If you’re unemployed or underemployed, you may have tried starting your own business. Unfortunately, after a few business ideas failed, you may have concluded that you didn’t have enough business experience or the financial resources to have your own business.

Still, a Personal Service Business is a niche that doesn’t require much business knowledge and experience. Nor does it require deep pockets. What’s more, not only does this business-to-consumer business model only requires elementary business knowhow, but you can also start on a shoestring budget.  

Let’s quickly review two personal service jobs to illustrate how easy it is to begin.

Business Idea #1: Tutoring

If you are knowledgeable about an academic subject, then you could tutor someone in grade school, high school, college, or graduate school to help them improve their grades.

However, you don’t have to limit yourself to academic subjects. You could tutor someone on any complex subject that requires subject matter expertise. 

Examples of Non-Academic Tutoring:

• If you’re proficient in the nuances of English because you’re an English major, you could tutor people who want to learn English as a second language.
• If you’re a chess master or grandmaster, you could teach people how to improve their game to compete in tournaments.

When tutoring advanced subjects, one problem you might encounter is unmotivated students. The subject may be so difficult that they procrastinate their studying.  One elegant solution is to find motivating stories to engage them.

If, say, you are tutoring an ultra-difficult subject like Medical Microbiology, you could tell your students about Jim Plante. After he founded Klotho Therapeutics, his organization contributed to biological science by modifying the Klotho hormone to treat aging diseases like diabetes, cancer, or neuro-generative diseases. 

By using a real-life example of someone who has put erudite knowledge to practical use, you will motivate students to give subjects like bacteriology, virology, immunology, and mycology the time and attention they deserve. By infusing them with a vision, you will motivate them to become committed students.

You can tutor at the student’s home, in your home, or online with video conferencing apps.

Business Idea #2: House Sitting and Pet Sitting

Although you can consider house sitting and pet sitting as separate jobs, you can also combine them.

House Sitting 

If you decide on house sitting, it is a good way to live rent-free. Because of this option, it can be a wonderful opportunity if you want temporary housing abroad. 

Pet Sitting 

You will get most of your pet sitting jobs from people who want you to walk their dogs when they are away at work. 

You might also get a pet sitting gig because a pet owner wants their pets fed around noon or in the late afternoon because they don’t want them to starve until they get home late in the evening.

A Package Deal: Housesitting with Pet Sitting

You may be able to earn more by offering a package deal.

You will often find plenty of work available if you stay at someone’s house and take care of their pets. Many people go on vacation during the big holidays to visit family in other states and want someone to stay in their homes and look after their pets. 

High Consumer Demand 

You could start a full-time personal service business or just work part-time to earn extra income. 

You see? It really is that simple. First, find something that you love to do, then figure a way to monetize it.