The Tribune

This year has already gotten off to a rocky start. Most economists have given 2021 slow growth potential at best. With recessions looming, a raging pandemic still lurking and new strains mutating every day, a slow vaccination process and thousands of businesses fighting for survival, we all seem to be in for a long ride.

Amid all the gloomy predictions, many who have lost jobs in the traditional corporate environment will look to entrepreneurial endeavours to bail themselves out of debt. Consider our column this week as a friendly guide to help navigate the treacherous waters of starting a business with little or no capital funding.

1. Nutritional organiser

Most people love to eat, but not everyone knows how to cook healthy, mouth-watering meals on an affordable budget. As a meal planner, your duties would include creating a list of ingredients, writing easy-to-follow recipes, providing nutritional information, developing a budget plan and educating your customers. If your skills allow, you can branch into the complementary area of physical fitness.

2. Personal chef

To perfectly complement the nutritional organiser, a personal chef plans and prepares weekly or daily meals for clients. Strong cooking skills, and a working knowledge of nutrition and special diets, are a must. You do not necessarily need to have graduated from culinary school, but having some cooking classes under your belt will boost your credibility. While you may have to do some travelling to and from supermarkets and client homes, your customers should cover the cost of ingredients in addition to your service charge.

3. Graphic designer

Thousands of creatives are online sharpening their skills in web and graphic design. If you have even just basic skills this may be a good area for you to venture in. Every company needs visual assets of some kind to brand their business and attract customers. Becoming a freelance graphic designer requires a computer, a design application and a compilation or portfolio of your work. You can choose to provide a wide array of graphic design services, or you can offer niche services such as logos, display advertisements, brochures, t-shirt graphics or flyers, infographics.

4. Virtual assistant

Now that we have all been violently thrown into the world of ‘virtu-land’, a personal guide to mitigate the mess that sometimes comes with it can be essential to the perfect virtual event. Those who have good organisational and technical skills are in high demand for businesses who engage customers and partners online, but need to focus on content rather than logistics.

5. Concierge services

Between caring for their children and handling their professional responsibilities, most working parents have very little time to take care of personal errands such as grocery shopping, making runs to the mall or mailing packages. A driven individual can take care of these time-consuming errands for clients, and free up their days for the important things in life. Account for travel expenses when determining your rates, which can be hourly or by the task.

6. Online trainer/tutor

What are you passionate about? Music? Baking? Web design? Dating Services? If you know something inside and out, you can help others enrich their lives by offering virtual classes. Create downloadable instructional packets and videos, or schedule real-time Skype lessons with clients. Another option for aspiring educators is to start a virtual or home-based tutoring service. For the musically gifted, offering lessons to others who want to learn an instrument can be a great source of extra income.

7. Digital marketing services

If you have experience in the marketing field, a solo digital marketing agency is a low-cost business idea you can get up and running in no time. If you do not have a background in marketing but are interested in the field, you can take affordable online courses to develop your skills. One of the best yet most challenging things about marketing is that it is always evolving. Therefore, if you have a knack for storytelling and learning, a digital marketing firm is a business you can start quickly and cheaply.

Whatever you do, 2021 is not the year to sit around doing nothing. Get up. Get moving.

• NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organisations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com.