Small business in big cities. What is the most profitable business in a small town? How to choose a profitable business for a small town

Possible only in large cities, where money and highly qualified personnel are concentrated, but this is not the case. Of course, the specifics of entrepreneurship will be different from those inherent in megacities, but the income will not be long in coming. Moreover, the costs of organizing it will be significantly lower, and if you calculate well and come up with a development strategy, you can completely capture the market in the region.

Starting a business from scratch in a small town can be profitable for several reasons:

Small starting capital. In small towns, costs associated with renting premises, utilities, advertising and personnel are much lower.
Low level of competition, because many niches are free due to the limited presence of goods and services.
Small businesses in an “average” regional city can easily be developed by reaching new frontiers.
High efficiency of free advertising (“word of mouth”). In small towns, the demand for a product or service largely depends on the level of customer satisfaction. If an entrepreneur offers a high-quality product or provides good services, then rumors about his activities will instantly spread throughout the city, which will attract a lot of new customers.

Advice: the situation with word of mouth can also work in a negative direction. You should not skimp on quality; this can lead to a drop in financial profits and bankruptcy of the enterprise.

Speaking about organizing your business in a small town, one cannot fail to mention its weaknesses:

Low traffic. In a small town, an entrepreneur has a limited number of clients. It is better to choose those places that are convenient for the client (walking distance, access roads, etc.).
Low wages. Small towns are characterized by low purchasing power.
Lack of qualified personnel. The right thing to do would be to choose a promising business that does not require the involvement of specialists - they are very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to find in a small town.

What kind of business can be opened in a small town?

It all depends on what the goal is pursued by the entrepreneur. If money is a priority, then it is necessary to consider the most profitable areas of activity. If the whole idea is for pleasure and earning a living, then everything is much simpler here.

When pursuing maximum profit, the first thing you need to do is analyze the market and identify the 5-10 most profitable areas in the region of interest. Then select the most optimal option from the presented list and begin its implementation. There is one unspoken rule to follow. If an entrepreneur wants to succeed, then his services must be of higher quality than those of competitors, at least they should not be worse. After all, the determining factor influencing the choice of the client is the price and quality.

If the priority goal is “business for pleasure,” then you should choose an idea to your liking. It may be, or other interesting solutions. It is better to give preference to a business that will make you want to do business in 2-5 or more years. It is worth noting that even “business as a hobby” can bring in very good money.

What to look for when choosing a field of activity?

When choosing what to do, an entrepreneur must rely on his own knowledge, skills and desires.

Having experience. A person who is going to hairstyle must understand hairstyles, hair cosmetics, equipment and tools. If a businessman wants to engage in trade, then it is in his interests to know the answers to the questions: where to buy goods, what assortment is most in demand, how to arrange everything correctly, etc. Before opening an unfamiliar business, you need to consult with more experienced specialists or take information from books and forums.
Availability of free time. In the first year, you will have to devote all your free time to the business, even if it has a staff working for it.
Presence of interest. Running a business is always accompanied by risk, headaches and endless worries. If you can easily quit a boring job, then you won’t be able to quit your own business. The owner will have to constantly fight for a place in the sun and resolve issues that arise. At least at first.
Demand for goods and services. An entrepreneur should answer two questions: will his services be popular and will he be able to secure a sufficient influx of clients.

Advice: When planning to engage in an interesting and unfamiliar business, the first thing you should do is study this area in more detail. It will be useful to get a similar job. 2-3 months of employment will allow you to obtain the missing information and experience “from the inside.”

How to start your own business from scratch in a small town?

Opening your own business from scratch is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. There are many ideas available for starting a business without initial capital, and almost all of them are in the service sector. To start making money with your own hands, an entrepreneur should determine which area is closest to him.

Every person is an expert in something. Some people are professionals in several fields at once. If a future entrepreneur sews well, then it’s time for him to provide repair and sewing services; if you are fluent in Photoshop tools, then provide advertising services; understands the structure of a car - offer assistance in car repairs; knows how to bake - make cakes to order, etc.

The primary task of a novice businessman is to become independent from the employer. This will allow you to devote all your time to organizing and developing your business. It is also important to take care of the reserve of funds so that it is enough for life, at least for the first time.

A prerequisite is the high-quality provision of all services; it is desirable that each of the work performed be accompanied by a guarantee with a minimum period of 6 months.

At first, there is making money and creating a customer base, which in the future will become the main backbone of the business. They will continue to buy goods and services in the future.

To further develop the business, you need to start accumulating savings, otherwise it will be impossible to take the business to a new level. In the process of work, certain expenses will arise associated with the purchase of materials necessary for the provision of services.

It is worth noting that services are always in demand, regardless of the season. It’s just that during the season the demand is much higher, but there is also work throughout the year. And the main task of a businessman is to attract customers to himself.

small town business ideas with little investment

The most popular types of small businesses are trade and services. For a business in a small town with small investments, a store is not the right solution, because one way or another you will need a large sum to purchase goods. It’s easier when a person knows how to do something with his own hands and does it well. For example, the services of plumbers, hairdressers, massage therapists, and seamstresses are in demand always and everywhere. Registration as an individual entrepreneur will allow an entrepreneur to provide professional services on a completely legal basis.

It is unlikely that such a business can make its owner a millionaire, but a small and stable income is an expected prospect, especially if you manage to acquire a regular clientele. If over time your own efforts are not enough, then you can think about hiring help. The main goal of this business is to transfer the business in the future from the category of “handicraft” services to a full-fledged company serving the public. This is often what the path of most successful local businessmen – owners of repair shops, sewing shops, hairdressers, etc. – looks like.

Business ideas - services to the population in a small town

The service sector is always relevant if we consider it as a business project: investments are minimal, the main thing is to have the necessary skills.

Organizing any business requires the presence or absence of initial investments. Some ideas do not require any costs at all.

Business ideas without investment

Tutoring. This field is suitable for people who are fluent in a musical instrument or have experience working in educational institutions. All you need to teach is to place an ad and recruit students.
Mini studio and clothing repair. This job requires a sewing machine and relevant experience. Data , especially in small towns where buying new clothes poses challenges associated with significant costs.
Cleaning service. Each housewife has a certain set of cleaning products. Cleaning the office, tidying up the premises after special events - all this is a reason to offer your services and get paid for your work. If desired, you can attract several assistants who will help turn your “handicraft” business into a large cleaning agency.

Business ideas with minimal investment

Husband for an hour. The higher the professionalism, the richer the client base. Small-term housework, repair of damaged things and appliances, plumbing and electrician services - all this requires the necessary qualifications and a modest set of tools, which will be the first investment. At the beginning of the work, the cost may be 1000-5000 rubles.
Creation and sale of handmade goods: jewelry, soap, invitations, postcards, candy bouquets, author's toys, interior decor. Costs for materials will be about 2000-3000 rubles.
Hairdressing services (haircuts, hairstyles). The cost of tools and hair styling products will be approximately 3,000 rubles. If desired, you can complete hairdressing courses. But you need to be prepared for the fact that this will entail additional costs.

I have premises - what business should I start?

If you have a garage space, it can be considered an ideal place to organize your small business. Such a business can bring a stable income. However, the amount of profit will depend on what the entrepreneur intends to do and how much effort will be invested in promoting the business. Having your own free space is a big plus, because there is no need to rent immediately. Of course, a garage is not exactly a suitable place to open a bakery or cafe. But there are many other options.

When thinking about what kind of business to open in a garage, many people make the same mistake. Often people use the most common idea. Auto repair shops are often set up in garages. However, this option can be considered outdated and it is better to discard it immediately.

Firstly, because this area is highly competitive. Auto repair services are provided by many individual entrepreneurs who have a large room and expensive modern equipment. Those cars that are covered by insurance are repaired in workshops cooperating with insurers.

Secondly, because the required areas are usually not available. At the same time, no more than two cars can be accommodated in one room, and this is subject to a double garage. But in order to provide high-quality services, special equipment is needed, which, as a rule, has large dimensions. Which means it won't fit in the garage.

Thirdly, due to the “impassable” location. To ensure an influx of customers, the auto repair shop should be located in a convenient and accessible location. To popularize such a business, large expenses are also required.

Ideas for small business can be divided into three areas:

production;
trade;
provision of services.

Production in garage for sale

Cabinet furniture. Manufacturing and assembly of kitchen units, wardrobes, dressing rooms, etc. This work requires financial costs, tools, as well as experience in working with chipboard and wood. The markup on these products is at least 100%.
Garden sculptures. Organizing a small production of flowerpots and sculptures for the garden in the garage is not at all difficult. The required materials for manufacturing are gypsum and concrete. The production technology is quite simple and does not require large investments. Finished products can be sold both directly and through intermediary stores.
Artistic forging. People who have experience working with metal can produce small forged products in the garage that are in stable demand, for example, grilles, lamps, candlesticks, balcony railings, etc. Of course, to equip a garage for a small forge, significant investments are required, but this should not confuse a novice businessman, because this business is characterized by a quick payback.
Airbrush. Even if an entrepreneur lacks artistic skills, this does not prevent him from turning an ordinary car into a work of art. In addition, drawings using this technology can be applied to almost all objects, giving them greater individuality.

Provision of services

Warehouse services. Clients can be online store owners or managers of small businesses. Seasonal services can also be provided. One way or another, you will have to build a large number of shelves. In addition, this business will require costs for installing an alarm system or insuring property.
Rental. This is not the most popular service, since the proceeds will only be enough to pay for the membership fee and electricity. Renting out a garage is usually a concern for those who lack the time and desire to deal with it.
Tire service. It was mentioned earlier that a garage is not the best option for a car repair shop. However, an entrepreneur can provide seasonal services for “re-shoeing” cars. This business can bring good income. During the season, the demand for such services increases sharply, and car services cannot cope with the large influx of customers. The necessary equipment can be rented. This will help you save money and make a good profit.

What can you sell in a small town?

Despite the fact that trading has always been a profitable business, it has not only strengths, but also weaknesses. What is profitable to sell in a small town is an age-old question that almost every beginning businessman asks. It can be answered only after conducting marketing research.

An entrepreneur who wants to make efforts in the trading field must clearly understand what he wants and what is profitable for him to trade specifically for him.

For example, trade in food products has always been and will be a profitable area. Products constitute a constant cost item for each family. And if prices are lower than those of neighbors, this will ensure stable profits. However, this business has its drawbacks. Firstly, products deteriorate over time, and special conditions are needed to preserve them. Secondly, this activity is under the close attention of sanitary services.

Industrial products do not have an expiration date, but they are not purchased every day. Thus, the demand for office supplies increases in August and September, while in other months there is a lull.

When starting any business, demographic and geographic factors must be taken into account. It is also worth taking into account that a business that will bring big profits in a large city may fail in a small one.

What store to open in a small town?

Of course, the most win-win option for any locality is opening a grocery store. But there are other promising solutions:

Goods for children. This is a stable business that does not depend on the season or the size of the locality. As a rule, parents do not save on their children, which allows them to put higher markups on children's goods. This determines the good profitability of the business and the possibility of implementing a flexible pricing policy. You can trade anything: children's shoes and clothing, food, toys, strollers and other related products.
Goods for pets. The greatest demand is for products for cats and dogs, as well as everything related to aquariums. You can sell food, litter trays, toys, decorations, vitamins and minerals, cages, carriers, beds, etc. Such a store should be located in a passable place: near a bus stop or in a busy place.
Hardware store. The range of these products is quite wide. The main groups of household goods include household chemicals, garden and household goods. Profitability of trade ensures high turnover.
Automotive accessories store. In the modern world, where every family owns a car, business in this area is very relevant. The list of such products includes deflectors, windshield wipers, video recorders, interior and luggage mats, navigators, radar detectors, etc.

Business for a woman in a small town

While on maternity leave, many women begin to feel an acute lack of money. But at the same time, they are not ready to send their small child to kindergarten or do not have such an opportunity, as a result of which they cannot return to work. The only way out for them is a home business, which will allow them to devote time to their children and earn money at the same time:

Manicure at home. Having the necessary knowledge or having studied in special courses, you can begin to host clients who want to improve the quality and appearance of their nails. High quality work will ensure a large influx of clients, which will allow you to earn a full-fledged income in the city.
Nanny services. While staying at home with a child, you can take on another one and, most likely, he will not become a burden. The main thing is to love children. Each person has the right to set the amount of remuneration at their own discretion, based on the average statistical cost of these services.
Photography class. Knowing how to take beautiful and interesting photographs, as well as process them using special programs, you can post your work on photo banking sites. There they will most likely be noticed by website creators, where they will be sold out for a certain amount. Of course, the payment is low, but if you post high-quality photos every day, you can make good money.
Handmade. Handmade products are in good demand. You can sew, knit, embroider, weave with beads, create soft toys, soap, etc. Even lack of experience is not a barrier, since everything can be learned on the Internet.
Online consultations. If daily communication with people by phone, Skype, etc. does not cause embarrassment, then you can get a job in some company selling goods through the network.

And this is not a complete list of “women’s” business ideas. For example, a businesswoman can start, etc. These projects are more suitable for those who live in their own home and have at least a small plot of land.

The most profitable business today in a small town

Below is a brief overview of the most for a small town with a population of up to 100 thousand inhabitants. New projects and know-how will not be affected here, but only proven solutions that, with the proper approach, will certainly bring profit:

Internet business. Having a computer or laptop, as well as certain knowledge, allows you to open your own business on the Internet. This is a profitable and very convenient business idea: the entrepreneur does not need an office, he can work at any convenient time, because the business is not affected in any way by location. A person can choose any option he likes: website creation, SEO optimization, copywriting or online store.
Shop of flowers and indoor plants. Flowers are not an essential item, but, oddly enough, they are in great demand. Especially during major holidays: September 1, February 14, March 8, etc. Flowers are also often needed on ordinary days - for dates, as a thank you for a service.
Beauty saloon. Beauty has always been and will be a successfully marketed product. There are several business models. One of them is economy, this is the most successful option for a small town in which inexperienced residents live. Services can be very simple (haircut, coloring, styling, nail service, light cosmetic services).
A fitness center. Many modern people pay great attention to their health and, in particular, physical development. This is a rather specific type of business, so before you open it, you need to consult with experienced people. You should also study all the features of sports equipment in order to buy the right simulators and other equipment.

In summing up, I would like to give a few recommendations aimed at the development of business projects in a small town. First of all, you should take on what is well known and does not raise many questions. This will allow you to cope without staff for the first time. It is better to choose those areas of activity that maintain a stable demand for goods and services for a long time. Their list includes food products, entertainment, medicine, etc. Do not forget about the pricing policy: goods that contribute to savings will always be a priority for residents of small towns.

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It should also be remembered that the basis for promoting any business is competent advertising. The Internet can provide considerable assistance in this matter: a rich target audience and the availability of resources will allow you to earn the trust of potential customers in the shortest possible time.

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Do you live in a small provincial town and dream of running your own business in a metropolis? In order to become a successful businessman, it is not at all necessary to go to conquer the capital, because you can become the first where you live now. Take advantage of some of the ideas we offer for small town entrepreneurs and open your own business in your “small homeland”.

What are the differences between small businesses in a big and small city?

In a small city, compared to a large metropolis, the following features for doing business:

Limited sales market or the need to spend money on logistics and deliver products to the end consumer in other localities;
The absence of any barriers to starting a business and a minimum of competitors, but undeveloped market demand and low purchasing power of the population;
Cheap labor, but at the same time difficulties in finding highly qualified specialists without flaws;
Low costs for organizing production - lower rental rates, more available commercial space, more affordable repairs, less pathos and the need for extra costs;
Cheap local raw materials, but expensive imported resources due to transportation costs;
Availability of benefits for business development and support from various official authorities;
The high value of reputation - mistakes are not forgotten here and new clients are difficult to find.

If in a large district or regional center, in order to create your own business, significant start-up costs will be required (after all, space, advertising, and personnel are expensive), then in a city with a small population you can minimize this contribution required to open your own business.

Yes, in a small town there are fewer opportunities and not every idea is suitable for implementation in such a limited space, but the owner of the company will be able to easily manage all processes and not lose control over his enterprise. The scale here is not the same. You can handle all the responsibilities as a family contract and not hire outsiders.

What kind of business can you open in a small town?

Of course, you can open another store, as others do, but it is better to choose an idea that no one has used in your city before you. What is suitable for implementation within a small city:

You can choose many options and determine what kind of business you can open in your small town by looking at the experience of neighboring regions, for example, on the Avito website.

As an example, we can cite an entrepreneur from a small seaside town, who at the beginning of his activities purchased an inflatable slide and now - after 4 beach seasons - there are more than two dozen children's sea attractions and even a water slide for adults on the coast throughout the area. All of them are in demand and there is no end to vacationers in the summer months. The business is seasonal, but profitable. It is fortunate that this holiday destination is chosen not only by residents of a small town, but everyone comes here from large centers.

There is another example of success. A small private bakery began in a home kitchen with supplies to a nearby stall, three years have passed and it now supplies not only all the city’s retail outlets with fresh baked goods, but also supplies baked goods outside the area.

In the subsidized area, almost all loggers exported wood outside the region, and one of the sawmills decided not only to produce boards, but also to open a carpentry shop on its territory. Already in the first year of operation, the workshop was provided with orders for a long time - they make country and home furniture from natural wood, make souvenirs and make gazebos.

How to positively use the conditions of small towns for the development of small businesses

Business can be successfully developed in a small town. The main thing is to optimally use the existing advantages and avoid disadvantages. You need to choose those options for your own business that allow you to organize production and sales at minimal cost without special logistics costs.

What will help an entrepreneur in a small town?

First of all, we can note such a fact as the lack of competition and free niches in the market in many areas of activity. By becoming the first in the city in your chosen field, you can win over all consumers and not be afraid of the actions of competitors.
Minimum thresholds for entering the market - you don’t have to start an expensive advertising campaign, spend money on kickbacks, go to hell because of competitors, and in general, all the costs of starting a business in a small city are much lower.
And not only can you save money when creating an enterprise - you also won’t need to spend too much in the course of your business. In a small town, real estate, many materials and raw materials, especially local ones, are cheaper, and wages are incomparably lower than in a large settlement.
There are more opportunities to receive support from local authorities - in the provinces, every new enterprise becomes a plus for the entire city and region, so officials help the beginning entrepreneur in every possible way; there is no tough competition for grants and subsidies.

Whatever business you choose for a small town, it is important to organize your work correctly so that all residents of the city quickly learn about you from a positive side. “Word of mouth” in small settlements can be both an excellent help at the start and a hindrance to development.

The attitude of clients is only in your hands, so you will have to earn trust first, but this is easier to do in small towns.

It is reputation in such cases that is more important than profitability; remember this when opening your own business.

Video: interview - how I opened my own hairdressing salon

If you offer something that people need, your business will prosper. A hairdresser is a profitable business in a small town, as well as in a big one.

In a small town you can organize a profitable business just as well as in a big one. Many people think that it cannot be profitable in a small town. Anyone who thinks so is immediately setting themselves up for failure and does not consider the positive aspects of this issue.

Differences between small cities and large ones

There are many advantages of living in small towns. Here are some of them.

There life flows slowly and measuredly. The population is more conscious about the choice of goods and services.
People here are more conservative in their views and are not so influenced by fashion. They prefer to spend more time searching for the product they need at reasonable prices.
Everything is nearby, objects are not far from each other.
Much better environment.
Residents of tiny towns are less susceptible to stressful situations.
The population does not spend money on public transport, and this saves money significantly.
Small places have almost everything the same as big ones. If you need to go to a large city, you can go there by private car or public transport.
There is a big difference between mentality and lifestyle.
The population of small towns has its own established value system, which determines their way of life.
In small towns, the risk of crisis and globalization is reduced.
The degree of protection from the risk of ruin due to decreased demand is slightly higher than in a big city.

Business ideas in a small town

Residents of such settlements should not rush to choose the specifics of their future business. You need to carefully weigh all the pros and cons and only then make the only right decision. Only in this case will the work bring you a good profit. The ceiling on sales volume in small towns may be limited by the size of the population and its purchasing power.

From the very beginning, you must “soberly” assess the market of your locality. Find out what services or goods residents want, what they need and what they expect. Clarify the number of your future competitors, their strengths and weaknesses.

It would be great to start your own business using the system franchising. There are hundreds, or even thousands of items. In this case, the entrepreneur can count on a loan and comprehensive assistance from the franchisee. This can be a good way to get going. Working under a well-known brand is much easier.

For the little ones, organize a Leisure and Development Center, where they will study and explore the world.

A popular business in a small town is a private one with a range of services: haircut, hair coloring, holiday hairstyles, manicure, pedicure. This type of business will never fail. Women always strive to be beautiful and attractive.

Freight and taxi services. In small towns, people also sometimes prefer taxis to public transport. Recruit a few drivers with personal transport, and things will go according to the established pattern. Thanks to this direction, business in a small town in winter will become even more popular.

and selling them in big cities. To do this, you need to have a small plot of land and the desire to work on it. The population of megacities gladly buys such products.

Massage at the client's home. Many pensioners or people with disabilities cannot afford to get to the clinic and wait in long lines there. Several experienced masseuses - and your business will flourish.

Having a small room at your disposal, you can open studio for sewing clothes, bed linen or repairing leather goods, umbrellas or making keys.

A new, in-demand type of service not only in big cities, but also in small ones - the provision of assistance with garbage removal, old furniture and household appliances for disposal. In small towns, the problem of recycling household appliances is even more acute, since in megacities this issue is solved better.

Considering the unique location of your town, you can start making jewelry, which would be ideally suited to the original culture of the city.

Even in tiny towns there are people who will spare no expense for cleaning clothes, since not everything can be washed or cleaned at home. And you can provide this service to the population.

Opening a small branded sweets store, which will have several tables for tasting your products. A cup of tea or coffee will attract those who want to enjoy delicious products to the establishment.

Gifts and cards shop. If you try really hard, you can make an original boutique with beautifully designed gift sets and postcards with the appropriate theme. In this business, you need to take into account the following feature: customers need to be treated with respect and warmth. Need to don't just sellgifts, but also to be able to offer a product that is appropriate for this particular occasion. Calculate how much customers can leave in your store, and based on this, formulate your pricing policy.

Mini bakery. This type of business will provide your town with always fresh baked goods. The bread that is brought from a large city is not always soft. You can bake not only bread, but also: straws, buns with various fillings, and so on. Such a business has much more opportunities to flourish in small towns than in big cities.

In the conditions of life in a small town, there is an urgent need to open a business related to modern technologies: repair of mobile phones, sale and installation of satellite dishes and other related products.

Opening a private dental clinic. The population of our cities, both large and small, cannot boast of the good condition of their teeth. Therefore, treatment, removal, prosthetics may be precisely the type of activity where you can earn a lot of money.

Private driving school. You will be able to provide driving training services. In small towns, a car has long ceased to be a luxury and almost every family has a car.

Service " Husband for an hour" Having several men on staff who know how to do everything around the house, you can organize a good business. This includes minor repairs, connection and repair of equipment.

Private kindergarten or babysitting services. In small cities, the problem with is no less acute than in large ones. Sometimes parents have nowhere to put their children, especially during school holidays. In small towns, everyone knows each other, and finding good teachers or nannies is not difficult. It will be difficult for you to make a mistake in the staff and its labor qualities.

Car repair and maintenance workshop,. You don't need a very large room for this. It is enough to equip it with the necessary equipment. A few competent car mechanics will be able to attract many clients to the workshop. Believe me, there are not many good specialists to whom people can trust their car. You can open nearby.

If you live near a village, you can organize ethnotourism. Residents of big cities will be happy to come to you. Many people want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis and feel the village spirit for a few days, dig in the soil, and look after their pets.

An excellent way to earn capital can be opening sports or gym. Young people in small towns have long understood the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Opening computer store or a store selling mobile phones. Innovative technologies are not alien to residents far from large cities.

Workshop on furniture manufacturing and repair. Surely in your city there are several skilled craftsmen who have golden hands. Offer them cooperation with you, together you can achieve good success.

Can become a good income generator hotel business. If you have a premises that can be converted into a small hotel, motel or - this would be a good option. The rooms can also be rented out on a daily basis. With proper organization of work and advertising, success will not take long to arrive.

For residents of small towns, one of the best options may be Internet business. In this case there will be no restrictions or barriers. No one will “put a spoke in your wheels”; you will depend only on yourself.

Bureau of Funeral Servicesis also a profitable business in small towns. Unfortunately, people die everywhere, regardless of where they live. The moment comes when we are faced with the problem of burying loved ones. List of services that you can offer to clients:

hearse services (morgue – house – cemetery),
hand digging a hole
delivery of all necessary attributes,
coffin making,
provision of porters for burial,
making crosses and tombstones,
delivery of musicians or priests to funerals,
provision of necessary transport,
assistance in organizing a funeral dinner.

Is it profitable to open a business in a small town?

Whether a certain type of activity in a particular city is profitable or not depends on many components.
Before starting work, you need to thoroughly study the consumer market of your locality and assess possible competition. Then you need to select competent personnel whom you can trust. It will be necessary to treat product suppliers responsibly (if the specifics of the work require this). It will not be profitable for you to attract suppliers from big cities - look for them in nearby settlements.

How quickly the investment can pay off will depend on certain conditions. Residents of small towns do not have a lot of money, so you should not count on quick profits. It may take several years for the business to break even. Much will depend on the demand for the type of services that you offer to citizens.

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Such a question as business ideas for a small town worries a large number of people in any country in the world, including ours.

If no more than 100,000 people live in a settlement, then it is considered not a very suitable place for business activity, since there is a high chance of simply not finding your client or buyer. Small cities usually have modest average salaries, a shortage of active population, and this calls into question even the most sound plans and calculations.

But not everything is as sad as it might seem at first glance. If you approach the matter wisely and show some dexterity, which is simply mandatory for an entrepreneur, then even in settlements with a population of 20, 30 or 60,000 people you can find your niche and make good money.

Features of doing business in small towns

If you are a resident of a small locality, but do not want to give up the idea of becoming a businessman, then the very first thing you need to do is understand the key features of competent business activities in your region. There are both pros and cons here.

Of the minuses it is worth noting:

A small number of people will not be able to create a truly large demand even for the highest quality products. The question of what to trade is very acute here. They won’t often buy new cars from you.
Limited opportunities for partnerships. If a person plans to produce or create something, then he will have to travel far away for components and materials, which increases costs.
You need to correctly calculate the quantity of goods offered. If, for example, these are agricultural products, they may deteriorate over time, so it is important to provide as many products as the local market can absorb.

Among the advantages, the following points can be noted:

A small town means a minimum of competitors and possible problems with industry giants. Here, even a product of mediocre quality can be quite in demand.
Organizing production will not be so expensive - renting premises will not require large investments, modest salaries for employees will also play into the hands of the entrepreneur.

Taking this into account, you can protect yourself as much as possible and protect yourself from the rapid collapse of even the most productive ideas.

What business to start in a small town

It is very important to immediately outline those areas that will bring maximum benefit in such an area. What type of activity should you engage in so that it brings a stable profit?

Obviously, it is not worth organizing a car production plant in a town of 40,000 people, just like opening a company for organizing flights to the moon.

The most cost-effective business will be the one that is aimed at the majority of residents or a significant part of it.

There is no need to invent something exotic - a traditional type of activity can bring maximum benefits. Residents of the capital and large cities are fed up with the abundance of offers around, but in a small settlement everything is different - even a simple good grocery store with familiar products or an experienced tiler can have constant demand for their activities.

It is worth noting: Of course, it’s difficult to come up with a win-win option, because there are risks everywhere, but if you do everything wisely, then even the most banal things can “work” and be beneficial.

Business for women in a small town

Representatives of the fairer sex are traditionally considered less inclined to active entrepreneurial activity, but they often achieve great success in this direction.

A resident of a small locality can also get good results in a small business, but for this, again, you need to find your own business. Which one is a pressing question.

What can a woman do, what can a representative of the fair sex reveal? Many things, for example:

A good job for a woman can be making some things, sewing clothes, handicrafts, knitting beautiful tablecloths for the table, or designing bed linen.
The issue of making delicious food is always relevant. You can bake cakes, beautiful decorative cookies, pies and other delicacies that the population will buy in small quantities for the dinner table, and in large quantities for various red days of the calendar.
Agriculture. Many housewives found themselves working on the land. In breeding various birds. This is a troublesome business, but it can provide significant financial profit.

There are other interesting options - it all depends on the skill and desire of each individual woman.

What store to open in a small town

The traditional option for doing business in a small town is opening a store.

To start your own business and not burn out from the very first days of work, you need to take into account the following nuances:

It is necessary to choose a product that can be traded with minimal competition, but it must be in demand among people.
You should not get involved in incomprehensible and complex things, for example, trying to open a pharmacy. This is the sphere of activity of large corporations, and daredevils who decide to engage in such amateur activities can pay dearly for such a decision.
You just need to take a closer look at the typical needs of people and open the appropriate store. What people go to a big city for is high-quality and varied food, fresh modern clothes, interesting children's toys, some inexpensive electronics. All this may well be popular everywhere.

Business without investment in a small town

How to start your own business and not invest a penny in it? The question is complex, but there are options here too.

Here are some of them:

If you have the premises and certain skills at your disposal, you can organize repairs of automobile and motorcycle equipment there.
Repair of computer equipment and gadgets, which is now in great demand.
Installation of various household electronics and its repair (air conditioners, hoods, TVs, satellite dishes, office equipment and much more).
A woman can open her own hairdresser or makeshift beauty salon right at home - do manicures, beautiful haircuts and other beauty services.

There are various projects that do not require investment and they are all interesting in their own way.

Ideas for a profitable business in a small town

Let's move from theory to practice - so what kind of small business can be created in a town for 20,000 - 100,000 people, where to start, so that it brings good earnings?

Here are some great ideas:

Trade in food, clothing, and household essentials. Vegetables and fruits, meat products, milk, inexpensive wardrobe items, various consumables for the household are perfect for the province: nuts, bolts, grinder wheels, nails, building materials, etc. People need all this all year round: in winter and summer.
An excellent option for individual entrepreneurs is the provision of repair services. Plastering, puttying, laying tiles, installing windows and doors, laying paving stones in the yard - your enterprise will be in demand, since all this is always of interest to the population.
In the service sector, the population needs to look at demand - if it is sufficient, then you can open your own hairdresser, beauty salon or something like that.
What else can you make money on? You can create your own thematic forum or even an online store on the Internet. Minimum investment and reach a huge audience far beyond your hometown.
rental business. If you have a couple of apartments or a garage that are not used for personal business, then why not rent them out to another family for use. This will bring, albeit small, but constant, noticeable income.
Tutoring. If you have knowledge and know how to share it, you can open your own tutoring school to prepare children for admission to universities. There will be few competitors, but the demand for such help always exists; even for a small town this type of activity is relevant.
You can open your own bar or cafe, create an unusual interior and an interesting menu. There are practically no entertainment facilities in small towns; people want to better organize their leisure time, so demand will be guaranteed.
Creation of a small construction company. 2-3 experienced people are enough, and the company is ready - you can carry out repairs of any complexity and make good money.
Creation of wells for water. Many people in the private sector do not have access to a centralized water supply system, and they need to create a personal source. You can organize your own company and, at the request of residents, equip water wells for them.
Buy a 3D printer and use it to make various interesting things, toys for children, custom parts, etc. It’s a business without large investments, simple and profitable in the long term.

These are the ideas for your own business from scratch that can be implemented in small settlements. A mini-enterprise will not bring in millions, but it can become an interesting business for beginners, bringing a stable decent income.

What to produce or what to sell, in what quantities, what initial investments to make - everyone must decide for themselves. The most important thing to remember is that with the right and thoughtful approach, almost any business can make a profit.

We bring to your attention a video that may help you make a choice in business for a small town:

About 80% of the Russian population lives outside the capital and regional centers. Rumors that it is impossible to create a profitable business in the periphery are greatly exaggerated. The article provides five examples of quite successful businesses, and notes the characteristic features of provincial cities.

The answer to the question of what business to open in a small town cannot be unambiguous. In addition to the general characteristics inherent in small administrative centers, each of them has its own unique features. When counting on the success of an enterprise, it is necessary to take into account both groups of influencing factors as fully as possible. As life shows, the advantages in this regard are on the side of the local residents. In contrast to the “alien Varangians” who develop a new territory by trial and error.

Pros and cons of a small town

Two professors from the Higher School of Economics: Simon Kordonsky and Yuri Plyusnin, made 30 traveling expeditions in 2011-2014, studying provincial towns in the Russian hinterland. The results of the study were announced in June of this year as part of the round table “Russian Society Outside Big Cities.”

Hence the conclusion: there are prospects anywhere. The main thing: when choosing which business to open in a small town, all ideas need to be considered through the prism of specific local characteristics.

General specifics of small towns

one, less often two city-forming enterprises;
low-rise buildings, low population density;
low incomes and solvency of residents;
high level of administrative "press".

At first glance, all of the above limits the choice of business idea. But on the other hand, these same factors provide some advantages: low start-up capital investments, no large advertising costs and a relatively low level of competition.

As an example, we can cite federal retail chains: “Magnit”, “Seventh Continent” and others. Despite widespread development in large cities, in the periphery they, as a rule, do not receive the expected profit. In small towns, they lose their main advantage: the savings from population density, which reduces their costs, and displace small retail outlets within their small radius of influence. In addition, the average salary of residents of small towns is 5-7 times lower than even the regional level, which significantly reduces trade turnover from 1 sq. m. and the amount of the average bill. Lack of knowledge of the local market and consumer tastes also has an effect.

As a rule, socially oriented projects receive administrative support: educational, sports, cultural, and health projects. When developing a trading business, you need to take into account the interests of local producers. In general, the authorities are interested in developing those types of activities, the income from which goes to the local budget.

What business ideas to look for

If you intend to open your own business in a small town or village, it would not be superfluous to ask what small and medium-sized enterprises in Russia do in general (Fig. 1).

Even at a cursory glance, everything is obvious. About 40% of SMEs are occupied by retail, catering, household repairs. Under “others” are hidden: hotels, restaurants and cafes; housing and communal services, education; entertainment, tourism. How to assess the prospects of this or that idea, to understand which business is the most profitable in a small town?

The main feature of a business idea for a small city: it must take into account local specific factors, both positive and negative.

In most cases, the bet turns out to be successful:

to local flavor, unique nature: organization of non-standard tours, including agritourism, which is gaining popularity; horse breeding; opening of a mini-hotel;
on historically established habits: fishing and fish breeding, production of dairy products, potatoes - in agricultural areas; knitting production in areas where goats and sheep are raised.
to meet the modern needs of the population: private kindergartens, cafes, paintball clubs, entertainment for children, development and sports centers.

The services offered must solve pressing, vital problems of city residents. Practicality and benefit are the main criteria for choosing a business idea for a small town, and not its pretentiousness or exclusivity.

A separate topic is services for business. Surprisingly, they are in demand! For accountants, economists, lawyers, experts in various industries, this is a poorly filled and very promising niche. This is shown by the results of a survey recently conducted by the Small Business Resource Center (Fig. 2). The project was implemented using the example of three cities: Suvorov (20,126 people), Buturlinovka (26,241 people) and Ostrogozhsk (32,310 people).

The biggest gap is in legal advice. There is no company providing such services in any of these cities.

Is successful business in the periphery a reality? Yes!

The examples below are taken from real life. This is a clear illustration of everything that was said above.

Private kindergarten "Umka"

City of Sibay, Bashkiria, 62 35 inhabitants.;

Ilmira Gatiyatova directly faced a problem when she was unable to go to work: there was no place in kindergarten for her 2.5-year-old daughter. 6 months passed from the birth of the idea to its implementation. 200,000 rubles of their own funds were invested in the organization, and 300,000 were received from the city budget under the program to support small and medium-sized businesses. The private kindergarten is the first and so far the only one in the city. There are 30 children attending it, and 50 parents have already signed up for the waiting list. In the video below, the entrepreneur talks about his experience.

The Ministry of Labor has prepared a bill that is under consideration. It will allow the use of maternity capital funds to pay for private kindergartens and individual entrepreneurs providing supervision and care for children. If the law is adopted, this type of business will receive an additional impetus for development.

Interesting franchise: Baby Way - an innovative technique for raising children.

Consulting in a small town?

Engineering group "Compass"

G. Glazov Udmurtia, 94,610 inhabitants.

In Europe and the USA, about 90% of small and more than 50% of medium-sized enterprises use the services of accounting firms. In Russia there is still much less, but the number of people interested is constantly growing. The Compass educational and methodological center grew out of a small company providing services in the field of law, accounting, and consulting on business issues. The organization was created in 2002, and now it is already a group of companies. Its partners and clients include the largest enterprises in the region. In 2008, the Expert RA rating agency assigned the company a V quality rating. Its director Andrey Anatolyevich Makarov was recognized as the best entrepreneur of the city in the “Services” category in 2010.

Uryupinsk: “Russia is a province - a hole”?

The town is located in the south of the Volgograd region, population - 39,171 people. Two years ago, he officially registered the brand “Capital of the Russian Province”. The following three examples of successful businesses show that enterprising people find business everywhere.

Let's replace Polish apples with Russian ones

In 2007, a young entrepreneur Nikolai Sayutin purchased one of the apple orchards abandoned in the 90s. The mild climate makes it possible to grow excellent apples here, and over the past years, the renovated orchards have entered a time of active fruiting. Taking into account the policy of import substitution, the entrepreneur hit the bull’s eye. A video from local Uryupinsk TV shows the whole process in detail.

The entrepreneur organized waste recycling

The enterprise, created by Ali Ibragimov in 2010, is thriving - there is plenty of garbage in the city. It makes a profit and employs 10 workers. There is a loader, two presses. Aluminum cans, waste paper, and plastic bottles are recycled. So far it is the only one in the city, but there are plans to expand services in the housing and communal services sector. In what areas is kept secret from future competitors. B.zYu

Knitting enterprise LLC "Uzory"

A small enterprise was organized by Raisa Kazimirova in 2000. It employs 10 homeworkers, 7 knitters, 3 spinners. Uryupinsk is the only place in Russia where goats with a fluff length of up to 13 cm are bred (the vaunted Orenburg ones, according to locals, have it shorter). Nowadays, Vyacheslav Zaitsev, Andrey Malakhov, and members of the Ryzhkov and Chubais families are wearing products from Uryupinsk. For his 55th birthday, Putin was given down underpants, a T-shirt with the inscription “I’ll give up everything, I’ll go to Uryupinsk” and socks. They were included in the rating of “The Best Gifts for the President” compiled by the Trud newspaper.

There are only 5 examples, and small and medium-sized cities in Russia make up more than 80% of the total number. There is a field for activity, if there is a desire.

An important condition for organizing a business in a small town is low initial costs. In a special section of the Moneymaker Factory, we have collected 45 projects with investment amounts starting from 15,000 thousand rubles. Here you will find real stories of aspiring and successful businessmen, examples of business plans and interesting ideas.