50 Low-cost Scalable Business Ideas You Can Start Today

Sick of your 9-5 job? Dreaming of being your own boss? Want to start a business but don’t have much money to invest? There are tons of low-cost scalable business ideas you can start with just a little capital.

In this post, we’ll cover 50 different low-cost business ideas that have the potential to scale up over time. These are perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start a side hustle or build a full-time business on a budget. If you read this article to the end you will pick one or two businesses you can start and earn a decent living.

Low-cost Scalable Business Ideas You Can Start Today

Table of Contents

1. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is one of the most popular low-cost business models out there. The basic idea is you sell products online without having to purchase and store inventory. Instead, when a customer places an order, you purchase the item from a third-party supplier who then ships it directly to the customer. This means you can start an e-commerce store with very little upfront investment.

You can find dropship suppliers on sites like AliExpress, Oberlo, or Spocket and then list their products on your online store, like a Shopify site.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is another super low-cost business idea that has huge potential to scale. As an affiliate marketer, you promote other companies’ products or services and earn a commission on any sales you generate.

You can start an affiliate marketing business by choosing products or programs to promote, building a website or social media presence to share your affiliate links, and driving traffic to your content. Popular affiliate niches include health and wellness, personal finance, and technology.

The great thing about affiliate marketing is you don’t need to create your own products or worry about fulfillment. You simply need to focus on marketing and driving sales.

3. Freelancing

Freelancing is an excellent low-cost business idea, especially if you have a valuable skill like writing, web design, programming, marketing, or consulting. As a freelancer, you can offer your services to clients on a project-by-project basis.

To get started, you’ll need to determine your niche, build an online portfolio, and create profiles on freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.com. You can also network and market your services directly to potential clients.

The beauty of freelancing is you can start it as a side hustle and gradually build it into a full-time business. And with no overhead costs, it’s an incredibly scalable model.

4. Virtual Assistance

Virtual assistance is a flexible low-cost business idea that involves providing administrative, social media, or other support services to clients remotely. Virtual assistants handle tasks like email management, calendar scheduling, data entry, customer service, and more.

As a virtual assistant, you can work with multiple clients at once and build a sustainable business around your skills and availability. To get started, you’ll need to decide what services to offer, create a professional website or online profile, and start pitching your services to potential clients.

5. Online Consulting

Do you have expertise in a particular field? Consider starting an online consulting business. This can involve offering strategy sessions, hosting webinars, creating online courses, or even providing done-for-you services.

Popular online consulting niches include business strategy, career coaching, health and wellness, and personal finance. The key is positioning yourself as an expert, creating valuable content, and effectively marketing your services.

Since you’re delivering your services digitally, online consulting is a highly scalable business model with low overhead costs.

6. Online Tutoring

If you’re knowledgeable in academic subjects, test prep, or various skills, starting an online tutoring business could be a great low-cost option. You can tutor students one-on-one via video chat or create pre-recorded lessons and courses.

To get started, you’ll need to decide what subjects or skills you want to teach, create a professional online presence, and start marketing your services to potential students. Platforms like Chegg, Varsity Tutors, and Udemy make it easy to find tutoring gigs.

The beauty of online tutoring is you can do it from anywhere and scale your business by serving more students.

7. Digital Products

Creating and selling digital products is a highly scalable low-cost business idea. This could include things like ebooks, online courses, templates, graphics, plugins, or any other downloadable digital content.

The upfront work is creating the product, but once it’s done, you can sell it over and over again with minimal additional effort. Plus, digital products have very low overhead and production costs.

To get started, choose a topic you’re knowledgeable about, create the product, and then list it for sale on your own website or platforms like Gumroad, Teachable, or Etsy.

8. Print-on-Demand

Print-on-demand is a business model where you sell customized products like t-shirts, mugs, bags, or other merchandise without having to manage inventory or fulfillment. When a customer places an order, the print-on-demand company handles production and shipping.

You can create and sell your own original designs or leverage existing designs and licensed artwork. Popular print-on-demand platforms include Printful, Printify, and Teelaunch.

The low upfront costs and scalability of print-on-demand make it an attractive option for aspiring entrepreneurs.

9. Blogging

Blogging is a classic low-cost business idea that has the potential to scale massively over time. The basic premise is you create content around a particular niche or topic, build an audience, and then monetize your blog through advertising, affiliates, digital products, and more.

To get started, you’ll need to choose a profitable blogging niche, set up a self-hosted WordPress site, and consistently publish high-quality content. Over time, you can grow your traffic and income by optimizing your content, building an email list, and diversifying your revenue streams.

The great thing about blogging is it’s a business you can start for under $100 and then scale up as your audience and income grows.

10. YouTube Channel

Like blogging, starting a YouTube channel is a low-cost business idea that can become highly scalable. As a YouTuber, you create and upload video content, build a subscriber base, and monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and more.

All you really need to get started is a smartphone or basic camera and some video editing software. As your channel grows, you can reinvest your earnings into better equipment, production, and marketing.

11. Influencer Marketing

Becoming an influencer on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube is a low-cost business idea that can lead to lucrative sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

As an influencer, you build a following around a specific niche or brand, then leverage that audience to promote products or services on behalf of other companies. Brands are willing to pay influencers to create content, host giveaways, or simply endorse their offerings.

To get started, choose a niche, build an engaged following, and start pitching your services to potential brand partners. The key is consistently creating high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your audience.

12. Membership Site

Creating a membership site is a scalable low-cost business idea. The basic premise is you offer exclusive content, community, or other benefits to members who pay a recurring subscription fee.

Membership sites work well for topics like online courses, coaching programs, exclusive communities, or any kind of specialized information or resources. The key is providing so much value that members are happy to pay for continued access.

To get started, choose your membership site topic, build out the content and features, and use a platform like Podia, Memberful, or Mighty Networks to manage your memberships.

13. App Development

Developing and selling mobile apps is a low-cost business idea with huge scalability potential. While building apps does require technical skills or the budget to hire developers, the distribution and fulfillment aspects are highly scalable.

You can create apps for both iOS and Android, and sell them through the respective app stores. Popular app categories include games, productivity tools, personal finance, and e-commerce. The key is choosing a profitable niche and creating a well-designed, useful app.

Even if you don’t have coding skills, you can still get into the app business by outsourcing the development to freelancers or agencies.

14. SaaS (Software as a Service)

SaaS, or software as a service, is a low-cost business model that involves providing cloud-based software or tools to customers on a subscription basis. Examples include project management apps, CRM software, accounting tools, and more.

Building a successful SaaS business does require more technical know-how and upfront investment than some other ideas on this list. However, the recurring revenue and scalability of the SaaS model make it an attractive option for many entrepreneurs.

To get started, identify a problem you can solve with software, build the minimum viable product, and start acquiring customers through effective marketing and sales.

15. Ecommerce Store

Starting an ecommerce store is a classic low-cost business idea that has huge potential to scale. You can sell physical products, digital goods, or a combination of both through your own online storefront.

The key to success with ecommerce is finding profitable, in-demand products, building an attractive and user-friendly website, and driving targeted traffic to your store. Popular ecommerce platforms include Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.

You can start an ecommerce business with relatively low upfront costs, especially if you leverage dropshipping or print-on-demand fulfillment models.

16. Subscription Box Service

Subscription box services are a unique low-cost business idea that can be highly scalable. The basic premise is you curate a monthly box of products around a particular theme or niche, and customers pay a recurring fee to receive the box.

Subscription boxes work well for all kinds of niches, from beauty and fashion to gourmet foods, pet supplies, or even DIY projects. The key is finding the right products, pricing your boxes competitively, and effectively marketing to potential subscribers.

Once you have the initial fulfillment systems in place, a subscription box business can become very scalable as you acquire more subscribers.

17. Online Marketplace

Creating your own online marketplace is a low-cost business idea that has the potential to scale significantly. The basic idea is you build a platform where multiple sellers can list and sell their products or services to your customer base.

Popular online marketplace examples include Etsy for handmade goods, Fiverr for freelance services, and Amazon for just about everything else. As the marketplace owner, you can earn commissions on each sale made through your platform.

Building an online marketplace does require more upfront work than some other ideas on this list. But if executed well, it can become a highly profitable and scalable business.

18. Handmade Goods

If you have a creative flair and enjoy making things by hand, selling handmade products could be a great low-cost business idea. This can include jewelry, art, clothing, home decor, and all sorts of other handcrafted items.

You can sell your handmade goods through your own online store, on platforms like Etsy, or even at local craft fairs and markets. The key is finding products that resonate with your target customers and developing an efficient production process.

While the upfront investment is relatively low, you can scale a handmade goods business by expanding your product line, optimizing your operations, and effectively marketing your offerings.

19. Online Resale

Online resale businesses, where you purchase products wholesale or from liquidation sales and then resell them for a profit, can be a low-cost scalable idea. This could involve selling on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or your own ecommerce store.

To get started, you’ll need to find reliable wholesale or liquidation suppliers, develop an eye for profitable products, and create efficient systems for sourcing, listing, and shipping items. Popular resale niches include clothing, electronics, home goods, and collectibles.

As you scale your resale business, you can invest in inventory, marketing, and even your own warehouse or fulfillment center.

20. Custom Merchandise

Creating and selling custom branded merchandise is a low-cost business idea with lots of room to scale. This can include t-shirts, mugs, bags, hats, and all sorts of other customizable products.

You can design your own original artwork and slogans, or leverage existing designs and licenses through a print-on-demand service. The key is finding products and designs that resonate with your target audience.

To get started, you’ll need to set up an online store, build a brand, and start marketing your custom merchandise. As your business grows, you can expand your product line, optimize your operations, and even venture into wholesale or licensing opportunities.

21. Pet Products

The pet industry is massive and still growing, making it a great low-cost business idea to explore. You can sell all kinds of pet-related products, from food and toys to accessories, apparel, and more.

To get started, you’ll need to research the pet product market, identify profitable niches, and either source or create your own products. Selling through your own ecommerce store, online marketplaces, or even local pet shops can be effective sales channels.

As your pet product business grows, you can expand your product line, build brand awareness, and potentially even wholesale or license your products to larger retailers.

22. Online Courses

Creating and selling online courses is a classic low-cost, highly scalable business idea. You can share your expertise on just about any topic, from academic subjects to professional skills to personal development.

The upfront work involves creating the course content, but once it’s done, you can sell the same course over and over again with minimal additional effort. You can host your courses on your own website or leverage platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Thinkific.

To succeed with online courses, you’ll need to choose a profitable topic, create high-quality content, and effectively market your offerings to the right audience.

23. Digital Design Services

If you have graphic design, web design, or other creative skills, offering digital design services can be a lucrative low-cost business idea. This can include creating logos, website designs, social media graphics, product packaging, and more.

You can market your design services through platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or your own website. The key is building a strong portfolio, pricing your services competitively, and effectively pitching your skills to potential clients.

As a digital designer, you can scale your business by expanding your service offerings, taking on more clients, or even hiring other designers to work for you.

24. Copywriting and Content Creation

Strong writing and content creation skills are in high demand, making copywriting and content creation another great low-cost business idea. You can offer services like website copywriting, blog post creation, email marketing content, and more.

To get started, you’ll need to build a portfolio of your best writing samples, create professional profiles on freelancing sites, and start pitching your services. Over time, you can niche down into specific industries or types of content to differentiate yourself.

Copywriting and content creation are highly scalable because you can continually take on more clients and projects without significant overhead costs.

25. Virtual Event Planning

With the rise of remote work and online events, virtual event planning is a low-cost business idea with lots of growth potential. As a virtual event planner, you can help companies, organizations, and individuals host webinars, online conferences, virtual happy hours, and more.

Your services could include everything from event logistics and platform management to marketing and facilitation. To get started, you’ll need to build your expertise, create a professional website, and start networking with potential clients.

The beauty of virtual event planning is the low overhead costs and ability to scale your business by working with multiple clients simultaneously.

26. SEO and Digital Marketing Services

If you have skills in search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising, or other digital marketing disciplines, offering these services as a low-cost business is highly scalable.

As a digital marketer, you can help clients improve their online visibility, drive more traffic and leads, and boost their sales. You can offer your services through freelancing platforms, your own agency website, or by networking with local businesses.

The scalability comes from the ability to take on multiple clients at once and leverage digital tools and automation to streamline your processes.

27. Bookkeeping and Accounting

Bookkeeping and accounting services are always in demand, making this a great low-cost business idea. As a bookkeeper or accountant, you can help individuals and small businesses manage their finances, pay taxes, and maintain financial records.

To get started, you’ll need to develop the necessary skills and potentially obtain certifications. You can offer your services remotely through platforms like Upwork or directly to local clients.

The scalability of a bookkeeping/accounting business comes from the ability to continuously add more clients without significantly increasing your overhead.

28. IT and Tech Support

If you have technical skills in areas like IT support, software development, or tech consulting, offering these services as a low-cost business can be highly scalable. This could involve troubleshooting hardware/software issues, building websites or apps, or providing strategic technology guidance.

You can market your IT and tech support services through freelancing sites, your own website, or by networking with small and medium-sized businesses in your local area.

The beauty of this business model is you can continually take on more clients and projects without major infrastructure investments.

29. Home Services

Providing home services like house cleaning, yard work, handyman tasks, or even pet sitting can be a low-cost scalable business idea. These types of services are in constant demand, and you can start small and gradually grow your client base.

To get started, you’ll need to decide what services to offer, invest in any necessary equipment or supplies, and create marketing materials to attract local customers. You can promote your home services business through online directories, social media, flyers, and word-of-mouth.

As your home services business grows, you can hire additional staff, expand your service area, and even consider franchising opportunities down the line.

30. Personal Training and Coaching

If you have expertise in fitness, health, wellness, or any other area of personal or professional development, becoming a personal trainer or coach is a low-cost scalable business idea. You can offer one-on-one coaching, group classes, online courses, or a combination of services.

The beauty of this business model is you can start small by working with a handful of clients, and then gradually scale up by adding more customers, diversifying your service offerings, and potentially hiring other trainers or coaches to work for you.

To get started, you’ll need to build your expertise, get any necessary certifications, and create a professional online presence to attract potential clients.

31. Meal Prep and Catering

Providing meal prep, catering, or personal chef services is a low-cost scalable business idea, especially if you have culinary skills. You can cater small events, deliver weekly meal prep to busy clients, or even provide private chef services.

As your meal prep or catering business grows, you can expand your menu offerings, hire additional staff, and potentially open a commercial kitchen space.

32. Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Services

Laundry and dry-cleaning services are always in demand, making this a great low-cost business idea to explore. You can offer pick-up and delivery, wash-and-fold, or even on-site dry-cleaning services to residential and commercial clients.

To get started, you’ll need to invest in some basic laundry equipment and a vehicle for pick-up/delivery. You can market your services through local advertising, partnerships with apartment complexes or offices, and online directories.

As your laundry business grows, you can add more equipment, hire staff, and potentially even open a physical storefront location.

33. Lawn Care and Landscaping

Offering lawn care, landscaping, or outdoor maintenance services is a low-cost business idea that can scale nicely. This can include mowing, trimming, gardening, snow removal, and more.

The upfront costs are relatively low, as you can start with basic equipment like a lawn mower, weed trimmer, and some hand tools. You can market your services to residential and commercial clients in your local area through flyers, online listings, and word-of-mouth.

As your lawn care or landscaping business expands, you can invest in more advanced equipment, hire additional crew members, and potentially even offer additional services like landscape design or installation.

34. Junk Removal and Hauling

Junk removal and hauling services are always in demand, making this a great low-cost business idea. You can help individuals and businesses dispose of unwanted items, debris, or even perform light demolition work.

To get started, you’ll need a truck or van and some basic tools. You can market your services through local ads, online directories, and by networking with real estate agents, contractors, or property management companies.

As your junk removal business grows, you can invest in a larger truck, hire additional crew, and potentially expand into specialty services like electronics recycling or estate clean-outs.

35. Auto Detailing

Providing mobile auto detailing services is a low-cost business idea with lots of room to scale. You can offer car washes, waxing, interior detailing, and other services to both individual customers and fleet owners.

The startup costs are relatively low, as you can begin with just a few basic supplies and equipment. You can market your auto detailing services through flyers, social media, and by targeting local car dealerships, rental agencies, or companies with vehicle fleets.

As your business expands, you can invest in more advanced detailing equipment, hire additional staff, and even consider opening a dedicated detailing shop.

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36. House Painting

House painting is a classic low-cost scalable business idea. Whether it’s interior, exterior, or specialty finishes, there is always demand for professional painting services.

To get started, you’ll need to invest in paint, brushes, drop cloths, and other basic equipment. You can market your painting services through local advertising, partnerships with real estate agents or contractors, and by networking in your community.

As your house painting business grows, you can take on larger projects, hire additional painters, and potentially even expand into commercial painting or specialty services like cabinet refinishing.

37. Home Staging

If you have an eye for interior design and a knack for making spaces look their best, providing home staging services could be a great low-cost business idea. This involves preparing homes for sale by arranging furniture, decor, and other elements to showcase the property’s potential.

The startup costs are relatively low, as you can start by leasing or purchasing a small inventory of staging furniture and accessories. You can market your home staging services to real estate agents, home sellers, and even property management companies.

Over time, you can grow your inventory, expand your service area, and potentially even offer additional services like virtual staging or rental packages.

38. Wedding Planning

Planning weddings can be a lucrative low-cost business idea, especially if you have a creative flair and excellent organizational skills. As a wedding planner, you can help couples with everything from venue selection and vendor management to decor and day-of coordination.

To get started, you’ll need to build your expertise, create a professional brand and website, and start networking with local wedding vendors. The overhead costs are relatively low, as you can operate the business from home and outsource many of the physical event-related tasks.

As your wedding planning business grows, you can take on more clients, hire additional planners, and potentially even expand into specialties like destination weddings or elopements.

39. Party Planning

Similar to wedding planning, offering party planning services is another low-cost scalable business idea. You can help clients plan and execute all types of celebrations, from birthday parties and baby showers to corporate events and holiday gatherings.

The startup costs are minimal, as you can begin by leveraging your own network of vendors and resources. You can market your party planning services through your website, social media, and referrals from satisfied clients.

As your party planning business expands, you can build relationships with more vendors, hire additional staff, and potentially even open an event space or rental showroom.

40. Real Estate Investing

Becoming a real estate investor is a low-cost business idea that can be highly scalable over time. This can involve flipping houses, renting out properties, or even crowdfunding real estate investments.

To get started, you’ll need to educate yourself on the various real estate investment strategies, secure financing, and build your portfolio of properties. The key is finding undervalued properties, renovating them efficiently, and then either selling for a profit or holding them as rental income.

As your real estate investing business grows, you can expand your portfolio, hire property managers, and potentially even start your own real estate investment fund.

41. Airbnb or Short-Term Rental

Renting out properties on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms is a low-cost scalable business idea. This involves converting residential properties into vacation rentals or offering a room in your own home to travelers.

The startup costs are relatively low, as you can leverage existing properties or even just a spare room. You’ll need to invest in basic furnishings, amenities, and marketing to attract guests. Over time, you can scale by adding more properties or optimizing your listings for higher occupancy and revenue.

The key is finding the right properties, managing the guest experience effectively, and leveraging Airbnb’s global distribution to maximize your bookings.

42. E-book Publishing

Creating and self-publishing e-books is a low-cost business idea with significant scalability potential. You can write and publish e-books on a wide range of topics, from fiction to non-fiction, and sell them through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or your own website.

The upfront work involves researching profitable niches, writing and editing the content, and formatting it for e-book distribution. But once your e-book is published, you can continue selling it with minimal ongoing effort.

To scale your e-book publishing business, you can create a series of related titles, outsource the writing to freelancers, or even experiment with book translations or audiobook versions.

43. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)

Amazon FBA, or Fulfillment by Amazon, is a business model where you sell physical products on Amazon and leverage their logistics network for storage, packaging, and shipping. This can be a low-cost scalable business idea, as you don’t have to worry about order fulfillment or customer service.

To get started, you’ll need to source profitable products, create attractive product listings, and send your inventory to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. From there, Amazon handles the rest, allowing you to focus on marketing your products and driving sales.

As your Amazon FBA business grows, you can expand your product catalog, optimize your listings, and even explore additional sales channels like your own e-commerce site.

44. Etsy Shop

Opening an Etsy shop is a classic low-cost scalable business idea, especially if you create handmade, vintage, or craft-based products. Etsy provides a built-in marketplace and platform to list and sell your offerings to their large customer base.

The startup costs are minimal, as you only need to invest in the materials and tools to create your products. Etsy also handles the e-commerce aspects like payment processing and order fulfillment.

To scale your Etsy shop, you can expand your product line, improve your marketing, and even consider hiring help for production and shipping. Many Etsy sellers have turned their shops into thriving full-time businesses.

45. Vending Machines

Placing and operating vending machines is a low-cost scalable business idea. You can stock and maintain vending machines in high-traffic locations like offices, schools, gyms, or transportation hubs, and earn a commission on the sales.

The initial investment is relatively low, as you can start with just a few machines. Over time, you can scale by adding more locations, diversifying your product selection, and potentially even getting into specialty vending like healthy snacks or tech accessories.

The key is finding the right locations, negotiating favorable revenue splits, and efficiently maintaining your vending machine fleet.

46. Mobile Detailing

Starting a mobile auto detailing business is a low-cost scalable idea. You can bring your car washing, waxing, and cleaning services directly to customers’ homes or workplaces, eliminating the need for a dedicated brick-and-mortar location.

The startup costs are fairly low, as you can invest in a reliable vehicle, some basic detailing equipment, and supplies. You can market your mobile detailing services through local advertising, partnerships with businesses, and by leveraging word-of-mouth referrals.

As your mobile detailing business grows, you can add more service vans, hire additional detailers, and potentially even open a small centralized facility for larger jobs or vehicle storage.

47. Pressure Washing

Pressure washing is another low-cost scalable business idea. You can offer exterior cleaning services for residential, commercial, and industrial properties, tackling tasks like house washing, driveway cleaning, and graffiti removal.

To get started, you’ll need to invest in a high-quality pressure washing rig, which can be financed or leased. You can market your services through local ads, partnerships with property managers or contractors, and by networking in your community.

As your pressure washing business expands, you can add more equipment, hire additional crews, and potentially even specialize in certain cleaning niches like roof or heavy equipment washing.

48. Home Organization

If you have a knack for decluttering and optimizing living spaces, starting a home organization business could be a great low-cost scalable idea. You can help individuals and families streamline their closets, pantries, garages, and other areas of the home.

The startup costs are relatively low, as you can begin by leveraging your own organizing skills and tools. You can market your home organization services through social media, local directories, and by networking with real estate agents or professional organizer associations.

As your business grows, you can invest in more storage solutions and organizational products, potentially hire additional organizers, and even explore offering virtual organizing services.

49. House Sitting

Providing house sitting services is a low-cost scalable business idea that involves caring for people’s homes and pets while they’re away. This can include tasks like picking up mail, watering plants, and ensuring the security of the property.

To get started, you’ll need to build a portfolio of references and testimonials, create a professional online presence, and start networking with potential clients in your local area. Many house sitting opportunities are found through word-of-mouth, online directories, or specialized house sitting platforms.

As your house-sitting business expands, you can take on more clients, potentially hire additional house sitters, and even consider offering specialized concierge or pet sitting services.

50. Personal Shoppers

Becoming a personal shopper is a low-cost scalable business idea, especially if you have a keen eye for fashion and strong customer service skills. You can help clients curate their wardrobes, shop for special occasions, or even provide business attire styling.

To get started, you’ll need to build your expertise, create a professional brand, and start marketing your services to potential clients. This could involve networking with local boutiques, partnering with personal stylists, or leveraging social media to showcase your skills.

As your personal shopping business grows, you can expand your client base, offer additional services like closet organization or personal shopping parties, and potentially even hire other personal shoppers to work for you.

Conclusion

These are the 50 low-cost scalable business ideas you can start today. Choose an idea that aligns with your skills, interests, and resources, and then methodically execute your plan. Remember, the most successful entrepreneurs start small and gradually scale their businesses over time.

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