Pandemic Layoffs Emboldened Individuals to Start Their Own Business

The pandemic and the resulting layoffs had changed the mindset of people toward starting their very own businesses after they took to harnessing their other skills. Unemployment gave them the opportunity to try whatever business ideas they entertained while previously contemplating to quit their job in order to defy workplace politics and rules that can be limiting.

Some others were able to offer their services online, which they found liberating in terms of work pressure and costs of having to report for work as part of their daily grind. Whereas before the mere thought of starting a business was intimidating and overwhelming at first, the pandemic gave them the push they needed to take a big leap to start their small business.

The following are the five most successful businesses started out by enterprising individuals after losing regular employment during the first wave of the economic outbreak.

Providing Translation Services

People who are multilingual or have the ability to comprehend and speak multiple languages were able to use their skill in starting a translation services business. They were able to find clients from portals that connect companies looking for professionals who can perform specific tasks on a work-for-hire arrangement. Establishing the freelance work as a business gives the service an increased air of professionalism as any arrangement is covered by a formal agreement.

Website Flipping

When the pandemic forced many businesses to go online, flipping an already running website proved lucrative for those who have skills in website design, SEO and content marketing. Flipped websites are selling for a price in the internet once they have gained traction in terms of viewership. The most popular marketplace for these products is in ecommerce websites like Shopify.

Home-Based Catering

While cooking was one of the most popular activities engaged in during the lockdown period, many took chances by putting home-learned culinary skills into good use by offering home-cooked meals for delivery. Apparently, home-cooked meals have attracted customers who have grown tired of quick eats, whilst looking for healthier food choices.

Most parents have to juggle their time between working from home and helping their children cope with their home study lessons, leaving them with less time to plan and prepare healthier meals for the family. Home-based businesses with offers of home-cooked meals available for pick-up or delivery provided the solution.

Personal Shopping Services

People who often receive compliments for picking out the designs and styles that many consider as excellent choices discovered that they can offer personal shopping assistance as a service. While shopping online is now the norm, many find it difficult to find and choose the right style and color of garment that suit them, or the right decor for their home. Hiring a personal shopper has changed the online shopping experience for a lot of women, especially those who got hooked into online shopping during the quarantine period.

Online Tutoring Services

People who have a bachelor’s degree in teaching but who lost their teaching job due to school closures were able to find lucrative jobs as online tutors for homeschooling students. If set up as a business, having a well-rounded expertise in math, science, history, grammar and even art subjects can make a laid-off teacher standout as an excellent choice for parents. While the demand for online tutoring services has increased, some took to hiring undergraduate college students to beef up the tutoring business workforce.

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