What business to open in a small room. Business ideas for a small town - an overview of the most profitable businesses What to open in a small village ideas

  • 02.02.2023

In a small town and business opportunities are small - this is a delusion of many entrepreneurs. Underestimating small settlements is a dangerous business: there are much more opportunities here than in megacities. But first, about which city is considered small. The population in such a settlement should be from 50 to 100 thousand. A successful business in such cities has special features.

The incomes of the inhabitants of the province are low. There is a small labor market here, and wages are strikingly different from those in the capital. This must be taken into account when opening a case. What kind of business can you do in a small town? A boutique selling expensive collectibles is a losing venture, and instead of an impressive profit, there is a risk of receiving no less impressive losses.

Usually basic goods in small towns are not enough. And the results of the analysis give a great idea for starting your own business: is there a pharmacy, a clothing store, a supermarket in a certain area, or do you have to travel to the other end of the town? Perhaps there is not a single cinema? Studying the existing market before opening your own business is a must.

Business expansion in a small town is limited. Initially, the number of consumers increases. But those who want to receive services or buy goods will run out sooner or later. For further development, it is worth considering a plan in advance. It is possible that residents of nearby towns and villages will become customers.

The advantages include a small amount of start-up capital. The cost of rent, advertising company, wages is much lower than in a large or medium city. But it is also necessary to open a business such that it is in demand among the population. For small towns, popular goods and services are good, not exclusive ones.

Getting support at the state level is easier. Here, small businesses are more willingly encouraged, support programs are working. If there is an opportunity to use certain privileges, then why refuse it? And some entrepreneurial niches are not occupied by anyone at all. So the situation with competition is favorable.

Word of mouth is a great ad, and it's free. This is very beneficial. Everyone will know about the opening of a new business. But there is also a drawback: the slightest mistake of an entrepreneur will immediately become known to everyone, and it is very difficult to fix a shaken reputation in a small town.

Foundations in a small town have already developed. And because the inhabitants of the new may begin to oppose. So, before opening a case, it is worth brainstorming. What services will make life easier? If they already exist, there is no need to despair. You just need to do your job better than your competitors. All options are written out, their "pluses" and "minuses" are worked out, and the ideal option is chosen.

Real business ideas for a small town

Among the ideas for small towns, there are several. And the first, always in demand, store. Grocery stores are essential. In a sparsely populated region, such establishments usually have a low quality of service, and second-fresh products are also not uncommon. So what kind of business can be opened?

Business Service Ideas

If you manage to open a store that meets all the expected standards, without exorbitant prices, then such an investment will pay off quickly. He will be able to exist at the expense of the constantly arriving clientele happily ever after.

A good option is a private kindergarten. If you place it in an area where there are many young mothers, then there will definitely be demand.

But the quality of services comes first. Only one deterioration - and the idea is ruined irrevocably.

An excellent option for a profitable business is landscaping the city. The development of such services as weeding, soil fertilization, lawn mowing, care and planting at a low cost will ensure prosperity for the business in a short time.

You can do it alone, or you can bring in partners with design skills for your business card projects. Get more solid. And the quality will make advertising at no extra cost.

The size of the authorized capital is the lowest among all options. True, profitable business is seasonal. But it can also be considered as the main one, subject to refinement.

A small investment also requires the opening of the production of business cards. Local entrepreneurs always need them. But the batches for the order are small, and it is unprofitable to order them in the printing house. So, you need to offer such an actual service! From the equipment you will need a good graphics editor program, a computer and a printer.

Even with seemingly high competition and niche filling, you can find a way to stand out and make a profit. Is the city center busy with supermarkets? You can put a kiosk selling natural sausages. Always in the range of fresh products, which is very important for provincial cities. The client will be able to order whatever he wants, according to his own choice. Guaranteed and high profitability, and rapid development, and high popularity.

The bakery is another example of a successful business. The aroma of freshly baked bread always outperforms any advertisement in effectiveness. And in a small town, such pastries are guaranteed to find their customers.

Internet business ideas

A very promising idea for an Internet business. For a small town, this is a real, albeit original, type of income. Even a small profit can turn into a reliable foundation for promoting a serious business. But any direction will require knowledge of copywriting, online sales, email marketing and psychology.

Pros and cons of online business

And affiliate programs, and MLM, and infobusiness require training. And the practical application of the acquired knowledge is the key to success. There is a desire to develop a stable Internet business in a small town - you need to learn. But easy and fast money on the World Wide Web is a myth. They can only be earned through hard work, an investment of patience and time.

What business ideas are realistic for a small town? MLM or network business is usually attributed to the business of megacities, where there are a lot of residents and money. But practice has proven that there are much more successful MLM businessmen in small towns. In a metropolis, it is difficult to keep contacts and maintain relationships. Life in a small town is more measured. And it’s easier to get to the address due to the lack of traffic jams, and to build relationships.

But the reverse side of the success of the project is the almost eternal label of the enamel artist and the fear of selling your product to friends. In any case, making money in such a business is not at all easy, if someone starts proving the opposite, this is a lie. But you can make money here if you work hard. And it is true.

A small town and an online store from scratch? Sounds a little odd. But it is not necessary to sell goods only among 20-30 thousand inhabitants. Postal services will help deliver products to all corners of the world.

It is not difficult to organize such a business. With the help of modern technology, it will be possible to create it in a quarter of an hour. As a last resort, there is always the option of giving a task to a freelancer for a fee.

There will be organizational and procurement issues. But the solution does not require the closure of the public services business for a while. So, if you wish, you can quite master such a task.

An example is the opening of an intimate goods store in a small town. Residents are guaranteed not to buy such things on the main street because of the fear that acquaintances will be aware of the purchase. But home delivery of a modest box without inscriptions is another matter. And such sex products will be in great demand.

It is not necessary to open just such sales, but there are also unoccupied niches. As a result, the main thing is to become the best and outperform competitors in small business.

The idea of ​​opening an Internet cafe has good prospects. Usually in the provinces there are almost no places from where you can get online “with all amenities”. This means that when organizing such a business, success is guaranteed to him: there is an opportunity to communicate, get together and complete the planned tasks without being distracted by extraneous things. So such a business is now in demand.

True, the main problem will be organizational issues, coordination. And the practical side of the matter will seem like a very simple task.

Medical Center

Often in a small town, many people know each other. And there is a practice of helping to support business. You can open a visiting center for the provision of medical services. This is one of the business options. The arrival of a specialist from the capital is organized for consultations and receptions. And the businessman is responsible for organizing the transportation of a professional, renting a room and providing marketing services.

Medical services are especially in demand as small business ideas. Residents of villages and suburbs are forced to go for a tomogram, ultrasound and medical procedures to megacities, overcoming great distances. And it is especially difficult for pregnant women who have to do ultrasound of the fetus often, and getting to the regional center is very problematic in this situation. Therefore, there is no doubt about the relevance and relevance of the services offered.

Another type of business for beginners is a business based on local products. Purchases are carried out in their locality, and then they are sold in a large one. Fresh fruits and vegetables, berries, mushrooms, farm products are bought at low prices.

Eco products are all the rage right now and the resale markup is high. But it is desirable not just to resell, but to pre-process: preserve, smoke, bake. Such mini-enterprises are always relevant.

Ready business: franchise

Among the business ideas of 2016-2017 in a small town, business based on other people's ideas, that is, franchising, is gaining popularity. Creating a business from scratch is not required here, because it is necessary to represent an already well-known brand. Many well-known brands offer a franchise, and which direction to choose will help the needs of urban residents.

It turns out that the organization of business in a small town comes down to a proposal in one of the areas of trade, services or production. Among the provision of services there are car washes, tire fitting, minor repairs, and the offer of services of specialists in blue-collar professions.

Among the trade in goods - the opening of grocery stores, pharmacies, construction markets, the sale of spare parts. Own production - mini-bakery, processing and sale of own products. We should not forget about goods for children, about private kindergartens, development centers, and there is no need to discount additional entertainment. Demand for such offers is high in any cities.

Online consulting is a direction already in demand. Open your own business - and you will be able to advise even clients from other countries. The main thing here is to be an expert in the chosen field. And the demand for legal, accounting, psychological services is always and everywhere.

Opening the first business, especially in a small town, is necessary in a field that is well known. So, an experienced accountant can open a mini-case for accounting services and tax accounting, for compiling and submitting reports, declarations. Such services are in demand both among individual entrepreneurs and among small organizations, of which there are many in the province. After all, it is easier and more profitable to turn to an outsourcer for help than to keep a permanent full-time employee.

It is always worth paying attention to areas that are independent of the crisis, that is, products, care services, budget entertainment. There are also offers of scarce services. There are very few inexpensive and unusual entertainments in the province; adults and children have nowhere to go to relax. But it’s so good to put trampolines in accessible places. And there are many such options. Affordability of the cost of services is an important criterion for the successful development of the business.

Residents of the provinces appreciate services that save money: repair of clothes, cars, apartments, budget hairdressers with a range of all services. Among what you can do in this area, the best option is to open a House of Life, where low prices compensate for the high constant demand for services harming local residents.

It is advisable to register a business as an individual entrepreneur or LLC. Each form has both pluses and minuses. And the choice is determined by the type of entrepreneurship. The tax regime should be chosen more favorable in terms of paying taxes.

Without investment, even a small business is impossible to open. You can use your funds or take a loan from a bank on favorable terms. But when determining your niche and organizing a profitable business, all investments quickly pay off.

It is no secret that employment is a real problem in provincial towns. Either you have to put up with a small salary close to home, or leave for the nearest large settlement, spending a lot of time on the road.

Both options are equally annoying. The way out can be the opening of their own small business on consumer specifics, from a sawmill to a farm.

In a small town, a business can be closed or open. With open interaction goes both with local consumers and with clientele from nearby settlements.

With a closed business, the whole business is concentrated only in your city. Goods and services are sold in one place. Most often, such a case is opened by a public service provider. The manufacturer of goods is trying to expand the range.

In a small town, the main thing is to offer something previously unused, unique. This is the only way to build a clientele. Needs not met by other businessmen - that's what a novice entrepreneur must satisfy. Then the company will be able to offer the demanded product. Competitors are usually focused on the average buyer, excluding the right of people to receive an exclusive item.

Small business is a highly demanded and very promising industry. Cafes, mini-restaurants, cinemas are examples of business for private entrepreneurs. The organization of a profitable business in a small town is subject to any person with a certain amount of resources.

Ideas are plentiful. An impressive start-up capital is not required. And the result of reflections and fears is zero. So without specific actions attached to the proposed opportunity, success is not possible. So, you need to act and start a business in a small town without delay.

Do you live in a small village or town and have a commercial background?

At the same time, you think what to discover in a small town?

Then this article is written for you.

Of course, there will be fewer potential buyers, but the cost of opening the project will also decrease (compared to the metropolis).

Competition in small towns and villages is usually low.

A small town is a settlement in which 50,000-100,000 people live.

There are more than 80% of such settlements, towns and villages in Russia.

Experts believe that it is more profitable to open a business in such towns than in megacities.

What to open in a small town: we take into account the pros and cons

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of starting a business in a small town:

prosMinuses
Less investment than in a metropolis: lower rental costs, advertising costs.Low purchasing power, this reduces profits.
Lower wages for employees.It is difficult to find qualified specialists.
Word of mouth will reduce advertising costs.Word of mouth can quickly and ruin a reputation when "punctured". Also, a negative personal reputation can affect the business.
Cheap local raw materials.Expensive imported raw materials.
The competition is lower: it is easier to open something that is not yet in the locality.Higher competition for the main, traditional groups of goods.
With low competition, the demand for goods and services is higher.Fewer buyers means less profit.
Starting a business has fewer hurdles than in a metropolitan area. There are benefit programs.A narrower choice of ideas for business due to the conservatism of tastes. It is better to refuse exotic ideas.

Let's analyze the table and try to decide on the choice of case:

    Are there not many entrepreneurs in the city who sell basic consumer goods (food, clothes, shoes)?

    Choose this line of business.

    Under the main goods should be understood products that are indispensable in everyday life.

    There is always a demand for it.

    To occupy this niche is to ensure success for yourself.

    Let's say the niche of traditional goods and services is relatively occupied.

    Then you need to determine what is in demand, but what competitors do not yet have.

    You can offer these products to fellow countrymen, along the way expanding the range of consumer goods.

    The highest profit can be made by organizing a small factory or production using local raw materials.

    But it is worth immediately considering one very important point characteristic of.

    The main end consumer is not the inhabitants of the city.

    Such an undertaking will bring profit in the manufacture of large batches of products focused on delivery by region.

    This is the most capital-intensive type of business in a small town.

Options for starting your own business in a small town

You are not the first to think about the question of what to open in a small town .

Let's look at various projects that have already been successfully implemented more than once in different settlements of Russia.

Maybe one of these business options will appeal to you, and will fit the area.

Own business in food and agriculture

"A person who is lucky is a person who has done what others were only about to do."
Jules Renard

Therefore, the sale of food products is an eternal business.

If you are near a major city, you can arrange deliveries there.

Sell ​​surplus products in your village.

What business can you do?

    Harvest pickles, marinades, canned vegetables, fruits and berries.

    They are sold to factories, cafes, restaurants.

  • Engage in milk processing (cottage cheese, cheese, cream are in demand).
  • Open a small cheese making shop.

    Business in a small town can be easily positioned as an eco-farm.

    And this topic is now popular.

    Semi-finished products are also in demand today due to the total employment of people in large cities.

    Good quality minced meat, dumplings, chebureks, pancakes, dumplings, meatballs, meatballs, meatballs, dough is the key to your income.

    Start baking bread and baked goods.

    The service will definitely be in demand.

    Grandmothers are not what they used to be: working and not in a hurry to burden themselves with grandchildren, knitting and sitting at home.

    A young mother often has no one to entrust to look after the child.

    Service station with driving school services.

    This undertaking can be combined with an auto parts store, car resale services.

    Photo salon.

    Business can be combined with the organization of registration and holding of solemn events (video and photography, production of booklets, photo books, portraits, toastmaster for parties, corporate events);

    Studio of sewing and repair of clothes.

    Additionally, you can open the holding of paid training courses.

    Shoe workshop.


    An institution that in times of total price increases is only becoming more popular.

    Business can be combined with tailoring shoes.

    Creative activities for children.

    Fitness, yoga for kids, foreign languages, drawing.

    "Green tourism".

    If a small town is located in a picturesque place.

    Internet cafe.

    With the services of a photocopier, printouts of photographs and texts.

    Additionally, you can open a training on using a PC.

    Service for the repair of household appliances and appliances.

    Like a shoe shop, a business is sure to be in demand.

    Workshop for upholstery, repair and manufacture of furniture.

    Household service.

    An analogue of the “husband for an hour” business: chop wood for a client, dig a garden, hang a chandelier, fix a tap, an electrical outlet.

    The demand will be not only from single women, but also from pensioners, busy young people.

    Bookkeeping.

    This business can be done without any initial investment.

    It is only important to have sufficient qualifications.

    Vet clinic.

    It also requires a specialized education.

    A big plus if customers will be able to contact around the clock.

    Indeed, in small towns, few people have such a competitive advantage.

What kind of business to open in a small town in the field of trade?

Trading is a simple and sought-after line of business.

Often in small towns and villages, different segments of goods are presented in one store at the same time.

In this business niche you can open:

    Flower shop.

    In addition to the design of bouquets, they organize the sale of indoor plants, seeds, household and garden chemicals, tools, and related literature.

    The organization of banquets and celebrations can be combined with the services of a toastmaster.

    Shop for baby food and goods.

    In especially small towns, it is better to present this product segment in a regular store.

    Classic store (food or clothing, ).

    Online store.

    You can organize the delivery of large equipment and other goods, and the buyer will not need to go to another location to pick them up.

Your own handicraft business

You can try to make money on your hobby or skill, teach your craft.

But here the final consumer of the products will definitely be in large settlements.

You will have to participate in fairs, outdoor events.

This will incur shipping costs.

If you have no idea what to do, take a look at these ideas:

    Vine weaving.

    There is a prospect of expansion to the production of furniture.

    Demand, however, cannot be called high.

    Pottery.

    You can present products not only at exhibitions and public events, but also in online stores.

    Blacksmith craft.

    A promising business that can be combined with welding work.

    At the moment, the trend is voluminous scarves - snoods.

    They are easy to manufacture, and the demand for the product is high.

    Making soap, candles.


    It has become especially popular in recent years.
  • It implies the manufacture of original blankets, pillows, bags, patchwork panels.

    Making jewelry and bijouterie.

    They use the techniques of cold porcelain, quilling, soutache embroidery, wool felting, wood carving, beading, tatting, a traditional set of jewelry made of beads and stones.

    Leather production.

    Such products (saddles, harnesses, belts) are sold only to special categories of buyers.

    Finding outlets is not so easy, and this must be understood.

What else to do in a small town and how to generate business ideas,

explained in the video:

An example of what you can open in a small town: your own apiary

Capital investments (30 hives): 130,000 rubles.
Payback period: from 1 year.

Let's consider visually how to open your own business on the example of an apiary (for central Russia and to the south).

For starters, you can purchase 10 hives and work without helpers.

Such an apiary will allow you to get acquainted with the case, especially if you have never dealt with it.

You will pump out honey for yourself, and sell the surplus.

But in fact, such a volume of production is not yet a business, but only an additional income.

An apiary of 20-30 beehives is the minimum amount for self-employment status.

Such an enterprise can become the main source of your income.

Typically, this is a family affair.

Apiary staff

You can talk about, from 50-100 hives.

Such a business cannot be opened without additional labor.

You will need at least 2 people for every 20-30 hives in honey harvest season to look after them.

You need to organize shifts.

What tools will the business need?

  • overalls (gloves, suit, mask with mesh);
  • frames, wire;
  • foundation;
  • beekeeping chisel;
  • apiary knife;
  • smoker;
  • fork;
  • drinkers, mother liquors;
  • preparations for the treatment of bees;
  • honey extractor;
  • wax melter;
  • hives.

From the second season, the apiary is able to bring on average from 20% to 150% of net profit.

It should be noted that beekeepers earn not only on honey.

Wax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, zabrus, perga, wax are in demand.

You can also sell young families of bees - branches.

The list of 40 ideas provided is far from complete.

However, it can help guide how to open a business in a small town, and is it even worth it to get down to business.

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    • 2.1. Some tips for a successful start of your business
    • Business idea number 1. Opening a beauty salon
    • Business idea number 2. Fast food on wheels
    • Business idea number 3. Flower and houseplant shop
    • Business idea number 4. Private kindergarten
    • Business idea number 5. Husband for an hour - perfect!
    • Business idea number 6. Production of keys
    • Business idea number 7. Internet business in a small town
    • Other activities
  • 5. Conclusion

Each of us at least once in our lives thought about starting our own business. For some, this is an escape from the office and an unwillingness to waste time and knowledge “for an uncle”, for some it is the need for self-realization, and for some it is the ability to independently manage personal time. But the most important criterion for everyone who wants to create their own business in a small town or a large metropolis is financial freedom and an increase in living standards. At the same time, those who are eager to go on an independent voyage mistakenly believe that it is easier to succeed in large cities and metropolitan areas than in small ones.

In order to refute this myth, let's deal with the concept of "small city". As a rule, these are cities with a population of less than 50 thousand. And as practice shows, organizing and developing a business in a small city is much easier than in a large one.

In this article, we will cover the following questions:

  • What are the pros and cons of owning a business in a small town?
  • What is the best business to open in a small town?
  • What business ideas for a small town work in 2016 with minimal investment?
  • How to start your own business from scratch?

So, let's start to understand in order.

Choosing business ideas that can be implemented in a small town

1. Benefits of doing business in a small town

Pros ( + ) of your business in a small town:

  1. Small start-up capital. In small towns, business costs such as rent, utility bills, staff and advertising costs are significantly lower.
  2. High efficiency word of mouth. In small towns, the popularity of a product or service is largely due to acquaintances and personal reviews.
  3. Quite a lot of free niches due to the limited presence of goods and services. Many innovations appear in small towns with a significant delay, which, undoubtedly, can be used by “bringing” a business idea from a large city in which it has already been tested.
  4. Low competitive environment.

To the main disadvantages ( - ) can be attributed to a limited potential audience (each client will be "worth its weight in gold") and a rather low purchasing power (in small towns, the income of the population is orders of magnitude lower than that of residents of large metropolitan areas).

2. What new business can be opened in a small town

There is an opinion that a really profitable business can only be opened in a big city, and in a small one there is nothing to try, but this is not so. Of course, the specifics of the business will differ from the business in large cities, but the income will not be long in coming. Moreover, small cities in Russia are much larger than large ones, and it will be more profitable and easier to develop your business in such a city.

Tip 1. The first thing to do is to carefully consider what kind of business you will be doing in terms of profit.

The most important thing is to find out what services the population in your city needs.

You should not invent a bicycle again, you need to know that catering or a hairdresser will always take root in the city center, and 24-hour stalls will be in demand on the outskirts.

Tip 2. Choosing for yourself the type of activity of your business, you should always take into account your inclinations, talents in a particular area. It is important that you like your business, otherwise you will not be able to succeed.

It will be best if you start doing what you know how to do best.

So, if you know how to cook well, have a long-dusty diploma of a catering technologist or a cook, or maybe you work in this profession, then of course you should link your new business with the old one. Believe me, this will protect you from many difficulties associated with the subsequent opening and organization of the entire business. Knowing the basics and having skills in some area, in your case, should be evaluated as a huge bonus that will help you out more than once in the future.

2.2. An interesting solution for starting your own business

It is worth considering, at first glance, a completely frivolous type of business, like tutoring. It is notable for the fact that it almost does not require any investments, but the income appears immediately and there is no need to wait for years for the business to pay off.

Remember! perhaps you draw well, or play the guitar or piano, or maybe you know English well?

Now such a business is gaining momentum, people are happy to send their children to study, or go to private teachers themselves for a lower fee than specialized circles with professional teachers offer them. Moreover, this is a chance for you to minimize the risks that any novice entrepreneur will inevitably face. Because such a business is much more mobile, does not present technical complexity and quickly reaches the break-even point, taking into account the minimum initial investment.

If, nevertheless, you could not figure out what exactly you should do, then proceed from the principle of which service areas are most in demand. The grocery store is always a win-win, because people always need food. But it is worth considering the location of your store in the city, because if there is a large, well-known grocery store nearby, the chance of making a good profit in this place will be significantly reduced.

Ideas for a business in a small town: what kind of business to open

3. Business ideas for a small town: with and without investments

The organization of any business implies the presence or absence of initial investments. Business for a small town is no exception. Not every business requires investment.

Here is a list of some ideas that don't cost anything.

3.1. Business ideas without investment in a small town

  • Tutoring. Are you well versed in a particular area? Do you have teaching experience in educational institutions? Are you fluent in a musical instrument? Then this activity is for you. Submit ads and recruit students.
  • Cleaning services. Cleaning products are at hand for every housewife. Tidying up the office, helping with cleaning after the festive events - all this is a reason to offer your services and start earning. If you wish, you can organize a whole group of such assistants and grow into a large cleaning company.
  • You are fluent in a foreign language make transfers.
  • There is a sewing machine and experience on it - sell mini-studio and clothing repair services. This type of service is always in demand, especially in small towns where the purchase of new clothes is associated with significant expenses.

And this is not a complete list. Here are more examples: accompaniment of children, walking pets, transportation in a personal car - it is worth taking a fresh look at your talents and skills, and there will be something to your liking by itself.

If there are small cash savings at your disposal, the scope of finding your own business for a small town expands significantly.

3.2. Small town business ideas with minimal investment

  • Service from the category of "husband for an hour." The higher your qualifications, the wider your client base will be. Minor home repairs, damaged items repair, plumbing work and electrician services - all this requires qualifications and a small set of tools, which will be your first investment. Required amount to start: from 1000 to 5000 rubles.
  • Haircuts, hairstyles, braiding- a very relevant type of service today. Of the investments - the cost of tools and styling products. This amount will not exceed three thousand rubles. If necessary, you can complete courses in hairdressing. It's still 2000-3000 rubles.
  • Creation and sale of goods created by one's own hands: soap, decorations, postcards, invitations, hair ornaments, decor for festive events. Material costs will not exceed 2000-3000 rubles. Recipes and master classes can be found on thematic forums and websites.

Read also how you can earn with minimal investment, in.

3.3. Own business from scratch for a small (small) city with investments

If you are ready to invest in start-up capital the amount from 100 000 rubles and higher, then the expected profit will be higher than with little or no cost. The following are business ideas suitable for a small town with significant cash raising:

  • Produse store. A balanced assortment and low prices are the secret of success. No expensive exotics and exclusives. The convenience store with affordable and quality products will quickly become a favorite with locals. Rental, equipment and personnel costs: from 100 000 rubles. (See How to open an online store from scratch - detailed instructions)
  • Salon. The sphere of beauty is always popular in any locality. Particular attention should be paid to the selection of personnel. It is the masters who will either make your business successful or “drown” it. Expenses: from 50,000 - 100,000 rubles.
  • Auto repair shop/tire fitting. A few skillful hands and an influx of customers is guaranteed. In this type of business, geography also becomes a decisive factor. When choosing a location, be guided by places with high traffic of motorists. Attachments: 50,000 - 100,000 rubles.
  • Bakery. Hot pastries every morning will make queues line up for you. And if you introduce novelties into the assortment, such as pies and cakes to order, European pastries (strudels, croissants, snacks, etc.), then your business will be successful. Naturally, for a business like a bakery, an important nuance is the presence of a competent baker-technologist. Investments, taking into account all the requirements for catering establishments, will amount to at least 150,000 rubles.

We have provided a list of business ideas that can be implemented in a small town with minimal investment or without significant financial outlays. Next, let's look at the ideas that are successfully working and tested by many entrepreneurs in 2016 in a small town, in more detail.

3.4. Business idea: apartment building or hostel

A great way to make money in a small town can be the construction or arrangement of a small apartment building or hostel. All that is needed to implement such an idea is to get a loan from a bank, buy, rent or build an individual house of a large area and divide it into several apartments.

The easiest option of the above is to rent a ready-made house with an area of ​​100-120 sq. meters, divide it into 3-5 apartments and rent housing. Such a scheme is able to fully recoup all costs and reach net profit in 2-3 months. You can also open a hostel in a house using this method; in small towns, the demand for hostels is quite high today. If you are interested in this earnings scheme, then we advise you to download our free course on how to buy an apartment building and earn from 100 to 300 thousand rubles per month.

How to buy an apartment building

Download free business plan

Watch a video from our specialist on how to organize a rental business in 44 days:

4. Profitable ideas for a small town

Business idea number 1. Opening a beauty salon

Beauty will always be a successful selling product. Girls who often visit such establishments and are sensitive to themselves will come to your hairdresser, and men who need to make the most ordinary half-box, and a grandmother who is used to trimming her haircut on the last Fridays of the month, and a child who needs to cut bangs. In short, these services will always sell well, especially if you guess with the best location.

There are several business models. The first is the economy option. It is this that is best opened in a small town where inexperienced residents live. Services should be the most ordinary. A hairdresser works here, a nail service is debugged, light cosmetic services are provided (plucking and painting eyebrows, etc.).

Beauty salon - a business that will always be in demand among the population of a small town

The second model is called business class. A stylist-make-up artist, professional hairdressers, cosmetologists with a medical education can already work here, who carry out procedures such as deep peelings, tattooing, and a solarium operates in the salon. To open a salon of this level, you will need to study the market of your city very well, because such a salon will “live” only where people have at least an average income.

Do not forget about the requirements and taxes that all beauty salons are subject to, and if you keep cosmetology, everything will be much more difficult with it, since cosmetic procedures should only be carried out by a doctor with a higher medical education specializing in therapeutic cosmetology. There are no such strict requirements for other personnel.

If you are planning to make a massage service in your salon, then here the conditions for keeping the staff are more loyal. Massage can be carried out by a specialist with specialized secondary specialized medical education. If you decide on such services in your salon, you will have to provide a list of documents to RosZdravNadzor. All preparations for the opening of the salon will take you at least a year. So if you want your business from scratch in this area, you will have to be patient.

Business idea number 2. Fast food on wheels

A mobile food outlet will bring a good income, and the costs of opening such a business will be minimal. In the Russian market, a fast food van will set you back about $9,000. Previously, such vans could only be purchased abroad and for a large fee, but now several companies in Russia are engaged in their manufacture, and the solution to this problem has been greatly simplified. Approximately $ 5,000 is the simplest model of a van, which is offered by the Russian manufacturer Avtokholod. This model is only suitable for grilled chicken and shawarma and is not at all durable. The service life of the van is no more than 7 years.

Mobile food outlet-coffee shop - as a type of business that can always be opened in a small town

This business can be opened if you have in mind a win-win point where it would be possible to open a stall of this type. And do not forget that it is forbidden to put such stalls in any places you like. Each place of deployment will need to be coordinated with the city administration, often you will be asked to move to another place. You also need to be prepared for this, including in a small town, where the competition seems to be not as big as in megacities.

Business idea number 3. Flower and houseplant shop

Flowers are not vital, but oddly enough, a very popular product in the country's markets. Especially during the main holidays: March 8, September 1, New Year. Also, flowers are often needed on a weekday - for a date, as a thank you to someone for a service or a teacher at the university.

To open such a business, you will need about 10000 $ . Of course, you may be able to save money, but it’s still better to focus on just such an amount. An area of ​​18-20 square meters is enough to open a small flower shop. The best location for a store would be near a large shopping center if your city has one, or a large grocery store.

Flower shop photo

Also remember that a transparent showcase well decorated with flowers that attracts the eyes of passers-by always wins over the usual “Flower Shop” sign. The brighter the appearance of such a store, the more potential customers it will attract.

When everything is decided with paperwork, it's time to rent a suitable room. Remember that traffic for a flower shop, like for any other type of business that involves sales, is critical. Think carefully about this aspect, and although it will be much more expensive to rent a room near a large shopping center or store than in a residential area, the result is likely to be much more effective.

Arranging with flower suppliers will be quite simple. Nowadays, there are a lot of wholesale bases that specialize in flowers and you can find out about them simply by using the resources of the Internet. But do not rush into cooperation with the first companies that come across, it is quite possible that after searching longer you will find a more profitable option for you, albeit less advertised.

At the beginning of the journey, you can hire two florists who would work in shifts. Buy first only flowers that stay fresh for a long time. These are roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums. From houseplants orchids phalaenopsis and anthurium. It will be better if you understand at least a little about flowers and houseplants, this will greatly facilitate your work and create understanding between you and your florists.

Business idea number 4. Private kindergarten

Given the current situation in Russia, the situation with state institutions, especially with kindergartens, leaves much to be desired. The costs of opening this business will not be small, and it is also not necessary to expect that it will pay off in the first year. But there is good news: with perseverance, patience and a good reputation, you have every chance to achieve excellent success in this area and exist for a very long time. Rumors about a good private kindergarten will spread around the city in an instant and you will not have a shortage of clients. But you need to remember that this type of business is very specific. Without due love for children, for your work in this field, you will hardly succeed.

Private kindergarten - as an example of a business for starting a business in a small town

Moreover, such establishments are always under the watchful eye of state institutions and are strictly checked by all possible authorities. In addition, if you do not have the necessary pedagogical education, you will not be able to open such a business.

The premises of a private kindergarten must be at least 4 square meters per student. There are also separate rooms for sleeping, eating, playing. The medical office is also mandatory. You will need special furniture and a separate entrance to the kindergarten. All staff must have a pedagogical education. Work experience in this area and love for children should be the main arguments when hiring educators and nannies.

Summarizing, we can say that to open such an institution you will need about 700,000 rubles. The amount is not small, but if you love children and are ready to devote your business to them - go for it, because your desire always remains the main argument!

Business idea number 5. Husband for an hour - perfect!

Probably the simplest and practically not expensive business will be such a business as “husband for an hour”. Of course, you will have to spend money on various tools and small parts, which you can then sell to your customers for a little more than you bought them. These will be switches, sockets, latches, locks, perhaps some parts of plumbing, light bulbs, etc. The range of your services will also be very diverse, so if you have gaps in some skills, they will need to be addressed as quickly as possible. Here is a list of services that you will need to be able to do:

  • Elimination of breakdowns associated with plumbing;
  • Repair of household appliances;
  • Furniture assembly;
  • Repair and replacement of sockets, switches;
  • Installation of satellite dishes, chandeliers, toilet bowls, cisterns, etc.

And this is not the whole list that you will have to learn how to do quickly and efficiently. The business plan will need to take into account that some tools will be more convenient to rent rather than buy, at least at first. Because it often happens that an expensive tool is needed only a few times over the entire time and simply simply cannot pay off.

It should also be borne in mind that it will be very problematic to carry out this work without a vehicle, so it will be a huge plus if you already have a car. If not, then you should consider purchasing it.

Registering such a business will be very easy compared to many others. In this case, registration as an individual entrepreneur will be enough to open a business, with an income tax form UTII(How to open an IP, read the article). All initial costs for such a business will be no more than 50,000 rubles(including uniform, protective gloves and other necessary details).

And remember 90% The success of such a business depends on advertising. Do not spare money, use any possible means of advertising your business. This is a running line, and advertising in newspapers and magazines of the city, you can paste ads on houses and stands. There is one more bonus of this business - in a short time you can attract regular customers, who will subsequently bring the main profit.

Business idea number 6. Production of keys

Agree, each of us resorted to the service of making keys. This service always remains and will remain in demand, even in a small town. You don't have to be a master at this to get started.

Now there are key-making machines that do everything for you, and learning how to work on one will not be difficult. Only if you decide to do this business, you need to be well informed about competitors. After all, keys are not something that people buy every day. If somewhere nearby there is already such a stall, then you should not take on this business.

One machine of domestic production will cost you $ 1,000. You can always find cheap spare parts for it and repairs will also not be expensive, and domestic machines are of high quality, so you will almost certainly choose it. Do not buy Chinese machines. Practice shows that their quality is much inferior to Russian ones, although the price is somewhat lower.

An ordinary stall is usually chosen for the premises, but you can also rent a small corner in a large store. Perhaps the latter option will be more profitable, since stalls, as described above, are often attacked by city administrations and perhaps at some point you will be asked to move it to another place, which will cause you to suffer significant losses.

Business idea number 7. Internet business in a small town

Today, more and more successful entrepreneurs are organizing an online business that brings a steady income. Many types of services and goods are ordered on the Internet, so why don't you start making money on it?

There are a lot of options for organizing an Internet business. To choose the best one for yourself, we advise you to download and study our free course on how to start a business from scratch on the Internet.

Other activities

Here are a few other business ideas for a small town and the minimum investment to open them:

  • Organization of holidays and events (from 10000 rubles);
  • Website development (etc.) (from 40000 rubles);
  • Sale of kvass (from 80000 rubles);
  • Growing vegetables and other crops (from 50000 rubles).

In conclusion, we note that in any business you need to follow several important rules, without which you will either fail or have serious problems.

  1. Monitor the reputation of your business! You have no idea how well word of mouth works in a small town. Each person, before deciding on some kind of service, especially during a crisis, will think very well and, perhaps, ask his acquaintances and friends about the services of the organization he wants to apply to. In this case, almost 100% of success depends on how your customers respond about you.
  2. We recommend focusing on the quality and reasonable affordable price of the goods that you sell. Having established yourself as a good specialist, you will see how soon your diligence and perseverance will begin to bear fruit.
  3. Don't forget how important advertising is to a business. Every month, and at the very beginning and more often, take some time to submit ads in newspapers and a ticker. Most often, it is advertising that is the key to the success of an opened business.

We have analyzed only a few examples of what kind of business to open in a small town, as their list is endless. Choose the business that you like, you will never get bored and then you will succeed!

5. Conclusion

Let's summarize:

  1. Study the niche and competitive environment in the city where you plan to open your business.
  2. Do not bet on expensive positions and exclusives.
  3. Estimate the start-up costs, they should be reasonable.
  4. Discard ideas that require the involvement of a large number of highly qualified specialists.
  5. Watch your reputation - the spread of negative information is fast, especially in small towns.
  6. (3 voice(s), middle: 3,00 out of 5)

    What can be done right now:

    1. Choose the most suitable business option for a small town
    2. Make a business plan to implement a specific business idea
    3. Download our free course on making money online from scratch if you want to launch a successful Internet business in a small town
    4. Take advantage of our courses and earning books to help bring your business idea to life

Entrepreneurial activity based on the operation of an existing office space is attractive for its simplicity and accessibility. You can use the office in different ways, depending on the capabilities and preferences of the owner and the specifics of the premises itself.

General principles for choosing an office business

For any business, the need for an initial investment of capital is obvious - for opening a business, purchasing materials and means of production, promotion, advertising, etc. A significant part of the costs falls on the acquisition and then maintenance of fixed assets. These costs are significantly reduced in a situation where the already available office space acts as a tool for making a profit.

An entrepreneur who owns an office, with a competent organization of the business, can make a profit with minimal expenditure of finances, time and moral strength. The purchase of office real estate is also commercially justified, subject to a skillful approach to its use.

Like any business, the office business requires informed decisions based on detailed research and analysis.

The main parameters influencing the choice of the direction of activity are both internal, related to the characteristics of the office and the opportunities of the entrepreneur, and external, directly dependent on market conditions.

There are many ideas for using the office for profit

Table: external and internal factors for evaluating an office business

Influencing factors Criteria for evaluation
InternalLegalThe legal status of the object - private property or rented, individual or group
FinancialInvestments that an entrepreneur can invest in a business - personal or attracted, in cash or in tangible form
GeographicalOffice location - metropolitan or small city, bedroom, business, historical or central area
PhysicalRoom dimensions - a room or a separate building, area and dimensions, communications and maintenance
statusThe quality of repair and decoration of the office, appearance, prestige of the location
personalIntellectual property of the entrepreneur, his skills, abilities and skills
ExternalInfrastructureThe immediate environment of the building - organizations and structures whose activities are useful in the future or, conversely, unprofitable
ClienteleIdentification of a market segment, drawing up a profile of a potential consumer
Competitive environmentIdentification of direct and indirect competitors, assessment of possible threats from their side
ResourcesMonitoring of likely suppliers
LegislationThe study of political and tax legislation in order to obtain information about the intentions of the state in a particular area of ​​activity

In order for the business to be in demand, we take into account the strengths and weaknesses and choose the appropriate idea for using the office.


It is not easy to answer the question: “What to do if you have an office?”

Ideas for business in the office

An office business can be both dynamic, with the active involvement of the owner, and inertial, aimed at generating passive income. Both the first and second methods are attractive in their own way. There are many interesting profitable ideas for using the office.

Leasing office space

The simplest method does not mean bad. If the office is located in the business part of the city, has a decent repair, and the owner is satisfied with receiving a small stable income, renting or subleasing the premises may be the best option.

The premises can be leased for a short or long term. With a short-term lease, the profit is higher than with a long-term one, but finding customers will require more effort and financial costs.

The costs of the owner of the premises are usually limited to the costs of maintenance and purchase of furniture, although it is possible to shift some of these costs (or all) to the tenant. The presence of a good repair and high-quality office furniture will make the premises more interesting in the eyes of the client and raise the cost of rent.

The rental price of 1 square meter of office space ranges from 5,000–8,000 rubles in regional centers to 15,000–25,000 rubles in the capital. The rent rate in small towns is much lower - from 500 rubles per 1 sq.m.

Seek professional help from a lawyer when concluding a lease agreement - it is better to foresee conflict situations related to the responsibility of the parties during current and major repairs, in case of force majeure, property damage, etc. A qualified approach to documenting the transaction will save you time, money and nerves.

The landlord must know the purpose of the leased premises. Legally, the owner is not responsible for the activities carried out in the rented office, but in fact, any unauthorized actions of the tenant compromise the owner himself, thereby reducing the prestige of his property.

When renting an office, you can look for clients on your own using the media, online advertising and other types of promotion, or you can contact a real estate company. The cost of intermediary services averages 10-20% of the monthly rent.

The payback period for such a business is at least two years, the risks of market conditions are minimal.


Discuss all the nuances before making a decision to rent out the premises

Coworking center as a kind of office business

A large office space (or office building) is suitable for creating a co-working center. This type of activity, new in our conditions, is at the stage of active formation and can be a great idea for a business.

Coworking center, in fact, is a collective office, which is shared, for a small rent, by representatives of various professions and specialties. Such a room provides for separate workplaces and common tables for business communication, modern means of communication and office equipment, meeting rooms and conference rooms, cafes, sports corners, libraries and relaxation areas - everything you need for comfortable productive work.

But a coworking center is not just a big office. Its fundamental difference lies in the fact that the territory of the center acts as a single creative space that brings cooperation between people of various professions to a qualitatively different level. Diversified specialists gather under one roof for productive work, communication, free exchange of ideas and mutually beneficial partnership.

It is better to design a coworking center in an original way, with the help of interior design specialists. The space should harmoniously combine business officialdom, stimulating work, and creative enthusiasm, awakening inspiration. A good design can be the one thing that will attract customers, especially at the initial stage.


A coworking center can be both universal and specialized

Coworking center design nuances

When planning the creation of free office space, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of this business.

  1. The location of the office space largely determines potential consumers. A lawyer or financial consultant will prefer to work in a status place, in the central part of the city. For representatives of creative professions, proximity to home, transport and the external environment is important. In any case, it is worth considering the infrastructure - for example, if there is a suitable catering establishment nearby, it makes sense to conclude an agreement with it on the delivery of food to the office, and in the very center to limit yourself to a cooler and a coffee machine.
  2. The target market segment depends on the direction of business development. It must be taken into account that it will be profitable to open one co-working center per 1,000,000 inhabitants on average. Promotion and promotional activities will make up a significant share of the planned budget. The main tenants are specialists working remotely (freelancers), as well as entrepreneurs who are just starting their business and / or do not want to spend finances on expensive rent of a full-fledged office.
  3. Experience shows that those centers that are focused on a certain group of potential clients of related industries pay off faster. For example, a co-working center that brings together architects, designers, interior designers, representatives of estimate and construction offices, etc. In addition, a good center is like a self-sufficient mechanism, a kind of “thing in itself” - the basic needs of its members are satisfied without the involvement of external contractors. In other words, it is worth inviting (possibly on preferential terms) specialists in accounting and legal services, office work and copyright, marketing and advertising, investment and other areas of economic activity to the coworking center.
  4. Financial returns are made up of several types of cash receipts. This is, first of all, the rent from the delivery of jobs - for an hour, day, month or year. It can be fixed or change during the time of the day (a round-the-clock schedule is convenient for representatives of creative professions). Business meetings, mini-exhibitions, presentations, conferences are held in coworking centers - such events are paid for at a separate rate. Permanent training programs, courses, trainings also bring good revenue (in this case, it is advisable to take a percentage of the cost). You can rent space for corporate events, you can earn income from additional services - cafes, fitness services, vending, etc.
  5. The staff of the coworking center at the stage of growth is formed from a small number of like-minded people. It includes hall administrators (2-3 people working in shifts), an advertising marketer, a system administrator, a technical worker, and a cleaner. It would be useful to resort to the help of volunteers (students gaining experience and business contacts), as well as to cooperate through the provision of barter services.
  6. Ergonomics of the space inside the center is corrected already in the course of its operation, based on the results of monitoring the behavior of visitors. A successful solution could be the installation of mobile partitions, the purchase of transforming furniture and block furniture, mobile and rotating decor elements, and modification of levels. Technological design of "high-tech", "functionalism", "loft", "futurism" styles should be diluted with light splashes of eclecticism.

The prospects for the development of a coworking center allow you to count on profit within 3-4 months after opening, such a business becomes fully paid off in 1-2 years.


Properly zoned space is one of the important components of the successful functioning of a coworking center

Organization of a recruitment agency

Another type of business in the office that does not require special investments is the opening of a recruitment agency. The demand for qualified personnel and the search for high-paying jobs require the effort and time of both parties, and both parties are willing to pay for assistance to an intermediary - that is, a recruitment agency. This business has both positive and negative aspects.

Table: features when opening a recruitment agency

The key to a successful recruiting agency is information. The completeness and reliability of the available information about potential employers and employees will allow you to act quickly and purposefully. Constant monitoring of the media, Internet resources and other sources will help create an active reliable database.

One of the most expensive budget items for this business is advertising, especially during the opening period and in the first 3-6 months. It should be with a large audience coverage and contain a unique difference between your company's services and similar services.

For a serious recruiting, specialized and headhunting agency, the presence of an experienced psychologist on the staff is mandatory, as he can reduce the risks associated with the human factor.

A recruitment agency as a type of office business will not allow you to get rich instantly. For those who are ready to persistently and systematically engage in this activity, a real stable income will appear in the second or third year of the company's existence and will reach an impressive size.


To work with applicants, you can organize trainings and refresher courses

Other Office Business Ideas

There are many interesting ideas for using office space. Among them there are both popular ones that repeatedly justified monetary forecasts, and rare ones that open up new promising market niches.

Financial business in the office

Working with money and other valuables requires not only the availability of start-up capital, but also extensive specialized knowledge. If you are ready to learn, you can try yourself in the following areas:



Opening a pawnshop is a great business idea that will be successfully implemented only if you scrupulously follow the law

Business on high technologies

To create a company in the field of IT business, it is not necessary to be a programmer, it is enough to have a promising idea and be able to organize the work of a group of professionals.

Service agency

The service sector is perhaps the widest field of activity for an enterprising businessman. If you have your own premises, there are a lot of ideas for starting your own business:

  • Travel agency - is an intermediary between the tour operator and the client, selling ready-made tours. For promotion in the face of fierce competition, constant effective advertising and competent staff are needed. Expanding the range of services will help smooth out seasonal fluctuations in demand. Payback period - 1-2 years.

How to choose an idea for a small town?

At the word “business”, a certain image often appears in my head: a respectable man in a business suit leaves the office of an international corporation. At the same time, the office is certainly located somewhere in a skyscraper in the very center of the metropolis.

However, we all know that businessmen can look like anything, and business has a place not only in millionaires, but also in small towns. And you can conduct your business in the regional center no less successfully than in Moscow.

It is only necessary to take into account some features of small towns. If you are just about to open your own business in one of these localities and are looking for a business idea for it, this article is for you.

A bit about small towns

When opening a business in a small town, it is important to take into account its features. As a rule, they are about the same, regardless of whether it is a resort town in the south or a small northern settlement.

There is no consensus on which city is considered small. As a rule, small towns include those where the population does not exceed 50 thousand people. But businessmen often call cities with a population of 500 thousand people small.

The main thing that makes it possible to attribute cities to the number of small ones is, after all, the state and features of the economy. What are they?

The first thing you should pay attention to is the well-being of the residents. In small towns, as a rule, there is little work, often a large proportion of residents work at one city-forming enterprise. This allows business owners to set small wages. Therefore, the incomes of the population in such towns are often low. Although, of course, there are exceptions to this rule.

The second important factor is the mentality of the inhabitants of the city.

Olga Kosets

President of the Interregional Public Organization for the Protection and Support of Small and Medium Business "Business People"

Consider the specifics of the population, namely the qualitative composition: the military, workers, people of science, as well as age categories.

Features of business in a small town

Perhaps you should immediately start with what "pitfalls" are fraught with a small city for business. Let's talk about the cons:

small income

Since your potential customers earn little and are ready to spend money accordingly, you should hardly count on a million-dollar profit. Assess the situation soberly.

Limited growth opportunities

If in a metropolis you have practically no limits for developing your business, provided that the idea for it is chosen correctly, then in a small city everything is different. The number of your customers will increase only up to a certain point, after which the growth in demand will stop. This point should be taken into account in advance and lay in your business opportunities for scaling. When new customers stop appearing, it is worth trying to open a branch in the suburbs or take up the development of some related business. You can also try to invest in a completely new project, if in the course of work you see that there are more promising niches. But it is not always worth focusing on increasing the average check. Remember: residents' incomes are often low.

narrow market

In a small town, there are not many opportunities to implement some extraordinary ideas. They may simply be unclaimed. At the same time, the market capacity for standard establishments is also limited. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can safely open another pizzeria, even if there are already a hundred exactly the same ones. In a small town, there may not be customers for the next establishment.

However, the features of small towns give novice businessmen some advantages:

Low market entry threshold

Starting a business in a small town will cost you less than in a big city. Rents for commercial real estate in the province are lower than in millionaires, as well as staff salaries. Thanks to these points, the regular expenses of your business will be lower.

Favorable competitive environment

Small business in small towns is usually underdeveloped, and you will most likely have few competitors. In addition, many potentially demanded business niches turn out to be completely empty. At the same time, it will not be difficult to find such niches, says Ivan Plastun, co-owner of the online cargo transportation service: “In a small city, it is much easier to do this, because you can bypass all companies and outlets on your own.”

Support

This feature is somewhat related to the previous point. Since private business in small towns is underdeveloped, the authorities are willing to make efforts to change the situation. There are support programs for entrepreneurs, for example, for issuing grants for opening or providing subsidies, as well as special institutions that help start their own business - business incubators, business accelerators. True, the attitude towards them on the part of entrepreneurs is ambiguous.

Olga Kosets from the organization "Business People" advises to study support programs and get to know the employees of relevant departments:

Olga Kosets from the Business People organization advises studying support programs and getting to know the employees of the relevant departments: “Their direct duty is to direct you in the right direction.”

But Anatoly Churgel of the Russian National Committee for Black Sea Economic Cooperation warns: "It is not worth turning to local structures for advice - ideas will be grabbed on the fly."

In his opinion, it is better to start not with a large-scale business project, but with something that requires small investments. Subsequently, they can be multiplied, and at the same time - get business experience, look at the problems of entrepreneurs from the inside. You can also refer to the experience of acquaintances: which of them resorted to the help of local authorities when starting a business? What was the result?

In the case of a business in small towns, there are also several controversial points that can be turned both to the benefit of one's business and to the detriment.

How to choose a business idea for a small town?

Having become familiar with the peculiarities of small towns and entrepreneurship in them, it will be much easier to choose your business idea. True, the criteria for choosing a business idea for a small town are absolutely the same as for a big one, Ivan Plastun, co-founder of the Lucky Everyone service, insists. In both cases, it must have a certain novelty. This does not mean that your business should offer something that no one has heard of before. On the contrary, it should be understandable to consumers. But you should not completely copy other people's business ideas.

If your competitor has already opened Tire Fitting on Vishneva, do not open another one, advises Olga Kosets. It is better to supplement it with "Moyka" or a small cafe, or you can do both. It is likely that this format will grow in the future, and in symbiosis you are more resistant to crisis, and you have more chances for survival and success.

Another criterion for a successful business idea for both small and large cities is its demand among a wide range of potential consumers. Ideally, your business should solve some kind of massive problem that torments the majority of the city's residents.

But what this problem is, in each case, will have to be solved individually. There is no single universal answer for the average small town.

Before you start looking for a business idea, take a look around. Perhaps you will immediately see that your city lacks, for example, inexpensive entertainment venues.

Look at potential consumers. This should not be some narrow group of the population, but the vast majority of the city's residents. Who are these people? What are their interests? What do they need?

If you have noticed some need of the population, on the satisfaction of which you can make a business, conduct benchmarking *.

*Benchmarking - finding the best companies in a particular industry and implementing the solutions they use in their practice.

Dmitry Kobets

business consultant at Group-inform

See how similar demand is met in other cities. If stories and examples are repeated often, you will surely identify a viable option.

In a small town, it makes sense to think about a business based on some kind of consumer goods.

Viktor Erofeev

CTO CG Projects Group

When looking for a business idea, try to build on the peculiarities of the labor market. Few highly qualified lawyers or programmers? Give up on the idea of ​​launching your own website or starting a legal services agency. Instead, try focusing on things people can do with their hands, such as fixing phones, computers, motorcycles, or cars. If there are enough personnel with such competencies, open a service center or service station. Such a business may also be in demand in a small town.

Your business idea can be both very simple and have some "chips". For example, if you're thinking about opening a farm produce store, consider developing an online store and arranging delivery. This will immediately set you apart from your competitors, and at the same time will provide additional opportunities for scaling your business, which are so necessary in a small city.

If you decide to open a business in a small tourist town, this can also be turned to your advantage. Look at the cozy private shops, workshops and family businesses of old Europe. You can open something similar in your city by making your small business a local attraction.

Another coup for a tourist spot is to pay attention to local traditions and crafts. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to open another store with souvenirs. Try organizing traditional entertainment, such as falconry or fishing tourism, Anatoly Churgel advises.

So, small towns have certain specifics that affect the conditions for doing business in them. Not every institution can be opened in a small town. When choosing an idea for a business in a small town, consider the economy, the living conditions of the population and its mentality. You should not open a luxury clothing store in a mining village, and a raw food cafe in a military town. You simply will not find buyers, and your establishment risks closing quickly.