Starting an online business can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With low startup costs, ability to work from anywhere, and tons of opportunities, online businesses are easier to start than ever before. Here are some of the easiest online businesses you can launch today.
Dropshipping
One of the most popular online businesses is dropshipping. With dropshipping, you sell products from a supplier or manufacturer, but you don’t actually keep the products in stock yourself. Instead, when a customer places an order, you forward their order info to your supplier, and they ship the product directly to the customer.
The biggest advantage of dropshipping is that it lets you start an ecommerce business without needing to invest in inventory upfront. You don’t have to buy, store or ship any products yourself. The supplier handles fulfillment, so you can focus on sales and marketing.
To start a dropshipping business, you need to find suppliers willing to ship products directly to customers on your behalf. A good place to start is searching for dropshipping suppliers on platforms like AliExpress and Oberlo. You’ll also need an ecommerce platform like Shopify to create your online storefront.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is another online business model that’s easy to start. As an affiliate marketer, you earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products and services.
For example, you might start a blog or YouTube channel focused on a topic like cooking. You would then join affiliate programs for kitchen equipment, cookbooks, ingredient delivery services, etc. When your audience buys from one of your links, you get a percentage of the sale.
Affiliate marketing has very little startup costs – you just need a website or social media account. It’s also easy to scale, since you’re leveraging other businesses’ existing products. Popular affiliate networks include ClickBank, Amazon Associates, Rakuten, and more.
Information Products
Selling information products is a great online business model if you have specialized knowledge to share. These types of products include ebooks, online courses, video tutorials, podcasts, and more.
For example, you could create an online photography course teaching others how to shoot in manual mode. Or you might record meditation audio files to help listeners relax.
Information products require time and effort to create, but no inventory. Once your product is made, you just need a website to sell and distribute it. Focus on choosing a niche you have expertise in. Promote your products through content marketing, social media, and SEO.
Print-on-Demand
Print-on-demand lets you design and sell custom printed products without any upfront manufacturing costs. When customers order your designs, products are printed and shipped on-demand.
Popular print-on-demand products include t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, wall art, planners, and more. You can sell on your own website or platforms like Teespring and Redbubble.
All you need to get started with print-on-demand is a design software like Canva. Add your designs to print-on-demand sites, promote them, and earn royalties when products sell. This allows you to build an online t-shirt or merch business with zero inventory.
Drop Servicing
Drop servicing follows a similar model to dropshipping, but instead of shipping physical products, you’re delivering digital services. As a drop service provider, you sell services that will actually be fulfilled by a freelancer.
For example, you could offer web design or graphic design services on your website. When you get an order, you would outsource the work to a freelancer who can actually provide the service. This allows you to sell skills you don’t necessarily have yourself.
To start drop servicing, build a portfolio website showcasing the types of services you plan to offer. Reach out to freelancers on Upwork and Fiverr who can fulfill orders for you. Focus on providing excellent customer service.
Blogging
Starting a blog is one of the most common online businesses – and for good reason. Blogging has low startup costs, but tons of monetization potential.
You can launch a simple blog on a free platform like WordPress. Choose a niche you’re passionate about, like travel, fashion, or technology. Start publishing articles and building an audience.
Once you have traffic, you can make money from your blog by joining affiliate programs, selling ad space, offering consulting services, publishing ebooks, and more. Top blogs can earn thousands per month through these monetization methods.
Freelancing
Freelancing allows you to sell your skills and time on your own schedule. There are tons of freelance jobs out there, like writing, graphic design, web development, consulting, and more.
Start by determining what services you can offer as a freelancer. Update your LinkedIn profile, build a portfolio website, and list your services on freelance job boards like Flexjobs and SolidGigs. Reach out to people in your network as well.
One benefit of freelancing is you can start small with just a few clients and grow your business over time. It’s an accessible way to make money online by marketing skills you already have.
Virtual Assisting
As a virtual assistant or VA, you provide administrative support and simple tasks for clients remotely. This can include calendar management, email handling, data entry, research, scheduling calls and meetings, and more.
VAs are usually self-employed contractors who serve multiple clients on an ongoing basis. You can specialize in a specific field like real estate, marketing, or executive assistance. Or offer general administrative support across industries.
To get started as a VA, create a website showcasing your services. List your business on sites like Zirtual and Virtual Staff Finder to find clients. Consider getting certified through the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA).
Social Media Marketing
Every business needs marketing help, so social media marketers are always in demand. You can provide services like managing clients’ social profiles, developing strategies, creating visual assets, running ads, analyzing metrics, and more.
Start by focusing on 1-2 social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok. Build up case studies and portfolio samples from your personal accounts. List your services on freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr.
This online business lets you work remotely while helping brands grow their social presence. And it can scale quickly since clients aren’t tied to just one locale.
Virtual Tutoring
Parents are busier than ever and often need extra academic help for their kids. That’s where virtual tutors come in. You can tutor K-12 or college students in subjects like math, science, test prep, writing, and more.
As an online tutor, you get to set your own rates and schedule. Look for clients through neighborhood Facebook groups, Nextdoor, or sites like Wyzant and Chegg Tutors. You can also promote your services through local schools.
All you need to tutor online is expertise in a given subject, a computer with video chat capabilities, and strong communication skills to work with students virtually. This is a flexible way to share your knowledge.
Consulting
Leveraging your industry experience as a consultant is a popular online business model. Consultants provide expert advice and project work to help businesses solve problems and meet goals.
Think about your niche – do you have several years of experience in marketing, HR, product development, finance, or other business functions? Compile a portfolio of past projects and results. Start networking locally or on LinkedIn to find consulting clients.
Online tools make it easy to consult from anywhere. Use video calls for meetings and cloud collaboration apps like G Suite or Asana to manage projects. Location flexibility and lucrative rates make consulting an appealing online business.
Teaching English Online
Demand for English teachers is booming worldwide. You can work for an education company to teach English online to students internationally, usually to China.
Look for openings on sites like VIPKid, Magic Ears, and Qkids. You’ll need to submit an application, resume, and video interview. Schedules are flexible, allowing you to set your own hours.
Most companies require teachers to have a bachelor’s degree. But no prior teaching experience is required, and you don’t need to know another language besides English. This online business lets you earn money sharing your native language.
Coaching
Leverage your expertise to coach clients 1-on-1 in areas like health, fitness, nutrition, career development, personal growth, and more. Online coaching has exploded in popularity over the last few years.
As a coach, you create customized programs, check-ins, and resources to help clients achieve their goals. Set up a website, use social media to find ideal clients, and consider speaking or guest posting to build authority.
Coaching is scalable since programs are delivered digitally through video chat and email. And it’s a rewarding way to impact lives while making money online from anywhere. Certifications can help gain credibility.
YouTube Channel & Videos
Launching a YouTube channel allows you to leverage the power of video. You can create entertaining or educational content around topics you enjoy. The most popular niches include gaming, tech reviews, beauty & fashion, comedy, and DIY instructionals.
Making money on YouTube starts with building an audience. Create search-friendly titles and descriptions. Promote your videos on social media. Once you hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you can monetize your channel through ads and unlock more features.
YouTube ad revenue, sponsorships, affiliates, and selling merchandise can earn big money over time. For example, top YouTubers like PewDiePie and MrBeast bring in millions per year.
Selling Digital Downloads
Offering digital downloads is an online business model that lets you sell files customers can access instantly. These include products like ebooks, courses, printables, stock photos, music files, and more.
Digital downloads require some upfront creation work, but no ongoing production costs. List your products on your own website, Etsy, Creative Market, Gumroad, or other marketplaces.
Promote your digital downloads through social media, email lists, and search engine visibility. Add new products over time to increase your passive income potential. Digital downloads are easy to manage and can earn income while you sleep.
Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing involves buying and managing investment properties to generate ongoing rental income and long-term equity. While traditional real estate investing requires hands-on work, there are now more accessible online options.
For example, you can invest in real estate syndications online. Groups of investors pool capital to purchase commercial properties over $1 million. You become a limited partner, earning passive income from your equity stake.
Other online real estate models include crowdfunded projects and REITs (real estate investment trusts). This allows anyone to invest in real estate from their computer. Do thorough due diligence before investing to evaluate risk.
Transcription Service
Offering transcription services is a flexible online business you can start from home. Transcription involves converting audio or video files into text documents. Clients include market researchers, attorneys, medical practices, and more.
Sign up on transcription job boards like TranscribeMe and Scribie to find clients. You transcribe files as you have time from a computer. This work-from-home job has no client acquisition costs and pays decent rates after gaining experience.
Invest in a comfortable headset and smart transcription software like Express Scribe. Having fast and accurate typing, spelling, grammar, and listening skills is key. This online business is recession-proof and allows lots of flexibility.
Graphic Design
If you have graphic design skills, you can easily start a freelance business online. Tons of clients need help designing assets like logos, ads, brochures, presentations, packaging, and more.
Build a visual portfolio website to showcase your work. Sign up for freelance job boards and list your services on marketplaces like Upwork. Promote your business on LinkedIn, Instagram, Behance, and design job boards.
Offer additional services like branding packages, consulting, content creation, and project management. This allows you to provide high-value services and stand out from competition.
eBay Reselling
Reselling products on eBay is a profitable online business model that lets you buy and sell items from home for income. Source inventory at thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, clearance racks, and wholesalers.
Photograph and list items attractively on your eBay store. Package and ship orders promptly. Provide great customer service to build up positive reviews. Popular reselling niches include electronics, antiques, designer brands, toys, and collectibles.
eBay reselling has low startup costs since you can start small and scale up. And profit margins can be high if you source inventory well. It’s an accessible online business for anyone with product research and listing skills.
Handmade Crafts
Sell handmade crafts, artwork, jewelry, candles, beauty products, and other homemade goods. Create an Etsy shop to tap into a marketplace of millions of buyers looking for unique handcrafted items.
Building an audience on Instagram or TikTok can help promote your products. Look for local craft fairs, markets, and pop-up events to sell in-person as well.
Consider offering customization and made-to-order options. Create gift sets and product bundles to boost average order value. This creative small business lets you turn your passion into profit online.
Mobile Apps
While launching an app requires technical skills like coding, you can start an app business as a non-technical founder too. Come up with an app idea, create branding and marketing assets, handle user research and support, and outsource development.
Popular profitable types of apps include gaming apps, social networking apps, service marketplace apps like Uber, subscription apps, and niche utility apps. Monetize through paid downloads, in-app purchases, subscriptions, and advertising.
Promote your app across app store searches, social media, paid ads, influencers, and press coverage. Over time, a successful app can earn anywhere from thousands to even millions per month in passive income.
Virtual Bookkeeping
Offering bookkeeping services virtually is a great home-based online business. This includes tasks like accounts receivable/payable, payroll, monthly close, expense tracking, bank reconciliations, tax prep, and financial reporting.
You can find bookkeeping clients in many industries through networking, referrals, job boards, and LinkedIn outreach. Consider getting certified through the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB).
Use cloud bookkeeping software like Quickbooks Online to manage everything online. Bookkeeping has flexible hours and solid earning potential once your client base grows.
Webinars
Hosting webinars or online seminars is a proven business model that lets you earn money sharing your expertise. Come up with engaging topics and invite industry experts as guest speakers or panelists.
Once you build up an audience, you can charge attendees for access to your live webinars. Record them to sell access to replays as well. Sponsors are another revenue stream to leverage.
Promote your webinars through email marketing, social media, and search engine optimization. This establishes you as a thought leader while generating sales. Webinars are scalable and can become quite lucrative.
Informational Website
Building niche informational websites that attract traffic can be monetized in several ways. Once you have an audience, you can run Google AdSense, join affiliate programs, sell display ads, offer consulting services, and more.
Choose topics with significant search volume and ad revenue potential. Create articles and content optimized for SEO. Promote your website through social media, guest posting, link building, and keyword targeting.
Informational websites require time upfront, but become largely passive income sources once built. You can even build a website business that earns income while you move onto other projects.
Online Courses
Selling online courses allows you to create a passive income stream while sharing your expertise. You can use a platform like Teachable, Thinkific, or Podia to build and market courses on topics you specialize in.
Record lessons in your niche using a simple webcam, mic, and PowerPoint slides. Bundle courses into a membership program for ongoing access. Promote your program through free trainings, social media, and funnels.
Online courses do require significant effort upfront to create, but continue earning you money over time. You can charge premium prices for high-value knowledge while reaching a global audience.
PODCAST
Starting a podcast lets you build an audience around topics you enjoy discussing. Choose a niche like true crime, sports, cooking, news commentary, spirituality, health, etc. Record episodes sharing your perspectives.
Release episodes consistently, promote your show on social media, pitch to be featured on other podcasts, and optimize for podcast app searches. Once you build listenership, there are several ways to monetize a podcast through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, selling ad space, paid subscriptions, live events, and merchandise.
Podcasts have fairly low costs to start. And they allow you to establish authority and visibility in your field as you gain listeners over time.
Amazon FBA
Through Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, you can start an ecommerce business selling your own products without dealing with logistics.
Source low-cost products from manufacturers to resell. Send your inventory to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, where they store and ship products for you when orders come in.
Leverage Amazon’s massive built-in base of buyers by getting your products listed on the Amazon marketplace. Use promotions and marketing to increase sales and reviews. Profit comes from the difference between your wholesale cost and Amazon’s retail price.
Though FBA takes more startup capital for inventory, Amazon handles storage, order fulfillment, and customer service for you hands-free. This makes it an appealing online business model.
Airbnb Hosting
Becoming an Airbnb host allows you to earn income from extra living space. You list your home, apartment, or even just a private room on Airbnb and showcase it attractively in photos.
Set nightly or weekly rates competitively based on location, amenities, seasonality, and demand. Provide a clean, comfortable, and hospitable stay for your guests. Handle booking, check-ins, and resolving any issues.
The main requirements for Airbnb hosting are extra living space, a desirable location, and basic hospitality skills. It’s an easy way to offset your rent or mortgage without needing any special business experience.
Peer-to-Peer Lending
Peer-to-peer lending platforms like Lending Club and Prosper let you lend money to individuals and businesses in return for interest income. You provide cash that helps borrowers access loans.
Register on a P2P lending site, browse loan listings, and invest in portions of loans that meet your criteria. Returns typically range from 5-12% based on risk level. Automate reinvesting payments you receive each month.
Peer-to-peer lending offers fairly passive returns beyond traditional fixed-income investments like bonds or CDs. Though returns fluctuate based on defaults and rates set by the platforms.
Local Service Business
Offering a local service business in fields like lawn care, cleaning, pet care, handyman services, junk removal, and more remains a steady option. Start with services you can provide solo or with a very small team.
Market your services through local ads, flyers, partnerships with complementary businesses, promotions, and word-of-mouth referrals. Expand into additional services over time.
Starting a local service isn’t fully online, but has relatively low overhead. It’s a stable business model that fills ongoing needs in any community. Focus on providing reliability, value, and great communication.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Though more complex as an online business startup, building a software as a service (SaaS) company can become quite profitable over time. SaaS businesses provide access to cloud-based software applications on a subscription basis.
Examples include popular tools like Salesforce, Slack, MailChimp, Dropbox, HubSpot, and Zenefits. Subscription revenue allows for recurring, scalable income as your user base grows.
Developing SaaS software requires technical expertise, funding for engineers, extensive marketing, and achieving product-market fit. But successful SaaS companies can sell for multi-million dollar valuations.
Digital Agency
If you have skills in areas like web design, development, SEO, paid ads, social media marketing, PR, and design, consider launching a digital agency. Offer these services to business clients under one roof.
Start out providing Done-For-You services, then evolve into higher-value retainer partnerships. Build a portfolio, get featured in directories, run local ads, network, pitch media, and leverage LinkedIn to secure leads.
Agencies require sales and project management capabilities, but scale well once you have a process down. Recurring retainer revenue leads to stability. You can start as a solopreneur and expand your team over time.
Niche Website Builder
Website builders create and sell niche websites based on proven online business models that are primed to make money. Once the sites rank and build traffic, they are sold for profits.
For example, you could quickly build affiliate sites, ad sites, Amazon niche sites, or sites offering digital products. Choose relevant domains and themes, create content, and do basic SEO until the sites start gaining traction.
This strategic approach to building online assets takes more initial work, but generates income from selling established sites. You can scale and build multiple niche sites over time as well.
Life & Business Coaching
Leverage your expertise to coach clients 1-on-1 in areas like health, fitness, nutrition, career development, personal growth, and more. Online coaching has exploded in popularity over the last few years.
As a coach, you create customized programs, check-ins, and resources to help clients achieve their goals. Set up a website, use social media to find ideal clients, and consider speaking or guest posting to build authority.
Coaching is scalable since programs are delivered digitally through video chat and email. And it’s a rewarding way to impact lives while making money online from anywhere. Certifications can help gain credibility.
In summary, starting an online business has never been more accessible. From selling products, services, and information to passive models like affiliate marketing, peer-to-peer lending, and niche websites – there are so many options to choose from. Each model has its own pros and cons to weigh when deciding what type of business to start online. But with low startup costs, flexibility, and tons of opportunity, you can build a successful online business that fits your lifestyle and goals if you find the right niche, create value for an audience, and stick with it over time.
| Online Business Model | Overview | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dropshipping | Sell products from suppliers who ship orders directly to customers | Low startup costs, no inventory | Finding reliable suppliers, low margins |
| Affiliate Marketing | Earn commissions promoting other companies’ products | Easy to start, highly scalable | Reliant on other businesses, lower control |
| Information Products | Sell digital info products like ebooks, courses, videos | High margins, passive income | Significant upfront effort to create |
| Print-on-Demand | Sell custom printed products without inventory | No upfront production costs | Lower margins than traditional manufacturing |
| Drop Servicing | Provide services fulfilled by freelancers | Low startup costs, no need for expertise | Managing freelancers, customer acquisition |
| Blogging | Publish content and monetize through ads, affiliates, services | Low costs, high earnings potential | Significant time to build traffic |
| Freelancing | Sell your skills as a freelance contractor | Flexible, easy to start small | Inconsistent work, ongoing marketing |
| Virtual Assisting | Provide admin support to clients remotely | Little experience needed, flexible | Low barriers to entry, commoditized |
| Social Media Marketing | Manage clients’ social media accounts and strategy | High demand, remote work | Ongoing client acquisition, low retention |
| Virtual Tutoring | Tutor students online in academic subjects | Set your own schedule, leverage expertise | Finding consistent clients |
| Consulting | Provide expert advice to businesses in your niche | High income potential, leverages expertise | Long sales cycles, proven track record needed |
| Teaching English Online | Teach English to foreign students online | Flexible schedules, no experience needed | Low pay ceilings, independent contractor role |
| Coaching | Help clients achieve goals through 1-on-1 coaching | Scalable, location flexible, rewarding | Requires building expertise and following |
| YouTube | Earn from ads, sponsorships, affiliates on videos | Massive passive income potential | Very hard to build large audience |
| Digital Downloads | Sell instantly downloadable files | Scalable, passive income | Significant upfront creation |
| Real Estate Investing | Generate rental income and equity from properties | Hands-off with online options | High startup costs, risk management |
| Transcription | Convert audio and video to text documents | Flexible, recession-proof | Commoditized, pays per audio hour |
| Graphic Design | Sell design services like logos, ads, presentations | Leverages visual skills | Ongoing client acquisition |
| eBay Reselling | Buy and resell items locally for profit | Low startup costs, high margins | Time consuming listing and shipping |
| Handmade Goods | Sell homemade crafts, jewelry, decor, etc | Creative, passion-driven | Time intensive to produce |
| Mobile Apps | Build and sell apps through app stores | Massive passive income potential | Very technical, hit-driven business |
| Bookkeeping | Provide remote accounting and bookkeeping | Flexible hours, professional skills | Some experience required |
| Webinars | Monetize expertise through paid online seminars | Establishes authority, scalable | Requires significant promotion |
| Informational Websites | Monetize niche sites through ads, affiliates | Passive income potential | Considerable SEO work needed |
| Online Courses | Sell access to prerecorded video courses | High margins, global reach | Long creation process |
| Podcasting | Earn from ads, sponsors, affiliates on episodes | Low cost to start, builds audience | Very oversaturated market |
| Amazon FBA | Sell your own products through Amazon’s platform | Leverages Amazon’s buyer base | Requires sourcing reliable products |
| Airbnb Hosting | Rent out living space to guests short-term | Earn from unused space | Dealing with different guests |
| Peer-to-Peer Lending | Lend money through platforms to earn interest | Higher returns than fixed-income | Fluctuating defaults and rates |
| Local Services | Offer services like lawn care, cleaning, pet care | Low overhead, steady demand | Very hands-on, one-time sales |
| SaaS | Provide subscription software applications | Scalable, recurring revenue | Very technical, capital intensive |
| Digital Agency | Offer web, marketing, design services to clients | Leverages broad skillset | Both sales and delivery focused |
| Niche Websites | Build profitable sites based on proven models | Make money selling established sites | Considerable initial time investment |