7 Low-Cost Businesses Under P5,000.00

You don’t need a huge capital to start a business. What you need is a good enough idea, a plan to follow, good execution, and patience. Lots of patience.

So, kung naghahanap ka ng business pero hindi ganon kalaki yung kapital na meron ka, para sayo ‘tong article na ‘to.

Itong pitong sasabihin ko, madali siyang simulan tsaka less risky kasi hindi mo kailangang sumugal ng malaki kaagad.

Let’s start.

Imagine earning an extra income just by sharing products that you already use and love. Kung mahilig ka namang mamili at madalas kang mag-recommend ng mga “must buys”, why not make money from it?

Reselling lets you start a business without the hassle of creating your own product, putting up inventory, and hiring people. Basically, halos libre siyang simulan.

All you need to do is to find the right supplier.

Kung may alam kang small business na quality yung products, pwede kang magtanong kung meron silang reseller package. O di naman kaya, mag-offer ka na maging reseller nila.

Ang sistema, bibili ka sa kanila ng bulk (under P5,000.00) tapos ibebenta mo yung mga products nila. At dahil nga bulk, discounted nilang ibebenta sayo yun.

Believe it or not, may mga small business owners na “bulk” na ‘yung tawag sa P5,000.00 na transaction. Magaganda ‘yung products nila pero hindi sila magaling mag-market.

At dito ka papasok. Maganda ‘tong gawin kung malaki yung network mo tapos may alam kang product na sobrang proud ka kapag nirecommend mo sa friends mo.

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how you can be a reseller:

Ano ‘yung mga recent buys mo na talagang na-enjoy mo? Make a list of your recent “budols” then evaluate why you love it.

Bakit tayo magsisimula sa mga recent mong binili? Because you already have the item. Ibig sabihin, kaya mo nang gumawa ng review tungkol doon sa item na ‘yun without spending more money.

Aside from that, mataas ‘yung chance na nagamit mo na ‘yung item. At ‘yung experience na ‘yun, valuable information ‘yun sa mga taong naghahanap ng same item.

Once you have a “budol list”, go back to your history and check where you bought that item. Kapag nahanap mo na kung saan, send them a message. Here’s a template you can use:

“Hi *Store name*!

Bumili ako sa inyo recently ng *insert item name and description* at sobrang nagustuhan ko siya. I was wondering if meron kayong reseller package for that item?

I’m interested in helping you market it.

Thanks,

*Your name*

This kind of message WILL work—guaranteed. Hindi man 100% of the time, it’s going to land you the right kind of partner. Bakit? Kasi you’re making it about helping them sell their product.

Syempre, gagawin lang natin ‘to kung nagme-make sense financially. That means, you actually profit from what you’re going to do.

At para ma-compute mo ‘yun, ito lang ‘yung simpleng formula.

Your earnings = (Selling price - reseller cost) x # of units

For example, si Ana, nag-contact siya ng isang supplier for coffee beans reselling. Nakabili siya ng 20 pieces of 250 grams na products for P5,000.00.

‘Yung reseller’s price ay P250.00 at ang SRP no’ng mga products na ‘yun ay P350.00 each.

Ito ‘yung total profit niya:

(P350.00 - P250.00) x 20 pieces = P2,000.00

Imagine, from P5,000.00 na investment, may kita na siyang P2,000.00. That’s a 40% return on capital—something na hindi mo makukuha sa stock market o Pag-ibig MP2.

Once alam mo na kung anong ibebenta mo, simulan mo nang mag-post sa social media at mga local community groups. Marami namang available na Facebook Groups kung saan ka pwedeng mag-market ng mga binebenta mo.

Pro Tip: ‘Wag kang sumali sa mga spam groups kung saan lahat ng nando’n, nagpo-post ng paninda. Instead, sumali ka sa mga community groups na malapit sa inyo (City or Barangay groups).

Makaka-save ka na sa delivery cost, engaged pa ‘yung groups na ‘yun.

Food is always in demand. So, selling home-cooked meals allows you to turn your kitchen into a mini-business. Ang maganda pa do’n, minimal lang ‘yung startup costs mo kasi meron ka nang mga equipment na gagamitin sa pagluluto.

Maganda ‘to sayo kung may skills ka sa pagluluto. Lalong lalo na kung consistently kang nakakatanggap ng mga compliments tungkol sa luto mo.

Halimbawa, masarap kang gumawa ng kakanin, pwede mong ibenta yun bilang meryenda sa mga tao. For example, mag-offer ka sa office niyo o sa mga offices malapit sa bahay nyo.

I have this friend na nakatira sa condo sa isang prime location dito sa Metro Manila. ‘Yung mga kapitbahay niya, laging busy at hindi nakakapag-prepare ng pagkain. So ang tendency nila, lumabas o mag-order ng pagkain.

Do’n niya nakita ‘yung opportunity. She started cooking meals and offered it to her neighbors. Ang ending, dalawa silang masaya—masaya ‘yung neighbor niya kasi mas mura ‘yung pagkain at masarap pa. Masaya rin siya kasi kumita siya.

Here are some ideas on how to make this happen.

O kung wala kang maisip, ask yourself these 2 questions:

• What dish do people always request you to bring to gatherings?
• Are there food items people around you struggle to find locally?

Hindi mo kailangang magluto agad ng maraming putahe. Just think of a few that you can cook really well and focus on that first.

Magkano ‘yung nagagastos mo kapag magluluto ka ng isang putahe para sa 10 tao? Anu-anong mga ingredients ang kailangan mong bilhin?

Once you count the cost, set a price. Dapat enough ‘yung price na ise-set mo para may profit ka. Hindi lang sa pagkain pero para sa effort mo sa pagluluto.

Ito kasi ‘yung madalas na nakakaligtaan ng mga small business owners. Dapat kino-consider mo rin ‘yung time at effort na inii-spend mo sa paggawa nung negosyo.

Start offering your product to your friends or neighbors. Tapos kumuha ka ng testimonials mula sa kanila. Not everyone will be willing to give but if you don’t ask, you won’t get.

Mahalaga ‘tong testimonials kasi factor ‘to sa pagbili natin ng isang bagay. Lalo na kung hindi pa natin nasusubukan ‘yung bagay na ‘yun. Isipin mo: kapag bumibili ka sa mga online shopping platforms, anong unang tinitignan mo? Diba reviews?

Don’t make this complicated. Just start small and grow your business little by little.

People are willing to pay money for personalized, one-of-a-kind items. And it doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, you can start with just a few, simple materials.

Maganda ‘to lalo na kung creative kang tao at mahilig ka sa mga DIY projects. ‘Yung mga handmade crafts kasi, bukod sa nakaka-relax silang gawin, it’s a good way for you to express your creativity. At the same time, earn money on the side.

This reminds me of an episode sa The Big Bang Theory na series. Here’s a clip to get you up to speed.

Anyway, the girl protagonist of the series “recruited” her friends to help her make money by doing handmade crafts. Now, kahit na fictional series ‘to, ‘yung potential nitong handmade crafts bilang negosyo ay totoo. And here’s how to turn this simple skill into a business under P5,000.00

Maraming iba’t-ibang klase ng handmade crafts ‘yung pwede mong gawin—bracelets, keychains, jewelry, etc.

I-evaluate mo kung anong bagay sayo by reflecting on these questions:

• Are there trending crafts people love right now (e.g., clay rings, crochet bags)?
• Can you make personalized gifts for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries?

Maraming resources online yung nagtuturo paano gumawa ng mga handmade crafts. Pwede kang manood sa YouTube University kung paano gumawa ng mga handmade jewelries o keychains.

Ang maganda pa nyan, hindi mo kailangang mag-invest agad ng malaking halaga. Bumili ka muna ng kahit kaunti, gumawa ka ng ilang piraso, tapos ibenta mo. This allows you to test kung okay ba ‘yung gawa mo at may gusto bang bumili.

Pwede pa nga na ang gawin mo eh customized yung mga crafts na ‘yun. For example, customized na couple bracelets tapos ibenta mo sa mga couple na kakilala mo.

Pro tip: you can also try posting your designs online even if you haven’t made that accessory yet. Pre-order, kumbaga. Tignan mo lang kung meron sa mga kakilala mo ang magkakagusto. Kapag may nag-order, do’n mo gawin para at least, may buyer ka na agad.

If you love baking or making treats, this is an awesome opportunity for you. You can turn your passion for making treats into a thriving business

Pwede kang gumawa at magbenta ng mga homemade cookies o kaya naman mga flavored pastillas. Pwede nga rin na magbenta ka ng homemade peanut butter eh. Marami namang recipes sa internet at video tutorials na pwede mong panoorin para matutunan mo pano ‘to gawin.

Snacks are easy to make and people are always looking for delicious snacks that they can spend money on. In short, hindi ka mawawalan ng customer basta masarap ‘yung gawa mo, nasa tamang presyo, at alam nila na nag-eexist ka. Mahalaga ‘yung last part. Kung walang nakakaalam na existing ‘yung snack business mo, sinong bibili sayo?

Ang gawin mo, gumawa ka muna ng small batch para i-test sa family and friends mo. Kapag nagustuhan nila, kumuha ka ng testimonials at i-post mo sa social media. Dyan mag-uumpisa yung mga customers na magiging interested sa binebenta mo.

Sobrang laki ng potensyal nitong ganitong klaseng business. In fact, I know someone na ganito ‘yung binebenta niya. Dati siyang architect pero ngayon, full time negosyante na all because of selling homemade pastillas. And she grew her business into multiple 8-figures because of this product.

Hindi porke maliit sa simula, hindi na lalaki.

To give you an idea kung ano ‘yung magandang gawin na snacks, ask yourself these questions:

Question #1: What snacks do people often crave but can’t easily find?

Halimbawa sa office niyo o mga kapitbahay mo. Tignan mo anong snacks ‘yung madalas nilang bilhin o ‘yung lagi nilang hinahanap-hanap. ‘Yun ang unang aralin mo kung paano gawin. Meron ang existing demand, ang kulang na lang ‘yung supply na malapit at affordable.

Question #2: Can you create a healthier or more unique version of popular treats?

May pwede ka bang ma-introduce na “tweak” sa mga sikat na snacks? Halimbawa, ‘yung turon. Meron na ngayon na nagtitinda ng turon na may caramel drizzles. It’s a way for you to stand out and be different from other businesses. Lalo na kung ‘yung ilalagay mo ay hindi madaling makopya ng iba.

Kung meron kang green thumb at marunong kang magpabuhay ng mga halaman, pwede ‘to para sayo. It takes love and care for plants to grow. So why not turn that same love and care into something that can generate income for your lifestyle?

Maliit lang naman ‘yung investment na kailangan mo para masimulan ‘to. For example, pwede kang bumili ng:

• Baby plants
• Succulents
• Seedlings
• Cuttings
• At marami pang iba

Nurture them, make them grow, and sell them for a profit. Isa pa, sobrang taas ng demand nito ngayon. Lalo sa mga taong Work From Home ang setup ng trabaho. Naghahanap kasi sila ng mga pagkakaabalahan na mag-aalis ng stress nila sa work (o sa buhay).

And gardening is one of the best ways to do that.

Kapag nakapamili ka na ng kung anong halaman ‘yung bibilhin at papalakihin mo, share the journey online. I-document mo ‘yung process kung paano mo pinapalaki ‘yung halaman na ‘yun at mag-share ka na rin ng mga tips para mabuhay sila.

This would require you to study about specific plants. But since you’re interested in them, it will pay to give your best. Sabi nga sa Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” Do whatever you’re doing with all your might.

Here’s the thing: kapag nag-post ka online, maku-curious ‘yung mga tao anong ginagawa mo. At do’n magsisimula na maging interested sila sa mga binebenta mo. Document your process, show it to the world (via social media apps), and share your interests.

Mahahanap ka rin ng mga taong naghahanap sa mga binebenta mo.

Kung wala kang masyadong pampuhunan, magandang gawin yung mga service-based business. Isa na dito ay yung podcast editing services.

Podcasts are one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Kung noon, madalas tayong makinig ng radyo at inaantay natin ‘yung mga paborito nating DJ, ngayon on-demand na sila. At podcasts ang tawag sa mga ‘yun.

May iba’t-ibang klase ng podcasts:

• Business
• Personal Development
• True Crime
• Storytelling
• Motivation
• Health
• Personal Finance
• And many more

Pwede kang humanap ng podcasts tungkol sa mga interests mo at sila ‘yung una mong offer-an ng podcast editing services mo. Sa ngayon, ang daming audio and video podcasts na nagkalat sa internet. At marami sa kanila yung naghahanap ng podcast editor. Kasi maniwala ka sa hindi, maraming creators ang ayaw sa editing dahil hindi sila marunong o sobrang time consuming.

At dito ka papasok. Yung P5,000 (or less) mo, pwede mong ipangbili ng software para masimulan mong mag-edit ng podcast para sa mga potential clients mo. Here’s a 3-step guide that you can follow to start this business:

Maraming resources sa YouTube at mga free courses sa Udemy na pwede mong panoorin para matuto ka nito. May mga step-by-step guides sa YouTube pero hindi mo malalaman ‘yung mga bagay na kailangan mong matutunan hanggang hindi ka nagsisimula.

To give you some ideas, ito ‘yung ilan sa mga dapat mong i-research:

• Best software to use to edit podcasts
• Skills to learn for podcast editing
• How to record a podcast
• How to edit a podcast from scratch (for beginners)
• How to edit a podcast using your phone

Maraming podcast groups ‘yung nag-eexist sa social media. Pwede mo ‘tong i-leverage para makakuha ka ng mga iilang editing projects kahit na free o sa mababang halaga lang muna. Use this to build your skills and experience in editing podcasts.

Itong mga na-edit mong episodes, ito rin ‘yung magiging portfolio mo na mapapakita mo sa mga magiging future clients mo. This will show that you know what you’re doing.

Once you have enough experience and you’re confident with your skillset, start offering your services. Show your work—send the sample episodes you’ve made at ipakita mo na published ‘yung mga episodes na ‘yun.

Invest in yourself, learn this skill, and gradually turn this into your profitable side hustle.

If you have an eye for hidden gems, this business can make you a lot of money. ‘Yung thrift flipping o ‘yung pagbili ng mga 2nd hand na items tapos ibebenta mo sila for a profit ay malaki ‘yung potential. Tignan mo na lang ‘yung mga tindahan sa Greenhills, diba?

Now, hindi mo kailangang maging kasing laki agad no’ng mga tindahan na ‘yun. Pwede kang magsimula sa mga maliliit na bagay lang—under P5,000.00. Ilan sa mga ‘yun ay:

• Keyboard and Mouse
• Android Phones
• Digital Camera
• Sapatos
• Branded Clothes
• Books
• Figurines
• Collectibles
• Jewelries
• At marami pang iba

Once you learn this trade, you would discover a great way to turn small capital into big returns. Lalo na kung nae-enjoy mong mag-hunting nga mga bargains at alam mo kung ano ‘yung mga valuable items na pwedeng maibenta.

Sabi nga ng isang ancient proverb, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Maraming bumibili ng mga second-hand items at naghahanap ng magandang “deal” online. That’s the market you want to serve.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Scout local thrift stores or online marketplaces.
• Look for unique, branded, or vintage items.
• Clean, repair, or bundle the items to add value.
• Take great photos and resell online for a higher price.

The last one is underrated. Madalas, nagde-decide ang mga tao na bilhin ang isang bagay dahil sa kung anong itsura nito sa picture. So, go to a well-lit room and take some amazing photos.

Pro tip: Focus on one single item first. For example, kung marami kang alam tungkol sa sapatos, do’n ka muna mag-focus. Kung marami kang alam sa branded na damit, ‘yun muna ang hanapin mo.

A small capital limits your choices. But it allows you to focus on one small thing you can be good at and dominate.

In today’s world, you don’t need a huge capital to start a business. What you need is a good enough idea, a plan to follow, good execution, and the patience to…

Just Conquer Today,

Jeric Timbang