If you are an artist of some kind, you already have the foundation for a new business. Ceramics and pottery are especially saleable, but you can branch into anything you like, from wood ornaments to pressed flowers to scrapbooking.
Start small, attending craft or county fairs, flea markets, or renaissance fairs. Talk to other artists to see what sells and what doesn’t. If you strike a friendship with another crafter, you can offer to share the expenses of a booth with him or her. In smaller fairs, you can buy your own table. Unless you are thinking of participating only in fine art and juried shows, keep in mind that most crafts are impulse buys and they should be priced accordingly (usually under $50).
Other places to sell your crafts are consignment shops and farmers markets. Also check sampler, an online magazine that will advertise your crafts for a small commission on sales.
Private tutor
If you are qualified in an academic subject, you could take up tutoring. Math and foreign languages are always in demand, but many other subjects work as well. You can also offer after-school help with homework or test preparation.
Another option is to teach an arts and crafts or any other specialty class at a local community center. After you’ve gained some experience, or if you are truly an expert, search for a Learning Annex and explore the possibilities of teaching a workshop or presenting a lecture.
There is little to no investment required to set up this business, unless you count some incidentals, such as office supplies and maybe some used books (visit library sales for this) on the subject you plan to teach.
Cleaning services
Start by advertising in the service directory of your local newspaper and taking on small, general house cleaning jobs until you get used to the dynamics of it. Later on you can target companies, building managers, office directors, etc. for large scale jobs, which offer the advantage of being more regular and can guarantee a fixed income.
Most jobs will provide you with their own cleaning supplies, so there is little investment required on your part aside from advertising costs.
Although not obligatory in many cities, consider getting licensed. Not only it will provide some sort of insurance should something happen to you while at work, but it will also open doors to major companies that may be reluctant to hire you otherwise.