10 business ideas you can start with under 1,000 euro

Contents · 13 sections

1. What does it cost to start legally in…
2. 1. UGC and short-form video creator
3. 2. AI automation for small businesses
4. 3. Social media management for local businesses
5. 4. Online lessons, tutoring and courses
6. 5. Print-on-demand and Etsy
7. 6. Second-hand reselling
8. 7. Pet sitting and dog walking
9. 8. Mobile car cleaning and detailing
10. 9. Drone photography
11. 10. Copywriting, translation and SEO content
12. Which 2015 ideas I no longer recommend
13. A few tips before you start

I wrote the first version of this article in 2015 under the title "10 businesses you can start with less than 2,000 leva". A lot has changed since then: new professions have appeared, artificial intelligence is available to everyone, and on 1 January 2026 Bulgaria adopts the euro at a fixed rate of 1.95583 leva per euro. So this time all amounts are in euro.

One thing has not changed. I still believe skills, persistence and the willingness to start matter more than money. If you are wondering whether you can launch a business with less than 1,000 euro, here are 10 ideas that work in Bulgaria in 2025.

What does it cost to start legally in 2025?

• Limited company (EOOD): minimum capital is 2 leva (1 euro from 2026). The Commercial Register fee is 55 leva online with an electronic signature or 110 leva on paper. Done yourself, registration costs around 55-65 euro; through a lawyer, usually 300-800 euro.
• Self-employed status: suitable for freelance services. From 1 April 2025 the minimum insurable income is 1,077 leva and contributions are 27.8% (31.3% with sickness and maternity cover), roughly 300 leva a month.
• VAT: from 1 April 2025 the mandatory VAT registration threshold dropped from 166,000 to 100,000 leva of turnover over 12 months.
• Food: any food production or trade requires registration with the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, and selling food online needs a separate registration.

The budgets below are my own rough estimates for a minimal start.

1. UGC and short-form video creator

Brands need a constant stream of video for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. More and more companies hire UGC creators who film authentic product videos without being famous influencers.

Starting budget: 150-400 euro for lighting, a microphone and an editing app, if you already have a good smartphone.

2. AI automation for small businesses

Small companies lose hours on manual work: entering orders, answering the same questions, preparing reports. With tools such as Make, Zapier and AI chatbots you can save them a lot of time. It is one of the most in-demand services right now.

Starting budget: 100-300 euro for subscriptions and training.

3. Social media management for local businesses

Restaurants, salons, dental clinics and small shops know they need to be online but rarely have the time. If you can write, shoot and run ads, you can manage their profiles for a monthly fee.

Starting budget: 100-300 euro for scheduling and design tools.

4. Online lessons, tutoring and courses

If you are good at maths, languages, coding or music, online lessons are one of the easiest ways to start. Over time you can turn your knowledge into a recorded course that sells again and again.

Starting budget: 50-200 euro.

5. Print-on-demand and Etsy

With print-on-demand you create designs for T-shirts, mugs or posters, and a partner print shop makes and ships the product only after an order. No warehouse, no stock risk. Etsy also suits handmade products; its fees are 0.20 dollars per listing and 6.5% of the sale plus a payment fee.

Starting budget: 100-400 euro.

6. Second-hand reselling

Buying quality clothes, electronics or furniture at a good price and reselling them on OLX and other platforms is an old but working model, helped by the trend towards sustainable consumption.

Starting budget: 300-1,000 euro for the first stock.

7. Pet sitting and dog walking

In the original article I suggested a pet hotel. Today the easier version is pet sitting in the owner's home and daily dog walks. Demand is high, especially in big cities and during holidays.

Starting budget: 100-300 euro.

8. Mobile car cleaning and detailing

Instead of opening a car wash, you go to the client's office or home. Professional products and a small vacuum cleaner are enough to start.

Starting budget: 400-1,000 euro.

9. Drone photography

Real estate, weddings, construction sites and tourist spots need aerial footage. Note that every drone with a camera must be registered with Bulgaria's civil aviation authority (registration is free), and drones over 250 grams also require an online pilot certificate.

Starting budget: 500-1,000 euro.

10. Copywriting, translation and SEO content

This idea was in the original article and is still valid, with one caveat. AI now handles routine texts, so clients look for people who understand their business, know SEO and can edit and improve AI-generated content.

Starting budget: 50-200 euro.

Which 2015 ideas I no longer recommend

• Trading financial markets with small capital. That is investing or speculation, not a business.
• A mobile app for 2,000 leva. A quality app costs many times more today. Test your idea with a simple website or no-code tools first.
• Dropshipping via eBay. Highly competitive and risky because of long delivery times and quality issues.

A few tips before you start

1. Test demand before you spend. Your first client is the best proof of the idea.
2. Start as self-employed or freelancer and register a company when turnover justifies it.
3. Keep records from day one.
4. Invest in skills, not an office. At first, your office is your laptop.

Good luck!