Whether you're starting a business on the side while still employed elsewhere, a student or homemaker looking for extra income, or unemployed and trying to figure out what to do, there are plenty of opportunities for you to start up a side business inexpensively. It's unlikely any of these will make you a living in the first few months, but they all have the potential to grow into full-time businesses. We'll take a look at 10 such opportunities and, most importantly, tell you what to do with the $20!
1. Webpreneur

It's what everyone who's ever surfed the Web dreams of—just stick a web site up there and watch the cash roll in! Well, that just doesn't happen overnight, but the fact of the matter is it's really not very hard to do. To do it right, start by picking a subject matter you know a lot about. Then get a domain and create a web site. It doesn't even matter what technology you use—just be totally anal-retentive about it looking good and provide plenty of original content. Now find some appropriate affiliate programs—that's where your revenues are going to come from. Next, learn everything you can about search engine marketing and promote the heck out of your site. Last of all, set aside time every week to put new content on the site, delete dead links, and other maintenance. Now do this three or four times, and you've chosen your topics well, you might actually have some decent income from it.

Spend the $20 on: $8 or less for a domain (see our Online Business Guide's list of cheap domain name registrars) and $12 for a year of hosting (search for "$1 hosting").

2. Consultant

Getting into consulting is relatively simple. All you have to do is know how to do something better than most people do, and be able to either teach people how to do it or be willing to do it for them. Networking is the key to success in this business, so start by making a list of everyone you know and giving them all a call.

Spend the $20 on: $14 on a box of clean-edge laser or inkjet business cards and $6 buying your first prospect a cup of coffee one morning.

3. Housesitter / Petsitter

Particularly since 9/11, people feel an increased need for security, and housesitting gives them some reassurance while they're out of town. This one's great because it basically requires no particular skills, just trustworthiness and reliability. Be sure to have personal references available, and you'll also need reliable transportation. If you're an animal lover, petsitting is an easy add-on.

Spend the $20 on: $2 on flyers to put up on bulletin boards, and the rest on classified ads in your local neighborhood paper (not a big city-wide one).

4. Professional Organizer
People these days are simply overwhelmed by their "stuff". While there is an ever-growing trend of people wanting to simplify their lives, most of us haven't done it yet. It's not that people really have no clue how to get organized, it just keeps moving to the bottom of the stack, both figuratively and literally. There's a prime opportunity for people to come in at a reasonable rate and get houses organized. And while there is a National Association of Professional Organizers that you can join when you're ready, mostly it takes common sense, organizational skills, and a familiarity with what can be had at your local office supply and The Container Store.

Spend the $20 on: Classified ads.

5. Avon Independent Sales Representative
Cosmetics is a virtually recession-proof business, because it's an inexpensive way for people to feel good about themselves. Avon is the largest consumer direct sales company in the world, with annual sales of nearly $6 billion. In business for well over 100 years, they have both a highly reputable product line and one of the few highly reputable multi-level marketing structures (in fact, they invented it). They also offer fashion and wellness products in addition to their beauty products. And while they bill themselves as "The Company for Women", a fairly substantial number of men have actually been very successful as Avon reps. The secret to making a living at it rather than just a little extra spending money? Build your downline—just like with any other network marketing or direct selling business.

Spend the $20 on: $10 signup fee, and $10 on brochures and a few samples.

6. Personal Services - Shopping & Errands

This is a great one going into the holiday season. Believe it or not, there are people who wouldn't be caught dead going anywhere near a mall, but they're not comfortable with buying certain items online, either. Again, trustworthiness and dependability are the key traits for this. If your car's not reliable, pick something else. Also, you won't need cash, but you'll need available credit on your credit cards, since you really can't use theirs. Consider an American Express or a Diner's Club that don't have preset spending limits. Or use a card that gives cash back reward or frequent flyer miles, and you'll make a nice little bonus for yourself.

Spend the $20 on: $1 on flyers and the rest on classified ads.

7. Desktop Publishing

It's amazing how many people have a computer and still don't know how to make a decent flyer! If you've got a good design sense, are extremely familiar with your word processor, and already have a laser or high-quality inkjet printer, you can get into desktop publishing. Create a really great-looking portfolio for yourself and go door-to-door.

Spend the $20 on: Some high-quality paper to create your samples on.

8. Tutoring

With the growing dissatisfaction with our education system and the huge growth in homeschooling, there's an unprecedented need for tutors these days for kids of all ages—even adults! If you've got a topic you can tutor in, contact the local schools, particularly private ones, and local homeschool groups, and offer your services. Don't be concerned if your topic is highly specialized—even those are in demand.

Spend the $20 on: $14 on a box of clean-edge laser or inkjet business cards and $6 on flyers.

9. eBay Seller

Yes, there really are people who make a decent living buying things at garage sales and flea markets and selling them on eBay. The big secrets? Stick to products you know (or learn before you start) extremely well, package your goods carefully, and provide impeccable customer service. It helps to have a digital camera or a scanner, but it's not required.

Spend the $20 on: Your first inventory at a garage sale.

10. Secretarial Service - Typing / Transcription / Proofreading

Many small businesses and individuals have a need for these services, but not enough need to hire a temp through an agency. Assuming you've got a computer, a printer, and e-mail (and the necessary skills), you're all set. Be prepared to charge by the job, not by the hour.

Spend the $20 on: $14 on a box of clean-edge laser or inkjet business cards and $6 on flyers.

One last thing—beware of home-based business scams that require a substantial buy-in, such as envelope-stuffing or craft item assembly. You may not lose money on it if you stick with it long enough to get really fast at it, but you'll probably never make the kind of money you're expecting to. Better to do something on your own.

不bu管guan你ni是shi正zheng在zai創chuang業ye的de上shang班ban族zu
，想xiang掙zheng點dian小xiao錢qian花hua花hua的de學xue生sheng或huo家jia庭ting主zhu婦fu，還hai是shi無wu所suo事shi事shi想xiang找zhao點dian活huo幹gan的de下xia崗gang人ren員yuan，人ren人ren都dou有you機ji會hui在zai花hua費fei不bu多duo的de情qing況kuang下xia
，做zuo些xie副fu業ye掙zheng外wai快kuai。剛gang創chuang業ye的de頭tou幾ji個ge月yue
，你ni不bu可ke能neng指zhi望wang這zhe些xie小xiao生sheng意yi能neng幫bang你ni維wei持chi生sheng計ji，但dan是shi如ru今jin的de這zhe些xie副fu業ye都dou有you可ke能neng在zai將jiang來lai成cheng為wei你ni的de正zheng業ye。我wo們men來lai看kan一yi下xia10種此類機會
，我們最想告訴你的是，怎樣用20美金來創業。

 1. 網商

每一個上網衝浪的網民都在做同一個夢 ----點一下某個網址，然後看著錢如流水般奔湧而至

 嗯(ng)，這(zhe)等(deng)美(mei)事(shi)不(bu)會(hui)在(zai)一(yi)夜(ye)之(zhi)間(jian)發(fa)生(sheng)，但(dan)要(yao)美(mei)夢(meng)成(cheng)真(zhen)其(qi)實(shi)也(ye)不(bu)難(nan)。正(zheng)確(que)的(de)做(zuo)法(fa)是(shi)，首(shou)先(xian)選(xuan)好(hao)你(ni)所(suo)熟(shu)知(zhi)的(de)事(shi)物(wu)。然(ran)後(hou)再(zai)申(shen)請(qing)一(yi)個(ge)域(yu)名(ming)並(bing)製(zhi)作(zuo)一(yi)個(ge)網(wang)頁(ye)。使(shi)用(yong)什(shen)麼(me)樣(yang)的(de)技(ji)術(shu)無(wu)關(guan)重(zhong)要(yao)--但永遠也不要忘記要令網頁看起來怡人且能提供許多第一手資料。找一些相關項目-那na是shi你ni的de收shou入ru來lai源yuan。再zai學xue學xue利li用yong搜sou索suo引yin擎qing推tui銷xiao的de相xiang關guan知zhi識shi並bing把ba網wang頁ye上shang的de寶bao貝bei推tui銷xiao出chu去qu。最zui後hou，每mei周zhou騰teng出chu些xie時shi間jian來lai更geng新xin網wang頁ye上shang的de內nei容rong，刪shan掉diao無wu效xiao的de鏈lian接jie及ji對dui網wang頁ye進jin行xing維wei護hu。這zhe樣yang重zhong複fu做zuo3-4次

， 你就能選到合適的項目
，並能實實在在以此謀些小利。

 拿出20美元本錢：付8美元或少於8美元訂購一個域名（參考我們的廉價域名登記網上商業指南列表）並付12美元作為一年的使用費（查找“1美元使用”）

2.谘詢師

 xiangjinruzixunshizhegexingdang
，xiangduihenjiandan。nisuoyaozuodejiushiyaobidaduoshurengenglejiezenmebayijianshizuodegenghao，bingnenggouhuozhejiaohuibierenruhequzuozheyangyijianshi
，huozheyuanyiweibierenzuozheyangyijianshi。renjiwangluoshishizheleishengyichengyubaideguanjian，yincishouxianyaoliechuyifennirenshiderenyuanmingdanbinggeimeigerendagedianhua

 拿出20美元本錢：花14美元印一合鐳射或噴墨名片

，同時在開業當天早上花6美元給自已買一杯咖啡，預祝生意興隆。

3. 看家人/寵物保姆

尤其自9/11yilai，renmenduianquanbaohudexuyaorijianzengjia，guanjiarenkeyizaizhurenchumendeshihoutigongkanjiafuwu，zhezhongzhiyezhisuoyishuotahaoshiyinweitajibenshangbuxuyaorenhetebiedejineng，zhiyaonikexinkekaojiukeyile。ruguoniyaozuozhezhonggongzuo，yidingyaozhunbeigerenpingedezhengmingcailiao，tongshiniyexuyaokekaodejiaotonganpai，ruguonishigexiaidongwuderen
，chongwukanhuyeshigehenrongyizuodefujiagongzuo。

 拿出20美元本錢：花2美元印些傳單貼在公告牌上

，餘下的18美元在當地的社區報（不是全市大報）上刊登分類廣告。

4. zhuanyedezuzhizhedangjinhaoduorendoubeitamensuoyongyoudezheyangnayangdewupingeigaoyunle。yuelaiyueduoderenxiangjianhuatamendeshenghuo，dandaduoshuderenzijimeifazuodaozheyidian。bingbushirenmenbuzhidaogairuhejiangdongxiwupinzuzhihao，ershidongxibuduandiyueduiyueduo。zhegeinaxieshoufeiheliderenmentigongleyigebangrenbafangzizuzhihaodexianji。ruguonizhunbeihaole：從一般意義來理解，有組織技能
，熟悉當地辦公物品的供應和收集箱商店，就可以加入全國專業組織員協會了。

拿出20美元本錢：刊登分類廣告

5. Avon Independent Sales Representative雅芳獨立銷售代表
事實上，化妝品業是不受衰退影響的一門生意，原因是化妝是一個不用花很多錢就能令人們自我愉悅的一種產業。

雅芳是世界上最大的直銷公司，年收入達60億美元。縱橫商海100多年之久
，不但擁有名牌產品生產線，還擁有為數不多的揚威四海的多層銷售架構（實際上是他們發明了這種銷售架構）

除chu了le化hua妝zhuang品pin之zhi外wai，雅ya芳fang還hai售shou賣mai時shi裝zhuang和he保bao健jian品pin，盡jin管guan他ta們men自zi稱cheng是shi一yi個ge女nv人ren公gong司si
，但dan是shi有you許xu多duo的de男nan士shi在zai雅ya芳fang做zuo業ye務wu代dai表biao也ye幹gan得de很hen不bu錯cuo。想xiang以yi銷xiao售shou雅ya芳fang產chan品pin為wei生sheng

，而er不bu賺zhuan點dian零ling花hua錢qian
，有you什shen麼me秘mi訣jue
？建jian立li下xia線xian-正如其它的網絡銷售或直銷業務的做法一樣。

拿出20美元本錢：10美元報名，10美元買小冊子和一些樣品

6.個人服務-購物和跑腿

這是個節日銷售旺季的好行當。

不管你信還是不信，有人走近商場就會跟差不多要死一樣，但他們又不喜歡在網上購物。還是上麵說的，信任和信賴是關鍵。

如(ru)果(guo)你(ni)的(de)車(che)子(zi)不(bu)可(ke)靠(kao)
，那(na)就(jiu)轉(zhuan)坐(zuo)其(qi)它(ta)的(de)交(jiao)通(tong)工(gong)具(ju)。你(ni)也(ye)不(bu)需(xu)要(yao)現(xian)金(jin)，因(yin)為(wei)你(ni)根(gen)本(ben)就(jiu)不(bu)需(xu)要(yao)錢(qian)，但(dan)你(ni)信(xin)用(yong)卡(ka)上(shang)要(yao)有(you)錢(qian)。考(kao)慮(lv)用(yong)美(mei)國(guo)運(yun)通(tong)卡(ka)，教(jiao)友(you)聚(ju)餐(can)卡(ka)這(zhe)一(yi)類(lei)沒(mei)有(you)預(yu)設(she)消(xiao)費(fei)限(xian)度(du)的(de)信(xin)用(yong)卡(ka)。或(huo)者(zhe)使(shi)用(yong)有(you)現(xian)金(jin)回(hui)贈(zeng)的(de)或(huo)有(you)連(lian)續(xu)飛(fei)行(xing)公(gong)裏(li)數(shu)回(hui)贈(zeng)的(de)消(xiao)費(fei)卡(ka)
，這(zhe)樣(yang)你(ni)就(jiu)可(ke)以(yi)為(wei)自(zi)已(yi)賺(zhuan)點(dian)額(e)外(wai)的(de)獎(jiang)金(jin)了(le)。

拿出20美元本錢：1美元印刷傳單，19美元刊登分類廣告

7.台式電腦印刷

有you台tai式shi電dian腦nao的de人ren很hen多duo

，但dan又you有you多duo少shao人ren懂dong得de印yin刷shua一yi張zhang得de體ti的de傳chuan單dan？如ru果guo你ni有you很hen好hao的de設she計ji感gan，且qie非fei常chang熟shu悉xi文wen字zi處chu理li器qi，有you鐳lei射she或huo高gao質zhi的de打da印yin機ji
，那na你ni就jiu可ke以yi進jin入ru電dian腦nao印yin刷shua這zhe個ge行xing當dang了le。給gei自zi已yi做zuo一yi個ge確que實shi好hao看kan的de公gong文wen包bao，然ran後hou挨ai家jia拚pin戶hu地di串chuan門men。

拿出20美元本錢：把樣板設計印在一些高質量的紙張上。

8.教師

suizherenmenduijiaoyujiaoyutizhideriyibumanjidaliangjiatingxuexiaodeyongxian，jiaoshidexuyaoliangfeichangdekongqian，bujinfeichengrenjiaoshi，chengrenjiaoshiyeruci。ruguoniyouyigekejiaodeketi，keyilianxidangdidexuexiao，youqisirendenayileixuexiao，yekeyilianxidangdidejiatingxuexiaojituan，xiangtamentigongnidefuwu。bubidanxinnideketigoubugouzhuanye-既便是需求緊俏的課題也不必多慮。

拿出20美元本錢：1美元印刷傳單，19美元刊登分類廣告

9. eBay網商

對

，確實有不少人靠把在家庭現場舊貨出售和跳蚤市場淘到的東西放到eBay上麵去而賣過上了體麵的生活。這是天大的秘密？盯住你了如指掌的商品（或者先學了再開始做），好好包裝，再提供完善的客戶服務。如果有一台數碼相機或掃描儀，效果會更佳，但這不是必需的。

拿出20美元本錢：先在家庭現場舊貨出售市場買一些商品

10. 秘書服務-打字/改編/較對

許多小生意和個人對這一類服務都會有需求，但需求的程度並沒有達到要通過中介請臨時工的程度。

如果你有計算機，打印機
，和電郵（及必要的技能）那麼你是萬事俱備
，隻欠東風了。

要有準備按工取酬，而不是按時取酬。

拿出20美元本錢：花14美元印一合鐳射或噴墨名片，再花6美元印刷傳單。

最後一件事要提醒所有想掙外快的人-居ju家jia的de小xiao生sheng意yi需xu要yao購gou進jin很hen多duo材cai料liao，象xiang糊hu信xin封feng或huo工gong藝yi品pin製zhi作zuo。雖sui然ran貼tie的de時shi間jian長chang一yi些xie以yi求qiu更geng加jia牢lao固gu的de效xiao果guo不bu會hui造zao成cheng任ren何he經jing濟ji上shang的de損sun失shi，但dan是shi掙zheng到dao的de錢qian就jiu沒mei有you那na麼me多duo了le。