63 Tech Startup & Software Business Ideas [2024]

Updated: July 11th, 2024

Looking for a startup idea?

In this article I'll walk you through 64 tech startup and software business ideas that are working today.

With each idea, I'll show you examples of successful businesses and how much they are making.

Here's the list:

1. Start a CRM business

A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software keeps track of prospects, clients and their contacts and also helps you monitor your sales pipeline as well as to create reports for business intelligence.

The CRM market is a $50B and growing industry.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $2,100,000/month

How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)

On Starting A $160K/Month CRM & Automations Company After A US Air Force Career

GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.

Read by 11,712 founders

2. Create a landing page builder

Let’s face it: creating a product is easy; creating a product that sells is the real challenge.

Many startups have great-looking websites but lack a highly converting landing page. A landing page builder does just that; it builds landing pages for you.

A landing page builder business is a service that helps businesses and individuals create professional-looking web pages designed to convert visitors into customers or leads.

To start this business on a budget, you’ll need basic web development skills and knowledge of popular website-building platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace.

Unbounce, a popular landing page tool, makes nearly $26M per year.

How much you can make: $110 — $160,000/month

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

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

On Starting A $160K/Month CRM & Automations Company After A US Air Force Career

GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.

Read by 11,712 founders

3. Start a 3D Printing Business

3D printing is a process that assembles objects layer by layer and starting a business in this industry can be a very creative venture.

You will need investment in the right equipment and materials, and the acquisition of 3D modeling and design skills. You will also need to regularly calibrate and maintain your 3D printers to deliver consistent results.

Plan how you'll handle shipping and logistics, and leverage technology to find new applications of 3D printing in all industries.

How much you can make: $8,000 — $330,000/month

How long does it take to build: 270 days (?)

How I Started A $330K/Month Ecommerce Specialized In 3D Printing

Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.

Read by 29,628 founders

4. Start a fitness SaaS

Have you ever wondered what software gyms use to keep track of everything? Over 32,000 health clubs in the U.S. need software and tools to run their business!

How much you can make: $7,000 — $60,000/month

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

How I Developed A $20K/Month Software For Personal Trainers

FitSW founder Jacob Montoya bootstrapped his company to $25K monthly revenue, helping over 20,000 personal trainers manage their businesses through software that enables them to create workouts, track progress, plan meals, accept payments, and manage schedules, and has now expanded to include FindTrainGain, enabling people to join live online fitness classes from the comfort of their homes.

Read by 10,208 founders

5. Create a social media scheduling tool

A social media scheduling tool is an online app that allows you to schedule your social media posts in advance, before publishing them on your social media channels.

Virtually all businesses use social media - this is a great market to build a startup in.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $333,333/month

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

How long does it take to build: 17 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A Social Media Automation Tool To $2MM/Year

MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.

Read by 14,804 founders

6. Create a meal planner app

Meal planners are used by millions of people around the world to stay organized, create meals, and even lose weight.

The weight loss services industry is currently valued at $22B and growing.

7. Create an online course

An online course business involves creating and selling digital classes teaching specialized skills or knowledge to subscribed students.

As an entrepreneurial course creator, you identify educational gaps around topics you have expertise in and develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials.

With flexibility around self-paced or cohort-based structures, building a student base provides passive income potential.

For founders who enjoy information-sharing, launching an online course platform presents a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents with small startup costs by serving eager lifelong learners seeking convenient access to emerging subjects.

How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 87 days (?)

How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Running A Blog

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.

Read by 28,169 founders

8. Start a productized service

Productized services are created when a larger service is broken down into smaller services that can be sold separately.

This makes it easier to sell the same service to multiple clients and creates an easily-marketable product. For example, a marketing agency that usually charges by the hour, instead, charges a flat monthly fee.

This business strategy works well in B2B markets, as you can sell the same value proposition to multiple clients, and give them a great return on investment.

The reason why you should start a productized service business is simple: making recurring revenue from your expertise can be very useful if you want to build a business based on passive income.

How much you can make: $200 — $1,750,000/month

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

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

How We Bootstrapped A Music Licensing Business to $2.5M/Year

EasySongLicensing.com grew from a mobile recording business to a bootstrapped music licensing agent, with a user base of over 60,000 clients and a gross profit of $2.5M in 2018, seeing a 30% increase in 2019, through investment in online marketing, customer service, and forming new partnerships.

Read by 16,991 founders

9. Become a shopify app developer

Have you thought about a career building Shopify apps?

Shopify is a Canadian e-commerce company that provides an online platform for entrepreneurs to set up their own online stores and sell products. Shopify is now valued at over $45B (as of 2022) with over 1.75M merchants using the platform worldwide.

To be able to build a plugin for Shopify, you need to know how to code. If not, then at least have some knowledge of HTML and CSS. You also need experience in the Shopify API and some basic knowledge about the Liquid template language for Shopify.

How much you can make: $150 — $65,000/month

How long does it take to build: 115 days (?)

How I Taught Myself How To Code And Built My Own Business

ByteStand, a software development company run by ecommerce experts, created Shopify apps, including FreshCredit and FBA Shipping, which generate approximately $17,000 per month in revenue, with over 2,000 shops using their software.

Read by 17,772 founders

10. Start a travel rewards app

A travel rewards app is a special mobile app that helps you earn points and rewards while traveling. These apps are designed to be used by frequent travelers who are looking to benefit from their travels.

If you love to travel but have never been able to afford it then this might be the first step to turning your dream into a reality. By making a travel rewards app you can earn handsome money by monetizing that app.

Creating a travel rewards app sounds like a complicated task. But it can be much easier than you think. You don't need travel industry experience or an office in Silicon Valley to design something that gives people more ways to earn rewards on their everyday purchases.

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

How long does it take to build: 800 days (?)

How I Launched A $150K/Month Frequent Flyer Programs Tracking App

AwardWallet is a loyalty program tracking website which has grown to over $150,000 in monthly revenue, and since launch has retained users mainly through word of mouth due to its superior product in the space.

Read by 10,078 founders

11. Become a digital product designer

A digital product designer is a multidisciplinary professional who is involved in the creation of digital products. A digital product designer is responsible for the whole process from an initial concept to the launch of a product.

Many designers are looking for how to make a living with their designs. They want to build websites, sell products online, and be as productive as possible. It's hard these days because there are more designers than ever working on the same projects. But with some basic actionable techniques, you will easily succeed in creating a sustainable digital product design business.

Starting a digital product designer business is a great side hustle for graphic designers looking for an alternative to freelancing. The idea is simple: grow a portfolio of user interface design PSD templates and sell them to new businesses.

How much you can make: $3,500 — $300,000/month

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

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

How I Started A $69K/Month Software Agency After A Failed Product Launch

A software agency started by a non-technical founder helps diverse clients with their minimum lovable product, boasting a revenue of over $700,000 this year with a 20% profit margin and a team of 8.

Read by 25,328 founders

12. Start a payment app

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

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

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

How much you can make: $1,000 — $2,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 165 days (?)

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.

Read by 20,145 founders

13. Start a SEO agency

An SEO agency is a company that provides search engine optimization services to businesses. The function of an SEO agency is to help businesses rank higher in search engines through organic or paid means.

SEO is a rapidly growing industry, with experts across all aspects of the field already making six-figure incomes and expecting to see these earnings grow dramatically over the next few years. Getting into SEO today, before it gets too saturated, will allow you to establish a strong base in a new career, with an excellent chance for success.

It’s easier than ever to start your SEO agency. The tools are there, and the competition isn’t as stiff as it used to be. If you’re considering starting an SEO or digital marketing agency, it might be a good idea to learn how other digital agencies succeed.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,800,000/month

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

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

How I Started An SEO Agency For Lawyers Generating $3.6M/Year

Rankings.io is a hyper-focused SEO agency that helps elite personal injury law firms dominate first page rankings and was ranked #858 in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for 2018, with a current revenue just under $300,000 per month, with plans for a record-breaking year.

Read by 38,061 founders

14. Develop a seo software

SEO software is a computer program that is designed to handle search engine optimization tasks by optimizing the website content, managing backlinks, and other SEO activities.

SEO is something that you need to do for your website or blog in order for it to get any traffic. Some of us are new to SEO, even if we are SEO experts. SEO isn't just a craft, but an art form as well.

Making your own SEO software is more than potentially profitable. It also lets you interact with the people who use your software and allows you to figure out best practices from the data you collect.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $220,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,500 (?)

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

How I Bootstrapped My SaaS Company To $2.5M/Year In 5 Years As A Solo Founder

Solo founder Todd Hooper bootstrapped Prerender.io from zero to $2.5 million in ARR over 5 years by releasing an open-source project on Github and turning it into an SEO-friendly version of React, Angular, and Javascript websites, and then offering it as a SaaS service for businesses.

Read by 16,468 founders

15. Start a freelancer platform

Freelancer platform is a place where people come with skills and services to offer and people come who need those skills and services. So we can say freelancer platforms are a marketplace for sellers and buyers of services and skills.

The freelancing industry is growing rapidly and it's becoming a popular career option for people who are "non-traditional" employees. The global Freelance Platforms market size is expected to reach $6.7B by the year 2025. While working on a full-time job, freelancers simultaneously work on a freelance career. The platforms available online help them to increase their business by attracting new clients.

With all of the businesses looking for help on their websites, it would be a good idea to start a freelancer platform. Freelance platforms do well because people have jobs that need to be done and businesses have the resources to pay for the job at hand.

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

How much does it cost to start: $6,100 (?)

How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)

We Bootstrapped A Tech Talent Platform To $1.2M Sales In Our First Year

CloudDevs, a tech talent platform that sources and vets freelance tech talent and matches them with companies, has achieved $1 million in GMV in its first year, plans to achieve 100% growth year on year, and focuses on customer loyalty through its Net Promoter Score metric.

Read by 16,850 founders

16. Start an influencer reporting tool business

The influencer reporting tool is a great way to see which influencers are performing well right now. You can also look at the share of voice and performance over time. Find out what other people are saying about them on social media and get an overall view of the influencer's results.

Influencer reporting is an important part of any modern company's marketing strategy and it shouldn't be a struggle to find the information you want.

Starting an influencer reporting tool business might sound risky, but it doesn't have to be. When you're competing in a crowded market with billions of dollars at stake and high barriers to entry, having a formal business plan is a great way to start off on the right foot.

How much you can make: $13,000/month

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

How We Developed A $8.5K/Month Reporting Tool For Influencers

InfluenceKit is a reporting tool that helps content creators increase their sponsored content revenue with accurate, always-updated reports, who have 180 paying customers so far, popular among bloggers, Instagrammers, YouTubers and podcasters.

Read by 6,581 founders

17. Start an email marketing tool

An email marketing tool, also known as an 'email tool', is a software application that helps you create, manage and automate email campaigns. Basically, it's a program that allows you to write and send bulk emails.

Email marketing is one of the most effective marketing channels around. It can be used to generate leads, increase sales, create subscribers, improve your SEO rankings and reach more customers than you would with a blog or website.

The email marketing industry is booming. The global email marketing tool market size is expected to reach $2.53B in 2028. Making an email marketing tool business is as easy as buying a domain and hosting account, but that is just the beginning. You will soon start to see the endless possibilities for creating tools that will be used by entrepreneurs, startups, and even real estate agents.

How much you can make: $120 — $2,083,333/month

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

How long does it take to build: 170 days (?)

I Built A SEO Tool That's Completely Free For Users [From Lebanon]

H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.

Read by 13,554 founders

18. Become a Facebook ads consultant

Facebook ads are a great way to drive traffic to your website. If you run Facebook ads and promote the right products, it will bring you many customers. Knowing how to manage campaigns successfully to obtain the best results is essential.

Facebook ads consultant business is one of the favorite types of new businesses to start. Facebook ads consultant businesses are popping up all over the place. More and more consultants are finding success in this arena.

Starting a Facebook ads consultant business can make you earn an extra passive and predictable income. But the amount of money you can make depends on your niche, ad budget, and other factors.

How much you can make: $3,000 — $8,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $550 (?)

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

How I Disrupted The Ad Industry And Grew My Business To $20M/Year

MonetizeMore founder and CEO shares his success story of growing his ad optimization business to over $20M in annual revenues by focusing on the offering that delivered the best results, using content marketing for lead generation, and establishing strategic partnerships with complimentary businesses.

Read by 18,906 founders

19. Start a pdf conversion business

As pdf has become an essential format for about every industry it only makes sense that everyone would want the ability to convert their documents in both ways. This is great news for anyone looking to start a business centered around converting pdf.

Starting a pdf conversion business can help you earn extra income and take control of your career. Professional pdf conversion services are in great demand.

Many medium to large companies prefer to present their documents in pdf rather than Microsoft Word. Besides, various official and private organizations prefer PDF versions of documents for security. This creates an opportunity for anyone to start a profitable business by establishing a standalone pdf conversion company.

How much you can make: $8,500 — $15,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $450 (?)

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

How I Developed A $3.5K/Month Tool That Converts HTML To PDF

A passionate computer-coder entrepreneur shares the story behind his successful PDFShift business which after a year and a half generates $3.2k of monthly revenues with the focus now on growth.

Read by 10,400 founders

20. Start a bibliography and citation app

Bibliography and Citation tools create citations, reference lists, and bibliographies. Teachers, students and web content writers are some of the common users of the bibliography and citation apps.

The tools help users complete and improve bibliographic data by comparing it with curated online catalogues like Google Scholar, springer or MathSciNet. The citation tools are for users who value simplicity, privacy and speed when it comes to referencing.

With scholars and researchers wanting to do more within their usual working day, the demand for bibliography and citation apps will keep rising.

Therefore, if you are familiar with App development and are interested in starting an app based business idea, the citation and bibliography applications will be a great idea.

How much you can make: $500/month

How I Developed A $500/Month App To Create Citations And Bibliographies

Citationsy is an online referencing generator launched in 2017 that grew from nothing to over 200,000 users as of February 2020, all through word-of-mouth and SEO, and is making a profit every month without spending any money on marketing or Google ads with a customer acquisition cost that is essentially zero.

Read by 5,284 founders

21. Create a screensharing software

Screensharing software allows users to share their computer screens with others in real-time, enabling them to view what’s happening on the screen remotely.

To start a budget-friendly screen sharing software business, first define your target niches, such as businesses, educators, or gamers.

Next, choose a development platform like open-source options or cost-effective frameworks to build your screen sharing application.

You can either develop it yourself if you have coding skills, hire freelancers, or use no-code platforms.

Create a website and utilize social media and online forums for marketing. Offer a free version with limited features to attract users, and consider introducing paid plans with premium features.

Continuously refine your product based on user feedback and adapt your marketing strategies as needed to grow your business.

How much you can make: $31,150/month

How I Launched A $31K/Month Screensharing For Sales Teams App

CrankWheel is a screen-sharing solution for sales teams, founded by Icelandic entrepreneur Jói Sigurdsson and his co-founder Gilsi, with $370k ARR earned and a "best B2B SaaS startup" pitching win at SaaStock, utilizing "lean startup" methodology and implementing a "land and expand" strategy to attract and retain customers.

Read by 7,426 founders

22. Start an influencer platform

Leveraging the dynamics of social media, an influencer platform connects brands with influential personalities ready to promote their products. This business idea is straightforward: create a digital space where influencers and companies can collaborate seamlessly.

Picture this: an intuitive online marketplace where brands can browse, evaluate, and contract influencers that align perfectly with their target audience. Influencers, in turn, get access to a plethora of brands hungry for genuine engagement and visibility. Built-in analytics tools help track campaign performance, offering a win-win for both parties.

Starting this platform involves some work—developing user-friendly software, curating a robust database of influencers, and marketing to brands looking to amplify their reach. However, the potential for scalable income and the growing influence of social media make this an enticing venture. For those willing to put in the groundwork, this could be a rewarding business pathway, tapping into the ever-expanding digital marketing ecosystem.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $350,000/month

How long does it take to build: 240 days (?)

I Built $140K+ MRR SaaS With No Audience & Sold It For $3.5M

This case study is about a founder who launched a paywall platform for content creators in 2019, bootstrapping it from $0 and eventually selling it for $3.5M on Flippa, with the platform generating between $125,000 - $142,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) on 95% margins.

Read by 9,662 founders

23. Create a calendar sync tool

Struggling to manage multiple calendars efficiently? A calendar sync tool can simplify your life. By integrating various calendars into one seamless platform, a calendar sync tool ensures you never miss a meeting or double-book an appointment.

This business idea involves developing a software solution that synchronizes users' work, personal, and shared calendars across different apps and devices. The goal is to provide an intuitive user experience that minimizes scheduling conflicts.

Interest in such a tool stems from the universal need for better organization. With the rise of remote work and diverse time zones, a reliable calendar sync tool is more relevant than ever. Creating this tool requires thorough market research, strong software development skills, and an understanding of various calendar APIs.

Starting a calendar sync tool business can be rewarding both personally and financially, as it addresses a common pain point with a scalable tech solution, opening avenues for growth and innovation.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $177,000/month

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

How We Built A Resource Scheduling App to $2.1M ARR

Resource Guru is an online team calendar software, used by around 20,000 people in 88 countries around the world to help them manage their team's time, and has a current ARR of $2.1m.

Read by 11,320 founders

24. Become a game developer

Are you passionate about video games and want to turn your hobby into a career? Have you always dreamed of creating your own game and seeing it come to life on the market? If so, then becoming a game developer may be the perfect business opportunity for you.

As a game developer, your job will involve creating, designing, and coding video games from start to finish. This includes coming up with ideas for new games, creating prototypes and mockups, coding the game using programming languages like C++ or Java, and testing and debugging the game to ensure it is functioning properly.

To start and run a successful game development business, you will need a few key things:

A strong foundation in programming and computer science. While you don't need to be an expert programmer, having a strong understanding of programming languages and computer systems will be essential to creating and coding your games.

Creativity and a knack for storytelling. Game development is about more than just coding - it's also about coming up with engaging and immersive storylines that will keep players coming back for more.

Marketing and business skills. Once your game is complete, you'll need to market it and get it in front of potential customers. This will require a strong understanding of social media, digital marketing, and business strategy.

A team of skilled professionals. Depending on the size of your business, you may need to hire a team of developers, artists, and other professionals to help bring your game to life.

With these skills and resources, you can start and run a successful game development business and turn your passion for gaming into a lucrative career.

How much you can make: $200 — $330,000/month

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

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

We Created A $100K/Month No-Code Tool For Video Game Developers

Construct 3, a browser-based game engine that allows anyone to create games without coding, has grown from a pay-once model to generating $100k per month in revenue through a subscription-based system, after launching with the help of early-adopter customers and a focus on organic growth, customer feedback, and white-hat SEO.

Read by 10,828 founders

25. Start a social network

A social network business is a company that operates a platform for users to connect and interact with each other online. This can include features such as messaging, sharing posts and photos, and joining groups and communities.

To start a social network business, you must develop a website or app that allows users to create profiles and connect with others. You will also need to consider how you will generate revenue, such as through advertising or offering premium features for a fee.

It is essential to focus on building a solid community of users and maintaining a positive online environment. This can involve moderating content and addressing any issues or concerns that arise. It would help if you also considered offering customer support and continually updating and improving your platform to meet the needs and interests of your users.

To run a successful social network business, it is also essential to market your platform and attract new users. This can involve utilizing social media and other online marketing techniques and offering incentives for users to invite their friends and connections to join.

Overall, a social network business offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect with people and build a community online. The right strategy and focus on user experience can be a rewarding and lucrative business venture.

How much you can make: $9,000 — $14,500/month

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

I Built A $10K/Month Online Community Where We Fight Fake News Stories

Aucoin Analytics, LLC is a private intelligence company that delivers highly specialized risk assessments and intelligence reports, while also offering a subscription-based private intelligence community that provides access to subject matter experts in government intelligence, with profits at $10,000/month.

Read by 3,972 founders

26. Become a computer refurbisher

Computer refurbishing is the process of restoring used computers to working conditions. Refurbishers typically purchase used computers from individuals or businesses, and then they clean them up, install new parts, and test them to make sure they are in good working condition.

To start this business, you'll need skills in data recovery, hardware repair, and software troubleshooting. It is a perfect idea for those who have an interest in technology and a knack for repairing electronics.

The average Computer Repair Technician in the US makes $51,129. The salaries of Computer Repair Technicians range from $19,892 to $74,573, with a median salary of $55,440.

With the ever-growing popularity of laptops, tablets, and smartphones, there is a great demand for refurbished computers. And with data science and data analytics, you can easily identify which computers are in high demand and how to best refurbish them.

Starting this type of business is a great idea for those with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for technology. If you can navigate the regulations, this can be a lucrative business with a lot of growth potential.

How much you can make: $13,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

I Was Too Young To Drive But Started My Business Anyway: Now We're Approaching $200M/Year

OWC Larry, founder and CEO of Other World Computing, shares how he started his business at a young age with just a credit card, now experiencing a solid year-over-year growth with a CAGR of 43.78% over the past 33 years.

Read by 5,203 founders

27. Become a domain reseller

A domain reseller is an act of buying domain names from an accredited domain registrar to sell to customers as a service.

Thus, a domain reseller is a middleman between the registrar and the domain name customer. To become a domain reseller, learn the basics of domain reselling and choose the best domain reseller program based on your business objective.

How much you can make: $1,300 — $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 353 days (?)

I Built A $1.8M/Year Email Hosting Service [100% Self-Funded]

Thexyz is a self-funded email hosting service generating over $100k of recurring revenue each month, offering uncomplicated privacy and fantastic customer service, and expanding through international sales.

Read by 3,952 founders

28. Start a website hosting platform

Interested in the digital infrastructure behind every website you visit? Consider starting a website hosting platform. This business idea revolves around providing the online space required for websites to operate smoothly.

Simply put, you'll offer the essential server space and technology that allow websites to be accessible on the internet. From small blogs to large ecommerce sites, your platform could be the backbone supporting them all.

The appeal here is robust: with websites being fundamental to businesses today, hosting services are in perpetual demand. It’s an opportunity to carve out a niche, providing reliable and scalable solutions for a variety of clients.

Setting this up involves investing in server technology, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures, and offering stellar customer support. It’s a venture that demands initial technical know-how but promises consistent revenue as businesses rely on your services for their online presence. If you’re tech-savvy and ready to delve into the world of internet infrastructure, this could be the business for you.

How much you can make: $7,000 — $1,180,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,250 (?)

How long does it take to build: 67 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.

Read by 5,985 founders

29. Become a computer manufacturer

A computer manufacturer business involves designing, producing, and selling computers and computer hardware. This can include desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and even servers and other specialized equipment.

To start a computer manufacturer business, you will need a strong understanding of computer hardware and technology. This may include a degree in computer science or a related field, as well as experience in computer hardware design and production. You will also need a well-defined business plan, including a marketing strategy, a budget, and a plan for sourcing components and materials.

In addition to these technical skills and business planning, you will need to have strong communication and customer service skills. As a computer manufacturer, you will be interacting with both retail and wholesale customers, and will need to be able to clearly explain the features and benefits of your products.

The computer manufacturing industry is a large and growing market, with global revenue expected to reach $485 billion by 2024. In the United States alone, the computer and electronic product manufacturing industry employs over 800,000 people and generates over $300 billion in annual revenue. With the increasing reliance on technology in personal and professional settings, the demand for high-quality computers and computer hardware is expected to grow in the coming years.

To run a successful computer manufacturing business, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in the industry. This may involve attending conferences and trade shows, conducting market research, and continuously improving your products and processes.

By staying on the cutting edge of the industry and providing excellent customer service, you can build a successful and thriving computer manufacturer business.

How much you can make: $13,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

I Was Too Young To Drive But Started My Business Anyway: Now We're Approaching $200M/Year

OWC Larry, founder and CEO of Other World Computing, shares how he started his business at a young age with just a credit card, now experiencing a solid year-over-year growth with a CAGR of 43.78% over the past 33 years.

Read by 5,203 founders

30. Become a video game audio creator

The video game audio serves to immerse the player in the game through dialogue, thematic music, and sound effects. With the video game industry snowballing, becoming a video game audio creator can be a rewarding career.

To become a video game audio creator, you need a qualification in the related field and work under someone as an intern to acquire the necessary skills.

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

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

My College Project Inspired Me To Start A $240K/Year Audio-Sharing Platform

Blerp is a soundbite-sharing platform that works with over 40,000 streamers and has helped them generate over $1M in revenue through sound donations, with over 50,000 active streamers on the platform, thanks to their dedication to product marketing and testing every new feature and product.

Read by 3,014 founders

31. Start an ai platform

Looking to harness the power of intelligence without the heavy lifting? Consider starting an AI platform.

An AI platform business offers tools and frameworks that allow companies to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations seamlessly. Your platform would provide ready-made solutions for data analysis, machine learning models, and automation, minimizing the technical barriers for other businesses.

Imagine empowering organizations to optimize their processes, make informed decisions, and boost productivity with AI–all without them needing to hire specialized teams. The demand for AI is skyrocketing, and companies are eager to adopt these technologies but lack the expertise to do so.

By starting an AI platform, you'll offer them a plug-and-play solution that bridges this gap. This business requires a strong foundation in AI and software development, but the potential rewards in terms of growth and impact are significant.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $3,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

The App I Built In 12 Hours Now Makes $15K/Mo

A founder shares how he built AudioPen.ai, a tool that transcribes voice notes, generating $15,000 monthly with minimal costs and no paid marketing, highlighting the importance of focusing on the product, word of mouth, and personal communication with users for sustainable growth.

Read by 13,458 founders

32. Start a telehealth business

Navigating the healthcare landscape is a challenge, making telehealth a highly appealing proposition. A telehealth business uses digital information and communication technologies to cover long distances and provide health care. It opens a spectrum of opportunities - connecting patients to healthcare services via video chats, forwarding health data to doctors for examination, and even educating healthcare professionals.

Starting a telehealth business could place you at the forefront of an emerging industry. The global pandemic has proven the need for quality remote healthcare, and this trend is unlikely to reverse. By giving patients greater access to healthcare professionals from the comfort of their homes, you're not just building a business, but building a service that can make a significant difference in people's lives.

Before you get started though, understand that this will involve understanding and navigating healthcare regulations, and possibly teaming up with medical professionals to provide services. However, considering the growth potential of telehealth, the venture may very well be worth it.

How much does it cost to start: $4,997 (?)

How long does it take to build: 91 days (?)

33. Start a cybersecurity startup

A cybersecurity startup specializes in addressing specific vulnerabilities or providing all-purpose solutions to protect against a wide range of threats that can compromise the security of individuals and organizations alike.

To start a cybersecurity business, research the latest attack vectors and vulnerabilities, such as phishing, ransomware, or data breaches, to devise proprietary detection and response mechanisms that provide better protection.

Then, develop recurring SaaS solutions, high-touch customer service, and strategic partnerships to build traction with SMBs and enterprise clients needing user-friendly and affordable security services.

By enhancing protection services, providing education, achieving compliance, and thwarting attacks, you can establish your cybersecurity startup as a trusted cybersecurity provider in the digital era.

How much you can make: $8,000 — $230,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 282 days (?)

How I Started A $45K/Month Cybersecurity Consulting Firm For Startups

Cybersecurity consulting firm Eden Data, launched in March 2020, scaled to four team members and generated over $45k MRR without large startup costs through their unique Virtual CISO offering, which outsources cybersecurity and compliance needs for a flat monthly price, rather than charging by the hour or for long-term commitments.

Read by 35,436 founders

34. Start a fintech startup

Think the financial world is too complex to break into? Think again.

Starting a fintech startup means developing innovative software to improve financial services. This could range from mobile banking apps to payment processors, or even personal finance tools. With the constant growth in the need for digital solutions, the opportunities are vast.

Setting up a fintech startup involves creating a solid business plan, acquiring necessary regulatory approvals, and building a tech-savvy team. Yes, it will be challenging, but the demand for modern financial solutions makes it a worthwhile endeavor.

If you’re interested in technology and finance and want to solve real-world problems, a fintech startup offers an exciting and impactful path.

How much you can make: $6,000 — $1,700,000/month

How long does it take to build: 272 days (?)

How We Bootstrapped A $72K/Year Online Acquisition Marketplace [With A $0 Marketing Budget]

BitsForDigits is an acquisition marketplace for internet startups and online businesses looking to exit, with steady growth in the number of signups and making $6,000 per month, attracting customers organically with zero marketing spend.

Read by 3,765 founders

35. Start a business incubator

The popularity of incubators is on the rise. Today, start-ups and small businesses have unique needs because they have limited resources and often need professional help to get started. You can design your business incubator by leveraging your experiences as an entrepreneur.

Listed are the steps to start an incubator business.

  • Plan your business
  • Secure all needed permits and licenses
  • Hire needed staffs
  • Promote your business

How much you can make: $6,800/month

We Created An $80K/Year Incubation Program To Help Minorities And Women Entrepreneurs

Hutch, founded by Fearless, is a 24-month program that helps minority and women entrepreneurs in government digital services; the program has had 9 graduates, 11 company founders in current two cohorts, and 20 companies within its portfolio.

Read by 3,080 founders

36. Start a dating app

A mobile dating app is one of the most popular mobile-only businesses for creating an ecosystem and generating revenue. But, with the help of a robust development team, you can surpass all your competitors and create a sleeker end product than anyone else in this market.

Dating apps have made their way into an industry that was gaining enough traction. The online Dating Market size was valued at $7.35B in 2020 and is projected to reach $10.87B by 2028.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $30,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 182 days (?)

How I Started A Multi-Million Dollar Marriage Proposal Planning Business

Michele Velazquez's Marriage Proposal Planning company, The Heart Bandits, has made over $5M planning proposals for NFL athletes and busy executives across 5 continents.

Read by 12,206 founders

37. Start a job board

Starting a job board can be a lucrative way to make money online with little to no start-up costs. The global online job board market size was $28.68B in 2019 and is projected to reach $43.39B by 2027.

It's no secret that finding a job can be tough. In today's job market, it can be tempting to give up on job hunting, but here's another option: start your own job board.

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

How much does it cost to start: $297 (?)

How long does it take to build: 80 days (?)

How I Validated My Idea On Reddit And Built A $180K/Year Job Search Automation Platform

Loopcv is a job search automation platform experiencing 15% monthly growth, offering solutions for bootcamps, universities, career coaches, developers, recruitment companies, job boards, affiliates, and companies looking to perform internal restructuring.

Read by 11,644 founders

38. Start an email newsletter business

Struggling to make the most of your writing talents? Consider starting an email newsletter business. An email newsletter business involves curating, creating, and distributing niche-specific content to a targeted audience through email.

Imagine being the go-to source for engaged readers who eagerly await your content, offering valuable insights, advice, or entertainment. You'll need to consistently produce high-quality content and market your newsletter effectively to build a subscriber base.

From exploring affiliates to paid subscriptions, monetization can become a steady revenue stream. Your ability to engage readers will be key, so think about what unique perspective you can offer. It's an effective way to harness your writing skills and entrepreneurial spirit.

How much you can make: $100 — $3,000,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 14 days (?)

How I Started A $36M/Year Stock Market Research Newsletter

Financial media company MarketBeat, founded by Matt Paulson, provides objective financial information and real-time market data to empower individual stock investors to make better trading decisions, generating approximately $8 million in revenue in 2019 and ending the year with over 1.3 million unique email subscribers due to a freemium model with 75% of revenue from advertising and 25% from subscriptions.

Read by 27,766 founders

39. Start a NFT startup

Navigating the digital frontier, NFTs are a gateway to modern entrepreneurship. An NFT startup focuses on creating, marketing, and selling unique digital assets—art, music, virtual real estate, and more—using blockchain technology.

The allure lies in the exclusivity and ownership verification offered by NFTs, providing a new revenue stream for artists and creators. The marketplace is burgeoning with potential, making it an exciting time to dive in.

Starting an NFT business involves understanding blockchain mechanics, minting processes, and digital marketing strategies. Collaboration with artists or creating original content is key.

Getting involved now can position you ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving field. With the right knowledge and skills, launching an NFT startup offers a promising venture into the future of digital assets.

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

How long does it take to build: 8 days (?)

I Launched An NFT Project That Made $1M

Chibi Dinos NFT, a play-to-earn NFT community co-founded by 25-year-old Sean Kelly, earned $2.4M in revenue during its initial sale, reinvesting 60% of its earnings into staffing and marketing while earning $2,005.0453th in secondary sales on OpenSea, thanks to tapping into Twitter users as part of its marketing strategy.

Read by 4,586 founders

40. Start a food startup

Starting a food business can involve opening your own restaurant, bakery, food truck, cake shop, or even starting a business or blog online.

Other kinds of food businesses include manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Food businesses prepare a wide range of foods such as snacks, sweets, and meals to sell directly to consumers and also include cafeterias at workplaces and similar facilities.

If you have a passion for food, starting a food business can be an extremely fun, challenging, and rewarding business venture.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $3,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How We Started A Successful Hot Sauce Brand

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.

Read by 34,164 founders

41. Start an idea management software

Idea management software is designed to help businesses and teams collaborate and track their ideas. The act of managing ideas can heavily influence the outcome of teams and projects, which can mean the difference between success and failure for a company.

You'll need to ensure that you have a solid foundation of coding and prototyping to build this kind of software. On top of that, you'll want to have good sales and marketing skills to sell this software to companies and executives.

How much you can make: $66,000 — $750,000/month

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

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

How We Designed A $200K/Month Idea Management Software

UK-based Idea Drop is a software-as-a-service (SAAS) allowing businesses to identify, refine and execute innovative ideas through its platform, which is already being used by MT, Ericsson, and the Kent Police Force, offering a public challenge facility allowing clients to crowdsource ideas, with one Covea idea implemented via the platform estimated to save the company £2.5m over five years.

Read by 7,378 founders

42. Start an ux testing software

To start a UX testing software business, understand UX principles and testing methodologies, and develop user-friendly software.

Clients can analyze user behavior, gather feedback, and optimize products for enhanced satisfaction and engagement.

Emphasize the value of your software in enhancing user experience and boosting satisfaction when marketing to businesses seeking to improve their digital offerings.

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

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A $1.8M/Year UX Research Software

PlaybookUX is a remote research platform that uses qualitative research to test and analyze digital assets with Fortune 500 firms and sole freelancers as customers, having achieved $1.8m in annual revenue with 1,100 customers and 100% YoY growth as a result of bootstrapping their business and keeping user feedback in focus.

Read by 3,532 founders

43. Start a payment app

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

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

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

How much you can make: $1,000 — $2,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 165 days (?)

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.

Read by 20,145 founders

44. Create a digital wallet app

A digital wallet is a financial transaction application that runs on mobile devices. In today’s digital era, people demand the freedom to purchase anything and be able to pay from their digital wallets.

With technological advancement, making digital payments has become easier than ever before. Anyone can use mobile payment platforms to pay and accept payments online. Therefore, creating a digital payments wallet can be a great business opportunity.

To create a digital wallet, conduct extensive market research and create a business plan. It would help if you could hire competent programmers to create a secure payment gateway.

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

How long does it take to build: 400 days (?)

How We Launched A $1.5MM/Month Digital Wallet and Financial Services Company

iCard is a leading e-money institution that offers a unique and 100% digital bank account alternative, with their app and services supporting the daily payments of people in over 30 European countries, and since launch in late 2017, the iCard app has seen around 500,000 downloads.

Read by 10,812 founders

45. Start a background check software

Background check software enables organizations to check and verify the information provided by potential employees or customers. The background software verifies various data sets, including the subject's education history, past employment, criminal records, and financial and other records.

Organizations would want to thoroughly scrutinize the persons they transact with and those they entrust with their daily operations. Therefore, the demand for background check software presents a potential business opportunity for programmers.

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

How much does it cost to start: $40 (?)

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

How I Started A $6M/Year Background Check Software Business

Safe Hiring Solutions, a security technology company that provides comprehensive background checks for schools, ministries, volunteer organizations, and corporations has more than 7,000 clients and has been included on the Inc 5000 list the past five years, with a number 16 ranking for the fastest-growing private company in the Indianapolis region by the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Read by 10,681 founders

46. Create a website builder

Jumpstart your tech venture with a website builder business. A website builder offers a platform to create websites without needing sophisticated coding skills.

This business revolves around developing a user-friendly tool that helps individuals and businesses design their own websites with ease—drag-and-drop features, customizable templates, and integrated functionalities like eCommerce and SEO tools.

The demand for websites is insatiable, fostered by the growing number of small businesses, freelancers, and personal brands needing an online presence. By providing an easy-to-use solution, you tap into a vast market eager for simplicity and efficiency.

Starting this business requires a solid understanding of web development, user experience, and continuous adaptation to new tech advancements. But the payoff is substantial: empowering users to establish their digital footprint efficiently.

How much you can make: $200 — $8,500,000/month

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

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

How I Started A $8.5M/Month Company Providing Marketing Solutions To SMBs

Co-founder of Madwire JB Kellogg grew his business from just the two of them in a tiny office to over 500 employees and $100 million in annual revenue in under 10 years, by focusing on exceptional customer service and a multi-channel inbound strategy.

Read by 13,727 founders

47. Start an ecommerce platform

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

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

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

How much you can make: $100 — $2,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How I Left My Job To Start A $9K/Month CAD Design Business

A 3D CAD designer and product inventor who started as a side hustle and averaged $9,000 a month in revenue, shares his insights on the ups and downs of owning a service-based business alongside an eCommerce store, as well as lessons learned in customer acquisition and in generating multiple streams of passive income.

Read by 19,917 founders

48. Start a social media automation business

Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth. That’s the essence of a social media automation business.

In simple terms, this involves creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms. Your clients—from small businesses to influencers—pay you to save them time and enhance their social media presence.

With the burgeoning need for consistent and strategic social media engagement, there’s a significant demand for automation. The real work involves developing or integrating software solutions, staying updated on social media trends, and building relationships with clients to tailor services to their needs.

For those with a knack for technology and marketing, starting a social media automation business can be both a lucrative and fulfilling endeavor.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A Social Media Automation Tool To $2MM/Year

MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.

Read by 14,804 founders

49. Build an API

API is the acronym for “application programming interface” and is a software intermediary connecting applications.

More and more companies are adopting a digital business strategy to streamline their operations and provide better customer service.

Many benefits come with using an API, and we’ve compiled a list of the best API businesses today.

How much you can make: $3,600 — $90,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $400 (?)

How long does it take to build: 95 days (?)

Creating An API for Developers Earning $15K/Month

Geocode.xyz, a geolocation API, has grown from thousands of daily users to over a hundred million in monthly API calls to revenues of over $15k per month, showing over 1,000% growth in the past year while providing a geocoding API for the world.

Read by 24,043 founders

50. Start a productivity tool

In today’s fast-paced world, where time is money, productivity tools have become indispensable. These software solutions are designed to help individuals and businesses streamline and enhance work efficiency.

If you are interested in starting a business in this field, you need to identify a specific productivity challenge faced by your target audience. It could be anything from project management to time tracking.

Once you have identified the challenge, you need to develop a user-friendly software solution that addresses this challenge, focusing on simplicity and effectiveness. It is essential to keep the user experience in mind while designing the software.

Once your solution is ready, you need to market it effectively by highlighting its benefits and offering a free trial to attract potential users. By following these steps, you can be successful in the productivity software market.

How much you can make: $30 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)

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

I Built A Website Blocker That Generates $100K Per Year @ 95% Profit

Learn how a designer and developer from Indonesia created Session, an app that helps people stay focused by blocking distractions, which currently makes $5.8K per month in revenue through its freemium business model.

Read by 16,413 founders

51. Start a writing tool

Crafting compelling written content is becoming increasingly essential in today's digital age. Imagine developing a writing tool that could revolutionize how people write.

The concept is simple: create software that assists users in drafting well-structured and engaging content. This tool could offer features like grammar checking, style suggestions, and even AI-generated content ideas.

Such a writing tool has broad appeal, from students and professionals to bloggers and novelists. Whether for academic papers, business reports, or creative writing, users could rely on this tool to elevate their work.

The journey of developing this writing tool would involve research, software development, and constant updates to ensure it meets user needs. If you’re passionate about helping people communicate more effectively, this business idea could be your next big venture.

How much you can make: $30 — $2,000,000/month

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

How Our Book Publishing Services Marketplace Hit $1M/Month In Gross Merchandise Value

Reedsy, a book publishing services marketplace that connects authors with freelancers, has driven over $1m in GMV, features over 1,500 vetted freelance professionals, and sees over 1,000 projects every month.

Read by 11,106 founders

52. Start an online video editing business

Video editors manage camera footage, dialogue, sound effects, graphics, and special effects to produce the final film or video product. To become an online video editor, you must have media production and communication knowledge and the ability to work with others.

To start a video editing business, you can outsource video editing skills from an experienced professional. Your role will be to pick video footage from the customers and upload them for the video editor to do the magic.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month

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

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

How We Developed A $6K/Month Online Video Editing Software

VEED.IO, a London-based start-up co-founded by Sabba and her partner, offers a simple online video editing platform using batch job cloud architecture to help social media managers across the world auto subtitle, filter, rotate videos and much more, earning the company $5,300 MRR and the founders Ramen profitability within just a year of starting.

Read by 12,425 founders

53. Start a training software

Online learning software makes it easy for institutions to deliver course content to learners. The learners can be students, employees, or even business people who want to learn a new skill.

Starting an eLearning software can be a profitable investment. Industry experts project that the e-learning market will double in the next few years.

Your business can provide content, create supporting technology, and administer e-learning courses.

How much you can make: $1,500 — $450,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)

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

How I Grew A Training & Wiki Software Tool To $2M ARR

Trainual is a software platform that helps small businesses effortlessly scale by capturing every process, role, and responsibility, creating a consistent, teachable, and scalable knowledge base. With over 15k users in over 80 countries, Trainual has grown to $2M ARR by catering to businesses looking for something more manageable than an enterprise learning system.

Read by 7,307 founders

54. Start a time tracking app

A time tracking app is a tool used allows its user to clock in/out via an internet-connected device or to use a stopwatch to record the start and end of tasks. The time tracker apps also have analytics and reporting features that consolidate the data so that users can gain insights into time spent on different tasks, projects, and clients.

The growing need among managers and enterprises to improve employee productivity and adopt a remote work culture contribute to the high demand for time-tracking apps.

Therefore, if you are looking for the best App-based business, you may consider developing a time tracker application. Here is a high-level overview of some steps to get you started working on your business idea of the time tracker App

  • Define the project scope
  • Choose a software development methodology
  • Formulate the approach for your development project
  • Create a project team
  • Develop the project plan with timelines
  • Test the prototypes
  • Find suitable API solutions
  • Publish the Apps

How much you can make: $350 — $500,000/month

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

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

How I Launched A $185K/Month Employee Time & GPS Tracking App

Labor Sync is a mobile application that provides business owners with the ability to track the time and GPS location of their mobile workforce and after just one year of use, they saved $104,000 across 45 employees despite starting off with no funds for advertising or marketing.

Read by 7,993 founders

55. Start a saas company

SaaS (Software as a Service) is software that allows users to access and use it over the internet. It is a subscription-based service that provides users with access to software that they can use for their business. It offers a variety of features, including a project management tool, an automation engine, and a workflow designer.

To start a SaaS company you should be familiar with the SaaS business model and have a good understanding of how to build and market a SaaS product. You should also have strong technical skills and be able to develop a high-quality software product.

Salesforce is one of the best SaaS companies in the world. Salesforce provides an integrated CRM platform that brings companies and customers together. The company is one of the most innovative cloud software solutions providers on the market, generating nearly all its annual recurring revenue from SaaS tools. According to Salesforce's latest financial reports, the company's current revenue (TTM) is $26.49 B.

Starting a SaaS company is a great way to enter the tech industry. This type of company is growing in popularity as more businesses are looking for ways to save money and reduce their IT costs. SaaS companies typically have high margins and offer a lot of flexibility for entrepreneurs.

How much you can make: $40 — $3,000,000/month

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

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

I Turned My Side Project into A $26K/Month SaaS Tool

AI-powered web application, Excelformulabot.com, generates Excel formulas within seconds for a subscription fee of $6.99/month or free for five formula requests per month, resulting in $14k/month in recurring revenue since its launch in September 2022, accruing millions of visitors through word of mouth, influencer marketing, SEO, and PPC, implemented through no-code web application Bubble.io, while preparing to penetrate a B2B market and focus on B2B outreach in the future.

Read by 20,987 founders

56. Start a logo designing business

Creative logo design plays a critical role in getting brand recognition. Thus, startup owners ensure they have an outstanding logo that defines their professional assurance amongst customers. Do you have excellent art and design skills? Starting a logo design company can be a rewarding business idea. You can outsource a logo design service or do it yourself.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $275,000/month

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

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How We Launched A $5K/Month Content Writing Solutions Service

Content writing company 411Writers started with $13.99 and now generates over $50,000 revenue per month, providing clients with unique website content for both search engines and human readers.

Read by 7,292 founders

57. Start a video hosting service

Considering a business with growing demand and solid potential? Think about starting a video hosting service. This business provides individuals and businesses a platform to upload and share videos.

Running a video hosting service involves creating and maintaining a web-based platform where users can store, manage, and stream their video content. You'll need to invest in server infrastructure, ensure strong cybersecurity measures, and deliver consistent streaming quality to keep your clients satisfied.

The rise of online content creators and the increasing shift towards digital media consumption make this idea particularly lucrative. By offering unique features such as customizable player designs, advanced analytics, and monetization options, you can attract a diverse range of users from educators to entrepreneurs.

While it requires technical know-how and a commitment to continuous improvement, a video hosting service can carve out a niche in the ever-expanding digital landscape, making it an appealing venture for the tech-savvy entrepreneur.

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

How much does it cost to start: $2,400 (?)

How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)

In One Year, We Launched A Video Hosting Platform & Hit $10K MRR

Video hosting platform Vadootv has onboarded 15,000+ creators, SMBs, and brands around the world who are using the platform to scale their business online using videos, generating $300k in revenue from one-time license sales and $15,000+ in monthly recurring revenue.

Read by 2,605 founders

58. Build an analytics tool

Analytics tools are software or apps that help people to make data-driven decisions. They do this by providing users with the ability to access, visualize, and analyze the data.

If you have strong technical skills, then this could be a profitable business idea for you.

QlikView is one of the best Self-Service Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Data Analytics tool. In 2022, QlikView generates $750M in revenue.

With the rise of big data, more companies are realizing the importance of data and are looking for ways to make use of it.

Building an analytics tool is a great business idea because it's a tool that can be used by businesses of all sizes. Small businesses can use it to make better decisions about their operations, while larger businesses can use it to track and improve their performance.

How much you can make: $20 — $1,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $4,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)

How Our Privacy Friendly Web Analytics Tool Reached $4K/Month Without Paid Ads

Plausible Analytics, a privacy-friendly web analytics tool, reached $4,557 MRR and 743 paying subscribers by focusing on content marketing and engaging relevant communities, rather than paid advertising, while positioning itself as a lightweight, cookie-free and affordable alternative to Google Analytics.

Read by 10,047 founders

59. Create a remote work tool

Struggling to manage projects with a dispersed team? Consider developing a remote work tool. This is a software solution designed to facilitate seamless communication, collaboration, and task management for teams working from various locations.

You'll create a platform where team members can chat, share files, track project milestones, and allocate tasks efficiently. Think of it as a virtual office space that ensures everyone stays on the same page, despite the miles apart.

Setting up this business involves understanding the unique needs of remote teams, choosing the right tech stack, and investing in user-friendly interface design. There’s a growing market for such tools as companies increasingly move toward remote-first work cultures.

Your tool could be the key to solving many companies’ remote work challenges, making their operations smoother and more productive. If you’re intrigued by tech and driven to create practical solutions, this venture could be both rewarding and indispensable.

How much you can make: $99,997 — $140,000/month

How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)

Distro: From MVP To $2M ARR In 8 Months

Distro, a marketplace for companies to find and hire software developers, has reached $2 million in ARR in just 8 months, and is profitable, giving founders hope to grow through capital efficiency focussing on product and sales by aggressively targeting a $3.5 million ARR by December 2022 alongside building a scalable marketing system and product implementation.

Read by 3,004 founders

60. Start an edtech startup

61. Start a gaming startup

The gaming industry is exploding, and a gaming startup could be your ticket to joining this booming field.

At its core, the business involves creating, developing, and launching a video game. This venture typically requires a team of designers, developers, marketers, and project managers to see it through from concept to release.

Your chance to bring innovative and entertaining experiences to gamers around the world is here. Whether it’s a gripping new mobile game or a groundbreaking VR experience, the potential for creativity is vast.

While the competition is stiff, dedicated research, strategic planning, and consistent effort can position your startup for success. If you’re passionate about gaming and willing to put in the work, this could be a highly rewarding endeavor.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $1,000,000/month

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

How We Launched A $1M/Month Video Games Boosting Services Marketplace

Overgear, a gaming marketplace offering assistance and training in WoW, Path of Exile, Destiny, Call of Duty, and Valorant, saw over $8 million in revenue and a 6x increase in clients in the past year by prioritizing user experience and customer retention through SEO and Google Ads, reinvesting profits, and creating a user-friendly product, amongst other things.

Read by 10,899 founders

62. Start a robotics company

The robotics industry is on the rise, a trend that, according to experts, is owing to its potential to increase economic growth and productivity. The high demand is owing to the strong need to automate labor need for more efficiency in product manufacturing, construction, and other sectors.

Besides, robots work in hazardous environments where human life is likely in danger, increasing productivity since they are wired to perform repetitive tasks for longer hours.

In that regard, the robotics businesses stand to benefit. Some sectors where we see robotics today include:

  • Healthcare
  • Homelife
  • Manufacturing
  • Logistics
  • Space exploration
  • Military
  • Entertainment
  • Travel

To start your robotics company, choose a niche and focus on building an interdisciplinary team with robotics engineers and software engineers from various specialties. You can use VC funding so you can finance your business.

Remember, robotics is still a tough business, so you should not expect everything to work from day 1.

63. Start an esports startup

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.