The 10 Best International Business Ideas For 2024

The modern business world is global, with the most successful companies operating in the major countries and cities worldwide. 

Whether you're interested in exporting goods or capitalizing on international trade with an import-export business, there are many opportunities for you to expand your career horizons.

This guide presents a selection of inspirational business ideas you can tackle to reach countries and increase revenue streams.

The 10 Best International Business Ideas In 2024

If you're happy working closely with foreign investors and have an aptitude for global trade, setting up an international business could be for you. 

We've selected a broad range of international businesses you can consider, from an import-export business to a digital marketing agency. 

So, whatever your skills or background are, here's our list of the 10 best international business ideas for 2024:

10. Online Courses

Thanks to the rise of video conferencing apps and e-learning tools, setting up a company selling online courses is a potentially profitable business. 

Online courses can cover all types of subjects and can be designed to cater to specific niche industries for the global market. 

With no labor costs to consider, you can get started on your own, creating a business plan to outline the various courses you want to sell. 

You can also use a blog website builder to create a site to share articles on the subject and promote your courses to readers.

Many international businesses need high-level training for their employees, so understanding your target market is crucial. 

As such, online courses that demonstrate expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence or venture capital are in high demand.

Another great aspect of selling online courses is how easily they can be integrated into other businesses to increase your revenue streams. 

For example, if you've started a makeup line, you can complement this with a series of makeup tutorials and courses for your customers. 

It's a great business model for individuals with excellent organizational skills and fluency with language looking to start a lucrative business.

9. Event Planning

One of the best solopreneur business ideas you can consider is working as an event planner for international weddings and other events. 

Event planning is a growing market that involves participation in many countries and helping host corporate or private events. 

It can include working with major international firms to put on events showcasing their latest products to investors and distributors.

Event planning can also include working with individuals to help them arrange everything from family reunions to wedding anniversaries. 

If you're considering becoming an event planner and setting up an international business, you'll need a strong online presence to promote your services.

This can be accomplished by using a website builder to establish a site to share your services and rates with potential customers.

You'll also need to have a broad range of contacts on a global scale, including catering services and venues to hold each event. 

It's a demanding role, so expect to deal with clients regularly and have a strong and clear communication style.

8. Travel Agency

People who love to go on vacation and have traveled around the world can earn good money by launching a career as a travel agent. 

The role of a travel agent requires interacting with various foreign companies to secure the best deals for potential clients. 

You'll be working closely with hotel management and liaising with international airlines to provide the best possible packages.

In order to make your travel agency a success, you'll need to set up a website where clients can view your deals and contact you for information. 

There are many excellent website templates you can use to get started and save money and time with otherwise costly web development.

This website can be used to promote specific package deals, as well as share information on informative tours holidaymakers can enjoy. 

Bring a personal touch to the site, writing engaging blog posts that touch on your own experiences at a given destination.

Share any photos or videos you have, backing up your written content with visually interesting resources. 

It's an excellent idea for an international business for people who love the many diverse experiences the world has to offer.

7. Licensing

Another popular international business idea you can consider starting is licensing, which involves using a brand name owned by other companies.

One of the main roles this entails is drafting a licensing agreement that stipulates the terms and conditions of the use of a brand.

For instance, if you're collaborating with a company that makes T-shirts, the licensing agreement will outline what images can be used.

It will also cover a range of financial considerations, for instance, the revenue sharing model when assessing profits made.

Any trademark, intellectual property, or patent can be licensed, making it a broad international business with lots of scope.

Many businesses use licensing agreements to enhance their international scope and reach otherwise inaccessible markets.

Another common reason a business would use licensing is to avoid trade barriers and import taxes that keep profit margins down.

It's also one of the best international business ideas for low risk and requires minimal capital to get the company up and running.

6. Bookkeeping

One of the biggest potential barriers to setting up a business that deals with international trade is the language barrier.

When it comes to financial services such as bookkeeping, this barrier is severely minimized, making working with a foreign company easy.

Bookkeeping is a popular international business to start, as you perform day-to-day tasks around business finances and processing data.

You'll need to be good with numbers, although a background and training in accountancy aren't essential to get up and running.

With that said some qualifications in bookkeeping will be required before you can set up an international business and approach overseas markets.

Running an international business offering bookkeeping services can also be streamlined using various tools and financial software.

Many of the best tools for freelancers can be applied to bookkeeping, helping with scheduling appointments, and communicating with clients.

In some cases, your clients will provide you with access to their internal bookkeeping systems, training you on how to use them.

5. Outsourcing

Outsourcing is a common method companies use to reduce costs and other operational expenses that impact their revenue.

This can include everything from production and manufacturing to information technology infrastructure and customer support.

A strong background in these types of processes is a must if you're considering setting up a business offering outsourcing services.

Corporate operations such as assisting with hiring and firing are also worth considering, as you have plenty of automated tools to help you out.

Any contacts in a given industry you have can be used to improve your outsourcing services and connect two companies.

Whether you're working in human resources or engineering, the market size of outsourcing is projected to grow significantly in the coming years.

You don't need a large staff to get started, and you can quickly set up a freelance company that seeks out work for international business owners.

4. Franchising

When companies are looking to expand their international presence, they often resort to franchising to expand into foreign markets.

The franchise model is perhaps best exemplified by the fast food sector, with companies such as Burger King, Subway, and McDonalds leading the way. 

There are several core benefits to the franchise model that make it so popular, not least through the minimization of up-front risks.

The operator in the new country should be familiar with several aspects of doing business, including laws and regulations and the culture.

Opening a franchise also saves significant time and money on marketing, as you're taking an established brand from the get-go.

It does not have to be selling food since franchising can be used for all types of products, services, and lucrative business models.

A strong understanding of the franchising industry trends is a must in order to stay ahead of the curve and direct your efforts accordingly.

3. Customs Consultant

For those who already have experience working in international trade and understand the processes involved, there's customs consulting.

As a customs consultant, you'll be working closely with companies worldwide, helping them lower costs when they export goods.

You can also offer your services to companies who want to import into your country of origin and deal with the hassle of paperwork.

The work requires attention to detail to ensure your clients avoid any fines or experience cargo delays due to bureaucratic mishandling.

This could also include hiring legal experts to help process your client's shipments and acquire the relevant certification and approval.

Tariffs, taxes, licenses, and many other elements are all handled by a customs consultant as part of their typical responsibilities.

There are hundreds of outstanding consulting website examples you can reference to help create a compelling online presence to attract clients.

As you pick up more experience, you can expand your company and incorporate a broader selection of destinations and customs processes.

2. Import And Export

One of the most lucrative business concepts for international companies is the import-export industry, one of the oldest forms of trade.

While some international business models can be performed alone, importing and exporting goods often requires hiring employees.

With that said, setting up an import-export business can be accomplished relatively easily when focusing on a single line of products.

You'll need to research the market for your product and see if there's enough demand, as well as where the highest need is located.

There are also plenty of hurdles to overcome when dealing with processing deliveries and complying with each country's regulations.

As such, expect to put in a lot of groundwork in the early weeks and months while you continue to find your feet and understand the rules.

If you have any available finances, you can put together a good team to help you produce and ship domestic goods to other countries.

You may have to use your home to store your inventory in the early days, scaling up over time before housing stock in a dedicated warehouse.

A compelling marketing plan is also crucial when setting up a company to import and export goods, with lots of agencies to choose from.

Finally, understanding the difference between a solopreneur and an entrepreneur will give you a good grounding to build your company.

1. Digital Marketing Agency

Our final recommendation for a great international business concept you can start is providing marketing services via an agency.

Digital marketing covers a broad range of services, from helping small businesses design a logo to creating comprehensive marketing campaigns.

Few companies don't have an online presence, so there's no shortage of potential clients looking for help with digital marketing campaigns.

Overhead is low, with little in the way of in-person interaction needed when assessing and communicating with clients about their needs.

You'll need a background in marketing and experience in the industry, creating digital ads and managing social media accounts.

An understanding of search engine optimization and how keywords impact traffic are also important when starting an agency of this type.

Since search engine algorithms are continually changing, you'll also need to be flexible in your work and able to adapt to new changes.

Your agency can also offer services to help clients improve their revenue through online sales and make the best investment decisions.

Previous experience working with e-commerce website builders and Google AdSense is also expected from a digital marketing agency.

It's a growing industry showing no signs of slowing any time soon, and potential clients are located worldwide.

Summary

That's a wrap on exploring some of the best global business ideas you can begin, from exporting goods to hosting virtual reality conferences.

Before you reach out to potential investors, make sure you do your due diligence and create a detailed plan outlining your business goals.

While international trade can be highly competitive, persevere, and your company has a chance of dominating the market over time.