Online Business Ideas

Online business ideas you can start quickly

Whether you want to become a full-time entrepreneur or start a part-time online business to generate side income, your product or service should fulfill a specific consumer need. We’ve compiled a list of potentially profitable online businesses that have minimal startup costs and are easy to get up and running quickly.

1. Small business consulting Consultants advise businesses and individuals on various issues and business aspects. An online consultancy offers a limitless client reach, and you can get started quickly and easily. In particular, small business consultants use their skills to help new business owners avoid typical startup mistakes and help experienced entrepreneurs grow their businesses and overcome obstacles. Your chances of success as a small business consultant are greater if you focus your strategy on a niche aspect of business consulting.

2. SEO consulting If you know the ins and outs of search engines and have technical skills in platforms such as Google Analytics, becoming a search engine optimization (SEO) consultant may be a lucrative option. Many small business owners don’t realize how much of an impact SEO can have on their business. Start your online SEO consulting business by educating clients on the power of SEO to help transform their websites and increase conversion rates. Then, use your marketing skills to show business owners the benefits of analytics data, strategic keywords and content structure to gain more organic web traffic.

3. Social media consulting Social media consultants are in top demand as social media for business becomes more crucial. Larger enterprises can hire an agency or a full-time staff member to run their social media accounts, but small businesses must often handle their social media marketing. As a social media consultant, you can help small businesses devise tactics, create content calendars and develop an overall content strategy to reach their target audience. As their follower counts grow, so will your business. 

4. Niche market e-commerce retail There’s an audience for everything, even if it’s as specific as dollhouse furniture or organic dog food. With a niche e-commerce site, you can reach customers seeking your specific products. Finding a business niche can help you differentiate yourself from other brands and build credibility and expertise. Look to social media and evaluate consumer needs to develop a product to sell in your online store. To get your e-commerce business up and running, you need a web hosting service with an integrated shopping cart feature or e-commerce software. To simplify the shipping process, you can work with vendors to ship products to customers on your behalf. This can reduce the amount of inventory you need to keep on-site.

5. Web design or web development business If you’re a creative digital professional who thrives on forming a website’s layout, visual theme, font set and color palette, freelance website design may be a good path for you. If you have little or no experience in this field, you can learn the basics of web design and master the tools you’ll need for success. If you’re more interested in the coding side of building effective websites, freelance web development might be in your wheelhouse. If you know HTML, CSS or JavaScript and have a good eye for solving problems with creative solutions, you can launch a service to build attractive, easy-to-use websites for small businesses. If you need to learn the basics of web development before launching your full-stack career, take a beginner’s course to get started. Put your technical and creative skills to good use for business owners who want to take their online presence to the next level. Build a comprehensive portfolio and create your own website to show it off and attract a steady stream of clients. 

6. Online blogging If you love writing or have helpful information to share, blogging may be a profitable business. Starting a business blog is straightforward with website builders such as Weebly and WordPress. However, consistency and quality are key to success. To gain a steady following, you must continually write and produce high-quality content that provides value to your readers. Content that educates, informs or entertains your readers gives them a reason to follow you. Once you’ve mastered consistent content creation, you can make money through your blog by selling products such as online courses, digital coaching, e-books or webinars. You can also sell ad space or sponsored posts. This business strategy may take a little more time and effort to monetize, but it can be very profitable. 

7. Virtual assisting Do you have impeccable organizational skills and task management abilities? Maybe it’s time to put those skills to good use by becoming a virtual assistant (VA). VA services typically involve basic administrative tasks, like entering data, making travel arrangements and answering phone calls. Previous experience in this field is ideal but not required. Platforms such as TaskRabbit and Zirtual make it easy for VA professionals to find jobs. These sites allow you to create an online profile, sign up for tasks you want to complete such as data research, virtual assistance or basic errands  and begin building clientele.

8. Social media influencing Social media influencer marketing has become a popular and profitable career path. This line of work involves marketing the products and services of different brands to your audience and earning money from such sponsorships. If you have a niche following on social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok, you can work with brands in your demographic and earn money via sponsored posts, brand partnerships, monetization programs, affiliate marketing and more. 

9. Voiceover business A voiceover business provides voice recordings to clients or companies for educational videos, audiobooks, advertisements and other projects. You can offer voiceover services online to various clients until your business is profitable and well known in its space.

10. Online bakery If you have the talent and passion, consider baking treats in the comfort of your own kitchen and selling them online. Create a digital store, start marketing your baked goods to potential customers, and ship the treats yourself. It helps to choose a niche that will set your bakery apart from others. For example, consider offering dairy-free or gluten-free options, or perhaps make your desserts into personalized designs for customers.

11. Email marketing Email marketing has long been an effective marketing tactic, and many businesses outsource their needs to agencies. By starting your own email marketing agency, you can sell your services to multiple clients and spend your days developing email marketing strategies and drafting impactful email copy.

12. Self-publishing Today, self-publishing is easier than ever. If you have the talent and passion for writing, you can begin self-publishing your work on platforms such as Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and earn a decent profit. Consider whether you want to write fiction, self-help, educational e-books or other books; choosing a niche will help your audience recognize and anticipate your work. It might take some time to get started, and your first book or two might not gain immediate traction. However, if you stick with it, you can turn this endeavor into a full-time gig.