Thinking about starting a business this year? Whether you’re diving into full-time entrepreneurship or planning a side hustle, this list of 70 small business ideas is for you.
Each idea below is practical and flexible, with proven potential for success.
Whether you start a clothing line, pet business, or wellness brand, put your spin on one of these businesses to unlock financial growth.
Qualities of a good small business idea
Your small business idea should fit your budget, skills, and schedule. It should also meet a market need and have the potential to generate sustainable, long-term profit.
Here’s a closer look at what makes a strong small business idea:
Meets market demand
Good small business ideas solve problems for specific groups of people. Before moving forward with an idea, research your target market, customer needs, and competitors’ solutions. Study your industry’s market trends, customer surveys, and sales data to see what consumers and businesses are doing.
Conveys a competitive advantage
How you meet market demand also matters. Competitive businesses often have original approaches that set them apart. This could be a new product, a unique selling proposition, or a competitive pricing strategy. Analyze your competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and develop a business plan that capitalizes on any gaps.
Is scalable
Scalability is about the potential for growth and expansion. Can your business idea grow without hitting geographical, financial, or market limits? Many scalable businesses leverage ecommerce platforms to reach global audiences without a physical investment.
Has a low barrier to entry
Businesses are easier to start with lower initial costs, fewer regulatory requirements, less need for specialized training, and minimal technology needs. For example, business ideas like creating freelance content or opening a dropshipping store require minimal setup and no upfront capital.
Demonstrates potential for profitability
Ultimately, a small business idea needs to make money. Estimate potential profits and build a financial model based on predicted sales and operational costs.
Is sustainable
A sustainable business is one with the potential for long-term success. Will your small business be part of a growing industry or a trend that’s already peaked? Will your operations align with environmental, social, and regulatory expectations? Consider the future before launching a new business.
Online business ideas
With a laptop and some free time, you can try these online business models and careers.
- Affiliate marketer
- Digital freelancer
- Content creator
- Influencer
- Social media management consultant
- Dropshipping store owner
- Résumé writer
- Virtual assistant
- Digital designer
- Online dating consultant
1. Affiliate marketer
Affiliate marketing is a performance marketing tactic where a business pays people to promote products. Every time an affiliate brings in a new customer, they receive a commission.
Affiliates can promote products on their blogs, social media accounts, or websites, or in their communities. For many, affiliate marketing is a low-cost way to earn passive income.
To join an affiliate program:
- Find an affiliate program on sites like ShareASale, CJ, or LinkShare.
- Choose offers you want to promote.
- Get an affiliate link.
- Promote that link across your assets.
- Get a commission for every signup or purchase.
Commission rates vary by company and product. You could earn as little as 5% or as much as 50% for each sale. Some affiliate programs offer a flat rate instead of a percentage.
2. Digital freelancer
With a digital freelance business, your time is your inventory and your biggest investment. That makes it easy to get up and running if you have in-demand skills and spare hours.
If you have expertise in graphic design, search engine optimization, or web development, you could offer your skills as an ongoing service or start a consulting business that advises on projects. To start, create a website and promote your services on platforms like LinkedIn.
If you use Shopify, an appointment scheduling app from the Shopify App Store will let prospective clients book time with you directly from your website. And if you want to make passive income, consider offering a digital download on your site. For example, you might sell predesigned templates if you’re a graphic designer.
3. Content creator
Content creators share videos, stories, and content on social media to build audiences and make money. If your content is received positively, consider turning your social media presence into a business by partnering with brands or by making and selling merch.
4. Influencer
The ability to capture and keep attention is an asset businesses will pay top dollar for. You can become an influencer with a modest amount of followers if you have an engaged niche audience.
Whether you choose to grow your following on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or a blog (or, ideally, on a combination channels), you have many avenues for monetizing your influence:
- Sponsored posts on behalf of brands
- Affiliate marketing
- Exclusive content for members or subscribers
Taking an audience-first approach to your small business idea means playing the long game—it might be months until you’ve figured it out. But you don’t need millions of followers to get started.
5. Social media management consultant
If you’re social-media-savvy but don’t want to create content full-time, consider freelancing as a social media manager or consultant. A social media manager creates and analyzes content for brands’ social accounts.
Depending on the client’s needs, you might help create content, brainstorm content ideas, facilitate partnerships with social media influencers, create a social media content calendar, or formalize a social media strategy.
6. Dropshipping store owner
Dropshipping is one of the quickest and easiest businesses you can start without money. That’s because you don’t need to handle any products yourself—you only need to make the sales and pass orders on to your dropshipping supplier.
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar (The Ecom King on YouTube) recommends starting with five to 10 low-cost products, a Shopify website, and a TikTok account.
“I do believe the best opportunity right now in dropshipping is the TikTok Organic Method,” Kamil says on theShopify Masters podcast. “The profit margins are between 40% to 60%, and you just can’t argue with those numbers.”
With Shopify, it’s easy to start a dropshipping business. Sell popular products without the hassle of managing inventory, packaging, or shipping. Orders are sent directly to your customers, so you can work on what you do best—reaching your customers.
7. Résumé writer
Résumés are crucial to landing a new job, yet many people struggle to write them. If you excel at writing résumés, you can make a business out of it. Résumé writing and editing are usually performed more quickly than other freelance writing jobs, so it’s a good option for writers looking for a side hustle.
In addition to individual sessions, you can sell digital downloads, like a résumé template, job-hunting ebook, or prerecorded résumé writing course on your website. Try promoting your business on LinkedIn to connect with job seekers.
8. Virtual assistant
Virtual assistants help business owners manage tasks they don’t have time for. Unlike traditional personal assistants, virtual assistants don’t have to be in the same city (or even the same country) as their clients.
Virtual assistant services vary widely and can include social media work, graphic design, general admin, and sales. You can use virtual assistance to make extra income to fund your business idea or grow your virtual assistant business to hire others.
Get started as a virtual assistant by promoting yourself on freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Guru, and Fiverr, or join an agency like Time etc, Wing, or Fancy Hands.
9. Digital designer
You don’t need to sell physical products to make money as an artist online. You can sell digital products like printable bullet journal templates, sewing patterns, or music.
For example, Danish brand Deima Knitwear sells knitting patterns on its Shopify store. Deima also offers a limited number of ready-to-ship and made-to-order pieces to appeal to its audience of knitters and non-knitters alike.
Digital products include downloadable templates, journals, checklists, guides, and designs. It’s easy to experiment with different product types to see what sells—simply use a design tool like Canva to design your downloads, then sell them on a marketplace like Etsy or start an ecommerce store.
10. Online dating consultant
Consider yourself a matchmaker? Become an online dating consultant and help singles find love. Besides helping create online dating profiles, you can source potential matches and offer coaching through first dates. Try it out on willing friends first, then use their success stories to promote your services.
You can also generate passive income by creating an online dating course or workbook to sell on your website via Shopify’s Digital Downloads app.
Best small business ideas
With your existing skills and some ready-made online tools, launching a small business may be easier than you think. Here are some small businesses you can start today.
- T-shirt designer
- House- or pet-sitter
- Tutor
- Personal assistant
- Dog walker
- Airbnb host
- Pool host
- Backyard host
- Car rental provider
- Baker
- House cleaner
- Car washer
11. T-shirt designer
Websites and apps that offer print-on-demand services are perfect for small businesses. With them, you can sell custom products like t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and tote bags without worrying about manufacturing, shipping, or pre-paying for inventory.
Ready to get started? Build, run, and grow your t-shirt business with free training, intuitive tools, and dedicated support.
A print-on-demand company will produce and ship your t-shirts as orders come in; your role is creating original shirts and other items with branding and unique visuals.
“Print on demand gives you that option to be like, ‘You know what, I want to start a fashion brand, not have to pay for any stock, test these designs out, and see if they do well,’” entrepreneur Kamil Sattar says.
If there’s passion and pride within a community, a potential print-on-demand t-shirt business is waiting to be started.
If you’re not a designer yourself, hire one from freelancer sites like Fiverr, Upwork, Dribbble, or 99Designs. You can even use t-shirt mockup templates, so you won’t need to spend money on a photoshoot to model your designs.
12. House- or pet-sitter
House- and pet-sitting are businesses you can start with zero dollars, making them great business ideas for teens. Create an online store to market and sell your services, or register for an account on dedicated home and pet care apps, such as:
- HouseSitter.com: This website is for both house and pet sitting. You can create a profile and apply to postings. People who need house- or pet-sitting can browse sitters and reach out.
- Rover: Rover is a website and app specifically for pet-sitting. On it, you can create a profile and apply to gigs.
- Care.com: Care.com is a site where pet-sitters can create a profile and list their experience and apply to gigs. Care.com is a good site to use if you offer senior care, tutoring, housekeeping, or child-care services.
- TrustedHousesitters: TrustedHousesitters is a great place to start if you need experience or testimonials. The platform specifically prohibits paid gigs—instead, sitters get a free place to stay, and clients get free housesitting.
Consider that some pet sitters offer on-site services while others care for pets in their own homes.
13. Tutor
You might be great at math, playing the drums, or speaking French, so why not teach others?
Promote your tutoring services on local Facebook groups and in nearby schools to get the word out and build up your client base. If you’re planning to create courses for your students, start by watching this guide to making online courses.
14. Personal assistant
Becoming a personal assistant requires little upfront expenditure and lets you work with a range of businesses. You’ll essentially be helping business owners with admin tasks, like booking appointments, responding to emails, and taking meeting notes.
Start by networking with business owners on LinkedIn to build relationships and market your services. Create effective LinkedIn marketing strategies with these tips.
15. Dog walker
Dog walking is a fun and rewarding job with built-in exercise. Build a dog-walking business by checking your state laws to see what licensing and insurance you’ll need, then setting up a website to advertise. If you want to avoid administrative tasks, sign up with a platform like Rover that connects dog owners and dog walkers.
16. Airbnb host
You don’t need a fancy second home to become an Airbnb host—in fact, the accommodation platform originally started so homeowners could temporarily rent out spare rooms for extra cash. If you have the space (and the permission, if you don’t own) in your house, you can create an account with Airbnb and rent it out whenever it suits you.
Like the idea of running a rental business? Here are some other rental business ideas to consider.
17. Pool host
If your house has a pool, you don’t need to list it on Airbnb to make passive income. You can offer your pool by the hour or day on sites like Swimply.
You can also partner with freelance swim instructors who need a pool to teach from.
18. Backyard host
If you have a large, fenced backyard or plot of land, consider renting it to city-dwelling dog owners looking for a safe and private space for their dogs to play. Simply add a few photos and a description of your property on a platform like Sniffspot.
If you can add amenities like a dog agility course or splash pad, you may be able to charge more for your spot.
19. Car rental provider
If you own a car that you don’t drive every day, why not rent it out when you don’t need it? Platforms like Turo let car owners list their vehicles for rent by the hour or day—think of it as Airbnb for your vehicle.
You can rent out almost any type of car, but there are more monetization opportunities with specialty vehicles. If you have a classic car, you can rent it out for photoshoots or weddings. Consider reaching out to wedding planners and photographers to build ongoing partnerships.
If you have a camper van or RV, you can list it on RV-specific platforms like Outdoorsy, so others can enjoy it while you make money for your next trip.
20. Baker
Are you always called on to bake cakes and sweet treats for your friends and family? If the answer is yes, you can sell baked goods to locals in your community. In addition to baking cakes for birthdays and events, your bakery business plan could include selling baked goods to local cafés, or distributing them through an online store.
Brooklyn-based L’Appartment 4F started as a home bakery taking pickup orders through Instagram; today, it’s a brick-and-mortar bakery and restaurant.
21. House cleaner
If you’re a stickler for cleanliness, a cleaning business can be a fulfilling way to make money. Create flyers to stick through doors in your neighborhood, and advertise your services on local Facebook groups. If you do a good job, word of mouth can help you organically pick up customers.
With your clients’ permission, you can create short-form video content for TikTok and Instagram, where satisfying cleaning videos have the potential to go viral. As your business grows, you can hire staff, launch your website, and maybe even put your name on a line of white-label cleaning products you can sell via social commerce.
22. Car washer
Car washing has long been a source of fundraising for high schoolers, but it can work as a business for adults, too. If you have space outside your house or in a nearby yard, you can offer car-washing and valeting services to locals.
You can also partner with a local office building to provide car-washing services in their parking garage. Consider creating—with your clients’ permission—short-form videos for social media showing the satisfying transformation of the vehicles you clean.
Best businesses to start with little money
Short on cash and want to start a small business? Check out these cost-effective businesses you can start today.
23. Child-care provider
With rising demand for childcare and decreasing supply, the time is ripe for starting a business. If you enjoy caring for kids and can get the proper licenses, it could be a good business idea for you.
Day cares are a particularly good business idea for parents looking to make money from home. Start by researching local laws to ensure you can meet the requirements for starting a child-care business in your area.
24. Handyperson
Everyone has a go-to maintenance specialist in their family who’s always doing chores around the house: solving plumbing issues, installing tiles, clearing gutters, putting up fences. They’re the one friends and family call on for odd jobs. If this is you, why not get paid for your work?
The home repair and improvement industry sits at around $545 billion in market value.
25. Life coach
Life coaches help clients navigate personal and career changes. If you’re good at helping people make decisions, are a great communicator, and enjoy guiding others toward their dream lives, this could be a good business for you.
Start by researching local regulations to see if you need certification—which can increase your credibility whether it’s required or not. Then, start promoting your services on social media. Create a website so clients can book appointments with you. You can also sell courses and workbooks on your site.
26. Consultant
If you’re a specialist or have deep knowledge of a particular subject, you can monetize that by opening a consultancy. For example, if you have a strong HR background, you might consult for companies looking to improve their hiring practices; if you’re skilled at search engine optimization, you might open an SEO consultancy.
27. Newsletter author
Newsletters offer a direct line of communication to a prebuilt audience. If you have an online presence and knowledge to share, consider starting a newsletter business. There’s little you need to get started: just an email marketing provider and a way to generate subscribers. Then, you can make money selling sponsorships, products, or services directly through your newsletter. Alternatively, when the numbers are high enough, you can charge subscribers to receive your newsletter in a subscription-style model.
28. Bike mechanic
Love fixing bikes? Start a neighborhood business repairing and building bikes. Advertise your services in local Facebook groups, stick flyers around local shops, and create a simple website to spread the word.
At-home business ideas
Whether you’re interested in writing a book, creating digital courses, or managing social media for brands, there are numerous opportunities for home-based businesses.
- Self-published author
- Digital creator
- App developer
- Coffee seller
- Translator
- Travel adviser
- Website developer
- Data entry clerk
- Bookkeeper
29. Self-published author
Cookbooks, picture books, comic books, poetry books, photo books, coffee table books, and novels—if you have the knowledge or creativity, you can bring various original books to the market. The options are endless—that’s why it’s one of the best small business ideas to start.
Print-on-demand book services are a safe way to test the waters and get started with self-publishing. They also provide control over the quality and look of your book.
Lulu and Blurb are popular platforms for creating, ordering and distributing books as physical and digital products. You could also sell them on third-party marketplaces like Amazon.
While you can print one book at a time, costs naturally decrease when buying in bulk. Consider preselling or crowdfunding your book idea to ensure there’s demand and to guarantee a certain number of sales so you can bulk order. Publishing your own book can be a great way to monetize a blog.
30. Digital creator
Digital products like music, courses, podcasts, and templates are unique on this list of low-investment small business ideas. They don’t come with recurring manufacturing or shipping costs, so your margins can remain high.
The trick is figuring out what makes a good digital product and how much people will pay.
Some digital product ideas include original instrumental beats, stock photos that can be licensed to other creators, and information products and templates that help people level up their skill sets in a particular field.
If you have a talent that can be turned into a digital product, consider packaging it into a new income stream. Shopify’s free Digital Downloads app allows you to sell digital products as easily as physical products.
31. App developer
Creating a million-dollar app business takes work. In fact, 99.5% of consumer apps fail. Most apps need more product-market fit, require lots of marketing, and are costly to develop.
So, why include this business idea? Because consumer app development isn’t the only path for entrepreneurs. New B2B apps for the Shopify App Store are released daily, with a market of motivated businesses eager to find the necessary tools. You can generate a healthy profit by offering a simple solution to a common problem encountered by website designers or store owners.
32. Coffee seller
Selling coffee can be profitable with a strong brand and the right marketing plan. Sure, coffee has a lot of competition, but this multibillion-dollar industry has many benefits:
- There is a high volume of customers.
- Customers typically associate small brands with higher quality than corporate brands.
- There are many positioning opportunities.
Because coffee is widely available, it’s relatively easy to sell. People already want coffee—you only need to make them want your coffee. Los Angeles–based Canyon Coffee achieved popularity on Instagram by sharing its founders’ relaxed California lifestyle.
33. Translator
Are you fluent in another language? If the answer is yes, you have an in-demand skill. Translators can translate everything from website copy to in-person conversations.
Consider specializing in a specific form of translation, such as medical journals or finance publications. Then, create a website or flyers to advertise your services.
34. Travel adviser
If you enjoy planning trips for friends and family, why not turn your passion into a business? Social media marketing makes connecting with travelers who can benefit from your niche expertise easier than ever. As a self-employed travel adviser, you might specialize in:
- A specific country or region, especially if you speak the language
- A particular interest like food, hiking, or theme parks
- Booking flights and hotels with credit card points
- Group travel, such as organizing family reunions or bachelorette weekends
For example, Mexico in My Pocket sells a 60-minute travel consultation on its Shopify site along with the option to create a full itinerary for trips to Guanajuato, Mérida, Mexico City, Oaxaca, and more.
35. Website developer
The growing digital landscape calls for more coders (a.k.a. developers) to build websites and apps.
Online courses will teach you the basics, but practice is the best way to improve your coding skills. Build a website to showcase your skills, reach out to brands you’d like to work with, and create a portfolio of websites and apps.
Grow your business by focusing on a particular niche, such as building Shopify stores for ecommerce entrepreneurs.
36. Data entry clerk
Every business uses data, and data entry clerks play an important role in collecting, storing, and managing vast quantities of information. If you love spreadsheets or are adept at systems and process setup, this could be the business for you. Start by contacting local businesses to offer your services and promote them on social media to reach a broader range of potential clients.
37. Bookkeeper
Good with numbers? Why not start a bookkeeping business? You’ll monitor and record small business accounts each month to ensure your clients are on top of their finances.
You might need a relevant degree or certification before you start, but once you set up your business, you can work with clients from the comfort of your home. You can even generate passive income by selling financial literacy worksheets, courses, or ebooks.
Unique small business ideas
Want to innovate, impact people’s lives, or change the game in a particular market? Check out these unique small business ideas.
- Socially responsible business owner
- Pet business owner
- Membership program founder
- Virtual event planner
- Landscaper
- Vending machine owner
- Personal trainer
- Personal chef
- Meal prep specialist
- Mover
- Voiceover artist
- Tour guide
- Master class host
- Professional organizer
- Personal shopper
38. Socially responsible business owner
Starting a nonprofit organization isn’t the only path to funding a better world.
Mission-driven businesses that set aside some profit for a cause offer social entrepreneurs unique company positioning while addressing the issues they care about most.
While many social enterprises sell original products, you can take any low-cost small business ideas here and partner with a nonprofit. You can also execute that social good yourself, as long as you’re transparent about how it works.
The Give & Grow Donations Shopify app makes it easy to partner with charitable organizations and incorporate your mission into your business. You can set it up to donate a specific amount or a percentage of sales, or to ask your customers to add a donation at checkout.
39. Pet business owner
The pet industry is worth more than $300 billion and is ripe with opportunities. Your pet business could be product- or service-based—selling accessories, food, or toys, or offering grooming, walking, or training expertise.
Perkie Prints makes personalized printed pet products—everything from apparel to framed prints, plus fun projects. On the service side, Let the Dog Out offers dog walking and “bathroom breaks” to its customers.
40. Membership program founder
Online memberships are ideal for entrepreneurs with an established, active, and engaged community. In a subscription-based business, customers make recurring payments in exchange for a virtual product or service.
Memberships are great for managing members-only access to website content and even for physical businesses offering guided sessions online. Yoga studios, gyms, clubs, and art schools are a few examples that can take advantage of this business model.
It’s easy to start your membership-based business with Shopify. Set up a membership product as you would a physical product, creating a name and description that tells people about your membership services.
41. Virtual event planner
Virtual event planning can be profitable if you enjoy organizing. The significant rise in business events and the adoption of virtual tools for conducting meetings will keep this market growth high. As a virtual event planner, you’ll be responsible for creating virtual conferences, networking opportunities, and educational sessions.
42. Landscaper
Love nature and outdoor design? A landscaping business could be an option. Landscaping, also referred to as lawn care, means modifying and maintaining the visible features of an area of land. You’re responsible for creating beauty from living elements like flowers, grass, and trees.
There’s growing interest in landscape maintenance among younger households, with seasonal demand making landscaping a potential summer business idea. Competition in the market is moderate. You’ll face a few leading landscaping companies, like TruGreen, as well as smaller local service providers.
43. Vending machine owner
Here’s a unique business idea: vending machines. Yes, there’s money to be made with vending machines. Though the industry took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, projections indicate vending machines are bouncing back.
Offer the right products at the right location to make your vending business a success. Do your research to find high-traffic areas and learn who is walking by and what they need at that moment. Consider airport vending machines. You’ll find the expected ones with snacks and drinks, but there are also machines with makeup and accessories like phone chargers and headphones. With a strategic approach, vending machines can be profitable with a small initial investment.
44. Personal trainer
If you enjoy going to the gym and staying active, consider a personal training business. You’ll need a qualification to get started, but once that’s in place you can build up a roster of clients who regularly come to work out with you.
Take it further, offering personalized training plans, nutrition advice, and exercise mentoring for additional income. You can advertise your business on local Facebook groups, create flyers to stick around the neighborhood, or build a website to attract remote clients that you can train via video calls.
45. Personal chef
If you love cooking and often host dinner parties for friends and family, a personal chef business might be for you. Start small by cooking meals for your neighbors, then expand to include downloadable menus and personalized multicourse meal plans. It can help to specialize in a specific cuisine or style of cooking to build up your name.
46. Meal prep specialist
Meal prepping is all the rage—just take a look at the success of meal subscription boxes like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron.
Tackle customers’ pain point by offering a meal prep service where you batch-cook food for the week and deliver it to your clients. You can even enhance segments of your meal prep by offering related items, like condiments. Promote your business locally and hand deliver meals, or advertise online to a wider audience and send meal boxes by mail or courier.
47. Mover
If you have a truck and enjoy physical labor, consider opening a moving company. Make sure you get the correct permits and insurance to start and then build up a name by sending out flyers, advertising on local Facebook groups, and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals.
48. Voiceover artist
Got a voice smoother than Morgan Freeman’s? Become a voiceover artist and narrate television advertisements and online videos. Set up a website to advertise your services and sign up for voiceover directories to connect with potential clients.
49. Tour guide
Becoming a tour guide can be a fun way to show people around your city, especially if you’re knowledgeable about local history. Consider differentiating your business from others by focusing on a specific activity, like food, music, or culture. Advertise your services online and create flyers to distribute in well-known tourist spots.
50. Master class host
While tutoring often happens in person, you can share your subject expertise online by teaching master classes. Decide what skill or activity you’ll teach—from accounting to wine tasting, there are many options—and advertise your services on your website or through local Facebook groups.
51. Professional organizer
If you’re the “organized one” in your group, consider becoming a professional organizer who helps declutter and restore order to homes. This job is geared toward a local client base, so rely on local Facebook groups, flyers, and word-of-mouth referrals; you can also increase your revenue with organizational videos and paid downloadables.
52. Personal shopper
Personal shoppers help their clients find clothes, furniture, or jewelry. If you have a good eye for fashion or interior design, this can be a rewarding way to make money. Start by choosing what kind of personal shopper you’d like to be and then advertise your services locally via Facebook or flyers.
Creative small business ideas
Start an exciting business that explores your creativity and self-expression with these ideas.
- Poster and card illustrator
- Online boutique owner
- Craftsperson
- Photographer
- Beauty entrepreneur
- Phone accessories seller
- Subscription box provider
- Alterations specialist
- Makeup artist
- Furniture restorer
- Massage therapist
53. Poster and card illustrator
If you already have an engaged online following—say you’re a cartoonist or an urban photographer—you’re in an especially good position to sell your art online.
Depending on the printer you work with, you can turn your work into products such as posters, framed wall art, or even greeting cards. There are plenty of low-cost digital templates and mockup generators like Placeit that you can use to showcase your products without printing them or conducting photoshoots.
54. Online boutique owner
If you love fashion and sharing your sense of style, consider creating an online fashion boutique. You don’t need to become a fashion designer—you can curate items from other vendors for your store using the dropshipping model.
Build your fashion business using product-sourcing apps like MyOnlineFashionStore. As you grow, turn your brand into a trendsetter.
55. Craftsperson
If you’re a maker, you’re in a position to find a small business idea, because product development and procurement are literally in your hands. You can also decide how much time you want to spend on your business, making it a good option for crafty kidpreneurs.
“I was 16 when I started. When I was in high school, balancing everything was pretty easy,” says Designed by Lei founder LeiLei Secor, who turned her jewelry hobby into a small business. “When I got to college, I treated it as if it were any other part-time job or work study. I set aside a few hours each week to fulfill orders.”
You will need to consider shipping and inventory management, but you can start out simple on a per-order basis or with a small batch until you generate consistent sales.
In fact, many makers on Shopify started with a home business idea, selling on Etsy or eBay, and growing into full-time small business owners after establishing demand for their products.
Just be mindful of any regulations in your product category, especially for anything customers eat, inhale, or put on their skin.
56. Photographer
Got a passion for photography? Turn your hobby into a full-time online photography business. Today’s market is bigger than weddings and corporate ad campaigns. You can easily set up a store and sell prints, posters, NFTs, and more. Or you can sell your photos on stock photography sites.
57. Beauty entrepreneur
The beauty industry really pulled through the pandemic, and its momentum continues. Businesses that sell online with unique positioning and enhanced delivery services will keep winning.
Some product ideas with high demand are:
- Personal care products like hand soap and sanitizer
- At-home spa rituals like face masks
- Beauty technology like massage guns, smart mirrors, and makeup refrigerators
Consider launching a makeup brand or a hair-care line and targeting a specific audience segment, like curly-haired women, or teenagers.
58. Phone accessories seller
Because so many people own mobile phones, there’s a huge market for phone accessories, which you can adapt to a particular niche to print on demand, make by hand, or sell via a dropshipping model.
Some phone accessories you could sell include:
- Phone cases
- Car and desk holders
- Tripods
- Charms
- Earbuds/headphones
- Bluetooth speakers
- Portable chargers
- Wireless chargers
When listing your phone accessories for sale, remember to include which devices they’re compatible with. You don’t want to create an avoidable negative experience for customers who receive an item they can’t even use.
59. Subscription box provider
If you’re not interested in creating products, you can curate them. One of the best small business ideas is to sell subscription boxes with curated products that follow a certain theme.
You can create a subscription box for almost every niche out there. For example, featuring merchants and makers in your community is one of the best local business ideas for subscription boxes. You can also go for themes like yoga, beer brewing, or pets.
Like memberships, subscriptions are good business ideas to start because they create a recurring revenue stream. Clients have to proactively cancel their subscription if they don’t want to continue paying for it.
Subscriptions also lend themselves to collaboration. When you curate products from different merchants, you can get in front of their audiences—a whole group of potential new subscribers.
60. Alterations specialist
People will always need tailoring and alterations. If you’re good with a sewing machine, you could be the person to do them. Start small by offering to hem or mend your neighbors’ clothes and, as you grow, add services like dressmaking.
61. Makeup artist
If you love makeup and enjoy making others look good, start a business as a makeup artist. You can offer your services for weddings, photoshoots, or special occasions and decide whether you want to work with locals or are willing to travel to build your client base. In addition to advertising on local Facebook groups, create a website and flyers where clients can learn about your offerings.
62. Furniture restorer
Furniture upcycling gained huge momentum during the pandemic, as many people upgraded their living space. If you enjoy refurbishing a well-loved piece of furniture, why not open a furniture restoration or upcycling business? You can buy items from local charity shops or reclamation centers to fix and sell, or you can offer to upcycle existing furniture.
63. Massage therapist
Trained massage therapists are always in high demand. There are three ways you can operate your massage business:
- Visit client homes to provide massages.
- Open a salon where clients can come to you.
- Work on a contract basis for a chiropractor, salon, or acupuncturist.
You’ll need a qualification to get started, but once you’re all set up you can expand your list of services to include other beauty and relaxation treatments.
Physical small business ideas
These business ideas may appeal to those who enjoy face-to-face interactions as they require a personal touch and physical presence to succeed.
64. Bed and breakfast
Opening a B&B isn’t a small feat, but if you’ve dreamed of creating a cozy place for travelers to stay, it could be the business idea for you. You’ll need a big enough space to get started, but after that, you can decide how to theme your B&B, what packages to offer, and how to create a welcoming experience that keeps guests coming back.
You can start a B&B solo, but it’s also a great family business idea, especially if you live in or near your B&B.
65. Delicatessen
If you specialize in a specific type of food (or simply love a specific product), consider opening a dedicated food store. Whether it’s cheese, wine, craft beers, or olive oil, you can create a commercial hub for like-minded customers to share your passion. You can use your store to host relevant events, like wine tasting or cheesemaking, for extra income.
66. Food truck
Food trucks cost less upfront than restaurants. Set yourself up for success by narrowing your offerings to a specific cuisine or food type—remember, you have limited space in a food truck.
If you can’t buy a truck upfront, you can always lease one from a company like the Food Truck Group to get you on your feet. If you’re successful, you can open a restaurant later, like The Cheese Bar did.
67. Coffee shop
Turn your love of coffee into a physical coffee shop. Choose to invest in a franchise or start a café from scratch. Once you’re set up, you can differentiate your business by running in-house events, offering special deals, and turning it into a valuable community hub.
68. Stationery store
If you’re passionate about snail mail or crafting, consider selling your favorite products. Stationery is lightweight and small, which means you don’t need a huge space to open a store. (Stationery store Paper Plant Co. shares a tiny storefront in Chinatown, Los Angeles, with a coffee shop. The two businesses can have a maximum of five shoppers in-store at a time!)
You can start by selling products online before investing profits from your digital store into a physical location. For example, Nico Neco Zakkaya started as an online boutique selling hard-to-find Japanese stationery and craft supplies from its Shopify store, eventually opening a brick-and-mortar shop in New York City’s Lower East Side. Nico Neco Zakkaya uses short-form video to promote its online shop and physical location on social media. Its feed offers a mix of “pack an order with me” and “open the shop with me” content, creating a sense of community for online and in-person shoppers.
69. Vintage store
In 2023, the used clothing market in the US reached $43 billion, up from about $23 billion in 2018, according to a report from ThredUp. Consumers are increasingly drawn to secondhand shopping as a way to reduce their impact on the environment, save money, and express their unique styles.
Rather than trying to sell every secondhand product under the sun, find a niche that speaks to your interests. For example, you might sell used children’s clothing and toys, estate jewelry, or Y2K womenswear. Happy Isles sells vintage wedding dresses from its Los Angeles and New York showrooms along with accessories on its Shopify store.
70. Dog groomer
If you love dogs, you may want to open a dog grooming business. You need little capital to start grooming dogs in their own homes—later, you can upgrade to a mobile dog-grooming station and eventually a brick-and-mortar location.
People love looking at dog pictures and videos on social media, so you can promote your work by sharing before-and-afters of your canine clients. Dog grooming also offers the opportunity to sell physical and digital products, like dog shampoo and brushes or online courses on maintaining a dog’s coat between visits.
How to start a small business
To start a small business, you need a plan as well as a dream. To put the wheels in motion, follow these steps:
- Use the time you have available: It’s good to have a balance of ambition and realism with your business aspirations.
- Identify a new business idea: This could come from your personal interests, a market opportunity, an experience—anywhere, really.
- Validate your business idea: This is where you identify if your idea is viable or not. Are people willing to spend money on this?
- Find a business name: A strong name should be short and simple, memorable, and original. If you need help, use a business name generator.
- Make a plan: Your business plan is critical for keeping your business on track, as well as securing partners, investors, lenders, and more.
- Understand business finances: Open your business bank accounts, secure funding, and set up strong bookkeeping and accounting processes. It might be a good idea to build out your goals in a business plan template to help secure funding.
- Develop your product or service: The fun part! This is where you bring your product or service idea to life.
- Pick a business structure: Your business structure influences taxes, operations, personal liability, and more. Choosing the right business structure is about balancing the legal and financial protections you need with the flexibility offered by different options.
- Research licenses and regulations: Your business is subject to the laws governing businesses in your area, as well as laws and regulations specific to your industry. It’s important to understand this to avoid bigger problems down the road.
- Select your software systems: Accounting, email, ads, project management—you need an entire tech stack to run your business.
- Find a business location: Identify where you can open up a shop based on space, retail needs, and fulfillment needs.
- Plan workload and team size: If you plan to do all of the work yourself, you’re limited by the time you have available to invest. If you plan on hiring help, you’ll need to account for those costs—as well as the time involved in finding and onboarding freelancers or employees.
- Launch your business: Leverage your network, build buzz with promotions, and test paid ads to get word out about your newly launched business.
Generating small business ideas
There are many ways to come up with profitable business ideas of your own. You or someone you know might have a poor personal experience with a company—and you know you can do better.
Or, maybe there’s a gap in the market: for example, demand for a specific product but no one meeting it. Other ideas come from everyday moments, in the shower or right before you fall asleep.
Brainstorming business ideas
If you’re feeling stuck on good business ideas, keep a brainstorming board. Whether tactile or digital, create a place to put down your ideas whenever they come to mind. Then, revisit your notes with fresh eyes.
There’s power in numbers, too. Recruit help from colleagues or friends and family to brainstorm new ideas. Survey your existing customer base or audiences and get their ideas. Look at what people are saying on social media or searching for online. Start with lots of ideas and then refine your list to the top ideas to explore further.
Protecting small business ideas
Most business owners have a few options when it comes to legal protection of their small business ideas, both now and in the future. The right one depends largely on the types of businesses you’re talking about.
- Copyright: Copyrighting protects your intellectual property, meaning others can’t use it without your permission. This applies to text, art, photography, music, graphic design, and similar mediums.
- Trademark:Trademarking is another intellectual property protection. Essentially, you “own” a word, phrase, logo, symbol, or design—preventing others from using it.
- Patent:Patents are applicable for inventions—a patent prohibits anyone else from making, selling, or using your invention in their business for a period of time.
- Confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs): These legal documents prohibit people from sharing information, as outlined in the NDA.
- Noncompete agreement: If you hire employees or contractors, you can have them sign this document, which prevents them from working with direct competitors.
- Work-for-hire agreement: Another document—this one is only for employees—that means any work they do during their term of employment belongs to the employer, not the individual.
Funding a business idea
One of the toughest but most important parts of starting a business is finding the money to get your idea off the ground. There are a few ways to get funding for your business idea.
- Small business loans: Shopify Capital offers funding for eligible merchants, who can apply to receive between up to $5 million in capital to grow their business.
- Investors: Lots of investors look for the next big thing—the types of businesses that go viral. Craft a pitch for your business idea to present to investors.
- Crowdfunding:Crowdfunding is similar to getting investors, except you need lots of investors who are each willing to make a small financial commitment.
- Fund it yourself: It’s not realistic for everyone, but less expensive business ideas make it easier to come up with the cash yourself. Just be aware of the risks involved.
Got your business idea?
Thanks to the latest commerce tools, it’s easier than ever to build a successful business and start making sales without getting caught up in sourcing products, renting space, or managing inventory.
The small business ideas above can be implemented directly, morphed into an original idea, or even combined to start a business that’s uniquely yours. The world of self-employment can be challenging, but with a little hard work and know-how, you can work toward building a lifelong business.
From first-time sellers to global retailers, Shopify works for everyone. See plans and pricing.
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Small business ideas FAQ
What are the most successful small business ideas?
The most successful small business ideas combine business owners’ skills and passions with simple, practical customer solutions. For example, ecommerce store owners and food truck operators make it easy for customers to access desirable products. Likewise, online courses increase access to education. Pet businesses and personal wellness services can also flourish by serving consumer lifestyle trends.
What are the top 10 small businesses to start?
Starting a business that aligns with online consumer trends can lead to success. Consider these top contenders:
- Dropshipping popular products
- Offering print-on-demand apparel
- Selling digital products like ebooks or courses
- Blogging on niche subjects
- Offering freelance services such as graphic design or writing
- Crafting homemade products to sell online
- Creating content for podcasts or YouTube
- Becoming an affiliate marketer
- Providing pet-sitting services or selling pet products
- Operating an online clothing store
What is the easiest small business to start?
Online businesses are accessible for new entrepreneurs due to low overhead costs and the ability to reach a broad audience quickly. Examples of online business models include dropshipping, selling digital products, or providing freelance services. Other benefits of online businesses include minimal physical inventory needs, flexible work locations, and scalable marketing strategies.
What’s a good first small business to start?
A good first small business matches your skills and interests with a low initial investment. For instance, launching a freelance graphic design service could be ideal if you have graphic design skills. Look for business ideas you can start from home with accessible, inexpensive equipment such as software. This allows you to keep costs low while you build a client base.
How do I create a unique small business?
To create a unique small business, identify a niche with an unmet consumer need. This could be an area you’re passionate about or have experience in. Offer distinctive products or services that stand out by providing novel solutions or through unique branding that resonates with your target audience. For instance, if you’re a vegan baker who regularly shares recipes and notices your community lacks a vegan bakery, this could be a unique small business idea.
What small business services are in high demand?
Demand continues for services that support businesses’ digital marketing and online activities. These include:
- Freelance writing and content creation
- Specialized consulting in marketing and SEO
- Web development services
- Translation and localization services
- Accounting and financial advisory
