70 Business Ideas For Teachers You Can Start Today [2024]

Updated: December 4th, 2023

Interested in starting a teaching business in 2024?

We put together 69 of the best teaching businesses you can start in today.

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other teaching businesses to help you see what it really takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a cooking class

Online cooking classes can be a great side hustle for seasoned chefs or cooking enthusiasts looking for a way to earn some extra cash. You can create content and teach your audience how to prepare meals.

Consider creating members-only content to earn more from your cooking class side hustle. Alternatively, you can sell recipes for a small fee as well. To grow your reach, consider offering some free content on your social media pages as a way to build curiosity among potential audiences. You can charge your audiences a subscription fee so they can have exclusive access to your content.

To start cooking classes , choose a niche and follow your passion. Create a website and maintain an active social media presence. Apart from online cooking classes or live sessions you can also offer exclusive offline weekend classes to give your audience a hands-on personal experience.

How much you can make: $7,500 — $100,000/month

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How I Started A Cooking Classes Business With 7 Locations

Hipcooks is a 7-location cooking school business that has grown organically to reach $100k/month in revenue, and attracts and retains customers through their communal approach, vibrant online presence, and updated Google and Yelp business pages.

About
Monika started Hipcooks about 10 years ago
Revenue
Monika grew the business to $100K/month
Read by 8,990 founders

2. Start a skills training business

It is a great idea to start a skill training business with a website-oriented online presence, aimed towards helping people learn new skills. Starting your own skills training business doesn’t require a lot of money, but it can have a significant impact on your life and others.

The global skills training market is expected to reach $47.2B by 2027. If you’re looking for financial freedom, starting your own skills training business is the way to go. Training clients and building an impressive portfolio will allow you to charge higher rates and start living the life of your dreams.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $1,600,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A Profitable Business Helping Millions Of People Learn Excel

A one-man business teaching people how to use Microsoft Excel effectively has gone from getting ~15k pageviews a month in 2014, to more than one million pageviews every month as of today, generating an average monthly revenue of ~$10,000, with the majority of the money coming from online course sales and a newsletter, which has 40k+ active subscribers.

About
Sumit started TrumpExcel.com over 10 years ago
Revenue
Sumit grew the business to $10K/month
Read by 10,224 founders

3. Launch an online tuition platform

Online tuition platforms provide a channel for teaching students one-on-one. The tutoring platforms enable students to learn and study online at their chosen schedule, choose a tutor and pay for the courses they can afford.

Examples of online learning platforms include Coursera, codecademy, Udemy and Pluralsight.

To start an online tutoring platform, choose a niche and create a website. You can offer the lessons yourself or keep the online learning platform open for other tutors to signup and list their lessons.

How much you can make: $34,568 — $830,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How I Raised $15M To Build A $800K/Month Math Online Tuition Platform

Third Space Learning has become the largest online tutoring company in the UK schools market with around 75% of English primary schools and over 100,000 teachers signed up, generating around £8m in revenue this year and delivering nearly 800,000 hours of teaching to just under 70,000 pupils since 2015, with plans to expand globally in the future.

About
Tom started Third Space Learning over 10 years ago
Revenue
Tom grew the business to $830K/month
Costs
It cost Tom $100000 to start the business
Read by 8,421 founders

4. Become an author

Becoming an author is an exciting journey that involves creating and publishing written works, such as books, novels, or articles that reflect one’s ideas, stories, or expertise.

You can establish yourself through traditional publishing routes or self-publishing, utilizing your literary skills to connect with readers and potentially earn revenue from book sales.

Traditional publishing involves submitting a manuscript to a publishing house or literary agent who will review and decide if it is suitable for publication.

On the other hand, self-publishing gives authors complete control over the publishing process, allowing them to publish their work independently and market it on their own.

You can generate income through book sales, royalties, and opportunities such as speaking engagements or workshops.

How much you can make: $200 — $9,259,259/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

How I Generate $10K/Month As An Indie Writer

This case study follows full-time thriller and action-adventure author Nick Thacker who earns between $10k to $20k per month from writing, predominantly through Amazon Kindle Unlimited sales, and goes in-depth into his self-publishing strategy which maximizes sales and minimizes costs, such as developing a mailing list and utilizing print-on-demand services.

About
Nick started Conundrum Publishing about 7 years ago
Revenue
Nick grew the business to $20K/month
Read by 9,419 founders

5. Build an iPhone app

The iPhone is the most popular mobile device in the world. It has changed how we interact with information, entertainment, and communication.

The iPhone has also changed the way we interact with each other. Since its release in 2007, it has become a staple in most people’s lives. It is more than just a phone; it is a tool for staying connected to friends and family and creating new connections.

The iPhone app market is an ever-changing landscape of innovation: it’s not just about making something that works well; it’s about creating something that stands out from the crowd.

It would help if you had something that appeals to your audience to succeed in this market. This can be as simple as ensuring your app has a catchy name or as complex as developing an entire brand identity around your app’s functionality.

How much you can make: $150 — $2,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $6,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How I Created A $60K/Month App That Collects In-Person Payments Through Stripe

Payment.co, an app built on top of the Stripe payment gateway for creating card-present charges, has grown to process over $70M in volume annually since launching in 2015, with the app collecting a 1% service fee on every single charge.

About
Ryan started Payment for Stripe about 9 years ago
Revenue
Ryan grew the business to $60K/month
Read by 18,385 founders

6. 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 (?)

How I Started A $48K/Month Business With An Online Fitness Training Service

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.

About
Ryan started TeamFFLEX almost 10 years ago
Revenue
Ryan grew the business to $82K/month
Costs
It cost Ryan $500 to start the business
Read by 24,924 founders

7. Become a corporate trainer

How much you can make: $4,500 — $20,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How Being The Funny Guy At Work Turned Into A Full Time Career

Humor That Works is a training company that focuses on human effectiveness, and has worked with thousands of people at over 250 organizations, including Microsoft, the FBI, and the International Association of Canine Professionals, and has grown 24% YoY.

About
Andrew started Humor That Works about 15 years ago
Revenue
Andrew grew the business to $12.5K/month
Read by 7,611 founders

8. Become a mindfulness coach

Mindfulness coaches use various techniques to help clients remain mindful in life, so they can relax and focus. Mindful living has various benefits, including relieving stress, lowering blood pressure, improving sleep, reducing chronic pain, and decreasing anxiety/depression.

To start a mindfulness coaching business, create a website and list the services you intend to offer. Start a blog and advertise your business widely on social media to create awareness.

How much you can make: $2,300 — $35,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How I Started A $1.8K/Month Travel Business While Traveling Around The World

Wandering Aunt founder Robin Finney shares her journey of starting a sustainable travel business, including her decision to leave her corporate marketing job of 11 years, using a simple website and free tools like Mailchimp to grow her email list and attract customers, and the importance of investing in a coaching program for support.

About
Robin started Wandering Aunt over 4 years ago
Revenue
Robin grew the business to $2.3K/month
Costs
It cost Robin $100 to start the business
Read by 6,821 founders

9. 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 I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

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.

About
David started Article-Writing Co almost 13 years ago
Revenue
David grew the business to $125K/month
Read by 23,072 founders

10. Become an author

Becoming an author is an exciting journey that involves creating and publishing written works, such as books, novels, or articles that reflect one’s ideas, stories, or expertise.

You can establish yourself through traditional publishing routes or self-publishing, utilizing your literary skills to connect with readers and potentially earn revenue from book sales.

Traditional publishing involves submitting a manuscript to a publishing house or literary agent who will review and decide if it is suitable for publication.

On the other hand, self-publishing gives authors complete control over the publishing process, allowing them to publish their work independently and market it on their own.

You can generate income through book sales, royalties, and opportunities such as speaking engagements or workshops.

How much you can make: $200 — $9,259,259/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

How I Generate $10K/Month As An Indie Writer

This case study follows full-time thriller and action-adventure author Nick Thacker who earns between $10k to $20k per month from writing, predominantly through Amazon Kindle Unlimited sales, and goes in-depth into his self-publishing strategy which maximizes sales and minimizes costs, such as developing a mailing list and utilizing print-on-demand services.

About
Nick started Conundrum Publishing about 7 years ago
Revenue
Nick grew the business to $20K/month
Read by 9,419 founders

11. Start an educational blog

An educational blog business involves creating a website where you share informative content on a specific subject to educate your audience.

To start on a budget, choose a niche you're knowledgeable and passionate about.

Create quality content using free platforms like WordPress or YouTube.

Promote your blog on social media and through SEO techniques, and consider monetizing it with methods like affiliate marketing and selling digital products once you have a steady flow of visitors.

Consistency and providing genuine value are crucial for success.

How much you can make: $1,200 — $5,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A $1K/Month Blog And Newsletter Sharing Stories From Self-Taught Developers

No CS Degree founder monetizes website interviewing self-taught web developers earning an average monthly revenue of $1,100, with email marketing and sponsored articles from coding boot camps, and plans to grow the site through job board and online course resources.

About
Pete started Pete Codes over 4 years ago
Revenue
Pete grew the business to $1.2K/month
Costs
It cost Pete $40 to start the business
Read by 10,117 founders

12. Become a proofreader

Proofreading business is a service that helps customers review their written work and ensure it is ready for publication. Typically, a proofreader corrects grammatical errors and provides the written piece meets any relevant style guide.

As a proofreader, you can work online, allowing you to choose what time to work.

If you plan to start a professional proofreading business, make sure you possess the following skills:

  • Have an excellent grasp of grammar
  • Ability to correct mistakenly capitalized words
  • Familiarity with the proper use of capitalization
  • Use spell-checkers to flag misspelled words

Proofreading is a great way to enhance content quality. With the increased use of written content marketing to reach a broader market, the demand for professional proofreaders has grown tremendously. Professional proofreaders earn an average of $12/hr. And $30/hr.

Therefore, consider proofreading as a business if you are looking for a great side hustle idea or simply looking for ways to increase your income.

How much you can make: $2,000/month

How I Added $2,000 To My Monthly Income Proofreading Blog Posts

A proofreader was able to build a consistent income of ~$2,000 per month from scratch with zero experience in the field, no expenses, and barely any upfront costs by targeting bloggers and content creators who want their content to be copy edited and proofread.

About
Lenny started The Blog Proofreader almost 8 years ago
Revenue
Lenny grew the business to $2K/month
Read by 13,974 founders

13. 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

How I Started A $15K/Month SAT Tutoring Business While In College

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.

About
Adam started SoFlo Tutors almost 5 years ago
Revenue
Adam grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Adam $100 to start the business
Read by 18,288 founders

14. Start a webinar hosting business

Are you an app builder looking for a profitable business? Consider building a webinar hosting platform.

Businesses host webinars as a tool for helping them convert leads into paying customers.

Therefore, starting your webinar hosting service could be a profitable business venture.

To attract customers, focus on building a robust webinar hosting service that provides the users with all features they need to host an interactive webinar. A webinar hosting service should offer custom solutions and support for all technical issues.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $897,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 183 days (?)

How I Turned My Teenage Hobby Into A Profitable Static Web Hosting Service

Tiiny.Host is a web hosting company that's doubled its monthly recurring revenue every three months, amassing 40,000+ users by providing an easy-to-use hosting and file sharing solution, and built up its brand through SEO.

About
Elston started tiiny.host over 4 years ago
Revenue
Elston grew the business to $2K/month
Costs
It cost Elston $100 to start the business
Read by 4,433 founders

15. Start a resume consulting business

How much you can make: $2,000 — $26,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

I Built A Profitable Resume Making Tool On The Side [700K+ Resumes Downloaded]

An Argentinian Product Designer created ResumeMaker.Online, a WYSIWYG web app that has been downloaded over 700,000 times and averages more than $2,000 a month after the recently introduced v2.0.

About
Fernando started Resume Maker Online over 5 years ago
Revenue
Fernando grew the business to $2K/month
Read by 4,411 founders

16. Become a freelance editor

Freelance editing is a great business idea for those passionate about language, grammar, and literature. As a freelance editor, you will review and improve written materials, whether novels, articles, reports or resumes.

To start a freelance editing business, you will need excellent communication and editing skills and a keen eye for detail. It is also helpful to have a background in writing or editing, although this is only sometimes necessary.

To run a successful freelance editing business, you must establish a robust online presence through a website or social media platforms. You will also need to market your services to potential clients through networking or paid advertising.

One of the main benefits of starting a freelance editing business is flexibility. You can work from anywhere, anytime, as long as you have a computer and an internet connection. You can work around other commitments, such as raising a family or pursuing other interests.

Freelance editing is a great business idea for those looking for a flexible, rewarding career that allows them to use their skills and expertise to help others. This could be the perfect business opportunity if you have a passion for language and a keen eye for detail.

How much you can make: $3,500/month

Leaving The Agency Grind To Start My Own Freelance Writing Career

Daniel Waldman started his freelance writing business over three years ago and has since earned an average of $3,500 per month, mostly through referrals and Fiverr - offering blogging, article writing, website copywriting and editing services.

About
Daniel started Daniel Waldman Writing over 7 years ago
Revenue
Daniel grew the business to $3.5K/month
Read by 4,921 founders

17. Start an online course sales business

Do you know you can make money selling what you are passionate about? People are making money creating courses and selling them online. Common online courses include music, cooking, coding, web design, dropshipping, etc.

Thus, you can turn it into a passive income by launching online classes if you have a skill. All you need is to choose a target audience, create the online course and choose an online learning platform where you can sell the course.

The e-learning market is expected to be worth over $645 Billion in the next few years.

How much you can make: $100 — $1,666,666/month

How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)

I Make $120K/Year With My Print On Demand T-Shirt Side Hustle

A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.

About
Cinquanta started Cinquanta Cox-Smith over 14 years ago
Revenue
Cinquanta grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Cinquanta $100 to start the business
Read by 10,743 founders

18. Start a remote grading service business

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

19. Start a writing workshop teaching business

A writing workshop teaching business is a venture where you help aspiring writers improve their skills and become better at expressing themselves through words.

The writing workshop business involves organizing in-person or online classes, where you guide participants through various writing exercises and provide constructive feedback on their work.

You don't need a fancy setup or expensive materials to start this business – just a passion for writing and a willingness to share your knowledge. With minimal costs for marketing and some basic materials, you can turn your love for writing into a low-cost and rewarding business opportunity.

How much you can make: $30 — $208,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $75 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A $2K/Month Online Community To Discuss Literature

Merrative, a community-driven marketplace for publishing talent, generates an average of $1,500 per month in marketplace transactions from their 5,000+ strong community of readers, writers, journalists, and scholars.

About
Harshala started Merrative over 3 years ago
Revenue
Harshala grew the business to $2K/month
Costs
It cost Harshala $100 to start the business
Read by 2,940 founders

20. Build an online research software

As the business world grows more complex, the need for reliable and effective online research software becomes more important. Online research software can help businesses save time and money by providing access to a wealth of information.

This type of software is used for a variety of purposes, such as academic research, market research, or competitive intelligence.

For example, Trello is powerful online research software that can help you organize and keep track of your research projects. With Trello, you can create custom boards to track your progress on specific projects, set deadlines, and collaborate with other researchers. Trello's estimated annual revenue is currently $15.8M per year.

Online research software is a great tool for businesses looking to better understand their customer base. The data collected by this process can be rich and informative, as it includes insights that help you grow your business in ways other methods may not address as accurately or completely.

How much you can make: $5,000/month

How long does it take to build: 635 days (?)

AcademicInfluence.com Pioneers A New Way To Compare Colleges And Scholars

AcademicInfluence.com helps parents and students find colleges that are a good fit with their revolutionary machine learning system to identify and track the influence of the faculty and alumni, resulting in over 100,000 organic search visits per month.

About
Jed started AcademicInfluence.com over 3 years ago
Revenue
Jed grew the business to $5K/month
Costs
It cost Jed $500000 to start the business
Read by 2,652 founders

21. Start a lesson plans business

The lesson plans business idea is a service that provides educators with customized lesson plans and teaching materials. The business idea is centered around the need for teachers to access high-quality, relevant, and engaging lesson plans and teaching materials to use in their classrooms.

To run a successful lesson plans business, founders should consider the following tips:

Identify a niche: It is essential to narrow the target audience and focus on a specific subject area or grade level. This will help the business stand out in the crowded education market and make it easier to market to potential customers.

Research the market: Founders should research current trends in education and the needs of their target audience to ensure that their lesson plans are relevant and meet the standards of the education industry.

Collaborate with educators: To create high-quality lesson plans, founders should collaborate with educators to get feedback and input on the materials. This will ensure that the lesson plans are practical and useful for teachers.

Use technology: With the increasing reliance on technology in education, founders should consider using technology to create and deliver their lesson plans. This could include using online platforms or creating digital resources that can be accessed on various devices.

Market the business: Marketing is key to the success of any business, and founders should ensure to promote their lesson plans to potential customers effectively. This could include using social media, creating a website, or attending education conferences and events.

Overall, the lesson plans business idea is an excellent opportunity for educators to create and sell high-quality lesson plans and teaching materials to other educators. By identifying a niche, researching the market, collaborating with educators, using technology, and effectively marketing the business, founders can create a successful and profitable business.

22. Start an ed tech business

How much you can make: $30,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $6,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 11 days (?)

We Built A $180K/Year Learn-To-Code Community

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.

About
Matt started Frontend Mentor over 5 years ago
Revenue
Matt grew the business to $30K/month
Costs
It cost Matt $8000 to start the business
Read by 9,726 founders

23. Start an educational website business

How much you can make: $10,000 — $3,735,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)

How Two College Friends Started A $25K/Month On-Demand Development Business

Cottage Software co-founder Neil Granberry shares how they built their software agency business, which helps designers and developers turn designs into code fast and affordably, through their platform powered by learning developers, bringing in $25,000+ per month in revenue as a tech-enabled agency of just two people, with plans to sell directly to web design and development agencies.

About
Neil started Cottage Software over 1 year ago
Revenue
Neil grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Neil $5000 to start the business
Read by 2,234 founders

24. Start a scholarship consulting business

25. Start an online library business

An online library business is a platform that allows users to access a vast collection of digital books, audiobooks, and other media. The business model is simple: users pay a subscription fee to access the library, which can be accessed on any device with an internet connection.

One of the key benefits of an online library business is that it allows users to access their favorite books and media anytime, anywhere. This is especially useful for busy individuals who don’t have time to visit a physical library or bookstore. Additionally, an online library can offer a much wider selection of books and media than a physical library, making it an attractive option for avid readers and media enthusiasts.

To run a successful online library business, there are vital tips to keep in mind. First, building a solid partnership with publishers and authors is essential to secure the rights to a wide range of books and media. This will help attract diverse users and keep them returning for more. Next, it’s essential to focus on building a user-friendly platform that is easy to navigate and search. This will make it easier for users to find the content they are looking for and keep them coming back.

Finally, focusing on marketing and promotion is essential to attract new users and keep existing ones engaged. This can include social media marketing, email marketing, and other tactics to spread the word about your online library.

Overall, an online library business is an excellent idea for entrepreneurs looking to tap into the growing demand for digital media. With a strong focus on building partnerships, creating a user-friendly platform, and promoting your business, you can build a successful online library that serves many users.

26. Start a copywriting business

A copywriter creates clear, compelling copy to sell products and/or educate and engage consumers.

To become a copywriter, focus on covering the basics, plan your copywriting business and choose the services you intend to offer.

To develop your brand, establish a marketing strategy, and offer quality services to your audience. Email marketing, newsletters, and other digital marketing tools can help you create a successful copywriting business.

How much you can make: $700 — $160,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 41 days (?)

How I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

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.

About
David started Article-Writing Co almost 13 years ago
Revenue
David grew the business to $125K/month
Read by 23,072 founders

27. Become a public speaker

Motivational speakers share powerful messages based on their life experiences. The focus is on helping others gain life's wisdom and become successful.

If you plan to become a motivational public speaker, learn how you can transition your genuine passion to becoming a professional public speaker who inspires others.

Then, start a social media channel and share your videos widely to go viral.

How much you can make: $7,000 — $200,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A $100K/Month Membership Platform Focused On Self-Improvement

Founder Dean Bokhari shares how he launched a membership platform focused on self-improvement, generating over $100,000 per month in revenue, attracting customers via high-quality content, guest blogging and Facebook ads, with plans to grow to $1,000,000 per month over the next 3-5 years.

About
Dean started Dean Bokhari about 3 years ago
Revenue
Dean grew the business to $120K/month
Costs
It cost Dean $5000 to start the business
Read by 7,338 founders

28. Start a teaching & consulting business

How much you can make: $12,000 — $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

How I Launched A $1K/Month Business Growth Course For Freelancers

Learn how writer and brand strategist Austin L. Church accidentally started his own freelance writing business, and eventually launched his $1K/month business growth course, Freelance Cake, distilling a decade's worth of hard-earned insights on how to thrive as a freelancer or consultant.

About
Austin started Freelance Cake about 4 years ago
Revenue
Austin grew the business to $20K/month
Read by 6,750 founders

29. Become a tutorial video creator

A tutorial video is a subcategory of instructional videos that share knowledge and interact with viewers. Different forms of tutorial videos include:

  • Presentation: common among college professors and teachers
  • Niche videos: short 10-15 minutes tutorials covering a wide range of topics
  • Training videos: teach candidates the skills they need to perform better at work

Creating tutorial videos is not a difficult task. With a proper strategy, you can make a tutorial video. Invest in a professional camera for your business and start creating a tutorial video. Then, outline the video contents you intend to create and create scripts.

How much you can make: $1,700 — $375,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $109 (?)

How long does it take to build: 18 days (?)

On Creating And Monetising Google Sheets Tutorials

Better Sheets is a Google Sheets tutorial providing screencasts to small businesses, earning $2,291 from 134 sales in May, with sales being mainly driven by AppSumo.

About
Andrew started Better Sheets almost 4 years ago
Revenue
Andrew grew the business to $8.33K/month
Costs
It cost Andrew $109 to start the business
Read by 8,014 founders

30. Become a music tutor

Are you passionate about music or looking for a profitable coaching business? How about becoming a music tutor?

To start a music coaching business, decide your target audience and location and set your rates. For example, you can meet new students through a community event, online, or a music club, or target the local community. Set rates for your music classes and advertise your business to get as many clients as possible.

How much you can make: $30,000 — $70,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,035 (?)

How long does it take to build: 160 days (?)

I Created A $480K/Year Online Piano Lessons Business With $100

Piano In 21 Days built a low pressure and flexible online piano course, bringing in 5 figures every month while allowing the founder to spend time on other interests and family while its profitable business runs itself.

About
Jacques started Piano In 21 Days almost 11 years ago
Revenue
Jacques grew the business to $30K/month
Read by 4,968 founders

31. Start a child care business

Starting a childcare business is a great way to build a steady income. You will have the opportunity to be your boss and set your hours even from home. You will have the satisfaction of building one-on-one relationships with children and watching them grow over the years.

A childcare business is an excellent idea. It is both a personal and economical investment for its owners. This is especially true if you are considering starting your non-profit organization or becoming licensed to provide child care. Running a childcare business allows you to help children develop while also making money. As with any business endeavor, running a childcare business has its ups and downs, but it can be very rewarding.

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

32. Start a summer camp

Starting a summer camp business can be a fun and rewarding experience for anyone looking to enter the education and recreation industry. Summer camps offer children and young adults a chance to participate in various activities and experiences, including sports, crafts, nature hikes, and more.

To start a summer camp business, you will need to secure a location, typically a large piece of land with various amenities such as cabins, a pool, and a dining hall. You will also need to hire a team of trained and experienced staff members to oversee the campers and lead activities. Marketing and advertising will be important to attract potential campers and their families, and you may want to consider offering promotions or discounts to attract new business.

According to a report by the American Camp Association, the summer camp industry generates over $15 billion in revenue annually, with approximately 14 million children attending camps each year. It is a popular and growing business opportunity, with an estimated 2,400 new camps opening in the United States each year.

Starting a summer camp business can be challenging, but with proper planning and execution, it can be a rewarding and successful venture. By providing a safe and engaging environment for children to learn and grow, you can positively impact their development and create lasting memories for them and their families.

33. Start a landscape designing business

Landscape design, also known as landscape architecture, involves arranging and modifying features in a landscape, urban area, or garden. The scope of work requires planning, designing, and managing open spaces to create an appealing environment.

The demand for landscape design is high among homeowners and commercial space owners. According to statistics, the employment of landscape architects will grow by 6% in the next few years. The need for planning and developing new and existing landscapes for commercial, industrial, and residential construction will drive the growth.

Starting a landscape design business can be profitable if you are an experienced designer with excellent artistic skills. To start a landscape design business, do market research and write a business plan. Invest in quality landscape design tools and equipment and register your business.

How much you can make: $2,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

Uber For Lawn Care: How I Built A $30M Software

GreenPal has bootstrapped their business to over $30 million a year in revenue, after securing an unsecured line of credit for $85,000, and have built the operating system and platform for small lawncare companies to run their entire business through, becoming live in all 50 US states and having 1.2 million homeowners using the platform.

About
Bryan started GreenPal almost 12 years ago
Revenue
Bryan grew the business to $2.5M/month
Costs
It cost Bryan $250000 to start the business
Read by 4,301 founders

34. Start a caricature artist business

How much you can make: $100/month

How much does it cost to start: $150 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

I Built A Cartoon Creator Tool That Has Over 60K Unique Daily Users

This case study is about Janina, the founder of SP-Studio, a popular website with over 60,000 visitors per day that allows anyone to create unique cartoon characters for free without drawing skills, and how she built the website without focusing on generating revenue for many years.

About
Janina started SP-Studio over 21 years ago
Revenue
Janina grew the business to $100/month
Costs
It cost Janina $150 to start the business
Read by 4,039 founders

35. Start a gardening business

A gardening business makes money by planting trees, growing specific produce, maintaining landscapes, and more.

Gardening companies work with homeowners to install, maintain and repair their landscaping areas. For instance, a typical gardening business provides all-inclusive services to create and maintain a lawn, such as mowing, fertilizing, and edging.

Owning a gardening business can be a very flexible and profitable business venture.

How much you can make: $27,000 — $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 560 days (?)

How I Designed A $150K/Month Portable Pressurized Shower And Went On Shark Tank

Founder of RinseKit shares how he designed a portable pressurized shower that generates over $1.5M in sales per year and achieved great success with Kickstarter and appearing on Shark Tank, while providing advice on designing, prototyping, and manufacturing your first product.

About
Chris started RinseKit about 9 years ago
Revenue
Chris grew the business to $150K/month
Read by 11,698 founders

36. Start an used book store

Starting a used book store may seem quaint and outdated in today’s digital age, but it can be a thriving and lucrative business.

For bibliophiles and avid readers, a used book store offers a treasure trove of pre-loved books at affordable prices. Not only do customers get to add to their libraries, but they also get to support sustainable practices by giving these books a second life.

A used book store can also serve as a community hub, providing a space for book clubs, readings, and other literary events. So why not dust off the old business plan and open the doors to your used book emporium?

37. Become a business plan consultant

A business plan consultant helps existing and aspiring entrepreneurs refine their ideas and strategies and mold them into viable business opportunities. Hiring a business plan consultant saves time and ensures quality plans that attract investors.

Starting a business plan consultancy can be a fun and rewarding idea. You can hire subject matter experts to help you provide custom business plans and a transparent business model.

How much you can make: $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,789 (?)

How long does it take to build: 36 days (?)

We Make $1.2M/Year Helping People Set Up Their Companies In UAE

Emirabiz, a business consultancy company in Dubai, has grown to 15 full-time employees and boasts an average monthly revenue of over $200k USD by offering transparent pricing and being customer-oriented in assisting people in their business registration in UAE, a country that has seen a huge demand for business incorporation.

About
Elena started Emirabiz about 9 years ago
Revenue
Elena grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Elena $5500 to start the business
Read by 3,251 founders

38. Become a ghost blogger

A ghost blogger is simply a writer who specializes in producing blogs for other people.

As a ghost blogger, you can earn between $300 and $1,500 per week, depending on word count and topic.

Ideally, the ideas and knowledge contained in the article originate from the publicly named author.

Therefore, as a ghostwriter, your role is to put the ideas into words.

How much you can make: $450 — $24,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $125 (?)

How long does it take to build: 62 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

I Make $300K/Year With A Team Of Ghostwriters That Create Content For Brands

Content strategist Lacy Boggs leveraged her love of blogging and desire for a more flexible schedule to grow her business from a solo "Ghost Blogger" to a full agency with four writers and a cabal of contractors that helps businesses create bespoke content strategies and consistent traffic, yielding over a ($300k) year in revenue.

About
Lacy started The Content Direction Agency over 12 years ago
Revenue
Lacy grew the business to $24K/month
Costs
It cost Lacy $50 to start the business
Read by 4,151 founders

39. Start an educational day camps business

40. Start a grant writing business

Starting a grant writing business is a fantastic idea for those skilled in research and writing. This business involves helping organizations, non-profits, and individuals secure funding from various sources, such as government agencies, foundations, and corporations.

To start a grant writing business, you will need to have excellent research skills and be able to write well. You should also understand the grant application process and be able to communicate the needs and goals of your clients effectively.

One of the critical components of running a successful grant-writing business is building a solid network of connections. This includes developing relationships with funding sources, organizations, and individuals needing grant funding.

You must invest in some essential equipment and resources to get started. This includes a computer, printer, office supplies, and a website to showcase your services. You may also want to consider investing in grant writing software to streamline the process and make it easier to keep track of your projects.

As a grant-writing business owner, you will be responsible for researching potential funding sources, writing grant proposals, and working closely with your clients to ensure their successful grant applications. You can build a successful and rewarding business with hard work and dedication, helping others secure the funding they need to achieve their goals.

How much you can make: $42,857 — $180,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $142 (?)

How long does it take to build: 163 days (?)

How I Started A $130K/Month Business Selling Bid Writing Services

Learn how a UK-based bid writing and management consultancy grew to sales over $130,000 per month by focusing on their niche market and providing exceptional customer service to clients ranging from startups to multinationals.

About
Dave started Thornton & Lowe over 14 years ago
Revenue
Dave grew the business to $180K/month
Costs
It cost Dave $250 to start the business
Read by 7,194 founders

41. Start a speech writing business

Starting a speech writing business can be a lucrative and fulfilling career for those passionate about language, public speaking, and crafting compelling narratives.

The business involves writing custom speeches for clients in various industries, including corporate, political, academic, and personal events. These speeches can range from formal presentations to wedding toasts and may be delivered to small or large audiences.

To start a successful speech writing business, it is vital to have strong writing skills and an ability to understand the needs and goals of each client. Researching and understanding current events and relevant industry topics can also be beneficial in crafting appropriate and engaging content.

In terms of marketing and building a client base, networking and relationships with event planners and public speaking coaches can be helpful. An online presence, including a professional website and social media accounts, can also help attract potential clients.

To succeed in this business, it is essential to meet tight deadlines and have excellent communication skills to collaborate with clients and deliver high-quality work effectively.

A willingness to continuously learn and improve writing skills is also essential in staying competitive in the market.

Starting a speech writing business can be a rewarding and flexible career for those with a love of language and a desire to help others effectively communicate their ideas and messages.

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

42. Start a toddler educating business

43. Start an acting lessons business

Mumbai is the hometown of Bollywood, and many people are coming to Mumbai to become actors. As the owner of an acting classes business in Mumbai, you will provide training, coaching, and support to those considering getting into the Mumbai Bollywood industry. To get started, you may choose to work with children or with a career-oriented adult audience interested in stage acting, film, commercials, voice-over work, or other areas of specialization.

44. Start a home tutoring business

A home tutoring company is an educational company that offers private tutoring from a tutor who visits the students at the student’s home.

Home tutoring is a growing business opportunity for motivated people and comes with the flexibility of working anytime, anywhere, and creates a passive income.

If you love teaching and helping others, one way to make money is to start a home tutoring business. Whether you want to tutor kids or adults, there’s a niche for you.

Once you have started your home tutoring business, promote it by putting fliers at other stores and on bulletin boards at colleges and libraries. Also, engage parents and guardians for home tutoring opportunities.

45. Start a foreign language training business

Are you interested in starting a foreign language training business? Great!. Language training can be a rewarding and lucrative business idea, especially if you have a passion for teaching and a talent for languages.

You will need some basic materials and resources to start a foreign language training business. First, you must choose which language(s) you will teach. It’s essential to have a strong foundation in the language(s) you plan to teach, so it may be necessary to take additional courses or become certified in the language(s) you choose. You will also need to create a curriculum and materials for your classes, such as textbooks and worksheets.

You will need to find students to take your classes to operate your business. Finding students can be done through advertising and marketing, such as creating a website or social media presence and reaching out to local schools and businesses. You will also need to decide on a pricing structure for your classes, whether by the hour, session, or course.

Teaching foreign languages can be a rewarding and fulfilling business, especially if you have a passion for language learning and teaching. You can start and operate a successful foreign language training business with some basic materials and resources.

How much you can make: $91,000/month

Benny Lewis On How To Make 7 Figures Language Hacking

Fluent in 3 Months receives over 2 million monthly visits and Benny Lewis, the founder, is now a 7-figure business coach who teaches people how to create online businesses.

About
Benny started Fluent In 3 Months almost 15 years ago
Revenue
Benny grew the business to $91K/month
Read by 803 founders

46. Start an art lessons business

Are you a professional artist? Teaching arts and crafts online can be a small but profitable business venture.

You can target kids interested in becoming artists or talented teens who want to advance their artistic skills. To start an arts business, train yourself in arts and crafts and plan a curriculum suitable for your target audience.

Advertising your business will help you to reach a larger audience.

47. Start a tech writing business

Tech writing is a business that involves creating technical documents, such as user manuals, how-to guides, and product specifications, for companies that produce or use technology products. These documents help users understand and effectively use the technology they have purchased or are working with.

In this business, a tech writer might work with a team of subject matter experts and designers to research, organize, and write technical information clearly and concisely. They may also edit and review documents and create and maintain a company’s style guide.

To run a successful tech writing business, it is important to have strong research and writing skills and an understanding of technical concepts. It is also essential to have excellent communication skills, as tech writers often work with clients and team members from various departments and industries.

One tip for success in tech writing is to stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends. This can be achieved through continuous learning and networking with professionals in the field. It is also important to be organized and efficient, as tech writers often work on tight deadlines and may have multiple projects at once.

Overall, tech writing is a rewarding business for individuals with a passion for both writing and technology. It offers the opportunity to work with a variety of clients and industries, and to constantly learn and grow in the field.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $42,857/month

How much does it cost to start: $67 (?)

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A $514K/Year Content Curation Agency With Just $35 [From India]

Content-Whale, a content curation agency, has achieved a Rs. 4 crore ($514k/year) turnover 4-5 years after being started with just Rs. 2500 ($35), and has a pool of more than 500 writers, aiming to become a market leader in the global content market.

About
Vaibhav started Content-Whale Private Limited over 6 years ago
Revenue
Vaibhav grew the business to $42.9K/month
Costs
It cost Vaibhav $35 to start the business
Read by 4,651 founders

48. Start a notary public business

49. Start a college planning business

How much you can make: $5,000/month

How long does it take to build: 720 days (?)

AcademicInfluence.com Pioneers A New Way To Compare Colleges And Scholars

AcademicInfluence.com helps parents and students find colleges that are a good fit with their revolutionary machine learning system to identify and track the influence of the faculty and alumni, resulting in over 100,000 organic search visits per month.

About
Jed started AcademicInfluence.com over 3 years ago
Revenue
Jed grew the business to $5K/month
Costs
It cost Jed $500000 to start the business
Read by 2,652 founders

50. Start a museum consulting business

51. Start a real estate brokering business

Real estate brokering involves helping individuals and businesses buy, sell, and rent properties. As a real estate broker, you will connect buyers and sellers, negotiate prices, and handle the paperwork. To start a successful real estate brokering business, you must obtain a state license. This typically involves completing a certain number of real estate courses and passing a licensure exam.

In addition to a license, you will also need a strong understanding of the local real estate market and a network of clients and contacts. Marketing and networking skills are essential for attracting new business and building your client base. You should also be organized and able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, as real estate transactions can be complex and time-sensitive.

To run a successful real estate brokering business, you must stay up-to-date on industry trends and regulations. This may involve continuing education courses and keeping abreast of changes in local zoning laws and market conditions.

Overall, real estate brokering requires legal knowledge, marketing savvy, and strong negotiation skills. If you are driven and passionate, starting a real estate brokering business can be a rewarding and lucrative career path.

How much you can make: $199,999/month

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

The Next Redfin? Real Estate Broker SaaS hits $2.4m Revenue, $50m Valuation

Radius Agent secures $13.1 million in Series A funding to accelerate expansion plans and reach a 5X growth rate, helping real estate agents succeed through providing the appropriate tools to market and brand themselves with the use of technology.

About
Biju started Radius Agent about 9 years ago
Revenue
Biju grew the business to $200K/month
Read by 513 founders

52. Become a swimming instructor

Swimming instructors help children and adults develop proper swimming techniques. Starting swim lessons can be a profitable side hustle. You can teach swimmers at a private or a public pool.

Swimming teachers charge students per session or hour. To become a swimming pool instructor, consider registering for relevant training courses and take the certification examination. Advertise your business online and target social groups in your area.

How much you can make: $1,000/month

31-year-old earns up to $1,000 a month from her swim school side hustle aimed at ‘smashing’ stereotypes
About
Paulana started Black People Will Swim about 4 years ago
Revenue
Paulana grew the business to $1K/month
Read by 22 founders

53. Start a professional organizing business

Are you interested in a side hustle business idea you can launch today? How about becoming a professional organizing consultant? You can teach others how to keep their spaces neatly organized if you have special organization skills.

Typically, a professional organizing business helps clients develop critical organizing skills through training. To start your business, you can create videos and share them on Instagram or other social media platforms.

To earn income from the organizing business, you can partner with promoters or introduce paid advertising opportunities.

How much you can make: $8,000 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 40 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 100 hours/week

How I Make $8K/Month Helping Organizers Automate Their Business

Professional organizer turned system strategist boosts monthly sales to $8,000 by helping others in the industry implement business systems and through successful niche marketing on Instagram for Dubsado CRM setups.

About
Amber started Arranged by Amber over 5 years ago
Revenue
Amber grew the business to $8K/month
Costs
It cost Amber $2500 to start the business
Read by 3,788 founders

54. Start an educational toys business

How much you can make: $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

How We Built A $1.2MM/Year Business Selling Light Up Ice Cubes

Learn how a team from Mississippi State University turned a classroom project into a $1.2 million year business selling liquid-activated, light-up drink cubes and sensory toys for kids, which are now sold in 37 countries.

About
Hagan started Glo® about 8 years ago
Revenue
Hagan grew the business to $400K/month
Costs
It cost Hagan $15000 to start the business
Read by 8,866 founders

55. Start a public speaking instruction business

56. Start a book rental business

57. Start a daycare

Daycares provide educational, medical, and social services for the children of working parents either during school hours or when the parents are out of the home for an extended period of time. This can be a lucrative enterprise if you start a daycare in an area where it is needed.

As the growth of families has become dependent on two incomes, the need for quality daycare has skyrocketed. Starting a daycare business is challenging but rewarding. You will face many challenges but can overcome them as long as you are ready to make the sacrifices required.

58. Start a pottery business

How much you can make: $110,000/month

How My Student Joel Cherrico Makes 6 Figures Selling Pottery Online

One potter went from selling zero to 100 cups per day, earning six figures and now has a team of four, all in just five years.

About
Joel started Cherrico Pottery over 13 years ago
Revenue
Joel grew the business to $110K/month
Read by 609 founders

59. Start a babysitting service

If you have some spare time at home, you can start babysitting services for couples who need extra support.

Here are the steps on how to start a babysitting business.

  • Avail for training/credentials related to babysitting
  • Register your business
  • Apply for Licenses/Permits
  • Open a bank account for business transactions

60. Start a tour guide business

Can you offer a native perspective of a town you know well? If yes, starting a tour guide business can be a significant business venture. Tour guides charge tourists per tour and provide visitors with an area with local tour narration and navigation.

To start a tour guide business, choose an area you know, and study its history. Visitors will often ask questions and expect you to answer them. Therefore, you have to be well-versed in the areas you will cover.

You can partner with a tour & travel company or a game park near you and offer the visitor's tour guide services.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $43,300,000/month

Responsible And Resilient: Intrepid Travel Shows Doing Good Is Also Good For Business

Intrepid Travel is the biggest adventure tour operator that generates $43 million in annual revenue, offering more than 1,150 sustainable and experience-rich trips worldwide and, since 2002, raising over AUD 12 million for 135 charities worldwide through The Intrepid Foundation.

About
They started Intrepid Travel about 35 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $43.3M/month
Read by 773 founders

61. Start a special needs coaching business

62. Start a digital research analysis business

How much you can make: $40,000/month

How long does it take to build: 500 days (?)

Our $480K/Year Solution Can Tell If People Like Your Website

UXtweak, a user research platform with mainly big companies as customers, has reached an MRR of €60k within a year of launching, using mainly organic traffic and referral programs for customer acquisition, and has added six new tools since launch.

About
Ľubomír started UXtweak over 3 years ago
Revenue
Ľubomír grew the business to $40K/month
Costs
It cost Ľubomír $300000 to start the business
Read by 3,190 founders

63. Start a business school business

64. Start a fashion design school business

65. Start a stress management consulting business

66. Start a self defense school

Self-defense schools teach risk recognition, reduction strategies, and general self-defense tactics and techniques. Crime rate is increasing globally. Owing to this, many people want to learn how to protect themselves. Thus, subscriptions for self-defense lessons are high.

Starting a self-defense lesson can provide a good income stream, as you provide valuable training to participants.

67. Start a photography courses business

How much you can make: $15,000 — $250,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How I Make 7 Figures Selling Online Courses

Course Creator Pro teaches practical marketing solutions across various domains to create rapid business growth, with student success stories generating thousands in revenue in less than 24 hours.

Revenue
They grew the business to $250K/month
Read by 757 founders

68. Start an auto maintenance course business

69. Start a charter school business

meet the author
Pat Walls

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.