39 Small Business Ideas in Pakistan to Start in 2024

Having a secondary source of income is always a good way to manage your finances. Depending on your expenses, it may also help you increase your saving, giving you greater freedom to follow your dreams. So, if you are also on the hunt for a doable side hustle to increase your income without quitting your day job, this blog is for you.  Here we have rounded up 39 business ideas in Pakistan that are best suitable for small-scale investors.

39 Best Small Business Ideas in Pakistan to Start in 2024

Now, without further ado, let’s begin with our list of the best startup ideas for 2023. 

Business Ideas	Profit Margin	Investment Risk	Required Skills
Real estate Investment	Good	Medium	Know-how of the industry
Dropshipping	Good	Low	E-commerce knowledge
Restaurant/Coffee Shop	Good	Medium	Experience in a similar field
Digital Marketing Services	Good	Low	Online marketing skills
Print-on-demand t-shirts	Good	Low	Not necessary
Fish Farming	Mediocre	High	Knowledge about fishing industry
Urban Farming	Good	High	Know-how about plant species
Poultry Farming	Good	Medium	Knowledge about poultry animals
Beauty Salon	Mediocre	High	Expertise of a beautician
Publish an E-book	Mediocre	Low	Research and creative writing skills
Offer Online Courses	Good	Low	Online tutoring expertise
Graphic Designing	Good	Low	Knowlege of art and latest designing tools
E-commerce Store	Good	Low	Website and Social Media marketing skills
Blogging	Good	Low	Research and creative writing skills
Vlogging	Good	Low	Video making and editing skills
Catering	Good	Medium	Know-how of cooking and event management
Photography	Good	Low	Photography and picture editing skills
Food cart	Mediocre	Low	Food business management and marketing skills
Freelancing	Good	Low	Know-how of the digital media
Travel Agent	Good	Medium	Passion and knowlege of travelling
Organic Beauty Products	Mediocre	Low	Know-how about skincare and cosmetics
Set up a Co-working Space	Good	Medium	Business knowledge
Collect antique items	Mediocre	Medium	Knowledge of antiques
Online Clothing Store	Good	Medium	Knowledge of Latest Fashion Trends
Sell Mobile Accessories Online	Mediocre	Low	Know-how of smart tools and gadgets
Set up a Co-living Space	Good	High	Attractive location and knowledge of real estate
Car Pooling	Good	Low	Driving and communication skills
Become an Online Gym Instructor	Mediocre	Low	Knowledge of exercising, balanced diet and fitness
Vacation rentals	Good	High	Hospitality and management knowledge
Start a Home Chef Business	Good	Low	Knowledge of cooking and online marketing
Sell Handcrafted Items	Mediocre	Low	Good handcrafting skills
Babysitting services	Mediocre	Low	Handling toddlers and young children safely
Yoga classes	Mediocre	Low	Knowledge of yoga and fitness
Virtual Event Planner	Moderate	Low	Event management and communication skills
Become a Real Estate Agent	Good	Low	Real estate knowledge and brokering skills
Local Grocery Store	Mediocre	High	Knowledge of FMCGs and business skills
Kiosk at a Shopping Mall	Mediocre	Medium	Good location and trading skills
Logistics Company	Good	High	Know-how of the logistics industry
Website and App Development	Good	Medium	Website and app design and development skills

Real Estate Investment

Real estate market is touted as one of the most lucrative investment avenues in Pakistan — and rightly so. The value of properties in many major cities across the city has sky-rocketed in recent years. Those who have invested in credible and well-located projects have already set their eyes on short-term and long-term capital gains. 

Expected Returns on Lucrative Real Estate Projects

Keeping in view the upward price trends, real estate investors can enjoy up to 60-70% capital gains and a rental yield of around 7-8%. If you want to learn more about the ROI and rental yield in real estate, check out these blogs.

Technically, it is not one of those business ideas in Pakistan that require small investment, but with a few tricks, you can increase its affordability factor. Wondering how? Keep reading to find out.

Tips to Make an Affordable Real Estate Investment

Have a limited amount to invest in one go? Don’t worry! Here are some interesting tips and affordable property investment options for you to explore.

Go for Properties with Easy and Flexible Payment Plans

You’d be surprised to know that you can invest in some under-development property projects for as low as PKR 10,000 a month. In such projects, you can book your desired property with a down payment of around PKR 100,000-150,000. However, it is important to only invest in real estate projects. They might cost you a little more, but your investment will definitely be in safe hands.

Zameen.com’s New Projects portal has plenty of interesting options available for property investors. All you have to do is to select your desired city and start exploring lucrative investment opportunities around you. Also, projects marketed and sold by Zameen.com ensure reliability and profitability to both short-term and long-term investors.

Search for a Low-Cost House for Sale

Buying a newly constructed house with a limited budget is still possible. Yes, you read it right. So, to help you find some budget-friendly property options, the experts of Zameen.com have compiled listings of low-cost houses available in major cities across Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Investing in a low-priced residential unit is probably the best way to make an affordable real estate investment. 

Buy and Renovate/Remodel an Old House

If the structure of the property has deteriorated, it might’ve already lost a good chunk of its real estate value. Depending on your interest, you can invest in such properties and restore them to earn profit. Buy a property that is in bad shape, renovate or remodel it, according to its condition, structure and market demand. 

Narrow down your search to old and small-sized houses to make your property hunt easier. Keep a budget of around PKR 30-40 lakh in mind. Make sure to avoid these renovation mistakes while working on your project. 

Dropshipping

Can you start dropshipping in Pakistan? Well, the answer to this question is a definitive yes. In fact, it is one of the best low-cost business ideas in Pakistan that doesn’t require large up-front capital. You can easily run and manage a dropshipping business in your spare time. 

Here’s How Dropshipping Business Works

With a dropshipping business model, you can easily run your entire business from your laptop. The only thing that needs a lot of research is identifying the top-selling products.

Everything becomes easy once you are done with that step. You can fetch the required products, use affiliate marketing to promote your products, ship orders, and offer customer support. You can manage all these business operations while sitting on your couch.

Now, let’s find out how to set up a dropshipping business in Pakistan.

Step-By-Step Process to Start Dropshipping in Pakistan

In recent years, dropshipping has become a popular option for start-ups. The business model requires small capital to get up and running. Also, setting it up is also easy. Here, we’ll elaborate on the entire process in a few simple steps, take a look!

1. Set up your online store

To set up your e-commerce store, you have to get a third party involved. You’ll come across many dropshipping platforms in Pakistan suitable for small businesses. Some of the most popular ones include

Shopify: an easy-to-use platform for setting up online stores. The portal is famous around the world. Using Shopify, you can make use of different themes and templates to build your online store.

Daraz: It’s a name that needs no introduction. You can easily start your dropshipping business in Pakistan with this popular portal. You’ll be keeping the profit on your product while paying its wholesale price to Daraz. The entire process is automated.

AliExpress: AliExpress dropshipping follows the same traditional dropshipping business model, which makes it quite convenient for new businesses. Copying the product from the AliExpress market, deciding on your own markup/profit margin and shipping it to your customers directly from your store. 

Amazon: Another option to consider for aspiring dropshippers in Pakistan. However, setting up an Amazon store isn’t easy. Owing to the questionable track record of many Pakistani sellers, Amazon has put stricter policies in place for local dropshippers. It could immediately block your account upon negative feedback. Dropshipping at Amazon is highly popular around the world, but since it has very strong customer-centric policies, running an Amazon e-store from Pakistan is currently a bit too risky.

2. Choose the type of products for your e-store

Do market research to decide on the supplies for your dropshipping store. Get in touch with a suitable supplier of your desired products. Once you’ve selected your supplies, you can simply post the products on your store with your own offer price. 

3. Gaining Customer Base

Social media platforms are a good way to market your dropshipping business nowadays. You can promote your products/services on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and/or LinkedIn, depending on the nature of your business. Target your audience online for a higher conversion rate. With the latest metrics, make sure to reach out to the relevant audience to convert your visitors into leads and eventually, customers.

Increase Your Dropshipping Knowledge

Before you jump into the field and start handling things practically, equip yourself with as much dropshipping knowledge as possible. You can also Hire an expert to run your business for you, but it wouldn’t be a long-term solution. Also, if you don’t know the functionalities involved in drop shipping, you’d always depend on others to guide you. 

From developing and designing your e-commerce platform to marketing it, you should know at least a little about everything. Of course, you won’t be able to do everything yourself, but having technical know-how about every aspect of your business would make a lot of difference.

Investing Money in a Dropshipping Business in Pakistan

Thinking of starting your own business venture with a small amount of money? Dropshipping would be a great option for you. The minimum amount of money you’ll need to invest in dropshipping in Pakistan is around PKR 100,000. It would be enough to put your product/services on the market. 

Restaurant/Coffee Shop

Pakistan is a country of foodies. In many cities around the country, the best outing spots for families are usually local restaurants and coffee shops. It is not necessary to open a fancy eatery or cafe to make it successful. 

The very first thing you can do is to reach out to other people running similar businesses. They may be in your social circle or professional network. If not, then you can use Facebook groups and communities to post your questions/queries to fetch relevant information. 

How to Set Up a Restaurant or a Coffee Shop

Opening a coffee shop is one of the most feasible small business ideas in Pakistan. Here’s how to get started

Business Plan: Are you willing to skip your business plan because you think “it’s too much work”? Don’t do that. Having a business plan in place is crucial for each stage of setting up and running your coffee shop or small restaurant business in Pakistan.

Select a Suitable Location: Go for popular business locations in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other major cities in Pakistan. Keep a monthly rent expense of around PKR 30,000-100,000 in mind, depending on your location. 

Required Staff: Wondering how many staff members you’d need for your coffee shop business? Ideally, there should be around 5 workers assigned different tasks. 

Business Hours: Most people like having their coffee before going to work early in the morning. So, try to open your shop at 8 am in the morning and close it at around 10.30 to 11 pm. The closing time for your business may also depend on its location and permission from authorities.

Supplies and Equipment: You cannot run your coffee shop without these two elements. Reach out to coffee wholesale suppliers. They may offer you fine-quality coffee at reasonable prices. Also, use your friend circle or groups on social media to look for people selling slightly used coffee shop equipment. It would be a good way to save some money.

Deciding the Menu: Come up with an interesting coffee shop menu. Offer different types of freshly brewed coffee, such as Espresso, Mocha, Cappuccino, Latte, Cold Coffee, etc. Also, add an interesting variety of sides to your menu like doughnuts, sandwiches, pastries, and cookies. Try to buy these confectionaries from a high-end bakery in bulk quantities. You can also collaborate with them to use their brand name. They may offer you their products in bulk quantities at wholesale rates. Make sure your menu is visible to people passing by. It is a good way to attract customers.

Market Your Coffee Shop: Once you have set up everything, your next goal is to grow your business. Use different types of conventional and online marketing tactics. You can also collaborate with food delivery companies like FoodPanda, Careem and Bykea. 

Coffee Shop Investment in Pakistan

Here’s a breakdown of the investment required for starting a coffee shop business in Pakistan.

You need to set aside a budget of up to 10 lacs for starting your venture. This amount covers your initial rental expenses, security, renovation/remodelling, equipment, advertising budget and backup plans, among other expenses. 

For a more detailed breakdown, refer to the table below:

Particulars	Amount in PKR
Shop 4 Months Advance Rent	200,000
Shop Rent (Monthly)	50,000
Security Guard	50,000
Security Equipment (CCTV Cameras)	30,000
Coffee Shop Equipment	150,000
Shop Renovation/Remodelling	300,000
Financial backup for Salaries	220,000
Total Initial Investment	1,000,000

Print-On-Demand T-Shirts

If you are looking for a low-cost startup idea in 2023, then get started with the print-on-demand t-shirt business. It is another form of dropshipping business model. However, in this business, your focus should be on customizing products as per your customers’ requests. 

Along with t-shirts, you can also sell caps, smartphone cases, hoodies, tote bags, and other types of accessories. Using memes and witty slogans on your products would be a good way to attract new customers, especially teenagers.

How to Start Your Print-On-Demand T-Shirt Business in Pakistan

• First of all, you’ll need a graphic designer. If your design skills are good, you wouldn’t need one. Otherwise, you’d need to hire one. Check for platforms like Fiverr, Upwork and LinkedIn.
• Buy plain t-shirts in bulk quantities. It would be cheaper and result in more profit. 
• Make sure the fabric of your t-shirts is good. It is important for your brand’s credibility.
• Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram and other online marketplaces to market and sell your products.

Fish Farming

According to a recent survey, fish farming is among the fast-growing food production segments in the world. As the name suggests, it is the process of breeding and raising marine animals commercially. Let’s show you how this business model works.

How to Start Fish Farming in Pakistan

• Identify the right type of fish and other edible aquatic species.
• Keep in mind the preferences and choices of your target market.
• Dig a pond if you have soil around your home or arrange water containers.
• Other equipment you’ll need include water pumps, fish graders, aeration devices, and water testing tools, among other things.
• Also, keep in mind that seafood in Pakistan is best sold in winter, so harvest accordingly.

Urban Farming

Urban farming is a great low-investment business in Pakistan. You can set up an urban farm in your backyard, lawn or terrace or any other outdoor space. Once you’ve grown your own fruits and vegetables, you can eat them or sell them at a local store. With consistent farming habits, you can turn it into a profitable business, specializing in any particular local produce. 

How to Set Up an Urban Farm in Pakistan

• Dedicate an outdoor space, which is properly landscaped and not infected with pests.
• Use pesticides if necessary before setting up your organic garden.
• Select fruits and vegetables for harvesting that can grow well in your region. 
• Take urban farming workshops, if possible, to properly take care of your harvest.
• Make sure to plant some flowers to attract pollinating bees that naturally improve the quality of your crops.

Poultry Farming

Counted among the most popular small business ideas in Pakistan, poultry farming is an integral part of our agriculture sector. It employs more than 1.5 million people in the country. A poultry farming business can be about chicken breeding/hatchery or meat production. However, setting up a hatchery business is more convenient than meat production. 

Poultry Farming Investment in Pakistan

A lot of sources on the internet quote that starting a poultry farm business in Pakistan requires a large investment. Well, we’d like to say otherwise in this regard. Don’t buy a large piece of land, it’s the most common mistake people make. Many investors assume starting big would yield more profit.

Everyone knows the volatility of the agricultural sector these days in terms of prices. It would be wise to begin your venture with a small investment. You can set up a small-scale hatchery business by investing PKR 100,000 at first. 

Once your operations are streamlined, your livestock is performing well and you are making profits, you can go for expanding it by putting in more capital. 

How to Start a Poultry Farming Business in Pakistan

• Once you have decided on the capital and type of poultry farming business, you need to look for the necessary resources.
• Set up a suitable environment for the animals where they’ll be living and breeding.
• You’ll have to buy livestock and take care of their feed. Get in touch with people who already own and run a poultry farm to get useful and practical advice. 
• Make sure to get your chickens vaccinated to protect them from seasonal viruses and diseases. Don’t invest in low-cost and untrusted doses of vaccination, they may be harmful to your animals. 
• Keep a regular check on the health of your chickens. They may easily get sick because of the changing weather conditions and pass on germs virally to other animals. Don’t hesitate and call a vet immediately if need be.
• Also, it is crucial to maintain ideal temperatures if you want your livestock to thrive.

Beauty Salon

Setting up a beauty salon requires more capital than many other startup ideas in Pakistan. To make your salon business a profitable stream of income, you should have good beautician and communication skills. Hire experienced staff members. Train them, if necessary. Depending on your PR, you can also ask online influencers and internet celebrities to market your salon. In return, you can offer them free services.

Things You Need to Set Up a Beauty Salon

• The very first thing you need is a work permit and authorization from the local authorities for opening up a salon.
• Start with a few basic services if you have a limited budget. 
• Once your business starts getting customers, you can then expand your service menu to attract a wider audience.
• Do a survey of other salon businesses in your area and make sure to offer services at competitive rates.
• Have interior arrangements and invest in the right salon equipment.
• Distribute pamphlets and brochures, and use social media to market your business.

Publish an E-book

If you have good creative writing and research skills, you can use them to publish your very own eBook. It is far easier and cheaper than publishing a physical copy. It is also among the best online business ideas in Pakistan. 

E-Books are now a part of a rapidly growing industry where people are making a lot of money. You’ll come across a large audience of avid readers who prefer digital publications because they are cheaper and more easily accessible. 

The reason we have included eBook publication in small business ideas in Pakistan is pretty obvious. The production and distribution costs of ebooks are quite lower than the physical ones. So, it is an easy place for aspiring writers to get started.

As an ebook writer, you can use tools like Visme, Jasper AI and Canva to begin your venture. Most of these tools offer free basic plans to help you start things off. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to publish and distribute your eBook. 

How to Publish Your E-Book in Pakistan

E-book publishing has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. You can also benefit from it while living in Pakistan. The process is very simple and elaborated below:

• First of all, select your niche and identify your target audience.
• Pick a topic (either fiction or non-fiction) that’ll help your book stand out.
• Take as much time as you need to write and edit your book. Make sure you’re giving out your best.
• While putting it up on Amazon, Daraz or other similar online marketplaces, write a description that catches the attention of online users. It’s not like you’re summarising your book, instead, you give your prospective readers a reason to buy it.
• Make sure to upload a nice cover for your eBook. No matter what, people will always be judging a book by its cover.
• If your book gets successful, you can earn up to $1000 per month.

Offer Online Courses

Do you have skills and expertise in any particular field? If yes, then all you need is online tutoring skills to start earning money. You can use platforms like Skype, Google Meets or any other similar live chat portals to offer online classes. For notes and other course materials, you can create files in PDF format. 

How to Start Online Tutoring Business in Pakistan

• The best part about online tutoring is that you don’t need any particular degree or level of education. 
• Use word of mouth, social media groups, paid online marketing and classified ads to promote your business.
• Make sure the knowledge you are conveying is actually helping people.
• It would be good to become an affiliate of a recognised university or an online education platform.
• Giving certifications and accreditation will increase the level of credibility of your tutoring business.

Graphic Designing

With some knowledge of art and the internet, you can easily learn graphic designing. There are many free and paid courses available these days. For free courses, you can simply check YouTube. Channels like GFXMentor would be a great source of learning for you.

On the other hand, with paid courses, you can easily get certifications upon completion. It would be a plus, but you need to have really good skills. Once you have attracted a few clients, you can turn it into a fully-fledged business by hiring more resources. It is one of the best online business ideas in Pakistan with a small investment.

To upload your portfolio online, you can use world-famous platforms like Behance and Dribble for free. Having a good portfolio would be a great way to start things for a graphic artist and designer.

E-commerce Website

Do you want to run your own store but don’t have the resources and budget to set it up physically? Don’t worry. Everything is possible in the online world. There are many e-commerce websites nowadays that are earning well. You can set it up too. 

The only major investment in the entire business model would be the creation of a website. However, you can manage your stock in the later phase as per the demand.

How to Start an E-commerce Business in Pakistan

• The process is very simple. Create a website using the most popular e-commerce web development platforms, such as WooCommerce, Shopify, etc. 
• You can either focus on single or multiple categories of products on your website. It would certainly impact the business model of your business.
• There are many courier companies or ride-sharing companies that can be contacted to arrange deliveries.
• To market your business, you can use brochures, online ads, Facebook groups and other social media platforms. The way you promote your e-commerce website depends on the nature of your business. 

Blogging

It is another great online business idea for people with good writing skills. There are many different online blogging platforms like WordPress.org or Google’s Blogger. Using such online portals will help you get started for free. Many bloggers these days are using affiliate marketing tactics to earn money. 

Useful Tips to Start Blogging 

• The aforementioned free blogging platforms will help you create a blog and get started.
• You need to focus on your niche and come up with enticing topics to attract the online audience.
• Knowledge of search engine optimization and marketing is very important for a blogger.
• Once you have pulled enough readers, dedicated followers and subscribers, you can start focusing on affiliate marketing.
• A successful blogger can earn anywhere between $1000-2000 a month. 

Vlogging

Vlogging is another form of blogging. The only difference is that you’ll be using videos instead of text to reach out to your desired audience. Vlogging needs more skills and effort. You need to be good at making video scripts, capturing videos and editing them later. The more interesting your video is, the more it’ll attract viewers.

The most popular platform used by vloggers today is YouTube. It is free to use and you can post any content you want, in line with YouTube policies for published content. Make sure not to copy videos from other channels or repost them. The last thing you would want on your YouTube channel is a copyright strike. If your channel is running successfully on YouTube, you can earn between $750-1500 a month. 

Catering

Food catering is also one of the most popular business models in Pakistan. The main thing that works in the catering business is public relations. You can start by serving in private gatherings and small events. 

Once your venture has established a good reputation, you can extend your services to catering corporate parties and popular events. To market your business, you can use platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Word of mouth would also make a big difference in terms of promoting your catering services.

How to Start Catering Business in Pakistan

• You need to have cooking and communication expertise to start a catering business. 
• Along with these basic skills, you also need a space for your setup. A kitchen, an office and probably a storage space would work.
• You can also outsource different catering equipment, if need be.
• It would be good to only make necessary investments at the beginning and try not to splurge.
• If your catering services start getting famous, consider expanding to attract a wider audience.

Photography

Photography is probably the best business idea in Pakistan for people with photography and editing skills. This business also works best for those with good PR. However, you can always create and upload a portfolio on social media and relevant websites. This will help you showcase your work to your potential clients. 

How to Start Photography Business in Pakistan 

• All you need is a good professional camera and the latest editing software. Due to such minimal requirements, it is considered one of the best small business ideas in Pakistan.
• You can be a freelance photographer at the beginning. Once you have enough experience and a customer base, you can set up a studio.
• A person with good photography skills and experience can earn up to PKR 60,000 a month. 

Food Cart

Don’t have a budget to open a restaurant? Fret not. You can go for the option of a food cart or a food truck. The most basic type of business model in this regard is a fries cart. However, in recent years, the concept of street food and food carts has become very popular. 

Food kiosks and trucks have become an important part of street culture around the world. Even in Pakistan, you’ll see them in popular markets and commercial districts of big cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. So, setting up a food cart is a thriving business idea, if properly executed. 

Freelancing

Ever since the emergence of high-speed internet and mobile technologies, freelancing in Pakistan is booming. If you want to be a freelancer and work for your clients remotely, you should develop a certain set of skills. For example, you can be a writer, graphic designer, web developer or digital marketing expert. 

Now let’s talk facts about the freelance industry in Pakistan and its exponential growth. As a country of youth, Pakistan is rubbing shoulders with many other countries in terms of increasing global competition for remote workers. If we take a look at stats from FY 2021-22, the local remote working sector reportedly made a staggering $400 million dollars at an unprecedented growth rate. 

Considering the market’s rapid growth, freelancing is one of the best small business ideas in Pakistan. Want to start off your remote working journey on the right foot? Follow these steps. 

How to Start Freelancing Business in Pakistan

• Focus on Your Expertise: Whether you are planning to freelance part-time or want to make it your full-time income stream, focus on your skills. Create and showcase the best of your work to your prospective clients as a writer, graphic designer, digital marketer or whatever expertise you have.
• Pick Your Clients Wisely: As a freelancer, you’ll have the privilege to be your own boss. It also means that you’ll have the liberty to pick your clients. It would be great to start offering your services to someone you know or use credible resources to find work. Don’t hesitate in spreading the word in the circle of your friends and acquaintances to let people know about the services you are offering.
• Create a Portfolio to Showcase Your Skills: Want to increase your client base in the freelancing industry? Create a portfolio that stands out. Journo Portfolio, WordPress, Canva, Behance and Adobe Portfolio are some of the free-to-use platforms for uploading your portfolio. You can also make use of LinkedIn, which allows you to link all your portfolios with your professional profile.
• Be a Part of Popular Remote Working Websites: Set up an account on Fiverr, Freelancer, Upwork or any other popular freelancing platform. You’ll see plenty of jobs matching your skillset, but getting work on these remote working websites isn’t easy. Create a profile that sets you apart from other freelancers. Keep sending proposals on job postings. In the beginning, try to offer your services at the lowest possible yet justifiable rates.
• Use Other Online Platforms to Get Work: There are other marketplaces and social media groups where freelancers in Pakistan can find work. For example, Facebook has multiple groups dedicated to writers, graphic designers and other types of online experts. Join them and pitch your profile to get work. 
• Capitalise on Your LinkedIn Profile: Gone are the days of conventional CVs as now recruiters majorly use LinkedIn for headhunting. The same goes for finding remote workers and freelancers. If your employer doesn’t have any issue with it, you also turn on that “open to work” option on LinkedIn.
• Have a Dedicated Workstation: Once you have properly transformed your freelancing skills into a steady source of income, think of setting up a dedicated workstation. It would allow you to be more productive with fewer distractions. You can set up a home office if you have enough space. On the other hand, if freelancing is your full-time job, you can consider renting a desk in dedicated co-working facilities like Daftarkhwan, The Hive, COLABS, and Kickstart, among others.
• Set up a payment gateway: If you are working for a local client, you can easily use any digital wallet services or inter-bank transfers. On the other hand, if someone hires you from abroad, you may need to make an account on PayPal, a globally acclaimed payment merchant. No, it is not available in Pakistan, but there are some workarounds. Check out these tips to create and use a PayPal account in Pakistan and its popular alternatives.

Travel Agent

Are you passionate about travelling? Becoming a travel agent would be a great low-risk business idea for you. You can help people with ticketing processes, visa applications and tours. Having knowledge and expertise about travelling to different countries would be a major plus. 

Travel agencies in Pakistan also offer Haj and Umrah packages and guidance. You can also become an affiliate of an immigration consultancy. The scope of this business is pretty vast in the country.

How to Set Up a Travel Agency Business in Pakistan

• To run a tourism business in Pakistan, you need to get a travel agency license first.
• Once you are all set to open a travel agency legally, you need to focus on the list of services you will offer.
• You can run your business alone but it would be great to have a collaborator. Like other public dealing businesses, the success of a tourism agency also greatly relies on PR.
• Have an active social media presence and keep updating your audience with new pictures and videos of their desired destinations. 
• Offer all-in-one travel packages at competitive prices to attract more customers, especially during peak tourism seasons.

Organic Beauty Products

If you have an interest in dermatology and skin care items, then selling organic beauty products would be an ideal side hustle for you. To start off as an organic skincare entrepreneur on the right foot, make sure to do your research thoroughly. Learn about the skincare and dermatological problems of your target audience, so you can offer them products accordingly.

It is important for you to hone your organic formulation skills. Do product testing to find out more about their potential outcomes before offering them to your customer. To make your venture a success, spread the word. Try to grow your following on social media organically and via marketing. You can also collaborate with internet celebrities and influencers to promote your business. 

Set Up a Co-working Space

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world around us. It has significantly impacted our work-life balance. Remote working has become a common thing and many companies are now hiring employees who work for them remotely. 

This has made setting up a co-working space a pretty lucrative business idea in Pakistan. You can either buy or rent out a commercial unit to set up a co-working space. Even if you have a few spare workstations in your office, you can turn them into a co-working space. 

How to Open a Co-working Space in Pakistan

• First of all, look for a suitable location to start your venture.
• Come up with a fully-equipped setup, if there is enough space.
• Have meeting rooms, conference halls, cubicles and separate offices.
• Make sure to install a vending machine, water dispenser and coffee machine.
• Including a separate cafeteria and a game room would be a plus.

Collect Antique Items

Many people have a passion for gathering antique handicrafts and artefacts and storing them as a collection. If you also have a similar passion, you can transform it into a profitable business. Antique collectibles may be worth a lot of money because they are a part of human history. 

You can buy or collect antique items and sell them to enthusiasts at higher prices. It is one of the most feasible low-cost business ideas in Pakistan. Once you have figured out a way to find the right items, you can also start an antique store. 

By selling a single unique artefact to the right buyer, you can easily make thousands of rupees. It could be a very lucrative business for people with the know-how of antiques. Use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to get the attention of a wider audience.

Online Clothing Store

Selling apparel is one of the most popular eCommerce niches. In fact, it is also among the best low-investment business ideas in Pakistan. Depending on your budget, you can create your own label or go selling items from other popular clothing brands. 

There is also an ever-growing demand for used imported clothes or export items that are rejected due to minor defects. Make sure to pick only the products that are in good shape. Take examples of brands like Khazanay.pk and Export Leftovers (shortened as Elo). Places like Lunda Bazaar (Light House Market) and Shershah Godowns in Karachi are where you can easily find imported clothing items and accessories in bulk at wholesale rates. 

Here are some of the basics you should know before setting up your online clothing business.

How to Start Online Clothing Business in Pakistan

• Before starting your business, it’s a great step to carry out a competitive analysis of your target market.
• Select the target audience for your business. You can sell menswear, womenswear or unisex clothing items and accessories. 
• Also, instead of investing in a website, first set up your store on free-to-use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to analyse the response from your target market.
• To grow your business, offer discounts and promotions on the launch of your store or while introducing a new product.
• If you are selling items from other clothing brands, make sure you have obtained their consent.
• Make it easy for your customers to connect with you. Use the messaging platforms of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to connect with your customers.
• Offer refund and exchange policies for valid reasons to increase the credibility of your store.

Sell Mobile Accessories

Moblie accessories are among the most selling items on the internet these days. To set up an online mobile accessory store, no hefty investment is required. You can sell them on different marketplaces like the ones available on OLX.com and Facebook.com. Make sure the accessories you are selling at your store are in demand if you want to generate profit. 

How to Start Online Mobile Accessory Business in Pakistan

• With just a few accessories and a free online marketplace, you can start your venture and test things out. It is one of the best online business ideas in Pakistan with small investment.
• Don’t limit the availability of your products to one platform. Put them on OLX and Facebook marketplaces simultaneously and also create a Facebook page under your brand’s name.
• Pick a catchy brand and logo along with a tagline to highlight your business among netizens.
• Once your business has enough customer base, you can start expanding your product offerings. Include gadgets along with accessories.

Set up a Co-living Space

With constantly increasing property rents, the concept of co-living spaces is also on the rise in Pakistan. These accommodations are ideal for students, expats and working professionals. Co-living spaces usually offer separate and shared accommodations. An ideal co-living space should include all basic facilities.

To set up a co-living space, find a property located in business centres and commercial districts. Such areas usually have educational institutions and corporate enclaves, which means more potential walk-in customers. For the convenience of the residents, you can also offer add-on amenities like a WiFi connection, activity area, gymnasium, etc.

Car Pooling

When your car is a 5- or  7-seater vehicle, why go to the office alone? Why not start generating profit from your driving skills? In this era of mobile devices, carpooling has become more convenient than ever before. 

Amid rising inflation, fuel saving has become crucial and carpooling is the best way to do it, not for you but also for others around you. You can also start a pick-and-drop service if you have spare time, helping people with their commuting needs. It would be a good source of a second income.

How to Start Car Pooling Business in Pakistan

• Start by spreading the word in your social circle that you want to carpool.
• It would be good to offer your services to people who share the same route.
• Decide on rates that you want to charge every individual sharing a ride with you.
• Sign up on famous ride-hailing apps if you want to earn more or start a pick-and-drop service.
• Car pooling/ride-sharing is a great low-investment business idea in Pakistan for people who have some spare time and good driving skills.

Become an Online Fitness Trainer/Instructor

If you know how to take care of your health and have a lean body, become a fitness trainer. Of course, it is that easy in today’s world. No, you won’t need to buy any physical space to offer your services, you can simply offer them online. Let’s find out how you can get to your goals and start earning money.

How to Become an Online Fitness Instructor

• Set up an account on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube about your fitness services.
• Upload live videos containing exercising, diet plan and tips to attract the audience.
• As an online fitness coach, divide your services into free and paid memberships.
• Restrict some of your core services and products to premium members.
• Ask people to sign up for paid memberships to gain access to all of your services.
• A successful online fitness trainer can earn up to $4,000 a month.

Vacation rentals

Ever wonder how to invest in a vacation property? You can not only use it for your own leisure but also make money from it, especially during the tourist season. Pick a suitable location for your investment property. You can even look for a summer home located in the northern areas of Pakistan.

Your vacation property near a famous tourism spot can generate a rental yield of up to 8%. It may also enjoy high real estate appreciation down the road. If your vacation rental business thrives, you can also consider diversifying your property portfolio.

How to Start Earning Money from Vacation Rentals in Pakistan

In today’s world, the biggest source for reaching out to people is the internet. With the availability of world-leading platforms like OLX.com.pk and Airbnb in Pakistan, you can easily list your vacation property to attract renters. 

How to List Your Vacation Property on Airbnb in Pakistan

Here’s how to list your vacation property on OLX.com.pk

• Access the OLX app on your mobile phone.
• Click on the sell button with a plus icon
• Select the category of your ad. You’ll need to click on the “property for rent” option.
• Select “Vacation Rentals – Guest Houses” from the list.
• You can upload up to 12 photos in your ad. The more photos you upload, the more prominent your vacation property will become to ad viewers.
• Provide all the required information about your property in the given fields.
• Set a justifiable rental rate for your vacation property and post your ad. 
• Your ad will go live in a matter of minutes and you’ll get an email notification.

How to List Your Vacation Property on Airbnb in Pakistan

The process of creating a listing on Airbnb involves a few steps elaborated below.

• Visit Airbnb.com and create an account. Sign-up with your details using a pop-up window. You can use your Gmail or Facebook account to sign-up.
• To create a listing, fill out the basic descriptions of your property, such as address and in-house and nearby amenities.
• There is a list of questions that you may have to answer while listing your vacation rentals on Airbnb. 
• While filling out the details, you also have to specify if your property is a home, hotel or shared accommodation.
• Your property location and its verification on the map are also a part of the process.
• If your offered rental space has facilities like a swimming pool, gym, and laundry area, among other things, don’t forget to mention them.
• Put up a few good photos of your vacation property. While taking photos, focus on bedrooms, bathrooms, outdoor space, and other prominent features.

Sell Handicrafts

If you have carving, beading or calligraphy skills, you can earn money from them by selling your handicrafts. Handicrafts of Pakistan are famous all around the world. To start your handicraft business, you don’t have to set up a shop or something like that. Instead, you can simply start from an e-commerce platform.

How to Sell Handicrafts Online in Pakistan

• Start by listing your products on online marketplaces like OLX and Facebook.
• Keeping in view the response of your customers, you can also set up an e-commerce website.
• You can also list your products on Amazon for international exposure.
• Upload high-quality photos to highlight your products in front of your potential customers.
• If you are selling a variety of products, divide them in categories.
• Come up with a unique brand name for your online setup.

Babysitting Services

If you can take good care of infants, toddlers and young children, you can start offering babysitting services. You need to spread the word about the services you offer among your contacts or social circle. 

While taking care of the little ones, you can also offer them tutoring services and charge for them separately. It would be a good side hustle, especially for students to take care of their basic expenses. Nannies and babysitters in Pakistan usually earn around PKR 35,000 a month on average.

Yoga classes

People who are good at self-care, self-regulation and meditation skills can easily start offering yoga classes. It is among the most popular low-investment business ideas in Pakistan for students and young professionals alike.

You don’t have to quit your day job to offer yoga classes. Instead, you can set your schedule in the after-hours or early in the morning. Don’t have a budget to set up a studio? Fret not. You can easily start your wellness venture online on YouTube, Facebook or any other free online broadcasting media.

How to Start Yoga Classes

• Yoga classes can be offered in a spare room, terrace or any other outdoor space in your home. 
• If you are short on space, you can simply offer your classes online.
• Tell your family, friends and other people in your community about your new wellness venture.
• Use different social media platforms and groups to spread the word.
• Make sure to offer demo classes to let people know about the benefits of signing up for your services.
• Having an online audience means you can easily expand your reach to an international audience.

Virtual Event Planner

If you have good organisation, networking and management skills, you can utilise them in event management. Yes, event management can now also be done virtually, thanks in part to advanced technology. 

After the Covid-19 pandemic, hosting events online has become pretty common around the world. Virtual event planners manage webinars, online conferences, virtual trade shows, podcasts, and other similar events. Successful virtual event management can let you earn up to $1,000 a week.

Become a Real Estate Agent

Becoming a real estate agent is also a lucrative business idea in Pakistan with small investment. You can either set up an agency or offer your services individually. However, the best way to multiply your income as a real estate agent in Pakistan is by becoming a Zameen Affiliate.

By marketing high-end projects, you’ll get a chance to diversify your portfolio. Associated with Pakistan’s No.1 property website, Zameen Affiliates have the opportunity to represent top-notch investment opportunities. Currently, 34,000+ affiliates around the world are using the Propforce website and application and are earning hefty commissions.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pakistan

• Depending on your scope and planning, you can either open an agency or become an independent real estate agent.
• Sign up for the Zameen Affiliate Programme to reach a wider audience as an agent.
• You can easily visit the Propforce website or download the app to get started.
• Zameen Affiliates’ earnings are based on commissions that may vary from project to project.
• On the basis of the frequency of work, real estate agents can more than PKR 100,000 a month.

Local Grocery Store

Setting up a local grocery store is also among the most popular cheap business ideas in Pakistan. You need to have basic accountancy and public dealing skills to manage a shop. You can either buy a shop or look for a rental space for your business.

If you are going for a larger setup, look for a location with high foot traffic. You can also offer your products on online marketplaces. It will allow you to have more than one stream of revenue for your business. Also, try to offer free delivery on large orders to facilitate your customers.

Retail Kiosk at a Shopping Mall

Want to start a retail setup on a small scale but looking for high exposure? Consider setting up a kiosk in a shopping mall or a commercial centre. Such places have a high footfall usually all year round. Investing in a kiosk or a cart is usually cheaper than buying or renting an entire retail outlet. You can start selling anything you want or have expertise in. For example, handicrafts, antique items, clothing items, mobile accessories, etc. 

How to Set Up a Mall Kiosk

• The very first step is about deciding what to sell.
• Locate a mall where you can set up your kiosk
• The next step is to pitch your business idea to the mall management.
• It would be a wise idea to start small and expand once you start getting a good response.
• Come up with a brand identity and market your business online.

Logistics Company 

Long gone are the days when you have to put in a heavy investment to start your own logistics company. With the presence of the latest technology, you can start your shipment business with limited resources.

There are many e-commerce ventures these days that rely on delivery services to keep their operations running. You can reach out to them and tell them about your business. Make sure to offer special discounts and promotions when starting your business.

How to Set Up a Logistics Business in Pakistan

• For setting up a logistics company, you need to get a dedicated contact number, probably with a PABX system.
• Create a website and a mobile application to facilitate your customers.
• It would be ideal for your website and mobile app to have a shipment tracking mechanism.
• Get in touch with an insurance company to offer insured services to customers.
• Hire a fleet of experienced drivers/riders.
• You can manage your operations remotely but having an office would be a plus.
• Having a physical presence would also increase the credibility of your logistics company.

Website and App Development

The scope of website and app development is increasing day by day. In fact, it has become one of the most thriving business ideas in Pakistan. Many tech enthusiasts are earning well by offering these services on-site or remotely. 

Learning such skills is not easy because the competition is high. However, if you have a passion to learn and improve, you could get a hang of things with time. For people having the right skills and experience, the field is very lucrative. A running website and app development business can earn thousands of dollars a month.

There you have it — our comprehensive guide on 39 low-cost business ideas in Pakistan.

For more informative lifestyle and property pieces, stay tuned to Zameen Blog. If you have any queries or feedback, reach out to us at blogs@zameen.com.