123 Amazing Business Ideas. How to Start Your Own Small Business in 2017
Loading...Are you dreaming about your own small business but don’t know where to start? Are you wondering how to find a side job that will bring you both pleasure and decent money?
If you’re looking for small business ideas that will give you a nudge in the right direction, consider yourself lucky. This article is exactly what you need.
Below you’ll find 123 business ideas in multiple industries, from cleaning services and animal care to retail and technology.
The choices are stunning. You’re sure to find something that fits your talents and needs.
Before studying this lengthy list of business ideas, stop for a moment to think about your corporate identity. If you still have no logo (or other brand identity elements), it’s time to get one! The Logaster online logo generator will help you create a great emblem in a couple of minutes.
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Contents:
Home business ideas
Business ideas for designers
Online business ideas
Freelance business ideas
Marketing business ideas
Business ideas for photographers
Travel and Fitness business ideas
Event management business ideas
Car business ideas
Other creative and profitable business ideas
Best business ideas 2017-2018
Home business ideas
Makeup services
Do you know how to use makeup to draw attention to advantages and conceal flaws? Do your friends trust you with their makeup for parties and weddings? Why don’t you pick it up as a side job? It’s easier than you might think! For only $250-$500, you can start your own beauty business from scratch! With due diligence and patience, it can be a great way to make extra income or become a full-time job!
House sitting
While not the most profitable side hustle, this is still a great opportunity to live in different countries (exotic ones included!) without paying a cent for the rent. Sounds amazing, right?
Nanny
If you think looking after other people’s kids is for teenagers and students, you’re mistaken. This is a high-paying job for people of all backgrounds and ages. And if you agree to work nights and weekends, you may be sitting on a gold mine!
Window cleaning
When you’re looking through the window, you want the world around you to be clear and bright. Dirty windows have never made anyone happy. There is a constant demand for window cleaners, especially among owners of tall office buildings.
Real estate manager
Do you know someone who rents a house or apartment? They might need a person to run their affairs. This is a great side hustle that doesn’t require much effort on your part. You’ll still have obligations, though. Prepare to be available at any time. Among other things, your tasks will include charging rent, organizing repairs and other work, and dealing with emergencies. This is a job worth considering, if you ask us!
Renting out a room via Airbnb
The Airbnb platform is a great way to make money by renting out a vacant bed or couch to travelers visiting your city. Plus, this creates multiple opportunities to meet new people and even make friends. You can rent out a bed or an entire house – the choice is all yours. But don’t think all you need to do is lean back and watch the money flow in. Along with being an exciting adventure, receiving other people at your place is a big responsibility. You must keep your place clean, be available for your guests around the clock, and make their stay as comfortable as possible.
Carpet cleaning
A common thing like a carpet has the power to transform any apartment, making it cozy and comfortable. However, with time, carpets tend to accumulate dust, dirt, allergens, and microbes. Thus, there is no doubt that carpet cleaning services will always be in high demand. It would be a pity to not use this opportunity to launch a part-time business. To start, you must buy equipment and tools (vacuum cleaner, carpet brushes, detergents, etc.). Or you can rent the equipment for the weekend. By cleaning for five to 10 clients on Saturdays and Sundays, you can cover your rent expenses and make some money on top of that. If your business thrives, you can buy your own tools and raise your prices. A side job like this can expand into a proper business.
Real estate valuation
The best thing about this side job is that you can work from home several hours a day. A great chance to make some extra money, right? Although you don’t need a university degree to perform real estate valuation, you’ll still need the credentials to back up your expertise in this field (licenses, certificates, etc.). Plus, you must know all the ins and outs of the real estate market. A good thing about this business is that you have a vast pool of potential clients (brokers, real estate agents, banks, etc.).
House cleaning
If you’re looking for something more challenging than window cleaning, try your hand at house cleaning. Along with cleaning interior spaces, you’ll tend lawns, windows, roofs, garages, and more. With a wide range of responsibilities, you’ll need to stock up on cleaning products and accessories. Alternatively, you can hire other people to do the job, while managing administrative operations and customer relations. Still in doubt about whether this business is for you? Try working for a cleaning company to learn about the business from the inside.
Business ideas for designers
Graphic design
With some skills in graphic design, it’ll be much easier for you to start in this field. However, if you know nothing about design, don’t worry. Using modern programs and guides, even a granny can master the basics of graphic design. Open Adobe Illustrator, Stencil or Visme, and off you go! There is nothing you can’t do with the right amount of imagination and motivation. In a few months, people will be eager to pay you to create and edit images for their projects.
Here’s another top idea. You can create logos and other graphic designs with Logaster and sell them to your clients.
Web design
Nowadays, smart web designers are essential to any IT company. It’s not surprising that web design is one of the most popular side job ideas. This craft is all about making the user experience on a website smooth and intuitive. Returning visitors are the best proof that a web designer did a good job. With new websites launched every day, you can count on a continuous flow of clients.
Presentation design
Yes, you read it right. Even a common PowerPoint presentation can become a real challenge, especially if the person creating it is not a techie. Here is where your help may be needed!
Interior design
Redecorating your bedroom or kitchen takes lots of experimenting and creativity. For some people, matching different textures and materials is a nightmare they want to avoid. If you feel just the opposite, think about turning your passion for interior design into a source of extra income. What can be better than combining work with pleasure?
Collecting art
Let’s clear up this one from the start. You shouldn’t confuse collecting art with the thoughtless buying of items of dubious artistic value. Collecting art takes patience, dedication, and a huge time investment. If you understand and truly love art, you can start by approaching art students at your local university. This is not a business for quick money, though. You must be patient and forward-thinking. Many students are happy to sell their pictures or sculptures for almost nothing, but in a few years their work may cost thousands of dollars. You just have to wait it out.
Flower business
Without joyful events, our days would be gloomier. Luckily, we live in a world with birthdays, weddings, Christmas and other amazing holidays. Flowers are an integral part of any holiday. Selling them is quite a lucrative business, with profits reaching 300% and more. By working with reliable suppliers on good terms, you can keep your costs low. When considering the possibility of entering the flower market, make sure your geographic location is right for this kind of business.
Online business ideas
Web development
It’s no secret that web development skills are highly valued. If you think you will never master something as complicated as web development, you’re mistaken. Today, there is no lack of comprehensive guides and user-friendly tools to help you. When it comes to web development, your main asset is a flexible mind. To learn how to build and maintain websites, you can enroll in one of many online courses (Treehouse, Web Developer Bootcamp, etc.).
Once you’ve mastered the basics of HTML, Ruby, Python, Javascript or CSS, take on some real projects to enhance your skills and put together a good portfolio. When you’ve gained enough experience and built a solid client base, you can give it a try and become a full-time web developer.
App development
Today, there is an application for literally everything. Still, new programs are released every day. The surprising thing is that most of them find users. It seems like the app market is still far from being saturated. If you’ve detected a free market niche, go for it! But first, you need to know how to write the code (or find a seasoned developer to do it for you). The main thing, though, is to make sure your idea will sell. It doesn’t need to be a major life-changing application. It just needs to be useful to certain people. If your app is a success, it may encourage you to take on more challenging projects or even explore related industries, e.g., product release management.
Online journalist
One of the best things about the modern digital world is that you don’t need a university degree to work in multiple fields, including journalism. News websites are on the lookout for smart and quick journalists to cover local news. On some media platforms (The Examiner, HuffPost, etc.), your pay will depend on advertising revenue per article.
Blogging
If you think blogging isn’t a proper occupation, think twice. Today, thousands of bloggers create exciting (and useful!) content on a variety of topics, from travel and cinema to cooking and cars. To have a steady flow of income, you need to build a strong audience. Sometimes, doing this is harder than creating engaging content. How can you get new people interested in your content and keep your existing readers happy? First, you must figure out what kind of content your audience wants to consume. Second, you must constantly improve your writing skills, experiment with fresh ideas, and explore new topics. Think about it: you can make good money simply by writing about the things you like (electronic devices, travel, foreign languages, etc.). Seems like a dream side job to us!
Once you’ve attracted enough readers, you can start analyzing their preferences and expectations more deeply. Your task is to customize your content, making it unique and useful to your audience.
Domain name trading
Domain name trading is hardly a young business. Some experts believe the golden days of this industry are over. Top domain names are long off the market. For example, in 2009, Insure.com was sold for a whopping $16 million. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of options you can buy for cheap and then sell at a higher price. How to enter this niche? Start with useful tips from GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain name repository. If you put effort into analyzing and selecting potential hits, they might make you stinking rich in just a couple of years.
YouTube channel
Like with blogging, the first thing that matters here is whether you can be useful to your audience. Be sure to enhance your skills in creating engaging video content. This is a sure way to grow your subscriber base to a few thousand. If you have a big audience, companies will be willing to pay you for promoting their products and services in your videos. And this is a stable source of income. You can draw inspiration from multiple YouTubers who earn good money off their channels. Along with content and audience, your success as a beginning YouTuber will depend on your talents, flexibility, timing, and much more. By skillfully navigating these factors, you have the chance to grow a multi-million business. Find out how to design a winning logo for your YouTube channel.
Online courses
What makes side job ideas truly beautiful is the opportunity to make money doing things you like and are good at. If you consider yourself an expert in a certain field, you can start an online course on one of the many learning platforms available. People will be willing to pay you for sharing your knowledge with them. It’s a win-win that leaves both parties happy.
Online coach
If you’re passionate about anything in the world (from finance to psychology), why not try personal coaching? As with online courses, this is a great opportunity to turn your hobby into a financially rewarding side job. You must be careful, though. Don’t overestimate your abilities. Make a rule of never promising anything to your client if you’re not sure you can help them.
Hiring subcontractors
If you already have an established freelance business, reassigning some of your tasks to other people seems like a smart idea. This is how you can have more free time and still retain (or even grow!) your client base.
Online assistant
If you consider yourself an organized person of multiple talents, try working as an online assistant. Check out Elance, Indeed or Upwork. There are plenty of people there looking for personal assistants. This side hustle has a bunch of benefits: You can make useful connections, meet influential people, and enhance your multi-tasking skills. Another huge advantage is that you can work from home and therefore have a flexible schedule. This is especially important if you have to move around a lot and don’t stay in the same place for too long. Working as an online assistant, you can travel as much as you want!
English teacher
Teaching English as a second language is both a consistent source of extra income and a chance to travel the world and explore different cultures. Ideally, you must be a certified ESL teacher, but this is not a must. If you’re a native speaker, you can teach English via Skype. In some countries (UAE, Hong Kong, etc.), people are willing to pay $25 an hour for English lessons online. Along with excellent language skills, this side job requires the ability to explain difficult concepts in simple words.
Selling custom products from Amazon
Besides being an IT giant and pioneer, Amazon is a huge marketplace where you can find just about anything. To sell items from Amazon, you don’t need any special skills or talents. You won’t create money out of thin air, though. You must still do some work. Research the markets of popular generic products (mugs, glasses, clocks, etc.). Choose the products you’d like to sell under your own brand. The main thing here is to develop a detailed, long-term sales strategy to successfully launch your product.
Completing online surveys
This may not be the most exciting side hustle. Still, people get paid for filling out online surveys, and you can be one of them. This job offers hardly any career prospects, so it’s best to do this in your free time outside your main job.
Buying websites
You might have never thought of it, but websites are evaluated and traded just like securities on stock exchanges. While some are considered trash, others are worth investing in. Websites are constantly sold and bought. When making a purchase decision, consider factors such as traffic, profits, domain name, etc. As you can see, this side job requires a deep understanding of the website market. With the right approach, you may find a true gem of a website that will provide you with a steady flow of income.
Mobile laundry
We all wear clothes, and clothes tend to get dirty. This is why laundry services will always be a profitable business. In the US, the laundromat market accounts for over $3 billion. Sounds impressive, right? Each year, the industry is expanding through new services: mobile laundries, pick-up and delivery laundries, mobile apps to search for laundries in your vicinity, etc. As you can see, the money-making opportunities are abundant.
Freelance business ideas
E-book
Have you ever thought about presenting your knowledge and skills in the form of an electronic book? For some people, your book may become a source of valuable guidelines they can’t find anywhere else. Your book may help those who want to explore new things, master a rare profession, or start a business. The main thing is to find your audience and target it the right way. You can even get your work published and launch your own brand. So, if you have something to share and your writing skills are pretty good, be sure to grab this chance!
Text editing and correction
As long there are texts, editors will have work to do. Text editing and correction is not as easy as it might seem. It requires excellent linguistic knowledge and concentration. Along with a good paycheck, you get access to interesting content. Plus, you can work from home – or any part of the world, for that matter. Both companies and individuals need people to create, edit, and correct text materials. On Upwork, you’ll find thousands of job offers. You’re sure to find one that suits you best.
Text creation and copywriting
Many website owners hire copywriters to create standard pages, such as About Us, Frequently Asked Questions, Press, etc. Beginning copywriters must settle for low rates. If you choose copywriting as a side job, prepare to work hard and put much effort into building a worthy portfolio. Once you’ve become a pro, you can make more money as a copywriter than at a nine-to-five office job.
Voiceover services
If your voice is mellow, resonant or distinctive in some way, why not make money with what nature has given you? Video game developers, animated movie creators, and authors of educational video content are all willing to pay good money for voiceover services. It’s a great side job that doesn’t require much effort. Check out job offers on PeoplePerHour, Freelancer, and Upwork.
Translator
If you’re good at foreign languages and love the quiet of working at home, you might want to consider working as a freelance translator. Essential qualities for this side hustle include self-discipline, drive, and perseverance. On Flexjobs, hundreds of companies are looking for translators for both one-time and regular tasks.
Content marketing
Content marketing specialists are in high demand among both startups and established brands. Companies and influential people need high-quality, competitive content to build trust with their audience and enhance their brands. If you consider yourself a pro, you won’t have trouble finding clients, including high-profile ones. It’s best to start with small firms, though. Do a few free tasks and ask the company owner to recommend you to their partners and suppliers. Once you’ve put together a good portfolio, you can start charging for your services and expanding your outreach.
Modelling
Many companies, especially those in the fashion industry, need people to represent and promote their brand. With this side hustle, there are several ways to go. You can sign a contract with a high-profile agency, get an agent, or hunt for job offers yourself. Modelling is a complex industry, and you must play by its rules. Before diving into this new world, find someone who can give you valuable advice on how to succeed and avoid common mistakes. A good idea is to focus on just one thing (videos, photography, etc.) and start building a worthy portfolio in this specific field.
Marketing business ideas
Affiliate sales and marketing
If you have a smoothly operating website that generates target traffic, you can turn it into a powerful source of passive income by joining a major affiliate network (ShareASale, Rakuten, Clickbank, Skimlinks, etc.). How to choose the affiliate program that suits you, read in our article.
Marketing consultations for small businesses
Any business needs a constant flow of potential clients. If you have experience in marketing and SEO and know how to get people interested in a product or service, consider providing consultations to small businesses. For example, you can brand yourself as an SEO pro and help local firms improve their search engine rankings.
Instagram marketing
If you can boast an impressive number of subscribers on your Instagram account, you might try to promote products and services related to your content. With good marketing skills and business intuition, you can make $100 to $1,000 per post (or even more!).
Podcasting
Do you have an engaged podcast audience that finds your content valuable? Be sure to use this to your advantage and find sponsorships to develop your business idea. If you have an established pool of subscribers who listen to your podcasts on a regular basis, you’re set to go. But if not, that’s OK. There’s another way to go. Learn from people who have succeeded in creating podcast-related content. For example, you can create texts or videos on how to make podcasts, how to monetize your audio content, etc.
Managing social media pages
Let’s be honest: Who doesn’t spend hours rambling on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest? Instead of aimlessly wasting your time, monetize your expertise in this field. Many companies (especially startups) and influential individuals need smart people to promote their brands on social media.
Creating landing pages
Do you know how to write amazing text and create beautiful, SEO-savvy landing pages? Don’t waste any more time; start getting paid for your skills! Launching a small landing page starts from several hundreds of dollars. A pretty good side income, don’t you think?
Tasks on Fiverr
Fiverr is an ideal place for beginning freelancers who want to build a worthy portfolio before starting to work in full swing. You’ll need to complete simple tasks for a small fee, e.g., create a logo, make a video, etc.
Online dating
Let’s face it. Some people suck at making new acquaintances, let alone starting romantic relationships. For them, surfing online dating websites is torture. If you’re a sociable and outgoing person, you can play matchmaker. Believe it or not, people are willing to pay you for this.
Real estate consulting
The real estate market is currently on the rise. People are selling and buying houses, apartments, and other premises. This creates multiple money-making opportunities. If you consider yourself an expert in the legal, financial, and commercial aspects of real estate, you can make good money by providing individual consultations in your region.
Ads on vehicles
How do you make money with your car? The most straightforward way is to join Uber or Lyft. If driving passengers isn’t your thing, you might consider placing advertisements on your vehicle. This is how you can earn $100 to $600 a month doing literally nothing. Regardless of the make or age, your car (or mini-bus) is a perfect place to advertise goods and services. Sounds attractive? Check out Wrapify or Carvertise to find out more!
WordPress websites
When establishing their online presence, many small businesses start with a standard website running on WordPress. Once the company has figured out what they want their website to look like, they feel the need to customize it to their specific goals and preferences. Launching a WordPress website starts at several hundreds of dollars. If you have the patience to master all the ins and outs of WordPress, you have all the chances you need to acquire a valuable and, more importantly, profitable skill.
Outsourced customer service
Some businesses find it easier to outsource customer service operations to external organizations or freelancers working from home. Register with Upwork or a similar platform and browse multiple market offers. If you have a vast experience working with customers and good management skills, you can even build a team and start your own business. Plus, you can provide consultations to both companies and individuals. As you can see, this industry is bursting with money-making opportunities.
Business ideas for photographers
Portrait photography
Lucky owners of high-quality cameras can try their hand at portraits. It’s a great idea for a creative, flexible side job. Practice by taking close-ups of friends and family members. This is how you can build a portfolio, get the hang of the camera, and master the intricacies of the editing process. Once you feel more confident, you can start charging for portraits and family event photos.
Wedding photography
Every couple wants to capture one of the happiest days of their lives. Can you actually remember a wedding without a photographer? We don’t. Realizing their importance, wedding photographers price their services high, and by “high,” we mean from $500 to $1500 and more. To launch a successful photography career, check out Complete Wedding Photographer Experience or How to become a Photographer. From this all-inclusive course, you’ll learn how to create a business plan, find new clients, get free marketing, and much more.
Photo stocks
If you’re a fan and creator of beautiful stock photography, you might like the idea of selling your work to photo stocks, such as Unsplash, ShutterStock, iStockPhoto, and others. Every time someone downloads your photo, you’ll earn a royalty. If you have bigger plans, you can launch your own website, publish your portfolio (make sure it’s a good one), and work directly with companies and individuals.
Travel and fitness business ideas
Travel consultant
Can’t imagine your life without travel? Know how to get the best value for your money? Then sharing your knowledge with others seems like a great business idea. Ask friends to refer you to everyone they know. Create a travel group on Facebook or LinkedIn and invite people who want to get updates on ticket sales, hotel recommendations, and tips on turning an ordinary trip into an unforgettable adventure.
Tourist guide
Do you live in a place that boasts major historical sites or natural wonders? Are tourists and travelers a common thing in your area? If you’re a good storyteller and communicator, giving tours around your city and its vicinity can become both a pleasurable hobby and an additional source of income. To succeed as a guide, you must love the place in which you live and know a lot about it.
Fitness coach
Fitness and wellness are becoming increasingly important parts of our lives. Who doesn’t want to stay healthy and energized? If you have a fair share of charisma and business intuition, you can try working as a personal fitness coach in your free time. It will be healthy for both you and your bank account. Once you have a big pool of happy clients and a shiny reputation, you can pick up coaching as your main job.
Yoga and meditation instructor
Yoga is here to stay. People will always need professional yoga instructors to help them get into shape and stay on course. What can be better than helping people find a balance between body and mind and get paid for doing it?
Event management business ideas
Professional organizer
If you’re good at keeping things organized and helping other people, you might find your vocation in professional organizing. Today, with people cutting consumption and reviewing their buying habits, you’ll easily make $50 to $125 an hour. Just think about that. Probably the biggest advantage of this side job is that you don’t need any start-up capital. Your potential customers include shopping addicts with heaps of unneeded items they bought on a whim. Today, more people are looking for personal assistants to help them put their lives in order. Plus, you can do this side job at nights and on weekends when your clients are at home.
Wedding planning
Weddings, like birthdays, happen all the time. They’re a steady source of money-making opportunities for businesses selling dresses and jewelry, restaurant owners, photographers, videographers, singers, florists, travel agents, artisans, etc. By combing multiple suppliers into a single network, you can offer all-inclusive wedding packages. For an engaged couple, buying such a package means saving plenty of time and nerves. Of course, this kind of business requires hefty investment, but the profits may exceed your boldest expectations.
Event management
If you’re looking for something bigger than wedding planning, this side hustle might be right for you. Event planners manage seminars, workshops, baptisms, birthdays, concerts, conferences, and several other events. Here are a few tips for those who want to try their hand at this challenging business. Plus, here are some objective insights into the pros and cons of the profession.
DJing
If you want to improve your skills in music creation and mixing, you can work as a DJ at local gigs. If things go smoothly, consider making it a full-time effort. This isn’t a side job in which you can start from scratch, though. To succeed, you must be a real pro at sound design, mixing, music, and lyrics writing.
Seasonal decorations
Christmas, Halloween, St. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day … holidays encourage people to dig deeper into their pockets and pamper their loved ones (and themselves, of course). It’s the time of hefty shopping sprees. You might want to consider the idea of making seasonal decorations. If you do some research, you’d be surprised to find out how much money people spend on these kinds of things. For example, in 2014 Americans spent about $1.04 billion on Christmas trees alone! Just think about that number! In addition to Christmas trees, there are lights, baskets, wreaths, and a variety of other decorations.
Dance instructor
Let’s be honest. Most people love to dance, although some of them will never admit it. Dancing is good for both your soul and body. If you had to give up your dancing ambitions for a more stable office job, you have a second chance to do what you really like. Think about working as a dance instructor in your free time. With due diligence and hard work, you can earn a few hundred dollars a week. A good addition to your main income, don’t you think?
Car business ideas
Uber and Lyft
Uber and Lyft are the two major companies that provide taxi services all over the globe. If you have a car, you can join one of these systems and work as a driver in your free time. The biggest advantage of this side hustle is that you can work whenever you’re in the mood. However, be sure to take the time to calculate the costs (petrol, tires, etc.) to see whether your bank account can handle your side job.
Car washing
Many car owners don’t have the time to take care of their vehicles and keep them clean. This is where your help may be needed. Start-up costs pose no threat to your bank account: You’ll need to buy soap, polish, a bucket, sponges, a hose, and a few other accessories.
Selling and buying cars
If you’re passionate about cars, you can engage in car trading professionally. It’s a great startup idea, provided you have some capital and love to take risks. Car trading relies on a simple rule: Buy cheap, sell at a higher price. As you might have guessed, your profits depend entirely on your business intuition. What is valued most in this industry is the ability to find profitable deals and minimize your time investment. Honing your skills in this field takes time and effort, but the result may be worth it.
Other creative and profitable business ideas
Business consulting
If you have solid knowledge in a certain business field, backed up by reliable credentials, you can make good use of your free time by consulting local firms and helping them with challenging issues. Regardless of your field of expertise (marketing, PR, production, business strategies, etc.), you’re sure to find companies willing to pay you for your professional advice. Your key to success is to position yourself as an expert to gain the trust of potential clients and stand out from the competition.
Selling mobile phone cases
The market for mobile phone accessories is growing at a rapid pace and shows no signs of slowing down. Selling handmade cases has the potential to generate six-figure revenues. To ensure a successful start, prepare to put much effort into analyzing the market and developing a solid business strategy.
Commission sales
If you’re good at building business relationships and selling things to customers, commission sales may be something to consider. Many companies (especially startups) are on the lookout for half-time sellers. Build your sales strategies for different markets and improve your skills in your free time. You’ll be paid a commission for each successful deal. The more products or services you sell, the better for your bank account!
Music teacher
Is music your passion? Then how about consulting others on music production and sound design? Or teaching them how to play musical instruments? Depending on their level of competence, private music teachers make $20 to $100 per lesson and more. Plus, you can Skype with your clients if your line of work doesn’t require in-person communication. Can you think of a better side hustle to monetize your love for music?
Writing postcards
Do you sometimes have a flash of inspiration when you feel in a poetic mood? Do you know that some publishers pay $300 for an average-sized poem? Seems like a dream side job to us! Keep in mind that not all potential employers will like your work. Getting denied is an essential part of the process.
Patents
This business idea isn’t for everyone. Making money on patented products takes a specific mix of qualities. For example, Kia Silverbrook from the US has registered 4,665 patents, and the number is still growing! You don’t need to invent a life-changing product, though. The main thing is to come up with a useful idea that will sell at a competitive price.
Beer brewing
If you’re a beer fan, why not invent your own brand of beer? With a good deal of patience and experimenting, you can create a beverage people are willing to pay for. Luckily, there are businesses that make brewing easier for beginners like you! Check out Mrbeer.com and choose one of the multiple brewery kits. Take the time to come up with a unique recipe and start promoting your product among friends and everyone you know. Word of mouth will do the rest!
Electronics repair
People tend to throw away their broken mobile phones, laptops, and cameras without even trying to figure out what’s wrong with them. If you consider yourself a techie, you can breathe new life into dead devices and re-sell them. This is both a financially rewarding and eco-friendly side hustle.
Re-selling electronics
Electronics stores get rid of plenty of valuable products, from printer cartridges to laptops. If you’re OK with digging through trash, you can build a pretty good side income.
Clothes repair and makeovers
Fashion has always been a trending industry that welcomes all things risky and innovative. There is hardly another field more open to experimentation. If you’re good at repairing and making over old clothes, you can count on a steady flow of clients who want to save money on new clothes or create their own unique style. To start in this niche, you’ll need about $2,000. If you have less, don’t worry. Your main asset is your ability to work wonders with a needle and thread.
Investing your own funds
Keeping your money in a stocking or complaining about the tiny interest on your savings account are both unreasonable. Why not find a better use for your money? Investing your funds is a tricky business, with plenty of factors to consider. Start analyzing the securities market. This will be your first step to success.
Investing other people’s funds
Helping people grow their capital is a great way to fatten your own bank account. If securities and finance is your element, you can provide consultations on smart ways to invest money, both short and long term. If your recommendations prove effective, you’ll earn a pretty good commission.
Accounting and bookkeeping
Many firms prefer to outsource operations that are not core to their line of business. Sometimes, this is a wise decision that allows them to cut expenses and improve opportunities for growth. The tasks most commonly outsourced include marketing, personnel management, accounting, IT operations, etc. Experienced bookkeepers are essential to any company that needs help with financial reporting and planning. If you’re good at working with numbers, this might be the right side hustle for you.
Caring for elderly people
Caring for elderly people requires several documents that confirm your proficiency and entrepreneurial status (licenses, training certificates, tax declarations, etc.). The list of documents depends on the country in which you’re planning to work, the nature of the provided care, and other factors. Keep in mind that this profession is both emotionally and time-consuming. Make sure you’re fit for this kind of work before you start collecting the required documents.
Computer repair
If you’re a tech fan, you can monetize your skills by repairing PCs and laptops from home. If everything goes smoothly, you can scale up your business and build your own team of pros. To clients living far from you, you can provide technical support online or via video calls.
Computer literacy
There is no denying the fact that computers make our lives better and provide access to multiple opportunities. Today, literally everyone, including children and elderly people, must know how to use the computer. Check out major educational platforms (Codecademy, Treehouse, Udacity, etc.) and see how popular computer literacy courses are. If you’re a computer pro, it would be a mistake to not make money off this trend. You can teach at home, start an online course (think YouTube or Udemy), or launch your own website with online payment options.
Dog walking
Dogs are beautiful and loyal companions. Unfortunately, their owners don’t always have the time to take care of their four-legged friends. If you like dogs, make money simply by walking other people’s pets. In the US, where people spend half their day in offices, dog walking is a thriving business. There is even a special application called Wag that brings together dog owners and dog walkers.
Custom furniture production
What could be better than getting paid for doing what you really like? Jacob Haas from Soteria Designs is one of these lucky people. Jacob makes furniture and decorations from high-quality wood. Today, people tend to personalize everything they’re using and create their own style. This is why producing custom interior design items is a potential gold mine worth exploring.
Handmade jewelry
If you’re a fan of custom-made jewelry, you must know the names of Maddie Bradshow from M3 Girl Designs and Bella Weems from Origami Owl. These girls have managed to build their own brands that offer unique bracelets, rings, necklaces, and other stunning masterpieces. Growing by five to six percent a year, the handmade jewelry market is open for new talented masters with fresh ideas and bold visions.
Public notaries
Public notaries verify the identity of signers of important documents, such as property deeds, wills, commercial agreements, etc. Plus, they make sure the signers are aware of the contents of the documents. Several types of documents require a notarized signature or stamp, so money-making opportunities are abundant. If you like order and organization in everything you do, this side hustle idea might be right for you. Before starting, be sure to check the list of requirements for public notaries in your country.
Local sports events
Are you a social and outgoing person who can’t imagine their life without sports? Conducting amateur sports activities in parks and on university campuses is a great way to have fun and make extra money.
Custom T-shirts
Selling custom T-shirts is a profitable business that has been trending for quite a while. The industry features all types of players, from small home producers to giant factories. How about hopping on the bandwagon and making some money on the side? If you decide to make T-shorts with custom prints, prepare to forget about your free time for a while. This business requires a well-thought-out development strategy and total dedication.
Snow shovelling
Along with joy, delicious food, and family get-togethers, Christmastime brings snow. Lots of snow. Almost every year, people must get rid of snow piles that make streets impassable. Clearing driveways and backyards of snow is a smart seasonal job idea, provided you have the physical stamina to do it.
Custom clothing
Platforms selling custom-made apparel (e.g., Etsy) are becoming increasingly popular, mostly among younger people. If you create unique pieces of clothing and decorations, you’re sure to find buyers for your amazing work. With time, designing clothes may even become your full-time job. Don’t be afraid to unleash your creative potential!
Antiques restoration
Seems like the best days of the antiques market are gone. However, if you have a taste for old things and know how to make them shine again, you should give it a try. To start restoring antiques at home, you’ll need several thousands of dollars to equip your workplace and buy tools and materials. Beginners should abstain from purchasing expensive equipment. It’s best to rent it and focus on your craft instead.
Delivery on bikes
Believe it or not, some bike delivery guys earn more than nine-to-five office employees. Uber, WunWun, Amazon, and other major companies are vying for domination in this rapidly growing market. If you own a reliable bike, you can make pretty good money simply riding about the city. It’s good for your health and bank account!
Vocational consultant
Do you know how to get a high-paid job with good promotion opportunities? Do you have useful tips on how to pass an interview or get a pay rise? Some people are willing to generously pay for your expertise. You can start your own blog with valuable guidelines. Alternatively, you can register with specialized platforms (The Muse, Coach Me, etc.) where people are looking for mentors to help them achieve a successful career. Prepare to work for free until you gain proper experience. Focus on helping people get feasible results. Once you feel more confident about your strengths, you can start providing paid consultations.
Best business ideas 2017-2018
Techbreath.net analyzed the latest market trends to come up with a list of the best business ideas in 2017-2018.
Smartphone cases
It’s expected that in 2025, the market for mobile phone cases will be a whopping $121.72 billion. Along with cases, a wide selection of products are available to fit all imaginable needs, so you’re sure to find your niche.
Although the industry features multiple smartphone case sellers, there is still a place for new players. Spend a couple of hours on AliExpress to study different categories of products. You can re-sell mobile phone cases (iPhone, Samsung), wallet cases, and much more. Women prefer cases with floral, animal, and lacy patterns. Battery cases are an essential accessory for businesspeople who travel a lot. Identify your target audience and go for it!
Selfie drones
The drone market is booming. It’s predicted that 600,000 drones will be exploring the air space above our heads in 2018. Seems like a promising industry to us! If you decide to sell drones, target millennials who like to take photos of everything around them. In this market, the way you promote your product can make or break your business. Focus on the visuals and attract potential customers with beautiful photos you’ve taken with your selfie drone. If you’re selling toy drones, be sure to show kids and their parents how fun it is to operate a device like this. More options include agricultural drones to monitor crops, drones to film weddings and commercial projects, etc.
HIIT equipment
HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, is a new way to get fit quick, burn more fat, and improve endurance. Holding steady among the top fitness trends, HIIT is a business idea worth considering. HIIT workouts require a wide variety of accessories, including weights, jumping ropes, rugs, and more.
Forget about AliExpress. You won’t find anything HIIT-related there. Take the time to explore other websites that offer HIIT equipment at good prices.
Smartwatches
Smartwatches are devices that bring together advanced technology and sophisticated style. AliExpress offers a stunning selection of smartwatches for any audience, from sports fans to people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Watches with built-in GPS are an essential accessory for those who like to travel and engage in outdoor activities. Choose your niche, pair your smartwatches with a smart marketing strategy, and off you go!
Mirrorless cameras
Although most people are quite happy with their smartphone photos, a steady demand exists for professional mirrorless cameras. Unlike other cameras, mirrorless cameras are lighter in weight and occupy less space. They’re an ideal option for people who are tired of carrying around bulky equipment. When selling mirrorless cameras, be sure to emphasize and showcase their advantages over DSLR cams. Plus, you need to prepare high-quality, convincing content explaining why customers should prefer your product over smartphone cameras.
Wireless headphones
Advancing technologies (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.) make wireless headphones an increasingly attractive high-end product that gives a whole new meaning to the notion of comfort. The easiest way to go here is to re-sell headphones from AliExpress. (Many suppliers have free delivery, by the way.) What things to consider when building your own brand? First, create high-quality text content about wireless headphones and the different categories of consumers who are using them. Second, be sure to show how easy it is to use your product. Make a professional video showing people who use wireless headphones in their everyday lives.
Matcha tea
Did you know that tea is the world’s second most popular beverage after water? It’s hard to imagine a household that doesn’t have tea among its supplies. Matcha is the latest trend among tea lovers. AliExpress offers a wide selection of matcha tea and tea accessories, including tea strainers, storage chests, bowls and whisks, kettles, and much more. How do you launch a product like this? Start a blog with interesting tea content and make videos with matcha recipes and tea ceremonies. To get your products to the top of the search results, you’ll need to come up with a robust, long-term SEO strategy. Facebook ads are another smart way to promote your brand and boost your outreach.
Beard oil
Did you know that the market for men’s grooming services is growing by $6 billion a year? This trend is not to be ignored. Because beards seem like a new trend among younger men, we’d like to draw your attention to beard oil. Although highly competitive, the beard oil market is still open for new players with unique selling propositions and promotion strategies. In addition to beard oil, you can sell other men’s skincare products, including night creams, wash gels, shaving foams, lip balms, and more. To build trust with potential customers, create a series of before-and-after photos showing the effectiveness of your products.
Power bank
With the Oberlo dropshipping service, you’ll have no trouble finding power banks from different manufacturers. To promote your products, you can pair SEO marketing with Facebook ads. Be sure to diversify your lineup with other must-have accessories, such as smartphone cases. Using a savvy approach, your online store with smartphone accessories may turn into a highly lucrative business.
Backpack/String bags
A steadily expanding backpack market is yet another attractive side job idea. Over the years, backpacks have become an essential accessory for people of all ages and backgrounds, from office employees to travelers. This trend is backed up by a consistently growing demand for classic men’s backpacks, elegant women’s backpacks, string bags, and more. As you can see, there are multiple audiences to target. Don’t forget to add suitcases to your lineup.
Instagram and Facebook are the best platforms to promote these kinds of products. To be in time for the new school season, launch your marketing campaign in July or August.
Cat-eye sunglasses
If you’re considering your own startup, selling cat-eye sunglasses might be the right idea for you. With a recent leap in sales, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this niche the new El Dorado. More than 3.5 million cat-eye sunglasses are sold around the globe every year. Making cat-eye sunglasses your main focus, you can expand your lineup through other trendy accessories (watches, scarves, etc.). This is a smart way to ensure consistent sales throughout the year.
When it comes to promoting sunglasses, visuals are key. This is why Instagram should be your first choice. Find a fashion-related Instagram account with a strong subscriber base. Discuss the cooperation terms with the account owner and offer them a percentage of sales. To attract fans of other sunglass brands, consider placing ads on Facebook.
Baseball caps
A few years ago, baseball cap sales skyrocketed and now continue to be on an upward swing. With more than 43 million caps sold across the globe every year, the money-making opportunities here are obvious.
Frill dresses
If you’re looking for fashion trends to apply to your business, pay attention to frills. Over the last year, frills have dominated the fashion industry, appearing on dresses, playsuits, and even trousers. Adding a new collection with frills is a great way to spice up your online clothing store.
Bodysuits
Once considered underwear, bodysuits have now reached new fashion heights and become a hot trend. Today, women increasingly use bodysuits as tops. Retailers offer a stunning selection of bodysuits, both for everyday and evening wear. While sales are consistently high throughout the year, bodysuit sales boom on Halloween.
Have we missed something?
Do you have more smart ideas for a side income? Share them in the comments below! What methods of making extra money have you tried?
