The 25 Best Small Business Ideas To Start In 2024

Whatever your level of skills and experience, the best small business ideas don't cost a fortune to get set up and start finding clients.

With lots of great resources online to help, these business ideas offer lots of potential for people who want to quit their regular jobs and start afresh.

This complete guide covers everything from service-based business ideas to online businesses you can do from home in your spare time.

The 25 Best Small Business Ideas To Start In 2024

There are many opportunities to develop a revenue stream through your own business and build strong relationships with high-paying clients.

We've covered a broad spectrum of business ideas to ensure there's something here that caters to all skill levels and fields of expertise.

Here are the 25 best small business ideas you can start in 2024 to kick-start an exciting new career:

25. Landscaping

A popular small business idea for people who enjoy getting out in the fresh air and gardening is setting up a landscaping business.

It offers plenty of seasonal work throughout the year, from planting flowers in the spring to cutting back trees over fall.

You'll need equipment to get started, an aptitude for landscape designing, and an awareness of when to sow plant seeds.

There are many excellent freelancer website templates you can use to set up an online presence and advertise your business in your local area.

24. Pet Care Services

Like landscaping, pet owners in your local area often look for pet care services to help them look after their dogs and cats while on vacation.

Pet care services are in high demand, whether offering a place to home animals for short periods or pet sitting in the owner's residence.

A love of animals is a must, but it's relatively easy to set up your own business in this field, with a degree of flexibility built into the model.

It's the best freelance business idea for people who don't mind some extra company around the home and the opportunity for walks.

23. Home Cleaning

Another excellent business idea with minimum overheads that can be performed locally is a small business offering home cleaning services.

Cleaning products are inexpensive, and most business owners will have a vacuum cleaner on hand to get their small business quickly up and running.

You can advertise in local schools and newspapers to find clients in your surrounding area and fit the work around your schedule.

Home cleaning is among the best side hustles to pay off debt that is easy to work around other part-time jobs you might have.

22. Personal Trainer

If you're savvy with fitness and exercise routines, working as a personal trainer can be a profitable business idea for additional income.

While AI fitness trainers and coaches are gaining popularity, most people still prefer in-person training and advice when working on their health.

You can also consider providing personal training online, making it one of the more flexible small business ideas available.

There are also plenty of great online courses that you can learn to enhance your fitness expertise in line with your client's requirements.

21. Dropshipping

Setting up a dropshipping business is another growing field that allows you to sell products online without stocking an inventory.

Acting as the middleman between the seller and customer, all you need to get started is a vehicle to deliver the product.

One of the best freelance jobs for beginners, dropshipping requires no training, and you can use your SatNav to locate the customers.

The dropshipping supplier handles all the order processing and supplies, freeing up plenty of time to focus on your family or other work.

20. Personal Chef

Freelancers who have an aptitude for cooking and have experience in a professional capacity can earn extra income by becoming personal chefs.

This can be on an ad hoc basis, offering services for events, or working with a client to provide them with regular meals.

A good awareness of food hygiene and a repertoire of delicious meals is a must, as well as any dietary requirements your clients have.

It's another good business idea for more creative individuals who want to bring in extra money while demonstrating their culinary expertise.

19. Food Delivery Service

Food delivery services have continued to grow in popularity and are among the best service business ideas you can perform to earn extra cash.

Working alongside local restaurants and takeaways, a food delivery service works around the respective hours of their partner companies.

It may also involve delivering food supplies to local stores and markets, with early morning starts to get products delivered before opening times.

If you have a van or truck and don't mind being flexible with your working hours, a food truck business could be ideal for your situation.

18. Affiliate Marketing

There are thousands of ways to make money on Fiverr and other job boards, with affiliate marketing another good small business idea.

Affiliate marketing is when an individual works with a merchant to promote their products and services through various channels.

This can be using search engine optimization through a blog or sharing material on social media accounts to generate purchases.

Each sale gives a commission, making it one of the best online business ideas for generating passive income in your spare time.

17. Personal Shopper

Becoming a personal shopper is among the most popular business ideas for women living in large cities with access to high-end stores.

The role requires assisting clients with their purchases and discussing their likes and dislikes to assist them with consumer decisions.

A grasp of the latest trends and strong interpersonal communication skills are essential for setting up a successful business as a personal shopper.

Personal shoppers are also expected to handle client complaints and return unsold goods while meeting sales targets.

16. Travel Agent

With many American cities rising in popularity, working as a travel agent has become one of the most successful small businesses today.

Understanding the changing vacation habits and hottest destinations favored by your target market is important to getting the best clients.

This means tracking travel industry news and trends so you can offer the best new deals for flights and accommodation to various locations.

Strong communication skills and good sales techniques are also crucial to getting customers on board and receiving commissions.

15. Photographer

Freelancers who have access to a professional quality camera can look into setting up a new business offering photography services.

One of the most common types of small business ideas for photography is shooting weddings, with portrait work also great for those with studios.

Additional equipment you'll need includes lighting and photo editing software, such as Adobe Lightroom, with free alternatives available.

Photography is among the best Fiverr gigs you can choose as an aspiring small business owner with a knack for aesthetic creativity.

14. SEO Marketing

With everyone from small business owners to large corporations having an online presence, search engine optimization is increasingly important.

SEO marketing agencies help these organizations expand their online presence and generate sales by writing keyword-based content for their websites.

They have a strong understanding of how to use an e-commerce website builder that works in conjunction with written content to drive traffic.

It's a great business idea for freelancers with a background in SEO and running an online store looking for potential clients in this field.

13. Event Planning

Event planning is considered one of the best solopreneur ideas for women who want to showcase their organizational skills and earn money.

With a small initial investment required to get set up, an event planning business can be run from home with a phone and internet access.

Event planners liaise with other service-based businesses, such as caterers and mobile DJs, to organize corporate events in your local area.

They also work closely with individuals to help with weddings and birthday celebrations based on the client's specifications.

12. Property Management

There are thousands of small businesses offering property management services for residential and commercial buildings around the world.

A property manager ensures buildings are safe enough to be occupied and stand up to any local regulations and other standards.

They liaise with surveyors while attending to any work that needs to be performed to bring them in line with regulations.

If you're considering becoming a property manager, check to see what qualifications you need, and there are lots of relevant online courses to choose from.

11. Tutoring

People with a background in education can start a small business offering tutoring services to students covering a wide range of topics.

It can involve helping younger students with coursework or providing online education for college students learning more advanced topics.

Any previous experience or qualification in a niche subject will help you to command higher fees and break into this competitive market.

If you're exploring how to make money on Upwork or other job websites, tutoring roles are plentiful, especially if you know a foreign language.

10. Video Editing

Most businesses have an online presence for posting video content to promote their products or services to attract potential customers.

Freelance video editors can earn money assisting with the editing process, with free video editing tools available for those starting.

In addition to helping businesses, they can also partner with social media content creators and edit videos for YouTube and TikTok.

With mobile video editing apps for YouTube and TikTok available, it's one of several small business ideas you can perform while traveling.

9. Translation Services

If you're fluent in two or more foreign languages, setting up a translation service is the perfect small business idea for your skills.

With low startup costs and just a laptop and internet connection required, translation services are a flexible and versatile way to earn money.

Clients will send you audio or text files to translate and any specific instructions about their preferred formatting and other requirements.

There is plenty of translation work on the best freelance websites, with a high demand from both small and large companies.

8. Business Plan Service

Those with a background working in the corporate world or with a degree in business studies can help others get their small business ideas off the ground.

A business plan service requires a grasp of the information needed to help find suitable investments and short- and long-term projections.

Those with a background in business finances can earn considerable income from the role, and it doesn't require high overhead costs to start.

It's a popular source of income for people who have worked in the business world and have established a personal network of related contacts.

7. Graphic Design

Graphic design small businesses have lots of potential for picking up lucrative contracts with organizations of all sizes.

Marketing assets, corporate branding such as logos, and other design requirements are in high demand for those with the skills to deliver results.

If you're considering establishing a graphic design company, make sure you have a strong freelancer portfolio to showcase your best designs.

As you complete more projects, you can update your portfolio and bid for higher-paying contracts with long-term professional clients.

6. Virtual Assistant

With many companies switching to hybrid and remote work setups, virtual assistant services can command high fees for small businesses.

The first thing to do when starting this small business idea is to create a virtual assistant profile that demonstrates your skills and experience.

This can include basic administrative tasks such as answering phone calls and data entry or more in-depth services working as an executive assistant.

It's one of the least expensive business ideas you can begin, with lots of resources to help you build a skill stack and increase your fees.

5. Selling Online Courses

As with tutoring services, selling online courses is a popular idea for a small business for those with a background in education and training.

If you specialize in a particular subject, you can put together ebooks and video training material, breaking this down into core components.

These can be sold through websites such as Udemy or your own website, which can be set up using a website builder in a few hours.

With plenty of scope for expansion, selling courses online is among the best home business ideas you can start without too many expenses.

4. Social Media Management

A strong social media presence is essential for the success of any organization, making social media management services incredibly popular.

A grasp of social media channel algorithms and running ad campaigns is a must, as well as the ability to create compelling marketing assets.

The role is among the best Upwork jobs for beginners and can be performed from home with just a smartphone and a strong internet connection.

In addition to managing companies' social media accounts, social media managers can work with online influencers and other content creators.

3. Business Consulting

Business consulting small businesses offer more in-depth services than business planners, requiring extensive background in the field.

They assist organizations with everything from financial planning to project management, with short- and long-term contracts available.

Prior knowledge of a specific niche market or industry will help you acquire contracts that offer exceptional income and strong client relationships.

If you're considering setting up a consulting business, check out the best tools for freelancers to help you streamline your daily tasks and workflow.

2. Web Development

Another popular and profitable small business idea for people who have a good grasp of the online space is working in web development.

Assisting organizations with the development of their website, this role requires an understanding of web coding and how to drive traffic online.

If you're considering setting up a web development small business, put together a portfolio of your previous work and how you helped companies succeed.

You should also consider choosing a powerful business name that sets your small business apart from the competition and captures your style.

1. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is a flexible small business idea with many different applications and can be done at home or traveling.

Familiarity with a blog website builder will give you an advantage over your competition and an understanding of search engine optimization.

You can write blog posts and articles for business websites or produce written content to be used in other marketing campaigns for companies.

Freelance writers also work as ghostwriters for traditional physical media and produce content for ebooks and other handy resources.

Summary

So, there you have it, the best small business ideas you can start today, covering all types of skills you can use to earn money being your own boss.

Whether selling your services locally or considering online businesses, these excellent business ideas have a proven track record for success.

As you build relationships with your target audience, you can transform your services into a lucrative business from your own home.