The Best New Small Business Ideas for 2023

The end of the year is often the time for reflection, to evaluate your goals and make resolutions for the new year. If you’re considering setting up a new business in 2023, now is a great time to start planning ahead and making a start on those crucial decisions.

First things first – you need to decide what type of small business you’d like to run! To help you get started, we’ve collated some of the top business ideas that are currently emerging for 2023.

 

Pet care

The trend for pet care businesses is one that crops up year after year. We’re a nation of animal lovers, with 52% of UK adults owning a pet, so it’s easy to see why this trend remains top of the list. Lockdown solidified our love of pets, but with many people now either working back in the office or hybrid working, the demand for dog walkers continues to soar. Dog groomers are experiencing the same demand and are usually booked up months in advance – if you’ve tried to get an appointment with your local dog groomer recently, you’ll no doubt appreciate just how difficult those appointments are to grab! But if dog grooming or walking isn’t for you, there are endless other opportunities, such as house/pet sitting and holiday cover, enclosed field and training spaces, behaviourist training and more.

 

Blogging

Creating your own blog is a great way of easing yourself into a new business and is an enjoyable way to write about things you love! You can start out with it as a side project alongside your current role, and then gradually make the switch as and when your blog becomes more established. Start by finding a reputable blog writing course where you can learn the basics of blogging, branding and SEO.

 

Digital marketing

The pandemic pushed more and more businesses into the digital realm – and that’s the way business continues to go. But many business owners don’t enjoy, have the time or the knowledge to market themselves on digital platforms. If you’re social media savvy and you have a way with words, setting up a digital marketing business could be the perfect business idea for you.

 

Cleaning

Cleaning businesses are on the rise in terms of popularity, and new niches are beginning to form. For example some companies now offer car valeting services at the customer’s home or place of work, providing total flexibility and convenience. Whether it’s home, carpet, commercial or car cleaning – can you offer something that your competitors can’t?

 

Selling handmade items

Have you ever considered turning your hobby into a business? Wouldn’t that be amazing? If you have a special talent, share it with the world! Whether you’re a keen baker, designer, crafter or artist, selling handmade items is proving to be a very popular business idea. You could begin by making items in your spare time and selling on sites such as Etsy to get some feelers out there.

 

Tips for starting a new business

Ok, so you’ve got your business idea at the ready. But what else do you need to consider before setting up a new business? Take a look at our considerations:

 

1. Research, research and more research!

It’s important that you fully understand your business idea, industry, target market etc. Is there anything that could help you better yourself, in terms of training or development? And are there any qualifications or certifications you need to achieve before opening your business?

 

2. Create a thorough business plan

This is an essential step when setting up a new business. You can find lots of information and advice about business plans via the Gov website, or you may wish to invest in an expert to help you.

 

3. Decide what type of business you’d like to set up

Would you prefer to be a sole trader, a limited company or a partnership? Each has its advantages and disadvantages and comes with its own rules and regulations, so it’s important to evaluate which one will be best suited to your business needs. Find out more about each business type via the Gov website.

 

4. Speak to an accountant!

People don’t often think about contacting an accountant until after their business is already set up and bringing in money, but speaking to an accountant before you set your business up has huge advantages. An accountant can help advise you on company formations, HMRC registrations, financial planning and so much more, all of which is fully bespoke and catered to your business. An accountant really is a vital resource in giving your business the best possible chance of success. Find out more about our start-up services or contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your business plan!