5 Online Businesses You Can Start with a Small Budget

Are you dreaming of starting an online business in the Philippines? Then, you’ve come to the right place. 

In a data report, the Philippines has 73.91 million internet users as of January 2021, therefore making it a lucrative place to begin online investments. 

In this article, I will talk about online businesses that you can start with a small budget.

But before I begin:

What is an Online Business? 

An online business is a kind of business that you can start across the internet. 

An online business can also be referred to as a side hustle or side gig. Some people do this to gain extra income without having to quit their 9-5 jobs. 

Other people end up successful in their online businesses that they can finally quit their full-time jobs to invest more time to grow this business. 

Like any other business, you need some professional skills, time, and even passion to get ahead of the competition. 

Without further ado!

1. Start a blog 

You’ve probably heard of this a million times but if you haven’t I’d like to let you know that one online business that doesn’t require a big budget is starting a blog. 

You can start it with less than 4,000 pesos – that’s the amount you need for hosting and buying a theme. 

It can even go lower than that – that is if you’re considering a cheaper web hosting company such as Namecheap. You can decide to use a free theme at that. There are thousands of free themes on WordPress at your disposal. So you don’t have to worry about money. 

But then, why do I think starting a blog is a good investment. 

First of all, blogging provides unlimited growth potential. 

From our featured blogger series called the portraits of a blogger, you will see that many of those who started a blog were able to get brand deals and even start their product line because of the growth potential blogging provides.  

Starting a blog also lets you practice your writing – which is an essential skill to a business and communication. 

Ways how blogging can earn money

There are many ways starting a blog can generate income for you. These are some of them: 

• Advertising 
• E-commerce
• Affiliate programs
• Providing services such as coaching or consulting
• Content subscription
• Donations
• Online courses

If you want to know how to get started with blogging, check out our blog for a helpful guide. 

Required skills: Content writing, SEO and analytics, photo editing, marketing, social networking

Pros 

• Starting a blog is easy
• You can work on your own schedule
• The outreach can be incredible

Cons

• It will take a long time for you to begin making money
• The process of creating and posting content can be time-consuming
• You will face some unexpected technical issues that may require extra time to fix

2. Digital marketing services 

Another online business that you can start with a budget is providing digital marketing services. 

Currently, there are lots of companies that want to increase their online presence. If you possess digital marketing skills you can make a lot of money online. 

But if you don’t, there are courses on digital marketing that you can take on Udemy or any other website.  Some people hire a team to get things done a lot quicker. 

Ways how providing digital marketing services can earn money

• Content marketing
• SEO
• Social media marketing
• Email marketing 
• Website design

Required skills: SEO, social media, e-mail marketing, web design, tech-savvy, persuasion, copywriting, planning

Pros 

• You have access to a vast audience  
• Improved conversion rates
• Digital marketing is cheaper to implement

Cons

• It requires skills and training
• It is time-consuming 
• It is highly competitive

3. Dropshipping 

Dropshipping business costs next to nothing to startup. You don’t need to keep inventory or handle shipping costs because your supplier will handle everything for you. 

As a drop shipper, you’re like the middle man between the supplier and customers. In most cases, you’ll handle a retail website, which you will use to attract buyers, take their orders, and process payment. 

Ways how dropshipping can earn money

• Through the sales of products

Required skills: Sales, strategy, accounting, advertising, marketing

Pros 

– You can sell products in any niche

– There is no need for you to keep inventory

– There is no need to pack or ship products because the supplier is the one handling everything

Cons

• It’s really difficult to find trustworthy dropshipping suppliers
• Dropshipping has a low-profit margin. You need to sell lots of products to make a living from this business.
• It is highly competitive

4. Writing services

Starting a writing service is easy if you’re skillful in writing. Nowadays, many businesses need writers for their product descriptions, blogs, and much more. 

If you know you have a good command of the written language, starting a writing service could be a smart business venture. 

Ways how writing services can earn money

• Technical writing
• Copywriting
• Academic writing
• Product descriptions
• Blogging

Required skills: creative writing, journalism, project management, planning, and organization

Pros

• You can acquire lots of skills 
• It provides affordable growth

Cons

• You need a really good team of writers, editors, proofreaders, e.t.c.
• Training writers is time-consuming
• Failure to meet client needs can affect the business
• It’s difficult to build trust with clients

5. Virtual Assistant Services 

The most popular online job in the Philippines is a virtual assistant. 

Many foreign clients hire Filipinos because they are best when it comes to business English. 

Upwork reported that out of 8 million virtual assistants in the world, 1 million are from the Philippines.  

If you’re thinking about starting an online business, providing virtual assistant services may be a great place to start. 

Virtual assistants in the Philippines can make about 300 pesos per hour, while a highly skilled VA can make up to 700 pesos per hour. 

Ways how virtual assistant services can earn money

• Call support 
• Chat support
• Data entry
• Scheduling appointments
• Managing email account
• Making travel arrangements

Required skills: Organization, communication, tech-savvy, multitasking 

Pros 

• Ability to work from home
• You can set your own rates
• Costs are minimal

Cons

• Working from home can be distracting
• Can be hard to find clients
• It can be potentially stressful

Should I start an Online Business?

Yes, starting an online business is a no-brainer. There are lots of business opportunities that you can explore on the internet like blogging, dropshipping, and more. I hope you found this blog helpful. Leave a comment down below if there is anything you’d like us to add.