Article by:
Amelia Grant
The modern market is oversaturated with all sorts of goods and services. This often happens in big cities, where the consumer may find any kind of restaurant and shop that opens every day. In this case, a novice entrepreneur must rely on innovation and high-quality service. But in small cities, the requests of clients differ from big cities. For this reason, it can be easier to satisfy their needs.
While city dwellers are racking their brains over new projects, trying to adapt to the changing landscape of local business, others are moving (if not already living there) to smaller cities to enrich their meager market infrastructure.
Below are 10 great ideas that are perfect for building a business in a small town.
1. Bar
Cafe, coffee shop, canteen - it doesn't matter. If your city does not have a large number of representatives of different target groups, then you can make an institution for everyone at once. During the day it is a family coffee house or a canteen with inexpensive food, and in the evening it is a trendy bar where you can drink strong drinks with friends or date a girl.
Such an establishment would be very appropriate in the city center. Working people will provide daytime traffic at lunchtime, while in the evening your bar is a top choice for those looking to entertain themselves.
2. Bookstore
Bookstores may look different and resemble little of what most of us remember from our childhoods, but this isn't always a negative thing. In fact, the necessity for bookshop owners to find new and imaginative methods to flourish has created a slew of new business options. Isn't that what small towns are all about: generating opportunity and coming up with novel methods to give the greatest possibilities for their residents?
Of course, if you decide to create a bookshop in your small town, make sure that your store is focused on selling books. However, this does not exclude you from incorporating other features of your community or other items into your store. It's unusual nowadays to go into a bookshop only for the purpose of purchasing books. They're now a popular spot for presents, crafts, e-readers, coffee, and special events. Selling a range of items and hosting events will diversify your revenue stream and bring in new clients.
3. Bakery
While running a bakery is a tough job, given the consumer habits of small townsfolk, it can be incredibly profitable. If in megalopolises the buying activity occurs mainly in the evening (non-working) time, and bakeries are successful only in dormitory areas, then the province solves both problems at once.
In small towns, due to the peculiarities of the demographic shift towards the non-working population, consumer activity in the morning and in the afternoon is much higher than in megacities. Since bakeries are mainly focused on sales in the first half of the day and in conditions of fewer business dynamics, its demand in the province is more likely.
If you have recently moved to a new city, then first, it is better to familiarize yourself with the offers of your competitors and determine the most popular pastries among the local population. And, if possible, recruit as many young people as possible. They will give your bakery a high level of credibility and help you connect with your local urban community.
4. Organic foods
Healthy food has been gaining in popularity all over the world in recent years. Although the concept of "healthy food" has changed throughout the entire period of its existence, there is a general concept that unites the properties of these products - their naturalness.
People prefer organic food for a variety of reasons, but it is more difficult for the people in the provinces to buy it than the urban population. Also, as studies show, consumers are often ready to overpay for products of natural origin. Therefore, if access to organic products is limited in your city, then it's time to think about the development of this direction. In most small cities, this niche has not been mastered yet, so you have a chance to become the first.
5. Grocery store
It may be the obvious choice for small town businesses, but sometimes the most obvious options are overlooked. While grocery shopping sounds boring and mundane, it is one of the most practical business decisions in the provincial location. There is no abundance of supermarkets in the small city. For this reason, you will have a lot of clients, especially if you provide them with an uninterrupted supply of fresh food.
In addition, you can focus on rare goods that buyers will not find in most places in the city. In this case, the idea of creating a specialized store can be profitable. Are there many stores in your city that can offer many types of cheese or wine? You can be the first.
6. Sports bar
Though we mentioned a wine bar/coffee shop combo earlier, the audience you'll attract for that small town business concept vs this one is much different. Consider first dates and book clubs in comparison to Super Bowl Sunday and Monday Night Football. Speaking of special events for sporting events, you'll be able to handle busy evenings and game days with ease if you have the correct bar.
Opening a successful sports bar in a sports-centric community may be a wonderful investment, and the business strategy is also rather straightforward. However, if you miscalculate your town's interests, the results may be terrible.
7. Gardening service
Since private households predominate in small towns or rural areas, most of their residents own land areas with lawns, flower beds, gardens, etc. This factor indicates the obvious need of the local population for gardening, landscape design, and other services working on the ground.
The main advantages of such a business in the province are its relevance, consistency, and scalability. First, working with the land, be it growing flowers or caring for the lawn, requires regular renewal. Accordingly, your services will be in demand from year to year, depending on the season. Secondly, if you perform the work with high quality and at a reasonable price, then your customers will come to you more than once, and this is another argument in favor of the constancy of this business.
8. Massage therapist
Just because you don't have the hustle and bustle of a major metropolis breathing down your neck doesn't mean you don't have aches and pains or a lot of stress. If you enjoy working with your hands and meeting new people, this might be a terrific career and successful company idea for a small town.
Massage treatment, on the other hand, requires extensive training, so it's not a company you'll be able to start in the next few weeks unless you're already a qualified massage therapist. There are, however, several colleges and programs in which you may join to get licensed. Once your training is completed, you may start your massage business.
9. Street food
To begin with, it should be noted that the success of a food truck primarily depends on the geographical location of the settlement and its climate. In many small towns, the main events are celebrated in the fresh air, be it celebrations of significant dates, various festivals, or sporting events. The mobility of street food provides an advantageous opportunity for a constant presence near crowds.
In addition, in the provinces, in contrast to large cities, street markets are more popular, which can provide an additional influx of customers from both visitors and employees of retail outlets. And the lack of a large number of catering establishments in the province is additional help for the development of your street food trade.
10. Bookkeeping
If you have expertise in accounting and bookkeeping, you can safely start your accounting service in a small city. Small cities rarely have experienced accountant specialists. Moreover, you can provide your services online. Many bookkeeping services may now be handled online. If you are an accountant or bookkeeper who desires the flexibility and autonomy of running your own business while living in a small city, you may use the current technology to launch your own online accounting service or rental and commercial property accounting.