40 Best Startup Business Ideas: Find the Right Option for You

Have you been thinking about the best business to start with only a little money? There’s good news: low-cost money-making business ideas are everywhere. And starting a successful small business today is a lot easier than most people think.

So if you’ve been wondering how to start a business with limited funds, we have answers for you. Read on to discover some of the best business ideas if you’re long on ambition but short on cash.

Why Start a Business?

Being a small business owner offers many benefits. Maybe you’re looking for the flexibility to set your own schedule or work from wherever you want. Or maybe you just want to make some extra money from a side hustle. No matter the reason you’re drawn to it, there are several advantages:

• Flexible Work Environment: Starting a business gives you the power to choose how, when and where you work. A home business is often the most appealing for those looking to start a business with low overhead costs while building a customer base. And thanks to the array of digital tools and eCommerce opportunities available, it’s easier than ever to make it a reality.
• Additional Income: Many successful startups begin as a side hustle. Starting small without having to quit your day job provides a financial safety net, and your new business can simply scale in line with the time you’re able to commit.
• Entrepreneurial Experience: There’s nothing like starting your own business to test your creativity alongside your marketing plan. You’ll constantly learn and adapt as you pivot to solve problems, make decisions and explore new opportunities.

Starting your own business is about embracing the freedom to craft your future. The possibilities are endless. That’s why it’s essential to be well-prepared and make sure you’re set up for success from the start.

How To Choose From the Top Business Startup Ideas

Choosing the right business is critical, so it’s essential to carefully evaluate your skills, goals and available resources. Once you have a solid understanding of what will work for you, it’s much easier to settle on a business idea that aligns with your vision and lifestyle.

Assess Your Skills and Background

Choosing a business based on your existing skill set reduces your learning curve, making it easier to navigate challenges with confidence. Start by reflecting on your professional background and what you’ve learned from past jobs.

If you have any certifications or professional licenses, you’ll likely want to leverage those. Don’t discount ‘soft skills’ like communication and customer service, and any specialized training or expertise you have in areas like social media, market research or digital marketing. Here are a few examples of how business ideas may evolve:

• If you’re currently working as a designer, starting your own graphic design business may be a natural step.
• If you’re passionate about nutrition and have a certification in personal training, you could offer remote fitness coaching or develop an online education course around wellness.
• If you’ve got content marketing experience, you might be drawn to offering search engine optimization (SEO) or copywriting services.

Playing to your unique strengths from the get-go is usually the best way to minimize startup friction and hit the ground running.

Clarify Your Business Goals

Before jumping in, it’s helpful to reflect on what success looks like for you. Are you looking to replace your full-time income? Add supplemental income? Test out a side project?

Think about your lifestyle goals and how much time you can realistically invest. Also consider the logistics of your new venture. Ask yourself questions like:

• Do I want to operate from my own space or run a client-facing business?
• How many clients can I realistically manage?
• How much time per week can I commit?
• Do I want a flexible schedule, or am I better off sticking to more structured work hours?

Defining these factors will allow you to narrow down your choices. For instance, if flexibility is a priority, an online or consulting business may be the best fit. Conversely, if community is a deciding factor, in-person services may be a better option.

Consider Startup Costs and Scalability

While some businesses require minimal investment, others demand a higher buy-in to get started with the basic equipment. Here’s a quick estimate of startup costs by type/industry:

• Under $1500: Online businesses like drop-shipping, SEO consultancy, social media management, etc.
• $1500-$5000: In-person businesses requiring more travel, tools and equipment.
• Over $5000: Physical stores (whether brick-and-mortar or mobile) that require inventory and come with overhead costs.

It’s important to plan accurately so you can scalewithout overextending your budget. To begin, consider the “start small, grow fast” strategy, which involves testing your idea with minimal investment and expanding as revenue grows.

Match the Business to Market Demand

You’ll need to conduct a thorough market analysis to evaluate whether there is room for your product or service. Global, local and seasonal demand may influence your decisions. For example:

• A new SEO business has a global reach, meaning it doesn’t matter where you’re based. However, you’ll need a reliable internet connection and a solid online presence to reach your target audience.
• A dog walking service may be a great fit in suburban areas with lots of pet owners but may not work so well in rural areas where long drives between potential customers cut into your profits.
• A boat cleaning business may thrive near coastal regions during peak seasons, but you may need to prepare for an offseason with limited or zero income.

Think carefully about the needs in your area or industry, and always be realistic about whether the market is already oversaturated.

Decide Between In-Person or Online Delivery

Both options have pros and cons, so it comes down to personal preference, lifestyle compatibility and available infrastructure. Ask yourself whether you’d prefer to be more hands-on and locally relevant or enjoy the freedom of online delivery.

• Online businesses offer location independence, flexibility and lower overhead costs, but require strong digital marketing strategies to drive traffic and attract new customers.
• In-person services can be highly rewarding and tend to offer more predictable demand. However, they typically involve more travel and equipment expenses.

Struggling to decide? You can also consider a hybrid model where you offer online services and deliver in-person consultations or workshops, or sell online but fulfill from home.

Validate Your Idea Before You Launch

There’s no point wasting time or money on a business plan that won’t work. Here are some effective ways to test your concept before fully committing:

• Talk to potential customers: Ask people in your target audience what their pain points are and whether your business can offer a solution.
• Research competitors to understand positioning and pricing: Check out what other businesses are offering and assess their strengths, weaknesses and pricing strategies to see where you could gain a competitive advantage.
• Create a minimum viable product (MVP): Develop a simple version of your product or service to test customer interest. This could be a simple landing page outlining what you plan to offer or a basic version of your service to gauge response.
• Offer a free version of the service to get early feedback: This strategy allows you to assess satisfaction and start building a customer base without requiring a significant commitment from potential clients.
• Explore crowdfunding options: Platforms like Indiegogo or Kickstarter are a great way to establish whether people are willing to pay for your product or service before you fully launch.
• Lean into social media platforms: Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn to test your idea with specific demographics. You could even run a small ad campaign to gauge early interest.

The primary goal is to avoid mistakes, build confidence and increase your chances of success. So, try not to focus too much on perfection during the validation phase, and never think of it as a pass/fail test. Since many of the best startup business concepts require minimal financial investment to get started, you’ll have little to lose but much to gain.

40 Great Startup Business Ideas

This definitive list of startup ideas spans a range of industries and investment levels. We’ve divided them into categories to help you navigate according to your preferences and find the best startup business for you.

Digital Products and Online Services

The online world offers endless opportunities. Here’s a selection of the best startup business ideas if your goal is to tap into the digital space.

1. Drop-Shipping

Drop-shipping is all the rage these days, and it’s easy to see why: you can run an online store without having to deal with buying and storing inventory or packaging and shipping your products. Instead, you partner with a drop-shipper who takes care of these tasks for you, so you can focus on making sales. You can even create your own products by partnering with a manufacturer that has drop-shipping capabilities.

2. Print on Demand

If you’re creative, you can use print-on-demand services to sell your custom designs and artwork on just about anything you can think of, like a mug or t-shirt. By working with a print-on-demand service, you can focus on creating your designs and selling them through your own website. The print-on-demand company will produce your custom products and take care of the shipping and handling.

3. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products or services. This is an excellent way to earn money without creating your own products, especially if you already have an audience, and are familiar with content creation and the concept of leveraging social media pages to share business news and affiliate links.

4. Sell an E-Book

If you’re an expert in a specific field, writing and selling an e-book can be a great way to generate passive income. Sure, the initial work can be time-consuming, but the income potential is significant. It’s a low-cost way to get started and offers the potential to reach a global audience, especially if you sell on marketplace sites like Amazon, as well as your own website.

5. Create an Online Course

Do you have a skill others would benefit from? Creating and selling online learning courses could be an excellent way to monetize your knowledge. Platforms like Teachable and Udemy make it easy to host and sell your courses, allowing you to reach a broad target audience.

6. Develop an App

If you have a tech background, developing an app can be a profitable venture. The initial investment can be higher if you need to hire an expert developer. However, once released, your app can be marketed to millions of users and monetized through ads, subscriptions or in-app purchases to generate a steady stream of income.

7. Launch a Newsletter

If you have expertise or experience in a specific field or niche area, launching a newsletter could be a great idea. Offering valuable content is a highly effective way to build an audience while simultaneously earning an income. And, once you build a following, you can monetize even further through sponsorships, affiliate marketing and paid subscriptions.

8. Start a YouTube Channel

If you have a passion for teaching, entertaining or sharing your expertise, YouTube could be the perfect outlet! Whether you focus on vlogging, education or entertainment, the key is to create engaging and high-quality content that gets your name—or your new business name—out there. Once you’ve established your channel, you can generate a steady stream of revenue from views and promotions.

9. Host a Podcast

Podcasting allows you to share your thoughts, ideas and expertise while building a loyal audience. It requires minimal upfront investment but offers great potential for growth. The key to monetization is creating compelling content that resonates and then securing sponsorships, offering premium content or cross-selling your other products and services.

10. Web Development

Every business, even a local one, needs a website. But not everyone can build a website, especially not a professional-looking one. If you have the skills to design and build a website, you can start your business easily with only a computer, an internet connection and your website design software of choice. Website design services can also run from anywhere, making it an ideal home business.

Education and Coaching

What is a good startup business for those who enjoy teaching and helping others reach their goals? These ideas may be a perfect fit.

11. Online Tutoring

Are you skilled in something that people want to learn? With online tutoring, you can teach people through the internet and you’re not limited to academic subjects. You can teach people just about any skill that they are willing to pay to learn. If you play the guitar well, you could offer online guitar lessons. Startup costs are low, too. All you need is a computer, an internet connection and free video conferencing software like Zoom.

12. Personal Training

Are you in your element leading one-on-one training or group fitness classes? If the answer is yes, then this could potentially be your next side hustle. Aside from your initial personal trainer qualifications, there are minimal costs beyond marketing and equipment. And there’s plenty of flexibility to hone in on specific areas of fitness in line with your skills and experience.

13. Nutritional Advising

Provided you have the right certifications, you can work with people online or in-person, making this a hybrid business setup that incorporates flexibility and human interaction. Whether you help clients manage weight, create meal plans or offer wellness advice, there’s a growing market for nutrition-based workshops and consultations.

14. Career Coaching

Do you have experience in human resources, management or onboarding? Then offering career coaching services could be a great business move. After all, there are very few overheads involved in helping people navigate career transitions. Your biggest business asset is your own expertise.

15. Life Coaching

With the growing demand for mental health and wellness support, life coaching businesses thrive in both online and in-person environments. Whether you’re most passionate about supporting businesses, health or relationship goals, encouraging others is a satisfying—and potentially lucrative—way to build your own business.

16. Language Instruction

While language apps are readily available, many learners prefer the personal touch and tailored feedback of a real-life teacher. If you speak multiple languages, sharing that knowledge with others is a great business idea. Plus, there are plenty of scaling options for teachers that offer interactive workshops and online resource hubs.

Business and Professional Services

If you enjoy helping businesses run more efficiently, these service-based businesses may be a good fit.

17. Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation

Do numbers make you happy? A bookkeeping and tax preparation business is a great small business idea if you like math. With this type of business, you’ll help clients with their accounting records and their tax returns. And unlike an accountant, you don’t need a special degree to offer these services. Startup costs are usually low. In most cases, all you need is a computer and specialized tax or accounting software.

18. IT Support and Technology Repair

Technology is integral to every business, and with the increasing reliance on computers and software, support and repair services are in high demand. If you’re good with computers and troubleshooting, you can offer remote or on-site support, helping businesses solve their technical issues. You also get to choose your own specialty, whether that’s setting up hardware, maintaining network security, fixing broken devices or data recovery.

19. Consulting (General or Business-Focused)

Do you have the business or industry experience to offer specialized insights that can help other organizations improve efficiency, solve problems and scale effectively? Consultancy businesses are low-cost to start, and you can offer your services both remotely and in person. You can even scale up and build a whole team of consultants if it goes well.

20. Resume Writing

If you have a background in HR or experience reviewing resumes, this type of business is a great way to use your skills while helping job seekers land their dream roles. You can get started relatively quickly, as the only upfront costs are a computer and access to online tools. It’s also easy to scale by offering additional services like LinkedIn profile optimization, writing cover letters and interview coaching.

21. Virtual Assistant Services

If you’re organized, detail-oriented and good at multitasking, offering services like email management, scheduling or online profile management can be profitable. There’s minimum equipment and setup, and you can work from home or while traveling, making it an attractive option if you’re looking for a business that doesn’t tie you down to a specific location.

22. Notary Public

Becoming a notary requires a small investment in certification, but the demand is steady. Whatever type of paperwork people need to authenticate—contracts, applications or legal documents—you can notarize them from home or as a mobile service. You could even expand your business by offering additional services like document preparation.

23. Data Entry Services

Many businesses need help entering and organizing data but don’t have the time or resources to do it themselves. So if you’re detail-oriented and able to manage repetitive tasks efficiently, this could be a viable option. Getting started is low-cost. All you need is a computer and internet access, and you can work from home or on the go.

24. Professional Organizing

Do you get a kick out of decluttering, clearing, cleaning and organizing? If so, you’d make a great professional organizer. You can start out solo with minimal equipment. Then, as you grow through word-of-mouth referrals, you can build a team to expand your services.

25. Translation

Translation is a great business to get into if you can read or write in multiple languages. You simply apply your linguistic skills to translate documents, web pages or contracts from one language to another. It’s a low-cost business to start, because a computer is your main startup cost. It’s also an ideal business if you want to work from home.

Creative and Content-Based Businesses

Here’s a rundown of the best startup business ideas if you’re a creative type who enjoys content creation and curation.

26. Graphic Design

If you enjoy design and already have a design-grade computer with access to a library of creative tools and software, starting your own business can be relatively low cost. Businesses always need high-quality visuals for their logos, branding and digital marketing materials, and many offer work to freelancers rather than employing a full-time designer.

27. Freelance Writing / Copywriting

If you’ve got a passion for writing, starting your own freelance business offers endless opportunities. From social media captions and product descriptions to blog posts and website copy, content is always in demand. As a freelancer, you can set your own rates, choose your topics and niches and complete your work from anywhere.

28. Social Media Management

With the proliferation of social media platforms in recent years, many businesses need reliable marketers to help manage their accounts. If you’re already familiar with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn, offering advertising, content creation or community management services could be a great business opportunity.

29. Photography

The initial investment in equipment and editing software can be high. However, photographers with a natural eye for composition and a high-quality work output are always in demand. And, you have the flexibility to make a name for yourself across an almost limitless number of niches spanning portraits, properties, events, commercial products and more.

30. Videography

Professionals with filming and editing experience are highly sought after. There’s an almost endless list of content types, spanning marketing videos, private and corporate events, training videos, social media content and more. With the right equipment and portfolio, you could even specialize in niche areas like drone footage or 360-degree videos.

31. Audio Editing

As mediums like podcasts, audiobooks and online courses continue to rise in popularity, audio editing has become an increasingly valuable service. If you’re proficient in editing audio files, removing noise and ensuring high-quality sound, there’s plenty of potential for steady work.

Physical Services and Local Businesses

Looking for the best startup businesses for hands-on work or ways you can contribute to your local community? These might be a great fit:

32. Courier Services

Couriers are in high demand these days. Many stores use couriers to deliver products to their customers, and service businesses often rely on couriers to get documents into their clients’ hands. If you have a vehicle or own a bike, you have the equipment needed to start a courier services business, which is ideal if you prefer to be out and about rather than cooped up at home in front of a computer.

33. Cleaning Services

If you’re good at cleaning, running a cleaning services business might be a good choice for you. The startup costs for this type of business are low. You’ll need to own the tools of the trade (like a vacuum, a mop and a bucket), and it helps if you have a vehicle to get your tools to your clients’ places. A cleaning service is also easily expandable—you can hire other good cleaners to help out if you have too many clients.

34. Lawn Care Service

You’ll need to invest a fair amount of capital to cover equipment like a lawnmower, trimmer and other tools. Plus, you’ll need a reliable vehicle to transport everything. That said, if you enjoy working outdoors, you should be able to be profitable relatively quickly, especially if you offer specialized services like landscaping or garden maintenance.

35. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

If you’re passionate about animals, sitting and walking businesses are easy to start with little more than a love for pets. It’s straightforward to market your services to target specific demographics on social media. Once you have a customer base, you can scale by offering additional services like training or overnight sitting.

36. Handy Repair / Maintenance Services

If you’re good with tools and have experience in home repair or maintenance, this could be a great way to capitalize on your skills. Though the proper tools can be pricey, the investment is typically worth it, particularly if you specialize in areas like home remodeling, plumbing or HVAC services, which allow you to charge hefty fees for your services.

37. House Painting

There are plenty of homeowners and businesses out there looking for painters for interior and exterior projects. With minimal investment in basic equipment like brushes, rollers and ladders, it’s relatively easy to get started. The key to success in this line of work is building a solid reputation for reliability and excellent quality.

38. Personal Shopping / Styling

Are you passionate about fashion? Then why not combine your sense of style with your business goals? Personal styling can attract a wide variety of clients, and it’s easy to scale by offering online styling consultations in addition to in-store shopping support. You could even start a fashion blog to further build your brand.

39. Mobile Car Wash or Detailing

With the right location, there will always be a steady stream of customers. All you need to get started is some basic cleaning equipment like vacuums, sponges and microfiber cloths. You’ll likely find the highest concentration of potential customers (like other drivers) near service centers, office complexes, busy commercial districts and in upscale residential areas.

40. Food Truck Operator

Although the startup costs are relatively high compared to most of the other options we’ve covered, owning a food truck is a much cheaper way to enter the food service industry than opening a traditional restaurant. Plus, the mobility factor provides additional flexibility to tap into high-traffic areas and meet your customers where they are, rather than relying on them to come to you.

Being a Successful Small Business Owner

Starting a small business offers many benefits. Whether you want to set your own schedule or earn extra money, there are many good business ideas to start you on your small business journey. Add in a bit of promotion and some customer service savvy, and you could be well on your way to being a successful small business owner.

Starting your own business and still have questions? Discover how to start a startup business that can lead to success. And don’t forget to protect your small business. Reach out today so we can help you meet all of your small business insurance needs.

FAQ on Best Startup Businesses