The possible areas in which a person can be self-employed are discussed below:

(i) Small scale retail business: Single owners can easily start and manage small business units profitably with the help of one or two assistants. It can be a grocery store, stationery shop, or a cloth store, etc. 

(ii) Providing services based on individual skills: Services which can be rendered to customers by individuals on the basis of specialised skill can also be taken up by way of self employment. For example, repairing bicycles and scooters, watches and clocks, tailoring, hairdressing, etc. 

(iii) Occupations based on professional qualifications: Activities which require professional training and experience are known as self employment. Thus, for example, practising Doctors, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, Pharmacists, Architects, etc.

(iv) Farming on a small scale: Opportunities are also there for self employment in small scale farming activities like dairy, poultry, fishery, horticulture, Seri-culture, etc. 

(v) Village and cottage industries: Activities like hand spinning and weaving, hand knitting, stitching garments, etc. can be taken up as self employment; these may be based on traditional inherited skills. 

(vi) Arts and crafts: Those who have been trained in certain craftsmanship or art can be self-employed in such occupations as those of goldsmiths, blacksmiths, carpentry, etc.