Here Are 3 Small Businesses You Can Start for Less Than $50,000

You don't need six figures of start-up costs to become a business owner.

Opening a small business and becoming your own boss is a dream for many people, and it's easy to see why. Being able to truly take the helm and steer your way to success is incredibly appealing. A lot of people have an idea or two for a business, but what they lack is often a lot of money to get the endeavor off the ground.

The good news is that there are a lot of businesses that you can start for less money than you might fear. To that end, here are a few ideas to consider that can likely be explored for less than $50,000 in start-up costs. I will note here that costs vary around the country and are based on a lot of different factors, so it's worth taking the time to research and truly explore what your own costs will be if you decide to pursue one of these.

1. Ice cream vendor

If you enjoy driving and making people happy, consider becoming an ice cream vendor. While you may think of ice cream as a warm weather treat, you need not be firmly stuck in the summertime with this idea (and in fact, you could reduce your prices for ice cream treats in the offseason).

You also don't just have to drive through suburban neighborhoods on summer evenings -- if you live in an area with large business campuses (or are within easy driving distance of them) and can time your visits between the late morning to early afternoon period, you'll be able to sell to employees on their lunch breaks. You might also talk to local schools (including colleges and universities) to see if they would welcome you for fairs and other school events.

Your biggest upfront cost for this business is going to be your vehicle. You're likely looking at a cost of at least $10,000 for a used truck, and likely more to get something that will run well and not require a ton of initial maintenance and repairs. You can engage a vehicle wrapping service to put your logo and other enticing graphics on it, to the tune of a few thousand dollars. Your other costs will be insurance for the vehicle, gas, and your stock of ice cream. You can start with a few hundred dollars' worth of product and restock as needed.

2. Tree service

While at first glance this idea may seem like another more seasonal business, trees need work year-round (storms can happen any time), and in fact, you might have a spate of calls after winter weather hits and tree limbs sag from the weight of snow and ice. You can find clients among homeowners as well as commercial land and business owners. Wherever there are trees, there will be people needing your specialized skills. If you don't mind being outside in the cold and heat and don't have a fear of heights, opening your own tree service business could be for you.

Your biggest costs for this one will also be in equipment and a place to store it. The ongoing vehicle shortage means that this business will be more doable if you already own a vehicle you can use. You'll need to buy safety gear (like harnesses and safety glasses), ladders, saws, wheelbarrows, and so on. You can save on those storage costs if you own your home and have the space in a garage. You can also start smaller with this one, and handle the jobs yourself, rather than hiring employees right off the bat.

And if you're comfortable with ladders and can work safely on one, you can hold off on investing in a bucket truck until your business is established and successful, and start with a pickup truck with ladder racks. Gas and insurance will also be significant ongoing expenses for this business.

3. Used bookstore

If you'd rather not drive around servicing trees or selling ice cream, you might be interested in opening a business in a fixed space instead. Used bookstores can be opened in just about any kind of space that is publicly accessible, and used books themselves will often be less costly to procure than new products of any kind. If you enjoy browsing antique shops, yard sales, and estate sales, you can always be on the lookout for inventory to sell. You can also accept book donations -- but be selective.

Your largest expense to open a bookstore will be the space itself, if you must rent one. (It is unlikely that you will be able to buy a space for less than $50,000, plus you'll have other start-up costs.) You'll also need to outfit it with shelves and of course your initial inventory of books. Don't forget about a point-of-sale software system, and a computer to run it on.

While your costs will vary based on your initial needs and where you live, you can likely start a small business for less money than you expect. Do some research and lean on skills and interests you already have to give yourself a head start.