Creative business ideas you can start for up to $20,000
81 ideas
This page collects 85 creative businesses with startup costs up to $20,000. They suit people with a craft, an eye for design or a performance skill who want to earn from it without taking on big debt.
Small-business interior design studio
Design offices, shops, salons and restaurants from a small studio, with clients paying project design fees.
- $4k-20k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Community theater production company
Stage a few shows a year in a rented venue, earning from tickets, sponsors and program ads.
- $3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Touring children's theater show
Create a small cast show and perform it at schools, libraries and festivals for a fee.
- $1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home studio portrait photography
Turn a spare room or garage into a small studio for headshots, family and newborn portraits.
- $1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Art dealer for designers and offices
Source and sell artwork to interior designers, home stagers, restaurants and offices that need pieces for their spaces.
- $1.5k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Online Aboriginal art gallery
Sell authentic Aboriginal artworks from Indigenous-owned art centers to US collectors through a website and private viewings.
- $3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Online
Custom jewelry maker for commissions
Create made-to-order engagement rings, wedding bands and keepsake pieces for individual clients.
- $3k-15k
- Part-time
- From home
Drone video for events and local businesses
Film aerial footage for weddings, festivals, resorts and local business promo videos.
- $2.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Niche branding agency with a small team
Specialize in one type of client, like restaurants or health practices, and deliver full brand identities with a small team.
- $3k-15k
- Full-time
- Online
Home lampwork glass studio
Melt glass rods at a small torch to make beads, pendants, ornaments and small sculptures to sell online and at craft fairs.
- $2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Blown glass artist using a shared hot shop
Rent time at a community glass studio to blow vessels and art pieces, and sell through galleries, fairs and commissions.
- $1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Custom stained glass and repair
Make custom windows and restore damaged panels for homes, churches and businesses.
- $3k-12k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Stained glass studio with workshops
Rent a small studio space, sell your work and teach beginner classes to bring in steady income.
- $5k-20k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Content studio for local businesses
Make videos, podcasts and articles for local businesses that want to be found but have no time to create content.
- $1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small design agency with monthly retainers
Run a small team that handles branding, web and print for clients on steady monthly fees.
- $2k-10k
- Full-time
- From home
Weekend family theatre productions
Stage ticketed plays for families in rented venues, with weekend matinees and school group bookings.
- $3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Local dance company staging original shows
Create original productions, sell tickets and seek grants and sponsors to support a small company of dancers.
- $2k-10k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Home-based men's alterations and repairs
Hem trousers, take in jackets and fix suits for men from a sewing space at home.
- $1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Event and portrait photographer
Shoot parties, family sessions and small events at your clients' venues and homes.
- $1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Home-based bespoke clothing studio
Design and sew made-to-measure garments for private clients from a studio at home, by appointment.
- $1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- From home
Architectural scale model maker
Build scale models of buildings and sites for architects, developers and students from a home workshop.
- $1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- From home
Prototype and display model studio
Turn product ideas into realistic prototypes and display models for inventors, startups and retailers.
- $3k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Video production for local businesses
Film and edit promo videos, testimonials and social clips for small businesses in your area.
- $2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Interior designer for small businesses
Design layouts and finishes for local offices, restaurants, salons and shops, paid per project.
- $1.5k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
About these ideas
Options range from a home recording and mixing studio to an online custom embroidery shop or an on-location business photographer. Start by working out what you will spend on equipment, software and insurance, and how many paying customers you realistically need each month. Think about whether you want steady commercial clients or one-off projects, since that shapes your pricing and marketing. Check whether your idea needs a license, a sales tax permit or a dedicated workspace, then compare ideas by what you already know how to do.
More ideas
- Niche book publisher from home
- Printed songbooks for teachers and schools
- Home recording and mixing studio
- Video editing for local businesses
- Multimedia and audiobook title publisher
- Seasonal collection sold to boutiques
- Full-time painter with a rented studio and gallery sales
- Commission sculptor with a rented studio
- Freelance product design studio
- Silver repair and custom work studio
- Pop-up community theater company
- Commissioned video production company
- Home plans for additions and renovations
- Plan drafting for builders and developers
- On-location business photographer
- Student instrument rental from home
- Gigging musician gear and backline rental
- Your own niche image and footage library
- Custom guitar builder (home workshop)
- Touring family puppet theater company
- Weekend wedding photographer
- Full-time wedding photography business
- Touring school and family show troupe
- Local theater or dance production company
- Home embroidery studio for local orders
- Online custom embroidery shop
- Engraved glass awards for businesses
- Custom neon sign studio (home workshop)
- Product and commercial photographer
- Online bead and findings wholesaler
- Home studio custom t-shirt printing
- Home portrait studio
- Small indie record label
- Vinyl and cassette niche label
- Local chamber orchestra concert series
- Model portfolio and headshot photographer (home studio)
- Portfolio and headshot studio with your own space
- Sculptor selling commissions and gallery work
- Boutique creative ad agency
- Short-run binding for authors and groups
- Niche book publisher
- Local community magazine
- Home photo print studio
- Home-based banner and yard sign studio
- Vehicle graphics and lettering installer
- Pop-up chamber opera company
- Airbrushed vehicles, murals and wall art
- Boutique actor and model agency
- Costume rental for school and community shows
- Garage or outbuilding practice room
- Regional photo agency for local photographers
- Small-group pottery classes from a home studio
- Online airbrush supplies store
- Home taxidermy studio for hunters
- Tattoo artist renting a chair in a shop
- Home studio art restorer for families and collectors
- US-made crafts exporter
Questions
How far can $20,000 go when starting a creative business?
It depends on the equipment and space your idea needs. A photography or embroidery business may use most of the budget on gear, while a studio may also need soundproofing. List every cost and keep some cash back for slow months.
Do I need a license or permit for a creative business in the US?
Requirements vary by state, city and the type of work. Things to check include a local business license, a sales tax permit if you sell products, zoning rules for home studios, and any rules on music or image licensing.
How do I find my first customers in a creative field?
Build a small portfolio of finished work, even if it is for friends or a discounted first project. Then check where your buyers look, such as Instagram, local business groups or marketplaces, and test one channel before spreading your effort.