What business to start in a small town. Trade ideas for opening a store in a small town

Do you live in a small town and want to create your own business, but don't know where to start? In fact, everything is not as scary as many people are used to thinking. It is important to know some of the features of provincial cities and take them into account when choosing your business.

Small towns often have shortages of basic goods and services. For example, an inexpensive cafe with delicious food will be popular among locals. But the turnover in an unusual boutique with handmade designer clothes is unlikely to be high. Therefore, we advise you to initially focus on the needs of future buyers.

🎓 Features of small cities for opening a small business

  • Geographical position. For example, a 24-hour tent selling beach slippers is unlikely to be popular in a northern city. And in the southern resort there is a salon of elite fur products
  • Solvency of the population. It is unlikely that people with an average salary of 15,000 rubles will be happy to open a restaurant with an average bill of 2,000 rubles
  • Availability of the necessary personnel. If you are opening, for example, a complex production facility, you should understand that the local population may not have the necessary specialized specialists
  • Needs for specific goods and services. In a metropolis you can open your thirtieth eatery, but in a small town there may simply not be any visitors
  • Limited growth. When a business reaches a certain “ceiling”, it will have to be developed not by increasing the average check, but by opening branches or developing a related area

âš– Advantages of starting a business in a small town

There are many positive aspects for business development in the provinces that may not exist in a large city.

  • Opportunity to occupy a vacant niche. You can become the first in your industry or identify the weaknesses of competitors and profitably build from them.
  • Savings on basic expenses. In small towns, rent for premises or land is much lower than in a metropolis. Salaries for staff can also be calculated according to local tariff schedules.
  • Support for private businesses. Small towns often have various loyalty programs for new businesses, grants and preferential subsidies are issued.
  • Easy understanding of customer needs. When all clients are literally in sight, understanding their requests is not too difficult

🏆 The best business in a small town: ideas that will work

You don’t have to come up with a mega-unique idea that no one has ever implemented before. But differentiate yourself from competitors in the service. For example, free delivery or a cumulative bonus system.

We need to focus on the needs of the majority of the city's population. In this case, you will not work at a loss.

It might be worth taking a closer look at a complementary business. For example, there is an excellent butcher shop in the area, but there is a shortage of farm-grown dairy products. In this case, you will easily occupy your niche.

And we offer you a large catalog of business ideas for small towns! More than 150 options for developing your business. Learn, apply and discover what you love!

Creating a business in a small town is often more difficult than in a metropolis. A novice businessman needs to take into account the specifics of working in a small locality. How to choose a business direction? What to consider in order to withstand the competition? What benefits can you expect? The answers to these and other questions, as well as fresh ideas for business in a small town, are in our article.

What will you learn about?

Features of business in the province

In a small town of 52 thousand residents, the Kitchen to Order salon opened. In the first months there were many clients, the investment paid off, but after a year the company turned out to be unprofitable and went bankrupt. Why did it happen? Perhaps the entrepreneur did not take into account the specifics of doing business in a small town. Families who needed a set of individual sizes purchased it in the first months of the salon’s operation. The rest go to order kitchens in the regional center or buy inexpensive mass-produced furniture.

To open a business and not go broke, consider the features of a small town:

  • Low purchasing power. Wages in the province are low, so essential goods and services are in demand.
  • Low level of competition. There are two reasons for this: either local entrepreneurs have lost sight of the promising direction, or the products are not in demand among the population of the provincial town.
  • Minimum costs for opening and maintaining a business in a small town. Rent and advertising are cheaper than in large populated areas. Staff salaries are also low.
  • Lack of qualified personnel. Highly qualified specialists do not see prospects for growth in a small town and leave the province.
  • Rapid dissemination of information (word of mouth). In a small town, word of your business spreads instantly. If you pay attention to the quality of service, you will quickly gain a good reputation and increase the flow of customers.

In addition to the general rules, other features need to be taken into account: proximity/distance from the regional center, local traditions and established habits of residents.


Choosing a business area and market niche in a small town

When choosing a direction for a small business in a small town, they rely on the same rules as everywhere else:

  • Income. Activities that satisfy people's needs will bring money faster.
  • Professionalism. It is easier to develop a direction in which an entrepreneur is an expert.
  • Interest. A business that does not bring pleasure to the owner is more likely to fail.

A successful business lies at the intersection of three areas

The choice of field of activity is not limited. The status of a small city makes only some adjustments to the business project.

Trade: food, clothing, household goods

It is necessary to identify products that are in demand in a small town. If there are chain stores in the region, it will be difficult to compete with them, so you need to come up with your own “trick” for your business. For example, a 24-hour store or convenience store so that the buyer can purchase daily necessities within walking distance.

Approximate investment for opening a grocery store in a small town:

Premises – from 50 sq. m for 300 rubles = from 15,000. Equipment (racks, refrigerators, display cases, online cash register) new or used - from 400,000. Staff salaries - 2 salespeople 15,000 each, cleaner 7,000, loader 10,000. Insurance contributions - 30% in the Pension Fund, Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, social insurance. Total: 47,000 salary + 14,100 taxes. Goods - minimum 300,000. At the start, the entrepreneur is unlikely to be shipped goods with deferred payment, so the assortment must be paid for immediately.

TOTAL: minimum RUB 776,000.

Services: hairdresser, tire service, master for an hour, laundry, coffee shop, taxi

Exclusive business offers are unpopular in the province. At the same time, standard services in a small town are always in demand. For example, a spa with salt caves and silk baths will be empty most of the time, but a good manicurist or experienced hairdresser will not be left without work.

Approximate investment for opening a tire shop:

Premises – you can use your own garage. Equipment (balancing stand, pneumatic impact wrench, tire changer, rolling jack) - the cost of the set is on average 100,000 rubles. Staff salaries – two shifts of 2 craftsmen at a piece rate wage of 10–15% of the order. Contributions to funds – 30%. The amount of deductions depends on the money earned by the staff: more in the season, less in the off-season. Consumables (sealant, rubber cleaner, patches, weights, etc.) – from 50,000. Utilities – 5000–7000 per month.

TOTAL: 150,000–200,000 rub.

Production: building materials, furniture, windows, doors, food

A business area in a small town is chosen based on the needs of local residents or for sale to other regions. In the second case, it is necessary to include delivery costs in the pricing. With expensive delivery, the product will lose to competitors in price. In a small town, you can start processing local resources, which will allow the businessman to save on the cost of raw materials. For example, by producing bottled water from a source or canned wild mushrooms and berries.

Director of the Russian School of Management Anastasia Borovskaya

Work through three possible scenarios: negative, realistic and optimistic. You need to plan your every step and assume that not everything will go according to plan. In this case, you need to have a financial and time cushion, as well as the ability to attract employees whom you initially did not intend to hire to the team.

Approximate amount of investment for opening a workshop for the production of foam insulation (insulation and sound insulation):

Room – 60 sq. m for 150 rub. = 9000 Preparing the premises (ventilation, lighting) - 20,000 Equipment (gas-liquid installation, molds) and tools - on average 110,000 Staff salaries - 3 craftsmen 15,000 each. Deductions - 30% to the funds. Total 45,000 salary + 13,500 taxes. Transport for finished products - we need a GAZelle 2012–2014. for 350,000–400,000. Materials for production (urea-formaldehyde resin, orthophosphoric acid) - from 100,000 TOTAL: from 700,000 rubles.

Farming: breeding farm animals and birds, growing flowers, seedlings, vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs

The popularity of farm products is increasing. Therefore, it is not difficult to find buyers. On the basis of an agricultural enterprise in a small town, you can open processing shops (sausage, ham, canning, semi-finished meat products and others). This is an excellent business option with costs of up to half a million rubles.

Approximate amount of investment for the development of rabbit farming in a small town:

Land plot - from 5 acres. Renting land for a year costs 30,000–100,000 depending on the region. You can adapt your own plot for a rabbit farm. Cages for rabbits – fattening cages for 6 heads – 20,000 each, mother cages for 2 rabbits – from 10,000. If you make the cages yourself, the consumption will be 2–2.5 times lower. Livestock - 50 month-old rabbits for 500 rubles = 25,000 Feed (hay and mixed feed) - from 70,000 TOTAL: 350,000–500,000 rubles.

Online store: any goods in high demand

Starting an online business from scratch is cheaper than a brick-and-mortar store. The owner does not pay for rent of retail space, does not order outdoor advertising and does not hire salespeople. The main thing is to think about delivery. If you sell food and children's products to residents of a small town, you need a courier. Parcels are sent to regions by transport company or Russian Post.

Manager of the Avira group of companies Alexey Zagumennov

An entrepreneur's best friend is quality analytics. This applies to both a small town and a business in a metropolis. If you want money, arm yourself with statistics and look for an unoccupied niche. Analyze your competitors to offer something new to the market. According to experts, today business in hostels, convenience stores and children's entertainment centers pays off the fastest.

Two ways to select a product to trade:

  • View popular selections on Amazon. The “Bestsellers” section contains the most purchased items.
  • Enter a search query (words by which users search for a product on the Internet) in the Yandex.Wordstat service.

Some people believe that a successful business can only be organized in a large metropolis. But they are mistaken, since a profitable, thriving business can be opened in any locality. The most important thing is to correctly determine the direction of activity. You will learn how to make money from scratch in a small town from this publication.

If you want to open a profitable business in a small town, you should not copy other people's ideas. We need to come up with a new, original business that can attract the attention of consumers.

Let's look at some of the most popular business ideas in a small town:

Pizza delivery

Nowadays, almost all niches in the market are occupied by experienced businessmen who opened their own businesses a long time ago and have a regular clientele. Therefore, it is difficult for novice entrepreneurs to find an idea to open a profitable business in a small town. Since beginners, as a rule, do not have large start-up capital to, for example, a cafe, the most affordable option is to start delivering pizza at first. Over time, such a small business can grow into a chain of catering establishments throughout the country. Of course, this will require a lot of work, but it will be worth it.

To open a mini-bakery for the production and delivery of pizza you will need 400–450 thousand rubles. Money is needed to rent premises, purchase equipment and raw materials, register a business and advertise. The profitability of such a business is in the range of 35-40%. Financial investments pay off in 1.5-2.5 years.

If you do not have the necessary amount of money to start a business, use a loan or apply for financial assistance from the government to develop your small business.

Repair of household appliances

Household appliances often break down, so the services of a repair shop are always in demand among the citizens of our country. If the device is inexpensive, you can replace it with a new one. But most often, in order to save money, people turn to craftsmen who give their household appliances a second life.

A repair shop is a fairly profitable business, so if you are looking for how to make money quickly from scratch, pay special attention to this idea. To open your own workshop you will need certain investments. First of all, you need to purchase the necessary tools - soldering irons, screwdrivers, testers, etc. This will require about 10 thousand rubles. In addition, you need to rent a small space and register an individual entrepreneur. Do not forget to also allocate a certain amount for advertising, otherwise you will be left without clients.

The average cost of one repair is 1 thousand rubles. Craftsmen who have their own client base complete about 50 orders per month. Accordingly, they receive about 40 thousand rubles of net income. The remaining 10 thousand rubles are spent on current expenses.

Furniture reupholstery

Residents of small towns often ask the question of how to make money from scratch without investments. There are many ideas in the field of personal services that do not require large start-up capital to implement. For example, you can reupholster furniture at home in your own garage or any other utility room.

All that is required of you is skillful hands and a minimum set of tools. So that customers can get acquainted with fabric samples and a catalog of completed work, you can open an order desk in the shopping center. Thanks to this, you can attract customers to your service.

Since this business does not require large financial investments, all costs are recouped after completing 5–10 orders. In the future, you can expand your enterprise, hire several craftsmen and enter into contracts for servicing restaurants, cafes or car dealerships.

Trade in chilled drinks

In the summer, the human body needs a lot of fluid. Of course, you can quench your thirst with plain water, but many people want to drink something more original and healthy, such as freshly squeezed juice or a milkshake. Trading chilled drinks is a great way to start making money from scratch.

To get started, all you need to do is purchase an electric juicer and mixer. The cost of one glass of milkshake is 7–8 rubles. Its retail price is 2–3 times higher. Approximately the same profit will be obtained from orange juice. One kilogram of oranges costs 30–35 rubles. From this amount you can prepare two glasses of juice and sell them for 90-120 rubles.

When calculating profits, you should also not forget about expenses. Money will be needed for renting a retail outlet, taxes and other needs. To save money at the start, you can enter into a partnership agreement with the owner of a street cafe. But in this case, you will have to give him part of the profit.

A good option is delivery of soft drinks throughout the city. To do this, you need to advertise your service.

You buy a bike, a cooler bag, and, as they say, hit the road. Choose busy places, for example, parks, central streets. Offer people natural soft drinks at an affordable price and there will be no end to customers.

Flower shop

During the holidays, flower trading can bring in up to 200% of net income. On such days, revenue in flower shops increases several times. In addition, beautiful bouquets are bought for various special events, birthdays, weddings and just for no reason.

If you are looking for ideas on how to make money from scratch, then this is the best option, since the demand for such a product never falls. But this business has its own subtleties that you must carefully study, otherwise your outlet will only bring losses instead of the long-awaited profit.

On average, the markup on flowers is 100–150%. If the store’s monthly turnover is less than 180–200 thousand rubles, there is no point in engaging in such a business. Experts have calculated that a flower business will only pay off if the outlet is visited by at least 7 customers per day. With 15–20 people attending, the store will generate 40–50 thousand in income per month. To open such a business you will need approximately 300 thousand rubles. Accordingly, the initial investment will pay off in 7–8 months. Over time, you will be able to develop your own client base, and then the business will begin to flourish.

Earning money on the Internet

If you don’t know how to make money from scratch in a small town, pay attention to the Internet.

Let's look at the most common options for making money online:

Website development

Services for creating and promoting Internet resources are extremely popular. Recently, every company has been trying to have its own website in order to promote products or services with its help. A business based on website creation will bring good profits, despite high competition.

Before starting such a business, you need to undergo special courses and work for a certain time under the guidance of a professional in order to gain the necessary knowledge and experience. You can also act as an intermediary between customers and the webmaster. To do this, you need to find a client and discuss with him all the details of the future project. After that, you negotiate with a designer who makes a website layout. The finished layout should be given to the layout designer so that he can bring it into proper form. Performers can be found on freelance exchanges. In order to create your own web studio you will not need significant financial investments. All you need is your desire to work. If you are thinking about what kind of business in a small town would be profitable to open during a crisis, start creating websites. Thanks to this, you can achieve the long-awaited financial independence.

Online store

According to experts, the most profitable business in a small town is opening your own online store. If you invest 300 thousand rubles in such a business, it will pay off in literally 3–4 months. The number of online stores is constantly growing, so if you want to open your own online business, you need to hurry.

For a store to thrive, you need to choose a product that you are familiar with. If you treat your business with soul and do not skimp on advertising, your business will prosper.

How to find a business idea in a small town?

Copywriting

Do you want to make money right now from scratch? The easiest way is to take an order from a copywriting exchange, complete it and receive a certain amount for your work. With the right approach, this type of activity can generate good income.

Nowadays, the Internet has begun to develop rapidly, so the services of rewriters and copywriters are very popular. There are a huge number of different sites created on the Internet that need to be constantly filled with information. Resource owners do not have time to write texts on their own, so they turn to freelancers for help or buy them on copywriting exchanges.

If you do not have start-up capital, you can work as a performer. You set the price for your work yourself. You can also earn good money through intermediary, that is, order articles at low prices from beginners and sell them at a higher price on the exchange.

Citizens who are tired of working every day for the “owner” for pennies can organize a business at home. We offer you several ideas that can be implemented at home:

Private transportation

Let's figure out which business is the most profitable in a small town? Of course, private transportation. In small settlements there are often problems with public transport, so the services of private taxi drivers are always in great demand.

A person who has his own car can earn a decent amount of money in one evening using a private cab service. Recently, many car owners have begun to realize that you can earn money with your own car in just a few hours, much more than sitting in the office all day. Such a business does not require large financial investments. All you need is money for fuel and a working car.

To protect yourself from scammers and robbers, you can enter into a cooperation agreement with the carrier company. Many taxi companies hire drivers with personal cars, so finding an intermediary who will search for clients will not be difficult. But in this case, you will have to give the company part of your profits.

Raising Muscovy Ducks

If you live in your own house in a village or small town and want to earn money, why not do it. According to experts, this is by far the most profitable business in a small town. Eggs and poultry meat are always in great demand on the market, so you will not have any problems selling such products. Muscovy ducks do not require special housing conditions. They do not take much time and at the same time bring good income. If you plan your duck farming in such a way that you receive a new batch of birds every month ready for slaughter, a small household can earn $250-$300 in net profit every month. This is a great option for budding entrepreneurs who are interested in starting at home.

It’s not just metropolitan residents who want to earn good money. Residents of the province also hold their own business in high esteem. For a small town, of course, there are not so many suitable ideas to help. However, there is always a way out. And you need to start by looking for a business with low competition that will provide the necessary push at the start.

A small city is characterized by a small population, usually from 15 to 60 thousand people. In such settlements, retail trade is highly developed, there are small markets and small wholesale networks. The range of services provided by small organizations and private entrepreneurs occupies the bulk of all areas of business.

Very often, a newly-minted private entrepreneur, who does not know which business is the most profitable in a small town and does not have his own clear plan, begins to test himself in a competitive field, which in many cases turns out to be a failure for his activities. To prevent this from happening, you should first of all become familiar with the main advantages and disadvantages of such a business, as well as identify an unpromoted but profitable area of ​​activity.

Profitable business in a small town - your profitable plan

First, you must make an objective assessment of the current market. What new product or service would the residents of your city like to see? What do consumers need and want? What weaknesses characterize your future competitors? And, of course, the main question: “What is the most profitable business in a small town?” Each locality may have its own, different answers, so it would not be entirely correct to advise something specific in this case. A sparsely populated city is good because all its residents are more or less familiar with each other, so it’s easiest to find out what your neighbors and acquaintances want and whether they are willing to pay for innovations. You can conduct a little research: survey citizens about what is missing in the city and what they would like to see. Perhaps in this way they will give you an idea and open your eyes on how to choose a profitable business for a small town.

You cannot open a business if you are not familiar with the subject matter of its activity, if its specifics are far from your interests. As a rule, such enterprises never end in success. Sheer enthusiasm, as they say, will not get you far.

The main disadvantages of doing business in a small town

First of all, I would like to focus on the disadvantages that affect the potential and profitability of a working business. Perhaps, after reading them, you will get scared and lose interest in the topic “What is the most profitable business in a small town”, but do not rush, it is better to read the article to the end.

  • The main disadvantage of such a business, of course, is the low traffic capacity. So, if, for example, you take a more accessible place in a city with a population of about 20 thousand people, then it will still have less efficiency than an ordinary ordinary place in a large populated area, for example, with a population of 150 thousand people. Therefore, the most accessible places in a small town should be considered.
  • The second - no less significant disadvantage - is the low salary of city residents. It is no secret that residents of the province receive less for their work than their counterparts in larger settlements. Therefore, we can draw a fairly simple but logical conclusion: the lower people’s salaries, the less likely it is that part of the money earned will be used to purchase your goods and services.
  • Don't forget about competition, you can't live without it! The city is small, profitable areas offering essential goods are already jam-packed, there are enough people who want to have a good income. And, on top of everything, large regional and federal chains go everywhere with their goods and ruin the lives of local merchants.
  • The last disadvantage is the widespread shortage of qualified personnel. Of course, there are professionals everywhere and always, but finding them can take a lot of time, and sometimes you even have to lure them away with the promise of a higher salary.

...and the benefits

Of course, there are a lot of disadvantages, but every disadvantage can be turned into an advantage if desired. If you are still wondering what business is best to open in a small town, then you are ready to fight for your place in the sun.

  • The main advantage, which ranks first in importance, is the fairly low price per square meter of rented space. A profitable business with minimal investment in a small town implies a reduction in business costs, and therefore an increase in the entrepreneur’s potential income. And this plus just contributes to this situation.
  • In order to turn competition into a big advantage, you need to become a beginner in your business. Find a business area that does not yet exist in the city. No competitors - no headaches.
  • In order for the working staff to become a plus, you need to determine which business (the most profitable in a small town) does not need professional personnel. In reality, there are a huge number of niches that require regular labor to operate. And, as a rule, cheap.
  • Finally, I would like to highlight a plus, which is quite difficult to obtain, but it is possible by providing the population with high-quality goods or services. This is the trust of citizens in your business. It is necessary to plan correctly and offer residents the optimal ratio of price to quality of goods and services provided. And laudatory reviews from people will not leave you without a good monthly income!

As mentioned above, a sparsely populated area is characterized by a minimal level of demand, a small average check amount, a limited number of potential buyers and a limited territory for business expansion. However, in such towns there is a stable demand for consumer products and services.

You can start a business in any city. But in order to achieve success, the following features must be taken into account:

  • Choose a niche for your business in a small town wisely. The possibilities and implementation of the idea in a metropolis are more realistic. And what is profitable for a large locality may not live up to expectations in a small town.
  • Approach the planning of your activities correctly: optimize costs, use income for development.

The most important thing is to have the desire to work, to work tirelessly, without being distracted by various holidays and weekends, to learn to ignore various ridicule, especially in case of possible failures at the start. If your activities are focused on the population, then you can build a profitable business in a small town. The basic ideas will help you with this.

Business idea No. 1. Private kindergarten

Today, given the current demographic situation, small towns often have problems finding a kindergarten for a child. This is due to the fact that the number of open government institutions is extremely small, and some of them are also closing. Working parents will be happy to entrust their child to you if you offer them the best price and quality service. The amount of starting capital here is quite large, and payback will take some time, but this project has repeatedly confirmed its success. The main thing is to do your job well, and reviews of a good private kindergarten will instantly spread throughout the city, you can be sure.

Business idea No. 2. Solving minor household problems

This idea can easily be categorized as “The best business ideas for a small town.” After all, opening an agency called “Man for an Hour” or “Wife for an Hour” is a quick-paying activity, the organization of which does not require large finances. The activities of such companies are related to solving household chores, for example, cooking, washing, assembling/disassembling furniture and other household chores. It is very convenient that for this business you do not need to rent premises and immediately hire staff. At the first stage, it will be enough to buy the necessary tools, register an individual entrepreneur and place advertising so that as many people as possible learn about your service. In principle, you can get by with a financial investment of 25,000 rubles. It should also be noted that this business is ideal for people who love to work and are not afraid to do the work themselves and are willing to earn a small but very stable income.

Business idea No. 3. Bakery

Opening a small baking production is another good idea for a business in a small town, since high-quality baked goods are always in high demand. True, expensive equipment and the necessary collection of a whole package of permitting documents can be a strong argument for choosing a different business project. But if you still decide to open your own bakery, then you will need start-up capital, the amount of which will be approximately 1.5 million rubles. In this case, you should expect that the project will pay for itself in full no earlier than in a year. If you wisely invest this amount in your bakery, you will achieve a truly high-quality production line for bakery products.

Business idea No. 4. Organization for repair and production of keys

In order to open such an organization, you do not need to be a great specialist. And all because the latest equipment in the form of a machine for creating keys will do all your work on its own. You can work in the workshop yourself, and a small space is enough. Such a business allows you to save on both employee wages and rent. If you wish, you can make keys at home. This will completely eliminate the cost of rent. If you are more or less knowledgeable about repairing things such as irons, umbrellas, food processors and other similar small items, then you can additionally think about providing services for their repair. This will increase the client flow and the amount of revenue received. The cost of opening a workshop will be approximately 70,000 rubles.

Business idea No. 5. Online store of handmade goods

If you are a creative person and have good skills in sewing, knitting and other types of needlework, then you can easily answer the question of what benefit your creative nature will tell you. After all, you can put your abilities to use and make good money from it. The problem of a small town in this situation is that there is little demand for the results of your creativity. But modern technologies help solve such nuances. It is enough to create an online store where you will accept orders for the production of exclusive hand-made products and sell those that are in stock. Shipping to other cities should be done by cash on delivery by mail, and the price tag for shipping must be included in the price of the goods. The demand for high-quality and creative products is always high. All you need to start an online business is a website, you can order it from a professional or take the trouble to create it yourself, if, of course, you have some skills. You should also pay due attention to promoting the resource in search engines to increase the number of customers. The required amount of starting capital may be limited to 25,000 rubles.

Business idea No. 6. Opening courses (dancing, martial arts, etc.)

Today, many parents are thinking about where to place their child so that the child learns not only the school curriculum, but also develops additionally, gaining new knowledge and skills. This contributes to a fairly high demand for all kinds of courses. When choosing a direction, you should be guided by what you understand and what classes you can teach on your own. Dance courses have always been very popular. The initial capital for such a business project greatly depends on the planned number of students and on your teaching abilities. For example, by agreeing on cooperation with the House of Culture, you can significantly reduce the cost of renting premises. You should also not neglect fashion trends; it is necessary to teach current dance styles. You should also develop a good advertising campaign to recruit the required number of students into the group that you can handle.

Let's sum it up

As can be seen from the article, there are more than enough opportunities for active residents of small towns. And the above list of ideas is far from final. If you think about it, everyone will most likely find many more relevant entrepreneurial ideas that can solve the problem. Several project options given in this article have repeatedly proven their viability. However, if you still haven’t found a business to your liking, then there is a great opportunity to start your own business on the Internet. Here you can simply work, sell, enter into contracts with clients online. In addition, knowledge of English makes it possible for you to interact with citizens of other countries.

Perhaps your path lies a little different from your usual route. And it is you who will be able to open a different, uniquely profitable business in a small town. New business ideas appear at an enviable speed. Who knows, maybe you can come up with something that another person hasn't thought of. Don't be afraid to take a step aside. And don’t try to find a commercial component in every idea. Just start changing the reality around you. First mentally, and over time in reality, and then it will become much more interesting and brighter, and your life will be richer. In all senses.

Thus, it is quite possible to find a profitable business idea and implement it in your small town. But for the idea to be a success, it is necessary to take into account the location of your locality. And with some effort and making an accurate calculation, you can benefit not only yourself, but also make life easier for your fellow countrymen.

People planning to open their own business often mistakenly believe that they can earn high incomes and develop only in a big city. In fact, it is easier to run a business in a small city, and if you approach the issue wisely, you can provide yourself with constant high profits.
First of all, you should clarify which city is considered small. From the point of view of the business community, this includes settlements whose population does not exceed 100 thousand inhabitants. Most cities in the Russian Federation fall into this category, so it is obvious that the potential of business ideas for them is huge, and it is easier and cheaper to put into practice.

A person who lives in a small town has a lot of opportunities to create his own business. Financial costs are much lower than in a large center. Some types of business can be started with virtually no investment. Thanks to low competition, there is always something to do, even if it seems that the city already has everything.

Why open your own business at all?

By going into business, a person has the right moment to gain complete independence from other people, as well as the chance to earn significantly larger amounts of money than as a full-time employee.

From the very beginning, build your business so that in the future it can operate without your constant participation. This is the only path to financial independence.

Differences from big cities

Considering the situation from the point of view of the differences between large and small cities, we should dwell in more detail on their characteristics.

  • Citizens in small towns earn much less. For this reason, large business is not profitable, not taking into account the construction of plants and factories, which require labor.
  • The main demand is for traditional goods and services that people use every day. This allows you to expand your business activities into several areas at once.
  • Low level of financial investments in the initial development process. This is explained by the lower rental cost of premises, low staff salaries, and low promotion and advertising costs.
  • And of course, the smaller the city, the faster rumors spread. Accordingly, the reputation of a businessman plays an important role. People will not make a profit if friends or relatives tell about deception or inadequacy, and no amount of advertising will save them. This aspect is key.

Business ideas in the food sector

Opening a small cafe with reasonable prices and classic dishes is a profitable business. Because there are few such places in small towns, they will definitely be popular. Profitability is high due to low investments and high level of self-sufficiency.

Food trucks. This term refers to small mobile cafes. Presented in the form of vans with the necessary equipment for cooking directly inside. They are able to move to any place, for example, during a festival they go directly there and provide food for participants. The assortment is small, the chefs prepare each dish quickly and well, thanks to a lot of practice.

Inexpensive canteen on the territory of a factory or educational institution. Low cost and large portions of inexpensive dishes allow us to receive a large flow of customers.

Food delivery services (especially sushi and pizza) demonstrate popularity and good profitability. Delivery is organized at our own cafe, and a special courier service is opened that works with catering outlets in the city. Services of this type are common in large cities, but in small cities you can easily capture the market.

Some open mini-bakeries. This is relevant in areas where people pass through. For business efficiency, you should prepare products from the freshest ingredients that customers like. The room required is small, and special equipment is also required.

Retail

Of course, when talking about small business, it is impossible to ignore trade. Opening your own store is the most common way to start your own business.

In this matter, the main thing is to correctly assess the demand. What is missing in your city? What products could you offer to the local population?

Opening a grocery store is traditionally popular. The basis for success is the correct location and price level adequate for the average salary in the region.

To start a small non-food store you will need a minimum investment if you order goods from China, for example on Aliexpress. There you can find a huge number of interesting things at a very low price (for example, accessories for mobile phones, jewelry, clothing).

Business ideas in the entertainment sector

In the event that a traditional cafe does not bring the necessary profit, you can provide clients with various holidays. These include corporate events of private companies and government agencies, weddings and banquets.

Stylishly decorated nightclubs will be popular with young clients.

To organize it you need:

  • Rent a large premises;
  • Purchase the necessary equipment. Moreover, both for the kitchen, where snacks and drinks will be prepared, and for the dance floor.
  • Popular DJs and dancers from big cities are also invited to perform there and attract the attention of young people. Such events improve the authority of the establishment.
  • It is possible to organize themed parties in honor of popular holidays. And during the day it functions as a regular cafe.

Business ideas in the service sector

The service sector is very popular. Minimum level of financial investments, high level of self-sufficiency.

A salon for women and men, providing hairdressing, manicure and pedicure services with separate booths for VIP clients, will be popular. Specialists in massage and cosmetology are also involved. The level of profitability of such a project will be high, given the proper level of craftsmen.

Organization of taxi transportation. Several professional drivers with their own cars and a dispatch service, at reasonable prices, will provide residents with comfortable transport. This type of business is promoted through advertising and word of mouth. The profitability is high, due to the fact that in small cities there are no aggregators like Yandex taxi or Gett.

It is promising to create your own fashion tailoring studio. A small room, special equipment and professional seamstresses are required. Sewing dresses for proms and weddings, clothing repairs and other services at reasonable prices will lead to high profitability of the business.

The business of garbage removal and destruction of old buildings and structures is gaining momentum. Instead of dilapidated abandoned houses, large residential complexes are being built. And to make room, they need to be demolished. Labor and equipment costs are negligible. At the same time, waste is removed from spontaneously formed landfills and special bins.

Some unconventional ideas

The problem in the Russian Federation is the lack of kindergartens. This stimulates the development of private institutions and mini-kindergartens. Financially wealthy parents who cannot leave their children with anyone are the target audience.

To do this business, we need competent employees who have experience working with children. It is also required to rent the premises and obtain official permission from government authorities. The last stage is the most difficult and time-consuming.

Business by . You can read more here. In short, this is an opportunity to open your own business using a ready-made model. For a certain amount of money or a percentage of sales, you will receive constant information and advertising support, technology and a ready-made business model.

People who lead an active lifestyle can organize ethnotourism. Standard resorts won’t surprise anyone, so rich people prefer to travel to picturesque places and hard-to-reach places.

For example, excursions to Lake Baikal are in great demand, where you can enjoy the nature and beauty of the region without fuss. But this is not the only interesting natural place in our huge country.

According to travel agencies, thousands of tourists go on vacation to Kamchatka and Karelia. If a town has similar attractions, the excursion business has great potential.

Organizing hunting and fishing trips for wealthy clients from large cities is very popular today.

Real estate

If there is excess real estate, you can organize. There are two options: monthly, daily.

In the first case, an apartment or house is rented to permanent residents, who are students and young families. Income will be stable.

It may be much more profitable to rent out daily if there are tourist flows in the city. Popular when there is a lack of hotels in resort towns. You need to publish your ads on airbnb.com and booking.com to attract regular travelers from all over the world.

If you don’t have your own property, you can make money on someone else’s. Open a real estate agency. The initial investment in such a business is quite low, but the prospects are excellent, since small towns are not yet accustomed to renting out housing and commercial premises via the Internet.

Internet business

Until recently, you could earn a lot by opening a computer club. A room is rented, gaming computers are purchased, whose performance is sufficient for modern games, and a low price per hour is set. Young people spent days in such places. However, with the progress of progress, computers appeared in every family, and the Internet made it possible to play group games at a remote distance. As a result, this type of business simply disappeared.

Your own Internet resources bring good profits. First of all, you need an idea and a thorough analysis of the niche. The main thing is that the topic of your site is interesting to you, otherwise your enthusiasm can evaporate quite quickly. You also need to have the necessary skills and tools to run such a business, and the ability to promote your website.

The most popular option for organizing a business is an online store. The goods can range from various small household items to large household appliances. The development of progress has made this accessible to residents of any locality. Goods are delivered both by courier service and through Russian Post. You can read the characteristics in advance and choose the right product without wasting time getting to the store.

If resources are available, we open our own web studio. A few professional programmers are enough for this. The cost of one Internet resource ranges from 10-20 thousand to several million. Clients are searched for remotely or through the “cold calling” method.

Enterprising modern girls develop businesses through social networks, for example, Instagram. Fitness instructors train daily, post photos online, attract subscribers and sell advertising. Or they create individual training plans for a fee. The cost of advertising posts reaches several tens of thousands of rubles.

If you have some expert knowledge, then you can start running your own educational channel on YouTube (youtube.com) and make money from advertising. Foreign languages, cooking, car repair and maintenance, computer topics, etc. are in demand. The advantage of an educational channel over an entertainment channel will be a constant and stable level of views, and therefore income.

You can start an online business with virtually no initial capital. This is its main advantage, but there will be corresponding competition.

Market and competitor analysis

To start opening your own business, you need to conduct a comprehensive market analysis, find out what specific services or goods are required for city residents. Having found out this, you need to select competent personnel who can work effectively and attract more clients. To do this, it is often necessary to contact a special recruiting agency.

It is important to pay attention to potential competitors. What are their advantages and disadvantages? Does it make sense to open nearby or is it better to look for another place.

Many problems can be solved without leaving home. An advertisement seeking employees is posted on the Internet through special resources. In a small town, you must definitely take advantage of word of mouth, which often spreads information faster than the Internet and newspaper advertisements.

It is worth noting that goods from suppliers from large cities or simply large firms will cost significantly more than products from small manufacturers. You should definitely consider the possibility of supplying goods from China. Today it is not as difficult as it might seem.

It is important that the planned business must have prospects and be in demand. Opening a fashionable gourmet restaurant in a city where the average salary does not exceed 15 thousand rubles will be unprofitable. Same with a 5 star hotel. Another thing is to invest in a street point selling shawarma near a university or vocational school. It is also promising to open an inexpensive pizzeria there.

You should competently assess your own strengths and capabilities, and determine when the investment will pay off and begin to generate net profit. Without an effective strategy, a business will fail.

Where to get money to start

The most commonly used way to start a business without having the required amount of your own money is a bank loan. Explore all options from different lending institutions.

To receive borrowed funds, you must provide the bank with all documentation related to the planned business. There are government support programs (be sure to check with your local administration about this). These include preferential taxation systems, subsidies of various levels, and reduced loan rates. To get a loan, you need help from a competent lawyer who will provide all the necessary information and advice.

Be sure to find out about the availability of specialized business incubators in your city. There they can help you with any legal issues that may arise, as well as assist you in obtaining a loan and drawing up a business plan.

If you have reliable friends or relatives, you can try to start your own business together, refusing borrowed funds.

Search for a place

When it comes to finding a suitable location for your business, it is important to highlight two aspects:

  1. Rent price.
  2. Availability of potential clients nearby. Good maneuverability.

Sometimes, a room is rented and subsequently renovated on its own, which allows you to save money.

Depending on the concept of the business, the appearance of the office plays a big role. If you plan to receive clients, the interior furnishings must be of high quality and stylish. As a rule, residents of small towns react strongly to this and prefer to trust what looks expensive and of high quality.

It is also important to consider the trafficability of the target audience of a particular business. Inexpensive fast food outlets are opening near educational institutions, shopping malls, and markets. It is students and people going shopping who are the main clients of such places.

At the same time, it is better to locate food outlets close to residential buildings. People will not go far for bread and milk if there is a good store nearby.

Planned level of profitability

It is worth understanding that a business in a small town does not pay off quickly, unlike a large settlement. Residents cannot afford to spend a lot of money due to low salaries. The degree of demand also influences. The time of year plays a significant role.

For example, outlets that sell kvass or ice cream in the summer, especially in the southern regions, have huge profitability. Moreover, in winter, there are simply no such points. But beauty salons are gaining popularity; in the summer, on the contrary, they are empty.

Most importantly, make sure that your income is always enough to pay off your loans if you decide to finance your business this way.

The basis of a successful business in the province

For any business in a provincial city to be successful, quickly pay for itself and generate good income, you must follow several key rules. Their practical use allows you to earn money and attract new clients.

The cost of goods and services should not exceed a certain value. The mentality and level of income of provincial residents does not allow them to spend extra money just like that. They are looking for an opportunity to save money. Therefore, they resort to a mechanism of discounts and incentives for regular customers.

The quality of service is above average. If a person likes it, he will recommend this place to friends, acquaintances, and relatives. At the same time, a bad reputation will have a negative impact on business activity. Negative reviews need to be prevented in the bud. There have been cases when a cafe, after a decline in the quality of service, lost customers and went bankrupt. A bad reputation for an establishment in a small town can be a curse, but a good one can become the main driver of sales.

Promising ways of development

It is important to note that the basis for any business is constant movement forward, development, evolution. What is profitable now, in a year, when marking time, becomes the cause of ruin. There are many options for improving your own business.

A good method is advertising. Advertising attracts new customers. Popular moves include promotions, discounts, and presentations of new products. Marketing moves are of great importance. The special features are the duration of the promotion and the profitability of the offer.

The image of a business plays a big role. Positive reviews and gratitude from clients allow you to increase the number of clients.

Another step is to open branches in neighboring cities and regions. Over time, such costs will pay off. Brand awareness will increase.

To start a small business, it is enough to register as an individual entrepreneur. This will allow you to save on accounting and taxes.

In conclusion, it is worth saying that a business even in a small town with a small population can generate income. A provincial city is a good place to create and develop your own business, and an enterprising person will definitely achieve success.