business ideas to kickstart your vision into reality.
Why is it a good idea to start a business this year?
Answer: The Philippines is experiencing some
serious economic growth right now making this a
great time to ride the wave.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects a
growth of 6.8% in 2018 and 6.9% next year, a
bullish momentum that ADB country director Kelly
Bird describes as “ a golden age of growth ” for our
country – which is primarily driven by robust
domestic demand.
It surely is the best time to start investing to build
your own business.
What is a business?
An entity or an enterprise that is committed to
providing goods or services in exchange for some
form of payment. In its most basic form, to do
“business” is to make a living through commerce.
Types of Businesses
Service Business
A business whose output/product is not an actual
physical or tangible product is engaged in the
service business.
Banks, accounting firms, law firms (and other types
of consulting firms), review centers, training
facilities, gyms, barber shops, salons, kids play
centers, arcades, are some examples since their
“product” takes the form of some kind of service/
action.
Merchandising Business
It’s a business that operates under the “Buy and
Sell” concept.
Typically, they will buy their merchandise or product
at lower prices from wholesalers then sells it at a
markup, for profit.
A merchandising business does not make any
changes to its supplies or products. They simply
act as a gateway for people looking to purchase
products.
Examples are groceries and malls, resellers and
suking tindahans.
Manufacturing business
An enterprise or company that is involved with the
creation of a product is engaged in the
manufacturing business.
They buy raw materials in order to come up with a
product they can sell.
For example, an ice cream business needs raw
materials like milk and sugar in order to product
their ice cream.
The same can be said for companies producing
processed foods or a furniture business who needs
raw timber to create beds and chairs.
Forms of business organizations
If Service, Merchandising, and Manufacturing refer
to how an organization or company conducts
business, the following refer to how a business is
formed or managed.
Sole Proprietorship
A business owned exclusively by a single person is
called Sole Proprietorship.
While this is the easiest type of business to set up,
it also presents the most risk since the owner is
open to unlimited liability.
The owner will need to surrender personal assets to
creditors if he goes into debt and can’t pay.
Partnership
Exactly what you think it is. But not strictly tied to
just two owners only.
A partnership can be composed of two or more
parties who combines resources into setting up and
running the business.
A partnership can have unlimited liability (like sole
proprietorship) unless the owners specifically set
up a limited-partnership (LP) type of business.
Corporation
If you think that a corporation is a big company/
organization/factory which produces goods or
services, think again.
What many people realize is that a corporation
simply refers to a business that is ran by a separate
legal entity (can be in the form of shareholders) that
is distinct from its owners.
It enjoys most of the perks and responsibilities like
a normal individual has, like loan and borrow funds,
sign contracts, and even sue (or get sued).
Limited Liability Company
A Limited Liability Company, or LLC, are considered
a form of hybrid type of business that merges traits
of a sole proprietorship and a corporation.
It is not, however, considered a corporation since
LLCs cannot be incorporated. In general, LLCS are
easier to form versus corporations since it allows
small groups of people to easily build a company.
An LLC enjoys the limited liability feature of a
corporation and can elect to be taxed as a sole
proprietorship, partnership, or corporation as the
owners/members see fit.
Cooperative
If you’ve been to the province, you probably noticed
that their water and electricity is provided by some
sort of electric or water cooperative. These are
perfect examples of this type of business.
In a nutshell, a cooperative is a business wherein
members and owners benefit from the process of
running the business.
If a corporation offers stocks to shareholders, a
cooperative sells its shares to members.
These members have the some form of leverage in
terms of their opinion in affecting the course of
running the business.
Non-profit Organization
A business that is made with the intention of
promoting a specific goal or purpose. For example,
charitable institutions.
Any revenue earned by a non-profit goes to paying
the operational costs of running the company.
This means that there are no shareholders earning
income from the company itself.
All the money earned goes back into funding
operation and pursuit of the company’s mission and
vision.
Top 15 Small Business Ideas for
Filipinos [Editor’s Picks]
1. Digital Marketing Services
Capital: P1,000 – P5,000
Monthly Income: P30,000 – P500,000
Difficulty: High
Requires (Skills): Technical, Marketing, Networking,
Sales, and Communication.
Having online presence and making sure people can
easily see a company’s website online can make or
break a business. Digital Marketing services offer
solutions to website owners who want to reach a
wider audience and generate more potential
customers/revenue.
As a provider, you can sell your expertise in SEO,
Social Media, Content & Email Marketing to
businesses looking to grow their brands online.
You can easily find clients to work with through
freelancing websites such as Upwork, Freelancer.ph,
and Manila Craigslist. And eventually scale by
starting your own website where you can promote
your services, and by building a team who you can
delegate tasks to complete your projects.
2. Vending Machine
Capital: P10,000 – P20,000
Monthly Income: P1,000 – P20,000
Difficulty: Low
Requires: Good location & maintenance.
If you’re looking for a business with minimal
supervision, this one’s a good choice. Regular
maintenance and re-stocking will be your prime
tasks here, virtually no manpower for day to day
operations is required.
3. Manufacturing or selling ready-to-
assemble furniture
Capital: P80,000 – P500,000
Difficulty: Medium
Requires (Skills): Logistics, Management, Sales,
and Marketing.
Thanks to the natural abundance of wood, our
country is home to skilled woodworkers who
produce world-class furniture for local and import.
With the right channels, you can set up a business
by sourcing (or through consignment) from a local
manufacturer while you focus on logistics/delivery
system and marketing.
4. Storage Rental Services
Capital: P300,000 – P700,000
Difficulty: High
Requires: Management, Logistics, and Marketing.
With living space becoming such a premium
commodity these days, having a dedicated area to
safely tuck away your important stuff or
memorabilia is important.
Storage services are popular abroad, and in the
Philippines, sites like Kahon.PH and
StorageSpace.PH offer the same experience to our
fellow Pinoys.
You can start small by renting a small industrial
space or warehouse where you can build several
storage units you can rent out.
5. Street Food
Capital: P5,000 – P10,000
Difficulty: Low
Requires: Good location
Is there anything more classic than the fish ball
stand?
For decades, the classic favorites: Fish balls,
kikiam, squid ball, isaw, barbecue, tenga, betamax,
balut and others have been a part of the Pinoy’s
daily culture.
6. 3D printing service
Capital: P10,000 – P40,000
Difficulty: Medium
Requires (Skills): Design, Technical, and Marketing.
Used to be reserved for serious DIY hobbyists and
enthusiasts, 3D printers can be a viable business if
you have the right product idea.
You can produce mementos, trinkets, souvenirs, and
other personalized items. It’s like having a mini-
plastic factory at your own home.
7. CCTV installation
Capital: P20,000 – P50,000
Difficulty: Medium
Requires (Skills): Technical, Sales & Marketing.
As prices of CCTV systems went down and became
viable outside of business and commercial use,
more and more people are getting one for the
security of their homes.
You can take advantage of this growing user base
by getting trained as a certified installer and
offering services to these folks. You can also upsell
other relevant products such as car dashcams, and
other home security systems.
8. Smart home & automation services
Capital: P100,000 – P300,000
Difficulty: High
Requires (Skills): Technical, Programming, Sales &
Marketing.
For engineers and techies who are abreast with the
latest in smart home tech and automation systems,
this is one practice you can excel at.
We’re a bit behind in terms of these types of
modern conveniences (like smart locks, smart
security systems, appliance control, and pet care)
and it’s about time that we catch up.
You can start small by offering consulting services
at first, and having your clients buy the necessary
equipment while you take care of the technical side
for installation and maintenance.
9. Junk Shop
Capital: P100,000
Difficulty: Medium
Requires: Good location, Accounting, Management,
and Sales.
Junk shops earn money through buy and sell.
Scavengers sell them junk which they buy per kilo.
The shop will then sell it to partner recycling agents
who will convert the junk to recyclables.
Learn more:
How to Start a Junk Shop and Scrap
Business
10. Home & Office Furniture rental
Capital: P200,000 – P500,000
Difficulty: High
Requires: Tracking systems, Sales, and Accounting.
This is a niche market for those looking into
leasing their products instead of selling them. I’ve
seen ads online where they offer short and long
term “contracts” depending on the client’s needs.
Why rent furniture?
Like renting apartment houses, vacationers who stay
in the places they visit for longer periods of time (a
few months to a year) can make their living spaces
feel more at home with rented furniture.
Definitely saves on money and effort versus
importing their own furniture from abroad.
Entrepreneurs can use this same concept when
building their companies from scratch. Instead of
buying furniture for their rented office space, they
can lease them for a year and just renew as they
see fit.
They’ll save on start-up costs and can easily
“dispose” of the furniture should the business fail.
Aside from furniture, you can also choose to lease
out computers and other office equipment to
business owners (or even offer rent-to-own options
for all your products).
11. Business & Company incorporation
services
Capital: P10,000 – P20,000
Difficulty: Medium
Requires: Technical, Networking, Management.
Building a business is no easy task. With all the
legal paperwork required, you’ll probably need
professional help to make sure all bases are
covered and with zero loopholes.
Incorporation services make the process
streamlined and easy for clients. If corporate and
legal matters are your thing, this is a potential
business venture.
Also read: How to register a corporation in the
Philippines
12. Videography business
Capital: P40,000 – P100,000
Difficulty: Medium
Requires: Equipment, Video Editing Software,
Design, and Marketing.
We Filipinos love documenting our lives. From a
baby’s christening to its 1st birthday, graduation,
debut, wedding, reunions, and pretty much anything
else.
Videography services can be a lucrative business if
you have the skills and a creative team behind you.
Outside family events, there are also other
opportunities you can delve into that would pay lot
more, such as covering conferences/conventions,
producing online video commercials, as well as live
recordings of concerts and festivals.
13. IT & Network consulting and training
services
Capital: P5,000 – P20,000
Difficulty: High
Requires: Standard Equipment, Technical, and
Marketing.
Modern businesses that rely on computer systems
to operate need regular maintenance and
management – which makes the business idea
lucrative as most clients will pay on a retainer.
Offices run on a bunch of computers networked
together (including servers), groceries have an
always-on surveillance and PoS system, and your
friendly neighborhood coffee shop needs its WiFi
always running for its customers.
All these require IT and network expertise. For
additional revenue, some even offer training services
to companies, freelancers, and enthusiasts.
14. Moving Company (lipat-bahay)
Capital: P5,000 (if you already have a Truck or Van)
Difficulty: Low
Requires: Customer Service, Marketing.
Moving from one place to another is best done with
a lipat-bahay service. I personally recommend it
against hauling stuff yourself as it will save you
countless trips and prevent potential damage to
your properties.
And with younger families constantly moving to be
near their work, there will always be potential
clients in this type of business. Starting one has
also been made easier with apps/marketplaces like
Mober and Transportify .
15. AirBnB
Capital: Spare Room or Space
Monthly Income: P20,000 – P60,000
Difficulty: Low
Requires: Customer Service, and Marketing.
I heard from Tim Ferriss’s interview with AirBnB co-
founder Joe Gebbia that they initially rented out
Airbeds for their paying guests, hence the name, Air
Bed & Breakfast or AirBnB.
Cool. For the uninitiated, AirBnB allows owners of
houses and condo units to rent out their spaces to
guests for a fee. They are significantly cheaper
versus staying in a hotel that’s why popularity has
been steadily rising in the past few years. If you
have the space, you might want to check this one
out.
Related: 10 Ways to Fund and Finance your
Business
10 Out-of-the-box & Creative
Business Ideas
We know you want more, so we’ve created this
guide for the more creative thinkers out there
looking for maverick business ideas.
16. Sleep Capsule Hotels
Image Credit: Booking.com
Have you ever seen those “Sleep Pods” in Japan?
These are tiny “rooms” that people book solely for
sleep because that’s all you can really do inside
given the miniscule space. Cute concept, huh?
Around the world, the concept transformed itself
into full-blown relaxation havens called Sleep
Capsule Hotels that combine sleeping amenities
with relaxation options to make it more enticing to
guests.
17. Electric Bicycles (Retail & Repair
Services)
Image Credit: Business Insider
This New York times article reported that Electric
Bikes (E-Bikes) are getting a significant boost in
adoption worldwide. Sales of these battery-powered
bicycles are starting to reach new highs that
numbers are projected to grow to 35 million in
2018 worldwide.
What makes E-bikes an interesting business
proposition? For starters, units costs a lot less
versus owning a car/motorcycle dealership and
more people are starting to love the concept of an
electric-assisted bike.
18. 3D Printing Services
Image Credit: Big Think
What is a 3D Printer, you ask? It’s a device that
turns a design into an actual, physical prototype.
Cool, huh? So if you ever wanted to design a plastic
keychain of your head, (not sure why that’s the first
thing that came to mind) this is what you’ll use.
These things are pricey but prices have actually
gone down significantly since they were first
introduced years ago. Aside from manufacturing
stuff from scratch, you can also customize or
improve existing items for your customers.
19. Cryptocurrency ATM
Image Credit: ICO Pulse
Unless you’ve been living under a rock in the last 5
years, you probably heard about Bitcoin and other
types of these so-called Cryptocurrencies. Yes, it is
really happening.
Globally-recognized companies have already started
investing in these and even governments and banks
of some countries are starting to test the waters of
this digital mode of payment.
This rising adoption translates into a steady
increase in Cryptocurrency owners.
That’s where Crypto ATMS come in. Aside from
being a hub for existing owners to buy and sell
cryptocurrency with cash, it makes the process of
getting into cryptocurrencies for newcomers easier
due to the physical nature of transacting with a
machine they are familiar with.
As an owner or a Crypto ATM machine, you’ll earn
via transaction fees.
20. Citywide Prepaid Wifi HotSpot
Service
Image Credit: Turbo Future
Don’t let its name intimidate you. It’s essentially an
internet-cafe business sans the shop and computers
but with boosted WiFi coverage area.
If you’ve ever tried connecting to a public wifi
network and got routed to a web page asking you
to log-in, that is basically it. But before you can do
so, you’ll be asked to buy credits so you can
connect and surf using that wifi connection.
Simple enough, right? Citywide Prepaid Wifi Hotspot
Services aim to do the same thing—but at a much,
much wider scope.
21. Smart Home Automation and IoT
Services
That’s pronounced “Ay-o-ti”, silly. The “Internet of
Things” or simply IoT, was the term coined to refer
to the network of connected devices that are
equipped with its own identifier (think IP address)
so each device can “talk” to each other.
Samsung was very bullish in the concept of IoT that
Samsung co-CEO B.K Yoon announced in 2015 that
all Samsung devices will be IoT-enabled by 2020.
And when it comes to adoption, perhaps no other
segment comes close to IoT-use than Smart Home
Automation.
As a Smart Home Automation business proprietor,
your goal will be to provide installation and
maintenance services of these devices.
For example, thermal sensors can be installed
around the house so that the AC will automatically
adjust itself based on the client’s preferred
settings.
22. Agency for Influencers
Remember that scene in the movie, “Jerry
Maguire”? Cuba Gooding Jr was talking to Tom
Cruise (his agent) over the phone when he started
yelling “Show me the Money!” As an agent, it’s
Tom’s job to find and land a great contract for
Cuba.
If pro athletes, movie stars, authors, celebrities,
etc., hava agents, then perhaps the same concept
can be used for “Influencers” , right? These are the
people who command a gigantic following in social
media.
Their thoughts, opinions, and even the stuff they use
greatly influence their followers.
An agency for influencers can serve as their own
agent that will handle contract negotiations,
business and legal deals, and finding more clients.
23. Modern Jeepney Franchise
Image Credit: Yahoo! News
As of 2017, there are 220,000 registered public
jeepneys nationwide but 90 percent of these are in
service for more than 15 years.
A modern jeepney franchise will allow you to
operate a fleet of new jeepneys that are approved
by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). And
while one might argue jeepneys numbers are slowly
dwindling, they are never going away.
There’s a need for this type of transportation so
demand will always be there.
24. Esports Team
Image Credit: Dota Buff
Did you know that some Dota 2 players here in our
country consistently bag millions of pesos from
tournaments?
That’s right, millions. And we’re not talking about 1-
million peso team winnings here, but multi-million
pot earnings that when totaled can reach almost the
hundred-million peso mark. Google “TNC team
earnings” and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking
about.
TNC is a local Dota 2 Pro team.
Given the right players and resources, an esports
team can start winning tournaments local and
abroad and cash in on the big bucks. Who knows?
E-sports ain’t like basketball, you don’t have to be
tall and be blessed with basketball genes to be a
serious competitor (companies like TaskUs also
started investing to start their own esports team).
And teams like TNC proves that we can compete
and win tons of pot money in a competitive arena.
25. Fleet for Sharing Economy Business
Models
When Grab and Uber started catching fire in the
Philippines, thousands of car owners started driving
their own vehicles as a side hustle. Others had
bigger plans in mind, so they started buying
multiple cars and hiring drivers similar to the
concept of owning a fleet of taxis.
The concept is not only limited to a ride-hailing
platform like Grab. You can apply the same core
structure to other business ventures.
Sharing economy platforms like Raket.PH,
Gawin.PH, CleaningLady.PH, and MyKuya, serve as
online marketplaces where you can hire
professionals and freelancers to do tasks.
Others, like Transportify and Mober.Delivery offer
logistical services allowing you to hire vehicles to
transport your stuff.
Applying the same framework, you can create your
own fleet of service professionals or transport
vehicles and provide service through these online
marketplaces.
Freelancing Business Ideas
26. Web Design and Development
Business
It’s almost a requirement these days for businesses
to have their own website. If you know how to build
and design websites, there’s an ever expanding
market both local and abroad.
27. Photographer/Photography
Business
Offering your camera skills to capture memories
(weddings, birthdays, etc) or for professional
purposes (businesses, commercial use) makes
great use of your creative skills while generating a
handsome fee.
28. Drone Business
Ever wondered how your friend pulled off that
amazing aerial shot of an island in that video he
posted in Facebook?
Thanks to drones, you can produce footage that
were only previously achievable through professional
and expensive video equipment. Offering drone
services for a variety of purposes (creative video,
security surveillance, filming, etc…) can be a unique
way of generating income.
29. Virtual Assistant Services
Did you know that the most popular online job in
the Philippines right now is Virtual Assistant?
Filipino VAs are popular to clients abroad thanks to
our natural capacity to handle tasks and assist in a
variety of ways.
30. Hair & Make-Up services
If you love making other people look good through
styling, hair and make-up services can be a cool
way of earning extra bucks.
31. Graphics, Animation, & Multimedia
Design Business
Put your creative juices to good use! Companies
and clients pay a handsome fee for services that
produce rich and amazing multimedia content.
32. Editorial Services
Editing skills will always be in demand as long as
content for both print and the web is produced.
33. Content Writing (and Ghostwriting)
services
If you love writing, you can write content for
websites (blogs, articles, product reviews, etc) and
get paid for it.
Writing e-Books as a Ghostwriter commands a
much higher fee that easily goes beyond more than
a few thousand pesos.
34. Translation, Transcription, & Data
Entry Services
If you’re interested in producing written content from
audio and inputting data in systems or
spreadsheets, this is another potential income
source.
Translation services typically command a higher fee
due to the expertise required on a certain language
(s).
35. Tutorial Services (Acad, Arts, Music)
if you have the passion for teaching others, you can
help while earning money at the same time. So
whether your a Math savant or a Voice coach, get
out there and earn while helping someone be good
at something!
36. Calligraphy Business
In love with beautifully-crafted lettering? Lots of
people appreciate the exquisite art of calligraphy
and are willing to pay you to teach them how.
37. Private Investigator
Spying on someone can be a good thing, and you
can even get paid for it. If you’re up to the
demands of the job and have the skills, you can set
up your own private security firm and charge a fee
for detective work.
38. Telemarketing and customer
support
With our natural capacity to speak and write in
English, telemarketing and phone support is a solid
way of earning moolah.
And you can do this at home! Talent sites like
UpWork and Freelancer allow contractors like you to
find clients who are willing to pay for your phone
skills.
Food & Beverage Business Ideas
39. Cake Making/Baking
Love to bake? Folks love a good cake and other
baked goodies. Whether it’s a creamy red velvet
cupcake or an Elmo-inspired birthday cake, there
will always be demand for rich, delicious bakes
40. Rice Retailing Business
Buy them by the sacks, sell them by the kilo. With
rice as a Filipino food staple, there will always be
customers.
41. Water Refilling Station Business
Demand for a good source and delivery service of
drinking water will never run out. And with more
Filipinos opting to live in condominiums, snagging
a whole floor or building of customers for water
delivery sounds very profitable indeed.
42. Catering Business
Filipinos love events. And what does an event
needs to make sure attendees are happy? Good
food. You can start by catering your neighbor’s
birthday party and then move up to more
commercial events like weddings and small
corporate events.
43. Restaurant or Canteen (Carinderia)
Business
The family that eats together, stays together.
Filipinos love eating out. So whether its a simple
neighborhood eatery or tapsilogan, you can always
count on FIlipinos’ love for good food for demand.
44. Palamig Business
My favorite is Sago’t Gulaman. I’ve seen Palamig
stands in MRT flocked by thirsty commuters for
their Buko Pandan and Pineapple coolers.
45. Egg Supplier
As an ingredient used on a wide variety of foods
and a breakfast must-have, eggs always had strong
demand from both household and commercial
customers.
46. Meat Shop
Pork chops, beef strips, whole chickens, and a
whole lot more—meat shops are one-stop stores
for customers looking to stock up on their meat
supplies.
From moms looking to cook her kids caldereta to
the cook buying chicken wings for his food stall,
expect customers to score their favorite cuts by the
kilo.
47. Food Cart or Food Stand
The boom of Food parks in the last few years is
testament of the Filipinos craving for a good spot
that serves a variety of food. If you have a good
product, you can sign up for a spot on a food park.
Even the classic Buy-1-Take-1 burger joints and
siomai stands are good alternatives if you prefer to
take the solo route.
48. Microbrewing
Have the know-how to brewing beer? Thanks to the
internet, having access to the equipment and
ingredients to start brewing your own servesa has
never been easier.
If you have a winning product, you can start offering
it to bars to spread the brand name or sell it on
your own online.
49. Organic Food
Health aficionados helped drive the sales of
organically-produced food in the recent years. And
with more Filipinos becoming conscious about their
health, you can target this demographic and get
yourself a solid customer base.
You can also sell your products to restaurants of
course.
50. Food Delivery Business
Online food delivery services like Foodpanda and
Honestbee make it easy for Pinoys to order their
food online. Others cook and deliver home-packed
meals to busy working Pinoys who don’t have the
time to leave their desks for a delicious meal.
51. Craft beer pub
Opening a craft beer pub attracts other folks with
the same passion for craft beer. It’s akin to finding
a niche product and having a solid base of
enthusiasts willing to be paying customers.
Retail Business Ideas
52. Clothing Boutique & Garage sales
Got an eye for fashion? You can source your
inventory directly from clothes makers/printing
shops or buy in bulk at Divisoria and set up a
boutique to house your products.
If you and your family have a bulk of used-but-not-
abused items you can run a garage sale and profit
from your second hand stuff.
53. Buy & Sell
A core business strategy. Buying and selling stuff is
an age-old business model that covers almost every
possible item imaginable.
From gadgets, clothes, food, real estate,
commercial space, and others—having the skill to
buy low and sell for a profit is what most
businesses are all about.
54. Consignment
Similar to buying and selling but with one key
difference—you’ll act as the agent for selling the
goods by the owner.
A bakeshop, for example, can offer their goods for
consignment at a lower price (usually with a
minimum bulk amount). Consignees can then sell
the baked goodies with a markup or earn from
commission.
55. Cellphone Load Retail
Even with the advent of online communication
platforms, texting and calling is still an essential
part of the Filipinos daily life. You can apply for a
load retailing business and earn from a mark up
from each transaction made.
56. Plant Selling Business
Plants not only make spaces look good, they’re
also doing a positive contribution to the air around
us. If you are passionate about plants, you can
grow your own or buy it low from cheaper sources
then prop them on pretty vases and sell for a profit.
57. Retailer of local produce
Earning while supporting your community at the
same time is a noble act. For example, you can
source freshly-ground kapeng barako from coffee
bean farmers then re-pack and sell in the metro. It’s
a win-win situation for both parties.
58. Online Clothing Store Business
E-commerce sites like Shopify allows individuals to
easily set up an online clothing store with minimal
fuss.
59. Sari Sari Store
The classic Filipino “convenience store” is still alive
and kicking throughout the years. Unlike western
countries, we tend to buy things per piece or retail
due to economic reasons and ease-of-access.
60. Ukay Ukay
Thrift shops or “Ukay-ukay” are popular because of
the uber-cheap prices of its merchandise.
Baguio and Bambang, for example, are well-known
hubs for thrift shops and resellers flock here for
items to buy inventory to sell in the metro.
And according to iMoney PH – thrift shops’ daily
profits range from P1,000 – P10,000 per day (and
can earn as much as P15,000/day during peak
seasons, which is December and January).
61. Collectibles Trading
Collectibles trading depends on a community of
like-minded individuals looking to swap, buy or sell
various items ranging from action figures to trading
cards.
If you’re a collector, you can use your extensive
knowledge of your item and look for deals that you
can profit from.
62. Candle Making Business
Candle products have found a niche market in the
form of spas and other relaxation spaces. It’s
especially strong during Halloween/All Saints
period. You can start learning how to make them
yourself or get merchandise in bulk for reselling.
63. Selling Used Books
Selling pre-loved books is a nice way of earning
money on the side. You can do a one-time “garage
sale” of your personal collection or become an
actual trader or buyer of used books for reselling.
64. Sell Homemade Products
Does your Embotido always get the thumbs up from
relatives during reunions? Why not share the gift of
your delicious creation by selling it?
Start small by selling them to your neighbors and
office mates. To expand your reach, you can join
trade shows or food bazaars. Note that this applies
to all homemade products and not strictly always
about food.
65. Personalization Business
Ever seen those T-shirts with the wearer’s actual
name or face in front? Or those laptops and
gadgets covered in bright skins and glitters? If you
love DIY or have the knack at adding a personal
touch to a product, you just might have a potential
business at hand.
Some customize cars, adding parts or making it
look like a completely different beast via car wrap.
Consulting Business Ideas
66. Financial planner/advisor (insurance
agent)
As more Filipinos get financially smart and realize
the importance of preparing for the future, the higher
the demand for financial advisors who can explain
and match them with a plan that best suit their
needs.
67. Digital marketing & Social media
consultant
For a business to thrive and get a wider customer
base, it needs to tap on the power of the internet
and social media.
Digital marketers and social media consultants
prepare and manage marketing campaigns for
businesses so they can reach the right audience and
build brand authority through online presence.
68. Personal Fitness and Crossfit
trainer
Just look at the number of participants at a running
event and you’ll have an idea how many Filipinos
are into health and fitness. Gyms have steadily risen
in popularity in the last few years.
Crossfit trainers don’t even need a dedicated space:
they can operate in public places without any
equipment.
69. Nutritionist Consulting
In line with the rising interest in personal health, a
lot of folks seek professional nutritional advice to
be on the right track. Nutritionists asses their
patients health and lifestyle and come up with a
plan to achieve the results they want.
70. Coaching Services
If you’re an expert on something, you can help
others and earn at the same time.
Coaching services cover a wide range of interest,
from golf newbies to professionals seeking career
advice, budding entrepreneurs needing business
advice to shy individuals who want to master public
speaking.
Most of us can use some guidance and shared
experience to better our current circumstances and
this is where coaching services come in.
71. Image & Advertising Consultant
Building and maintaining a reputable name and
brand is crucial in today’s connected world. Image
and Advertising consultants take care of the grunt
work required to keep a person or a business’
image untarnished.
The practice typically involves public relations,
marketing and reputation management. They also
spearhead all initiatives and projects to build a
following and a loyal fan base.
Personal Services
72. Computer Repair Services
If you know your way around computers and geek
out on building them, you probably have a good
amount of knowledge and experience in fixing them
as well. A computer crash or malfunction is
inevitable, and people will be willing to pay you to
get their beloved workhorses up and running again.
73. Coin Laundry Business
In 2017, I realized there were a total of 5 coin
laundry shops around our area. Why are they
popular?
The answer— convenience. I personally find it
indispensable as it saves on time (as you can get
your laundry done the same day) and effort versus
doing the laundry at home via washing machine or
leaving it for a couple of days on other laundry
service shops.
And if you live in a condo or small space (read:
nowhere to hang your wet clothes), this makes it a
no-brainer.
The long customer queue on the shop I visit every
weekend is proof of strong demand for this type of
service.
74. Swimming Instructor
This is another way of earning from a skill you
already have. And with summer upon us, expect a
surge in demand as people flock the pools and
beaches.
75. Yoga Instructor
The benefits of Yoga to one’s health are undeniable.
And with today’s hyper-busy workforce, more
people are seeking the calming effect of Yoga to
their frayed nerves and tired body.
76. Home Massage Services
Nothing beats a relaxing massage after battling a
week of overtime and deadlines. But what could
make it even more better? Simple: Just pull out
your phone and book a home massage session.
No need to prep yourself and brave the traffic, save
on time and energy. These are the main draw of
home massage services, and thanks to these you’ll
never run out of potential clients.
77. Personal Shopper
I’ve seen some online services that do specific
tasks like sending someone to buy your groceries.
Similar to that, getting paid to shop and buy stuff
can be an interesting and fun experience.
As a personal shopper, you’ll get asked to look for
and buy specific things, so it helps if you already
know your way around malls and where to buy
stuff.
78. Dance Instructor
Dancing knows no limits when it comes to age. I’ve
seen kids as young as 5 years old shake it and
grind it in dance studios to prep for contests and
events.
Teens and young adults flock these studios to learn
the techniques and improve their craft. Heck, even
our Titas and Lolas make the occasional visit to a
“D.I” for some serious old-school dance session.
79. Day Care Services
As a father of a 3-yr old, having a safe space for
him to learn and interact with other kids is
essential.
Young parents of today are both working full time
to keep up with the demands of an ever-increasing
cost of living, and having trained-professionals to
look over their kids is of great help to ensure
they’re on the right track.
80. Personal Concierge & Errand Service
Offering to be someone’s go-to person for personal
tasks and errands is another way of earning extra
bucks. You have to be clear and offer guidelines on
the nature of the tasks that can be performed to
make sure you and your client are on the same
page.
81. House and Pet Sitting
Need to leave your place for an important business
meeting? Don’t have someone to look over your pet
while you’re away? By offering house and pet sitting
services, you get to help your clients remove these
worries away and get paid at the same time.
82. Car Wash Business
With the rise of car owner numbers in the past few
years, more and more Filipinos avail of car wash
services. And you don’t even need to set up shop if
you’re starting from scratch with zero capital.
Here’s a thought: Be unique (and resourceful)—offer
to visit their homes instead to do the cleaning—ala
home service.
83. Auto repair & maintenance shop
(Talyer)
In lieu of car wash services, you can set up an auto
repair shop. Filipinos are known for finding the best
bang for their money, and sometimes car owners
find regular maintenance through “Casas” (official
car shops) just too expensive.
Auto repair and maintenance shops typically offer
the same services at a lower price that’s why
places like Banawe St in QC are popular to car
owners and enthusiasts.
84. Vulcanizing Shop
Find auto-repair shop capital a bit too much for
your wallet? Why not try setting up a vulcanizing
shop instead? As long as there are cars on the
street, the occasional flat tire is inevitable. Most
drivers also drop by to pump some air in their tires
and pays a small fee for it.
85. Barbershop
Whether it’s every few weeks, monthly, or just every
once in a while, men need to get their hair cut
short. Barber Shops tend to develop a loyal
customer base if services are good. Tips are
expected almost always for your barbers as well.
86. Dry Cleaning Business
Have a tux that needs cleaning? Evening gown to
look fresh for the party tomorrow? Regular washing
methods just won’t work with delicate clothing—and
this is where dry cleaning services come in.
87. Grab Services
Whether you’ll drive it yourself or have someone do
it for you, Grab services (GrabCar & GrabExpress) is
still a popular way of earning money on the side.
88. Tour Guide Services
If you have a passion for history and teaching but
not within the confines of the classroom, take it
outside and be a tour guide. Get paid for showing
unique and historical places to others and sharing
the stories behind the place.
89. Delivery Services
Depending on the delivery vehicle, you can set this
business up for almost any kind of item. Think of
those old-school bike messenger services and
you’ll have a basic framework how this business
runs.
90. Tailoring, Alteration & Seamstress
services
“Clothes maketh the man”. A tailor-fit suit trumps
more expensive wardrobe that was bought off the
shelf. Why? Because the custom fit is what makes
it look perfect—no matter how simple it is.
More fashion-savvy customers know this and they
will always look for these types of services for their
needs.
91. Pet Businesses
When it comes to pets, here are a few ideas you
can use.
Pet Shop & Pet Grooming services – For
selling a wide variety of pets like dogs and
cats, birds and fish. You can also offer
grooming services for dogs and cats.
Pet Sitting – If the owner needs to get away
or be someplace where pets are not
allowed, pet sitters can charge a fee to
take care of the owner’s beloved animals.
Pet hotel and Daycare – Same concept with
Pet sitting but with an actual place where
the animals can hang around. Clients are
willing to pay a premium for making sure
their cute little pets experience the best
service while they are away.
Selling Pet clothing and accessories online
– You can source these or make them on
your own. Put up a website or sell them via
FB or other sites like Shopee.
Dog obedience trainer – Requires genuine
knowledge in training dogs. You’ll need to
undergo the training program for this to get
certified.
Dog walking service – While the term
“walking the dog” is probably more popular
in Yoyo, its roots take from the literal
meaning of the phrase. Walking your pet
dog is both healthy for the owner and
animal and people who don’t have the time
to do this themselves can pay you to do it
on their behalf.
Rental Services
92. Pisonet
The Filipinos’ love of the concept of “tingi” is what
made the Pisonet popular when it first came out. It
allowed customers (mostly students and teens) to
connect to the internet for as low as 1 peso per
minute.
I still see a couple of Pisonet shops around high
foot traffic areas near schools and public places,
proving there still a market for this type of rental
business.
93. Internet Cafe
While not as plenty as they used to be, Internet
Cafes are still around and can still be a profitable
venture if yox u do your due diligence.
I’ve always thought that it all boils down to the
experience—when I was in college, we looked for
shops which offered the best bang for our buck.
We prefer those which had a nice balance of
computer graphics power, internet speed,
peripherals (mouse, keyboard and chair), comfort
and price.
94. Co-working spaces
The rise of freelancers, home-based workers, and
“Digital Nomads” paved the idea for Co-working
spaces.
What is it, exactly? It’s essentially a shared
workspace that houses various freelancers and
small businesses to serve as their “office” – and
often, students use these spaces for studying as
well.
If you have the space and amenities to run this type
of business, it can be a self-sustaining venture.
95. Van Rental Services
We’ve rented out a couple of vans in the last few
years for trips to provinces or team buildings.
Services like this can be a good way to put an
otherwise underutilized family van to good use.
96. Recording and Band Rehearsal
Studio
Back in high school and college, I joined some
bands. Since we didn’t have our own gear, we
practiced our stuff at music/band studios. You call
in advance to reserve your slot and pay by the hour.
I noticed that back then, the owners were musicians
themselves or former musicians. They probably felt
that setting up a venue where bands and budding
enthusiasts like me back then can practice was a
great idea. And it was!
97. Mobile Billboard Service
Ever seen those trucks with ads plastered around
its whole body? Or the buses with huge ads roving
around the metro with a picture of your favorite
makeup brand?
Let me clear though, you don’t need to buy big-
sized vehicles for this endeavor. I’ve seen plenty of
private vehicles promote products and services via
car wrap. Ask around, you might just get a decent
pay for doing mobile ad service.
98. Formal wear rental service
Filipinos love hosting and attending formal events. I
should know, I probably rented more than a dozen
“coat and tie” during my younger days. It’s not
unusual for a kid to not own a decent pair of Tux or
suit, at least in my day.
I argued that I don’t really need to buy one if I’ll
only be using it once or twice a year. While this
thinking might be flawed, the existing Formal wear
rental shops serves proof that there are some out
there who had the same reasoning.
99. Logistics, Trucking, & Hauling
services
There will always be a demand for these types of
services. Simply because not all Filipinos have cars
to do it themselves or the stuff that needs to be
hauled is just too large.
Try fitting a fridge in a sedan and you’ll see what I
mean. If you have the capital, you can buy a truck
brand new or second hand. Make sure to do your
due diligence first though and test the viability first
before purchasing equipment.
100. Bicycle rental
Parks are a great example. If you live near one or
know of a place where you can set up shop, renting
out bikes can be a good way to earn a buck.
Printing Services
101. T-Shirt Printing Business
From witty one liners to over the top graphics,
there’s always a design for everyone. You can go
the traditional silk screen route or the more modern
heat press operation.
I’ve seen heat press machines online being sold for
as low as Php10K to as high as Php100K. From T-
shirt you can also expand to printing mugs, caps
and even ID laces.
102. Tarpaulin Printing
Tarp printing machines command higher prices
compared to heat transfer printers. But if you’re
interested and have the capital, there’s still a steady
demand for large-format prints.
Both personal and corporate events avail of this
type of service, not to mention potential tie-ups
with advertisers for your clientele.
103. Photocopy Business
Photocopiers are a staple around schools and
public places. A quick search online revealed prices
hovered around the Php30K to Php50K mark. If
your place is near a school or within commercial
areas, this is one potential business venture.
Note: You can also upsell other relevant services,
like taking and printing Photo IDs, to maximize the
business’ potential profits.
104. Business cards, flyers, and
brochure printing
More niche than photocopying in terms of
customers but still a promising business idea. Also,
most mid to high range inkjet printers allow you to
do this so if you already have one, you can easily
set up shop without shelling out significant capital.
Home Repair & Improvement
Services
105. Solar panel Installation
Several players in the solar panel industry have
popped up in the last few years. If you’re keen in
getting in on the action, you must get certified first
as a professional installer.
106. Interior designing
The uptick in sales of condominium units proves
that the trend in living in smaller but more
convenient/prime locations is going strong. And
what do homeowners do to spruce up their small
space?
Hire an interior designer! A pro interior designer’s
mission is to bring their client’s vision into fruition,
transforming an otherwise drab space into a cozy,
dream home.
107. General Cleaning Services
Modern families with dual-working parents are
typically pressed for time to do some serious home
cleaning. They would rather spend their precious
weekends hanging out or going out for some quality
time.
To make sure their space is well kept, they hire
professional cleaners to save on precious time and
energy.
108. Cable, Internet, & Telephone line
contractors
You see them everywhere. Propping up make shift
stands to hawk their products, these contractors
earn a commission for each successful service
installation.
If you have the gift of gab and know how to
promote yourself and your product’s benefits, this
can be a profitable income source.
109. Plumbing, Electrician, & Handyman
services
I’m a full grown adult male but I’m not
embarrassed (well, maybe a bit) to admit that I’m
no handyman. My wife can’t depend on me if there
are problems with our home’s plumbing or electrical
system.
I always say, better leave it to the pros than mess it
up even further. And trust me, there are a lot of
folks out there who have the same dilemma and are
willing to pay for professional handyman help.
110. Electronics & Cellphone repair
I once read in an article that our smartphones have
become extensions of our bodies. And like injuries
in our bodies, we rush to the nearest technician to
get our precious smartphones fixed.
Same with other gadgets—in this entertainment-
driven world fueled by short attention spans,
customers always need to get their devices fixed
ASAP.
111. Shoe repair & locksmith
If you’re like me, you never let go of a loyal pair of
shoes that easy. And with each torn sole or trashed
stitching, it’s an automatic trip to the shoe repair
shop for me.
And you probably visited a locksmith once, if it’s
anything related to padlocks and keys best to have
these professionals do it.
112. Pest control
This serious problem requires a serious solution
from the pros. Exterminator services cater to home
and commercial space owners who fell victim to
pest damage.
Economy-proof Business Ideas
113. Poultry Business
When entrepreneurs get asked, which came first,
chicken or egg?
They will probably reply, “It doesn’t matter, I’ll just
take them both”. If you have the space and capital,
a poultry business can scale well and bring in some
serious bucks.
114. Modern Jeepney and/or Tricycle
franchise
As an undying relic of Pinoy commuting culture,
Jeepneys stood the test of time thanks to its cheap
rates and availability (and should soon become
more of an interesting business venture when
Jeepney modernization gets implemented).
The same can be said for tricycles, which were the
Uber and Grab of our childhood when we need to go
from one spot to another within the subdivision or
barangay.
While they are no longer considered the king of the
streets and highways, it can still be a profitable
business provided you will be prepared to all the
stuff and issues that go along with managing this
type of franchise.
Related: 10 Best Low-Cost Franchise Business
Opportunities in the Philippines
115. Upholstery
Whether it’s making custom sofas and furniture or
restoring old and worn out cushions, Upholstery
services can take care of it and more.
You can probably start with re-upholstery services to
keep initial costs down then start making your own
sofas and furniture sets once you have enough
capital.
116. Travel Agency/Group Travel
Package
Open Facebook and it won’t take more than a
minute to see a friend’s post of their vacation or
trip somewhere. What does this mean? People
nowadays treat travel like a part of their lifestyle.
And with this boom, you can capitalize and set up a
small travel firm to cater to the growing demands
of this market. Alternatively, I’ve seen “joiner”
packages online where trips will be initiated by a
group or a person and the joiners will pay a fee for
the whole package. Similar to paying for a field trip.
117. Import/Export Business
Depending on the product, you can try going the
import/export route. Both have selling as its core
concept and revenue generator. It’s all about how
smoothly you can set up and run the logistics.
Once you have that figured, it’s just a matter of
finding buyers and a target market.
Real Estate Business Ideas
118. Property management
According to Wikipedia, “It is the operation, control,
and oversight of real estate as used in its most
broad terms”. As a property manager, you’ll be the
owner’s PoC for handling all related stuff to
managing and maintaining their property.
You’ll act as the middleman if potential buyers (if
an owner is selling) or lease offers come in to bid.
119. Building maintenance
Nobody likes a shabby, tumbledown space. As a
building maintenance provider, you’ll take care of
keeping the building in tip-top shape.
120. Real estate broker
Finding clients and landing a deal are your main
responsibilities. Licensed real estate brokers earn a
healthy commission for setting up deals between
the buyer and seller.
121. Home staging, Land surveyor, &
Landscaping
All three have common goals—make land and
spaces livable and looking good.
If you have a background on any of these three, you
can start by marketing your services to small scale
projects like homeowners looking to sell their
house or folks who want to renovate their front and
back yard spaces.
Whichever it may be, grab the opportunity. It will
jumpstart your business until you gather enough
skills, resources and capital to move to bigger
projects.
122. Building safety & inspection
services
Building safety is of utmost importance and is
required to be met throughout the building’s
lifetime. Starting this type of business will require
accreditation and proper certification.
Once running, you can offer your services to both
government units and private building owners
needing regular building safety certification.
123. Waste management services
Nope, I’m not talking about waste treatment plants.
You can probably start by developing a system for
collecting and segregating waste from residential
units.
Trust me, residents will be more than willing to
have you collect their garbage and even pay for
easy and convenient waste disposal. Once you’re
done with the collection and segregation, you can
sell to junk shops or perhaps straight to recycling
agents.
124. Demolition & Wrecking services
Another interesting business idea. Heavy machinery
and manpower will be your main start-up costs.
125. Construction business (for
renovation)
Same with above, initial capital will be allocated to
machinery and manpower. You can start with small
residential projects then move to commercial
spaces once you build enough traction and capital.
Read Next: Ultimate Guide to Real Estate Investing
in the Philippines
Business Services [B2B]
126. Accounting & Bookkeeping
You can go the freelance route and start by offering
your accounting and bookkeeping expertise as a
side gig. Depending on your skill level and
experience, you can target high-income individuals
and small business owners.
You can begin hiring a contractor or two once as
you get more clients and from there expand as an
actual firm.
127. Human Resources services
If you have friends who have Corporate, Labor,
Compensation & Benefits, headhunting and
executive backgrounds, then perhaps a Human
Resource firm is a viable business idea.
You will manage the company’s organizational
structure, records management, payroll and benefits,
and talent acquisition.
128. Security business
Security firms provide businesses with the
necessary personnel for ensuring safety of their
operations and assets. You’ll set up a firm which
will act as an agency for hiring and assigning
security personnel to clients.
Event Planning Services
129. Wedding planner/coordinator
A wedding planner/coordinator is crucial to the
success of a wedding. Logistics, guests, wardrobe,
accessories, church visits, invites, and everything
else— a great coordinator will keep things running
smoothly before, during, and after the wedding.
130. Floral arranger/supplier
Though peak sales are seasonal, there’s a constant
demand for flowers. If you have the eye and know-
how for good presentation, you can provide
arrangement services.
Or you can go the supplier route instead and get
product from sources and resell them to shops and
customers.
131. Party planner
If you love throwing parties, why not earn from it?
Like a wedding coordinator, a party planner will
manage all tasks and details necessary to throw a
kick-ass and unforgettable day of fun.
132. Party supplies business
A great party requires the right stuff—balloons,
tables, chairs, decor, etc. And with Filipinos being
fond of throwing celebrations left and right, you’ll
always have clients willing to pay to give their
events the full party treatment.
133. Light and sounds equipment rental
Concerts, parties, corporate and private events and
more. Lights and sounds are what elevates events
to a whole new level and gives it a more classy
vibe.
With the right equipment, you can set up a lights
and sounds rental business for clients looking to
spruce up their happenings.
134. Fun run and fundraising events
organizer/consultant
If you have the passion for running, you probably
attended your fair share of marathons. Ever thought
about setting up one yourself?
It may sound hard at first but with enough research
and due diligence you can organize a fun run and
earn a profit from it. You’ll help your clients in
setting up the location, dealing with sponsors (if
they have it), security, race details, promotion of the
event, budget allocation and more.
135. Mobile Bar / Bartending services
I’ve attended a lot of events featuring a mobile bar
and I admit, it added a touch of class not to
mention the (much needed) booze. Your initial
capital will cover the vehicle and initial inventory of
drinks as well as bartender services.
136. Photo Booths
A staple in almost all events. The long lines never
cease to amaze and wear me down at the same
time. Filipinos just love having their pictures taken,
‘nuff said. And you can capitalize on this by setting
up your own photobooth.
I’ve seen basic setups (DSLR, Laptop, printer) to
more high-end ones complete with complicated
lighting setups, backgrounds and accessories.
Online & Home-based Business
Opportunities
137. Online reseller (dropshipping and/
or ecommerce store)
Being an online reseller can mean two things:
(1) You have actual inventory and you use the
internet to promote and sell,
(2) You serve as a middleman (dropship) who sets
up a virtual shop online where your customers can
place and process orders and payment. Once the
order is confirmed, you will then have your product
source deliver it directly to the buyer.
It’s like a consignment business but here you
mainly handle marketing and promotion of the
products and running the website.
Learn: How to build an online store (in 15 minutes)
138. Start a blog or a niche website
There’s a ton of ways you can profit from a
website. You can earn from Ads, affiliate marketing,
and selling your products and services. Whatever
your strategy is, the goal is to get a good number
of people visit your website.
Also Read: How to start a blog in 20 minutes and
make money
139. Online services
You have a lot of options here. You can provide
website creation and development services, teach
English online, do data entry work, Ghostwriting,
Virtual assistance, App development, graphics and
animation work, voice talent, and so much more.
Highly Recommended: 7-Figure Online Business
Ideas: 6 Ways to Make Money Online
Hobbies, Crafts, & Other Business
Ideas:
140. Soap and Lotion Making
I’ve seen local entrepreneur shows feature regular
Pinoys who built a business empire from selling a
product or service that was born out of a hobby.
If they can do it, so can you! Soap and lotion
making, scents and perfume, require only a small
capital to begin with. If you don’t have the expertise
yet but interested in knowing more, you can attend
trainings and workshops to develop your skills.
141. Vape Shop
Yup, Vape is alive and kicking. If you are a Vape
owner yourself, you probably know which products
are good and which ones suck. Why not put this
experience and knowledge to good use?
You can probably start low-key by in-person deals
or sell online and send products via shipping.
142. Collection Agency
Well, somebody has to do it—no matter how
stressful this business sounds like, it’s really all
about asking someone to pay their dues. It’s that
simple. So get over your worries and start being
open to the potential income this business will
generate.
Weekend Business Ideas
143. Sell on food expos
Love hanging out on Food Expos and sampling the
products? So do I! On a serious note, if you have a
great food product, expos are a fun way of
showcasing them and attracting potential re-sellers
and buyers.
Not to mention, it can provide you with the first-
hand feedback from customers to help you adjust
and improve your product.
144. Bazaars
You see them almost everywhere, especially around
Christmas season. Why? Because bazaars are
chock-full of interesting stuff that you don’t easily
find in malls. And it’s usually cheaper!
Bottom line is, Bazaars are pretty popular. If you
have stuff you want to dispose of or simply
interested in some weekend buy and sell, simply
register and set up shop. Or you can organize it
yourself!
145. Organize seminars
If you’re the type of person who finds joy in
planning and running events, perhaps organizing
seminars can be your thing. You’ll manage
everything: From inviting speakers, discussing fees,
marketing, location and logistics, equipment,
attendees, and more. Basically everything from start
to finish.
146. Cooking class instructor
I can’t remember the number of times I watched the
“Panlasang Pinoy” channel in YouTube. It’s a
lifesaver for those rare moments when my wife asks
me to cook at home.
Mind you, I’m a complete noob. But if you’re
someone who actually knows their way around the
kitchen, why not share your skills and teach
clueless novices like me how to do it, Gordon
Ramsay-style? Ok, maybe not Gordon Ramsay—but
you get my point. There will always be people like
me who want to learn how to cook and are willing
to pay for it.
147. Music and craft lessons
I may not know which is “kangkong” and which is
“talbos ng kamote” at the supermarket but I know
how to play a guitar. If you have music, crafting,
drawing, or any other artistic skills, you can offer
tutorial services.
This is especially popular during summer, where
kids have a lot of free time. Teaching others while
earning at the same time is a great way of sharing
your talent.
How to validate your business idea
“The most important thing is a hungry market.
Not a brilliant burger.” – Gary Halbert
Legendary direct mail response copywriter Gary
Halbert points out that the most important thing
that determines the success of a campaign (he sold
products via mail) is not the brilliance of the
product itself, but rather, if you’re able identify a
hungry market who is already looking for the type of
product you’re selling.
Think about it.
We might think we can create a better burger than
McDonalds (I know most of us seriously can). Does
this mean we will be as successful?
Probably not.
And here’s why: McDonald’s’ success was not the
result of the taste of their burgers.
Rather, they were successful because they found a
huge demand for cheap food that can be served
very quickly.
That was their market. People looking to buy cheap,
fast food.
Figuring out and identifying your target market is
perhaps the most important step in validating a
business idea.
Why the need to validate a business idea in the first
place, you ask?
Well, without it, you’re basically throwing a hail
mary pass—launching a product or opening a
business simply because you can—without
necessarily knowing if people will be there to buy
it.
Here’s a personal example. There’s a small spot
along road 3 in Project 6 that I noticed seem to
change stores/businesses every few months.
The first time I saw it I think it was a computer
shop.
A few months back, it was a barbeque store. Now
they changed businesses again and are selling
cupcakes.
I won’t be surprised if it folds up too and gets
replaced by a laundry shop next week.
The moral of the story? Doing certain steps to test
the viability of a business is crucial to its success.
What are these steps, exactly? Here are the top 3
ones to help you out.
Step 1: Come up with a business that
you’re genuinely interested in and
determine if there’s a hot market for it
A lot of successful businesses were born out of a
passion for something. Michael Dell was into
computers.
He loved building them from scratch.
Back then, most desktop computers were sold pre-
built (IBM, HP, Compaq) and were pricey.
Word of mouth through his college brought him
plenty of customers, students looking for a cheap,
custom built desktop. So Dell continued building
PCs which eventually turned into the global brand
that it is today.
A perfect example proving that merging passion and
identifying a willing market to buy it is crucial to
success.
Step 2: Observe and talk to your target
market
Once you’ve zeroed in on a niche and identified
your target market, it’s time to do some old-school
survey and research.
And by survey I don’t mean have random people
answering 10 questions about your product.
No. Rather, ask potential customers what service or
product they are currently using and what do they
wish it did more/better?
What would they like to see more of?
Are they price-sensitive?
Ask them if they will be willing to pay for a product
like you’re planning to sell.
The more information you can have, the better
you’re idea will be of what customers truly want and
willing to buy.
Where can you find potential customers for
feedback? When building a physical store, perhaps
you can ask the people who frequent the area.
Observe how they conduct business with
surrounding or nearby stores. Does the place get
plenty of foot traffic?
Or you can visit and join Facebook groups or
communities that seem to be a perfect fit for your
product.
Say you’re planning on creating an advanced digital
course on Adobe Photoshop. You can frequent
online groups made for digital graphics artist and
the like.
Your task will be to spot pain points and problems
and see if your product can address them.
You can even ask them directly if what you are
planning to build is something they will be willing
to purchase.
Step 3: Create your prototype
Once you are certain that there’s a demand and
confirmed your potential audience’s pain points and
needs, it’s time to do a “trial run”.
You can create a rough version of the product with
all the key elements built in based on your market
research. Distribute samples to potential customers,
then wait and ask for feedback.
Some forms of businesses might not be able to
perform this step and that’s understandable.
The main takeaway behind this concept is to get
actual feedback based on a prototype of a product
without burning through capital and going all in right
away.
In the tech startup world, this first prototype is
referred to as “Minimum Viable Product” or MVP.
Let’s take smartphone apps, for example. Let’s say
Instagram’s first iteration (MVP) was an app with a
strong focus on photo sharing and a few filters.
After the beta release, it was found out through
feedback that people loved filters and wanted more
types of it to be incorporated.
Taking this into consideration, they added more,
better filters which served as its main advantage
over Facebook.
After polishing the MVP using feedback from users,
the creators were able to launch a near-perfect
product that is far better than what they could have
made if they didn’t have the insights from the initial
feedback.
While this is not accurate and merely an example,
this proves the importance of launching an MVP
before going all-out to creating the actual product.
It allows you to quickly (and cheaply) build a
prototype customers can use and provide crucial
feedback on.
It’s no different to someone who got praised for his
barbeque but was advised to adjust the spiciness a
bit to suit the preferences of a larger audience.
After heeding their suggestions and feedback, more
people liked his barbeque which lead him into
thinking, “Ibenta ko kaya to? Parang madaming may
gusto”.
A thousand barbecues later, Andoks was born. Just
kidding, but I know you get my point.
Like Grit PH on Facebook
Read Next:
How to Start a Business in the
Philippines
25 Best Franchise Business
Opportunities in the Philippines
How to Register and Form a
Corporation in the Philippines
10 Ways to Fund your Dream
Business in the Philippines
38 Business Documents & Letters
[w/ Samples & Templates]
10 Best Business Books for Aspiring
Filipino Entrepreneurs
How to start, run and grow a
profitable online business with only
a $5,000 capital investment
6 Vital Mindsets for Success
FILED UNDER: BUSINESS
TAGGED WITH: ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SMALL
BUSINESS
About Amiel Pineda
Amiel is the lead business & finance columnist of
Grit PH. He escaped from the shackles of BPO life
and now pursues his dream of writing full time.
When not reading, he’s usually arguing about life’s
philosophies with his 3-yr old son.
Comments
Erika Ann says
May 2, 2018 at 2:11 am
My family was actually considering a trucking
business and it was great to see that you listed
here some business ideas that includes trucking in
it. Logistics, truck rentals, lipat-bahay. I think its a
good idea knowing that capital will be used in
purchasing trucks and having a location to store
them.
Reply
Business Cash Flow says
May 25, 2018 at 12:30 am
Thanks for sharing this. I went to the Philippines
for a vacation. I noticed that filipinos loves bazaar.
I think that it is really perfect business to start to
in the philippines.
Reply
FilipiKnow says
June 26, 2018 at 10:49 pm
You might wanna add website flipping to your list.
It’s a sub-niche under blogging but extremely
profitable especially if your reader base is from the
US. I suggest starting from a niche site that
reviews high ticket items on Amazon and grow
from there. I once sold a Nursing blog to a US-
based entrepreneur for $45,000.
Reply
jasonacidre says
June 27, 2018 at 8:31 am
Hey!
We’re actually working on a different guide (a
more exclusive one for online business ideas)
that includes site flipping.
Thanks for dropping by – huge fan of your blog
(used to spend hours scouring your history-
related list posts).
Reply
John Lee says
August 9, 2018 at 1:18 am
Great blog! very informative but now a days online
services is very important like Internet service
provider, an email provider, a news provider, an
entertainment provider, a search engine, an e-
commerce site, an online banking site.
Reply
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Top 10 Small Business Ideas
Consulting Small Business
Small Business in the Philippines
Start Your Own Small Business
Contents
What is a business?
Types of Businesses
Service Business
Merchandising Business
Manufacturing business
Forms of business organizations
Sole Proprietorship
Partnership
Corporation
Limited Liability Company
Cooperative
Non-profit Organization
Top 15 Small Business Ideas for Filipinos [Editor’s
Picks]
1. Digital Marketing Services
2. Vending Machine
3. Manufacturing or selling ready-to-assemble
furniture
4. Storage Rental Services
5. Street Food
6. 3D printing service
7. CCTV installation
8. Smart home & automation services
9. Junk Shop
10. Home & Office Furniture rental
11. Business & Company incorporation
services
12. Videography business
13. IT & Network consulting and training
services
14. Moving Company (lipat-bahay)
15. AirBnB
10 Out-of-the-box & Creative Business Ideas
16. Sleep Capsule Hotels
17. Electric Bicycles (Retail & Repair Services)
18. 3D Printing Services
19. Cryptocurrency ATM
20. Citywide Prepaid Wifi HotSpot Service
21. Smart Home Automation and IoT Services
22. Agency for Influencers
23. Modern Jeepney Franchise
24. Esports Team
25. Fleet for Sharing Economy Business
Models
Freelancing Business Ideas
26. Web Design and Development Business
27. Photographer/Photography Business
28. Drone Business
29. Virtual Assistant Services
30. Hair & Make-Up services
31. Graphics, Animation, & Multimedia Design
Business
32. Editorial Services
33. Content Writing (and Ghostwriting)
services
34. Translation, Transcription, & Data Entry
Services
35. Tutorial Services (Acad, Arts, Music)
36. Calligraphy Business
37. Private Investigator
38. Telemarketing and customer support
Food & Beverage Business Ideas
39. Cake Making/Baking
40. Rice Retailing Business
41. Water Refilling Station Business
42. Catering Business
43. Restaurant or Canteen (Carinderia)
Business
44. Palamig Business
45. Egg Supplier
46. Meat Shop
47. Food Cart or Food Stand
48. Microbrewing
49. Organic Food
50. Food Delivery Business
51. Craft beer pub
Retail Business Ideas
52. Clothing Boutique & Garage sales
53. Buy & Sell
54. Consignment
55. Cellphone Load Retail
56. Plant Selling Business
57. Retailer of local produce
58. Online Clothing Store Business
59. Sari Sari Store
60. Ukay Ukay
61. Collectibles Trading
62. Candle Making Business
63. Selling Used Books
64. Sell Homemade Products
65. Personalization Business
Consulting Business Ideas
66. Financial planner/advisor (insurance
agent)
67. Digital marketing & Social media
consultant
68. Personal Fitness and Crossfit trainer
69. Nutritionist Consulting
70. Coaching Services
71. Image & Advertising Consultant
Personal Services
72. Computer Repair Services
73. Coin Laundry Business
74. Swimming Instructor
75. Yoga Instructor
76. Home Massage Services
77. Personal Shopper
78. Dance Instructor
79. Day Care Services
80. Personal Concierge & Errand Service
81. House and Pet Sitting
82. Car Wash Business
83. Auto repair & maintenance shop (Talyer)
84. Vulcanizing Shop
85. Barbershop
86. Dry Cleaning Business
87. Grab Services
88. Tour Guide Services
89. Delivery Services
90. Tailoring, Alteration & Seamstress
services
91. Pet Businesses
Rental Services
92. Pisonet
93. Internet Cafe
94. Co-working spaces
95. Van Rental Services
96. Recording and Band Rehearsal Studio
97. Mobile Billboard Service
98. Formal wear rental service
99. Logistics, Trucking, & Hauling services
100. Bicycle rental
Printing Services
101. T-Shirt Printing Business
102. Tarpaulin Printing
103. Photocopy Business
104. Business cards, flyers, and brochure
printing
Home Repair & Improvement Services
105. Solar panel Installation
106. Interior designing
107. General Cleaning Services
108. Cable, Internet, & Telephone line
contractors
109. Plumbing, Electrician, & Handyman
services
110. Electronics & Cellphone repair
111. Shoe repair & locksmith
112. Pest control
Economy-proof Business Ideas
113. Poultry Business
114. Modern Jeepney and/or Tricycle
franchise
115. Upholstery
116. Travel Agency/Group Travel Package
117. Import/Export Business
Real Estate Business Ideas
118. Property management
119. Building maintenance
120. Real estate broker
121. Home staging, Land surveyor, &
Landscaping
122. Building safety & inspection services
123. Waste management services
124. Demolition & Wrecking services
125. Construction business (for renovation)
Business Services [B2B]
126. Accounting & Bookkeeping
127. Human Resources services
128. Security business
Event Planning Services
129. Wedding planner/coordinator
130. Floral arranger/supplier
131. Party planner
132. Party supplies business
133. Light and sounds equipment rental
134. Fun run and fundraising events
organizer/consultant
135. Mobile Bar / Bartending services
136. Photo Booths
Online & Home-based Business Opportunities
137. Online reseller (dropshipping and/or
ecommerce store)
138. Start a blog or a niche website
139. Online services
Hobbies, Crafts, & Other Business Ideas:
140. Soap and Lotion Making
141. Vape Shop
142. Collection Agency
Weekend Business Ideas
143. Sell on food expos
144. Bazaars
145. Organize seminars
146. Cooking class instructor
147. Music and craft lessons
How to validate your business idea
Step 1: Come up with a business that you’re
genuinely interested in and determine if
there’s a hot market for it
Step 2: Observe and talk to your target market
Step 3: Create your prototype
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Consulting Small Business
Top 10 Small Business Ideas
Small Business in the Philippines
Start Your Own Small Business
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