The 64 Best Small Business Ideas For 2023
The world is changing, and so are businesses.
Because of the pandemic, nearly all businesses have gone digital - with many brick & mortar businesses being put on pause until the virus is gone.
However, it is still a great time to start a business. Some of the most successful businesses were started during the 2008 recession.
We went through our database of case studies and found the best businesses to be starting in 2020.
Here they are:
1. Start a bedding company
At the end of a hard day, we all need a good night’s sleep. A good quality mattress, bedsheet, or pillow makes all the difference when it comes to sleeping comfortably. That’s why many people invest in quality bedding materials, making it a profitable business idea.
The first step to starting a bedding business is to choose your niche. You need to decide what bedding you want to specialize in, which will help determine the products you’ll sell. Do you want to focus on luxury sheets? Or perhaps more affordable linens that are still high-quality?
Next, you’ll need to find a manufacturer who can supply the bedding products you want to sell. You’ll want to research different options and ensure they can provide what you need at a reasonable price.
Once you’ve got all that lined up, start setting up your website and social media accounts! These are essential tools for any business owner—especially in today’s digital landscape.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $14,166,667/month
How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)
Find exactly how Colin:
- Start: Came up with the idea after running a failed tech startup
- Validation: Collected over 11K emails before launch with FB ads and a landing page
- Growth: In just 6 months, received over 6,000 orders and generated $500K
Build a business model first, not a product. So many entrepreneurs spend time and money (lots of time and lots of money) building a solution for a problem they perceive without ever validating that it’s a viable business.
2. Start a jewelry making business
The global jewelry market size was valued at $278B in 2018 and is expected to reach $292B by 2025.
The industry comprises manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and jewelry designers. Unlike many other industries that have gone through leaps in technology, the jewelry industry has remained untouched for over 40 years.
If you know how to make jewelry, then this might be a great way to make some extra money.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $2,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Miami-based sisters launch a handmade flower and resin jewelry business in 2017, selling over 5,000 products and earning $65,000 in revenue within one year on Etsy alone, using social media and SEO to attract and retain customers.
3. 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 you can make: $416,000 — $12,000,000/month
BruMate is a successful insulated drinkware brand focused on the adult beverage community, with a flagship product that generated $2.1M in sales in 2017 and is now doing over $1.1M per month in sales, with plans to do $20M this year.
4. Start a smart home camera business
Consumers use smart home cameras to capture video of or around their homes. This can be done remotely via a smartphone. It can also be used for security purposes.
Starting a home camera business will require some investment, such as equipment, software, and other R&D costs.
The smart home camera market is on fire. The worldwide wireless home security cameras systems market size is projected to reach $18B by 2030. There's a new, exciting, and fast-growing business opportunity.
How much you can make: $1,000,000/month
Wyze Labs' CEO and founding members, who met while working at Amazon, have successfully launched their first product, a smart home camera, in October 2017, selling over 300k units within the first six months, using a direct-to-consumer low margin, high volume model along with their strong relationships with suppliers in China.
5. Start a men's underwear brand
Underwear is essential to any person’s wardrobe, and the men’s underwear industry has grown quite large.
Many companies, such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Hugo Boss, specialize in men’s underwear. These companies have been able to keep up with the demand of this growing industry by offering quality products at reasonable prices.
The demand for men’s underwear has risen because it offers an alternative to traditional cotton briefs. Men are increasingly realizing that they don’t want the same old thing when it comes to their underwear; they want something that feels like luxury and provides them with comfort and support.
With so many opportunities available today, it’s easy to see why more people are turning to this industry to start their businesses.
How much you can make: $800 — $475,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 470 days (?)
Founder Krystian Frencel shares how he built a men's luxury underwear brand, Bunch of Animals, to $5,000/month with no previous e-commerce or product creation experience, offering softer than soft boxer briefs featuring seamless designs in collaboration with artists from around the world.
6. Start a food delivery business
In today’s busy lifestyles and schedules, cooking is no longer a priority to many. People like to order-in food from their nearest restaurants or food joints and enjoy a meal in the comfort of their homes.
The food delivery business is like a courier service through which restaurants deliver food to their customers.
You can offer retail food delivery services to restaurants within your locality if you have a truck. Customers order through a restaurant or grocer’s website, and the owners contact you to deliver.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $83,333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Food Fleet grew over 160% in just one year and managed over 20 million in sales for its clients, securing multiple contracts with the likes of Sodexo, Levy Restaurants and more, due to its understanding of catering client needs and its advanced turnkey and design services.
7. 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 you can make: $1,700 — $999,999/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Sasha Weekes, owner of Timber Grove Studios, turned her fine arts and cabinetmaking education into a successful home-based woodworking business that grew from a side project to netting 20-50% profits month-to-month and up to $10,000 in sales during peak periods through Etsy, with her company's growth continuing to increase through other social media outlets.
8. Start a hygiene product company
Starting a hygiene products business can be a lucrative and rewarding venture. This type of business involves producing and selling products that help people maintain cleanliness and personal hygiene, such as soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes.
To start and run this business successfully, you will need to have a solid understanding of the market and the needs of your target customers. You will also need a reliable source of raw materials, such as oils and fragrances, to create your products.
In addition, you will need to have a good business plan in place, including a marketing strategy and a financial plan. You will also need to be willing to invest time and resources into research and development to ensure that your products are of high quality and meet the needs of your customers.
Finally, it is essential to have a solid online presence to reach a wider audience and market your products effectively. This can include a website, social media accounts, and an email list to stay in touch with your customers.
Overall, starting a hygiene products business requires a combination of market research, product development, and effective marketing. With hard work and dedication, this business can be a rewarding and profitable venture.
How much you can make: $30,000 — $5,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 332 days (?)
A hygiene solutions company founded by Jonathan Bradford now earns £500k/month, after years of developing a wall-mounted antibacterial wipe dispenser that is used in health clubs, workplaces, and in over 100 locations worldwide, and also developing an electronic washroom hygiene monitor.
9. Start a knife sharpening service
Every household has a bunch of knives in it. All those households have dull knives that may need sharpening to serve the owners well. Therefore, there is already a market for your knife sharpening business. To start the business, drive down the road, knock and ask the homeowners if their knives need sharpening.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $200,000/month
Knife Aid, a mail-in knife sharpening service, has seen a steady increase in sales month over month since launching in early 2019 and is now trading at $250,000 per month largely due to the service being "something every American home is in need of," gaining huge PR boosts, and offering a unique supply-and-repair service that requires very low investment.
10. Start a water filter store
How much you can make: $1,500 — $200,000/month
How long does it take to build: 500 days (?)
PureFilters is an online supplier of furnace filters in Canada with a focus on customer experience, boasting a wide selection of the best brands and a roster of 300 five-star reviews, all achieved through rigorous process building, investments in automation and use of outsourced help to manage this $60k/mo business with less than 10-12 hours spent per week.
11. 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 you can make: $1,000 — $3,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 245 days (?)
A military officer turned entrepreneur built sports nutrition brand Bare Performance Nutrition from $15,000 in year one to on track to generate $6m in revenue this year, leveraging social media platforms and creating interactive, relatable and valuable content to create a community and a brand voice.
12. Start a hangover cure product
56% of drinkers have experienced a hangover! That's a lot of people dealing with headaches, nausea and general lethargy. The good news is that there is an entire industry devoted to curing hangovers.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $200,000/month
How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)
Flyby is a health and wellness startup that launched in March 2017 with a flagship product called Flyby Recovery, which has since helped the company hit $1m in sales in under 10 months, and grow to $200k/mo in sales, with plans to do $2.5m this year.
13. Start a tupperware business
How much you can make: $150,000/month
The founder of Kitchen Safe, David Krippendorf, invented the world's first time-lock container that has helped customers avoid snacking on junk food along with other temptations, with over half of the users also using it for other non-food related items such as cell phones, cigarettes, and credit cards.
14. Start a men's grooming company
A men’s barbershop just covers basic hair and facial hair needs. However, a men’s grooming service offers other services like waxing, plucking, facial peels, deep tissue massage, and much more.
According to experts, the demand for male grooming products and services will grow at approximately 6% CAGR, to reach $110 Billion in the next few years.
Therefore, 2023 could be the best time to start a men’s grooming business.
How much you can make: $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
American men's grooming company Beardbrand has grown from a $30 investment to seven figures and bootstrapped its expansion, thanks to a focus on content creation that allows the firm to control its audience and own its email database. The company originated after founder Eric Bandholz attended a beard enthusiasts' gathering and coined the term "urban beardsman" to describe traditional men who "didn't fit the typical stereotypes," and has benefited from coverage including a New York Times piece and TV appearance on Shark Tank.
15. Start a respirator mask business
How much you can make: $90,000/month
In this case study, Michael details:
- Start: Bought the business for the cost of a car
- First customers: Focused on a very specific niche, pet groomers
- Growth: 70% of the sales come from Amazon
Don’t let the naysayers bother you.
16. Start a graphic design business
Graphic designers create logos, brochures, ads, and other marketing materials for companies and organizations. They also design websites and other digital content, including social media graphics.
Graphic designers may specialize in one type of design (such as print or web design), or they can be generalists who do everything from logo design to social media graphics.
Starting a graphic design business can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. It’s not easy, but if you’re passionate about design and want to make a living, starting your own graphic design business is a great way to go.
Consider a suitable pricing structure when starting a graphic design business. You may charge the customers per hour or fixed pricing based on the project’s nature.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 87 days (?)
Learn how Christopher:
- Start: Left a $95K/year to build his dream business
- Early traction: Got their first users thanks to an $89 keyword research tool
- Quick validation: Hit $4K/month in less than 30 days
Start something. It seriously doesn’t matter if your first idea sucks and you completely bomb. You will learn so much in those first 3 - 6 months, and at a certain point, you need to apply what you’re learning from blog posts and podcasts.
17. Start a shoe brand
Starting a shoe business can be very lucrative - you can make money by selling shoes, but you can also make money by buying shoes and then reselling them at a higher price.
It's an industry that's been around for hundreds of years, so it's well-established and has plenty of room for growth—especially if you can get in at the ground level. It's also easy to start with minimal investment: even if you only have enough money for two months' worth of inventory, you can still get started right away.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $83,300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 455 days (?)
16-year-old entrepreneur founds KASA, an online luxury shoe and accessory boutique with over 270 luxury shoes in the collection, generating $80k in monthly profits and exploring expansion into lower-end shoes and custom shoes for the poor.
18. Start a pet store
Pet stores are retail businesses that sell animals and pet supplies. They are a leading industry category with sales of approximately $4.5B U.S dollars and positive sales growth of 2.7%.
You can set up a pet store in many places, like supermarkets, malls, or pet supply stores.
The first thing to do is to find a location for your store. A good place would be an area with many residential buildings, schools, and colleges as this will give you access to many customers. It would help if you also looked for a location near public transport as it will make it easier for people to come and visit your store.
How much you can make: $20,000 — $1,833,333/month
How long does it take to build: 356 days (?)
Mechanical engineer and avid bike rider Mike Leon turned his hobby of creating a safe bike-to-leash attachment for his service dog into a 6-figure business, shipping from hundreds to thousands of 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leashes per year to dog owners, military and law enforcement, and search and rescue teams.
19. Start an email automation platform
How much you can make: $3,500 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Two entrepreneurs developed Coldinbox, a bulk LinkedIn messaging tool that assists B2B business development managers in converting high-value prospects into leads and customers, resulting in $35,000 in monthly profits.
20. Start a content writing company
Content writing involves writing, editing, and publishing content in a digital format. Examples of content include a blog post, product description, and podcast script—eBooks, press releases, or landing page content.
Becoming a content writer allows you to work as your boss. Therefore, you choose whatever working schedule suits you and take a manageable workload. Moreover, content writing helps you develop essential skills you may not obtain from regular writing.
Content writing is a highly-on-demand service, as companies compete for the online audience who often begin their shopping journey by searching for relevant and educative content online. Therefore, a content writing company is an excellent source of passive income.
To start a content writing company, research the market and choose a suitable niche. Sketch a proper business plan and create a website. Hire a pool of talented writers and leverage modern technology to streamline operations.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $250,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Scribly.io, a subscription-based copywriting service providing high quality content that helps businesses scale at roughly 50% of the cost of hiring in-house, created by Dani, a first-time entrepreneur who started with just a few hundred dollars worth of projects and with the help of three other writers; as of last month, Scribly.io topped $14K monthly revenue.
21. Start a swimwear line
Are you interested in a textile business? If you live near a beach, a potential business idea can be swimwear. People wear swimwear when going for an afternoon of water activities. Therefore, starting a swimwear line can be a great business idea if you live near a beach or a swimming pool. Swimwear shops stock men’s and women’s attire.
How much you can make: $800 — $40,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $9,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Junk in your Trunks is a sustainable swim trunk brand that uses recycled plastic bottles, reporting up to $25K in monthly revenue and gaining traction with a Barstool Sports partnership.
22. Start a chimney repair business
Brick and stone chimneys require maintenance and upgrade to keep them structurally sound and functional. Some regular chimney repair tasks will include repairing and replacing rain pots, rebuilding chimney crowns, and installing new bases and flashing counters.
Thus, starting your own chimney repair business can be a very profitable, so long as you have basic masonry skills and experience. To start, you can offer the services to your neighbors just to showcase what your business offers. If you are not an experienced mason, you can hire skilled professionals and outsource the orders to them.
How much you can make: $21,000/month
Patriot Chimney, a Virginia-based chimney repair company founded by three friends, generated over $212,000 in its first year of operation, using a mix of digital and in-person marketing and customer retention strategies, and plans to expand its business and customer base with new initiatives including an online store and non-profit organization.
23. Start a CBD business
Cannabidiol, abbreviated as CBD, is becoming a household name, and its proponents believe this is for good reasons. Reports indicate that CBD treats several conditions, including chronic pain, inflammation, migraines, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, and anxiety.
Market trend researchers indicate the CBD market will grow by a CAGR of 21.7 % over the next few years. Rising awareness of cannabidiol’s health benefits and its effectiveness in managing pain are some factors propelling the CBD industry’s growth.
Therefore, starting a CBD business in 2023 could be the best decision you are yet to agree to. Some high-potential CBD business ideas and opportunities include:
- Become a CBD distributor.
- Form CBD cooperatives.
- Run a CBD podcast.
- CBD marketer.
- CBD blogger and reviewer.
- Make and sell CBD bottles and containers.
- Start a CBD subscription box service.
- Start a CBD courier business.
How much you can make: $3,000 — $800,000/month
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
In this case study, Evan breaks down:
- Validation: Invited 50 people to try an early sample and interviewed them after
- Early traction: Hit $20K/month after just 5 months
- Financials: Big focus on profits, operating on a 63% margins
When a customer wants to meet you in a Safeway parking lot to get their product faster, you know you have something.
24. Start a tutoring business
Starting a tutoring side hustle is a great way for teachers and students to earn extra monthly income.
If you are considering becoming a tutor, find an ideal tutoring niche, and craft a tutoring website.
Then, find your tutoring clients and market your side hustle online. You can choose to offer online tutoring as a part-time or full-time engagement.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $375,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 15 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
A 22-year-old entrepreneur started an online SAT/ACT tutoring company from his bedroom which has seen a linear increase in student sign-ups each month, currently bringing in an average revenue of $15,000 a month and plans to triple in 2020.
25. Start an art business
Starting an art business can be a great idea if you have a passion for art.
You’ll be able to work on your schedule, set your prices, and do something you love—while supporting yourself or even making money!
There are so many different avenues available to you as an artist-entrepreneur right now—from selling your work online (on sites like Etsy), through galleries or museums, or even at craft fairs and flea markets.
How much you can make: $876 — $415,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Innerglow Art is a successful custom abstract painting business that incorporates scripture and personable connection with buyers to produce beautiful and unique artwork.
26. Start an ecommerce marketing agency
Ecommerce agencies help online sellers achieve their eCommerce business goals through creative, technology, and marketing skills.
Hiring an eCommerce agency enables online sellers to start an eCommerce business or grow an existing one without employing full-time staff.
The eCommerce industry is often changing, and online sellers must match the current trends or risk being paced out by the competition. Balancing between production, launching creative services, and working on growing their eCommerce brands can be extremely difficult. Thus, the brands have no other option than hire eCommerce agencies.
Starting an eCommerce agency can be a profitable and fulfilling business opportunity. If you plan to state your eCommerce agency, educate yourself on the current trends and focus on building digital skills. You may focus on a particular niche or offer end-to-end services to your customers.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $465,583,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Iman Gadzhi made over $1.2M in profit within two years with his social media marketing agency and education company, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to start and scale a profitable SMMA, with over 45 of his students making over six figures with their SMMA, and over 300 students having quit their regular jobs.
27. Start a life coaching business
Life coach helps people in various areas of their lives using a combination of emotional intelligence, professional knowledge, and experience.
Life coaching is a popular industry worth over $2.85 billion, and the number of life coaches has increased by 33% between 2015-2019.
This is a very profitable business and can be started at virtually no cost. You’ll need a computer, a high-speed Internet connection, and a LinkedIn account to start. Then, you can begin coaching part-time in your spare time until you build up your clientele.
How much you can make: $100 — $660,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
GrowthMentor, a platform connecting vetted growth mentors for one-on-one calls, founded by Fotis Panagiotakopoulos, has had over 2,500 mentorship calls booked to date and has seen success in using word of mouth, content marketing, and leveraging other people's networks as the primary drivers of customer acquisition.
28. Start a bedding company
At the end of a hard day, we all need a good night’s sleep. A good quality mattress, bedsheet, or pillow makes all the difference when it comes to sleeping comfortably. That’s why many people invest in quality bedding materials, making it a profitable business idea.
The first step to starting a bedding business is to choose your niche. You need to decide what bedding you want to specialize in, which will help determine the products you’ll sell. Do you want to focus on luxury sheets? Or perhaps more affordable linens that are still high-quality?
Next, you’ll need to find a manufacturer who can supply the bedding products you want to sell. You’ll want to research different options and ensure they can provide what you need at a reasonable price.
Once you’ve got all that lined up, start setting up your website and social media accounts! These are essential tools for any business owner—especially in today’s digital landscape.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $14,166,667/month
How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)
Find exactly how Colin:
- Start: Came up with the idea after running a failed tech startup
- Validation: Collected over 11K emails before launch with FB ads and a landing page
- Growth: In just 6 months, received over 6,000 orders and generated $500K
Build a business model first, not a product. So many entrepreneurs spend time and money (lots of time and lots of money) building a solution for a problem they perceive without ever validating that it’s a viable business.
29. Start a bedding company
At the end of a hard day, we all need a good night’s sleep. A good quality mattress, bedsheet, or pillow makes all the difference when it comes to sleeping comfortably. That’s why many people invest in quality bedding materials, making it a profitable business idea.
The first step to starting a bedding business is to choose your niche. You need to decide what bedding you want to specialize in, which will help determine the products you’ll sell. Do you want to focus on luxury sheets? Or perhaps more affordable linens that are still high-quality?
Next, you’ll need to find a manufacturer who can supply the bedding products you want to sell. You’ll want to research different options and ensure they can provide what you need at a reasonable price.
Once you’ve got all that lined up, start setting up your website and social media accounts! These are essential tools for any business owner—especially in today’s digital landscape.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $14,166,667/month
How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)
Find exactly how Colin:
- Start: Came up with the idea after running a failed tech startup
- Validation: Collected over 11K emails before launch with FB ads and a landing page
- Growth: In just 6 months, received over 6,000 orders and generated $500K
Build a business model first, not a product. So many entrepreneurs spend time and money (lots of time and lots of money) building a solution for a problem they perceive without ever validating that it’s a viable business.
30. Start a marketing agency
Marketing agencies can be a great option for businesses looking to advertise in different ways. For businesses, hiring a marketing company can help them achieve success as they don't have to spend money on employees or needed equipment. Marketing agencies are not inexpensive and there are many different variables that come into play when deciding which one is the best fit for your business.
You want to start a marketing agency, but don't know where to begin. You're not alone, there are thousands of entrepreneurs across the globe that have the same ambition. Luckily for you, compiled a list of how other agencies were able to grow their agency and scale effectively.
How much you can make: $1,300 — $465,583,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
31. Create an online course
Online course businesses are one of the fastest-growing online business models. Creating an online course is an awesome way to generate extra income because it allows you to monetize the knowledge you already have. More people are taking online courses every day, and the COVID pandemic has accelerated that, with some online learning platforms having seen 15-fold growth in the number of users.
Another advantage is that these new platforms are so easy to use for instructors that you don't have to worry at all about the tech side of the business. You just need to focus on creating exciting content that is informational & engaging at the same time.
Starting an online course allows you to eliminate some of the huge costs associated with setting up a physical training facility, and it's a great way to reach as many people as possible.
How much you can make: $350 — $3,735,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,850 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
32. Start a campervan transformation service
How much you can make: $220,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Bryan+Jen Danger broke away from the 9-5 to create ZENVANZ, where they create campervan conversions, and their bootstrapped business now makes $8k a month with no marketing costs.
33. Start a niche blog
Starting a niche blog can be a great way to engage with a passionate online community by sharing your expertise on a specific topic.
The first step is to identify a profitable and underserved niche, such as fashion, video games, film reviews, cooking, and more.
Find your niche and create unique and informative content, such as articles, commentary, news, how-to guides, top product lists, convention coverage, video interviews, and spotlights.
To monetize your blog, gain visibility and followers, provide affiliate links, grow a YouTube channel, collaborate with relevant brands, and speak at events.
To succeed in niche blogging, you need to have a passion for your topic, create engaging content, and regularly engage with your followers.
How much you can make: $200 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and $500,000 in annual revenue, and offers frameworks for growing your own site.
34. Start a hot sauce business
Hot sauce is one of the most popular condiments in the world, and it's easy to see why: it's versatile, delicious, and can add some serious flavor to almost anything you put it on—and not just for people who like spicy foods! Hot sauce can be used to create complex flavors that are perfect for anyone looking for a little extra pep in their step.
So, if you love hot sauce and you also love money, it turns out, you can start and run a hot sauce business! You can make it yourself or you can buy it in stores and resell it to earn some good profit.
If you are planning to make the hot sauce yourself you’ll need some initial capital to purchase ingredients and equipment for making the hot sauce, as well as packaging materials such as bottles and labels.
The average hot sauce lover will try and consume about 2-3 unique hot sauces in a week, which means there's a lot of money to be made in this industry!
How much you can make: $2,250 — $12,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)
Trini Pepper Sauce co-founder and co-owner, Mustafa Mannan, shares how he successfully imported and manufactured his family's unique pepper sauce recipe and launched it through a Kickstarter campaign, now selling an average of $3,000/month in revenue.
35. Start an embroidery business
Demand for embroidery supplies is growing globally, so starting an embroidery business in 2023 can be a great opportunity. The industry is experiencing a boom, and it has never been the best time to start your own embroidery business.
Before starting the business, weigh whether you have the right skills and knowledge of different fabrics and stitching. The size of embroidery equipment will depend on the size of the business you are looking to set up and how much you are expecting to grow.
Popular items within the embroidery business include:
- Caps
- T-shirts
- Polo shirts
- Shirts
- Jackets
- Sweatshirts
When choosing the items to stock up on, consider the types of customers always looking for embroidered goods and factor in the market size.
How much you can make: $6,500 — $10,000/month
How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)
A patch embroidery business based in New York City has grown to earn $6,500 per month on average within 18 months of starting, thanks to no custom embroidered minimum patches and a strong Instagram presence, with a future focus on B2B customers.
36. Create an online course
Online course businesses are one of the fastest-growing online business models. Creating an online course is an awesome way to generate extra income because it allows you to monetize the knowledge you already have. More people are taking online courses every day, and the COVID pandemic has accelerated that, with some online learning platforms having seen 15-fold growth in the number of users.
Another advantage is that these new platforms are so easy to use for instructors that you don't have to worry at all about the tech side of the business. You just need to focus on creating exciting content that is informational & engaging at the same time.
Starting an online course allows you to eliminate some of the huge costs associated with setting up a physical training facility, and it's a great way to reach as many people as possible.
How much you can make: $350 — $3,735,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,850 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
37. Start a graphic design business
Graphic designers create logos, brochures, ads, and other marketing materials for companies and organizations. They also design websites and other digital content, including social media graphics.
Graphic designers may specialize in one type of design (such as print or web design), or they can be generalists who do everything from logo design to social media graphics.
Starting a graphic design business can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. It’s not easy, but if you’re passionate about design and want to make a living, starting your own graphic design business is a great way to go.
Consider a suitable pricing structure when starting a graphic design business. You may charge the customers per hour or fixed pricing based on the project’s nature.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 87 days (?)
Learn how Christopher:
- Start: Left a $95K/year to build his dream business
- Early traction: Got their first users thanks to an $89 keyword research tool
- Quick validation: Hit $4K/month in less than 30 days
Start something. It seriously doesn’t matter if your first idea sucks and you completely bomb. You will learn so much in those first 3 - 6 months, and at a certain point, you need to apply what you’re learning from blog posts and podcasts.
38. 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 you can make: $1,000 — $3,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 245 days (?)
A military officer turned entrepreneur built sports nutrition brand Bare Performance Nutrition from $15,000 in year one to on track to generate $6m in revenue this year, leveraging social media platforms and creating interactive, relatable and valuable content to create a community and a brand voice.
39. Start a short sleeve button down brand
How much you can make: $5,000/month
Short Steve Button Downs is a New York-based online retailer that specializes in producing high-quality short sleeve button down shirts (SSBDs) out of soft, breathable performance fabric; the company, which launched in May 2019, is currently making about $5,000 per month in revenue.
40. Start a men's underwear brand
Underwear is essential to any person’s wardrobe, and the men’s underwear industry has grown quite large.
Many companies, such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Hugo Boss, specialize in men’s underwear. These companies have been able to keep up with the demand of this growing industry by offering quality products at reasonable prices.
The demand for men’s underwear has risen because it offers an alternative to traditional cotton briefs. Men are increasingly realizing that they don’t want the same old thing when it comes to their underwear; they want something that feels like luxury and provides them with comfort and support.
With so many opportunities available today, it’s easy to see why more people are turning to this industry to start their businesses.
How much you can make: $800 — $475,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 470 days (?)
Founder Krystian Frencel shares how he built a men's luxury underwear brand, Bunch of Animals, to $5,000/month with no previous e-commerce or product creation experience, offering softer than soft boxer briefs featuring seamless designs in collaboration with artists from around the world.
41. Start a travel agency
Are you a passionate traveler with entrepreneurial skills? Then starting a travel agency can be a great career choice for you.
As a travel agency, you'll be responsible for linking travelers to providers of all the travel and tourism-related services such as accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, tour guides, local adventure, etc.
Starting an online travel agency is a lot easier than you might think. You'll need to perform market research, get a few necessary certifications (such as your IATA number), study competition, build a website, and do proper marketing.
To maximize earnings, negotiate discounts from the industry service providers, and charge travelers within the market rate.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $114,200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Marissa Daniels runs a successful travel agency, Spread Your Wings Travel, that hit $100,000 in sales within a year of launch and provides payment plan options for its all-inclusive vacations, and she hopes to help 100 families supplement their income through the business.
42. 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 you can make: $300 — $325,000/month
How long does it take to build: 227 days (?)
A mother-of-two started a $5k/month skincare business after experimenting with beeswax and honey to create luxurious all-natural products, growing her business to attain over $7,500 in sales per month via multiple sales streams, including $4,000 per month at markets.
43. Start a sneaker reseller business
Sneaker reselling is a pretty great way to make money.
As a sneaker reselling business, you can purchase shoes directly from retailers or manufacturers and resell them to consumers at a profit.
The secret to a successful sneaker reselling business is to buy low and sell higher. You can start an online sneaker reselling business or sell the sneakers locally.
To maximize the profit margins, it might be worth holding out the best sneaker brands until the demand is high. Sometimes, the best deal on sneakers is when they have sold out.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $140,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
This case study follows founder Chris Casseday's journey in creating 513 Kicks, an online sneaker shop that went from sporadic income to an average profit of $2,000 per month within two years through strategic branding, SEO, social media, and email marketing.
44. Start an online t-shirt business
Running a t-shirt business is an opportunity many entrepreneurs are looking into as a side hustle or even a full-time business opportunity. While having your own physical store is possible, online businesses are becoming extremely popular in this field.
Launching your own successful online t-shirt business may feel daunting, but with the guidance & insights from people who are already pioneering this industry, it’s simpler than you may think. You can start with selling customized quotes t-shirts, tie-dye prints/screen printing t-shirts, or solid color t-shirts. The opportunities for this industry are endless.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $83,300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $425 (?)
How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)
Texas-born apparel brand Tumbleweed TexStyles has grown to serve over 150 retailers throughout the southern United States, selling an estimated 90,000+ products yearly and making an annual $1.2m in sales, thanks to the founders' unique designs, focus on giving back to the education community and successful “guerilla marketing” tactics.
45. 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 you can make: $100 — $40,480,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Learn how this DIY blogger turned sewing pattern maker generates over $10k per month in passive income, and discover her tips for building an authentic brand on a budget.
46. Start a sports coaching business
Sports coaching is a fast-growing industry in all areas of the world.
If you have a sports coaching qualification and experience, you can turn those experiences into a profitable business.
You can offer coaching to teams or individuals depending on your preference and the nature of sports.
You may join sports associations or attend networking events to market your sports coaching abilities.
How much you can make: $4,759 — $8,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $550 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Girl Boss Sports, founded in December 2018, aims to increase the number of women sports coaches while keeping girls in sports by partnering with companies and organizations, and has brought in an average of $4,700 of revenue per month over the last 6 months by hiring over 20 female soccer coaches in Greater Seattle area.
47. Start an art business
Starting an art business can be a great idea if you have a passion for art.
You’ll be able to work on your schedule, set your prices, and do something you love—while supporting yourself or even making money!
There are so many different avenues available to you as an artist-entrepreneur right now—from selling your work online (on sites like Etsy), through galleries or museums, or even at craft fairs and flea markets.
How much you can make: $876 — $415,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Innerglow Art is a successful custom abstract painting business that incorporates scripture and personable connection with buyers to produce beautiful and unique artwork.
48. Start an art business
Starting an art business can be a great idea if you have a passion for art.
You’ll be able to work on your schedule, set your prices, and do something you love—while supporting yourself or even making money!
There are so many different avenues available to you as an artist-entrepreneur right now—from selling your work online (on sites like Etsy), through galleries or museums, or even at craft fairs and flea markets.
How much you can make: $876 — $415,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Innerglow Art is a successful custom abstract painting business that incorporates scripture and personable connection with buyers to produce beautiful and unique artwork.
49. Start a product design inspiration blog
A product design inspiration blog business is a venture where you create a website or blog to showcase and discuss creative and innovative product designs.
You'll curate content, write articles, and share images or videos to inspire and inform your audience about the latest trends and ideas in product design.
To start this business on a budget, first, choose a niche or specific area of product design that you're passionate about.
Next, create a user-friendly website using free or low-cost platforms like WordPress or Wix.
Then, consistently publish high-quality content, build a social media presence to attract an audience, and explore monetization options like affiliate marketing, sponsored content, or selling related products or services.
How much you can make: $4,487 — $5,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Page Flows is a library of inspiration videos for digital product designers and makes about $4,500 per month in revenue from a small, one-off price, with slow and steady growth and long-tail keyword SEO as key drivers of success.
50. Start a bathrobe business
How much you can make: $10,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,000 (?)
Highway Robery is a sustainable robe company in Austin, Texas, producing colorful, all-inclusive, gender-neutral robes in the USA, having increased their sales up 49% YoY as of May 31, 2019.
51. Start a travel blog
If you are an avid traveler, you will agree there is nothing like arriving on a tropical island. The exotic creatures, clear oceans, palm trees, plenty of water activities, and cool weather are some reasons travelers choose tropical destinations.
Do you live on a tropical island? Or maybe you are a blogger looking for the next idea. How about starting a blog relating to tropical island destinations? You can mention all the fantastic sightseeing sites, water activities, and other fun activities available to travelers.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,600,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Learn how Jessica started a niche travel blog and quit her 9-5 job, earning a living wage through Instagram advertising, sponsorships, and affiliate income, while traveling 3-4 times a month and increasing her website traffic from 400 to 25k page views in a year with Pinterest and Instagram growth tactics.
52. Start a dropshipping business
Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products to customers without holding inventory.
Instead, when a customer makes a purchase, you buy the product from a third-party supplier, who then ships it directly to the customer.
To start a dropshipping business on a budget, choose a niche or category of products you want to sell.
Next, set up an online store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Then, find reliable suppliers from platforms like AliExpress, list their products on your store, and focus on marketing and customer service to grow your business.
Remember to carefully manage your expenses and monitor your profit margins to ensure profitability.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $6,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
53. Start a freelance writing business
Freelance writing can be a good career choice if you are looking for a flexible online job.
Working as a freelancer gives you the flexibility to define your work schedule. You can work from home at any time. Freelance writers work across various niches, writing about various topics assigned by the client,
To earn good money as a freelance writer, you need the following personal qualities:
- Strong writing skills
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Stay on the cutting edge
- Be a self-starter
- Be up-to-date with the current writing tools & writing trends
- Proper communication skills
How much you can make: $700 — $320,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $400 (?)
How long does it take to build: 53 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
54. 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 you can make: $550 — $2,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 382 days (?)
Private Label Extensions is a hair distribution and technology company that builds hair brands from A to Z for entrepreneurs, achieving over $650,000 in monthly sales and ranked #278 of the fastest-growing companies by Inc Magazine for 2018.
55. Start a sex toys business
The sex toy industry is growing rapidly, and there's no sign of this slowing down.
The reasons for this growth are varied. The rise of social media has made it easier to find out about new products and services, which has given companies greater access to their customer base and helped them grow their businesses. More people are also getting comfortable with buying things online; not only does this make it easier for them to shop in private, but it also helps them avoid embarrassment if they're nervous about their purchases being seen by other customers while they're waiting in line at a store.
The industry itself is changing as well: companies are offering more variety than ever before, which means that there's something for everyone—even those who might not have considered themselves interested in this sort of thing before now can find something that suits their needs perfectly!
There are already individuals who made it big in this industry and these stories are the proof of their success.
How much you can make: $500 — $5,260,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $625 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
SexToysForMen.Co founder shares how he stumbled into the adult toy industry, and through organic content marketing and referrals, has grown the business to bring in monthly revenue of $2,000-$3,000 with an email list accounting for 30% of sales.
56. Start a resume writing service
A resume writing service offers professional assistance in crafting compelling resumes for job seekers.
With this service, your day-to-day activities revolve around collaborating with clients to gather their employment history, skills, and achievements, and transforming that information into well-crafted resumes that highlight their qualifications.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $42,857/month
How much does it cost to start: $35 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 8 hours/week
Recruiter Written, a resume and LinkedIn profile writing service founded by Alex Benjamin, successfully launched with a startup cost of $600 and has since generated an average gross profit of around $1940 per month primarily through referrals, and plans to expand to downloadable PDF Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writing guides.
57. Start an education products business
How much you can make: $1,500 — $358,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 67 days (?)
Online learning community Frontend Mentor has over 200,000 members, with over 1,500 paid subscribers generating over $15,000 MRR, offering professionally designed challenges to improve front-end coding skills with a freemium business model and a focus on real-life experience.
58. Start a selfcare subscription box
How much you can make: $1,000 — $50,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Hemp Crate Co is a CBD subscription box delivering over $125 in value to their 1,000+ subscribers, generating $50k+/month in revenue, operating as a side hustle while offering a low-capital, prepay-based startup model.
59. 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 you can make: $1,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 342 days (?)
Mobile Pixels Inc developed a portable monitor for laptops, the Duex, which raised $1.5m in pre-sales on Kickstarter/IndieGoGo and generated $4.3m in 2019 and is on track to bring in $12m in 2020, by pivoting to adjacent verticals based on the market and attracting attention through word-of-mouth branding.
60. Start a men's underwear brand
Underwear is essential to any person’s wardrobe, and the men’s underwear industry has grown quite large.
Many companies, such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Hugo Boss, specialize in men’s underwear. These companies have been able to keep up with the demand of this growing industry by offering quality products at reasonable prices.
The demand for men’s underwear has risen because it offers an alternative to traditional cotton briefs. Men are increasingly realizing that they don’t want the same old thing when it comes to their underwear; they want something that feels like luxury and provides them with comfort and support.
With so many opportunities available today, it’s easy to see why more people are turning to this industry to start their businesses.
How much you can make: $800 — $475,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 470 days (?)
Founder Krystian Frencel shares how he built a men's luxury underwear brand, Bunch of Animals, to $5,000/month with no previous e-commerce or product creation experience, offering softer than soft boxer briefs featuring seamless designs in collaboration with artists from around the world.
61. Start a journal brand
A journal is a newspaper or a magazine that covers a particular subject or a professional activity based on the author's thoughts and feelings. The beauty of journaling is there is no right or wrong way to start.
The approach depends on your personal experience and can take many forms.
Find a journaling habit that works for you and create a writing routine. Get creative and journal about anything that comes to mind, so long as it interests your target audience.
How much you can make: $200 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
Chasing Planner Peace is a planner company that has expanded from selling planner inserts on Etsy, to offering a one-stop shop customizable planner experience with over 300 inserts, a planner line, and various other related products, gaining a monthly revenue of around $25,000 at its busiest time of year.
62. Start an online fitness business
Thinking of starting an online fitness business?
Online fitness is growing rapidly in popularity because it’s convenient, affordable, and accessible to everyone. The best part is that you can stay in your home to start.
Starting an online fitness business can be a great way to make money and help people. When you start an online fitness business, you don’t have to worry about overhead costs like rent or maintaining a physical location - all you need is a computer and an internet connection to get started.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $108,333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
This case study is about a former personal trainer who launched his online personal training platform, TeamFFLEX, starting with no money and a lot of drive, and grew it into a 6-figure business in less than a year, now doing $48,000 a month with potential for continued growth.
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