The pandemic Covid-19 is destroying the economy of millions of people in the country. Data from the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy as of June 2020 shows that 3.05 million workers were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic due to the Corona Virus.
Conditions like this should be seen as an opportunity to start a business.
Mercu Buana University psychologist Muhammad Iqbal, as reported by Liputan6.com, asked the public, especially workers who have been laid off, to see this condition as an opportunity to switch from workers to employers.
Moreover, business actors or businesses are one of the drivers of the country's economy.
You will certainly ask, isn't people's purchasing power falling amidst the Covid-19 pandemic? How is it possible to open a business in conditions like that?
The key is creative.
Paper.id's survey with SMESCO and OK OCE entitled The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on MSMEs shows that creativity can save business actors. In fact, 8.52 percent of respondents were actually able to expand their business in the midst of the crisis.
The survey was conducted online and sent to more than 3,000 MSMEs in 22 provinces in Indonesia, according to a press release to Qasir.
The survey results showed that 23.93 percent of respondents chose to look for new markets; while 13.44 percent of respondents chose to pivot their business or sell new products.
No need to think complicatedly about the product you want to sell. From several interviews conducted, respondents admitted to selling goods that were selling well on the market, such as masks or health products.
Then what if there is no capital to start? Don't worry, here are 5 businesses without capital in Qasir's notes that could be your inspiration:
1. Resellers and Dropshippers
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, especially when Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) were implemented, people prefer to shop online. As a result, shop owners began to switch to online buying and selling.
A business without capital in online buying and selling is a dropshipper or reseller.
What is the difference between a dropshipper and a reseller? Dropshippers do not stock merchandise from suppliers, unlike resellers.
When a dropshipper receives an order, he will immediately forward it to the supplier. Therefore, dropshippers do not need a place to stock goods.
As did Prita, a housewife. She told Qasir that her husband's work had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic since last May. The amount of income is no longer the same as before.
He was racking his brains because meeting his household needs couldn't wait. Moreover, he has a child with special needs.
He thought of selling masks. However, he has no capital.
The shoot of ulam's love has arrived, it turns out, his sister's friend is planning to produce masks. He also invited his younger brother's friends to work together.
Prita offered to help market the masks using a dropship system. When there is an order, he immediately forwards it to the manufacturer. Ordered goods will be sent directly by the manufacturer. He's purely just marketing.
He gets a share of IDR 5,000 per mask sold. "I get the commission from the difference between the selling price and the price given by my sister's friend," said Prita.
Indeed, he continued, the money he earned didn't seem like much. However, he is sure that if you are diligent and innovative, orders will increase.
This mother of two children markets her masks through social media, namely Instagram and Whatsapp.
This is different from Gunawan, a businessman who went bankrupt because of Covid-19. He changed gears and became a reseller of fried chicken produced by his nephew.
"Zero rupiah capital. I only store and market the goods. The buyer pays shipping costs. Shop, on Facebook and Instagram," said Gunawan.
Well, to start a business as a dropshipper or reseller, the first thing you have to do is look for a supplier. Contact them for permission to help sell their products and make an agreement.
Make sure the supplier you are going to work with is trustworthy and has excellent quality goods and service.
2. Open a Writing and Translation Service
Writing and translation services will not die even though the Covid-19 pandemic is destroying the country's economy. Developing technology forces companies to switch to digital marketing.
As a result, they need quality content so they can boost their brand.
How to get started, it's easy.
Simply add the skills "Writing", "Translator" and "Freelancer" on your LinkedIn page or other professional site. You can also register on the websites for freelancers that have mushroomed.
Make sure to check the market prices for writing and translation services. The higher the quality and quantity of writing requested, of course the more expensive the service price.
Also learn how to write an offer letter. Don't hesitate to haggle over the price when a company is prospecting.
The advantage, as a freelance writer, is that you can take on several projects at once from different companies as long as you can afford it. Of course, you can do it from anywhere, even if there is a deadline.
The same goes for translators, unless the client requires a translator who requires you to be present at the location.
This service business can become a promising new career if you pursue it, as Rendy Mulyadi, a former permanent journalist at Channel News Asia, did. He decided to give up his job and chose to become a freelance writer.
He explained that being a permanent journalist requires him to be on standby at all times. Finally, he lost time spent with his family.
"At first, I just helped a friend to make a journal. It turned out that he just liked writing, and he got paid quite well. If he got just two clients to make scientific writing, the pay was almost the same as my salary," said Rendy.
3. Graphic Design Service Provider
If you have a hobby of making graphic designs, don't waste that ability. Currently, graphic design services are popular, and can bring in money during the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, the scope is quite broad, starting from billboard design to social media content.
Mayang Kurniasari, a graphic designer from Jakarta, was laid off due to Covid-19 several months ago. Armed with his design skills, he started selling his services.
"I was confused about what to do when I was laid off. At first I was just offering graphic design services for fun. It turned out that many people wanted them. Graphic design services are measured based on various needs, goals and difficulties. The higher the level of difficulty, the greater the income coming in. Moreover, if the client has asked to change the logo, the payment will be higher," said Mayang.
Want to be like Mayang? To do this, use your social media and register on a page that offers freelancer services. Of course, prepare your best portfolio.
4. Content Creator
For this business, the revenue or profit obtained takes longer than other business ideas with zero rupiah capital.
However, to get started, you only need creativity and a smartphone. Try creating content that comes from hobbies plus cool gimmicks.
For example, you are busy exercising to lose weight. Make documentation about your weight loss journey. Upload the content with the title "365 Exercises to Lose Weight Without Sweating".
If you use YouTube, don't forget to make sure you monetize your account. As reported by Merdeka.com, you have to go to account information, then click Creator Studio in the menu on the left. Click Channel and Status and features, then select Enable Monetization and agree to the existing agreement.
Like what Yogi, a YouTuber from Yogyakarta, did. He said that he first started as a content creator. When he started, he just wanted to advertise the vape shop he worked at.
Unexpectedly, the content he created was quite popular with the audience. That made him very proud.
"At first I just wanted the vape to be popular at the place I work. But it turned out to make money for me. This content was about various types of vape, apparently a lot of people watched it. From there, the boss liked it, in the end I got an endorsement. Then, there were also advertisements coming in. Not much, but in my opinion, it was quite good," said Yogi.
5. Entrustment Services
Remember, to avoid using capital, limit the entrustment services you offer to a pre-order system.
Before, hunt for photos of the items you are going to offer. After that, share it on social media pages, then wait for orders and transfers from buyers to come in.
For example, you open an IKEA goods typing service. With images from the catalog, you can directly market them via social media. Make sure you receive a money transfer first before buying the item, including postage and shipping costs.
Hanna, a jastip provider, revealed that she only opens pre-orders or pays in advance for goods women need. He offers his services via WhatsApp groups and social media, such as Instagram.
"I usually go around the mall first to look at new products. Then, I take photos of some of the products, then distribute them. If someone orders, I usually ask them to transfer money first. After that, I spend what they have left. If there is something good, sometimes they give a deposit and a bigger bonus," said Hanna.
Hanna, who was laid off due to the closure of the shop where she worked, finally started to get serious about her jastip business. Now, he has several regular customers.
To make it easier for your customers to find out which products can be authenticated, create a digital catalog that can be clicked on immediately. It's not expensive! If you use Qasir, you just have to subscribe Business Website at a cost of only 15 thousand per month. You can also enter all your sales links into a mini website with this maxi function.
To find out more information about Business Websites, click here.
So, do you have an idea of where you want to start a business without capital in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic? Whatever your business choice, don't forget to keep regular bookkeeping, no matter how small your sales are that day.
Moreover, financial recording is now easier to do as technology develops, such as the features offered at Qasir. With the Automatic Sales Report feature, you will be sent a complete sales report to your email, so you don't need to access your Qasir account in the application or in Backoffice, just open your email. Simple!
This report can be selected in several periods.
- Daily: The report will be sent the next day
Weekly: Reports will be sent Monday every week
Monthly: Reports will be sent every 1st of the month
3 Months: Reports will be sent every 1st every 3 months.
Read here to find out more about the Automatic Sales Report.
Is it more stable to start a business? Remember the effort, always remember Qasir. To download Qasir click here.
Also read: