E-commerce has continued its growth trajectory in 2018. Ten years ago, e-commerce only accounted for 3.5% of retail sales. This year the figure is expected to rise to
11.9%.
A contributing factor to the growth of e-commerce is the popularity of mobile devices. Since 2014, more than 65% of online traffic has originated from smartphones and tablets. Market analysts estimate that by 2020, mobile commerce will total
$319 Billion in global sales!
E-commerce is slowly picking up in the Philippines. Apparently, Filipinos still enjoy going to the mall. But with traffic getting worse, and gas prices rising, the time will come when shopping via e-commerce websites would be more practical and convenient.
Companies are constantly looking for ways to streamline costs. Hiring virtual assistants has become a popular strategy because it saves employers from paying salaries, benefits, and incurring additional expenses.
Outsourcing work to virtual assistants also improves productivity. Many entrepreneurs and small business owners hire virtual assistants to handle their administrative tasks. These tasks include email filtering, phone handling, appointment setting, calendar management, and payroll management.
As a Virtual Assistant, you work from home. All you need are a good PC, headset, and stable Internet. You should be proficient in MS Office and can run simple Internet searches. Organization and excellent command of the English language are also important skills for virtual assistants.
Virtual assistants can earn anywhere from $3 to $7 per hour. Many Filipino VA’s works an average of 20 hours every week. Your monthly income could range from 12,500 to 30,000 Pesos every month.
The Pisonet is the more affordable version on the Internet shop. As the term implies, all you need is one peso to get some Internet time. Most Pisonet operators charge one peso for every five minutes. So for one hour of Internet time, you only pay 12 Pesos. Not bad!
Because the cost is so low, you should focus on generating volume. Operators usually convert an area of the home into the Pisonet business. A Pisonet would be ideal if the ground floor area of your home has street access and if your neighborhood has schools and offices nearby.
In order to lower your capitalization, enter into lease-to-own programs offered by computer retailers. Many are willing to provide this arrangement as long as you have them on board for all technical and maintenance work. You can change the computers after 2 years for upgraded models.
More and more coin laundry services are coming up and there are no signs of slowing down. Consumers love the coin laundry because it is cheap and convenient. The initial investment will be high. You will need to acquire multiple washing machines and dryers.
You can apply for a coin laundry franchise or start one on your own. Try negotiating a lease-to-own arrangement with suppliers of industrial washing machines and dryers. They know the growth potential of this market and are willing to enter into leasing agreements.
If your garage is wide and spacious enough, why not convert it into a car wash service? Many Filipinos own cars but they don’t have the time to wash it themselves. This is one reason you see several homes in your neighborhood open up car wash services.
A car wash service can be labor-intensive. You will need to hire a few, hard-working, trustworthy, and physically-fit people to do the washing. Water pressure will be an important consideration. Before you start a car wash service, make sure the water pressure in your area is good.
Car wash services normally charge 60 pesos per car. So if you can clean three cars per hour on average and operate 30 days a month, you can potentially earn 43,200 Pesos every month.
As the Philippines’ population continues to grow, more people will be looking for homes. Then you have investors and speculators who acquire property in the hope of profiting sometime in the future.
You may not sell property every day of the year. But then again, you don’t have to. All you need is one big sale to earn a windfall!
Real estate agents are paid a commission equivalent to 2% to 3% of the final selling price of the property. If you can sell a house worth 8 Million pesos, you will be paid a commission equivalent to 160,000 to 240,000 Pesos. That is what most Filipino office workers earn in one year!
To become a real estate agent, you have to take the required courses from an accredited training center. Once you’ve completed the course, you should take the real estate broker’s exam that is issued by the Professional Regulation Commission or PRC.
Businesses are looking for Digital Marketers who can manage their online marketing strategy. Compared to traditional marketing, online marketing is more affordable, sustainable, and can reach a wider audience more effectively.
Digital marketers are paid anywhere between $500 to $1,500 or 25,000 to 78,000 Pesos per month. Your fees would depend on the type of services rendered. To become a Digital Marketer, you may have to take the appropriate courses and become certified.
You should also have at least a basic knowledge of web design, social media marketing, content marketing, SEO, SEM, and graphic design.
If fitness is your advocacy and you have enough space for the equipment, you should consider starting a gym business. Initial capital might be high but you can make payment arrangements with suppliers of gym equipment. In order to reduce costs, go for fabricated equipment instead of branded ones.
The best way to earn from a gym business is to hire personal trainers. Let the personal trainers bring in the clients. Cut a deal with them. For example, charge them only a small percentage of their fees. 20% is acceptable. In addition, allow them to use the gym for free.
The bake shop business has stood the test of time. You will be hard-pressed to find a neighborhood without a few baking shops. And all of them are busy!
You don’t have to bake fancy cakes and pastries. Most Filipinos stick with the old-time favorites: the pan de sal, monay, Spanish bread, donut, and pan de luma. Only bake what you need for the day to reduce wastage.
Add soft drinks, bottled water, Yakult, and an instant coffee and hot chocolate vending machine to generate extra sales.
T-shirt printing businesses are not just profitable during election season. Filipinos love wearing simple T-shirts. Customized designs will give them something unique and cannot found anywhere else. You can also offer your services to companies that need giveaways for Christmas or during corporate events.
You should invest in a good laser printer which is expensive. Of course, you can negotiate payment terms or propose a lease-to-own arrangement. If you are creative, come up with your own designs and sell them inside the store or at flea markets.
Pets are often taken in as members of the family. They are fed, dressed, and groomed like everyone else. The only differences are pets need specialized care. They have to be given shots, a pedicure and taken out on daily walks.
You will need trained pet groomers and have a few veterinarians on speed dial. Before your team can walk dogs, they have to be certified. You can find dog walking certification courses on the Internet. There may be agencies offering certification programs near your area.
For added income, try to become a distributor of pet grooming supplies like shampoo, conditioner, and anti-flea powder. You should also consider selling pet food and accessories.
Social media has become a powerful driving force in business. Companies are looking for ways to capitalize on opportunities available in social media which is a community that attracts 3 billion daily users. If you are a certified Social Media Marketer, you will have a good number of prospective clients seeking your expertise.
How much does a social media marketer make? Depending on the number of platforms to manage and extent of work, a social media marketer can charge anywhere from $300 to $700 per client. That is good money!
Online tools like Buffer allow you to schedule the publication of articles and blogs. This allows you to save more time and focus on signing up more clients. If you are a prolific writer who knows how to do keyword research, offer content writing services to improve your value proposition.
Reports on the death of the PC are premature. Despite losing the hold on online traffic to mobile devices, the PC remains relevant and usable. Many companies, particularly contact centers still prefer the PC because it costs less to maintain compared to the laptop.
In fact, some companies have been using the same computer for more than 10 years! They just keep it regularly upgraded and well-maintained. The same goes for households and home-based business owners.
If you have the skills and training for computer repair, you could monetize your abilities by offering remote or home services. Basic cleaning services alone cost 800 Pesos. Troubleshooting, removing viruses and overcoming malware attacks, and upgrading hardware/ software will net you higher earnings.
Expand your menu of services by including a laptop, tablet, and smartphone repair services.
Personal trainers are growing in demand because Filipinos want to get healthier and fitter. As a PT, you can work in a gym or start your own practice. But first, you should get certified.
There are several certification courses that you can sign up for online. Among the most recognized courses are American Council of Exercise (ACE), International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Next, choose your specialization. Do you want to offer weight-training, bodyweight training, Powerlifting, functional fitness, Zumba, Yoga, or Pilates? Functional fitness, Zumba, Yoga, and Pilates will require you to take certification courses.
How much do Personal Trainers make? First-timers usually charge 200 Pesos per session while the more experienced PT’s can raise the bar to 1,000 Pesos per hour. I have met PT’s who earn more than 120,000 Pesos every month.
The Philippines remains the hotbed for English instruction. People from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan travel to the Philippines to learn conversational and written English.
Another option is to become an online English instructor. On average, you can make anywhere from 15,000 Pesos to 30,000 Pesos per month teaching English online. You have to make sure you have a dependable computer and an excellent headset.
To become an English instructor, you have to pass TOEFL or Test of English as Foreign Language or the IELTS or International English Language Testing System.
Home health care services are in demand nowadays. More and more individuals who are wealthy needs home care services of either nurse, caregiver, midwife, PTs and other health care professionals.
