More and more people are craving the freedom and flexibility that starting their own businesses can offer. For many, becoming an entrepreneur signifies the potential to earn a high profit while also getting full control over business decisions. It’s no wonder you might find that to be a tempting career path.

Of course, before you jump into buguru.id business, it’s important to do your research and understand what industries are most profitable. This is especially true for small businesses, as what works on a smaller scale is very different from large, Fortune 500 companies.

5 Most Profitable Small Businesses to Start This Year

1. Real Estate Agency

Real estate offers several lucrative careers. As a real estate agent, you can potentially earn great money. When you sell a house, you earn about 3%. If you sell a $350,000 home, you could make $10,500.

By having your own real estate business, you can avoid sharing your earnings with a real estate broker. However, you’ll need to pay for your own expenses, like signs, advertising, and transportation. While selling real estate isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, you can earn well into the six figures.

2. Personal Trainer

In the past, personal training could earn you a modest, liveable income. However, with the internet and thousands of clients at your fingertips, you can now earn much more. Some people report earning as much as $126,500 each year as a trainer.

If you’re not sure if there’s room for you in this industry, think again. Experts expect to see the employment of fitness trainers and instructors grow by 39% in the next decade.

3. Business Consultant

If you have experience growing businesses or working in essential roles at big-name companies, people will pay good money for your expertise. There are a variety of niches you can get into – people need help with everything from marketing to tech to HR.

Once you know your niche, you can offer consulting services in a one-on-one capacity to executives. You might also serve on a board of advisors or speak at conferences. Regardless of how you choose to do business, you can earn well over $100,000 if you have the right strategy and knowledge to back up your service.

4. Bookkeeper

There will always be a demand for bookkeepers or accountants. As companies grow, they inevitably need help managing their money. With your own bookkeeping business, you can serve clients all around the country and earn up to $43 per hour.

There are certifications you can take online to learn everything you need to offer this service. If you want to make even more, you could go back to school to become a certified public accountant (CPA). On average, CPAs in the US earn $119,000 each year.

5. Cleaner

Almost anyone can start a cleaning business that could turn into a very profitable company. You can work the cost of the cleaning supplies into what you charge customers, so you have very little overhead.

There are a few ways to run your own cleaning business. You can offer weekly housekeeping or deep cleaning services to households. Alternatively, you could focus on serving businesses alone. You may even choose a more specific niche, like carpet or window cleaning. The more you niche down, the more you’ll earn as an expert in a specific area.