28+ Pop-Up Shop Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2023]
Interested in starting a pop up shop business in 2023?
We put together 28 of the best pop up shop businesses you can start in today.
For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other pop up shop businesses to help you see what it really takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a photo booth business ($4.2M/year)
Scott McInnes from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada started TapSnap over 10 years ago, a photo booth business.
- Revenue: $350,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 18
- Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
My first business was a disaster!
It was a small restaurant that I opened in 1995 at 25 years old that shut down 2 years later. I was broke, jobless and in debt. I didn’t have a specific idea of what I wanted to do, but knew that I still wanted to be an entrepreneur. I spent a couple of years working, reading business books and magazines, and looking for another opportunity.
I didn’t have much money so I could really only consider opportunities that I could start for a small amount of money and build on. And, it was also important to me that I found something that I could do as a side business. Now I guess that would be called a side hustle.
2. Start a shipping business ($28.8M/year)
Aaron Rubin from Garnerville, New York started ShipHero about 10 years ago, a shipping business.
- Revenue: $2,400,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 193
- Location: Garnerville, New York
Aaron and I got together because we were both frustrated with legacy warehousing software. He ran several e-commerce businesses in the martial arts niche, starting with KarateDepot in 1998 and branching out into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with BJJHQ.com, Xengu.com, and several others.
There are a lot of resources out there, they are not hard to find. Be willing to ask questions.
I worked for several large organizations, and as the Chief Digital Officer of the NBA Players Association -- which was a pretty awesome gig because I got to meet some of the players like LeBron James (who was actually my boss), Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Chris Paul. Before that, I was Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Code in Theory in NYC.
3. Become a social media marketer ($120K/year)
Mahsun Avci from Frederiksberg, DenmarkTaastrup started Avci socso about 3 years ago, a social media marketer.
- Revenue: $10,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 0
- Location: Frederiksberg, DenmarkTaastrup
Growing up, I went to private school and was very blessed that my parents cared about my education. Somewhere around 9th grade, my perspective on the education system changed. I realized through books and YouTube videos that the life trajectory of a lot of the people I looked up to, was not aligned with what I wanted in life.
I was never a fan of what was taught in schools. Instead of religiously following what was being taught in high school, I self-educated in business, personal development, and leadership. When I was fifteen, I tried out various online businesses. I failed miserably at first. At this time I was very much into Fitness and I tried to sell training and diet plans. I managed to sell a few plans to my classmates for like $50, but it never really amounted to anything and most importantly it wasn't scalable.
After that, I tried stock trading and the likes. That too didn’t really work for me. One day I stumbled across SMMA. I was so intrigued by the concept, so I went ALL IN. I didn’t care what people thought. I was going to make it big here. I needed some proof of concept, so I convinced my dad to make me run his restaurant's Facebook Ads. I watched 100’s of videos and read tons of blogs, to know how to run successful ads and we were both pretty stoked about the results.
I knew it was the right business for me, but it was not all gold and green forests. In fact, at the start of my “agency journey,” it was so hard getting my feet on the ground and getting my first few clients after my dad.
4. Start a holiday pop-up shop business
Examples of a successful holiday pop-up shop business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a holiday pop-up shop business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Popup Your Startup Business Ideas - Amazon.Com
- Popup Shop Business Initiative - The Growth Engine Secrets For
Learn more about starting a holiday pop-up shop business ➜
5. Start an online retail store
Examples of a successful online retail store :
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a online retail store :
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Home-Based Online Retail Business (Home-Based Business
- How To Start A Home-Based Online Retail Business (Home-Based Business Series): Nicole Augenti
Learn more about starting an online retail store ➜
Hagan makes ski mountaineering gear—exclusively. We focus without distraction on alpine ski touring. We don’t make downhill skis, clothing, hiking boots, or running shoes.
Our focus on high-performance ski mountaineering gear is recognized and appreciated by devoted backcountry skiers and has 50% annual growth in recent years. Hagan is Pure Ski Mountaineering.
6. Start a flash sale offering business
Examples of a successful flash sale offering business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a flash sale offering business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Selling Your Business For Dummies: Findlay Schenck
- How To Start And Operate An Electrical Contracting Business
Learn more about starting a flash sale offering business ➜
7. Start a complementary care provider business
Examples of a successful complementary care provider business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a complementary care provider business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How to Start a Home-Based Senior Care Business: *Develop a winning business plan *Market your unique services to families *Create a fee structure care manager (Home-Based Business Series)
- How To Start And Run A Successful Home Daycare Business: Tips From An Expert: Christina Kamp
Learn more about starting a complementary care provider business ➜
8. Start a sample offering business
Examples of a successful sample offering business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a sample offering business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How to Start a Business: Startup Essentials-The Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Successfully Start Your Own Business (Online Business, Small Business, Work ... (Business Startup for Newbies Book 2)
- The Secrets To Writing A Successful Business Plan: A Pro Shares A Step-by-step Guide To Creating A Plan That Gets Results: Hal Shelton
Learn more about starting a sample offering business ➜
9. Start an interactive product demos business
Examples of a successful interactive product demos business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a interactive product demos business:
- How To Give Product Demos That Sell Using These 5 Tips
- How To Make A Product Demo Video (+ Free Video Template)
Learn more about starting an interactive product demos business ➜
Hi, I’m Robin, the founder of SmartCue - a demo automation platform to help software sales teams create personalized demo libraries and close deals faster.
We currently have 10+ pilots running, both free and paid, and are getting rave reviews for SmartCue and how it is adding value to our buyers.
10. Start a sampling tents business
Examples of a successful sampling tents business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a sampling tents business:
- Buying Junk Tents Vs. Quality Tents - Start A Tent Rental Company
- Start A Tent Rental Company - Do You Have Packages Or Do You Price Per Item?
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Tentmaking: The Life And Work Of Business As Missions: Patrick Lai
- The Roof Top Tent Guide: The Basics To Start Camping Off The Ground - Off Road Tents
Learn more about starting a sampling tents business ➜
11. Start an exclusive products business
Examples of a successful exclusive products business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a exclusive products business:
- How To Start Your Own Brand • Behind The Scenes Of Kravebeauty : Money, Product Development, Design
- How To Start A Product Business That Succeeds
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Wholesale Distribution Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Success (StartUp Series): Bridget McCrea
- Building A Successful Online Business: How To Make Huge Profits With Etsy, Instagram, eBay & Amazon: How To Start Reselling Business: Sibyl Foules
Learn more about starting an exclusive products business ➜
12. Start a themed selections business
Examples of a successful themed selections business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a themed selections business:
- How To Start A Business, The Guide For Entrepreneurs
- The Best Way To Start A Business When You 'Don’t Have The Time'
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Business: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide To Starting a Small Business from Business Plan to Scaling up + LLC: Greg Shields
- How To Start Your Own Business: The Facts Visually Explained
Learn more about starting a themed selections business ➜
13. Start an in-store demonstration service business
Examples of a successful in-store demonstration service business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a in-store demonstration service business:
- In-Store Product Demonstration Company - Drive Sales At Retail - Fitjoy Demo
- Club Demonstration Services Greg Sullivan 07.12.19 Good Morning Vail
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting an in-store demonstration service business ➜
14. Start a special guests business
Examples of a successful special guests business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a special guests business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The Small Business Manual & Workbook Special Edition: How To Plan, Build and Market Your Start-up From Scratch: Regina Anaejionu
- The Airbnb Playbook: Your Complete Guide to Start and Manage a Profitable Airbnb Business (The Sharing Economy): James Steward
Learn more about starting a special guests business ➜
15. Start a street entertainer business
Examples of a successful street entertainer business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a street entertainer business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- So You Want To Be A Talent Agent?: Everything You Need To Know To Start Your Own Local Talent Booking Agency: Tom Wolf Elliott
- Start Your Own Arts And Crafts Business: Retail, Carts And Kiosks, Craft Shows, Street Fairs (StartUp Series)
Learn more about starting a street entertainer business ➜
16. Start a spooky deals and discounts offering business
Examples of a successful spooky deals and discounts offering business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a spooky deals and discounts offering business:
- How To Write A Haunted House Business Plan Product Offer.Mp4
- The Big Business Of Halloween And Haunted Hayrides
For further info, check out these books and products:
- I Spy Spooky Night: A Book Of Picture Riddles: Marzollo
- Spooky, Spooky, Little Bat: Parragon Books - Amazon.Com
Learn more about starting a spooky deals and discounts offering business ➜
Hello, my name is Shawn Pigg and I am the CEO of Hotels Etc. Launched in 1996, I purchased the company more than 15 years ago to bring true discounts to travelers and to help businesses increase revenue.
Hotels Etc. is now a multimillion-dollar company and one of the oldest membership programs on the net today.
17. Start a vending machine business
Examples of a successful vending machine business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vending machine business:
- How To Start A Vending Machine Business, Cost, Tips, How Much You Make
- Starting A Vending Machine Business For Beginners
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Vending Business
- How to Start a Vending Machine Business: A Simple Guide to Start a Vending Machine Side Hustle in Your Spare Time
Learn more about starting a vending machine business ➜
Hi there, I’m Lakinya, Founder of iKrave Vending. My background is quite simple. I went to college in Tampa, FL, at USF (University of South Florida). Upon graduating, I moved back home and was a middle and high school teacher for four years. I decided to switch gears and land a more secure job with the State government. This is when I got the urge to find something on the side to do! I decided to start a vending machine business.
After about a year of running my own vending machine business and realizing the lack of consultants that specialize in vending machine operations, I created a series of online training courses geared toward helping others achieve success in vending services. My goal is to eliminate the obstacles, frustrations, and costly mistakes that prevent many from enjoying a profitable business and guide them toward financial security.
18. Start a mobile store
Examples of a successful mobile store:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mobile store:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Appreneurship: Build A Mobile App Business With No Technical Background: Rahul Varshneya
- The Ultimate Boutique Handbook: How to Start a Retail Business: Emily A. Benson
Learn more about starting a mobile store ➜
19. Start a competition organizing business
Examples of a successful competition organizing business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a competition organizing business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How to Start A Home-based Professional Organizing Business (Home-Based Business Series): Dawn Noble
- How To Drive Your Competition Crazy: Creating Disruption For Fun And Profit - Guy Kawasaki
Learn more about starting a competition organizing business ➜
20. Start a customization business
Examples of a successful customization business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a customization business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Business, Fifth Edition: The Only Start-Up Book You'll Ever Need
- How to Start a Creative Business: the jargon-free guide for creative entrepreneurs
Learn more about starting a customization business ➜
I am Rishi Narayan, co-founder of Underground Printing (UGP), a national custom printing apparel and promotional products provider, headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI. UGP offers screenprinting, digital printing, and embroidery on a wide variety of apparel and promotional products. We have stores throughout the nation in the heart of communities we serve. At UGP, it’s our goal to make your order process as convenient and hands-on as possible.
Since launching the company in 2001 while sophomores in college, UGP has 35+ locations across the country. All of our garment print production is done in our state-of-the-art 55,000 sq. ft. production facility and warehouse, located in southeast Michigan. Our technology and infrastructure allow us to provide the best quality, the lowest prices, and with the shortest turnarounds in the industry. It is these traits that have propelled our growth, allowing us to be ranked among Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest-growing companies for 3 years running.
21. Start a charitable donation business
Examples of a successful charitable donation business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a charitable donation business:
- How To Setup Your Own Charity - Mark J Kohler
- Starting A Nonprofit Organization? 3 Things You Must Do First
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start, Run & Grow A Successful Nonprofit Organization: Diy Startup Guide To 501 C(3) Nonprofit Charitable Organization For All 50 States & Dc
- The Fundraising Houseparty: How To Get Charitable
Learn more about starting a charitable donation business ➜
22. Start a previews and early releases business
Examples of a successful previews and early releases business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a previews and early releases business:
- Power Book Iii: Raising Kanan 'New Episode 6 Images & Teasers'
- Aut Release Date Confirmed (A Universal Time New Universe) Roblox
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a previews and early releases business ➜
23. Start a behind-the-scenes look business
Examples of a successful behind-the-scenes look business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a behind-the-scenes look business:
- My E-Commerce Online Business: Behind The Scenes Look!
- Behind The Scenes - Launching An Online Business
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a behind-the-scenes look business ➜
24. Start an on-brand decor renting business
Examples of a successful on-brand decor renting business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a on-brand decor renting business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting an on-brand decor renting business ➜
25. Start a light bites business
Examples of a successful light bites business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a light bites business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Enlightened Entrepreneurship: How to start and scale your business without losing your sanity
- The Business Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
Learn more about starting a light bites business ➜
26. Start a magnetic signs business
Examples of a successful magnetic signs business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a magnetic signs business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a magnetic signs business ➜
27. Start a tote bags business
Examples of a successful tote bags business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a tote bags business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The Better Bag Maker: An Illustrated Handbook Of Handbag Design • Techniques, Tips, and Tricks: Nicole Mallalieu
- Handbag Designer 101: Everything You Need To Know About Designing, Making, and Marketing Handbags: Emily Blumenthal
Learn more about starting a tote bags business ➜
28. Become a social media influencer
Examples of a successful social media influencer:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a social media influencer:
- How To Become An Influencer In 2020
- How To Become A Social Media Influencer? How To Work With Brands
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Social Media Marketing Workbook (2021): How to Use Social Media for Business (2021 Social Media Marketing 1): Jason McDonald
- Social Media Marketing 2020: Build Your Brand and Become the Best Influencer Using Social Media Marketing. Top Personal Branding & Digital Networking Strategies (Online Business)
Learn more about starting a social media influencer ➜
My name is Asia Crawford and I am a Motherhood, Life, and Travel blogger that resides in Vancouver, Canada. I am a wife and mother to two sweet little girls aged 4 and 2!
I started with no community, 0 followers on any media page I had and in just two years have grown to 18.5K followers on Instagram, 1.2 MILLION monthly viewers on my Pinterest, 12.5K Pageviews a month on my blog website and have been nominated for 3 blogging awards.
Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
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