Would you like to make more money?
To travel, pay bills, pay off your mortgage or buy your first home? Whatever your reason, it’s possible to make tons of money online and there are many small business ideas you can make money with.
Depending on your interest and skills, you can start a new business and earn an extra $100 , $1000 or up to $5000 a month with opportunities to scale up.
In this post, we have provided a list of 7 perfect business ideas to help you make money while working from home.
This is not an exhaustive list, but what we consider to be among the best because they are low-cost ideas that even a beginner can start.
Why you should start a small business.
A side business will be very helpful to many people.
Owning your own successful business is powerful. Once you know how to combine your skills and passion and you become successful, you will unlock freedom, autonomy, afford more luxuries and basically take more control of your life and how you spend your time.
Your own business will also be a great opportunity to tap into your creativity and gain life-long skills.
What is the Ideal Small business?
- The ideal side business is:
- Flexible
- Makes you money and Has a high earning potential
- Is something you enjoy doing that won’t feel like work
The good news is, depending on your interest, most of the ideas in this post tick all of these boxes! So keep reading to find out more.
What are some good side to start today businesses?
The highest paying side businesses focus on the B2B business model.
The B2B (business to business) model means you offer services to businesses – not individuals. One reason this model is successful is because businesses have more money to spend than individuals. So you’ll most likely earn more if your business offers a service to Businesses rather than individuals.
For me personally, i’ld be happy with any idea that can involve either individuals or businesses. I won’t put all my eggs in one basket. What’s most important is how flexible the idea is and if there are opportunities to scale up.
That said, lets dive into the best online business ideas!
Small Business Ideas to start with little to no money
1. Become a Freelance Writer
The one thing every business owner needs is a content writer. Whether it’s a software company or a fashion store- businesses need people who can help to create content and maintain their online presence. You can write blog posts, newsletters, sales copies or client emails. The pay can vary from a few hundred of dollars to $1000+ depending on the length and type of articles you write.
To begin your career as a freelance writer take a free course to know what it’s all about. Create a profile on freelance marketplaces such as Fiverr or Upwork. Join online communities like Facebook groups of bloggers to find your potential clients.
Thirdly, you can check job boards such as Flexjobs, Probloggerjobs, remotework, Indeed etc.
2. Sell Printables online
Are you looking for a small business idea that is both fun and profitable?
Selling digital printables on Etsy is now the best way to make money online. You can sell templates to individuals as well as to businesses.
A huge community of women are making between at least $1000+ a month selling printables online.
You don’t need previous experience and you don’t need to be a graphic designer to do this. It’s a really good business idea for someone who is very busy but needs that extra money.
Find out more about what kind of printables to make and how to start an Etsy shop in this free workshop.
3. Design Websites for Businesses
You can make money designing websites for businesses if this is your interest.
Its not that difficult to get started if you have an interest in web design. You just have to decide this is what you want to do.
No experience? You can easily learn the basics of website design by watching YouTube tutorials and reading up books on HTML , CSS and JAVASCRIPT.
You can also create websites on Wix, Squarespace and Godaddy without any coding!
Then, you simply have to practice, practice, practice!!!
4. Become a short form video editor.
With platforms like TikTok, YouTube shorts, and Instagram Reels, short form videos have become a staple of social media marketing. Businesses want to create these types of videos to connect with their audience on a personal level.
It’s straight forward to get started if you already have editing skills.
If you are new to this, you can take courses on Skillshare or Udemy to learn video editing.
The not-so-easy part is marketing yourself to potential clients. As you can imagine there are so many people who are good at making short videos. You’ll have to make your self relatable and demonstrate a high level of competency when you reach out to clients.
It’s important to have a portfolio of awesome videos you have created.
Then reach out to potential clients, and offer your services.
5. Start Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is when you promote products and services (that are not yours) and you get a commission for every sale. Typically you sign up to an affiliate program, you find products you want to promote and you get your affiliate link. You then drive traffic to the link.
If someone clicks on your link and buys something, you earn a commission.
You can do affiliate marketing with a blog (Some of the links in this post for instance are affiliate links).
You can also post links on your social media accounts and it doesn’t cost you anything to start.
Not sure how to start?
Take this highly recommended course to learn exactly how to go from $0 to your first affiliate sale.
6. Become a Social Media Manager for Businesses
You can manage social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter) for companies or business owners. There is a high demand for people who can regularly create and upload relevant content to these platforms while the business owner focuses on the business!
You’ll need to be social media savvy. You should have strong communication and writing skills, be creative and know how to respond to comments and DMs.
You should also have a strong understanding of social media platforms and algorithms.
Do you know what makes a post go viral, how can you keep your followers engaged, how do you run giveaways, how can you check analytics to see show well your posts are doing and what you need to improve.
This is a very flexible job that you can do part-time or at night.
Tools that are loved by Freelancers.
Use Keysearch.co ——–> to find keywords
Use speechelo ——–> for professional sounding voice-overs
Use Epidemic sounds ———-> to find copyright free sounds
Use Pexels ——-> to find stock images and videos
Use Canva —–> to design beautiful graphics
Use copy.ai ——> To write content 10x faster
The workload can be intense, especially during peak times or when working with multiple clients. So you’ll need to find a balance between the amount of work you take on and the amount of money you want to make.
To get started, create a portfolio: If you have no experience, you can start by creating mock-up social media pages. For example you could create an Instagram page and add some great content to it.
Then reach out to brands you’d like to work and show them your page so they can see how you can make their accounts look visually appealing. You can also share content ideas for free, and ask for an opportunity to work together.
Another way to find a job is to apply directly to job boards.
7. Become a proofreader
A proofreader is a someone who reads and reviews written content to check for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting errors.
There are some people who spot typos and grammatical errors without trying too hard; this job might be for you if you’re one.
The job of a proofreader is to ensure that the content is error-free and reads smoothly. You can proof read websites, sales copies, books etc
How to get started
A strong command of the language you are proofreading in, knowledge of writing styles, as well as excellent attention to detail is all you need to get started.
This detailed post will tell you everything you need to know about becoming a Proof-reader: How to make money as a Proof reader
So there you have it, great side business ideas. It shouldn’t be too hard to teach yourself and start any of these. Then, reach out to local businesses or companies. If your work is great, you’ll most likely land your first client within a short period.
Further reading
The Business Idea Factory: A World-Class System for Creating Successful Business Ideas
Communication Skills Training: A Practical Guide to Improving Your Social Intelligence
Disclosure
I may get a commission from the amazon associates program or other affiliate programs if you buy something using my link; This is at no cost to you.