70 Small Business Ideas for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in 2024

Qualities of a good small business idea

Your small business idea should fit your budget, skills, and schedule. It should also meet a market need and have the potential to generate sustainable, long-term profit.

Here's a closer look at what makes a strong small business idea:

Market demand

Good small business ideas solve clear problems for specific groups of people. Before moving forward with an idea, research your target market, customer needs, and competitors' solutions. Study your industry's market trends, customer surveys, and sales data to see what consumers and businesses are doing.

Competitive advantage

How you meet market demand also matters. Competitive businesses often have original approaches that set them apart. This could be a new product, a unique selling proposition, or a competitive pricing strategy. Analyze your competitors to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and develop a business plan that capitalizes on any gaps.

Scalability

Scalability is about the potential for growth and expansion. Can your business idea grow without hitting geographical, financial, or market limits? Many scalable businesses leverage ecommerce platforms to reach global audiences without a physical investment.

Low barrier to entry

Businesses are easier to start when they have lower initial costs, fewer regulatory requirements, less need for specialized training, and minimal technology needs. For example, business ideas like creating freelance content or opening a dropshipping store require minimal setup and no upfront capital.

Profitability

Ultimately, a small business idea needs to make money. Try to estimate potential profits and build a financial model based on predicted sales and operational costs.

Sustainability

Will your small business be part of a growing industry or a trend that's already peaked? Will your operations align with environmental, social, and regulatory expectations? Sustainable businesses not only benefit from increased consumer trust but also set themselves up for long-term success.

Best small business ideas

By using your existing skills and some readymade online tools, it's easier than you might think to launch a small business. Here are some small business ideas that you can start today.

1. T-shirt designer

Websites and apps that offer print-on-demand services are perfect for small businesses. With them, you can sell custom products like t-shirts without worrying about manufacturing, shipping, or pre-paying for inventory.

Print on demand is the process of choosing products from a catalog and customizing them with your designs. A print-on-demand company will produce and ship your t-shirts as orders come in. This allows you to create and sell original shirts and other items with branding and unique visuals.

T-shirts, hats, hoodies, tote bags, and more become canvases for your creativity. Create shirts with witty slogans for developers or cute graphics for cat owners. If there’s passion and pride within a community, a potential print-on-demand t-shirt business is waiting to be started.

If you’re not a designer, hire one from freelancer sites like Fiverr, Upwork, Dribbble, or 99Designs. You can even use t-shirt mockup templates, so you won’t need to spend money on a photoshoot to model your designs.

2. Digital freelancer

A freelance service business is another simple form of self-employment. When you offer a service, “time” is your inventory and your biggest investment. That makes it easy to get up and running if you have in-demand skills and a few spare hours each week.

Writers, graphic designers, virtual assistants, SEO practitioners, developers, and others can build a business around their skills. You could offer your expertise as an ongoing service or start a consulting business that advises on projects.

Once you’ve found your first customers, try apps like BookThatApp or Acerill Appointment Booking for easy booking and appointment management.

You can also offer your services through a freelance marketplace like Upwork to increase your chances of being discovered by people who need your skills.

3. Affiliate marketer

Affiliate marketing refers to a performance-based marketing tactic where a business pays people to promote products for them. Every time an affiliate brings in a new customer, they receive a commission from the business.

Affiliates can promote products on their blogs, social media accounts, websites, or in communities. For many, affiliate marketing is a low-cost way to earn passive income.

To join an affiliate program, do the following:

1. Find an affiliate program on sites like ShareASale, CJ, or LinkShare
2. Choose offers you want to promote
3. Get an affiliate link
4. Promote that link across your assets
5. Get a commission every time someone signs up or makes a purchase through your link

Commission rates vary, depending on the company and the retail price of products. You could earn as low as 5% for each sale, while some commissions can be as high as 50% if you’re promoting a class or event. Some affiliate programs also offer a flat rate versus a percentage.

4. House or pet sitter

House and pet sitting are good business ideas to start if you feel comfortable caring for and staying in a stranger’s home, potentially with their pets.

You can create an online store to market and sell your services, or register for an account on dedicated home and pet care apps. Here are some examples:

• HouseSitter.com: This website is for both house and pet sitting. You can create a profile and apply to postings. People who need house/pet sitting can also browse sitters and reach out to them.
• Rover: Rover is a website and app specifically for pet sitting. On it, you can create a profile and apply to gigs. These arrangements include drop-in visits but not overnight visits (or house sitting).
• Care.com: Care.com is a listing site where pet sitters can create a profile and list their experience. You can also apply to jobs posted by people seeking pet sitters. Care.com is a good site to use if you offer senior care, tutoring, housekeeping, and child care services.
• TrustedHousesitters: TrustedHousesitters is a great place to start if you need experience or testimonials. The platform specifically prohibits paid gigs, so these arrangements are viewed more as an exchange—you get a free place to stay, and they get free sitting.

Consider that some pet sitters offer on-site services while others care for pets in their own homes. You can even add a dog-walking element to appeal to a wider range of people.

5. Tutor

Tutoring school kids or adults who want to learn a new skill can bring in extra income around your regular working hours. You might be great at math, playing the drums, or speaking French, so why not teach others?

Promote your tutoring services on local Facebook groups and in nearby schools to get the word out and build up your client base. If you're planning to create courses for your students, start by watching this guide to making online courses.

6. Personal assistant

Becoming a personal assistant requires little upfront expenditure and means you can work with a range of businesses. You’ll essentially be helping business owners take care of admin tasks, like booking appointments, responding to emails, and taking notes in meetings.

Start by networking with business owners on LinkedIn to build relationships and market your services. Creative effective Linkedin marketing strategies with these tips.

7. Dog walker

Dog walking is a fun and rewarding job (and you get a bit of exercise at the same time). Build a dog walking business by checking your local state laws to see what licensing and insurance you’ll need, then set up a website to advertise your dog walking services. If you don’t want to manage the administrative aspects, sign up with a company like Rover, a directory that owners can use to connect with potential dog walkers.

8. Airbnb host

You don’t need a fancy second home to become an Airbnb host—in fact, the accommodation platform originally started as a way for homeowners to temporarily rent out their spare room for extra cash. If you have the extra space in your house, you can create an account with Airbnb and rent it out at weekends, for overnight stays, or whenever suits you.

Like the idea of running a rental business? Here are some other rental business ideas to consider.

9. Baker

Are you always called on to bake cakes and sweet treats for your friends and family? If the answer is yes, you can sell baked goods to locals in your community. In addition to baking cakes for birthdays and events, your bakery business plan could also include creating batches of baked goods to sell in local coffee shops and cafés, or distribute more broadly through an online store.

10. House cleaner

If you’re a stickler for cleanliness, starting a cleaning business can be a fulfilling way to make money. Create a batch of flyers to stick through doors in your neighborhood and advertise your services on local Facebook groups. If you do a good job, chances are word of mouth will help you organically pick up customers.

11. Car washer

Car washing has long been a source of fundraising for high schoolers, but it can also work as a business for adults too. If you’ve got space outside your house or a nearby yard, you can offer car washing and valeting services to locals. Alternatively, you can go door-to-door to hand out flyers and wash cars on the road while you build up your business.

Best businesses to start with little money

Short on cash and want to start a small business? Check out these cost-effective businesses you can start today.

12. Dropshipping store owner

Dropshipping is a fulfillment model where a third-party supplier stores and ships inventory to customers on your behalf. It’s one of the best businesses to start, because it’s low overhead, hands-off, and scalable.

You don’t need to handle any products yourself—you just need to make the sales and pass orders on to your supplier. In fact, it’s one of the quickest and cheapest businesses to start.

You can curate products from one or more suppliers into your own online store under a theme that focuses on a specific dropshipping niche, like gear for yoga enthusiasts or water bowls for dogs. When a customer buys a product from you, the order is sent to your supplier, who fulfills it on your behalf. However, you are still responsible for marketing and customer service.

Dropshipping is a great way to sell trending products and launch a business before you invest in your own original products.

13. Influencer

In today’s connected world, the ability to capture and keep the attention of others is an asset. It’s one many businesses are willing to pay for and one many creators are able to convert into a business with multiple revenue streams.

Whether you choose to grow your following on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or a blog (or, ideally, on a combination of different channels), you have many avenues for monetizing your audience:

• Sponsored posts on behalf of brands
• Becoming an influencer
• Selling physical or digital products (via any of the ideas on this list)
• Patreon
• A combination of the above (they’re not mutually exclusive)

Taking an audience-first approach to your small business idea means you’re playing the long game (it might be months until you’ve figured it out). But you don’t need millions of followers to do it: Instagrammer Kat Gaskin, for example, pulled off a $10,000 product launch with only 3,000 followers.

14. Child care provider

The rise in demand for child care services with a decreasing supply is a perfect combination for starting a new business. If you enjoy taking care of kids and can get the proper licenses, a new child care business could be a good business idea for you.

Daycares are a particularly good business idea for parents looking to make money from home.

15. Handy-person

Everyone has a go-to maintenance specialist in their family. You know, the person who’s always doom chores around the house: a plumbing issue, installing tile, cleaning out gutters, putting up a fence. They’re always the person friends and family call on for odd jobs. If this is you, why not get paid for your work?

The home repair and improvement industry sits at around $540 billion in market value. Whether it’s fixing a boiler or building a patio deck, if you’re someone who likes to fix things, this could be a lucrative business for you.

16. Life coach

Life coaches help people navigate career changes and build wellness lifestyles they love. If you’re good at helping people make decisions, are a great communicator, and enjoy guiding people toward their dream lives, this could be a good business idea for you. You’ll need a qualification to get started, but otherwise, you can start picking clients up on social media, via local advertising, and, eventually, through word-of-mouth marketing.

17. Consultant

If you’re a specialist in a certain area or have deep knowledge of a particular subject, you can monetize that by opening a consultancy. For example, you might decide to offer consultancy services to companies looking to improve their hiring practices or, if you’re skilled at search engine optimization, you might open a business offering your knowledge as a service.

18. Newsletter author

Newsletters offer a direct line of communication to a prebuilt audience. If you’ve got an online presence and knowledge to share, consider starting a newsletter business. There’s little you need to get started—just an email marketing provider and a way to generate subscribers—then you can make money selling sponsorships, products, or services directly through your newsletter. Alternatively, when the numbers are high enough, you can charge subscribers to receive your newsletter in a subscription-style model.

19. Bike mechanic

Love fixing bikes? Start a business repairing and building bikes for your local neighborhood. Advertise your services in local Facebook groups, draw up some flyers to stick around local shops, and create a simple website to get the word out.

At-home business ideas

You can also start your own business at home, giving you complete flexibility and freedom. Whether you’re interested in writing a book, creating digital courses, or managing social media for brands, there are numerous opportunities for home-based businesses.

20. Self-published author

Cookbooks, picture books, comic books, poetry books, photo books, coffee table books, and novels—if you’ve got the knowledge or creativity, there are a variety of original books you can bring to the market. The options are endless—that’s why it’s one of the best small business ideas to start.

Print on demand book services are a safe way to test the waters and get started with self-publishing. It also gives you control over the quality and look of your book.

Lulu xPress and Blurb are popular platforms to create, order, and distribute your own books as physical and digital products. You could also sell it on third-party marketplaces like Amazon.

While you can order one book at a time, costs naturally go down when you buy in bulk. Consider preselling or crowdfunding your book idea to ensure there’s demand, and guarantee a certain number of sales so you can feel confident making a bulk order. Publishing your own book can be a great way to monetize a blog if you have or are looking to start one.

21. Digital creator

Digital products like music, courses, podcasts, and templates are unique on this list of low-investment small business ideas. Unlike the others, they’re not tangible. There aren’t recurring manufacturing or shipping costs to worry about, so your margins can remain high, making it another no-brainer for being one of the best businesses to start.

The trick is figuring out what makes for a good digital product, and how much people are willing to pay for it.

Some good digital products include original instrumental beats, stock photos that can be licensed to other creators, and information products and templates that help people level up their skill sets in a particular field.

If you’ve got a talent that can be turned into a digital product, think about packaging it into a new stream of income.

Shopify's has a free Digital Downloads app that lets you offer digital products in your store as easily as physical products.

22. App developer

Creating a million-dollar app business is not easy. In fact, 99.5% of consumer apps fail. Most apps don’t have product-market fit, need a ton of marketing, and are costly to create.

So, why include this business idea? Because consumer app development isn’t the only path for entrepreneurs. New B2B apps for the Shopify App Store crop up daily, with a market of motivated businesses eager to find the tools they need. By offering a simple solution to a common problem encountered by website designers or store owners, you can generate a healthy profit.

23. Coffee seller

Selling coffee can be profitable with a strong brand and the right marketing plan. Sure, coffee has a lot of competition. But that shouldn’t scare you away from this multi-billion-dollar industry. Selling a high-commodity product like coffee has many benefits:

• There is a high volume of customers.
• Customers typically associate small brands as having a higher quality than corporate brands.
• There are many positioning opportunities.

Because coffee is so widely available, it’s easier to sell. People already want coffee—you only need to make them want your coffee.

24. Social media management consultant

In 2024, there are more than 5 billion active social media users around the world. That’s over 60% of the world’s population. Between YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok, and all the other social networks available⁠—brands need help managing their accounts.

A social media manager is responsible for creating and analyzing content for brands’ social accounts. Clients will pay you to create engaging content, write attractive bios, respond to comments, run ads, and more. You could charge by the hour or by project rate.

25. Résumé writer

Resumes are crucial to landing a new job, so if you’ve had good responses from previous employers, consider helping job seekers optimize theirs. You can offer two different services:

1. Writing résumés and cover letters from scratch
2. Improving and optimizing existing résumés

It’s often much more difficult for us to write our own résumés than it is for an objective third party. Use this to your advantage and sell résumé writing services on your website or social media, or via local recruitment centers.

26. Translator

Are you fluent in another language? If the answer is yes, you have a great in-demand skill under your belt. Translators can do everything from translating website copy from one language to another to translating in-person conversations. Consider specializing in a specific form of translation, such as translating medical journals or finance publications. Then, create a website to advertise your services or create flyers to drop through doors.

27. Travel planner

If you’re always the person who gets asked to plan upcoming trips, there might be a career for you in travel planning. While people are using travel agents less and less, there’s still a market for bespoke, luxury travel planning. Set up a website and start advertising your services on social media to generate interest.

28. Virtual assistant

Similarly to personal assistants, virtual assistants help business owners manage tasks they don’t have time for. The only difference is virtual assistants don’t have to be in the same city (or even the same country) as the businesses they work for. Virtual assistant services vary wildly and can include social media work, graphic design, general admin, and sales.

29. Developer

The growing digital landscape calls for more coders (also known as developers). These are the people who build websites from the back end, turn designs into fully functional sites, and build apps from scratch. There are online courses you can take that arm you with the basics, but the best way to improve your coding skills is to practice. Build a website to showcase your skills, reach out to brands you’d like to work with, and create a portfolio of websites and apps.

30. Data entry clerk

Every business uses data, which means data entry clerks play an important role in collecting, storing, and managing vast quantities of information. If you love a spreadsheet or are well-versed in setting up systems and processes, this could be the business for you. Start by reaching out to local businesses to offer your services and promote your business on social media to reach a wider range of potential clients.

31. Content creator

There are more than 200 million content creators—a positive sign the creator economy is a blossoming industry to get involved in. Content creators are people who post videos, stories, and content on social media to build an audience and make money. This can be done via brand partnerships, product promotions, selling products, or advertising revenue. If you already create content and enjoy sharing stories on social media, it may be a no-brainer to become a content creator.

32. Digital designer

Digital products include templates, journals, checklists, guides, and designs people can download and use from the comfort of their homes. It’s easy to experiment with a variety of different product types to see what sells—simply use a design tool like Canva to design your downloads, and create a website or use a marketplace like Etsy to sell them on.

33. Bookkeeper

Good with numbers? Why not start a bookkeeping business? You’ll be in charge of monitoring and recording small business accounts each month to make sure your clients are on top of their finances. You might need a relevant degree or certification before you get started, but once your business is set up you can work with clients from the comfort of your own home.

Unique small business ideas

Small business owners can also be innovative and make an impact on people’s lives. Want to change the game in a particular market? Check out the ideas below.

34. Nonprofit founder

Starting a nonprofit organization isn’t the only path you can take to help fund a better world.

Having a mission to go along with a business and setting aside some profit for a cause gives social entrepreneurs a unique way to position their company in the market while addressing the issues they care about most.

While many social enterprises offer their own original products, you can also take any of the low-cost small business ideas above and partner with a nonprofit or execute that social good with your own hands, as long as you’re transparent about how it works.

The Give & Grow Donations Shopify app makes it easy to partner with charitable organizations and incorporate your mission into your business. You can set it up to donate a specific amount or a percentage of sales or ask your customers to add a donation at checkout.

35. Pet business owner

The pet industry is an industry that’s worth more than $300 billion and ripe with opportunities. Your pet business could be product- or service-based—selling accessories, food, or toys, or offering grooming, walking, or training expertise.

Perkie Prints makes personalized printed pet products—everything from apparel to framed prints, plus fun projects in between. On the service side of things, Let the Dog Out offers dog walking and “bathroom breaks” to its customers.

36. Membership program founder

Online memberships are ideal for entrepreneurs with an established active and engaged community. They work much like a subscription-based business—customers make recurring payments in exchange for a virtual product or service.

Memberships are great for managing members-only access to content on a website, and even for physical businesses that offer guided sessions online. Yoga studios, gyms, clubs, and art schools are a few examples of businesses that can take advantage of this business model.

It’s easy to start your membership-based business with Shopify. Set up a new product just like you would for a physical product, but create a name and description that tells people about your membership services.

37. Virtual event planner

Virtual event planning is a profitable business idea if you enjoy organizing and connecting people. The significant rise in business events and the adoption of virtual tools for conducting meetings will keep this market growth high. As a virtual event planner, you’ll be responsible for creating virtual conferences, networking opportunities, and educational sessions for companies around the world.

38. Landscape gardener

Got a love for nature and outdoor design? A landscaping business is a great option for you. Landscaping, also referred to as lawn care, means modifying and maintaining the visible features of an area of land. You’re responsible for creating beauty out of natural, living elements like flowers, grass, and trees.

There’s growing interest in landscape maintenance among younger households, with seasonal demand making landscaping a potential summer business idea. Competition in the market is moderate. You’ll face a few leading landscaping companies, like TruGreen, as well as smaller local service providers.

39. Vending machine owner

Here’s a unique business idea: vending machines. Yes, there’s money to be made with vending machines. Though the industry took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, projections indicate vending machines will bounce back.

Offer the right products at the right location to make your vending business a success. Do your research to find high-traffic areas, who is walking by, and what they might need at that moment. Consider the various airport vending machines. You’ll find the expected vending machines with snacks and drinks, but there are also machines with makeup and accessories, like phone chargers and headphones. With a strategic approach, vending machines can be a profitable business with a small investment, and an overall great business idea.

40. Online dating consultant

Consider yourself a bit of a matchmaker? Become an online dating consultant and help singles find love. Besides helping people set up online dating profiles, you can source potential matches, and offer coaching through the initial first dates. Try it out on some willing friends first and use these success stories to promote your services to other singles.

41. Personal trainer

If you enjoy going to the gym and staying active, consider starting a personal training business. You’ll need a qualification to get started, but once that’s in place you can build up a roster of clients who regularly come to work out with you.

Take it a step further and offer personalized training plans, nutrition advice, and exercise mentoring to make additional income. You can advertise your business on local Facebook groups, create flyers to stick around the neighborhood, or create a website to attract remote clients that you can train with via video call.

42. Personal chef

If you love to cook and often find yourself hosting delicious dinner parties for friends and family, a personal chef business might be for you. Start small by cooking meals for your neighbors’ dinner parties and expand to include downloadable menus and personalized multicourse meal plans. It can help to specialize in a specific cuisine or style of cooking to build up your name, such as vegetarian meals or Japanese dishes.

43. Meal prep specialist

Meal prepping is all the rage as people’s lives get busier—just take a look at the success of meal subscription boxes like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron.

Tackle this pain point by offering a meal prep service where you batch-cook food for the week and deliver it to your clients. You can even enhance segments of your meal prep by offering related food, like a line of condiments. Promote your business locally and hand deliver meals or advertise online to a wider audience and send meal boxes by post.

44. Mover

If you’ve got a truck and enjoy physical labor, consider opening a moving company. Make sure you’ve got the correct permits and insurance to start and then build up a name for yourself by sending out flyers, advertising on local Facebook groups, and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals.

45. Voiceover artist

Got a voice smoother than Morgan Freeman’s? Become a voiceover artist who narrates television adverts and online videos. The sheer popularity of video today means there’s plenty of work to go around. Set up a website to advertise your services and sign up for voiceover directories to connect with potential clients.

46. Tour guide

Becoming a tour guide can be a fun way to show people around your city, especially if you enjoy and are knowledgeable about the local history. Consider differentiating your business from other tour guides by focusing on a specific activity, like food, music, or culture. Advertise your services online and create flyers to distribute in well-known tourist spots.

47. Masterclass host

While tutoring often takes place in person, you can also share your subject expertise to groups of people online by teaching online masterclasses. Decide what skill or activity you’ll teach and advertise your services online or through local Facebook groups. As well as teaching subjects like accounting or dance, you can also teach workshops on topics like cooking and wine tasting.

48. Professional organizer

If you’re known as the “organized one” in your group, consider starting a business as a professional organizer who helps people declutter and restore order in their homes. It can be really difficult for people to juggle day jobs and organize their homes to a high standard, so you might find yourself in high demand. This job is obviously geared more toward a local client base, so rely on local Facebook groups, handing out flyers, and word-of-mouth referrals; you can also increase your revenue with organizational videos and paid downloadables.

49. Personal shopper

Personal shoppers help their clients find the right clothes, furniture, or jewelry. If you’ve got a good eye for fashion or interior design, this can be a rewarding way to make money. Start by choosing what kind of personal shopper you’d like to be and then advertise your services locally via Facebook or flyers to spread the word.

Creative small business ideas

Start an exciting business that explores your creativity and self-expression with the following ideas.

50. Poster and card illustrator

If you’ve already got an engaged online following—say you’re a cartoonist or an urban photographer—you’re in an especially good position to sell your art online.

Depending on the printer you work with, you can turn your work into products such as posters, framed wall art, or even greeting cards. There are plenty of low-cost digital templates and mockup generators like Placeit that you can use to showcase your products without having to print out each item and conduct your own photoshoots.

51. Online boutique owner

If you love fashion and sharing your sense of style, you can consider creating your own online fashion boutique. You don’t need to become a fashion designer—you can curate items from other vendors into your own online store (using the dropshipping model we discussed earlier).

Dresses, shoes, swimwear, accessories, and more—you can build your own fashion brand using one of several product-sourcing apps, model them on your own with product photos and social media posts, and build an online following as a trendsetter. Apps like MyOnlineFashionStore let you import various styles into your Shopify store.

52. Crafts-person

If you’re a maker—whether that’s DIY soap, candles, sauces, or pottery—you’re in a position to find a small business idea, because product development and procurement are literally in your hands.

Unlike many of the other ideas on this list, you will need to consider shipping and inventory management, but you can start out simple on a per-order basis or with a small batch until you start generating consistent sales.

In fact, many makers on Shopify started out with a home business idea, selling on Etsy or eBay, or to friends and family through word of mouth, and grew into full-time small business owners after establishing demand for their products.

Just be mindful of any regulations in your product category, especially for anything customers will eat, inhale, or put on their skin.

53. Photographer

Got a passion for taking photos? Turn your hobby into a full-time online photography business. Today, you don’t just have to sell services for weddings and corporate ad campaigns. You can easily set up a store and sell prints, posters, NFTs, and more. Or you can sell your photos on stock photography sites.

54. Beauty entrepreneur

The beauty industry really pulled through the pandemic and the momentum continues to build. Businesses that sell online with unique positioning and enhanced delivery services will continue to win.

Some product ideas with high demand are:

• Personal care products like hand soap and sanitizer
• At-home spa rituals like face masks
• Beauty technology like massage guns, smart mirrors, and makeup refrigerators

Consider launching a makeup brand or a hair care line and targeting a specific audience segment, like curly girls or teens.

55. Phone accessories

Because so many people own mobile phones now, there’s a huge market for phone accessories. And there are many different ways you can go with these accessories—print-on-demand, handmade, niche by product type, dropshipping, and more.

Some ideas for phone accessories to sell include:

• Phone cases
• Car and desk holders
• Tripods
• Charms
• Earbuds/headphones
• Bluetooth speakers
• Portable chargers
• Wireless chargers

When listing your phone accessories for sale, remember to include which devices they’re compatible with. You don’t want to create a negative yet avoidable experience for customers who receive an item they can’t even use.

56. Subscription box brand

If you’re not interested in creating your own products to sell, you can curate them. One of the best small business ideas is to sell subscription boxes with curated products that follow a certain theme.

One of the great parts about subscription boxes is you can create them for pretty much every niche out there. For example, featuring merchants and makers in your community is one of the best local business ideas for subscription boxes. You can also go for themes like yoga, beer brewing, or pets—the possibilities are limitless.

Like memberships, subscriptions are good business ideas to start because they create a recurring revenue stream. People have to proactively cancel their subscription if they don’t want to continue paying for it.

Subscriptions also lend themselves to collaboration. When you curate products from different merchants, you can get in front of their audiences—a whole group of potential new subscribers.

57. Alterations specialist

People will always need a button sewn back on or a hem altered. If you’re good with a sewing machine, you could be the person to do it. Start small by offering to hem or mend your neighbors’ clothes and, as you grow, add services to your repertoire like dressmaking and alterations.

58. Makeup artist

If you love makeup and enjoy making others look good, start a business as a makeup artist. You can offer your services for weddings, photoshoots, or special occasions and decide whether you want to work with locals or are willing to travel to build your client base. As well as advertising your services on local Facebook groups, create a website and flyers where people can find out more about what you offer.

59. Furniture restorer/upcycler

Furniture upcycling gained huge momentum during the pandemic as people upgraded their living space. If you’ve picked up a few restoration skills along the way and enjoy refurbishing a well-loved piece of furniture, why not open a furniture restoration or upcycling business? You can either buy items from local charity shops or reclamation centers to do up and sell, or you can offer to upcycle people’s existing furniture.

Physical small business ideas

These business ideas may appeal to those who enjoy face-to-face interaction and tangible services. People who are passionate about creating active income streams might find these business ideas appealing, as they require a personal touch and physical presence to succeed.

60. B&B owner

Opening a B&B isn’t a small feat, but if you’ve dreamed of creating a cozy place for travelers to stay in your area, it could be a great business idea for you. You’ll need a big enough space to get started, but after that, you can decide what theme you want your B&B to take on, what packages you’ll offer to guests, and how you’ll create a welcoming experience that keeps people coming back.

61. Delicatessen

If you’re a specialist in a specific type of food (or you simply love a specific product), consider opening up a dedicated food store. Whether it’s cheese, wine, craft beers, or specialty olive oil, you can create a commercial hub for like-minded people to share your passion. As well as sourcing products from local makers, you can use your store to host relevant events, like wine tasting or cheesemaking for extra income.

62. Food truck operator

Food trucks cost less upfront than a restaurant because you only need a vehicle and the cooking equipment to get started. Set yourself up for success by narrowing your offerings down to a specific cuisine or food type—remember, you have limited space in a food truck.

If you don’t want to (or can’t afford to) buy a truck upfront, you can always lease one from a company like the Food Truck Group to get you on your feet. If you’re successful, you can open a restaurant later on down the line, just like The Cheese Bar.

63. Massage therapist

Trained massage therapists are always in high demand. There are three ways you can operate your massage business:

1. Visit client homes to provide massages.
2. Open a salon where clients can come to you.
3. Work on a contract basis for a chiropractor, salon, or acupuncturist.

You’ll need a qualification to get started, but once you’re all set up you can expand your list of services to include other beauty and relaxation treatments.

64. Barista

Turn your love of coffee into a physical coffee shop. Choose to invest in a franchise or start your own coffee shop from scratch. Once you’re set up, you can differentiate your business from competitors by running in-house events, offering special deals, and turning your coffee shop into a valuable community hub.

How to start a small business

To start a small business, you need a plan as well as a dream. To put the wheels in motion, follow these steps:

1. Use the time you have available: It’s good to have a balance of ambition and realism with your business aspirations.
2. Identify a new business idea: This could come from your personal interests, a market opportunity, an experience—anywhere, really.
3. Validate your business idea: This is where you identify if your idea is viable or not. Are people willing to spend money on this?
4. Find a business name: A strong name should be short and simple, memorable, and original. If you need help, use a business name generator.
5. Make a plan: Your business plan is critical for keeping your business on track, as well as securing partners, investors, lenders, and more.
6. Understand business finances: Open your business bank accounts, secure funding, and set up strong bookkeeping and accounting processes. It might be a good idea to build out your goals in a business plan template to help secure funding.
7. Develop your product or service: The fun part! This is where you bring your product or service idea to life.
8. Pick a business structure: Your business structure influences taxes, operations, personal liability, and more. Choosing the right business structure is about balancing the legal and financial protections you need with the flexibility offered by different options.
9. Research licenses and regulations: Your business is subject to the laws governing businesses in your area, as well as laws and regulations specific to your industry. It’s important to understand this to avoid bigger problems down the road.
10. Select your software systems: Accounting, email, ads, project management—you need an entire tech stack to run your business.
11. Find a business location: Identify where you can open up a shop based on space, retail needs, and fulfillment needs.
12. Plan workload and team size: If you plan to do all of the work yourself, you’re limited by the time you have available to invest. If you plan on hiring help, you’ll need to account for those costs—as well as the time involved in finding and onboarding freelancers or employees.
13. Launch your business: Leverage your network, build buzz with promotions, and test paid ads to get word out about your newly launched business.

Generating small business ideas

There are many ways to come up with profitable business ideas of your own. You or someone you know might have a poor personal experience with a company—and you know you can do better.

Or, maybe there’s a gap in the market: for example, demand for a specific product but no one meeting it. Other ideas come from everyday moments, in the shower or right before you fall asleep.

Brainstorming business ideas

If you’re feeling stuck on good business ideas, keep a brainstorming board. Whether tactile or digital, create a place to put down your ideas whenever they come to mind. Then, revisit your notes with fresh eyes.

There’s power in numbers, too. Recruit help from colleagues or friends and family to brainstorm new ideas. Survey your existing customer base or audiences and get their ideas. Look at what people are saying on social media or searching for online. Start with lots of ideas and then refine your list to the top ideas to explore further.

Protecting small business ideas

Most business owners have a few options when it comes to legal protection of their small business ideas, both now and in the future. The right one depends largely on the types of businesses you’re talking about.

• Copyright: Copyrighting protects your intellectual property, meaning others can’t use it without your permission. This applies to text, art, photography, music, graphic design, and similar mediums.
• Trademark: Trademarking is another intellectual property protection. Essentially, you “own” a word, phrase, logo, symbol, or design—preventing others from using it.
• Patent: Patents are applicable for inventions—a patent prohibits anyone else from making, selling, or using your invention in their business for a period of time.
• Confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs): These legal documents prohibit people from sharing information, as outlined in the NDA.
• Noncompete agreement: If you hire employees or contractors, you can have them sign this document, which prevents them from working with direct competitors.
• Work-for-hire agreement: Another document—this one is only for employees—that means any work they do during their term of employment belongs to the employer, not the individual.

Funding a business idea

One of the toughest but most important parts of starting a business is finding the money to get your idea off the ground. There are a few ways to get funding for your business idea.

• Small business loans: Shopify Capital offers funding for eligible merchants, who can apply to receive between up to $5 million in capital to grow their business.
• Investors: Lots of investors look for the next big thing—the types of businesses that go viral. Craft a pitch for your business idea to present to investors.
• Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding is similar to getting investors, except you need lots of investors who are each willing to make a small financial commitment.
• Fund it yourself: It’s not realistic for everyone, but less expensive business ideas make it easier to come up with the cash yourself. Just be aware of the risks involved.

Got your business idea? Now start

Thanks to the latest commerce tools, third-party suppliers, and the ability to quickly test ideas online, it’s easier than ever to build a successful business and start making sales without getting caught up in sourcing products, renting space, and managing inventory.

The small business ideas above can be implemented directly, morphed into an original idea, or even combined to start a business that’s uniquely yours. If the idea of sourcing, storing, and shipping inventory has kept you from starting a business before, begin with an inventory-free, low-cost business model and grow from there.

The world of self-employment can be challenging, but with a little hard work and know-how, you can work toward building your own business.