Are you searching for the best online business ideas? There are countless ways to learn how to start an online business from home, such as creating an online store, becoming a virtual assistant, or even starting a dog bakery. These are just a few of the many small online business ideas available!
I’ve been running an online business for about 10 years now, and I absolutely love it. My business is blogging at Making Sense of Cents. Blogging is one of my favorite online business ideas because it offers flexibility, no commute, and the freedom to be your own boss. Many online business owners I know also highlight the flexibility as a top benefit, allowing you to work when and where you want, which is perfect for those who want to travel, have kids, or need a side gig.
The great thing about working online is that there are options for almost everyone, including beginners with no experience, creative individuals, and those who want to leverage existing skills. While it takes time to establish your online business, these are all legitimate ideas—not get-rich-quick schemes. Many of these ideas can be started today, so if you’re ready to make extra money, enjoy a flexible schedule, and build a business you love, you can start now!
Here are 22 online business ideas:
1. **Start a Blog**
Blogging is a great online business for beginners. You don’t need previous experience, and many bloggers start from scratch. I started my blog, Making Sense of Cents, in 2011 and have earned over $5,000,000 since then. Blogging allows me to travel full-time and have a flexible schedule. You can learn how to start a blog in my free How To Start a Blog Course.
2. **Sell Items on Amazon**
Selling on Amazon can be a fun online business. Jessica Larrew and her family made over $100,000 in profit their first year with Amazon FBA, working less than 20 hours a week. You can learn more about starting an Amazon business through free training.
3. **Sell Printables from Home**
Selling printables on Etsy can be a great way to make money with minimal investment. Printables are digital products that customers can download and print at home, such as grocery shopping checklists and printable quotes for wall art.
4. **Write Romance Novels**
My friend Yuwanda Black writes romance novels and made over $3,000 in one month. She teaches others how to make money writing and self-publishing romance novels through her free course.
5. **Become a Virtual Assistant**
Virtual assistants (VAs) are in high demand. Tasks can include social media management, content formatting, scheduling, and email management. My friend Kayla earns over $10,000 per month as a VA and teaches others how to do the same through her course.
6. **Help Google Evaluate Search Engine Results**
A Search Engine Evaluator rates websites based on quality and usefulness. This job doesn’t require previous experience and can be done in your native language.
7. **Sell Stickers from Home**
Creating and selling stickers on Etsy is a popular online business. Mim started with no graphic design skills and now earns over $100,000 a year.
8. **Get Paid to Share Your Opinion Online**
While not an online business, you can make extra money by taking paid online surveys. Companies use surveys to gather feedback on their products and services.
9. **Start an Online Store**
You can start your own online store without much experience. Jenn Leach of E-commerce and Prosper has grown three successful online stores, earning an average of $19,000 per month.
10. **Become a Bookkeeper**
Bookkeeping involves tracking finances, handling billing, and making spreadsheets. Ben from Bookkeeper Launch helps people start bookkeeping businesses without prior experience.
11. **Find Items to Resell**
Reselling items can be very profitable. Melissa’s family earned $133,000 in one year through buy-and-sell flipping.
12. **Become an Online Writer**
Freelance writing doesn’t require a background in writing. My friend Holly has earned over $200,000 in a single year from writing online.
13. **Transcribe Audio or Video Files into Text**
Transcription involves converting audio or video content into text. Beginners can earn around $15 an hour, and many jobs don’t require previous experience.
14. **Become a Proofreader**
Proofreading is in high demand. Proofreaders catch writing errors and can work from anywhere. My friend Caitlin made over $43,000 in one year as a freelance proofreader.
15. **Sell Canva Templates from Home**
Canva templates can be sold multiple times, making it a great way to earn extra money. Maliha earns $2,000 each month from selling Canva templates online.
16. **Assist on Podcasts**
There’s a growing demand for podcast virtual assistants to help with tasks like audio editing, marketing, and publication.
17. **Work as a Freelancer**
Freelancers offer services like graphic design, web development, and SEO. You can start finding work on platforms like UpWork and Fiverr.
18. **Become a Voice Over Actor**
Voice over actors provide the voices for videos, ads, and more. Carrie transitioned to a full-time voice over actor in 2014 and now teaches others how to do it.
19. **Manage Facebook Advertising for Small Businesses**
Managing Facebook ads helps businesses expand their market. Bobby Hoyt, a former teacher, now runs a successful digital marketing agency and teaches others how to do the same.
20. **Become a Scopist**
Scopists edit legal documents for court reporters. Linda from Internet Scoping School offers a free course to introduce you to scoping.
21. **Start a Home Dog Bakery**
Baking treats for dogs is popular and can be a fun business if you love pets and baking.
22. **Become a Food Photographer**
Food photographers recreate recipes and take pictures for bloggers. Many make $50,000 to over $100,000 a year.
**How do you brainstorm online business ideas?**
To brainstorm online business ideas, look at the options above, make a list of your interests, and see if any business ideas pop up.
**What is the best online business to start now?**
The best online business depends on the person. My favorite is blogging, but others might prefer starting an online store. Create a pros and cons list for each idea you’re interested in.
**What are the best online business ideas for students?**
There are many online jobs available for college students, offering flexibility and no commute. Check out 16 Best Online Jobs For College Students for more options.
**What kind of online business is most profitable?**
Blogging can be very profitable. I’ve made over $5,000,000 from my blog in the past 10 years, though it takes a lot of work and time.
**How can I start an online business?**
Once you find an idea you like, list the steps needed to get started. Many online businesses can be started on the side of your day job.
**How do I start an online business for free?**
Many businesses on this list can be started for free if you have a computer and internet connection. Freelancing is a great option to start without spending money on training.
**What else can I do to make extra money?**
There are many ways to make extra money, such as:
– 12 Passive Income Ideas That Will Let You Enjoy Life More
– 17 Best Online Jobs To Make $1,000+ A Month
– How To Make $100 A Day
– 16 Free Work From Home Courses & Resources
– Ways To Make An Extra $1,000 A Month
Are you interested in any of the online business ideas above? What do you do to make extra money?