What are some great business ideas you'd be willing to share for free?

            What if you didn’t have to work for someone else? What if you could run your own business and work when and where you wanted? This dream can become reality with the right business idea, but coming up with ideas that are worth starting isn’t always easy. That’s why we created this list of 11 business ideas that don’t cost anything to get started but have the potential to earn money down the road. Some of these ideas can be used to supplement your existing job income, while others can be grown into full-fledged businesses in their own right.

Starting your own business

* great business ideas

            When you have a great business idea and follow a solid plan, there's no reason not to go out on your own. Today's business environment makes it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to find customers and capital, but it still takes hard work, dedication, and professional knowledge to make it succeed. To start your own business, you should ask yourself a few questions about what you want from life and how entrepreneurship fits into that picture. If your answers involve wealth or status, then entrepreneurship is probably not for you because both can be more of a liability than an asset. Just consider people like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett who are wealthier than they'll ever need but also carry outsized reputations as philanthropists.

Become an Influencer

* great business ideas

            There are many different ways to become an influencer. However, you don’t necessarily need a big social media following or even lots of experience. In fact, in many cases, influencers didn’t get where they are because of those things; rather, they worked hard at their skill and became known for it. The next step is to find out what types of products or services your audience wants to see—and make sure you can deliver on them!

Learning to Code

* great business ideas

            The hottest business ideas of today can be found in areas that were once considered fringe. The industries that are becoming more popular, though, require highly technical skills. Developers and designers who specialize in high-level programming languages like Ruby and Python are in demand right now—and getting started with these skills takes money, patience, or both. One of my best friends (who isn’t a coder) wants to quit his day job to start a boutique shop selling custom-made dog treats (which is awesome by me—he’s great at it). The problem is he has no idea how to code a website from scratch and he doesn’t have enough capital saved up for starting costs... yet!

Investing

* great business ideas

            Many people enjoy business ideas but don’t have a lot of capital. An alternative to starting your own business is to invest in another one. If you have money set aside for investing, it could make sense to use it for that purpose instead of risking it on a new venture. If you’re interested in investing, reach out to others who do so regularly and ask them about their favorite platforms. Or reach out to someone like American Express or Wells Fargo, which offer investment services and educational resources for small-business owners. This way you can get started with some great business ideas today!

Peer-to-Peer Lending

* great business ideas

            The world of peer-to-peer lending, also known as social lending, could potentially change how you make money. By connecting people who have money to lend with people who want to borrow money, social lending sites like Lending Club and Prosper make it possible for just about anyone to invest in another person's financial well-being. Peer-to-peer lending isn't too different from a community bank or credit union; in fact, many sites offer FDIC insurance on your loans or accounts. Because you're not a formal lender (as there are with traditional banks), peer-to-peer lenders can be much more competitive than traditional banks when it comes to interest rates and loan amounts.

Work From Home In Your Spare Time

* great business ideas

            The beauty of working from home is that you can do it in your spare time—while cooking dinner, maybe, or on a break from your regular job. Once you set up shop as an independent consultant, building your business around your skills and interests, you might find yourself earning extra money from clients looking for part-time help. Take advantage of technology to make sure you’re available and accessible to clients when they need you. Offer to provide consulting services for two hours a week for a local nonprofit organization; there may be others in a similar situation who’d value your services. Being busy and making money at the same time doesn’t have to be an either/or proposition.