Is graphic design your passion? Do you have a knack for fixing broken tech? This could be your year. As the fallout from President Trump’s ongoing tariffs campaign continues to settle over the American economy, it might not seem like a particularly compelling time to launch a new business. But the pressures facing import-driven companies could open doors for domestic entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the uncertainty, whether in the form of a whole new venture or just lucrative side-hustles.
Where to focus those efforts, then? A recent list of ideas for small businesses to start in 2025, from Entrepreneur, offers a few choice ideas, including…
- Notary work:
Notaries are licensed by the Government to serve as a witness for legal and contractual processes—a bit of an outdated role, but one that can still be necessary in the context of things like mortgages, deeds and depositions. Though not the highest-paying of gigs, the barrier to entry is pretty low. “You can generate significant income from notary work by charging fees for services such as loan-signing notarizations,” Entrepreneur notes.
- Landscaping:
Lawn care and landscaping represent hundreds of billions in value worldwide, with experts predicting the industry will be worth $336 billion by 2028. Inc. reported last year that a landscaping company can sell for between three and six times its EBITDA (a common metric for valuing a company). And “there is plenty to do in the yard that has nothing to do with plants,” Entrepreneur adds, such as wall restoration, fencing or turf installation.
- Graphic design:
If you’re handy with Photoshop, Canva, Illustrator or other digital design software, you might be able to spin up your own graphic design company. As a B2B design agency, you could help other companies develop media as varied as newsletters, advertisements, websites and internal documents—for the right price, of course. Entrepreneur also suggests “coordinating with content creators and print shops” to expand your suite of offerings.
- Appliance and tech repair:
For the more technically-minded, you might consider launching a business based around repairing hardware—either home appliances such as fridges and stoves, or personal electronics devices such as laptops and smartphones. Entrepreneur suggests contracting with appliance stores “to cover their warranty service calls” in the case of the former or buying, repairing and re-selling used devices in the case of the latter. In either case, customer acquisition will prove key.
- Pet care:
With pet ownership on the rise, animal lovers would do well to consider going into a downstream line of business. Multiple such sectors—including pet sitting, boarding and grooming as well as dog walking—made Entrepreneur’s list and all of them have the benefit of little to no upfront costs or certification requirements. Lots of people love hanging out with cats and dogs for free; why not get paid doing it?
- Event planning:
Some people balk at the logistics involved in throwing a large event; others thrive. Thus, the sizable event planning industry, where those with a knack for hosting can turn everything from weddings to birthday parties to corporate events into a payday. Entrepreneur even includes vacation planning on its list of small business ideas: “You can coordinate hotel and flight bookings, arrange transportation, provide daily itineraries and help your clients re-book in case of unforeseen travel crises.”
- Coaching, training and consulting:
If you have a specialized body of knowledge that you want to monetize, it might not always make sense to turn that skillset into its own enterprise. Instead, consider charging other people for access to your talents. Someone with business savvy can work with other entrepreneurs as a business consultant; someone with skills in a sport or trade can train others to be as good as they are; and those with a motivational spirit can work as success, career or life coaches. Tutoring students can also prove lucrative.
Source : https://www.inc.com/brian-contreras/7-small-business-ideas-launch-startup-2025/91185628
