36 Low Cost Alibaba Business Ideas

36 Low Cost Alibaba Business Ideas

If you are looking for alibaba related business ideas to begin your path to entrepreneurship, you are in the right place.

With starting a alibaba related business, there are plenty of opportunities that can help you follow your dreams and build a successful career. 

In this post, you will discover profitable business ideas, perfect for those who want to have a flexible job, capable of multiplying the average income, while becoming your own boss.

Check out the full list below to help you find your next idea!

Here they are:



1. Start a product review blog

A product review blog typically includes a description of the product, as well as a rating and review. This can be anything from reviewing gadgets to books to software.

To start a product review blog, you need to have strong writing skills and be familiar with the available products. You should also have a good understanding of how to market your blog and generate traffic.

The recent trend that is making this business more popular is the growth of social media. With more people using social media, businesses are looking for ways to connect with their customers. Product review blogs provide businesses with a way to connect with their customers and generate positive reviews.

Starting a product review blog is a great way to share your opinion on different products. This type of blog can be very profitable, as you can generate revenue through advertising and affiliate marketing.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $3,500,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$1,862
Skills
Business model

Case Study

I’m Cy, an award-winning sex blogger who’s critiqued over 200 body-safe sex toys. My review blog, Super Smash Cache, focuses on which sex toys are worth it, which ones fall short, and which ones may work for others but not for me (and vice versa).

I gave my honest take on THAT nearly-$300 massager that won a robotics design award, and I’ll never rave about a toy that sounds like a dolphin when you clench around it — no matter how many influencers post smiling selfies with it.

how-my-blog-with-body-safe-sex-toys-reviews-turned-into-a-2k-month-side-hustle

2. Start an ecommerce platform

Over the past decade, eCommerce has become an indispensable part of the global retail framework. According to statistics, over 2 billion people prefer shopping online.

While brick-and-mortar stores are still making more sales compared to online sales, the adoption of eCommerce is still rising, mainly because of the increased speed and convenience of online shopping.

Therefore, starting an eCommerce platform could set you on the right path to building a futuristic business.

How Much Can You Make?
$100 — $83,333,333/month
Average Initial Investment
$438,707
Skills

Case Study

Hi, my name is Eyal Reich and I'm StoreYa's co-founder and COO, along with Yariv Dror, the CEO (and my brother:) and Pasha Zaft, the CTO.

We launched StoreYa 7 years ago, with the idea of building a valid business, one with a strong business model behind it. As opposed to many startups that pursue their dream and don't think about how to make money in the early stages, we didn't want to be dependent on fundraising, we wanted to reach the profitability stage as soon as possible. We raised a seed round of ~$900K when we first started and for the past 3 years, we've been profitable, generating an average of $700K MRR.

how-we-started-a-700k-month-business-getting-targeted-traffic-for-online-sellers

3. Start a dropshipping business

Dropshipping allows you to start your online e-commerce store without stock-keeping. Therefore, you do not need huge capital, and the risk is minimal because the manufacturer is responsible for the inventory and ships it directly to the customer. Therefore, your responsibility remains to market and offer customer service.

To start a successful dropshipping business, you need a mastery of online marketing and a focus on improving customer experience.

How Much Can You Make?
$6,000 — $3,000,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$11,116
Time Commitment Per Week
Min. 10 hours/week
Skills
Interests
Business model

Case Study

Hello, my name is Kamil Sattar. I am an entrepreneur who’s developed many six-figure drop shipping businesses. I’ve also created systems to maximize opportunities in different markets and I’ve started companies in many industries. One of those companies specializes in helping people who are seeking to create drop ship companies of their own.

Of course, with every store that I open, I am able to learn new things. With every new thing that I learn, it helps me improve my system that I use to create these six and seven-figure stores and it helps me improve my process for helping others generate their stores.

how-i-started-a-100k-month-business-mentoring-dropshipping-entrepreneurs

4. Start a payment app

A payment app lets you accept payments from anywhere, using your mobile phone or tablet. It’s best for business owners and professionals to get payments for products or services occasionally or irregularly.

Starting a payment app is an excellent way of making passive income online. It doesn’t require much initially, and the revenue can be significant.

Payment apps are quite popular nowadays, allowing people to pay for goods and services with the tap of a button on their phones. Creating a new payment app can help you capture a share of this growing industry and virtually endless niche for your business.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $2,000,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$183,366
Time To Revenue
300 days
Skills

Case Study

I’m Ryan Scherf, the founder of payment.co (@payment), an app built on top of the Stripe payment gateway for creating card-present charges. Payment is available on iOS and Android, and allows customers who have created online stores to easily collect payments in person, in the same account, with no barriers or card readers required.

The app launched in January 2015, and since has grown to process over $70M in volume annually. The app collects a 1% service fee on every single charge.

how-i-created-a-60k-month-app-that-collects-in-person-payments-through-stripe

5. Start a blog

In recent years, blogging has become a highly sought-after & lucrative Business. This location-independent business is a creative outlet to reach a broader audience and even work at any time. According to Optinmonster’s list of blogging statistics and facts:

  • Blogs have been rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of gathering online information.
  • 77% of internet users read blogs.
  • Each month, approximately 409 million people view more than 20 billion pages.

Originally blogging started as an online journal, but today it is a highly profitable career option. Many people are choosing blogging as their full-time career and are earning their bread and butter from this profession.

If you want to start blogging as a side hustle or as a full-time profession, choose a niche you will enjoy writing about and have a content strategy ready. Then, create a mailing list, and decide on a good blog posting routine to keep your audience engaged.

How Much Can You Make?
$200 — $160,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$2,687
Time Commitment Per Week
Min. 5 hours/week
Skills
Interests

Case Study

Hey! We are Kelan and Brittany Kline the founders and co-owners of the popular personal finance blog The Savvy Couple.

We are currently on pace to make over $250,000 this year alone with our personal finance blog!

how-this-28-year-old-couple-quit-their-jobs-and-make-20k-month-running-a-blog

6. Start a fashion accessories brand

Fashion accessories are an integral part of our wardrobes and are chosen specifically to compliment a person's outfit.

Typical fashion accessories include footwear, apparel, jewelry, wallets, handbags, hair accessories, and watches.

The global fashion accessories market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period (2021 - 2026).

How Much Can You Make?
$1,500 — $40,480,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$205,000
Time To Revenue
270 days
Skills
Business model

Case Study

My name is Eric Morton and I am one of the cofounders of CuffStyle, LLC. My team and I invented Cuff Adapters, which are small silicone tabs that fit over shirt cuff buttons allowing cufflinks to be worn with standard button-down shirts.

Cufflinks are such a great way to accessorize and enhance an outfit, especially for men who have such limited options as it is. There are so many cool cufflinks out there, ranging from fancy solid gold designs to casual novelty designs, and we felt there was a serious need for innovation that would allow cufflinks to be worn more often with any button-down shirt in any setting.

how-we-invented-a-10k-month-innovative-cuff-adapters

7. Start a laptop accessories brand

Laptop accessories are items that enhance the functionality of a laptop. These can include external hard drives, docking stations, and carrying cases.

To start a laptop accessories brand, you will need strong marketing and design skills. You should also have a good understanding of the laptop market and what accessories are more popular.

The recent trends in the laptop accessories industry are moving towards eco-friendly and sustainable products. Businesses are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact and offer their customers products that are made from sustainable materials.

Starting a laptop accessories brand is a great way to enter the world of product design. This type of business growing in popularity as people are looking for ways to personalize their laptops.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $1,000,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$100,000
Time To Revenue
300 days
Skills
Business model

Case Study

My name is Jack Yao, our company is Mobile Pixels Inc. We started the company when I was a graduate student at MIT. During an internship at Amazon, I urgently felt the need of using a portable monitor as I was working in a co-working space. The idea came to when I was doing some programming work, I wished that I could have had a monitor that can be expanded from the back of the main laptop display.

Our product is the Duex monitor, we did 4.3MM in sales in 2019, and are on track to do $12MM for 2020.

how-we-designed-a-1m-month-portable-monitor-for-laptops

8. Start a hair product line

Starting a hair product line can be a fun and profitable way to build a new income stream. It's also fairly easy, as long as you plan it out (and maybe do a little bit of market research before creating your sales funnel). There's a reason we often talk about trends in hip-hop and pop culture when we talk about hairstyles — they often have a lot to do with advancements in the hair product industry. The industry is expected to grow to 102 billion dollars by 2024.

How Much Can You Make?
$550 — $2,000,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$675,492
Time To Revenue
300 days
Skills
Business model

Case Study

Hi! My name is Mikey Moran and I am one of the owners of Private Label Extensions. We started this company a little over 5 years ago to create another option for women looking for amazing quality hair and entrepreneurs looking to get into the hair industry.

We’ve made a lot of mistakes during our business journey but have learned from them all and have seen an increase in business. We went from selling a few thousand dollars a month to over $650,000 monthly and even had a $1,000,000 month. One of our biggest accomplishments was being ranked #278 of the fastest-growing companies by Inc Magazine for 2018.

how-i-started-a-650k-month-hair-extensions-and-products-business

9. Become a herbal and ayurvedic products distributor

Experts anticipate that the global ayurvedic herbs market will reach $21.6 billion in the next few years. They attribute this market increment to the product's ability to preserve health and wellness by keeping the mind, body, and spirit balanced and preventing diseases rather than treating them.

With the growing demand for herbal and ayurvedic products, selling these herbs and spices on Alibaba is a great option for entrepreneurs interested in starting an online business.

You can simply list the products on eCommerce platforms or start dropshipping service.

How Much Can You Make?
$20,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$40,000
Skills

Case Study

Hi there! My name is Maddie Miles and I am the founder of Peace. Love. Hormones. I formulate herbal nutraceuticals to support women’s (and all of those with ovaries and a uterus) menstrual health and to empower them with the innate wisdom to live in harmony with their cycles and prevent period pain and PMS.

my-healthcare-experience-inspired-me-to-create-a-300k-year-herbal-supplement

10. Start an online jewelry store

Starting an online jewelry store can be a lucrative and engaging business. The online jewelry store industry has been growing rapidly. More and more people are buying cheaper jewelry online because it is easier and has a much more extensive selection.

The United States jewelry market was valued at about $76B in 2020. Diamond jewelry is the most valuable jewelry market in the United States. Starting an online jewelry store can be highly profitable. But to do this, you need a great e-commerce platform.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $833,333/month
Average Initial Investment
$37,500
Time To Revenue
300 days
Skills
Business model

Case Study

I am Nikolay Piriankov, the Founder and CEO of Taylor & Hart. We are an award-winning, disruptive e-tailer of custom-designed, ethical engagement rings, wedding rings, and fine jewellery, that capture your story. Our online platform, processes, and brand democratises bespoke jewellery, allowing us to offer this service at scale. Taylor & Hart's vision is to reconnect customers with the original purpose of jewellery - a personalised product that tells a unique story.

Recently we closed a seed round of £1M. The London based Garage Soho, an early stage investor and brand builder also supported us in the last round.

starting-and-growing-a-jewelry-business-to-4-6m-year

11. Dropshipping men's grooming products

The global market for men’s grooming products is witnessing steady growth due to growing consumer preferences, and it is expected to witness a CAGR of 4.29% in the next few years.

Products such as shaving foams, face creams, after-shave lotions, and body sprays are among the highest in-demand men’s grooming products.

To start a men’s grooming products dropshipping business, high-quality research products, find a market, build a website and launch the business. Remember, as you begin the drop shipping business, people will come up with ideas. Listen to your customers, and implement necessary ideas to ensure the company is booming.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $650,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$113,500
Time To Revenue
300 days
Skills
Business model

Case Study

Hi I’m Paul, a 22 year old Korean American entrepreneur and founder of HUSKYBEARD, a 6-figure beard grooming brand. This was my first ever business and I’ve since sold it. I am now operating another Shopify store with a partner, on set to produce $1M by next year. I also consult and mentor eCommerce store owners on ecomswift.com.

I’ve scaled using Facebook Ads primarily, with some SEO, Amazon, Reddit, and Email Marketing on the side. I’m proud to have accomplished a 30% customer retention rate with this passionate community.

growing-and-selling-an-online-beard-care-business

12. Start a crypto cybersecurity system

Cybercriminals can gain access to entire investments by stealing crypto wallet account keys. Therefore, you must treat crypto accounts with the utmost caution.

Cyber security experts focus on helping companies secure their networks and data from attacks by cybercriminals. Blockchain technologies are receiving massive attention from the research community in different application fields.

Becoming a cybersecurity expert focusing on crypto can be a rewarding career. Coinbase and other cryptocurrency exchanges use blockchain in cybersecurity, allowing users to trade everything from Bitcoin to Litecoin and Ethereum on the company’s secure blockchain platform.

How Much Can You Make?
$91,000 — $1,000,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$350,000
Skills

Case Study

Hey there! My name is Taylor Hersom and I am the founder of Eden Data. Eden Data is a cybersecurity consulting firm focused on helping startups build better security as they grow.

Since starting the company in March of 2020, we have scaled to four team members and an MRR of $45k, all through remote services and nearly no startup costs.

how-i-started-a-45k-month-cybersecurity-consulting-firm-for-startups

13. Start a cosmetic store

The cosmetic industry is growing rapidly. Starting a cosmetic shop can be highly profitable, but only if you stock trendy, skin-friendly products.

If you are passionate about the beauty industry, consider starting a cosmetics brick-and-mortar shop.

Cosmetic shops sell products ranging from anti-aging, aromatherapy, lotions, beauty spa, cosmetic store, and even make-up.

To start a cosmetic store, research the market and source products from well-known brands in the beauty industry.

How Much Can You Make?
$8,500 — $490,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$800
Skills

Case Study

My name is Alexis Evans aka Da Mademoiselle. I am a native of South Florida who has started a cosmetic and skincare company named FBI Cosmetics d/b/a Flawlessly Beautiful Individual in the middle of a pandemic.

I am also the owner of Boss Talk Expo an annual expo and conference company. I branched out into the beauty industry, I started FBI Cosmetics off with just lipsticks and have progressed into the skincare business in December. I have grossed over $62,000 in sales. People ask where the name comes from and I tell people “it’s a crime to be so damn beautiful.”

how-i-started-a-8-5k-month-cosmetics-brand

14. Start a gift cards selling business

We all love receiving gifts from friends for occasions such as birthdays, weddings, or festival celebrations like Christmas and Easter. As times change, people's tastes and preferences are changing rapidly, and offering variety is the best way to fulfill customers' expectations.

Therefore, if you are looking for a good business idea, you may consider setting up a gift card shop at a convenient location. A strip mall with high traffic of target customers makes a good choice for a gift card business.

How Much Can You Make?
$15,000 — $25,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$344,166
Time To Revenue
360 days
Skills
Business model
Work from home

Case Study

Hi there, my name is Dayana Doncheva and I am the founder of EcardForest. We create greeting cards that can be signed by multiple people and sent online. The product is quite straightforward - it’s a digital greeting card that a person buys and shares with others so that everyone can enter their wishes.

It looks like our efforts pay out well, as we already count more than $15K in monthly revenue.

how-the-pandemic-inspired-me-to-bootstrap-a-180k-year-online-greeting-card-business

15. Start a phone case business

With the number of mobile phone users increasing, there are opportunities for accessory makers such as phone case manufacturers to make a profit. Building a business around making and selling phone cases is relatively easier to produce. You can print labels on-demand, starting with a lower risk, or buy them in bulk and sell them online.

The global mobile phone protective cover market is expected to reach 75.62 billion in the next few years.

Phone protective covers often make a statement and reflect a person’s social and cultural preferences. Phone case manufacturers take advantage of such considerations and keep their products relevant and up-to-date to attract a more extensive customer base.

Remember, as with any industry with a low entry barrier, there will be competition. Therefore, you must study customers’ tastes and preferences and offer customized phone cases.

How Much Can You Make?
$120,000 — $125,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$30,000
Skills

Case Study

Hi, I’m Andrew Moore, the founder, and designer at Felony Case, a Toronto based company designing unique iPhone cases. I founded Felony Case in 2012, and since then we’ve created several flagship iPhone case designs.

how-i-started-and-grew-a-50k-mo-phone-case-business

16. Start a drinkware brand

A drinkware brand sells home and houseware products like cups, koozies, mugs, and other drinking accessories. If you've decided to try and create a business selling drinkware, there are certain things you need to know. You can do it from the comfort of your own home. You can get started for free, avoiding the hefty cost of setting up a brick-and-mortar shop. And if you take advantage of the right marketing strategies, you could be on your way to making money within a few weeks. The demand for custom-branded drinkware in the workplace has increased substantially over the past decade.

How Much Can You Make?
$416,000 — $12,000,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$23,400

Case Study

Hello, my name is Dylan Jacob and I am the founder of BruMate, AKA, The Dehydration Company. We are a unique insulated drinkware brand with a sole focus on the adult beverage community.

I launched our first product line in November 2016. We did $250,000 in sales from November-December 2016, 2.1M in sales in 2017, and we are now doing over 1.1M/mo in sales, in over 1000 retailers nationwide, and are on track to do 20M this year with roughly 35-45% bottom line depending on our ad-spend.

i-grew-a-drinkware-brand-to-1-1m-month-at-23-years-old

17. Start a product reselling business

A product reseller purchases ready-made products from other entrepreneurs and sells them to its own customers. Starting a reselling business means you do not have to go through all product development steps and build an audience.

If you have niche expertise, you can start a successful reselling business faster and earn attractive profits.

Like dropshipping, reselling business model makes it easier for average consumers to find and purchase products. If you plan to launch a reselling business, you must come up with effective marketing strategies.

How Much Can You Make?
$17,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$50
Skills

Case Study
  • Jack and Joan Ferrell are the founders of Second Time Sellers.
  • They buy used items at yard sales, flea markets, and online auctions, then sell them for up to ten times what they originally paid.
  • A brand-new inversion table was their very first acquisition. It cost them $50 to purchase, and they sold it for $450.
  • They have taken off immediately and set a target of making $250,000 in the upcoming 12 months.
  • Presently, they have an eBay store specializing in professional car care supplies and electrical and tools.

article

Read the full article on https://www.sidehustlenation.com/ ➜

18. Start a supplements company

A supplement business makes money by selling dietary supplements, vitamins, protein powders, and health foods to customers.

These products are often sold directly to customers or through distributors and retailers.

Your target customers will likely include fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious individuals, wellness influencers, and those who prioritize their nutrition daily.

Starting a supplement brand is becoming increasingly popular because it's relatively inexpensive, and you can run the business from your home.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $3,500,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$152,681
Time To Revenue
420 days
Skills

Case Study

My name is Nick Bare and I own Bare Performance Nutrition. We are a sports nutrition and health supplement company based out of central Texas, just about 20 minutes north of Austin.

I built the brand while working as an active duty Soldier, sleeping very little and working very much. Bare Performance Nutrition has always specialized in sports performance (pre-workout, pump enhancers, whey protein, BCAAs) but is now adding to the line of health supplements (greens superfoods, red superfoods, multi-vitamin, joint support) due to the increased demand and popularity from the current customers. The flight is our flagship product (pre-workout) which launched the brand in 2012 and has been one of our fastest moving products to date.

how-an-active-duty-soldier-built-6m-year-bare-performance-nutrition

19. Start a children's clothing business

The children's clothing business has grown rapidly over the last few years, and in 2022 was valued at $263.30 billion.

Starting a children's clothing business gives you the opportunity to be your own boss while working in a field you enjoy. While you have to be prepared to work long hours and put in lots of hard effort, it can be extremely rewarding if successful.

How Much Can You Make?
$500 — $1,333,333/month
Average Initial Investment
$28,750
Time To Revenue
300 days
Skills

Case Study

Hello, I am Charles Carette, CEO & Co-founder of Bambox. We developed the first monthly subscription-based ecommerce for baby essentials combined with a virtual assistant to guide new parents throughout their baby’s first 3 years. We operate in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

how-we-grew-our-baby-subscription-box-to-60k-mrr

20. Start an affiliate marketing business

Are you looking for a side hustle to pay you a passive income? Affiliate marketing is one of those side hustles that will pay you well over the long term. It is a way to earn money online by promoting other companies' products and services. You will be paid a commission for each sale you make as an affiliate marketer.

To get started, learn how to find the right product and brand to partner with. For example, you may prefer becoming an affiliate marketer for an eCommerce store, partnering with a manufacturer, and marketing their products for a commission.

How Much Can You Make?
$500 — $500,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$77,129
Skills

Case Study

My name is Spencer Mecham. In 2016 I first heard about an industry called affiliate marketing and in 2017 I founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate business.

my-affiliate-marketing-business-earns-500k-year-profit-no-employees

21. Start a stationery business

A stationery business sells stationery products such as paper goods, notebooks, greeting cards, and envelopes.

The best part about starting a stationery business is that it's relatively easy and inexpensive to get started.

Since there are so many different types of products available in this industry, there are endless opportunities for creativity, customization, and expansion.

You could even start out small by selling your products on Etsy or eBay before opening up an actual storefront.

How Much Can You Make?
$200 — $1,000,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$5,540
Time To Revenue
300 days

Case Study

Hi, I’m Jess. I’m 34 years old from Tasmania, Australia. I started Chasing Planner Peace back in 2015 when I was pregnant with my third child. Originally we were based on Etsy and only sold planner inserts, however, we’ve now turned into a one-stop planner shop that caters to seasoned “planner addicts” who want to add to their planners, and also planner newbies who love the fact our shop is the only store in Australia you can custom build your own ring planner style planner.

Over the past few years, we’ve really expanded our range to not only offer planners and inserts, but also planner dashboards (beautiful cover pages), dividers, notepads, stationery items and more. We also recently started our subscription box service where every two months customers can receive a “Planner Peace Box” which is full of planner and self-care goodies. We have so many more plans for new products in 2020.

how-i-started-a-12k-month-selling-productivity-planners-online

22. Start a furniture business

The furniture industry involves designing, manufacturing, and selling various types of furniture for household and commercial purposes. With the increase in flexible workspaces and the real estate industry’s growth, the furniture business’s demand is boosted.

The furniture business is easy to start and does not require high investments. However, it is first essential to know your niche, for example, office, domestic, home furniture, and luxury items.

The furniture business needs a lot of preparation and prior knowledge. Taking business classes, learning about your local market, and making a solid business plan is advisable. In general, if your products are unique and one of a kind, consumers will be willing to pay a higher, including the shipping cost.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,700 — $999,999/month
Average Initial Investment
$163,333
Time To Revenue
390 days

Case Study

My name is Sasha Weekes and I’m the 25 years old owner of Timber Grove Studios. Our home-based woodshop is nestled in the hills of PEI’s countryside, and we specialize in decorative shelving and home decor with a focus on minimalist design and simplicity. Each piece is made to order with 20+ color options, meaning it will be the perfect fit for each customer's space. We ship Canada and U.S. wide.

Moving twice in two years has definitely caused organizational, financial and opportunity hiccups, but the business has grown steadily regardless so we’re very excited about where 2020 will take us. We’ve learned what to focus on during which months, as revenue can range anywhere from $2000 during slow months to $10,000 during high months. Net profit has run anywhere between 20-50% throughout the life of the business and varies month to month. It’s closer to 20% right now as we’ve been spending all we can on new tools and materials for our new larger products and our Christmas stock.

how-i-took-my-woodworking-hobby-full-time-to-build-a-successful-brand

23. Start a fashion business

In 2022, the fashion industry was valued at $473.42B, with a growth rate of 8.3% over last year. To become successful in this highly competitive & ever-growing industry, you must have passion, perseverance, and the ability to take risks.

With platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the way that fashion products are marketed online has completely changed, so it’s essential to keep up with these trends.

How Much Can You Make?
$100 — $40,480,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$96,510
Time To Revenue
300 days
Business model

Case Study

Hello! My name is Lisa Miller-Mecham. I’m a creative mom of 4 who runs a craft/sewing website called CreativeFashionBlog.com. I started out as an accessory designer, turned award-winning fashion designer, turned DIY blogger… and now a profitable sewing pattern maker.

My best month so far in 2020 has generated slightly over $15,000 while working part-time. I’m actually launching a course next month to show other creative women how to do the same!

how-i-make-10k-month-selling-printable-sewing-patterns-from-my-fashion-blog

24. Start a niche accessories brand

Niche accessories make excellent small business ideas. The profit margins in these businesses are pretty significant because of the product markup. You could have a small Etsy store or sell them through marketplace sites such as Amazon, Facebook, and eBay.

The niche market for custom accessories is estimated to be nearly $473.46B by 2020 and it contains a variety of product categories ranging from jewelry, handbags, and small leather goods to house decorations and small fashion apparel accessories. Niche accessories are currently enjoying strong growth, projected to continue during this decade.

How Much Can You Make?
$600 — $1,500,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$510
Skills

Case Study

My name is Braxton Manley and I am a 23-year-old living in Austin. I started Braxley Bands with my dorm-mate Grant Andrews as a class project at Texas Tech about 3 years ago.

We created an elastic Apple Watch band and started making them by hand on my Nana’s sewing machine. We have since scaled the business from an original $20 upfront for materials to $100K a month on Shopify. No other capital or investment was ever put into the business.

how-we-turned-20-into-a-100k-month-company-making-elastic-apple-watch-bands

25. Start a vintage reselling business

Designer vintage collection rises in value as it ages, making it a profitable business.

To start the vintage reselling business, research the market to find highly valued items. Then, analyze the target audience to determine what qualities they are likely to look out for when buying vintage products.

To start the business, you can source vintage products from craigslist and eBay.

Provided you can source quality products and target an audience with a bigger budget, you can earn good profits from a vintage reselling business.

26. Start a sneaker business

Experts estimate the current sneaker market at $2 billion and expect it will blow up to $30 billion in the next few years. Compared to other online businesses, the sneaker resale market has grown exponentially and become very profitable.

While the sneaker business is very profitable, competition is still very high, and it might take time for new sellers to establish a client base. If you are starting a sneaker business, you must immerse yourself in the sneakerhead culture, especially the sneaker collection.

How Much Can You Make?
$25,000 — $500,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$43,666
Skills

Case Study

My name is Blake Barash, owner of B Street Shoes. I’m a custom shoe painter located in Orange County, CA. People know me for my custom painted Nikes, Jordans, and football cleats for NFL players.

how-i-started-a-50k-month-business-customizing-sneakers

27. Start a women's fashion business

The Women’s fashion market has been growing steadily over the past years. Experts project that the industry growth will continue over the next couple of years, with stores focusing on niche products or specialty offerings.

The women’s fashion industry is large, which presents an advantage to entrepreneurs because even by capturing a small percentage of the market, there is still a lot of room to gain profits. Besides, the diverse market presents a huge opportunity for expanding into different fashion accessories. Entrepreneurs can choose from dresses to pants to shirts, coats, and other women's accessories.

How Much Can You Make?
$5,000 — $11,750,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$35,000
Skills

Case Study

My name is Kahindo Mateene, I am the Founder and Chief Creative Director of KAHINDO, my luxury sustainable namesake fashion brand. KAHINDO is a luxury womenswear brand created with original prints and exuberant colors that celebrates the legacy of African fashion with a modern twist. A socially responsible brand, we are dedicated to ensuring ethical work practices for the women who create our brand in Africa.

For me, fashion is only as beautiful as the way I treat the female artisans and workers who help me create my line. That means focusing on sustainability and ethical work environments for my global partners and using the KAHINDO brand as a vehicle to create equity and job opportunities for women. Together, we share the heart and soul of Africa with the rest of the world through fashion.

i-started-a-luxury-sustainable-womens-fashion-brand

28. Start a renewable energy equipment and devices selling business

Renewable energy equipment and devices refer to apparatus permanently installed on premises used for the generation, transmission, or utilization of mechanical or electrical power. With increased technological advancements, renewable energies have a significant impact.

Businesses and households are finding efficient and creative new ways of producing and storing renewable energy to meet the rising energy demand. As investments in renewable energy are rising, demand for renewable energy equipment and devices is rising. Therefore, starting a business in this line can be profitable.

How Much Can You Make?
$25,000 — $600,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$2,000
Skills

Case Study

My name is David Gomez and I’m the founder and CEO of Clean Energy Solutions, based out of Los Angeles, California. We’re a solar energy provider that provides homeowners and businesses with low-cost solar power.

Our monthly revenue is around $600,000 with big plans to keep growing. A lot of our growth in the new year will be focused on our energy-efficient affordable housing division.

how-i-started-a-600k-month-company-selling-low-cost-solar-energy

29. Start an export directory business

Publishing an electronic copy of export businesses can make you rich. Millions of entrepreneurs globally are looking for income and business opportunities through online directories.

You can start by creating a simple import/export directory that features information about global manufacturers, wholesalers, and agents seeking to expand their product lines.

30. Start a natural beauty product business

Natural beauty products include aloe vera, honey, or cocoa butter. They contain no chemical or synthetic elements.

The global natural skin care products market size was valued at $6.7 billion in 2021.

Thinking about launching a beauty product line? What’s holding you back? Check out our case studies below to see how others have done it!

How Much Can You Make?
$300 — $325,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$78,370
Time To Revenue
360 days

Case Study

Hello, my name is Mel. I run a skincare business called Flowerdale Valley. I named the business Flowerdale valley because that's where I live, in a small town called Flowerdale in country Victoria, Australia.

how-a-mother-of-two-started-a-5k-month-skincare-business-from-home

31. Start a machinery exports business

Hundreds of manufacturers are looking for platforms where they can buy the latest machinery in a hassle-free manner. Whether you are assembling machinery or an entrepreneur interested in starting your machinery exports, an online business can be a profitable venture.

You can start a new or used machinery business and sell the equipment at the best price, such that you are maximizing the profit margins.

How Much Can You Make?
$142,000/month
Skills

Case Study

Hello, my name is Thomas Bordier and with a few partners, we took over a dying B2B marketplace in 2003: Exapro. Today, our business is booming and we even acquired a competitor a couple of years back: Kitmondo.

Our purpose is to connect the Industrial World to optimize Manufacturing. This drives us to systematically consider new possible services in our sector. Today, we are working on a new project called Valorexo to help the market value better the prices of used machines.

i-bought-a-dying-used-machinery-marketplace-and-grew-it-to-1-7m-year

32. Become an Alibaba reseller

Alibaba resellers buy products from a manufacturer or a supplier and sell them to retailers. To start, find a good product to sell on Alibaba. The things to consider when looking for products to buy and resell include:

  • Is there a demand for the product?
  • Can you source it cheap enough?
  • Is there a healthy profit margin from the sale of that product?

Arguably, the most difficult step in finding a product to resell on Alibaba or any other online platform is the hardest step in starting the reselling business. Once you have found the most profitable niche, the next step is signing for your reseller account on alternative platforms like own Shopify, amazon, or eBay platform and uploading your listings.

33. Start a handmade goods business

A handmade craft business entails selling own-crafted products on online platforms like Alibaba, Etsy, an independent website, or social media.

To succeed in selling handmade goods, you'll need solid creative skills. Your creativity can help you build a strong brand.

And with online marketplaces, handmade shopping has become a popular trend.

In recent years, consumers worldwide have shown their support of independent businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those venturing into the handmade goods business.

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $150,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$6,252
Time To Revenue
180 days
Skills
Business model
Work from home

Case Study

I am Sunny Choudhary, a 24-year-old co-founder of PortraitFlip with a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai.

We make sure to choose the best artists across the world so that there are no doubts in the hearts of our customers.

the-27k-month-company-that-turns-photographs-into-custom-handmade-portraits

34. Start a bridal accessories store

Bridal accessories are a great way to help you complete your wedding day look. Bridal accessories are something similar that surrounds weddings in our society. Bridal accessories are all the rage nowadays. These pretty things create the perfect set of accessories for the bridal.

The Bridal Wear market in the USA is estimated at $26B in 2020.

A bridal accessories store can provide you with high income and the ability to hire. Bridal occasions are exceptional and endure several phases. You could start a bridal accessories business with access to millions of customers from the first introduction until they get married.

How Much Can You Make?
$50,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$100
Skills
Business model

Case Study

Hello! My name is Vivian and I’m one of the co-founders of East Meets Dress. We’re the first modern fashion company to bring Asian-American representation and inclusion to the traditional wedding industry by combining contemporary cultural designs, quality craftsmanship, and a dedicated customer experience.

East Meets Dress has been entirely bootstrapped from Day 1 (we got started with less than $100 over a weekend). Neither my co-founder nor I had any prior experience in fashion or entrepreneurship, but through a lot of hard work, hustle, and trial and error, we've been able to grow our team and company to a 6-figure annual recurring revenue ($25k/month) in one year and help hundreds of brides across the world celebrate their heritage in style.

how-i-built-a-six-figure-business-bringing-asian-culture-to-the-american-wedding-industry

35. Start a product sourcing expert business

Product sourcing specialists help companies reach more efficient sourcing processes to save costs and maximize profitability. As a product sourcing specialist, you will negotiate with the suppliers to obtain goods, materials, and services at the best prices.

To excel as a product sourcing specialist, you must have strategic sourcing approaches and extensive knowledge of the commodity industry.

36. Start a pet accessories business

With the increasing number of pet owners globally, the pet accessories market is booming. Pet accessories include items that promote the health and wellness of pets and improve pet handling. Examples of pet accessories include pet treats, toys, collars and tags, leashes, pet beds, food and water bowls, poo bags, clothing, costumes, etc.

To start a pet accessories business, market research and focus on the highly demanded pet products.

How Much Can You Make?
$300,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$52,750
Skills
Business model

Case Study

My name is Jackson Cunningham and I’m the founder of tuft + paw. We’re a modern brand for cat people.

This year, we raised 2M dollars from some very well-known investors including Alexis Ohanian (founder of Reddit).

this-designer-cat-furniture-brand-does-over-300k-month-in-sales

Pat Walls,  Founder of Starter Story
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I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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