Ever thought about starting an online business? Wondering how you could come up with some great online business ideas? Then this article is for you!
Nowadays, online businesses are thriving. It’s no surprise, given that more than 60% of the global population have access to mobile phones and the internet.
The good news is that starting an online business is simple and cost effective. You don’t need to rent or buy a physical space, and you can reach a mammoth global audience with just a few clicks.
What’s more, there are a variety of online business models to choose from, so you can find one that fits your skills and interests. I personally used my acting and audio skills to build a six figure voiceover business in under twelve months. However, the system I’ve used can be used by anyone to do the same thing!
So why not harness the power of the internet and launch your own online business today? This list will help you brainstorm some great online business ideas so you can get set up and earning in no time!
Source: https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-july-global-statshot
What are the best online business ideas?
#1: Start a freelance voiceover business
I’m going to kick things off in a somewhat biased way by talking about my experience with online business.
As an actor I was working minimum wage jobs whilst trying to launch an acting career. When I moved to the UK, minimum wage dropped significantly and the cost of living went up. I worked out that I’d essentially have to spend every waking hour of my life working to be able to live. That was NOT on the cards.
So I took an inventory of my skills, brainstormed some ideas, and figured I’d try to start an online business. 24 months on and I earn multiple six figures from sitting in a soundproof box in my kitchen talking to myself all day.
Voiceover is a huge business. Think about how many times a day you’re listening to someone speak: audiobooks, advertising campaigns, animated videos, corporate training, e-learning, podcasts, videos on a youtube channel, and the list goes on. It’s everywhere, and if you have a voice that fits into any of those categories, there is a lot of money to be made.
You also don’t have to spend too much to get things set up. I know numerous voiceover artists who purchased a USB microphone and set up a blanket fort to record in. They managed to build up a consistent flow of work before upgrading to higher quality equipment.
If you’re willing to put in the effort, voiceover is a great online business idea that can set you free from the 9-to-5 life.
#2: Start a blog
If you’re looking to set up a successful online business, blogging is a great way to go. It’s a low cost alternative that can lead to huge profits if you go about it the right way.
To make money online from blogging, you’ll primarily need to create content that is valuable and interesting to your audience, and ranks on Google. Once you have a decent amount of organic traffic, you can monetize your blog through advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling products and services.
It does take time and effort to make money from blogging, but it is possible to earn six or seven figures relatively quickly if you put the effort in.
#3: Produce and sell online courses
The e-learning industry is booming. In fact, the worldwide e-learning market is projected to be worth $1 trillion in 2028.
People want to learn. If you have skills in a specific area, you can probably find an audience that wants to learn about it. By packaging your knowledge into an online course, you can make some serious money.
To produce and sell a successful online course, you’ll need to create high quality content, promote your course heavily, and then price it competitively. You can also sell online courses on sites like Udemy, which takes care of the promotion and marketing for you.
If you’re looking for a business idea that can make you a lot of money quickly, online courses are a great option. Just whatever you do, PLEASE don’t use AI to generate generic sloppy content. I know there are people out there who tell you to do that, but if you want to teach something make sure you’re actually teaching it. Don’t let AI do the heavy lifting.
#4: Start a Youtube Channel
Youtube is huge. There are over 2 billion monthly active users on the platform, and 300 hours of video are uploaded every minute.
With that many people using the site, there’s a good chance you can find an audience for your content. So if you can build up a large enough following, you can definitely make money from Youtube.
I’m not going to lie to you, this one will take quite a bit of effort. You generally need to be pumping out a LOT of content consistently to reap the rewards. However, if you really enjoy filming or creating content, this option could be very valuable to you.
Another great thing about Youtube is that once you have a following, you can then sell to your followers. So not only are you able to make ad revenue and become an affiliate marketer, you can also sell merchandise and courses.
#5: Become an Influencer
I have always hated the word ‘influencer.’ That may well be because I have never been one but regardless, it is definitely an option to explore if you’re looking to start a successful online business.
To become an influencer, you’ll need to have a large following on social media platforms – Youtube, Instagram and TikTok. Once you have that, you can then start working with brands as an ambassador or an affiliate marketer. You essentially enhance their social media marketing efforts.
Brands are well aware of the power of influencer marketing and so will often seek out people to colaborate with.
You can also use your influence to sell products and services. For example, many fitness influencers sell workout programs and meal plans.
Much like becoming a Youtuber, this takes a lot of work, but if content creation is something you enjoy, I say go for it.
#6: Start Self Publishing e-books online
These days there is a huge market for e-books. In fact, in 2019, e-book sales accounted for around 10% of all book sales. That may not sound hugh, but when 10% is over $2 billion, it’s not insignificant.
The great thing about self-publishing e-books is that it’s cheap and quick. You don’t need to go through a traditional publishing house, and you can get your e-book published and available for sale in a matter of days.
To make money from e-books, you’ll need to price them competitively and then promote them heavily. Alternatively, you can sell them on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, which takes care of the promotion and marketing for you. There are also sites that exist which take your books and upload them to various retailers and library networks for you.
If you like to write, self publishing could be one of the best online business ideas for you.
#7: Become a presenter
If you’re confident in front of a camera (actors I’m talking to you) then why not explore the world of presenting.
Companies will often need a talking head style video where you present certain content in front of a plain background or green screen, and they will pay well if you do a good job.
You can get started by listing yourself on freelancer sites like Fiverr, UpWork or PeoplePerHour. By setting your rates slightly lower, you can build up a portfolio of work and then will be able to approach much larger companies and start charging some big numbers.
If you already have a camera and microphone at home, there is no reason you can’t repurpose it to suit presenting work.
#8: Do some freelance work
If you’re not ready to start a business from scratch, there is nothing wrong with doing some freelance work. You can get started quickly and easily, and if you find that you like it, you can always transition into starting your own freelance business later on.
There are a number of platforms out there that you can use to find work. Do your research to figure out which ones are most appropriate for your skill set. Once you have a few good reviews under your belt, you can start charging more for your services.
Additionally, if you already have a skill or trade that you’re good at, there’s nothing stopping you from offering those services online. It could act as a supplement to your full time job, or you may even find that it quickly overtakes your 9-to-5 and becomes your primary source of income.
#9: Become a day trader
If you’re up for a whole lot of risk, you may want to explore day trading.
Whilst most financial advisors would counsel against it, if you know what you’re doing it can be a very lucrative way to make money.
The key is to start small, with just a few hundred dollars, and then slowly grow your account as you learn the ropes.
There are a number of online brokerages that you can use. I would recommend starting with one that has lower commissions and fees. You don’t want your entire investment to be eaten by fees in your first few months or it defeats the purpose of trading entirely.
#10: Sell stock footage
If you’re handy with a camera or drone, then get yourself out there and start recording. Stock footage and photography is everywhere.
Often times when people shoot things for TV or for commercials, they either don’t want to have to go out and do the filming, or they miss a shot and need something to cut into what they’ve already filmed. Enter stock footage.
Once your footage or photos are online, they can be purchased and downloaded by anyone who wants to use them.
A lot of the time people will just need one particular shot from a larger video, so you don’t necessarily need hours of high quality footage. Even if you only have a few seconds of usable footage, it could still be worth uploading.
#11: Start tutoring
With the advent of video conferencing a lot of learning happens online these days. It opens you up to a much larger market because you can connect with people across the globe.
If you already tutor students in person, there is no reason you can’t start an online tutoring business. By going online it saves you both time and money. You don’t have to pay for travel or venue hire if you have a larger scale operation.
Tutoring can be particularly lucrative if you speak more than one language. In that instance, you can firstly teach people to speak various languages. You can also teach your content to people in multiple countries where perhaps English is not their first language.
#12: Start a subscription service
If you have a hobby or interest that you’re passionate about, there’s nothing stopping you from starting a subscription service around it.
Whether it’s monthly, quarterly or even yearly, people are always looking for new things to subscribe to. It could be anything from books and magazines, to clothes and makeup, to food and drink.
If you have a unique perspective or offering, then there’s definitely a market for it. You just have to make sure that you’re able to keep up with the demand and consistently deliver on your promises.
#13: Become an accent coach
If you have a knack for accents, why not become a coach? This could be teaching people to do new accents or helping people with accent reduction.
Much like with online tutoring, taking your coaching online opens up a much larger pool of prospective clients. You are able to reach people from all around the world.
There are a number of ways that you could coach someone. You could do it one-on-one, in a group, or even create an online course.
Just make sure you have a good internet connection, because things can get dicey if you can’t properly hear the person or people you’re trying to coach.
#14: Build your own app
If you have a great idea for an app, then there’s no reason why you can’t build it yourself and get it out there on the App Store or Google Play.
Nowadays, you don’t need to be a programmer for app development. There are various online platforms that allow you to create an app without any coding and at a relatively cheap cost.
Of course, if you can code then that’s great. It will give you more control over the final product and you’ll be able to create something truly unique. But if you’re not a programmer, don’t let that stop you from building an app.
Once your app is live, make sure you market it properly. There’s no point in having an app that no one knows about. So get on social media, start a blog, do some PR, and get the word out there.
Who knows, your app could be the next big thing.
#15: Sell downloadable printable assets
‘Downloadable assets’ is a term that encapsulates a LOT of different things. Essentially it refers to a product people can purchase and then download.
There is a huge market for printable assets these days. It’s a lot cheaper to buy a design online and then print it out yourself. You can also do it to a very high standard with all the technology available today.
On Etsy, you’ll find a lot of printable downloadable assets such as wedding invitations, nametags and labels. Even with minimal design skills you can start a business selling these assets.
The great thing about them is that you can design one document and then sell it to numerous people. A singal popular design could lead to you making thousands of dollars.
#16: Sell presets and templates
Downloadable assets are not limited to printable designs. Another great online business idea is to sell presets and templates.
If you already know how to use programs like Photoshop, Premiere, or Davinci Resolve, there is no reason why you can’t monetize those skills by selling presets and templates.
If you search through sites such as Envato Elements you can see thousands of examples. You could sell video templates, video title templates, image colour presets, web design templates, video transitions or animated icons. The options are endless.
One design could lead to hundreds or thousands of sales, and a lucrative online business for you!
#17: Sell web design services
With more and more businesses wanting to go online, there is huge demand for web design services.
Designing a great website is no easy feat. If web design is something you love and something you’re very good at, it is a perfect online business idea.
The great thing about web design is that you can do it from wherever you are. Yes, you will need to communicate with the client, but that can be done from anywhere. For the most part, all they need to see is the website you’re designing. As long as they have a computer and internet, they can view it.
#18: Start a podcast
Podcasts are big business these days. In fact, they’re one of the quickest ways to build an audience and establish yourself as an expert in your field.
If you have something valuable to say and you think people would want to hear it, then starting a podcast is a great online business idea for you.
All you need is a microphone and some basic editing skills. Once you’ve recorded and edited your episodes, you can upload them to platforms such as iTunes or Stitcher.
As your podcast grows in popularity, you can start to make money from it through sponsorships or by selling products and services.
#19: Sell audio books
Another great online business idea is to sell audio books. With more and more people wanting to consume content on the go, the demand for audio books is only going up.
Unlike podcasts, which are often free, people are willing to pay for audio books. So if you have a great book that you think would make a great audio book why not take the plunge?
If you’re not a writer, you may choose to be the voiceover artist who voices or produces the audio books. If you can find established writers, you can partner with them to create the books and strike up a deal for royalty payments.
If you’re someone who loves a good book, why not turn that hobby into a profitable online business and get paid for reading them?
#20: Start an online store selling handmade items
If you’re a creative person who likes to make things, why not set up an ecommerce business?
There are two paths you can take with this one. Either set up a personal website to sell online, or set up a store on an online marketplace such as Etsy.
Etsy is a great way to start because they already have a large chunk of organic traffic. If you start your own website, you’ll need to invest time getting it to rank on Google. This will bring in more organic traffic. Otherwise, you need to spend money on advertising so people can find you.
#21: Buy and sell domain names
Domain names are hot property. Just ask anyone who has tried to register one and realise their top 20 choices are all taken.
Not surpisingly, there are big bucks involved. Domains can be purchased for a very low fee, something like $10 to $20 a year depending on the platform. If you do your research and buy the right domains, people can pay anywhere from $2,000 to buy them off you. Some people are even willing to pay six or seven figures.
Whilst there is a lot of risk involved in buying and selling domain names, if you conduct market research and find names that offer real value, you might be able to turn this into a profitable business.
#22: Buy and sell on ebay
This is another one that can be done from anywhere in the world. If you have something to sell, whether it’s old or new, you can list it on eBay. Customers from all over will be able to find it and buy it.
To get started, all you need is an account and some items to list. Once you’re up and running, you can start to invest more time and money into marketing your eBay store to reach a wider audience.
There is a growing trend of people finding second hand items, whether it be at Vintage stores or at garage sales, and reselling it online for a much higher price.
If you’re successful, this can become a full-time business for you. You could even hire staff to help with the day-to-day running of things if it gets too much.
#23: Become a copywriter
In simple terms, a copywriter is someone who creates written content for a business. Copywriting is a skill that is both highly accessible and highly lucrative.
You might not be aware of it, but you read copy constantly. When you visit a website, when you read a blog post, or when you read something on social media. You even listen to copy in the form of advertisements and presentations. Much like with voiceover, there is a growing demand for good quality copywriters.
The fun thing about copywriting is that, even if you’re not the greatest writer in the world, you can still still start a successful business. Find an AI writing tool like Jasper.ai and you can churn out high quality content very quickly.
#24: Become a ghostwriter
Ghostwriting is the process of writing something which someone else will take credit for.
Companies need content, so this is a service they are willing to pay for.
If you’re a decent writer, you could make some serious money from ghostwriting. The average rate for a ghostwriter is $30-$100 per hour, but some can charge $500 or more.
#25: Build custom software
Companies are always on the lookout for new software to help them automate their processes and save time. If you’re a whizz with code, you could start your own business building custom software.
The great thing about software development is that you can work with clients all over the world. You can also work from anywhere in the world (as long as you have a computer). Thanks to the internet, there are no geographical boundaries.
#26: Set up an SEO consulting business
SEO, search engine optimization, is big these days. Companies want to make sure they’re appearing at the top of Google because being at the top means more clicks and more revenue.
You can charge an hourly rate or charge clients a monthly retain for various packaged services such as writing, SEO optimisation and link building.
Even if you have no experience it’s realitevly easy to get started. You can teach yourself about SEO programs like Surfer SEO, Ahrefs, Google Search Console, and Moz Pro. There is plenty of information on Youtube and Google. You can then set up an online business as an SEO consultant in no time.
#27: Sell university notes
If you’re one of those people who did well at university and took comprehenstive notes, you may be able to start an online business selling your notes.
You’ve got two types of people at university, those who attend every lecture and take great notes, and those who leave everything to the last minute. For the last minute folk who need a helping hand, there are places online, such as Stuvia, where they can buy notes.
If you’ve done a double degree and spent 6 years of your life studying, you may as well profit off all that hard work!
#28: Try crypto mining
Cryptocurrency is a relatively new thing. It only really rose to prominence in 2018 and then again in 2021.
Cryptocurrency mining is the process by which new coins are entered into circulation. It is performed using sophisticated hardware that solves complicated computational math problems.
You can use your computer to mine crypto or you can invest in a mining rig.
The down side is that to make a lot of money doing this you tend to need a lot of hardware, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to make a lot of money without investing a lot up front.
#29: Start a dropshipping business
Dropshipping is a process whereby you sell products without having to carry any stock. When a customer orders from your store, you simply order the product from your supplier and they ship it straight to the customer.
The great thing about dropshipping is that it’s very easy and cheap to get started. You don’t need to have a warehouse where you store all your stock, and you don’t even need to buy stock.
You can get started by setting up a Shopify store and then finding dropshipping suppliers. Once you’ve found some good suppliers, start promoting your store on social media. If you can get some traction, you could soon be making some serious money with very little upfront investment.
#30: Start an e-commerce online store
E-commerce is another booming industry. In 2018, global e-retail sales amounted to $2.8 trillion dollars and that number is only going to grow in the coming years.
With your own online store, you can sell physical or digital products online with ease. You’ll need to invest in a good e-commerce platform and then market your store heavily to draw in customers. But if you can get things set up correctly, you can make a lot of money from your store.
The great thing about starting an online store is that it’s very cheap to get started. You can even set up a store for free if you use a platform like Shopify. Of course, you’ll need to invest in some inventory, but that can be quite cheap if you source your products correctly.
The downside of eCommerce is that it can be quite competitive, especially if you’re selling products that are already available in brick-and-mortar stores. You’ll need to find a way to stand out from the competition if you want your store to be successful.
#31: Provide legal writing services or templates
If you happen to be a lawyer but you want to escape the 9-to-5 (or 7-to-11 in the legal world), you might want to look into selling legal documents or templates.
Nearly everyone on the planet will need a legal document at some point in their lives. Whether that be a privacy policy, a will, a prenup or a rental agreement. If you already spend your days drafting these documents, why not try and create templates and sell them on mass.
A lot of people need these documents but aren’t at the point where they are able to fork out the huge fee to hire a lawyer to draft one from scratch. So selling cheaper alternatives would be a great business strategy.
#32: Become a coach
Over recent years I’ve noticed a lot of coaches popping up on the scene. People who do life coaching, business coaching or relationship coaching, to name a few. They aren’t necessarily psychologists, but their services float somewhere in that realm.
There are courses you can do online to become a certified coach. If this is something you’re interested in, it can be a very lucrative career. You can do everything online from wherever you are in the world.
Coaching can also be something you add to your current business model to expand the range of services you offer and open yourself up to an additional stream of income.
#33: Become a social media manager
Social media has exploded in recent years. It’s now a very important part of any business’ marketing strategy and most businesses are willing to pay good money for someone to help them with their social media accounts.
If you’re good at promoting content and engaging with people online, you could make a lot of money starting a social media management business. You can do this remotely from anywhere in the world.
Before you launch into this one, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve worked on your own social media pages. You can use this as a tool to show clients that you built your own brand, and would therefore be a good candidtate to act as their social media manager to build theirs.
#34: Try online tech support
If you have a background in tech, or even have just spend your life using various forms of tchnology, you’ll have a knowledge base a lot of people are willing to pay for.
As the tech worlds expands, so too does the demand for tech support jobs. Whilst it may not be your final destination, it can be a lucrative side hustle.
To get your online business off the ground, you can list yourself on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
#35: Start quality assurance testing
If you’ve spent some time in the world of websites and software, a business idea that might work well for you is quality assurance testing. QA testers are responsible for running tests on websites, applications and software to identify codeing errors and bugs. The aim is to prevent bad software and technology from being seen by customers.
QA testers aren’t the ones writing the code themselves, they simply know how to run tests and diagnose errors.
#36: Start an online counselling business
If you’re a counsellor or psychologist, setting up an online business will open up your pool of potential clients.
These days, everyone is constantly busy. They may want to see a psychologist but may not be able to find time to physically go to an office. So by expanding your business model to include online couselling, you can attract more clients and give current clients more options for consults.
#37: Become a virtual assistant
If you’re looking for online business ideas but feel like you don’t have a great deal of skills just yet, a great place to start is being a virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant performs administrative tasks for other companies or clients, usually remotely. This might include tasks like managing emails, social media or bookkeeping.
By working remotely, you can have numerous clients simultaneously. So instead of working for one company at a fixed rate, you can work for several. This allows you to bring in more money.
#38: Become a video editor
Videos get 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Companies are well aware of how valuable it is to produce video content to engage their potential customers.
If you’re creative and good with technology, a business idea that might be perfect for you is becoming a video editor. In the age of social media, videos are more popular than ever.
You don’t need to have a degree to become a video editor, and can learn all of the skills you need online. The amount of information Youtube has is astounding. As you do more work you’ll also find you naturally improve over time.
#39: Sell and design logos
Every business needs a logo. It’s the cornerstone of the brand and helps customers identify your products or services.
If you’re skilled at graphic design, you can reach out to companies and offer your logo design services. Alternatively you can set up on a freelancer platform to attract clients.
This could also lead into other graphic design work once you build relationships with your clients.
#40: Sell your art online
If you’re a creative soul, why not turn that art into money? You can set up an online business selling original artwork or prints online.
To expand your reach, try diversifying across numerous platforms. Don’t just list your work for sale on one site.
The more places people can find you, the more likely you are to make a sale.
You could also turn your art into everyday products. For instance, take a painting you’ve done and turn it into a notebook or mug. The more options you give yourself the more money you stand to make.
#41: Become an affiliate marketer
Affiliate marketing is something you may want to consider as an additional income generator to other online business ideas. It is akin to being a sales agent for other companies, but you don’t actually have to do any direct selling.
Affiliate marketing is the process of directing customers to certain products, and collecting a commission off their purchase. You place affiliate links on your personal web pages, whether that be Youtube, Instagram or your own website. These links direct people to another company’s page, and if they buy that product, you make commission.
If you have a large audience on Youtube, Instagram, or a Blog, you can monetize this using affiliate marketing.
#42: Offer translation services
As the world becomes more interconnected, people find themselves needing to communicate to other people in different languages.
If you can read and write in different languages, one of the simplest online business ideas is to offer translation services.
#43: Build niche websites
Everyone has a niche. A set of skills they’ve developed over the years because of a hobby or a job. If you can turn that skillset into a website, you can attract an audience interested in the same thing. For example, if you love cooking and follow a paleo diet, you may want to start a website with recipes, tips and tricks.
You can eventually monetize these sites with ad revenue and affiliate links. You could also sell your own courses or nutritionist services or coaching.
Just make sure to do your research before you launch into this. You need to know how competitive your niche is and whether your site will be able to make money in the long term. Writing about something you’re passionate about is all well and good, but if no one visits your site, you won’t be making any money.
#44: Freelance graphic designer
With an ever increasing amount of online traffic and content, graphic designers are in high demand.
Companies need things like logos, infographics, signs and banners. If you’re like me and you can’t draw to save your life, hiring someone to do it for you is very appealing.
If you’ve always had a knack for drawing, all you’d have to do is teach yourself the technology side of things. By learning how to use the appropriate software, you’ve just taken a skill you already had and enhanced its value.
If it’s something you’re skilled at, why not start a business and sell your design services?
#45: Lead generation service provider
A lead generator sources potential customers for other businesses.
While it may be a task to set up a good lead generation business, once it’s set up, it’s nearly entirely automated. You’ll just have to make sure you’re doing outreach to find clients to work with.
#46: Offer nutritional coaching
As people become more health-conscious, they’re looking for ways to improve their diets and lifestyles.
If you have a background in nutrition or are passionate about healthy living, you can start an online business offering nutritional coaching. You can help clients one-on-one or offer general advice through an online platform.
Word of mouth is very powerful in this industry. Once people find their lives have turned around because of their newfound health, they’ll tell all their friends. Then you’ll be the one they seek out when they want to feel the same way.
#47: Become an online fitness coach
Similar to a nutritional coach, an online fitness coach helps people improve their physical health.
You can offer one-on-one coaching, create workout plans, or even develop your own fitness program to sell online. As a fitness professional it’s a great way to enhance and expand your existing business model.
A lot of fitness professionals also create apps or subscription service programs to boslter their income.
#48: Become an online researcher
Research can be tedious, but if it’s something you don’t mind doing and are good at, you could turn those skills into an online business. Companies are willing to outsource research to save their time and resources.
You can research anything from contact details, product lists, statistical information, personal data, or do market research to help other businesses better understand their target market.
#49: Become a proofreader
If you’ve got an eye for spelling and grammar, then why not put your skills to use as a proofreader?
Proofreaders do final checks of documents before they are published to make sure everything is in order. It is often easier for companies to outsource this work, so you’ll be able to find a decent amount of work if this is something that takes your fancy.
#50: Write CVs
When people are job hunting, they often don’t know how to write a CV or resume that will stand out from the rest.
If you’re good at writing CVs and resumes, you can start an online business offering this service. You can even create templates that people can use to make their own CVs and resumes.
#51: Write speeches
Whether it’s for a wedding, corporate event, or other special occasion, people often need speeches written for them.
If you’re a good writer and have a way with words, this is one of the online business ideas for you. You can start by writing speeches for friends and family, and then move on to writing for clients.
#52: Buy and sell websites
Another great way to make money online is to buy and sell websites. You can buy low-traffic websites and then sell them for a higher price to someone who wants to get their business online.
You can also buy high-traffic websites and then work on increasing the traffic to generate more income.
#53: Start an online SaaS business
Since 2015, the SaaS industry has grown from around $31.5 billion to $171.9 billion. That’s huge!
SaaS stands for software as a service, and is a type of subscription software that allows users to access and use the software from a remote location. Think of companies like Wix, Adobe, Microsoft, and Salesforce.
If you have a great idea for a software product, you can start an online business offering it as a SaaS solution. You’ll need to create the software and then set up a subscription-based service to offer it to users.
If you manage to create something that solves a problem for a great deal of people, you’ll be raking in the money.
#54: Create presentations for companies
If you’re good at creating presentations, you can start an online business offering this service to companies.
Companies often need presentations for sales meetings, investor meetings, or other events.
The great thing about this is that they’ll often provide the content for you. You just need to find a way to organise it, make it visually pleasing to look at, and not overwhelm people.
#55: Offer HR consultancy online
If you’ve got a background in HR, becoming a HR consultant is a good online business idea. HR consultants exist to help businesses get the best out of their employees.
Having a history in the business will help as you’ll already have a network you can call on to start sourcing clients.
By working for yourself as a consultant, you can work with numerous companies and charge each one a retainer. That way, you can make more money than if you were employed by a single company. You will also find that your work becomes more varied.
#56: Become an online telemarketer
If you’re new to the world of online business, telemarketing is a good place to start. The startup costs are minimal – you only need a headset, phone, computer and internet connection.
As a telemarketer, you’ll be contacting potential customers by phone to try and sell them a product or service.
Even if this isn’t something you see yourself doing long term, it provides valuable lessons in sales. If you can master the art of telemarketing, you’ll have no problems starting your own successful business further down the track.
#57: Remote project management consulting
A project manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the completion of specific projects. They need to make sure they are completed on time, on budget and within the given scope.
If you’re great at project management and looking for an online business idea, then becoming a remote project management consultant is a good option. You can offer your services to companies that need help with their project management.
#58: Sell fashion designs online
The fashion industry is huge. It is one of the worlds most important industries. In 2021 the global fashion industry was valued at between $1.7 and $2.5 trillion dollars.
If fashion design is something you excel at, you can sell your designs to companies that produce clothing.
You could also start an ecommerce site and sell your own designs. With great social media marketing you can easily start a profitable online business selling your designs.
If you want to take a different approach, you could turn your sketches into artwork. Print your designs on notebooks, mugs, fabric, or wallpaper. Try to think outside the box.
#59: Set up a transcription business
Transcription is the process of converting audio files into written text. It’s a popular service as it’s often used by businesses for meeting notes, lectures, and more.
If you already have an online business set up offering virtual assisting, this could be another skill you can offer to clients to attract more clients.
Transacription can also refer to transcribing handwritten notes into electronic documents. I used to do this a lot when I worked at various law firms during my university days. The lawyers preferred handwriting but obviously needed everything to be kept centrally in the computers. So I had the tedious task of trying to comprehend their handwriting. Once you have a good working relationship with someone and you start to recognise their handwriting, this can be easy money.
#60: Become a white hat hacker
White hat hackers are the good guys. They use hacking skills to break into protected networks and identify any potential holes in your computer system.
This helps companies and small business owners prevent future security breaches.
Security is a huge part of business these days because you want your customers to have a good experience on your site.
#61: Become an ad consultant
One of the best online business ideas if you already work in the marketing space, is to become an online ad consultant. Companies are churning out ads at an alarming rate and there is so much that goes into crafting the perfect advertisement.
By becoming a consultant you can work with various businesses instead of being employed by and chained to a single company.
#62: Freelance as an online mailing list broker
As a mailing list broker, you compile names and addresses of people in your client’s target audience.
By finding leads, companies are able to expand their client base and grow their sales, therefore companies are willing to pay a lot of money if you’re good at this.
#63: Become an online dating guru
The unfortunate side of our entire world going online is that dating, in large part, has too. There are now hundreds of dating sites and apps available.
Helping people navigate that world is invaluable. You can set up an online business as a dating coach and provide e-mail or phone consultations. People even offer advice on profile setup.
There are even photographers out there who specialise in dating profile pictures.
#64: Produce and sell music
If you’re one of those lucky people that ended up with one or two musical bones in your body, you can sell your tracks online.
You can list them on royalty free music websites such as Pond5 or Epidemic sound, or can sell custom compositions.
By licensing out rights to your music, you can make money every time someone uses your song. So instead of having to compose thousands of individual songs, a single song can make you thousands.
#65: Become an online collections agent
Sometimes people don’t pay their invoices. As a collections agent, you’re tasked with tracking those people down and getting them to settle up.
Chasing unpaid invoices can take companies, and many small business owners a lot of time. Sometimes it’s just easier to pay someone else to do it for you.
#66: Make money in data entry
Data entry is simply the process of taking handwritten data and entering it into a computer.
Companies will often outsource this task so if you know your way around a computer, it may be something to explore. It could earn you extra money and you can work from home.
#67: Become a statistical researcher
Nearly every business will require some for of research. They’ll either need to find out more about their target market, or understand what people think about their product.
You can set up profiles on freelancer websites such as PeoplePerHour, Fiverr and UpWork.
#68: Produce online training events
E-learning is huge these days. Companies have more remote workers than every and they need to find ways to train those staff.
If you have a background in events or education, one of the best online business ideas is to help companies put together these programs and events.
If you put together programs on topics that are universal, you could also sell your program to numerous companies. Things like occupational health and safety or presentation skills.
#69: Offer a bookkeeping service
If you’re an accountant or have bookkeeping training, you’ll be in high demand. Accounts are something everyone has to do, but most people dislike and also don’t know how to do.
Once a company knows your work and has you on their roster, they won’t want to let go of you anytime soon. From there you can start to bargain for more money.
#70: Remote manage company inboxes
Emails. From small business to multinational corporations, emails never stop. People often look to oursource inbox management as it simply takes them too much time.
This may also be a task you offer as part of virtual assistant duties.
It’s something you can do very easily and from anywhere in the world.
#71: Offer remote customer support services
The down side of our entire world going online is that it is harder than ever to find good support. If you’re good at communicating and problem solving you might want to give customer support a go.
You can get started from your own home at a very low cost.
So there you have it, 71 low-cost and relatively quick online business ideas.
There are a tonne of great online business ideas out there but the best place to start is to take an inventory of the skills you already have. See if you can monitize any of them instead of having to learn something new. There is a high liklihood that you can, and you’ll be on your way to one or more profitable online businesses in no time!
If you’re hungry for more online business ideas keep an eye out because I’ll be adding to this list soon.
Why online businesses?
With the world moving online more and more each day, online businesses are a great way to make money, but why would you choose to set up an online business over a brick and mortar business?
The biggest road block to most people setting up a business is finance. People are deterred by the investment that is generally required up front. What if you invest all that money into your business and it doesn’t work out? It could not only ruin you financially but could also put strain on you mentally and emotionally.
The great thing about online business is that you don’t need to risk your savings to become successful. To get started you need a computer, which you likely already have, a domain name and a website builder. All up this will cost you a few hundred dollars a year, which is nothing compared to the investment you’d need to fork out for a brick and mortar store.
Another benefit about starting an online business or moving your existing business online is that you can reach a much larger audience. If you have a physical store, you can only reach people in the local area. Online, there are potentially billions of people you can sell to all around the globe, and with each passing year, your pool of customers continues to expand.
What is the best online business idea?
The great news is that there isn’t one single best idea. These days, you can monitize nearly anything online. So any of the business ideas you’ve got in mind will probably work. It depends on your skills, your willingness to learn and your determination.
For me, my first online business venture was voiceover. I already had some of the required equipment and it was closely related to what I actually want to do in my career (on screen acting). I found the area that worked best for my voice, commercial and corporate voiceover, and I leaned into it. Once I started getting a bit of traction, everything snowballed and it just kept growing. I grew from a small online business to a six figure company in 24 months. From there I decided to explore other options like blogging and online courses to enhance and build upon what I had already created.
Online business is fluid. You can start in one place and find that it grows into something else entirely. You just have to be open and adaptable.
If I were to recomment one great business idea, it would have to be blogging. Why? Blogging is something anyone can do. With the AI writing tools that exist and all the material online, you can easily get your head around it very quickly. To add to that, the traffic search engines generate is growing rapidly every day. If you can get your blog posts ranking in Google, you can monitise the posts and start watching the money roll in. It’s something you can do from home in your spare time whilst you hold down a job, until it gets big enough that it’s your full time gig.
How do I set up an online business?
The process of setting up an online business.
When you’re first thinking about setting up an online business, whether that be an online store, blog, freelancing business or whatever, there are a few things you’ll want to consider:
- Decide on an idea for your business. Are you setting up an online service business or selling a product?
- Determine your niche. Sometimes it’s better to leave it open ended and let the market determine your niche.
- Conduct research about your industry and the product or service you want to sell.
- Work out who your target audience is.
- Source products to sell or put together a portfolio of your work.
- Define your brand and image. Get a logo and website together.
- Launch your store or start signing up for freelancer platforms and creating your gigs.
- Grow your business. You could try email marketing, advertising, diversifying the platforms you have profiles on, influencer marketing or any other form of digital marketing.
One of the most important things to think through when you’re setting up a business is the business structure you’re going to employ. This and the process of registering that business will vary country to country. Generally, across the board, you’ll either be a sole trader/proprietor or a private/limited liability company. People tend to start as a sole trader and then when revenue increases, set themselves up as a company.
What company structure should I use?
Operating as a private company has tax benefits when you earn over a certain amount, but if you’re starting out, it may hinder more than help. As a director of a private company you’ll have to prepare a second set of accounts at the end of every tax year, and you’ll be subject to more stringent regulatory requirements. If you don’t have any business experience it’s also a bit overwhelming. It may serve you to start out simple and once you’ve wrapped your head around everything else, you can then think about switching.
How do I scale a successful online business?
Once you’ve got your business up and running, the next thing to do is scale. You need to think like a startup. Great startups can grow quite rapidly, and that’s what you want for your business. When it comes time, there are things you can do to ensure your growth continues:
- Outsource. Spend time finding freelancers who can do some of your work for you so you free up your time to do more important things. You can find great freelancers on sites like Fiverr, UpWork and PeoplePerHour. If you find great people you can also train them up to do exactly what you need them to do to make your life easier.
- Master cold outreach. If you are able to master the art of sending cold emails to potential clients, you can drastically increase your workload.
If you run product based online businesses you may want to look at expanding your product line. Or discontinuing products that don’t sell as well. - Find new ways to market or advertise. Work out who your target audience is and advertise in channels they frequent.
- Explore other types of online business that could compliment your current offering. For example, if you’ve managed to start a successful blog, maybe explore Youtube, or selling a course.