy your inventory from local businesses to help out your community. You can up an online platform where customers can see what you have, place orders, and set up delivery times.
Conclusion
The best way to choose the best business ideas is to first figure out what the basic needs of the community are. After you know what their specific needs are, offer them products or services with a smart pricing plan.
It goes without saying that, in addition to the above. There are other ways to start a business in rural areas, depending on what the community needs. Visit Backrooms Game!
