Today’s vibrant business market offers a wealth of small business ideas for men, catering to a diverse range of skills, interests, and investment levels. Whether you’re looking to start a business from home, explore new industries, or turn a hobby into a profitable venture, there’s an opportunity for you.
From traditional trades and technical services to modern digital enterprises and creative pursuits, men can find business ventures that suit their strengths and passions. In this guide, we’ll explore over 35 of our favorite small business ideas for men, including:
Ready to find the best small business ideas? Let’s get started.
If you have any expertise in welding, carpentry, painting, flooring, or another construction trade, you can turn it into a hands-on, rewarding business opportunity. You’ll have an upfront investment ranging between $500 and $5,000 to invest in tools and equipment. But thanks to the constant need for specialized labor, you can attract a steady stream of clients by building a reputation for quality workmanship and reliability.
Providing home inspection services for prospective home buyers is a business that combines technical knowledge with customer service. However, this business does require certifications in home inspecting, so you’ll need to check with your state’s regulatory boards to get that set up. Between that certification and specialized equipment, you can expect to spend between $1,000 and $3,000 to get up and running.
This business requires attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to produce thorough inspection reports, making it an ideal choice for those with a background in construction or real estate.
As a handyman business models, you can work independently, set your own schedule, and tackle various projects that suit your skills and preferences. While it’s not the most “exciting” business idea, a handyman company is always in demand; as long as you provide reliable and affordable services, you can build a loyal customer base and ensure a steady flow of work.
Depending on your state regulations and the exact services you offer, you might need some licenses or certifications. Between those and tools, you can reasonably expect to spend between $500 and $2,000 to get started.
Operating a profitable food business allows you to combine culinary skills with entrepreneurship, offering diverse cuisines to a broad audience. With startup costs between $10,000 and $50,000 for a truck and equipment, this business requires careful planning and creativity.
As a food truck owner and chef, you can experiment with menus, participate in local events, and move to different locations to reach new customers. The flexibility and lower overhead costs compared to traditional restaurants make food trucks an appealing option for aspiring chefs and food enthusiasts looking to share their culinary creations with the public.
If you’re passionate about cooking, you can provide gourmet dining experiences directly to clients in their homes as a business. You’ll need some flexibility to be in homes at mealtimes, along with a car to travel where you’re needed. You’ll also have to invest roughly $1,000 to $5,000 for kitchen supplies and marketing.
Once you’re up and running, you can create tailored menus based on dietary preferences and restrictions, offering a highly personalized and exclusive service. Building strong client relationships and showcasing your culinary skills can lead to a steady stream of repeat business and referrals.
Passionate cooks who want to take things to the next level can look into a catering service business, showcasing their culinary talents on a larger scale. With a startup investment of $5,000 to $20,000 for equipment and marketing, you can serve a variety of events, from weddings and corporate gatherings to private parties.
As a caterer, you will handle menu planning, food preparation, and service, ensuring that each event is a success. By providing exceptional food and service, you can build a strong reputation and secure ongoing contracts and referrals.
When it’s snack time, do you find yourself craving food that you just can’t find anywhere? Why not create your own? Producing and selling specialty food items like sauces, jams, and snacks can provide a creative outlet for food entrepreneurs.
With startup costs ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for ingredients and packaging, this business allows you to turn your culinary creations into a profitable venture. As a food producer, you can market your products at local farmers’ markets, online, or through retail partnerships. By focusing on high-quality ingredients and unique flavors, you can attract a loyal customer base and grow your brand over time.
Designing and developing websites for clients is a highly in-demand service that can be started with relatively low initial investment, especially if you already own the necessary software. If not, you’ll need to invest between $500 and $2,000 to get software and start marketing your own business.
Once you have the necessary tools, you can tap into a vast market of businesses and individuals needing professional websites. As a web designer, you will create visually appealing and functional websites that meet your clients’ needs. By staying updated with the latest design trends and technologies, you can build a portfolio that attracts new clients and leads to ongoing projects.
Freelance writing is a great business option for guys looking for a low-cost startup that can be a great side hustle or full-time gig. With writing expertise, a computer, and an internet connection, you can specialize in a variety of niches from tech to health or finance and more.Startup costs typically range between $0 and $500 to get a website or join dedicated freelancing sites like Upwork or Fiverr. By building a strong portfolio and networking with clients, you can win steady work and establish yourself as a successful business writer.
Providing internet marketing services, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media sites, and email marketing, is a lucrative business idea that helps businesses improve their online presence and reach. If you’re interested in this business opportunity, expect to invest between $500 and $1,000 for software and marketing.
As an internet marketer, you can offer services such as SEO, social media marketing and management, and email campaigns to help clients grow their audience and increase sales. By staying updated with the latest trends and delivering measurable results, you can attract a diverse range of clients and build a successful marketing business.
Starting an e-commerce online store allows you to sell products through your own website or platforms like Amazon. This business offers flexibility and the potential for high returns. But to start, you’ll probably spend between $1,000 and $5,000 to get inventory and set up a good website.
As an e-commerce store owner, you can choose a niche market, source products, and create a user-friendly online shopping experience for customers. Effective marketing, high-quality products, and excellent customer service are key to building a successful online store that attracts repeat buyers and generates consistent revenue.
Launching a dropshipping business enables you to sell products online without holding inventory, using a dropshipping model. Unlike other e-commerce efforts, dropshipping has a pretty minimal startup cost ($500-$1,000) since you don’t acquire inventory upfront. Instead, you’ll need to build a website and set up relationships with suppliers.
By choosing trending products, optimizing your online store, and implementing effective marketing strategies, you can build a profitable dropshipping business with minimal overhead costs.
Creating a blog and monetizing it through affiliate marketing and ads is a popular and potentially lucrative business idea. As a blogger, you can write about topics you’re passionate about and build a loyal audience. By strategically incorporating affiliate links and placing ads, you can generate income from your blog.
But before you can place ads, you’ll need to build your blog. That’s where your startup costs come in; typically, bloggers will spend anywhere from $100 to $500 to get a web domain and hosting and start marketing to help grow your blog.
If you have experience in an in-demand subject, you can turn that into a profitable business opportunity with online courses. To start, you’ll need to join course platforms to host your online courses and market your service, which can add up to an investment of $500-$1,500.
There are lots of course opportunities: professional skills like web design, coding, and data analytics; hobbies like woodworking and brewing; and more. By creating engaging courses that cater to a wide audience, you can attract students globally. Continual updates and interaction with learners can help build a reputation as an expert and help ensure a steady income from course sales.
Providing personal training and fitness coaching services is an excellent business idea if you’re passionate about health and fitness. You can offer one-on-one sessions and group classes alike, helping clients achieve their health goals: weight loss, muscle gain, and overall wellness.
To get started, you’ll need certifications in fitness training, and you’ll have to start preliminary marketing efforts. Those startup costs can add up to $500 to $2,000. By building a strong online presence, offering virtual coaching sessions, and providing valuable fitness content, you can attract and retain clients, helping ensure steady growth in your fitness business.
If you played sports as a child, then there’s a good chance you remember at least one coach who had a profound impact on you — and it’s very possible to have that kind of impact on someone else while making money. Coaching teams or at an individual level can be a fulfilling and rewarding career, and it can be one of many profitable small business ideas if managed correctly.
Startup costs for a coaching business (between $500 and $2,000 usually cover certifications and equipment. You can specialize in a particular sport and offer your coaching services to schools, clubs, or private clients. By fostering strong relationships with your clients and demonstrating your expertise, you can build a reputable coaching business that attracts a steady stream of athletes and teams looking for professional guidance.
Creating digital art and graphics for clients is a versatile and in-demand business idea that allows you to use your creative skills. With startup costs ranging from $500 to $2,000 for design software and marketing, you can offer services such as logo design, branding, illustrations, and marketing materials.
As a graphic designer or illustrator, you can work with a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to large corporations. Building a strong portfolio and maintaining an active online presence can help you attract clients and establish a successful and profitable graphic design business.
Start a photography business and videography are in constant demand for weddings, corporate parties, political campaigns, and much more — making this a rewarding business venture year-round. You can even specialize in certain niches, such as portraits, product photography, or documentary-style videos.
To get up and running, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $5,000 to buy camera equipment and start your first marketing campaign. By providing high-quality visuals and excellent customer service, you can build a strong reputation and attract a steady stream of clients.
Creating and selling handcrafted wood products is a fulfilling business opportunity for those skilled in woodworking. With startup costs ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for tools and materials, you can produce a variety of items, such as furniture, decor, and custom pieces.
As a woodworker, you can sell your products online, at local markets, or through retail partnerships. Emphasizing quality craftsmanship and unique designs can help you stand out in the market and attract customers looking for bespoke wood products. Building a brand around your craftsmanship and creativity can lead to a successful and profitable business.
Music and dance enthusiasts alike know the importance of a good DJ, meaning there’s ample opportunity for entrepreneurs to turn DJing into a thriving business. Before you can start spinning tunes, you’ll need to invest in equipment and your first marketing campaign; most DJs spend between $1,000 and $5,000.
Once you’re equipped, you can create memorable experiences by curating playlists and mixing tracks for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and clubs. Building a reputation for reliability and entertainment can help you secure regular bookings and grow your business. Networking with other event planning business owners and maintaining a strong online presence are key to attracting clients and expanding your reach.
Starting a mobile barbershop allows you to provide barber services directly to clients at a location that’s convenient for them, offering convenience and personalized care. With startup costs ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for tools and a vehicle, this business is ideal for barbers looking to expand their reach and offer flexibility to their clients.
As a mobile barber, you can serve a diverse clientele, from busy professionals to those with limited mobility. By offering high-quality grooming services and building strong client relationships, you can establish a loyal customer base and enjoy steady income growth.
While styling services have been catered to women for years, there’s a niche business opportunity for guys with good fashion sense: a men’s fashion service. You can offer clients personal wardrobe consultations, shopping assistance, and styling tips. You can get started for a relatively low investment, too ($500 to $2,000 to cover marketing efforts and any supplies you want).
By staying updated with the latest fashion trends and understanding your clients’ preferences, you can help men achieve their desired looks for various occasions. Building a strong online presence and offering exceptional service can attract a steady stream of clients seeking expert fashion advice.
Cleaning might not sound like the most exciting business opportunity, but it’s definitely a lucrative one that’s consistently needed by residential and commercial clients alike. It has low startup costs, too: you’ll probably invest $500 to $2,000 if you don’t already have cleaning equipment on hand (or if you want upgraded tools).
Plus, a cleaning business names can be scaled based on your own schedule and customer demand. By offering thorough and reliable cleaning services, you can attract a broad clientele, from busy households to office buildings. Providing exceptional customer service and maintaining high cleaning standards can help you build a loyal customer base and grow your business through word-of-mouth referrals.
Offering tutoring services for various subjects is a rewarding business that allows you to share your knowledge and help students achieve their academic goals. With minimal startup costs ranging from $0 to $500 for marketing and materials, you can start tutoring in subjects you excel in, such as math, science, or language arts. You can even tutor online, further expanding your customer base.
As a tutor, you can provide personalized instruction, helping students improve their understanding and performance in specific areas. By building a reputation for effective teaching and fostering positive relationships with students and parents, you can attract a steady stream of clients and help ensure a consistent income.
If you’ve got a knack for organization, you could offer organization services as a business, helping clients tidy up their homes and offices. With a startup investment of $500 to $1,000, you can get organizing supplies and start your first marketing campaign. From there, you can offer customized solutions for storage and efficiency, making a significant impact on your clients’ lives. Building a strong online presence and showcasing your before-and-after projects can attract clients looking for professional organization services, helping ensure steady growth in your business.
Car detailing is a manageable side hustle for many aspiring entrepreneurs; it’s a service many people need, and the startup costs are pretty manageable. Generally, an investment of $500-$1,000 can cover costs like supplies for cleaning, polishing, and waxing, plus some basic marketing.
As an automotive detailer, you can serve individual car owners as well as businesses with fleets. By delivering exceptional results and maintaining high standards, you can build a loyal customer base that relies on your services to keep their vehicles in pristine condition.
Offering delivery services using a truck is a versatile business that caters to various logistics needs, from moving furniture to transporting goods. With startup costs ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for a truck and marketing, you can establish a reliable delivery service for businesses and individuals.
As a truck delivery service provider, you can handle local or regional deliveries, offering convenience and efficiency to your clients. Providing dependable and timely services can help you build a strong reputation and secure ongoing contracts, helping ensure consistent income.
Food delivery services have seen quite the jump in recent years, and you don’t necessarily need to join a service like Uber Eats or GrubHub to take advantage. By partnering with local restaurants, you can offer takeout delivery services of your own. And, of course, if you’d rather just get started making money, you can always join one of those platforms.
As long as you have your own vehicle, your startup costs will be pretty low; up to $500 should help cover your initial marketing and equipment like insulated bags to keep food warm. By offering prompt and friendly service, you can attract repeat customers and build strong relationships with restaurant partners, helping ensure steady growth in your delivery business.
On-site car washes aren’t a great option for everyone; sometimes people need the car wash to come to them. Your mobile car wash business could meet that need, offering on-site car washes to save time and effort for your clients. You can offer packages that include exterior washes, interior cleaning, and more.
This business has a relatively low startup cost; $500 to $1,000 can cover all the cleaning supplies you need. By delivering excellent service and building a reputation for reliability, you can attract a steady stream of customers who appreciate the convenience of mobile car wash services.
Renting out your home or a spare room on platforms like Airbnb is a simple way to generate extra income with minimal startup costs. With an investment ranging from $0 to $1,000 for listing fees and updated furnishings, you can attract travelers looking for unique and comfortable accommodations.
As a host, you can offer personalized hospitality and local tips to enhance your guests’ experience. By maintaining a clean and welcoming space, providing essential amenities, and responding promptly to guest inquiries, you can build positive reviews and help ensure a steady stream of bookings.
If you’re organized and attentive to detail, you can start managing properties as a business, overseeing the day-to-day operations of residential or commercial properties. This is an especially good option if you live and work in an area where rentals are prominent (think Airbnbs, Vrbo homes, and so on). You can offer services like tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, and property inspections.
There’s a chance that you’ll need certifications, so startup costs can range from $500 to $2,000 to cover those applications and your first marketing efforts. Building a strong reputation for reliability and professionalism can help you attract more clients and expand your portfolio of managed properties.
Offering drone photography and videography services is an innovative business idea that caters to a variety of industries, including real estate, events, and marketing. With startup costs ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for drone equipment and marketing, you can capture stunning aerial footage and images for your clients.
As a drone operator, you can provide unique perspectives and high-quality visuals that set your services apart. Staying updated with the latest drone technology and regulations, and delivering exceptional results, can help you attract a diverse clientele and grow your business.
Voiceover is essential for a lot of media: commercials, audiobooks, video games, animations, and more. If you’re creative and have a good ear, you can become a voiceover artist. Ideally, you’ll want to build a small home studio, so you’ll need to invest between $500 and $2,000 to get your first recording equipment.
As a voiceover artist, you can work with clients from different industries to bring their scripts to life with your vocal skills. Building a professional portfolio and marketing your services effectively can help you attract clients and establish a successful voiceover business.
Written transcripts are in constant demand for fields like law, healthcare, media, and academia, making transcription services a solid business venture. Getting started is pretty affordable; by spending up to $500, you can get transcription software, a foot pedal, and start marketing. It’s a great side hustle that you can complete from the comfort of your own home.
As a transcriptionist, you can provide accurate and timely transcriptions, meeting the needs of clients who require precise documentation. Building a reputation for reliability and accuracy can help you attract a steady stream of clients and help ensure consistent income.
Managing social media accounts for businesses is a highly sought-after service in today’s digital age. With startup costs ranging from $500 to $1,000 for software and marketing, you can help businesses enhance their online presence, engage with their audience, and drive traffic to their websites.
As a social media manager, you’ll create and curate content, schedule posts, analyze performance metrics, and develop strategies to grow followers and engagement. By staying up to date with the latest social media trends and tools, you can provide valuable services that help businesses succeed in the competitive online landscape.
Providing computer repair and maintenance services is a practical business idea that caters to both individuals and businesses. With startup costs between $500 and $1,000 for tools and marketing, you can offer services such as hardware repairs, software installations, virus removal, and system upgrades.
As a computer repair technician, you can work from home or set up a small workshop, offering convenient and reliable services to your clients. Building a reputation for expertise and trustworthiness can help you attract a steady stream of customers who rely on your skills to keep their computers running smoothly.
Technology is constantly changing, meaning it’s easy for busy people to feel like they’re never quite comfortable with it. If you’re good with technology and with people, you can start a rewarding business that helps individuals and businesses improve their tech skills.
With minimal startup costs ranging from $0 to $500 for marketing and materials, you can offer one-on-one lessons, group classes, or online tutorials. You can cover a wide range of topics, too: basic computer skills, software applications, advanced programming, digital marketing, and more. By providing clear and patient instruction, you can help your clients gain confidence in using technology, helping ensure a steady demand for your services.
Busy homeowners, apartment complexes, and commercial properties all have one thing in common: they all need landscaping. And many of them don’t have time to do it themselves. That’s where your landscaping business can meet a need. This business is a hands-on business that lets you work outdoors and beautify clients’ properties.
You’ll need to invest up to $5,000 upfront to get tools and some basic marketing. But once you’re up and running, you offer services such as mowing, trimming, planting, and garden design. As a landscaper, you can attract residential and commercial customers who need regular maintenance or one-time projects. By delivering high-quality work and building strong client relationships, you can grow your business through referrals and repeat customers, helping ensure a steady income stream.
Growing and selling plants from your home or garden is a green and profitable business idea. With startup costs ranging from $500 to $2,000 for seeds and supplies, you can propagate a variety of plants, from flowers and herbs to vegetables and houseplants. As a plant propagator, you can sell your plants at local farmers’ markets, online, or through partnerships with local garden centers.
By focusing on healthy, well-cared-for plants and offering expert advice to your customers, you can build a loyal customer base and enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to a greener world.
When choosing a small business idea to start, it’s essential to consider several factors to help ensure your venture aligns with your goals and has the potential for success. To start, think about your likes and passions; you want to pick a business idea that you enjoy. That’ll help you stay invested even when things are tough. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re qualified for that business idea (or at least willing to do the work to become qualified.
You’ll also want to assess the market for your business or product. Is there a customer base for your business? What is the local competition like? How will you make sure you stand out from them? Having a plan in place can help you succeed.
Balancing these factors will help you select a business idea that is both personally fulfilling and commercially viable.
Once you’ve chosen your small business idea, it’s crucial to plan thoroughly and set a strong foundation for success. Start by creating a detailed business plan that outlines your goals, target market, competition, and strategies for growth.
You’ll also need to get any licenses or permits required for your industry (or by your state and local governments). Our business license report can help with this step.
Last but not least, commit to continual learning. It will help you stay competitive as the business grows and changes. By planning meticulously, obtaining the right certifications, and committing to ongoing education, you can effectively run and grow your small business.
Starting a business is a busy time with lots of different steps to complete, but you don’t have to go it alone. Here at ZenBusiness, we specialize in the “red tape” side of business. Whether you need help forming an LLC or corporation to protect your business, getting a business bank account, or anything in between, we’ve got you covered. Let us help with the paperwork so you can focus on what you love: your new business.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
Ready to Start Your LLC?
Let's Start Your Business