10 self-employed business ideas you can start for under £100

You don’t need a pile of cash or a big idea to start working for yourself. In fact, plenty of small businesses can be set up for under £100, and some of them could start turning a profit within days.

With the cost of living still putting pressure on households, more people are looking for flexible ways to bring in extra income without a huge financial risk. Whether you’re testing the waters or planning to go fully self-employed, here are ten practical business ideas that don’t require much more than your time, energy, and a little startup cash.

Just remember – if you earn more than £1,000 in a year from any self-employed activity, you’ll usually need to register with HMRC. That doesn’t mean forming a company or hiring an accountant straight away, but it does mean keeping decent records (bookkeeping tips) and filing a tax return.

1. Selling on eBay

eBay still has a massive audience in the UK, and many people make a good income by buying and reselling goods. You can start by clearing out unwanted items from home, then reinvest profits into stock.

To scale it up, look for wholesale or liquidation suppliers, or find niche products you can buy and flip. Watch out for low margins and high postage costs, and don’t forget to factor in eBay and PayPal fees.

See our full guide: How to start an eBay business

2. Making candles, cards or small handmade bits

It might sound a bit old-school, but making things by hand can still bring in extra cash, especially if you’re already into it. Candles are a good example: you don’t need much equipment, you can start with a few simple moulds and scents, and people love them as gifts. Same goes for handmade cards or decorations – it’s not going to make you rich overnight, but it’s a solid way to dip a toe in.

Start with a few batches, test them out with friends and family, and see what sells. Craft fairs, Facebook groups, or local events are good places to get early feedback before you start thinking about online sales. Don’t go wild buying fancy materials upfront — just keep it cheap and simple until you know what works.

3. House cleaning or garden maintenance

Plenty of people are happy to pay someone to keep their home or garden in order, especially busy families or older homeowners. With some basic tools and cleaning supplies, you can get started for under £100.

You’ll need to build trust, so referrals and reviews matter. Consider setting up a Facebook page, posting on community groups, or printing simple flyers. If you’re handling other people’s property, public liability insurance is strongly recommended.

4. Babysitting

Still one of the easiest ways to earn money locally, babysitting can be a proper business if you’re reliable and good with children. You don’t need formal qualifications to start, but DBS checks and first aid training will help build credibility – and allow you to charge more.

Make sure you understand the legal side: you’re not a registered childminder unless you’re looking after children in your own home for more than two hours a day. Babysitters usually operate as self-employed on an occasional basis.

5. Running errands

From walking dogs to picking up prescriptions, plenty of people need an extra pair of hands. If you’ve got time and a smartphone, you can offer a reliable local errand service and charge by the hour or task.

Apps like Nextdoor are great for finding local customers. You can manage bookings, send invoices, and take payment using free tools or simple spreadsheets. Again, insurance is worth looking into if you’re working in other people’s homes.

6. Pet sitting or dog walking

With more people working long hours or going away for short breaks, demand for pet care is on the rise. Dog walking and pet sitting are ideal if you like animals and want flexible, regular income with little upfront cost.

You’ll need to be reliable, insured, and ideally DBS-checked. Many pet owners will ask for references or trial visits. Consider registering on a site like Tailster or Rover to get your first clients.

7. Tutoring or coaching

If you’ve got skills in a subject — whether it’s maths, guitar, GCSE English, or even fitness – there’s a growing market for personal tuition and coaching. You can work online, from your home, or visit clients locally.

A quiet space, a basic website, and some word-of-mouth recommendations can be enough to get going. Sites like Tutorful or Superprof can help with leads, but take a cut.

8. Selling online (Etsy, Shopify or similar)

If you’ve got a creative streak — or even just a good eye for what sells – you can list your own products online without much hassle.

Etsy’s the obvious place to start, and it’s full of everything from personalised prints to crochet kits. The key is picking something people actually want, and making it look decent in a photo.

It doesn’t have to be handmade either – some people sell digital downloads, or design stuff that gets printed on demand.

If Etsy’s too crowded, you can try setting up your own basic store using Shopify or something similar, but that’s best once you’ve already got some momentum.

Whatever route you take, don’t forget to track what you’re earning — and watch out for listing fees, packaging costs, and postage. They add up quickly. For simple tools that help, see our guide to accounting software for sole traders.

9. Basic digital services

Many small businesses need help with simple digital tasks, such as creating Canva flyers, formatting CVs, crafting social media posts, or updating their websites. If you’re already doing this for friends, it may be time to charge.

You don’t need to be a graphic designer or coder — just competent and reliable. You can promote your services on local business groups, LinkedIn, or via a simple landing page. Tools like Canva, Google Docs, and Stripe are free or low-cost.

10. Flipping items locally

Car boot sales, Facebook Marketplace, charity shops and Vinted can all be sources of cheap stock to resell at a profit. Clothes, retro tech, kids’ toys and furniture often have resale value – if you’re willing to hunt for it.

The advantage here is that you don’t need to build a website or find suppliers – just spot a bargain and sell it in the right place. It’s competitive, but good fun if you’ve got an eye for detail.

A final note

You don’t need a business plan or a logo to get started. But you do need to keep track of what you earn, and understand when it becomes taxable.

If you make more than £1,000 in a tax year from any side hustle or self-employed activity, HMRC expects you to register for Self Assessment and submit a tax return.

This £1,000 threshold is known as the trading allowance, and it applies to activities such as selling goods, offering services, or hiring out equipment.

Even if your expenses mean you don’t end up owing any tax, you still need to register once you go over that limit. The deadline to do so is 5 October, following the end of the tax year in which you started earning.

Since January 2024, new reporting rules for online marketplaces mean that platforms like Etsy, eBay and Vinted may send your sales data directly to HMRC. There’s no new tax involved, but the rules are now being enforced more actively. If you sell goods or services online and meet the platform’s reporting threshold, you’ll get a copy of your sales data to help you fill in your return.

If you’re not sure whether your side income needs to be reported, or you want to understand how the trading allowance works, we explain it all clearly in our guide to side hustles and HMRC’s online platform rules.