70 Weekend Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2023]

70 Weekend Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2023]

Interested in starting a weekend business in 2023?

We put together 70 of the best weekend businesses you can start in today.

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

Here's the full list:

1. Become an online dating consultant ($62.4K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$5,200 — $11,250,000/month
Skills
Business model

Shane White from Austin, Texas, USA started The Match Artist about 5 years ago, a online dating consultant.

  • Revenue: $5,200/ month
  • Founders: 2
  • Employees: 0
  • Location: Austin, Texas, USA

Case Study

I have always been an entrepreneur. When I was in high school, I wanted to start my own business, so I took to one thing that I knew how to do- mow lawns.

Afterward, while I was in college, I started a mobile DJ business, which was a great way to earn some extra cash in college. After graduating from NDSU with a degree in Computer Science, I took a full-time job working as a software developer. While working as a developer, I really wanted to start a SaaS Company, which translates to “Software as a Service”, so I did just that. I created Midwest Streams - Simple Funeral Webcasting, which helps funeral directors webcast their funerals.

I ended up spending too many hours working on Midwest Streams while I was at my software developer job, so my employer fired me. (If you are reading this, I really am sorry!) This happened in February of 2014, and Midwest Streams was only making $400 a month. I decided not to go back to work and try my hardest to grow my company. I had some savings, but burnt through it pretty quick, as it’s really hard to survive with only $400 a month.

how-i-built-my-own-business-improving-online-dating-profiles

2. Start a mobile app development business ($960K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$7,500 — $2,333,333/month
Average Initial Investment
$191,806
Skills

Rob Bentley from Minneapolis, MN, USA started The Jed Mahonis Group about 11 years ago, a mobile app development business.

  • Revenue: $80,000/ month
  • Founders: 2
  • Employees: 8
  • Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA

Case Study

Growing up, I’ve always been into technology. I built my first website when I was in first grade, I built my first graphing calculator app when I was in sixth grade, and I used to run the internet’s largest website dedicated to Ralph Wiggum from The Simpsons.

I waited in line for the iPhone the day it launched in 2007, and I was instantly hooked. I knew I had to learn how to build software for this device. Eventually, I learned how to jailbreak my device which allowed me to run custom apps on it (this being before the launch of the App Store).

Even though I had a passion for technology, I never really wanted a career in it. My dream job was to work as a technical director for live television broadcasts, and the only class that was close to that at my school was the capstone course for the Professional Journalism program. I ended up switching my major from Computer Engineering to that and abandoned any dreams of professionally writing software.

how-we-started-a-82k-month-custom-ios-and-android-apps-development-agency

3. Start an adventure travel agent ($90K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$800 — $233,333/month
Skills
Business model

Chris waters from international started Constructed Adventures about 7 years ago, a adventure travel agent.

  • Revenue: $7,500/ month
  • Founders: 2
  • Employees: 1
  • Location: international

Case Study

I was always that guy trying to create a fun experience for people. I hated the idea of waking up and knowing EXACTLY how the day is going to pan out (drive to work, meeting, lunch, get yelled at by clients, drive home, watch tv, go to bed. Rinse and repeat every day for the rest of your life) So I would be the one kidnapping people on their birthdays, putting googly eyes on every picture in the office, etc.

“I hated the idea of waking up and knowing EXACTLY how the day is going to pan out (drive to work, meeting, lunch, get yelled at by clients, drive home, watch tv, go to bed. Rinse and repeat every day for the rest of your life)”

The business kind of happened by accident. It all started with the Reddit Secret santa gift exchange. (here’s the wikipedia) In short, 100k people sign up, get matched with someone, and send them a gift for the holidays! I’d been participating for years. I’d sent and received some really incredible gifts.

how-i-make-a-living-constructing-the-perfect-day-for-random-strangers

4. Create a landing page builder ($168K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$10,000 — $160,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$500
Skills

Alexander Isora from Tbilisi, Грузия started Unicorn Platform over 4 years ago, a landing page builder.

  • Revenue: $14,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 2
  • Location: Tbilisi, Грузия

Case Study

The most common question I’m asked is “how did you come up with the idea?”. Or the more expressive version: “are you crazy to dive into such a competitive area?!”.

That was actually an easy choice! 😁

I’m a startup folk. I launched over 15 tech projects: big and small, successful and not, profitable and fun-only. This gave me a huge experience in prototyping, designing and coding a landing page.

how-i-launched-a-2-5k-month-landing-page-builder

5. Start a phone case business ($1.44M/year)

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

Andrew Moore from Toronto, Ontario, Canada started Felony Case about 11 years ago, a phone case business.

  • Revenue: $120,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 1
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Case Study

It’s a funny origin story, because I never set out to start an iPhone case company.

I had just graduated from college and I was working as a driver delivering construction supplies. It gave me a ton of time to listen to podcasts and I was really drawn to tech and startup focused ones. I had an idea for a while to do a wishlist website where people could create and share a list of gifts they wanted. I ended up having the site built, but I didn’t know how to get people using the website.

Don’t be afraid to start! Don’t overthink it, get a product out into the world and start your journey.

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

6. Start a podcast agency ($204K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$5,000 — $17,000/month
Skills

Tom Hunt from London started Fame over 3 years ago, a podcast agency.

  • Revenue: $17,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 3
  • Location: London

Case Study

This whole thing started when I was working as head of marketing at a B2B SaaS business. We started a podcast.

The podcast was focused on the sales operations resource, and was called Sales Ops Demystified. We interviewed sales ops people.

It started to go pretty well, we got social shares, SEO value and even had some sales calls with our guests (we sold sales software). Sales Ops Demystified is now the most downloaded podcast in the world of sales ops.

how-i-started-a-17k-month-podcast-growth-service

7. Start an affiliate marketing business ($6M/year)

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

Jan Kovac from Bratislava started Casino Guru almost 8 years ago, a affiliate marketing business.

  • Revenue: $500,000/ month
  • Founders: 2
  • Employees: 54
  • Location: Bratislava

Case Study

Our product is a website. The process of designing and developing it was very similar to designing and developing any website or an information system. As both I and the other main founder were software developers, this part was pretty straightforward for us. However, we still did some things pretty right and some things pretty wrong.

The funny part about any SEO-based business is that you can’t really make decent planning. Do you plan to improve some parts of your website and grow? Well, good luck with that, almighty G can have completely different plans for you.

What we made right was a decision to create a system that models all the relations and information about online casinos as structured data. As an example: almost every online casino has a list of countries from which it doesn’t allow residents to play. To capture this information we have created a database table casino_restricted_country and fill it with 1 record for every casino and every country that is on its restricted list.

how-i-started-a-500k-month-website-about-online-casinos

8. Start a tutoring business ($1.2M/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $375,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$1,723
Time Commitment Per Week
Min. 5 hours/week
Skills
Interests

Adam Shlomi from Miami, FL, USA started SoFlo Tutors about 4 years ago, a tutoring business.

  • Revenue: $100,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 2
  • Location: Miami, FL, USA

Case Study

I come from an entrepreneurial family. My father works for himself and my maternal grandfather started a clothing factory. Working for myself has always been encouraged by my family, but before I could get started, I needed to learn a skill. At Georgetown, I study international politics and business. Most students with these backgrounds go on to work at prestigious firms like J.P. Morgan. I really didn’t know what kind of business I could start, and frankly, planned to work as a (boring) data analyst after graduation.

If you have an idea but don’t have the knowledge to execute, use that idea as motivation and go learn how to turn your vision into reality.

Tutoring first came to mind because I had spent significant time working for other tutoring companies and cutting my teeth/learning how the industry works during my teen years. I first started tutoring when I was 15. I was hired by College Experts, a local test prep center in Davie, Florida. My first student was three years older than me, and I spent our first session teaching him how to use his calculator rather than trying to explain any complicated formulas. Being a student myself, I was able to bring a student’s perspective to tutoring. I worked for College Experts until my senior year of high school when I began tutoring on my own and finding clients on Craigslist.

how-i-started-a-15k-month-sat-tutoring-business-while-in-college

9. Start a cooking class ($1.2M/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$7,500 — $100,000/month
Time Commitment Per Week
Min. 5 hours/week
Skills
Interests

Monika Reti from many, USA started Hipcooks about 9 years ago, a cooking class.

  • Revenue: $100,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 8
  • Location: many, USA

Case Study

In true Hipcooks fashion: I’m not a culinary school graduate — I’m a hack! Here’s my story:

I’m first-generation American (Mom is from Germany and Dad from Argentina). My parents were young foreign students in the US and their friends were the other international students: I was a kid surrounded by people from different nationalities, like Spain, Russia, France, and the UK. I was a child foodie and loved to experience culture through food.

I caught the travel bug early, living in Argentina (studying economics in college), traveling through Europe, and moved to England for graduate school (I have a Master’s in Economics from LSE.) While in school, I cooked my way through a series of London restaurants in the gastro-boom of the ’90s, just for fun. My first job was on the West Coast, as an econometrician at the RAND Corporation.

how-i-started-a-cooking-classes-business-with-7-locations

10. Start a web development business ($1.78M/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$6,600 — $350,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$90,402
Time To Revenue
360 days
Skills
Business model
Work from home

Ty Fujimura from New York/Copenhagen started Cantilever Web Design & Development over 11 years ago, a web development business.

  • Revenue: $148,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 9
  • Location: New York/Copenhagen

Case Study

I’m the son of a therapist and an artist, and both sides of that upbringing prepared me well to manage a creative business! I was always playing with code and design growing up, and was lucky enough to have my dad’s tech hand-me-downs to learn on.

I regret bootstrapping because it forced us into making decisions based on the fear of running out of money, rather than on trying to find long-term value.

I majored in Mathematics at NYU, but while in classes I started to get the itch to design again. I did some portfolio pieces in photoshop but needed a website. I taught myself the basics by spending hours in Barnes & Noble reading every web design and development book I could find (even though I couldn’t afford to take them home) and got hooked.

how-i-started-a-750k-year-web-development-agency

11. Start a sports coaching business ($57.1K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
Time To Revenue
360 days
Skills
Business model

Sarah Wolfer from Mariánské Lázně, Northwest, Czech Republic started Girl Boss Sports over 4 years ago, a sports coaching business.

  • Revenue: $4,759/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 1
  • Location: Mariánské Lázně, Northwest, Czech Republic

Case Study

As an athlete and coach myself, I have experienced many situations that left me feeling dismayed at the state of affairs for women and girls involved in sports. I recall one such instance where I was playing at a very competitive level and the head coach screamed at me from 2 inches away with every expletive he could think of in front of our entire team because I asked him a question about the drill that was being done. I still vividly remember the spittle flying out of his mouth and hitting me in the face and not knowing what to do. The powerlessness I felt at that moment, coupled with the lack of appropriate response by the system when I reported him left me feeling hopeless for my future in sports. I ended up quitting soccer and refused to touch a ball for an entire year.

On the coaching side - as someone with 16 years of experience now, there are still instances in which I am treated differently than my male counterparts. One such example was when I was on the sideline waiting for the referee to come over and check my team prior to the start of the game. I was dressed in my coaching attire, had the whistle around my neck, the clipboard in my hand, and the player cards ready to be presented when the referee walked over to our sideline. He made eye contact with me and then proceeded to walk over the dad who happened to be on our side tying his daughter’s shoe and assumed that he was the coach.

Take time for yourself! Being an entrepreneur is hard work and you can’t do it to the best of your ability if you haven’t taken time for yourself to rest and rejuvenate. Self-care is integral to success.

how-i-started-a-4-8k-month-business-offering-sports-coaching-services-by-women

12. Start a vacation rentals business ($150K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$12,500 — $295,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$160,000
Skills

Julio Sanchez from Cardiff started Cardiff Vacations almost 12 years ago, a vacation rentals business.

  • Revenue: $12,500/ month
  • Founders: 2
  • Employees: 12
  • Location: Cardiff

Case Study

I was born in Guatemala, moved to the USA in the ‘80s, and went to school at Harvard Westlake. I managed to get US citizenship after serving for 4 years in the marine.

After marrying my wife, Alison in 2001 we’ve lived with her mom for 10 years to take care of her.

Once she passed away we were left with the question of what to do with the properties she and her husband have worked so hard to build.

how-we-started-a-12k-month-beachside-vacation-rental-business

13. Start a dog training business ($60K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$5,000 — $8,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$325,000
Time To Revenue
210 days
Time Commitment Per Week
Min. 5 hours/week
Skills
Interests
Business model

Donald Hutcherson from Manhattan Community Board 1, New York, USA started Fraternity K9 over 3 years ago, a dog training business.

  • Revenue: $5,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 0
  • Location: Manhattan Community Board 1, New York, USA

Case Study

I started as a young kid who always loved dogs but never knew how to take care of them. I had several dogs in my life. A Lab/terrier mix, a pit bull, and several other mix breeds. I would always watch Cesar Milan and think “I could do that”. It wasn’t until I had a dog that would bite your hand when you took its food bowl that I realized it was a lot harder than I thought. I decided I was going to learn this dog training.

Everybody always says do what you love, but what if that thing you love makes no money?

I spent hours studying and then I got wrapped up in it. I would learn something new and become obsessed with dog training even more. I ended up learning from different teachers and knew I wanted to be the best.

how-i-started-a-5k-month-dog-training-business

14. Start a niche web design business ($300K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$200 — $200,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$30,881
Skills

Scott Bishop from Boston, Massachusetts, USA started Up And Social almost 9 years ago, a niche web design business.

  • Revenue: $25,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 1
  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Case Study

I began my business career with the family in-store sampling business, C.A. Courtesy, in the 1990s, while at the same time attending college at Johnson and Wales University, where I pursued a degree in Web Management & Internet Commerce.

I’ve always had a knack for marketing and technology, and when I left C.A. Courtesy, I was the Vice President of Marketing and Technology.

People don’t remember what you say as much as they remember how they felt when you said it.

how-i-started-a-20k-month-web-design-agency

15. Start an antique business ($180K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$15,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$10,500
Skills
Business model

Tim Showalter from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA started Hoosierboy Restorations LLC almost 10 years ago, a antique business.

  • Revenue: $15,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 4
  • Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Case Study

At 10-years-old I saw a bicycle in a neighbor’s trash can and asked if I could have it. I ended up with two broken bikes and combined them to make one, which I rode and eventually sold.

In junior high school, I took woodshop and fell in love with woodworking. Evenings, my father, the school superintendent who had started out as a shop teacher, would take me to the school’s woodshop and we’d build furniture and Christmas presents and fix things.

Today, my career is based around restoring old bicycles, pedal cars, Coke machines as well as other items. I previously worked at Beech Grove schools doing education technology, but began to get burned out and wanted to do something that I really enjoyed. Around that same time a TV show called “American Restoration” was on the History Channel, and it inspired me. I thought, ‘Wow, that guy [on TV] is making a living at restorations, maybe I can do the same”. So I just kind of blindly cashed in my 401k and jumped into it not knowing what to do or how to run a business or anything like that. I started in my mom’s garage, and I put up a website right away.

how-i-left-a-25-year-career-to-start-a-15k-month-antiques-restoration-business

16. Start a blog ($60K/year)

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

Chhavi Agarwal from New Delhi, Delhi, India started Mrs Daaku Studio over 4 years ago, a blog.

  • Revenue: $5,000/ month
  • Founders: 2
  • Employees: 3
  • Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Case Study

I am a licensed attorney in India and right after my master’s in law, I started working with a leading company as a lawyer. I worked there for about two years before I quit my job to become more location independent.

Choose a niche in whatever you start. It is critical for streamlining your efforts and make money.

My job paid me well but I worked 12 hours a day, I was exhausted by the end of each day, spent my weekends sleeping and I almost quit the things I liked to do - for example, sketching, yoga, traveling, etc.

how-this-couple-makes-5k-month-generating-content-about-ways-to-make-money-online

17. Start a podcast ($60K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$419 — $1,020,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$4,284
Time To Revenue
90 days
Time Commitment Per Week
Min. 2 hours/week
Skills
Interests
Business model

Noah Labhart from Dallas, TX, USA started Code Story about 4 years ago, a podcast.

  • Revenue: $5,000/ month
  • Founders: 1
  • Employees: 0
  • Location: Dallas, TX, USA

Case Study

I have a passion for solution architecture. Having worked in many leadership roles over the past 13 years, I’ve gained vast experience in software implementation – from web applications to mobile apps to platform architecture. The sweet spot for me is creating solutions that impact people's lives and doing so by applying development best practices, methodologies, and building world-class user experiences. When I’m not being a geek or reading old calculus books, I can be found chasing after my beautiful bride, being chased by my kids, enjoying a good cup o’ joe, reading good fiction, or being outdoors.

Just jump out and do it. The more you wait, the more likely someone else is going to do it and beat you to the punch.

Why do I love building software? It's the intersection of the left and right brain, technology meets creativity, engineering meets art – the balance between structure and a free spirit. But more than what it does for me, I enjoy seeing lives impacted by creative technology and elegant solutions.

how-i-started-a-podcast-interviewing-tech-people-that-has-been-downloaded-over-80k-times

18. ($18M/year)

Jeffrey Mora from Los Angeles, California, USA started Food Fleet about 11 years ago, a business.

  • Revenue: $1,500,000/ month
  • Founders: 2
  • Employees: 6
  • Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Case Study

We started the food truck business in 2012.

We kept finding it very difficult to find locations to operate. We had a booker that we used to find our locations but fell short and we let her go. I took over our booking and found that most people did not want to book just one truck, not only that they were upset that most of the time the trucks didn’t show up or were late.

We learned the real need was not only helping the trucks but providing a turnkey service for the corporations. This was a game-changer for us, we were really struggling financially.

19. Become a flea market vendor

Examples of a successful flea market vendor:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a flea market vendor:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a flea market vendor ➜

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20. Become a wedding photographer ($168K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$6,000 — $14,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$45,000
Skills

Examples of a successful wedding photographer:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a wedding photographer:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a wedding photographer ➜

Case Study

Hi, I’m Steven and I’m a wedding photographer based out of Adelaide, Australia. I believe photography is about portraying a scene in ways that people recognize, but at the same time, have never witnessed before. Anyone can take a photo of a scene, but I want to show the world what I can create through my lens in ways that are unique and yet completely relatable to other people who have witnessed the same scene, all the while allowing my couples to act as though I’m not there just as a ‘photographer’ but rather their friend. This allows for a much more genuine set of photos for them to remember their big day!

One of the things that stand out to my clients when comparing myself with my competitors is my ability to come across as a professional wedding attendee! I can help out with any aspect of a wedding, not just their photographer - so I’m often planning everyone's wedding for them. I also make use of some cool technology such as Virtual Reality cameras, hybrid shooting video, and photography, and course drones - and not just the aerial kind, underwater too!

how-i-started-a-career-as-wedding-photographer-that-generates-over-6-figures-per-year

21. Become a mobile DJ

Examples of a successful mobile DJ:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mobile DJ:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a mobile DJ ➜

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22. Become a magician

How Much Can You Make?
$10,000 — $12,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$2,000
Skills

Examples of a successful magician:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a magician:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a magician ➜

Case Study

Hello, my name is Daniel Chan and I am the founder of Dan Chan Presents, LLC. We are a unique company specializing in sophisticated magic entertainment that’s designed for savvy corporate audiences. Our shows feature world-class sleight of hand, playful pickpocketing, and thoughtful sleight of mind. I am known as The Billionaire’s Magician and have performed for many tech millionaires and Silicon Valley’s Elite.

Last year the company made 160K performing live, in person, corporate shows. Due to the unprecedented situation with COVID-19, I quickly pivoted my in-person event strategy to suit the new virtual format. I am one of the first in the magic industry to fully pivot to Zoom, and was recently featured in The Hustle as well as twice in Business Insider. In a single month, I was able to take an industry that was best experienced in person, and turn it into a compelling virtual experience that people can enjoy at home. Not only have I brought magic into people’s homes, but I was able to expand my marketing reach performing internationally in Europe, Australia, Africa, and China, all from the comfort of my home office.

how-i-left-a-lucrative-job-to-start-a-12k-month-magic-shows-business

23. Start a farmers market

Examples of a successful farmers market:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a farmers market:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a farmers market ➜

24. Start a mobile retail boutique business

Examples of a successful mobile retail boutique business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mobile retail boutique business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a mobile retail boutique business ➜

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25. Start a balloon artist business

Examples of a successful balloon artist business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a balloon artist business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a balloon artist business ➜

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26. Start a caricature artist business

How Much Can You Make?
Skills

Examples of a successful caricature artist business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a caricature artist business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a caricature artist business ➜

Case Study

Hi, my name is Janina, and back in 2002, I founded SP-Studio.de- a free tool for anyone to create cartoon characters without any drawing skills. What started as a fun little side project became one of the biggest and most popular avatar creation websites.

At its height, sp-studio.de attracts more than 60,000 visitors per day and you stumble upon the pictures all the time when browsing Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.

i-built-a-cartoon-creator-tool-that-has-over-60k-unique-daily-users

27. Start an event coordinator business

How Much Can You Make?
$108,000/month
Skills

Examples of a successful event coordinator business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a event coordinator business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an event coordinator business ➜

Case Study

I’m Natasha Miller- raised in Des Moines, Iowa but high-tailed it out of there as soon as I could at the age of 23. I thought I’d be a performer only - a classical violinist and jazz vocalist, but as it turns out those careers might have been the catalyst for where I am today.

  • Inc. 5,000 Fastest Growing Companies in America
  • Entrepreneur Magazine 360 List “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America”
  • San Francisco Business Times Fast 100 “Fastest Growing Companies in the San Francisco Bay Area”
  • Special Event Top 50 Event Planners in the World

how-natasha-miller-started-a-4m-event-management-company

28. Become a musician ($36K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
Average Initial Investment
$1,500
Skills

Examples of a successful musician:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a musician:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a musician ➜

Case Study

I’m Miguel de Maria, and I started a freelance guitar performance company. I provide live Spanish guitar background music for weddings and corporate events and bring in about $3000 a month.

leaving-a-boring-desk-job-to-make-a-living-playing-spanish-guitar-at-events

29. Start an online course creation business

How Much Can You Make?
$1,666,666/month
Skills

Examples of a successful online course creation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a online course creation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an online course creation business ➜

Case Study

Shaan Patel is the founder and CEO of Prep Expert, a test preparation platform that provides online SAT and ACT prep courses.

He founded the firm from his dorm room eight years ago with just $900 left over from his undergraduate scholarships.

His SAT and ACT prep classes, books, and licensed items have already brought more than $20 million in sales. In 2016, he pitched Prep Expert on ABC's "Shark Tank" and secured an investment from billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban.

He spent no money on marketing during the first five years of starting Prep Expert. Despite this, the company's sales doubled yearly based on word-of-mouth marketing.

The SAT prep classes offered by Prep Expert increased the students' SAT scores by hundreds of points. As a result, parents would refer it to other parents, enabling this company to grow quickly and for free.

When he first founded Prep Expert, Patel approached the local TV station about doing a piece on SAT preparation suggestions for parents and kids. He moved from having no clients to having several when the television interview aired.

Patel attributes his entrepreneurial success to self-control and never giving up.

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30. Estate seller

Examples of a successful estate seller:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a estate seller:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an estate seller ➜

article

31. Become a face painter

Average Initial Investment
$10,000
Skills

Examples of a successful face painter:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a face painter:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a face painter ➜

article

32. Start an event venue operator business

How Much Can You Make?
$25,000 — $300,000/month
Skills

Examples of a successful event venue operator business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a event venue operator business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an event venue operator business ➜

Case Study

Hello! My name is Stephan Aarstol. I'm the CEO of Tower Electric Bikes.

In October of 2019, Tower was named one of the "Top 20 Shark Tank Products of All Time" in USA Today. We've done over $36 million in sales since getting a $150,000 investment from Mark Cuban in 2012.

how-i-partnered-with-mark-cuban-to-start-a-250k-month-company-selling-ebikes

33. Start a party clown business

Examples of a successful party clown business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a party clown business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a party clown business ➜

article

34. Start an e-book writing business

How Much Can You Make?
$2,000 — $42,857/month
Average Initial Investment
$67
Skills

Examples of a successful e-book writing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a e-book writing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an e-book writing business ➜

Case Study

I'm Vaibhav Kishnani, an engineer but a passionate writer by profession. I established Content-Whale in 2017 when I was in my third year of engineering. Going by the maxim that quality writing is everything, Content-Whale caters to 42 different content types that form the backstory of every company’s digital presence and marketing efforts.

I started this content agency with a mere sum of Rs. 2,500. Today, we have drawn a revenue turnover of Rs. 4 Crores! In my opinion, it is not individual progress. Instead, a start-up is about connecting with the right individuals at the right time, who keep the show running ahead with their strife for perfection.

how-we-started-a-514k-year-content-curation-agency-with-just-35-from-india

35. Start an ecommerce reselling business

How Much Can You Make?
$6,000 — $140,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$37,599
Skills
Business model

Examples of a successful ecommerce reselling business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a ecommerce reselling business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an ecommerce reselling business ➜

Case Study

My name is Greg Shuey and I am the founder of Empyre Off-Road. Empyre Off-Road is an online e-commerce business that sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and 4Runner vehicles.

my-side-hustle-makes-1-2m-year-selling-car-accessories

36. Become a graphic designer ($360K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$15,000 — $81,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$333
Skills

Examples of a successful graphic designer:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a graphic designer:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a graphic designer ➜

Case Study

Hi, I’m Mike Moloney, the founder of FilterGrade. FilterGrade is a marketplace for creators where you can find digital assets such as presets, LUTs, video templates, and much more.

Today thousands of creators from all around the world buy and sell digital products on FilterGrade and more than 450,000 users visit the site every month.

how-we-created-a-30k-month-marketplace-of-photo-filters-and-digital-assets-for-creatives

37. Start an antique furniture refurbishing business

Examples of a successful antique furniture refurbishing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a antique furniture refurbishing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an antique furniture refurbishing business ➜

article

38. Start an auto detailing business ($72K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$3,000 — $6,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$3,250
Time Commitment Per Week
Min. 8 hours/week
Skills
Interests

Examples of a successful auto detailing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a auto detailing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an auto detailing business ➜

Case Study

My name is Matt Paskow. I started a mobile auto detailing business called Fresh Look Mobile Auto Detailing which services North County, San Diego.

i-left-tech-built-my-own-car-detailing-business-my-hobby

39. Start a house painting business

Examples of a successful house painting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a house painting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a house painting business ➜

article

40. Become a gifts and handicrafts distributor ($420K/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$5,000 — $39,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$20,166
Skills

Examples of a successful gifts and handicrafts distributor:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a gifts and handicrafts distributor:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a gifts and handicrafts distributor ➜

Case Study

Hello, I am Ross Nochumowitz and I founded and operate Baltimore in a Box: a popular gifting company that allows one to customize a Baltimore-inspired care package and ship it anywhere in the world. We make it easy to do all of this without lifting a finger (other than pressing the keys on your computer, tablet, or smartphone).

For the past couple of years, we have been working on growing our brand via our own Baltimore-themed Ice Cream line to help market our gift box business called: Baltimore in a Box Ice Cream. We teamed up with a local Ice Cream maker and produced uniquely Baltimore flavors inspired by the very items we include in our gift boxes.

how-i-created-a-35k-month-baltimore-themed-gift-box

41. Start an auto stereo installation business

Examples of a successful auto stereo installation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a auto stereo installation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an auto stereo installation business ➜

article

42. Start a bicycle mechanic business

Examples of a successful bicycle mechanic business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a bicycle mechanic business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a bicycle mechanic business ➜

article

43. Become a handyman

How Much Can You Make?
Skills

Examples of a successful handyman:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a handyman:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a handyman ➜

Case Study

I’m Dan Stewart and I’m the founder of Dundas Valley Pools. We help homeowners with swimming pools in Southern Ontario, Canada maximize the summers in their backyard. We do this by providing personalized, on-site services such as pool openings/ closings, pool maintenance, equipment installations, pool renovations, and new pool installations. Since our humble beginnings in May of 2016 we have serviced 350+ pools, opened and closed 200+ pools, and have installed tons of high-quality pool equipment, pool liners, and winter safety covers for happy customers throughout Southern Ontario.

Dundas Valley Pools has grown from a company producing very little revenue in 2016 to a company that is earning an average of $8000/ month net revenue during the on-season. This year we hope to actually double that number. This is due to our expansion into more technical services as well as taking on larger jobs-- namely, new pool installations.

how-i-started-a-8k-month-pool-service-and-installation-business

44. Start a landscape designing business

How Much Can You Make?
$2,500,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$129,000
Skills

Examples of a successful landscape designing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a landscape designing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a landscape designing business ➜

Case Study

I'm Bryan Clayton CEO of GreenPal which is best described as Uber for Lawn Care.

Good thing early investors told us no because with their capital they would have owned and controlled 30% of our business.e are self-funded and my cofounders and I own it all.

uber-for-lawn-care-how-i-built-a-30m-software

45. Start a computer setup business

Examples of a successful computer setup business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a computer setup business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a computer setup business ➜

article

46. Start a gardening business

How Much Can You Make?
$27,000 — $150,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$46,000
Time To Revenue
360 days
Skills
Business model

Examples of a successful gardening business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a gardening business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a gardening business ➜

Case Study

My name is Chris Crawford and I am the founder of RinseKit. We design, manufacture, and sell the RinseKit- a portable pressurized shower that’s like having a hose to go. It doesn’t require pumping or batteries, fills from a hose spigot or sink in 30 seconds, can maintain pressure for up to a month, and is entirely portable. We started the business back about 5 years ago and have since grown to average over $1.5 M in sales each year.

how-i-designed-a-150k-month-portable-pressurized-shower-and-went-on-shark-tank

47. Start a house sitting business

Examples of a successful house sitting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a house sitting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a house sitting business ➜

article

48. Start a home theater rooms set-up business

Examples of a successful home theater rooms set-up business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a home theater rooms set-up business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a home theater rooms set-up business ➜

article

49. Start a pet sitting business

Time To Revenue
150 days
Skills
Business model

Examples of a successful pet sitting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a pet sitting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a pet sitting business ➜

article

50. Become an interior designer ($1.32M/year)

How Much Can You Make?
$100,000 — $415,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$2,000
Skills

Examples of a successful interior designer:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a interior designer:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an interior designer ➜

Case Study

Well, to make a long story short, my mother and I started this company together in 1996. I was working as a staff interior designer at a private firm in NYC, and my mother, Rosemarie was the manager of the Estate and Trust department at a large Law Firm. We both HATED our jobs and dreamed of doing our 'own thing'. We had no idea what that looked like, and so we turned to our passion..antiques and design.

That passion has morphed into a boutique design firm that boasts over 1M in annual revenue and has completed hundreds of trophy projects.

how-we-mother-and-daughter-started-a-1m-year-boutique-design-firm

51. Start a pool cleaning business

How Much Can You Make?
$8,000 — $50,000/month
Skills

Examples of a successful pool cleaning business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a pool cleaning business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a pool cleaning business ➜

Case Study

I’m Dan Stewart and I’m the founder of Dundas Valley Pools. We help homeowners with swimming pools in Southern Ontario, Canada maximize the summers in their backyard. We do this by providing personalized, on-site services such as pool openings/ closings, pool maintenance, equipment installations, pool renovations, and new pool installations. Since our humble beginnings in May of 2016 we have serviced 350+ pools, opened and closed 200+ pools, and have installed tons of high-quality pool equipment, pool liners, and winter safety covers for happy customers throughout Southern Ontario.

Dundas Valley Pools has grown from a company producing very little revenue in 2016 to a company that is earning an average of $8000/ month net revenue during the on-season. This year we hope to actually double that number. This is due to our expansion into more technical services as well as taking on larger jobs-- namely, new pool installations.

how-i-started-a-8k-month-pool-service-and-installation-business

52. Start a vending machine business

How Much Can You Make?
$10,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$2,000
Skills

Examples of a successful vending machine business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a vending machine business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a vending machine business ➜

Case Study

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.

i-converted-my-side-hustle-into-a-full-blown-10k-month-vending-machine-business

53. Start a mobile pet grooming

Examples of a successful mobile pet grooming:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mobile pet grooming:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a mobile pet grooming ➜

article

54. Start a tour guide business

How Much Can You Make?
$1,500 — $43,300,000/month
Skills

Examples of a successful tour guide business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a tour guide business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a tour guide business ➜

Case Study

In the late 1980s, Darrell and Geoff Manchester established Intrepid as a brand new way of exploring the world.

Intrepid Travel offers more than 1,150 trips on all seven continents that are sustainable and experience-rich.

They didn't set out to build the biggest purpose-led adventure travel brand in the world, but they have done so now, by generating $43 million in annual revenue.

They are the biggest adventure tour operator in the world, operating a network of 26 DMCs and a nonprofit foundation.

Since 2002, their nonprofit organization, The Intrepid Foundation, has raised over AUD 12 million for 135 charities worldwide.

article

Read the full story on forbes.com ➜

55. Start a babysitting service

Examples of a successful babysitting service:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a babysitting service:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a babysitting service ➜

article

56. Start a transportation service

How Much Can You Make?
$12,000 — $364,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$15,000
Skills

Examples of a successful transportation service:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a transportation service:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a transportation service ➜

Case Study

Hello, my name is Irakli Litanishvili and I am a co-founder of a group of companies called Aim of Emperor that operates in three niches: aviation, fuel & ground handling, and IT. One of the recent additions is Mirai Flights, where I stand as CEO & co-founder.

we-started-a-4-37m-year-private-jet-and-air-taxi-booking-service

57. Start an online hobby classes

Examples of a successful online hobby classes:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a online hobby classes:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an online hobby classes ➜

58. Become a property manager

How Much Can You Make?
$200,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$32,500
Skills

Examples of a successful property manager:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a property manager:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a property manager ➜

Case Study

We are Eugenio Ferrante and Ahmed Nizar, co-founders of Casa Mia Coliving.

Today, we have 150 bedrooms in central Singapore across popular neighborhoods such as River Valley, Tiong Bahru, and Orchard. We have reached an annualized revenue of $2.5M, and we’re growing fast!

we-started-a-2-4m-year-coliving-business-in-singapore

59. Start an online diet and fitness business

How Much Can You Make?
$10,000 — $33,333,333/month
Skills

Examples of a successful online diet and fitness business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a online diet and fitness business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an online diet and fitness business ➜

Case Study

Nagina Abdullah is the owner of the online weight loss coaching company MasalaBody.

She lost 40 lbs in 9 months and is now on a mission to help others achieve similar weight loss success.

Women who’ve previously tried everything else lost hope and believed their weight issue might be genetic. But when they consulted Nagina, they could see positive results within a short time.

Nagina assists ambitious professionals and entrepreneurs transform into a healthy lifestyle using a step-by-step habit change approach through 1:1 coaching and online programs.

She works specifically with busy clients and provides strategies for every situation, including while they are at home, networking/business conferences, and traveling.

article

Read the full story on growthlab.com ➜

60. Start a valet parking service business

Examples of a successful valet parking service business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a valet parking service business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a valet parking service business ➜

article

61. Start an Instagram or snapchat marketing business

Examples of a successful Instagram or snapchat marketing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a Instagram or snapchat marketing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an Instagram or snapchat marketing business ➜

62. Start a tax preparation business

Examples of a successful tax preparation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a tax preparation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a tax preparation business ➜

article

63. Start a social media management business

How Much Can You Make?
$15,000 — $166,667/month
Average Initial Investment
$3
Skills

Examples of a successful social media management business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a social media management business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a social media management business ➜

Case Study

I’m Amanda Shepherd, the owner and lead mentor at the Social Media Manager Society. Aside from social media consulting to businesses in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries, I created a program to teach other women how to run successful social media businesses so they can have the time and financial freedom they’ve always wanted!

I quit my 9-5 and in one year made almost $100,000 working an average of four hours per day - and still growing!

how-i-started-a-7-5k-month-social-media-consulting-and-training-business

64. Start an amazon reseller business

How Much Can You Make?
$3,000 — $60,000/month
Skills

Examples of a successful amazon reseller business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a amazon reseller business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an amazon reseller business ➜

Case Study

Hello! I’m Craig, I’m a 34-year-old Dad to 3 young boys and I live in the UK.

This is a photo of where it all began once I had quit my day job and rented desk space in April 2016:

how-i-built-a-six-figure-amazon-fba-business

65. Start a selling business on etsy

How Much Can You Make?
$1,000 — $40,000/month
Skills

Examples of a successful selling business on etsy:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a selling business on etsy:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a selling business on etsy ➜

Case Study

Merhaba! (that’s hello in Turkish). My name is Zeynep and along with my brother Yusuf, we run Galen Leather from our workshop in Istanbul. Combining our love for stationery items and skills in leather-making, we design and handcraft our own line of handmade leather travel journals, notebook covers, personal accessories and now, so much more!

In the last year, we’ve broken sales records, experiencing a 138% increase in revenue to hit an average of around $40,000 in sales each month. Most of our products are made to order, and as a small team of four, we believe what we’ve been able to achieve so far is no small feat!

how-i-overcame-life-s-roadblocks-and-started-a-500k-business

66. Start an art collectible business

How Much Can You Make?
$350,000/month
Average Initial Investment
$150,000
Skills

Examples of a successful art collectible business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a art collectible business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an art collectible business ➜

Case Study

Hi, my name is Adam Vieira, and I’m the creative director for Station 16 Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in Montreal heavily influenced by graffiti and street art.

We showcase original art, sculptures, and works on paper, which changes every month, sometimes every week. We also launch a new limited edition silkscreen print every month with international artists.

growing-an-art-gallery-to-150-000-month

67. Start an ebay reseller business

Examples of a successful ebay reseller business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a ebay reseller business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an ebay reseller business ➜

article

68. Start an uber driver business

How Much Can You Make?
$250,000/month
Skills

Examples of a successful uber driver business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a uber driver business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an uber driver business ➜

Case Study

My name is Albert Williams. I am the President and CEO of The Best Deal Group of Companies. located in the Boogie Down Bronx. Best Deal is a transportation company, who specializes in local community transportation, Corporate Transportation as well as Non Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT).

Below is a picture of our cars gathered to pick up 30+ passengers for one of corporate accounts

how-i-built-a-3-5m-year-taxi-company-competing-with-uber-lyft

69. Start a portrait photography business

Average Initial Investment
$5,000
Skills

Examples of a successful portrait photography business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a portrait photography business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a portrait photography business ➜

70. Start a pop up business

Examples of a successful pop up business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a pop up business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a pop up business ➜

Pat Walls,  Founder of Starter Story
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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.