Looking for small business ideas that will always be in demand? You are in the right place.

In this article, we are going to explore some of the most reliable and steady small businesses that are resistant to recessions, cannot be outsourced, are not trendy, and won’t be made obsolete through technology. We will also include great low-cost options for getting started in some of these businesses.

So, what types of businesses will always be in demand?

They are businesses that cater to our essential needs (and in some cases really important wants). By focusing on businesses that meet critical needs and desires, we can rest assured that they will never become obsolete. Here is a preview of the small business ideas we will cover:

• Local Restaurants and Eateries
• Rental Property
• Home Repair and Maintenance
• Car Wash
• Clothing
• Laundromat
• Senior Care Services
• Waste Management
• Hair Care and Beauty
• Healthcare
• Tutoring
• Internet-Related Businesses

Local Restaurants and Eateries

Our need for food is never going away, so a local restaurant or eatery (if in a good location and well run) will always be in demand. Not only will it satisfy our basic need to eat, it can also provide a great social setting. As a bonus, it provides a much-needed escape from the drudgery of cooking every day.

Because restaurants satisfy a local demand, they can’t be outsourced. And technology is not going to somehow magically take away the physical and social need to eat and interact with our friends and family at our favorite neighborhood restaurant.

The downside is that running a successful restaurant can be risky and take a lot of work.

If you want a great way to make passive income (or least semi-passive income) in the restaurant business, you may want to check out franchises. A strong fast-food franchise can make running a restaurant much easier because you instantly have brand recognition and a robust operation manual that your managers can follow.

If you want a really low-cost option for a food-related business, you may want to consider vending machines. You can buy one for as little as a few thousand dollars and start making residual income from the sale of those little candy bars, chips and drinks. It’s a simple business that can make you a nice return without a lot of work.

Rental Property

Everyone needs a place to live and being a landlord can fill that basic need for a lot of people. Your business won’t get outsourced and technology can’t replace our basic human need to have a roof over our heads.

Why are rentals so great?

Here are some of the key benefits of rental property investing:

• Cash flow each month (that’s money in your pocket)
• Appreciation (which is when your property values go up)
• Tenants pay off your mortgage (I love this part of it)
• Tax benefits that can shelter your rental income
• Strong ROIs (well over 10% if done right)
• Inflation Hedge (property values and rents tend to increase as inflation goes up, which creates a natural hedge)

 Home Repair and Maintenance

Staying on the topic of shelter, another great small business that will always be in demand is a home repair or maintenance company. This includes HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, roofing, and a whole host of other similar businesses that revolve around home maintenance.

For some of these businesses, you will need specialized skills and licenses, but there are some that you can start without a lot of formal training or licensing. Take gutter cleaning, for example. It’s not particularly glamorous, but if you have a truck that can carry a big ladder, you can get started for well under a $1,000.

Car Wash

As long as we have cars, there will always be a need to get them washed. Of course, some people are willing to wash their cars themselves, but many people don’t want to deal with the hassle. A car washing business can be a great way to generate reliable income and the best part is that it can be automated in many ways.

Clothing

Obviously, we all need clothing and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. Opening up a clothing business can be profitable, but it can be super competitive. You are going to be facing severe competition from low-cost manufacturers. You will also have to deal with the fact that clothing trends come and go.

That doesn’t mean you can’t succeed if you have the right idea and strategy. Take Lululemon – it started off as filling the very niche demand for yoga pants, but has grown into an incredible business within a very short period of time.

Laundromats

Another great business that will always be needed is a laundromat business. We believe that this is a far safer option than a clothing business because a local laundromat has steady and reliable built-in demand if you open one up in the right neighborhood. People who don’t have access to their own washer and dryer will always need this service (which again can’t be outsourced).

This business is recession proof – people will need to wash their clothes even in the face of an economic downturn.

Waste Management

These are garbage truck businesses, dump truck services, roll-off dumpster rental services, and many other related businesses that deal with junk removal.

Hair Care and Beauty

Hair care and beauty is also an industry that will never go away. As a guy, unless you are ok with a cheap haircut, you are going to the barber on the regular. The same holds if you are a woman. For this reason, hairstylists make reliable and recurring income because their customers come back like clockwork.

This type of evergreen demand extends to beauty products and services. Some niche areas that have been gaining popularity over the years include eyelash extensions, press on nails, and microblading, which are all small businesses that can be started with a relatively low initial investment. Customers need to get periodic touch-ups or replacements, which generate recurring income for the business owner.

Healthcare

It is an unfortunate reality, but people get sick or injured all the time. So healthcare is always going to be in demand. It is a bit of a specialty business because in many cases, you will need a specialized degree or license. We are talking about businesses like doctor’s offices, dentist’s offices, chiropractor’s offices, physical therapy centers, etc.

If you have the requisite education, skills, and experience (or are thinking about entering into the field) you can make a handsome living providing healthcare to people in your area.

Tutoring

The world is becoming more competitive and globalized. So, tutoring (whether that is for children or adults) is an industry that will not be going away anytime soon. The great good news is that tutoring is no longer restricted to your local area. Tutoring services (especially after the pandemic) have blossomed online and it is now a very common way for students to interact with their instructors.

Internet-Related Businesses

I think we can safely say that the internet is not going away anytime soon. As you can imagine, there are a million ways to make money online, including e-commerce (which is just selling products and services online), blogging, youtube, social media, online directories, software as a service, online marketing services, etc.

If you have a knack for writing, this could be the perfect online business for you.