Best 25 Small Business Ideas to Make Money
With a wide variety of business ideas out there, it can be difficult to decide which ones are worth investing your time and effort into. While jumping into a new direction can sometimes be risky it can also be very rewarding.
Owning your own business gives you the freedom to work anytime and anywhere you want, you are in control of everything. This is the dream life most people wish they could live. Thanks to the successful project idea, achieving this lifestyle will be within your reach. If you are still wondering what is the perfect business idea, this list will provide you with 25 small business ideas to make money.
1- Dropshipping
Are you looking to sell products online but don’t have enough money to purchase and store inventory? Dropshipping is the answer. Dropshipping is an e-commerce business model that doesn’t require you to manage any physical products, meaning you don’t have to maintain inventory. All you have to do is set up an online store, partner with suppliers who are ready to store, pack and ship orders to your customers. You also don’t need to spend hours researching products, as you can use dropshipping apps to find great products to sell.
Online marketplaces like Handshake give small business owners the opportunity to find unique, high-quality products and build long-term relationships with suppliers.
2- Print on demand
If you are looking for successful business ideas to implement, here is a print on demand business idea. Your job is to sell your custom designs on items like phone cases, mugs, and T-shirts to suppliers who handle the printing and shipping. One of the quickest ways to get started is to create a Shopify store or download the Printify app. In terms of marketing, partnering with Instagram influencers is an effective way to reach audiences.
3- Translation
Translation is one of the best side business ideas as it does not require a set schedule. The demand for multilingual people is always there. If you can speak two or more languages, consider starting a small business where you can invest in these skills. Sites like Upwork and Flexjobs help you with your client sourcing task. You can hire more translators specializing in other languages ​​to grow and develop your small business.
4- Selling websites
This project involves buying a working website, improving its design and content, and then selling it for a profit. Shopify’s Marketplace Exchange, for example, allows you to buy e-commerce sites that you can improve with content marketing, SEO, and other tactics, and then offer them for sale once the site starts generating more revenue.
5- Home Supply
If you have a talent for cooking, you can make a decent income by opening a home catering business. The initial investment depends on the size of your project. If you start with small events that you can manage on your own, the profit margin will probably be moderate. Most home caterers start by creating a website, then join chef-related platforms to gain some experience.
6- Virtual assistant.
One of the most successful business ideas is to offer virtual assistant services. Both individual entrepreneurs and large corporations need assistance in the day-to-day management of their business. You will have to use your organizational skills to help them in this task for a fee. Some of the duties of a virtual assistant are answering emails, scheduling meetings, and performing other administrative tasks.
7- Personal shopper
Do friends and family come to you for advice on clothes? If so, then the Personal Shopper Services project is perfect for you. You will have to evaluate the client’s wardrobe and then help him choose the pieces of clothing that suit him. You don’t need to have any special certification or degree to become a personal shopper. The investment required for this project is almost non-existent.
8- Online private lessons
If you are an expert in a subject or even an art, you can start an online tutoring business. You can find clients on sites like Skooli and Tutor.com. Commit to teaching only subjects that are relevant to your area of ​​expertise so that you can deliver lessons of the highest quality, and constructively share your skills and knowledge to enhance students’ skills. You can also give lectures and interact with your students via Skype, which makes teaching online one of the easiest businesses to start.
9- Greeting cards
If you are interested in design or you love to display and possibly sell your artwork, then this is one of the best project ideas for you. But before you start looking for clients, you’ll need to have some pre-made designs to go. Tools like Photoshop and Canva make it easy to create custom card designs. You will also need the required supplies such as ink, paper, etc., and it is recommended that you buy them in bulk. Once you’ve sorted the inventory, you’ll start generating revenue by marketing your business on Facebook, Etsy, and other similar platforms.
10- Content writing
Every business with an online presence needs help creating content for product pages, blogs, etc. Starting a content writing or copywriting company can be one of the most profitable business ideas for you. Some popular websites that can make it easier for you to get clients are Remote.co, Promoter Jobs, and BloggingPro. You can also join content writing groups on Facebook as a way to promote your services.
11- Technical support for WordPress
A lot of websites are hosted on WordPress, and every website owner needs technical support. If you are familiar with the ins and outs of this platform, your chances of making money are great. Customers can contact you to fix CSS, find and remediate vulnerabilities, and more. While you can use platforms like PeoplePerHour and Upwork to get your first clients, we recommend that you create a dedicated website and list your services there to avoid high commissions and ensure you build quality relationships with your clients.
12- Career guidance
The demand for career guidance increases with the high unemployment rates. Your job includes helping others find out the best and most suitable career for them, how to interview, what traits define a good candidate, and so on. You can search for clients in Facebook groups or on platforms like Coach.me. You can earn money by conducting 4-5 sessions each month, in addition to the wages you get from the one-session training. If you are looking for good business ideas that will not occupy much of your time, then professional training may be your ideal choice.
13- Email marketing
Are you good at writing emails? If so, then you can enter the field of entrepreneurship and make money by launching an email marketing company. You can find companies that need help with their email strategy on platforms like PeoplePerHour and Upwork. Once you prove your skills in attracting customers with your marketing strategy, customers will rush to get your services for the price you ask.
14- Takeaway meals
Many people struggle to find the time to cook nutritious and healthy meals, which has led to an increase in the demand for projects that provide this type of meal. You can start a takeaway project in your area without the need to design a large commercial kitchen. Shared rental kitchens do the trick.
15- Site testing
Did you know that some brands hire real people to provide feedback on their websites? This feedback enables them to address issues that developers may have failed to identify. You can create your own website testing company and hire a group of people to work with you if you can. Your employees will receive a set of questions that they need to answer, as well as provide feedback on how to improve the site through a video. You can find customers through websites like UserTesting, Ferpection, and TryMyUI.
16- SEO
Do you have experience building backlinks and improving search engine visibility for websites? If yes, then there is an opportunity to earn some money from this experience. Website owners all over the world need the services of search engine optimization experts, which will make permanent demand for your services. Try to focus on a specialized audience and present your success stories when searching for clients. Offering SEO services is one of the best money making business ideas.
17- Application development
All businesses now want to have their own app which makes app development one of the best profitable small business ideas. You can use programs like OmniGraffle, Sketch, and CoreAnimator to create some models, or you can hire a freelance app developer through sites like AngelList and Upwork.
18- Photographer
If you have the knack of taking professional photos, you can start your own business as a photographer and then upload them to platforms like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock. Most of these photography sites will pay you a fee each time someone uploads one of your creations. You can also launch your own photography website and sell your photos directly to clients if you have enough money to invest in the site.
19- Virtual Dance Studio
You will not need to rent a large space to start this project, you will be giving these dance lessons from the comfort of your own home. All you have to do is invest in a video conferencing software like Zoom and you will need high speed internet. If you have a passion for creating unique choreography, you may find the opportunity to partner with other actual dance schools and work for a fee.
20- Instagram consultant
If you know the secrets of Instagram, consider becoming a consultant. Clients will pay you to craft attractive titles for their posts, respond to comments, and so on. You can set a specific price for one consultation or for every working hour. To increase the demand for your services, you have to hone your skills in crafting publications that attract the largest number of interactions. You can get your first clients by marketing your business on Upwork or through other social media platforms.
21- Video production
With more and more people watching videos, the need for people who are skilled in recording, editing, cutting and publishing videos increases. So starting a video production company might be one of the most profitable ideas for you. The initial investment in this project is a basic lighting kit, wireless microphones, one to two cameras (and lenses), and editing software such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro. You can find them at flea markets to reduce the cost. Offer to produce video content for corporate YouTube channels, manage graduation ceremonies, wedding photography, and more. Although there are no restrictions on the types of projects you can undertake, specializing in a field may help you stand out from the rest of the competition.
22- Software education
This project is of interest to people who are interested in learning software. You can set up your own educational project that specializes in this field, then enroll students on a monthly basis. Your student base might include entrepreneurs looking to improve their IT skills, or other small business owners looking to master software like Excel and PowerPoint. You can hire independent software experts to teach students based on their area of ​​expertise to further develop your project. It can be a bit expensive to rent space, so you can offer virtual classrooms to keep costs down and expand your business to international markets.
23- Preparing students to join the university
Helping high school students prepare for college entrance exams is a thriving business idea. According to IBISWorld, the test and educational support market size reached $17.9 billion in 2021. You can offer lessons in certain areas, help students improve their essay writing skills, and so on.
24- Specialized Employment Agency
Every industry has open jobs, and employers are always keen to hire the best people for their companies. Your job as a specialist recruitment agency is to match employees with employers in your chosen sector. Consider the terms of employment that your agency will share with potential candidates. Your recruitment agency can be temporary or long term based on market needs.
25- Digital planning for events
One of the best small business ideas is to start a digital event planning company. You will have to plan, organize and report on digital events such as seminars for various companies. You can make money by charging an hourly fee for your services. If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming an event planner, but didn’t have the time to make it happen, this digital planning project is perfect for you.
conclusion
To increase your chances of success, focus on the idea that matches your abilities and skills the most, and make sure that it is applicable and developed before you invest in it. Whether you are a college student, a work-at-home parent, or anyone else looking to start their own business, the business ideas above will boost your chances of making a profit.