20 Business Ideas to Start with Little Money: Complete Guide for 2025

Starting your own business is no longer a privilege reserved for those with abundant capital. With creativity, dedication, and internet access, any Brazilian can turn an idea into a source of income. This guide presents 20 viable projects for those looking to start with minimal investment and real growth potential.

Digital Opportunities: The Most Accessible Path

The digital sector has revolutionized entrepreneurship. Without costs for rent, inventory, or heavy infrastructure, it’s possible to offer high-value services working from home.

Social Media Management

Small and medium-sized companies need skilled professionals to manage their online presence. The social media manager handles content, follower interaction, metric analysis, and simple ad campaigns. Free and low-cost tools make this business highly accessible. Compensation is usually based on a monthly package of posts and management, varying according to the size of the client company.

Short Video Production

Demand for short-form visual content has exploded in recent years. Editors proficient with editing tools — from free to professional — can secure consistent work. Services include precise cuts, adding automatic subtitles, and dynamic editing. Professionals in this area report earnings between R$ 800 and R$ 3,000 per project.

Freelance Graphic Design

Visual identities, banners, logos, and social media materials are among the most sought-after skills. Many beginners start with accessible platforms and evolve to more robust software as they gain experience and clients.

Writing and Copywriting

The explosion of blogs, online stores, and social media content has created huge demand for skilled writers. SEO-optimized texts, product descriptions, scripts, and social media content are increasingly valued commodities. Specialized platforms connect writers with companies needing these services.

Website Development

Many Brazilian companies still lack their own digital presence, creating opportunities for those offering website creation for institutional pages, blogs, and small online stores. User-friendly platforms like WordPress eliminate the need for advanced programming knowledge, allowing anyone well-trained to create professional solutions.

Virtual Assistance

Individual entrepreneurs and small teams often need administrative support. Scheduling, responding to clients, managing emails, and social media support are tasks that consume valuable time. A well-prepared virtual assistant can provide these solutions remotely, requiring only organization and familiarity with productivity tools.

Affiliate Marketing

Promoting third-party products and earning commissions per sale is a highly scalable model. Without the need for stock or direct investment, you can start through blogs, social media, messaging groups, or online communities. Established platforms simplify the entire tracking and payment process.

Food: Businesses with Quick Returns

The food sector is resilient and offers attractive margins. Home kitchens can be the perfect starting point.

Customized Meals

The demand for healthy eating has driven growth in ordered meal services. Starting is simple: prepare balanced meals in your own kitchen and promote via social media or apps. Buying ingredients directly from small producers keeps costs low without sacrificing quality.

Artisanal Confectionery

Decorated cakes, gourmet sweets, functional desserts, and dessert tables for parties are in constant demand year-round. Starting small, based on orders, allows testing the market risk-free. Minimal investment in basic ingredients and attractive visual presentation boost sales conversion.

Event Barbecue

Mastering techniques for preparing and cutting meat opens doors for events of all sizes: birthdays, gatherings, weddings, and corporate meetings. Offering different price levels (basic, premium, gourmet) allows serving diverse audiences.

Meal Planning

For those knowledgeable in nutrition and meal routines, creating personalized meal plans is a promising business. Clients seek to lose weight, gain muscle, save money, or simply have more convenience. Online service enables working with multiple clients simultaneously, selling weekly or monthly packages.

Food Truck or Mobile Cart

Mobile food services are expanding in Brazil, offering flexibility to test menus without the fixed costs of a traditional establishment. Artisanal burgers, crepes, healthy snacks, churros, and vegan options are trending niches. Choosing a busy location and maintaining an impeccable visual presentation are keys to success.

Beauty and Wellness: High-Demand Services

The pandemic solidified the preference for beauty delivery services. Demand continues to grow.

Manicure and Pedicure

Nail services have constant demand and very low initial investment. Providing at-home service, at clients’ homes or in shared spaces, offers flexibility. Advanced techniques like gel extensions, fiber nails, and nail art increase profit margins.

Professional Makeup

Parties, weddings, graduations, and content creation have created strong demand. Low initial investment and quick returns characterize this activity. As your portfolio grows, prices can increase, and special packages can offer higher margins.

Cosmetics Resale

The beauty segment is among the strongest in the country. Starting as a reseller through catalogs or consignment allows testing the market with little investment. Promoting via social media and messaging groups ensures quick reach.

Massage Therapy

Stress reduction and muscle tension relief drive demand for massages. With basic training, it’s feasible to offer home visits or set up a simple space at home. Relaxing, therapeutic, lymphatic, and sports massages are profitable niches. Monthly packages ensure recurring revenue.

Mini Beauty Studio

Existing professionals in the sector can set up a small space at home offering multiple services: haircuts, hydration, coloring, eyebrow design, and nail extensions. A well-organized environment and welcoming service are enough to start.

Pet and Residential Services

Brazil has the third-largest pet population in the world. Alongside this, residential services remain in demand.

Online Pet Products Store

The online model reduces structural costs. Selling only non-perishable items simplifies inventory and operations. Partnerships with suppliers via direct distribution make it feasible to start with little spending.

Pet Sitter

Pet sitters offer hourly visits, daily boarding, walks, and special care. Many owners travel or spend long hours away and seek trustworthy professionals for their pets.

Furniture Assembly

The growth of online shopping has skyrocketed demand for assemblers. A simple service to provide, high demand, and minimal investment characterize this opportunity. Finding clients via marketplaces, furniture stores, and social media is straightforward.

Basic Gardening and Landscaping

Pruning, lawn mowing, maintenance, fertilization, and revitalization of green areas are services for homes, condominiums, and businesses. “Before and after” photos generate excellent engagement and attract clients.

Education: Classes and Digital Content

Knowledge is a valuable asset. Turning expertise into income is a real possibility.

Private Lessons

Tutoring, language, music, finance, and even modern topics like technology are highly sought after. Online or in-person service offers flexibility. Specialized platforms connect teachers and students without large investments.

Info-products

E-books, video lessons, spreadsheets, and digital tutorials are highly scalable. Without stock or shipping costs, delivery is 100% digital. Distribution platforms facilitate sales and reaching multiple clients.

Travel Consulting

Planning personalized itineraries, comparing prices, and suggesting accommodations is a valued service for tourists with limited time. Fully online, it allows working with multiple clients simultaneously, offering quick consultations, complete itineraries, or themed packages.

Crafts and Personalized Products

Consumers pay more for unique and customized items.

Online Store for Personalized Items

Mugs, T-shirts, and decorative items with customization have strong demand. Print-on-demand models allow running an online store without stock — the supplier produces and ships directly. Initial investment is drastically reduced.

Online Thrift Shop

The second-hand market is expanding driven by the circular economy. Starting with personal wardrobe items or donations from acquaintances is feasible. Well-produced photos, competitive prices, and unique pieces enable rapid growth.

Mobile Accessories Sales

Cases, screen protectors, headphones, cables, and stands remain strong retail markets. Affordable prices, constant demand, and very low initial investment characterize this opportunity. Wholesale purchases focusing on popular models ensure profitability.

Handmade Candles and Soaps

Aromatic products, gift kits, and natural soaps are highly sought in wellness and decor niches. Reduced investment in materials allows creating multiple lines. Unique scents and premium packaging increase perceived value.

Cleaning Products

Disinfectants, detergents, liquid soap, and cleaning kits have high turnover. Handmade versions have very low costs and high margins. Selling via social media, groups, and partnerships with local stores simplifies distribution.

Conclusion: The Moment Is Now

Starting a business with little capital is an increasingly common reality among Brazilians seeking independence. The 20 ideas presented cover different profiles, skills, and financial situations. With consistent planning, anyone can evolve from an initial project to a solid, scalable business.

Success does not depend on huge investments — it depends on smart strategy, dedication, and choosing a model aligned with your profile. Start small, learn through practice, and grow as revenue allows.