The greatest small business concepts are born at the intersection of timing, strategic thinking, skills, and passion. 

 

The business landscape is changing with more companies adopting technology and setting up their enterprises online. The COVID-19 and social distancing catapulted the expansion of online shopping by three to six years. 

 

That’s why most micro enterprise concepts in this post are relatively inexpensive online enterprises you can start from the comfort of home. 

 

This article will cover small business concepts to assist you as you begin thinking about your next entrepreneurial undertaking. 

 

Whether you want to set up a full-time enterprise, a part-time side hustle, or a business with no capital, this article is for you. 

Top Small Business Concepts

Here’s a list of the leading small business concepts to get you started: 

1. Best Concept: Start a Lucrative Blog

When you set up an inexpensive online enterprise, you’re most probably going to sell one of the following: 

 

• Your time (consulting or coaching).
• Your products (SaaS or e-commerce).
• Another person’s products (ads or affiliate marketing).

 

Having a blog lets you sell these items from a single web page and make money from any inexpensive business concept out there. 

 

For instance, you can start a blog selling high-end SEO consulting services. Once you get traffic, you can add a few online resources and sell them to your email list. 

 

With time, you’ll have many affiliate programs, and you’ll be earning more than $100,000 every month from the blog. 

 

To get started, you need to brush off popular blogging counsel and learn how you can blog as an enterprise from the get-go. 

 

The standard advice from accomplished bloggers who started their careers 5-10 years ago is that as a beginner, you should write about what you’re interested in to make a reasonable income within a few years. 

 

This is generic advice meant to appeal to a broad audience, and it never provides a step-by-step tactical guideline on how to grow your blog from scratch. 

 

This way of thinking is outdated, and one can earn a lot of cash in a few months rather than years. All you need to do is scale and treat it as an enterprise. 

 

If you want to learn how to start blogging and the exact formula that’ll make you a million dollars in less than two years, follow the following steps: 

 

• Select your blog’s niche based on four main business factors, not your interests. 
• Select a domain name and set up web hosting for as low as $2.95 monthly with companies such as Bluehost. 
• Install simple WordPress themes and all the plugins you require on your website. 
• Familiarize yourself with SEO tools and learn how to perform keyword research to drive traffic to your web page. 
• Learn how to write search engine optimized content to help your content rank on search engines. 
• Scale your guest blogging and link-building approaches to create domain authority. 
• Monetize your website with the appropriate tactics and at the appropriate stage of its growth. 

 

Creating a blog is the ideal low-risk, high-reward business concept. It has a low barrier to entry and is profitable; it is an excellent concept, even while being a full-time remote worker. 

2. Create an E-Commerce Store

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth of e-commerce by three to six years. Many companies are adopting technology faster than ever. You can take various routes with e-commerce, from making products and selling them on your web page to dropshipping with Amazon FBA. 

 

Dropshipping is an excellent option if you’re new to e-commerce as you don’t have to ship or fulfill orders or own a store. 

 

Dropshipping is one of the most lucrative small business concepts. It involves online retailers posting products from merchants; however, the dropshipping merchants handle all the shipping. As a retailer, your work is to generate orders and provide the wholesaler with shipping details. 

 

To know the best products for your dropshipping business, you must conduct adequate market research to determine hot-selling products. You can also check for the top-selling items on platforms like Google Shopping and Amazon to get inspiration. 

 

You can take a few routes to create a web page for this enterprise. Creating a Wix web page is the best option for starting from scratch. 

 

Wix is the most simple-to-use e-commerce website equipped with all the marketing tools required for your business to succeed. 

 

Selling goods online is a simple process that involves:

 

• Select an e-commerce website that best suits your needs. 
• Adding or uploading product details on your web page. 
• Select a theme and design your web pages. 
• Adding settings for shipping and taxes. 
• Checking the shopping cart’s functionality and conducting quality assurance checks. 
• Launching your e-commerce platform. 
• Start a business (It’s that easy).

 

Even though setting up an e-commerce platform is simple, the real challenge is how to generate traffic to your web page.  A Wix e-commerce website usually costs around $13 to $22 monthly. 

 

If you already have a physical store (or intend to set up one), Square Online is the best platform to set up your e-commerce site. 

 

Square Online is the leading eCommerce website for micro-businesses looking to enter the digital sphere. The platform syncs with its popular Square POS system. It provides many unique features for small enterprises, such as online food ordering for eatery web pages, in-person retail features, and booking an appointment online. 

 

Getting started on Square Online is free; you only pay transaction charges. However, you can also upgrade to a paid plan for a personalized domain. 

3. Digital Coaching and Courses

Technology has made it simpler for people to share their knowledge. If you’re passionate about something or an expert in a specific subject matter, you can transform it into an online course to earn a significant income. 

 

Individuals with small enterprises can provide online coaching lessons to learners and build a community that’ll assist them in establishing a digital coaching business. 

 

You can start a podcast or create a Facebook page which you can use to reach out to individuals searching for online classes. You can do all these coaching business models from home, and they’re inexpensive. 

 

Additionally, there are a few online sites, such as Teachable and Thinkific, to aid you in getting started fast. All you have to do is set up an account and start teaching right away.

4. Launch a Podcast

Podcasts are among the business concepts that are witnessing a meteoric rise. In 2006, only 22% of the American population listened to podcasts; currently, the number has increased to 75%. 

 

Podcasting can be a very profitable venture; for instance, Spotify paid Joe Rogan $100 million to move his podcast explicitly to their platform. 

 

To start a podcast business, purchase your podcast equipment and software, plan your episodes, and sign up for podcast hosting. Podcast hosting is a service that stores your files and issues them out to leading podcast networks such as Spotify, Tunein, Stitcher, and iTunes. You can set up an account on a podcast hosting platform such as BuzzSprout, which offers new users a $20 Amazon gift card. 

5. Graphic Design

Organizations are always looking for graphic designers to help them build their brand image. 

 

The opportunities in this business are endless, from designing marketing collateral such as logos, posters, and banners to creating web and landing pages. 

 

You can market your design skills to small enterprises owned by people who haven’t built a brand image. You can also join platforms such as Flexjobs to look for relevant work. 

 

Attracting new clients will be relatively simple if you have previous knowledge in this industry. Nevertheless, learning the fundamentals of graphic design from zero is also easy, with various online tutorials and courses on platforms such as Coursera. 

 

To get started, you must familiarize yourself with graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign to learn the basics of graphic design. 

 

Alternatively, you can leverage other user-friendly tools such as Visme to refine your graphic design skills. 

 

The following are some excellent graphic design modules that can help you kick-start your career: 

 

• Graphic Design Fundamentals: Getting Started (Creative Live)
• Fundamentals of Graphic Design (Coursera)

 

Most experts recommend starting with Adobe Photoshop as part of Creative Cloud. 

6. Sell Customized Printed Goods

Another great e-commerce business concept is creating a brand and selling customized goods such as bags, stickers, mugs, and T-shirts. 

 

Various web pages can handle the logistics for you. For instance, here’s the procedure for collaborating with an organization like Printify: 

 

• Select the product(s) you wish to sell. 
• Apply designs to the selected products based on graphics and images using a mockup generator. 
• Order prototypes to ensure your products have the texture and quality you’re looking for. 
• List the products for sale and automatically synchronize them with e-commerce sites like Spotify. 
• When someone purchases your product, it’s put into production, and you don’t have to handle shipping or manufacturing. 

 

It would help if you had excellent marketing skills, a solid brand, and excellent designs to generate sales and succeed with a customized printed product venture. 

7. Website Development

Website development skills are worthwhile since they cater to the growing demand for new websites. 

 

To start, you can develop websites for your family and friends. Even though numerous website builders can assist small enterprises in setting up their sites, web developers are still needed for customization jobs, and new enterprises are always searching for skilled coders at budget-friendly prices. 

 

You can give your career a head start by providing clients with competitive prices for your skills and then gradually turn it into a more profitable venture by solidifying your portfolio. 

 

All web developers should have some rudimentary coding skills in computer languages such as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. There are numerous cheap or free online courses on platforms such as Codecademy, Udemy, and Treehouse, where you can learn how to code and get started on website development. 

8. Selling Phone Cases

There are over 2.5 billion mobile phone users around the globe, and the number continues to grow daily. 

 

Since almost everyone owns a smartphone, phone cases are among the top-selling accessories. Consequently, some phone case sellers have generated six to seven-figure earnings from selling high volumes of phone cases. 

 

The competition is fierce; nevertheless, you can start by testing your phone case concepts with Amazon FBA before creating a web page. 

 

When making your cases, choose unique designs that appeal to a particular audience. 

 

You must be innovative and creative to develop a phone case collection that would attract your target audience. A popular Etsy store sold handmade phone cases valued at $60,000 in its first year — the secret is finding your niche. 

 

You can also list your phone case on e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon. Once you’ve generated enough income, you should launch your e-commerce store on websites such as Shopify to boost your profit margins. 

9. Become an Instagram Influencer

With the rise of digital platforms such as Instagram, customers are turning to niche influencers to get advice on the products they should purchase. 

 

However, most influencers struggle with influencing purchase decisions. While most social media users like looking at their photos, in the back of their minds, they know that influencers don’t consume the products they recommend. 

 

For your Instagram, you should use a different approach. Your content should cater to a tiny engaged community; contrary to popular belief, it’s not about the number of followers you have but the engagement. 

 

You should first find a niche, anything from fitness or beauty to marketing and tech gadgets. Ensure you go for a niche that interests you and can make a lot of content for you. 

 

The next step involves building a strong Instagram following by regularly publishing exciting content and talking about things that might pique the interest of your audience. 

 

Social media marketing tools help you schedule posts beforehand so you don’t struggle to develop new content. 

 

Once you have a solid following, you can get paid to market products through sponsored content. Being an influencer needs a lot of hustle; not everyone can do it. 

 

However, individuals with the right advertising skills and a considerable following can earn anything from $500 to $6,000 for each post. If you post several sponsored content every week, it can be a lucrative venture. 

10. Become a Social Media Manager

Most people are on social channels — it’s only logical that there are businesses and jobs to be sprung from Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. If you’re experienced with social media marketing and know how the ads work, you can set up consulting business on social platforms. 

 

Everyone needs assistance getting their message across on social channels, from large companies to small enterprises. 

 

There are several responsibilities of a social media manager: 

 

• Content creation for brands. 
• Tracking ROI and running custom advertising campaigns. 
• Integrating content with email marketing and PPC approaches.
• Tweaking campaigns, A/B tests, and analyzing results. 

 

Ensure you always keep up with trends in the ever-changing social media landscape. For Instance, TikTok currently offers a significant opportunity for established brands, yet most people don’t have accounts, and those that have accounts don’t post often. 

 

LinkedIn is another growing website for digital marketing to enterprises and connecting with prospective customers. 

 

If you’re searching for a job to gain social media experience, Fiverr, CareerBuilder, and Flexjobs provide numerous opportunities associated with social media marketing. 

 

Once you’ve gained adequate experience and exposure, you can set up a consulting business and charge either a monthly retainer or a performance charge for your work. 

11. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing has been a buzzword in the marketing sphere for a while now. When people think about earning passive income on the Internet, they automatically think of affiliate marketing.

 

Companies that sell products or services online typically develop new affiliate programs and allow affiliates to market their services or products and get commissions. 

 

One blog earning report study indicated that bloggers who earn between $7,500 and $25,000 monthly generate 38% of their income through affiliate marketing. 

 

Affiliate marketing is a proven business model where influencers and bloggers promote helpful products or services and earn a commission for every subsequent sale. It’s an excellent form of generating passive income and the ideal business model for bloggers. 

 

Set up an account on Awin, Skimlinks, Rakuten, and ShareASale platforms. You’ll get a percentage of the profit from the kind of content published on the website. The earnings will slowly increase as your website grows. 

12. Travel Business Consulting

Although it doesn’t seem like there are many employment opportunities in the travel industry, it’s still a profitable niche. Technology has extinguished the role of travel agents; individuals are now seeking assistance in managing their Airbnb listings and boosting their rental earnings from vacation properties. 

 

You need to be well-skilled in marketing to assist property owners in growing their booking rates. VRBO and Airbnb bookings aren’t just going to fall from the sky; you must have visibility, robust customer support, and professional photography. 

 

Build a website and create pages on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to market the business and connect with individuals who want to boost their rental income. Once you’ve developed a solid client base, you can work with travel agencies to get exclusive deals for your clients. 

 

You should consider getting a travel consulting certificate to make it a full-time career. 

13. Wedding Photography

The cost of wedding photography has grown in recent years, and it’s an excellent choice for artists who need to make additional income. Professional wedding photographers usually charge between $2,500 and $10,000 for every photo shoot. 

 

You must first build your customer base by searching for clients online and signing up on aggregators such as MyWed. You can also set up business accounts on Instagram and Facebook to reach prospective customers. 

 

You can sign up for online photography classes to refine your skills. Also, research the photography equipment you require before setting up your business. 

 

It would be best if you built a portfolio to establish yourself as a professional photographer; therefore, create a website to work on building your website traffic and referrals by word-of-mouth advertising. 

14. Interior Designing

People have recently become more stylish about every aspect of home design. Consequently, there’s a demand for interior designers who can create functional and striking living spaces. 

 

In addition, people who hire interior designers typically fall on the higher end of the income spectrum. There are also numerous chances to venture into corporate interior design, where large companies pay you to design resorts, corporate offices, hotel lobbies, etc. 

 

To get started, you can look for inspiration from Pinterest, which has many interior design concepts. Then, use your professional and personal network to build an enterprise around your interior design skills. 

 

Building a portfolio is essential as an interior designer; therefore, consider offering pro bono services to realtors and home developers to stage houses before taking the leap and venturing into full-time interior designing. 

15. Become an Uber or Lyft Driver

Driving Lyft or Uber is an excellent side hustle that can make you some decent extra cash. Besides driving, you must ensure your car is clean and comfortable and can deal with different personalities. 

 

Anyone with a car and a valid driver’s license is eligible to become a driver on these platforms. Currently, the companies don’t conduct background checks. The requirements to become a driver for either company are listed on their websites. 

 

Nevertheless, before deciding to venture into this business, ensure you factor in aspects such as maintenance, toll fees, wear and tear, and the cost of gas to calculate the monthly profit margins. There are various online calculators you can use to determine your potential earnings. 

16. WordPress Website Consulting

WordPress is the go-to site for budding bloggers and small enterprises to create their websites. If you have experience creating WordPress websites, you can leverage the experience to start an enterprise. 

 

Aside from WordPress website consulting services, you can also provide digital marketing to your customers to diversify your income portfolio. 

 

Establishing a successful WordPress website consultant enterprise can expand your business to a full-blown digital marketing firm. 

 

You can also use platforms like SkillShare to learn more about creating web pages, WordPress, and website design software. Ensure you offer clients a free business plan template to use with their WordPress sites to get them through the door. 

17. App Development

In today’s digital world, there’s an app for everything; this discourages many people from venturing into this field as the market seems saturated. 

 

That notwithstanding, there are several ways you can come up with concepts for new applications or ways to enhance the user experience for an existing application. 

 

An advantage of app development is that specific apps don’t need you to have advanced coding skills to create them. You must conduct a lot of market research to have an app featured on the App Store.

 

Go through the successful applications in your industry, research their marketing approach, and all other details, including reviews, cover art, and description. Doing this can help you develop a unique concept that meets a particular market’s needs. 

18. Content Writing

Many companies are looking for content writers. You can leverage your skills to start a profitable freelance content writing business if you know how to write articles and engaging stories. 

 

You can write content for various purposes, including sales pages, website copy, email newsletters, and blog posts. Professional freelance content writers earn between $1,000 and $5,000 weekly.

 

You should also consider proofreading and editing work and using current grammar tools to help clients upload and publish error-free content. 

 

With freelance content writing, you can make money from any location. You can use platforms such as Flexjobs to find jobs if you’re just venturing into this market.  

 

Once you have a portfolio, you can create your web page and generate inbound leads. Another option is to use a social network like LinkedIn to link with prospective clients and provide SEO and content writing services. 

19. Domain Name Selling

Purchasing and selling domain names is an excellent business concept since many clients want to purchase them. 

 

Selling domains is a business concept that’s almost as old as the Internet. For example, in 2009, the domain name Insure.com was sold for $16 million. Even though this business concept is old and most valuable domain names are taken, if you’re lucky to find a trending domain name, you can sell it for a huge amount of money. 

 

The main thing in this business is that you should be able to identify interesting blog names that are likely to sell later. Purchase them using cheap hosting plans and auction them. 

 

This concept’s long-term viability is debatable; therefore, it is advisable to venture into this business as a side-gid and not a full-time job. 

20. Airbnb Hosting

If you have an unused space, you can use it to make extra cash by listing it on Airbnb. This has become a profitable venture for many homeowners who want to make extra cash by renting their property. 

 

Apart from making money, renting out your property gives you a chance to meet different people from various parts of the world. That said, you have to be available on call to assist your guests with local needs. 

 

You can enhance this venture by providing food and custom experiences such as welcome gift baskets, city tours, transport on a chargeable basis, errand services, and welcome gift baskets.

21. Data Analysis

For an online business to make informed decisions, it must be data-driven. The demand for experienced data analysts who can make sense of information and develop practical insights is growing. 

 

This is the perfect business idea for you if you’re skilled at crunching numbers and have adequate knowledge of the digital marketing sphere. 

 

Familiarize with social media analytics tools such as Google Analytics and information visualization tools such as Tableau to boost your skill set. 

 

The data analysis sphere also offers opportunities for well-paying full-time jobs; on average, full-time data analysts make roughly $60,000 every year. 

 

You can sign up for data analysis courses on Coursera and edX to perfect your skills. Once you’ve gained adequate experience, you can use Flexjobs to get remote data analysis jobs. With time, you can develop your skill set and create a lucrative data consulting enterprise. 

22. Personal Training or Wellness Coaching

Personal trainers are always in demand; if you’re into fitness and are well versed in the technicalities of diet plans and workouts, you can make extra cash by assisting individuals to become physically fit. 

 

Once you establish a customer base and earn a stellar reputation, the job will become financially and physically beneficial. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced conditions such as social distancing and gym closures; since we aren’t out of the woods yet, starting an at-home fitness business where you work out outside or travel to customer locations may be beneficial. 

 

You can also start a fitness blog where you share tips with a broader audience and establish yourself as an expert in your niche. 

 

Make efforts to learn more about fitness and get certified to become more credible. You can also become a mental health or wellness coach and provide continuing education credits like Core Wellness. 

 

As a wellness coach, you can assist your clients in sorting their life problems and help them in creating plans to move forward and attain their goals. Even though you don’t need certification to become a wellness coach, certification increases your credibility and can help you attract more clients. 

23. Become a Translator

You can leverage your expertise in various languages to earn extra cash. The demand for translators is always high, but finding a top-quality language translator can be very difficult. To get started, select two languages you’re proficient in. The highest paying language pairs include:

 

• English to Japanese
• English to Arabic
• English to Danish
• English to Chinese

 

When picking a translation niche, you must consider whether the project length is linked to the language you’re translating. You can choose from various niches, including celebrity lifestyle, health, and tourism. 

 

As you select a niche, ensure you familiarize yourself with both languages so that you can refine your skills. You should also consider getting certification, as it’ll help you land high-paying translation jobs. 

 

As you’re starting, don’t brush off low-paying jobs; they’ll help you hone your skills and build your portfolio. There are numerous online platforms where you can get online jobs. These includeTranslators Cafe, Upwork, Fiverr, and People Per Hour. 

24. Create a YouTube Channel

The increased demand for live video-on-demand and streaming has seen YouTube grow from just a video website to a content-on-demand platform. 

 

Although the platform is saturated, many opportunities exist to create a YouTube channel and earn money. 

 

First, select a niche you’re interested in and make unique and engaging content. The more entertaining your content is, the more subscribers and views you’ll get with time. 

 

Many popular YouTubers make millions on the platform by posting content; nevertheless, the average YouTuber makes approximately $3 to $5 for every 1000 views. 

 

Before creating a YouTube channel, ensure you go through the platform’s content guidelines so you can monetize your posts. Additionally, invest in a good microphone and camera to make high-quality content for more significant income potential.

25. Become a Tour Guide

If you live in an area where you and tourists frequently enjoy meeting new people, you can become a tour guide and work on your terms. To offer this service, you need in-depth knowledge of your surroundings, including the culture and history. 

 

You can set up a tour guide firm to help tourists get the best travel experience. To stand out from other agencies, you can provide something extra by arranging unique local delicacies or vintage cars for the tourists.

 

Tour guides usually get handsome tips if they impress their clients with their services. 

26. Stock Photography

From marketing and social media to banners and websites, stock photos are used everywhere. If you have decent photoshop skills and a DSLR, you can sell your images on stock image platforms such as Unsplash, Shutterstock, and Pexels. 

 

You’ll get paid a markup amount each time a customer uses your image. You can create your website later on to secure better company projects. 

 

Before venturing into this business, consider the equipment and initial investment required to set it up. 

27. Ghostwriting

Although ghostwriters don’t get credit for their writing, they earn a lot of cash. A successful ghostwriter is Jeff Hadden, who has made millions by writing for famous people. Hadden started writing as a side-hustle but eventually made it a profitable career. 

 

You can get ghostwriting jobs on FlexJobs, Freelancer, and Upwork. As a beginner, you can earn between $15 and $30 every hour, depending on the quality of your work. Once you’ve gained experience, you can build a portfolio, and your earnings will increase. 

 

Before getting into this arena, ensure you learn its rules and ethics. 

28. Tailoring and Cloth Alteration

Fashion and style are always tending; therefore, being a good tailor offers an excellent business opportunity. Your expertise in designing clothes with a limited budget can land you many clients. 

 

Research by Entrepreneur.com suggests that the tailoring and alteration business requires little investment ($2,000). However, you can always start small and build it gradually. 

 

You can sign up on platforms such as Oxford Home Study to hone your clothing and styling skills.

 

Alternatively, you can also set up a business for hemming and mending clothes. If you have a sewing machine at home, you can start offering clients this service as you work on building your brand as a designer. 

29. DJ-ing

If you have a taste for music and have a knack for mixing beats, you should consider becoming a DJ. Famous DJs typically earn thousands of dollars every month doing various gigs. 

 

However, becoming a DJ isn’t as simple as it sounds; you must learn the fundamentals of production, design, and sound mixing to enter the professional scene. 

 

The best thing would be to take a virtual DJ course to learn the basics of the art before launching your career as a DJ. 

30. Baking

You can earn a lot of money by baking tasty treats; however, this may seem like an easy small business concept. To succeed, you must be skilled at baking to sell them at premium prices. Most people usually prefer purchasing gourmet and handmade baked products. 

 

To start, stock up on essential baking equipment such as measuring cups, spatulas, baking tins, etc. 

 

You can begin by baking something as basic as your mother’s secret cookie recipe to advance your skills. With time, you can master various popular recipes to build your unique selling proposition (USP) and sell your products at premium prices. 

 

Skillshare offers free baking classes which you can use to perfect your baking skills. 

31. Content Marketing

Influencers, small enterprises, and startups are always searching for ways to increase online visibility through high-quality interactive content marketing. 

 

Your expertise in offering practical content marketing approaches can help you land high-ticket customers. Once you’ve built a portfolio and established a customer base, you can make thousands of dollars on every project. 

 

To begin, you can search your existing network for firms looking for content marketers to increase their online visibility. 

 

This business concept is a dynamic skill set; as technology advances, you always need to know what’s trending. 

32. Invest in Profitable Schemes

If you have cash lying unused in a bank, earning little to no interest, you should consider investing in profitable schemes. Warren Buffet is the most popular example of smart investing; he’s made millions from his intelligent investing habits. 

 

The key is to start small with short-term investing as you learn the ropes of the stock market. To grow your wealth gradually, you should invest tactfully in value stocks. 

 

Before investing, you should take online stock market courses to grasp other investment options such as retirement investments (gold IRAs, index funds, and Roth IRAs), blockchain, and crypto. 

33. E-Book Writing

Access to free and low-cost self-publishing tools has made writing and publishing books simpler. Writing an e-book is a profitable online business as approximately 89 million Americans read e-books every year. 

 

But, it would be best if you didn’t pursue this profession as a full-time venture since only renowned authors earn over $10,000 per year through eBooks. Instead, you should start small and write for other people to make a name. Once you’ve made a name for yourself, you can try writing e-books. 

 

You can use it as a side-hustle until your content starts selling. In the meantime, use online resources to search for tips on how to write an e-book. 

34. Car Detailing and Washing

Most vehicle owners never have time to clean their vehicles. As the number of car owners grows, starting a car detailing and washing business is a practical way to make extra income during your free time. 

 

All you require to start this business are networking skills, a hose, tire black, car shampoo, and a sponge. You can even have a mobile car wash service that generates revenue of up to $1 million yearly. 

35. Create a Niche Web Page

Technology has made it easier to connect with people with whom we share common interests. Therefore, setting up a web page and writing about a subject matter you’re passionate about will attract an audience. 

 

For example, you can create a blog about solo travel where you publish helpful content about your travel experience. Make the content informative and engaging to resonate with your target audience. 

 

However, you’ll have to invest heavily in building an audience. You should also conduct extensive market research to identify a feasible niche where you stand a chance of making money in the long run. Search for concepts to create a lucrative niche web page on the Internet.  

36. Child Care

Parents always look for a helping hand in child care as it can be overwhelming. Consequently, there’s always a demand for caring childcare professionals. This is a profitable venture for individuals who love being around children. 

 

Parents don’t want to leave their kids with an untrustworthy person; thus, ensure you’re honest, caring, and dependable. Before starting this business, decide on the age group of children you’re willing to look after. 

 

As you build your customer base, you can open a daycare center to look after children and expand your enterprise. To enhance your chances of succeeding in this business, you should learn about the local laws on child care services and get certified. 

37. Carpet Cleaning

All households have at least one carpet, which is bound to get dirty. People always look for reliable carpet cleaners to remove stains, bugs, dust, and allergens. 

 

To get started, you must buy a good vacuum cleaner, carpet brushes, and cleaning agents. Conduct adequate market research to offer your clients competitive prices. You can begin by inquiring about your competitors’ cleaning services in your neighborhood. 

 

Ensure you’re constantly updated on new carpet cleaning techniques and services to stay ahead of the curve. Eventually, you can hire people and start a carpet cleaning company as the job orders increase. 

39. Modeling

This is the right venture if you have the body and attitude for the modeling business. Fashion designers and marketers always search for new models to launch their products. 

 

Nevertheless, it’s essential to evaluate what you’re subscribing to. Liaise with people already in the business, find a mentor who can assist you in the early stages of your career, and network to find the right contacts. 

 

Even though the job may appear alluring, it requires a lot of hard work and commitment to succeed. 

40. Computer Repair

Since authorized service stations usually charge a fortune to repair devices, you can make money by opening a low-cost repair business.

 

You can approach small businesses and neighbors for device repair jobs if you love repairing gadgets. Then, you can slowly expand your business to cater to a broader customer base. 

 

There are numerous opportunities in this field, from replacing a crashed hard drive to fixing issues related to the network. 

 

There are over 1 billion computers in use globally; thus, the demand for reliable computer repair services is significant. According to research, the computer repair field made $19 billion in 2018. 

41. Dog Walking 

You can earn money by assisting dog owners if you’re a dog enthusiast. Due to hectic schedules, most dog owners can’t take their dogs for walks regularly and need a pet sitter. Research from AVMA indicates that over 50% of households have pets. 

 

Technology has made it simpler to look for pet sitting jobs and set up an account on applications such as Wag to connect with dog owners. Dogwalker is another excellent website where you can connect with dog owners. 

 

Once you understand this business, you can set up your pet and dog walking business. You can expand the business by providing playdates, dog grooming, and dog sitting services. 

42. Custom Furniture Supply

Custom furniture is becoming increasingly popular; if you’re creative and can make furniture from scratch, don’t let this opportunity pass you by. You can convert your skills into an excellent money-making venture. Many people are willing to pay large amounts of money to get customized furniture. 

 

Most individuals want to make their houses look striking and authentic; thus, this has created room for the growth of the custom furniture business. You can list products on sites like Amazon and eBay to attract clients. 

43. Become a Real Estate Broker

The real estate sphere is growing, and many want to avoid legal requirements and paperwork hassles.

 

As a real estate broker, your work will facilitate housing deals to assist sellers and buyers in buying. This involves plenty of work; however, you can build a healthy pool of customers by helping them sell and buy residential and commercial properties. You can create a sales team to approach clients more effectively with time. 

 

First, conduct adequate research on how to be a successful real estate broker, take online courses, and get certified to increase your credibility. 

44. Human Billboard

If you have no qualms about being on display advertising products and grabbing the attention of strangers, then you can make a fortune as a human billboard. 

 

You can make $5 daily, but this concept may only appeal to a small crowd. On average, human billboards make $50,242 every year. 

 

This job is ideal for students who wish to make quick cash to meet their daily and tuition expenses. 

45. Handcrafting Jewelry Business

This venture has seen teenage entrepreneurs like Bella Weems (Origami Owl) and Maddie Bradshaw (M3 Girl Designs) make millions of cash handcrafting jewelry. 

 

This industry has countless opportunities, and its growth is projected to be between 5% and 6% yearly. Since there are no prominent corporate players in this industry, it’s easy to break into it. 

 

You can start by selling your goods online. After making a name for yourself, you can even open an offline store. 

 

To understand the nitty-gritty of the jewelry-making business, you can get a diploma or sign up for an online course. 

46. Buy a Website

If you have a knack for spotting the best enterprise for investment, you can opt for buying a website. Many websites on the Internet have immense potential but require an expert to take them to the next level. 

 

You can purchase a website at a discount, build its business and audience and sell it at a higher price later. 

 

Some of the sites where you can purchase a website include:

 

• BizBuySell
• Flippa
• Empire Flippers

 

Web page trading is real, and many people make money through it. The price of a website depends on its domain name and its potential to scale up revenue and traffic. 

47. Rubbish Removal Service

Even though this isn’t a traditional business concept you’d typically pitch to your friends, it has immense potential. Here, your job is to get rid of junk and take it to recycling points for a sustainable future. 

 

You can also lobby for funds to set up your business from large corporations like JunkLuggers. Before setting up the business, you must purchase proper equipment like garbage cans, shovels, trucks, and sledgehammers. 

48. Mobile Laundry Service

In the United States, laundry services are valued at over $40 billion. This business is recession-proof since people will never stop putting on clothes; consequently, they’ll continue needing laundry services. 

 

Many home delivery laundry services have shot up in recent years; however, there’s still potential to set up a reliable laundry service by providing better services that are low cost. 

 

You can take an online course in retail cleaning and laundry to understand the proper fabric and chemical usage. 

49. Personal Cooking 

Being a personal chef can help you make a lot of money for your impeccable cooking skills; most people are so busy with their careers that they can’t find the time to make a simple meal for themselves. You can assist such individuals by preparing any mouth-watering meal of their choice. 

 

The personal chef industry is set to grow by 5.2% between 2016 and 2026 as the demand for chefs who can cook delicious and healthy food increases. 

 

You can use YouTube to learn how to cook unique and delicious dishes or get a diploma in personal cooking to increase your employability. Eventually, you can launch a catering business or open a restaurant, bar, or coffee shop where you can display your culinary skills. 

50. Wedding Planning

In recent years, weddings have become more resource-intensive, organized, and opulent. Couples usually look for reliable wedding planners to manage all the wedding aspects effectively and are usually willing to pay handsomely. 

 

You can enter this business immediately if you have contacts with professionals such as DJs, photographers, travel agents, performers, florists, and caterers. If not, you can use social media to foster relationships. 

 

Wedding planning is capital- and time-intensive, but it brings in a lot of money. On average, wedding planners earn $40/hour. You can get a wedding planning diploma to refine your skills further and increase your credibility.

51. Pet Grooming

This business has become popular in areas where affluent pet owners live. People are spoiling their pets with massage therapy, haircuts, foot massages, and spas. 

 

To start a pet grooming business, you need an initial capital investment of $2,000; then, you can make approximately $48000 annually. You can find potential clients on Facebook or by joining WhatsApp groups. 

 

You can also sign up for an online pet grooming course to get more insights on the job.

52. Contract Customer Service (CSR)

Most companies cut costs by outsourcing customer support services from freelancers. You can apply for customer support jobs with excellent communication and management skills. 

 

Freelancing sites such as Fiverr and Upwork provide many contract-based customer support services. If you already have experience, you can build a team and create a customer service company. 

 53. T-Shirt Printing

There’s a high demand for T-shirts with funky logos and exciting graphics. The T-shirt selling a business is worth millions and depends on efficient printers to meet the ever-growing demand. 

 

The market already has many suppliers; however, there’s enough room for new entrepreneurs. You can launch a line or take orders from local businesses and multinational brands. 

 

Furthermore, this industry lets you work on your terms, i.e., you can choose to start with a sizable factory-based production or from a small room.  

 

You can take a print production course from Coursera to learn the dynamics of printing technology and dyes. 

54. Bookkeeping

People will always need help with their business and personal finances. Setting up your accounting or bookkeeping business is an excellent idea if you’re an accountant. 

 

This work can be done in an office or remotely, and it’s a very lucrative venture as many people are willing to pay a lot of money for these services. It also has low overhead; all you need is qualifications, and you’ll be set. 

55. Mobile Cleaning

Everyone wants a clean environment to get their work done, whether they work remotely, in an office, hospital, or school. Launching a mobile cleaning service is something you can do quickly since it has a lower overhead than other small business concepts. 

 

Specializing in one type of cleaning will also help you stand out. For instance, specializing in allergen removal or using safe products can help you attract more clients. 

56. CV Writing

Writing a CV isn’t easy for most, especially with the rise of automated reviews and keyword utilization in job descriptions. CV writing is one of the most lucrative business concepts if you know how to create unique and professional CVs that land jobs. 

 

This job has many prospective clients; get the word out using your social media accounts and customer referrals. 

 

Business Concepts for Food Enthusiasts

57. Homemade Popcorn Business

This simple business concept can be a great starting point for a mobile catering or retail business. 

 

Starting a homemade popcorn business is cheaper than most other food businesses. Popcorn is also cheap; a single batch costs approximately  $20. 

 

Once you have developed some unique popcorn recipes, you can use social media to get the word out about your new venture. You can also connect with restaurants, party planners, or other catering businesses to provide your product as an add-on to the business. 

58. Ice Cream Shop

This is one of the most successful businesses you can venture into if you’re a food lover. Most people love ice cream, and with the right product and a clear business plan, you’ll have many customers flocking around your premises. 

 

There are various ways you can get into this business:

 

• Open a new shop.
• Take over an existing one.
• Purchase a franchise from a well-known chain. 

 

You can also start an ice cream food truck business. Mobile businesses are the new trend in the catering industry. An advantage of having a mobile business is that it will help you reach more clients. 

Additional Small Business Concepts

Here are some other unique small business ideas that might pique your interest:

59. Wine Bar

Set up a wine bar in your city. Wine bars are trendy in many cities across the globe. Identify a strategic location within the city that has the potential to lure customers. 

60. Craft Beer Pub

You can start a craft beer bar, serve beer you’ve brewed, host events, and create a fun chill-out spot in your neighborhood. An enterprise that fosters community is an enterprise that can snowball. 

 61. Home Delivery 

For many years, people enjoyed cooking meals and carrying them to work. However, busy schedules have made this tradition fade as more people turn to food delivery companies to deliver food to them at work. While starting in this industry is capital-intensive, it’s worthwhile. 

62. Video Production

This is an excellent small business concept if you carry your camera everywhere. Videos have become very popular on social channels in recent years; thus, there’s a demand for individuals who can shoot and edit videos. If you don’t have adequate experience, you can use digital platforms like Coursera to learn how to use editing software. 

63. Meal Preparation 

If you’re interested in setting up a subscription-based business, you should consider starting a meal preparation business. Meal preparation is a fast-growing industry that works on a recurrent model. This is the perfect business for individuals who are interested in a business that compounds. 

64. Online Dating Consulting

You should consider becoming an online dating consultant with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Your work will entail creating online dating profiles, getting matches from outside the usual digital platforms, and providing a degree of personalization that platforms like Tinder can’t. 

Craft Business Concepts

65. Knitting Club

Knitting clubs aren’t only reserved for the elderly. If you love knitting, don’t underestimate the potential of people looking to learn how to knit. 

66. Art Lessons

You can start online classes to teach children or hobbyists art. It could be anything you’re skilled at, from pottery to painting. 

67. Lotion and Soap Making

Making lotions and soaps from home is easy; many popular soap brands began as home businesses. 

68. Custom Embroidery

Embroidery is a craft that’s been around since time immemorial, and you can launch this business from home as long as you have the necessary equipment. 

69. Scrapbooking Services

For most people, scrapbooking is usually a pain since they want photo albums and don’t want to deal with putting them together; thus, it offers an excellent business opportunity.

70. Flea Market Selling

If you are skilled in making custom products, you should consider going into the flea market vendor business. Almost all cities have several flea markets where you can set up a booth. 

71. Antique Refurbishment

There’s a lot of value in restored upholstery. Being able to refurbish old furniture into striking pieces is a service that most individuals are willing to pay tons of cash for. 

Home Service Small Business Concepts

72. House baby-proofing
73. Basement remodeling
74. Garden consulting
75. Home landscaping
76. Aquarium maintenance
77. Gutter cleaning
78. Wallpaper and painting services
79. Apartment preparation business
80. Irrigation services
81. Landscaping services for commercial enterprises
82. Stairlift installation
83. General handiwork

Sports and Outdoor

84. Adventure planning
85. Bicycle repair
86. Buying and selling used boats
87. Charter boat tours and fishing
88. Health club
89. Fitness rental equipment

Business Services

90. Business plan template writing
91. HR consulting
92. Local marketing services
93. Contract writing
94. Financial planning

Steady Income Small Business Ideas

95. Pest control
96. Coin-operated laundry
97. Pool cleaning and maintenance
98. Property management business
99. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) 
100. Vending machine business

Seasonal Small Business Ideas

101. Snow plowing business
102. Lawn mowing and landscaping business
103. Outdoor adventure business
104. Food truck business
105. Chimney sweep
106. Halloween retailing
107. Fireworks selling
108. Event planning services around particular holidays
109. Mini golf course
110. Kayak and canoe rental business

Why Understanding Client’s Needs Is Essential

Setting up an online business is an excellent idea; however, launching an enterprise without clearly understanding your customers’ needs is a disaster. 

 

A lack of understanding of clients’ needs can make you miss out on vital aspects like whether or not they have the resources to spend on the product you’re launching. 

 

Knowing what a customer needs also requires a strategic approach since you can’t just approach someone on the street and ask why they aren’t purchasing your products. 

 

The best way to know customer needs is by conducting surveys. Survey software is available online, with some firms offering free high-quality software for individuals. 

 

Research is key in determining what your clients need, but research without knowing which questions to ask and at what time is useless. If the survey is too long, you’ll likely lose customers as they may find it boring. 

 

To start, ask a few questions, then gauge the type of response you get from them. Show interest in the people you’re surveying; remember, just because someone isn’t interested in your product doesn’t mean you should write them off; they may know someone else who would be interested in purchasing the product. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Business Can I Launch Without Capital?

If you don’t have initial capital for your business, there are several businesses you can still set up. Most of these businesses can help you earn money by offering services online. Here are some of them:

 

• Launch a blog and earn with affiliate programs, online courses, digital products, and ads.
• Become a freelance writer.

 

• If you know how to code, launch a business, and create websites and applications.
• Become an online business coach.
• Join top freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr to provide services such as digital marketing consulting, graphic designing, etc. 
• Provide digital services such as SEO consulting, content marketing, or PPC management. 

2. What Are the Top Startup Concepts?

There are numerous options if you want to create a startup this year. 70% of entrepreneurs start their businesses from home. Here’s a list of some of the leading startup concepts: 

 

• Set up a dropshipping enterprise to sell goods online.
• Build a SaaS app and look for monthly recurring clients.
• Invest in co-working spaces and real estate.
• Create a blog and earn through ads, affiliate programs, and online courses.
• Launch a podcast and sell ad slots after growing an audience.
• Set up a digital agency and provide services such as website development and management, SEO, and social media consulting.
• Establish a food truck business and look for a strategic location to generate sales.

3. Which Small Business Ideas Are the Most Successful?

Successful small business concepts will likely generate solid income and profit margins. Here are some of the most successful small businesses you can venture into:

 

• Accounting, payroll services, taxes, and bookkeeping
• Legal services
• Dental offices
• Real estate sales and leasing
• Customized design services
• Outpatient care businesses
• Mineral mining and quarrying.
• Storage and warehouse companies
• Secondary schools and education
• Medical laboratories

4. Which Business Can I Do From Home?

The rise of the digital economy has made it simple to set up an online enterprise and work remotely. Here are some excellent work-from-home businesses:

 

• Graphic design
• Freelance writing
• Photography
• Web development
• Home tutoring
• Social media consulting
• Coaching and public speaking
• Virtual assistance
• Airbnb hostIng
• Podcasting

5. How Can I Become Self-Employed?

If you want to be your boss, do the following: 

 

• Find a small business idea that aligns with your interests. 
• Assess the competition and market. 
• Ensure you have adequate capital to set up your new business.
• Create a marketing and business plan.
• Choose your business name and build your brand identity.
• Launch your business officially and choose the right LLC service. 
• Install accounting software or hire a bookkeeper to get your finances in order. 
• Open a business bank account. 
• Create a website for your business together with social media pages so that you can promote your business. 

6. How Can I Earn Money Quickly?

If you’re strapped for cash and need a quick way to make money, you can: 

 

• Refinance your loans to get a considerable sum of money.
• Sign up on online survey platforms such as Survey Junkie to earn money by filling out surveys.
• Sign up on investment platforms that pay you ROI every month.
• Using Facebook and Google ads, use an e-commerce website to sell goods online and generate traffic fast.
• Become a freelancer on platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork.
• Sign up on sites such as Spinlister or Turo to rent your properties.
• Sell e-books on Amazon.
• Inquire from your bank if you’re eligible for any bonuses.
• Create an online course and sell information to students.

 

• Start podcasting and earn through selling ad slots.

7. What Kind of Business Should I Set Up?

• Identify a market that isn’t saturated. 
• Launch an online business as they have become increasingly popular. Start by setting up an Etsy store or become a freelancer. The options for an online business are endless; however, you should pursue something you’re interested in. 
• Start a business based on a trend. All industries have emerging trends; therefore, it’s essential to identify an upward trend in your niche. 

Bottom Line 

These small business ideas can help you earn a decent income. Ultimately, the most reliable businesses are starting an e-commerce store, consulting firm, or blog, as external factors are less likely to affect them. You can consult a business broker to make it easier to take over an established business.