Having a small business sideline can provide multiple benefits during challenging times. 

It can act as a source of additional income and help to augment your salary, provide financial stability and security, offer you the opportunity to pursue your passions and interests, and help you develop new skills and knowledge.

Small business ideas are plentiful, and there is a lot of potential for entrepreneurs here in Bicolandia. With the right combination of skills, resources, and determination, starting a small business can lead to success. 

The following are some of the most popular and promising small business ideas for Bicolanos in 2023:

The existing land use of Camarines Sur is still predominantly agricultural. It is then probably a great idea to start working on what we have abundantly in our region.

1. Livestock Raising

Animals raised in the backyard for food or work are known as livestock. These include cattle, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, and quail.

With abundant farmland and open spaces in municipalities, livestock raising remains a profitable and sustainable business enterprise.

If you have chickens in your backyard, you are undoubtedly already aware of the fact that the family benefits financially from the sale of eggs and chicken meat, which may bring in additional thousands of pesos per month.

In the Bicol region, hogs made up the majority of the livestock raised and cared for. Tending of carabao ranked second, and other major livestock reared and tended in Bicol Region were cattle, goats, and horses.

2. Poultry Raising

The strong demand for eggs and meat, as well as the availability of land and feed, are the key factors that encourage chicken production.

The practice of raising chickens in one’s backyard has gained popularity. Setting it up and running it are far less expensive. Chickens can be kept in tiny spaces and still produce a lot of meat and eggs (at least one acre per thousand birds).

An average of 1.5 million chickens are produced per hectare by smallholder poultry growers.

Camarines Sur shared 62.1 percent of the total chicken produced for the region, followed by Albay with 12.0 percent share. Duck raising came next, while quail raising activity came in third.

3. Farming

With a total of 207,500 hectares across 59,353 farms, Camarines Sur was second in the Bicol region in terms of farmland in 2015, according to PSA. The main crops farmed in the province are coconut, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potato, and mango.

In 2002, palay was the main short-term crop in the area, followed by corn, and sugarcane. Tubers, roots, and bulbs, and fruit-bearing vegetables were also planted as temporary crops in Camarines Sur.

4. Rice Retailing Business

Rice will surely be a bestseller because Bicolanos consume it every day. Scout for a place that is situated in a desirable neighborhood or maybe offer delivery so your customers could find it more convenient to receive their sack of rice.

5. Crops

Farmers in our region are making similar improvements as farmers in other areas of the country.

Crop growers can now live simply thanks to the consistent income that vegetables have given them.

Coconut remained the major permanent crop in the region, and Pineapple was the second. Pineapple was predominantly planted in Camarines Norte and abaca in Catanduanes, while the rest of the provinces were devoted to coconut plantation.

The next most important crop is abaca, bananas, and mango

Other non-Agri related business are:

1. Online Selling

Are you a home buddy? With a few online clicks, you can actually make money from home. Nowadays, social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter and online selling platforms such as Shoppee and Lazada make it simple to sell products. Just remember to come up with a distinct product to market and be responsive to queries all the time.

2. Thrift Shops

Opening a thrift shop is both exhilarating and difficult. It is absolutely style for less money, and it is sustainable fashion.

Low maintenance costs, a variety of stock alternatives, and expansion possibilities are benefits of operating a thrift store business in the Philippines. On the other side, poor profit margin, time-consuming, and a small client base are drawbacks of opening a secondhand store in the Philippines.

3. Grab Car

Given that Grab Car is now available in Naga City, some business-minded individuals in the Metro will undoubtedly consider it as their next must-try business opportunity.

There are a few requirements needed to be accredited as Grab Peer; prepare the necessary documents, have a driver if you cannot drive your car and have a car that is less than three years old. 

You can sign up for a car loan to get this business started. The Bank of San Jose offers car loans to help you set the wheels of your dream car for business or pleasure into motion. 

4. Small Cafe or Restaurant

Starting a cafe or restaurant from home can provide both personal satisfaction and financial gain, just like the success of Arco Diez, Mama Sarahs, KM Eight Cafe, and Kixkaye who began small by utilizing their homes and have now grown into thriving businesses.

As a small business, it offers the advantage of low overhead costs and the flexibility to cater to your local community. Whether you have a passion for cooking or a desire to run your own business, a home cafe or restaurant can be a great way to turn your dream into a reality. With careful planning and hard work, you can create a welcoming atmosphere and serve delicious food and coffee that will keep customers coming back.

We hope that this list serves as an encouragement for you to take a step closer to realizing your entrepreneurial dreams.

Acquiring a business loan can be incredibly helpful for starting a small business as it can provide the necessary funding to get the business off the ground and running. With a loan, entrepreneurs can purchase equipment, hire employees, purchase inventory, and cover other start-up costs that they may not be able to afford on their own. Additionally, a loan can help a business grow and expand, enabling it to take advantage of new opportunities and increase its revenue. 

The good news is that starting your own business doesn’t need you to spend all of your savings. You can launch your own business now with a negosyo loan from Bank of San Jose.