Starting a business in 2025 as a young entrepreneur can be both exciting and daunting, especially when financial resources are limited.
However, with the rise of outsourcing, particularly to cost-effective destinations like Vietnam, small businesses can scale rapidly without requiring massive upfront investment.
For a young UK entrepreneur with a budget of £10,000, outsourcing provides an opportunity to access skilled professionals at a fraction of the cost of hiring locally.
Vietnam has emerged as a premier outsourcing destination, overtaking China in certain areas due to its competitive pricing, growing talent pool, and strong digital infrastructure.
In this article, we explore three small business ideas that leverage outsourced talent from Vietnam. Each business model can operate digitally, making them ideal for cost-conscious entrepreneurs.
1. Digital Marketing Agency
Businesses worldwide need effective online marketing, but many struggle with high agency fees.
By outsourcing marketing tasks to skilled professionals in Vietnam, a UK entrepreneur can offer competitive services while maintaining high profit margins.
How to Get Started
- Identify a niche – Focus on a specific industry such as e-commerce, real estate, or health & wellness.
- Hire an outsourced team – Work with:
- Graphic designers (£500-£1,000/month in Vietnam vs. £2,000+ in the UK)
- Social media managers (£400-£800/month in Vietnam)
- SEO/content writers (£300-£600/month in Vietnam)
- Find clients – Start with small UK businesses needing affordable digital marketing.
- Use project management tools – Platforms like Trello, Slack, and Asana can help manage remote teams effectively.
Budget Breakdown (£10,000 Starting Capital Example)
- Website & Branding: £1,500
- First 3 months of outsourced salaries: £4,500
- Ads & Marketing: £2,500
- Software & Tools: £1,000
- Miscellaneous: £500
Expected Profit
Charging clients £500-£1,500 per month for digital marketing services can yield a monthly revenue of £5,000+ after a few clients, making this business highly scalable.
2. E-Commerce Brand Using Print-on-Demand
The e-commerce sector continues to grow, and print-on-demand (POD) allows entrepreneurs to sell customized merchandise without handling inventory. By outsourcing design and store management to Vietnam, costs can be minimized.
How to Get Started
- Choose a niche – Popular options include fitness apparel, pet-themed products, or motivational merchandise.
- Set up a store – Use platforms like Shopify or Etsy.
- Outsource design work – Hire Vietnamese graphic designers for product mockups and branding.
- Use POD platforms – Services like Printify and Printful handle printing and shipping.
- Run ads & marketing – Leverage outsourced social media marketers from Vietnam to drive sales.
Budget Breakdown (£10,000 Starting Capital Example)
- Store setup (Shopify, domain, apps): £700
- Design assets: £500
- Ads & Influencer Marketing: £4,000
- Outsourced social media & marketing: £2,500
- Inventory testing: £2,000
- Miscellaneous: £300
Expected Profit
With average product margins of 30-50%, scaling to £5,000-£10,000 monthly revenue is achievable within a few months.
3. Web Development & App Design Business
Businesses and startups require websites and mobile apps, but UK-based developers can be expensive. By outsourcing development work to Vietnam, costs drop significantly while maintaining high-quality output.
How to Get Started
- Offer website & app development services – Target small businesses needing affordable solutions.
- Hire a Vietnamese development team – Developers in Vietnam charge around £800-£2,000/month compared to £4,000+ in the UK.
- Upsell maintenance services – Offer ongoing support for recurring revenue.
- Use freelancer platforms – Sites like Upwork and Fiverr can help land initial clients.
Budget Breakdown (£10,000 Starting Capital Example)
- Website & branding: £1,500
- First 3 months of outsourced salaries: £5,000
- Ads & client acquisition: £2,500
- Software & tools: £1,000
Expected Profit
A single website project can cost £2,000-£10,000, meaning just 2-3 clients per month can make this a highly profitable business.
Why Choose Vietnam for Outsourcing?
Lower Costs Compared to China
Vietnam has become a strong alternative to China for outsourcing due to:
- Lower wages – Vietnamese professionals earn 30-50% less than their Chinese counterparts.
- High-quality talent – A rapidly growing tech and creative workforce.
- Stable economy & digital infrastructure – Vietnam offers reliability for long-term business partnerships.
Potential Cost Savings
Here’s how outsourcing to Vietnam compares with hiring in the UK:
| Role | UK Monthly Salary (£) | Vietnam Monthly Salary (£) | Savings (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | 2,500 | 700-1,200 | 50-70% |
| Web Developer | 4,000 | 800-2,000 | 50-80% |
| Social Media Manager | 3,000 | 400-800 | 70-85% |
Final Thoughts
For young entrepreneurs in the UK with a limited budget, outsourcing to Vietnam provides a powerful way to launch and scale small businesses. By leveraging the country’s talented workforce, businesses can keep costs low while maintaining high service quality.
With just £10,000, aspiring business owners can create profitable ventures in digital marketing, e-commerce, or web development. The key to success lies in careful planning, choosing the right outsourced partners, and effectively managing remote teams.
If you’re ready to start your entrepreneurial journey, Vietnam’s outsourcing ecosystem offers a cost-effective pathway to building a thriving business.