4 Types of Companies You Can Start Without Advanced Technical Skills

There’s no doubt about it. Technology has changed the world of work. Due to the high demand created by the shift to online commerce, high-tech positions are among the highest paying in today’s job market. However, learning the skills required for those positions requires making a major investment of both time and money in education and experience. Recent graduates find themselves saddled with an average of $33,000 in school loan debts, which reduces the purchasing power of their entry-level salaries considerably.

Besides the high cost of education, working behind a desk just isn’t for everyone. In fact, recent statistics show that working for someone else isn’t for everyone, either. Fortunately, there are many types of profitable businesses that don’t require high-tech skills, and creative entrepreneurs are inventing more low-tech businesses every day. This isn’t just good news for the economy, it is good news for the planet, since many of these businesses focus on environmental sustainability as well as profits.

Clothing Alterations

Public awareness of the environmental impact of the fashion industry has increased dramatically within the last decade. The apparel industry is the second largest industrial polluter, accounting for 10% of global carbon emissions. “Fast fashion,” in which inexpensive clothing is purchased and worn fewer than five times and then resold or discarded, produces over 400% more carbon emissions per clothing item than clothing worn 50 times over the course of a year.

Since this knowledge became public, more people are purchasing high-quality clothing, keeping that clothing longer, and making alterations and repairs when necessary. The knowledge that one’s garments haven’t been produced by child labor is also a factor in the increasing success of clothing alteration businesses begun by those with sewing skills.

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Many carpet cleaning companies are responding to consumer concerns about the toxic chemicals used in many cleaning solutions. Since children and pets spend so much time on the floor and have faster metabolisms, they are the most vulnerable to the potential health hazards of these chemicals. People with children and pets are also the most in need of regular carpet and upholstery cleaning.

There are a growing number of environmentally conscious carpet cleaning businesses for sale and some even offer franchise opportunities. Besides being profitable, knowing that you’re helping to provide growing children with a clean, healthy, chemical-free environment is a business you can feel good about.

Gardening Services

Gardening isn’t just for growing your own vegetables anymore. For those who enjoy working outdoors in nature, it can become an extremely profitable business. Food is another industry in which consumers have begun to demand change—they are moving from the mass production of factory farms that often use potentially harmful pesticides to locally grown and organic goods.

Many of the finest restaurants now maintain their own on-site organic herb and vegetable gardens, and customers love knowing that their vegetables were harvested just moments before being prepared. Most businesses also maintain attractive landscaping, and would welcome competition to do so at less expense.

Tour Guide Service

Everyone has valuable knowledge about the town or city they live in, especially after they’ve experienced life there for a while. That’s why most cities have tour guide services to help visitors make their time there more enjoyable. Tour guides employed by these services usually love their jobs even though they don’t earn high salaries. However, starting your own tour guide service can provide a comfortable income. You’ll also meet a lot of new people as you work with other local entrepreneurs to create unforgettable tours and increase the amount of hospitality in the world.

Today’s entrepreneurs aren’t just making profits, but building a healthier economy for future generations of tomorrow, and beyond.

Author: Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here. If you are interested in becoming a franchise owner, Anica suggests you check out carpet cleaning businesses for sale.