27 Online Business Ideas To Start In 2025
Updated Feb 6, 2025 | Published Jan 30, 2025 | 18 min read
Starting an online business offers endless possibilities. Whether you are drawn to digital marketing, e-commerce, digital products, or other online business ideas, you can turn your skills into a profitable venture.
One of the best things about starting an online business is that many of them can be started without any money. Choose something that suits your skills and aligns with your interests and strengths, and before you know it, you’ll be taking the first step toward building an online business.
Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or a full-time career, there is always something online for which you can use your skills.
So, if you’ve been wondering what makes the best online business, here’s our list of 27 best online business ideas to start this year that are perfect for the modern entrepreneur, and all you need is an internet connection.
Podcasting has exploded recently, and it almost feels like everyone has a podcast! Listeners tune into business insights, true crime stories, and so much more. Launching a podcast could be lucrative if you have a unique voice and perspective or know some interesting people to interview.
Monetizing a podcast involves sponsorships, advertising, and listener donations via platforms like Patreon. Although starting with minimal costs is possible, investing in decent audio equipment is worthwhile. Make your podcast successful by regularly publishing high-quality audio and engaging content, and remember to include a great podcast name to keep listeners coming back.
The rise of niche interests and digital networking has made online communities a great way to start a business. You can build a successful community for like-minded individuals based on hobbies, professions, or shared experiences.
You then generate income through membership fees, sponsorships, and premium content available to subscribers. Access to platforms like Discord, Facebook Groups, and Mighty Networks means that you can set up and manage a community with minimum effort.
Strong engagement and a sense of belonging are crucial for sustaining your community, so remember to regularly interact with your members to make a successful business out of your chosen community.
Who would have thought a few years ago that being an influencer would be a way to run your own business? But here we are, and influencers can leverage their own brand to generate income through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and exclusive content. Whether you focus on fashion, tech, gaming, or lifestyle, there’s always an audience waiting.
Building a following does take time, but authenticity and consistency go a long way, made easier with Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, which provide endless opportunities to showcase your expertise and personality.
Monetization options include brand collaborations, product launches, and subscription-based content via platforms like Patreon. So, if you’ve always wanted to be an influencer, maybe now is the time to start, there are even courses teaching you how to do it!
The demand for voice-over artists is growing due to the popularity of audiobooks, animations, video games, and explainer videos. If you have a clear and engaging voice, it could be an excellent online business opportunity.
Websites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Voices.com connect voice-over talent with clients. You will need access to a decent microphone and a quiet space to make professional-quality recordings. As with any online venture, you must make a business website, establish your rates, and specialize in niches like corporate narration, e-learning, or character voices.
Selling NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) remains a successful online business for digital artists and creators. If you create digital art, animations, or music, you can mint and sell NFTs on platforms like OpenSea and Rarible.
Learning to produce and make NFTs takes some time, and success in the field requires understanding blockchain technology, marketing, and audience engagement. Collectors look for unique, high-quality pieces with a strong brand or community behind them.
There have been market fluctuations around NFTs, and they sometimes get a bad rap, although they do offer an exciting way for creatives to monetize their work online.
Selling subscription boxes is a growing industry and an interesting and unique way to sell online niche interests, such as beauty, books, snacks, and self-care.
Creating a successful subscription box requires doing some market research into trending niches, sourcing unique products, branding, and managing logistics. Platforms like Cratejoy and Shopify make setting up and automating orders easier, and you can have fun creating your own online store.
With strong marketing and a well-defined target audience, you can attract customers to your subscription box business and generate recurring revenue and customer loyalty.
Flipping and repurposing thrifted items is a fulfilling hobby and a great way to make money online while promoting sustainability. Source good quality preloved items such as clothes, furniture, toys, or collectibles and resell them for a profit.
You can research popular platforms like Depop, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace to determine which is best for you or set up your own e-commerce site. The more successful you become, the more you’ll develop an eye for more valuable items, and it’s well worth taking the time to learn some basic restoration techniques.
With minimal investment, you can scale up the business by focusing on specific niches, such as vintage fashion, rare books, or refurbished electronics.
If you have the skills to train others, starting an online course could be one of your best online business ideas, which can turn into a highly profitable business. Online education is a popular way to learn, and people are willing to pay for professional, structured learning experiences in areas such as business, languages, and creative skills, to name a few.
Your expertise in a subject can be adapted to suit an online audience, and there are no limits to what courses you can offer. Many available platforms provide tools for designing and selling courses, including high-quality video production and clear lesson plans, which are key to attracting and retaining students.
If you have the knowledge, consider becoming an online fitness trainer, teaching how to cook, or how to become an affiliate marketer. If you have all the ideas but don’t know where to begin, there are step-by-step courses that can help you set up your first online course. Once set up, online courses are a great way to generate a passive income, allowing you to sell them repeatedly.
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Online coaching is a growing field that covers subjects ranging from business and career coaching to life and wellness coaching. As a business, it is ideal for people with expertise in a subject and a passion for helping others.
Coaching has grown over the years, and, like many online businesses, you can work with individuals from anywhere in the world, which means your business is not limited to your locale.
Conduct coaching sessions via Zoom or Google Meet and acquire clients through LinkedIn, social media, or directly from your own website. Consider offering packages and memberships alongside traditional one-on-one sessions, selling online courses, or even discounts for couples and groups.
The coaching industry is thriving, and it can be incredibly fulfilling if you have the necessary skills, and it’s also a great way to be your own boss and make money.
YouTube is still one of the most popular platforms for content creators, and it offers the opportunity to earn money on your YouTube channel through ads, sponsorships, and subscriptions.
So, if you’ve ever wondered how to become a YouTuber, finding your target market and making entertaining, high-quality videos is the key to getting started.
Remember to combine engaging storytelling and inventive social media marketing to help retain your YouTube channel audience. While building a following takes time, dedicated creators can turn YouTube into a full-time career with multiple revenue streams.
If you ever had a burning desire to share your knowledge or storytelling skills, publishing an ebook could be your answer while generating passive income.
Self-publishing has never been easier, especially with popular platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. Some of the most successful and much-loved films and TV shows started life as self-published titles.
Creating a business plan can help you focus on how to grow your business, as it doesn’t have to stop at just one ebook. Brainstorm ways to keep sales generating to create a lucrative passive income, such as niche-specific how-to guides, self-help books, or fiction series. Consider how to market your work publicly through social media, blogging, and building email lists, all of which can drive traffic to your book.
With travel booming again, many people are seeking personalized travel plans and itineraries, making travel planning a great online business. Travel planning is perfect if you love researching destinations, planning, and working according to your own schedule.
You could offer custom travel itineraries, booking services, or specialized experiences for niche markets like adventure travel, luxury getaways, or budget backpacking. Use social media marketing, blogging, and referrals to grow a loyal following and become your own small business owner.
If you have strong IT skills, tech support could be a great business idea, as remote tech support is always in high demand. This is particularly true for small businesses and individuals who need help with troubleshooting, cybersecurity, and software setup.
You could start your online business by offering support through platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, and as you build up your experience, you could create your own website. Subscription-based support and one-time fixes can provide a stable income, with the opportunity to scale into a more significant business over time.
Being a content creator involves more than creating content; it also requires other skills, such as writing, video production, and social media skills. All of these are needed to create a lucrative business, though you can learn them as you go. Today, content creation is one of the most profitable online business ideas, and it is easy and low-cost to start.
Monetize your content creation with ad revenue, affiliate marketing, and brand partnerships, and remember that consistency and high-quality content are essential for growing an audience. Choosing a niche, affiliate links, keeping on top of trends, and mastering SEO can help maximize visibility and ensure long-term growth and profitability.
A well-written resume can make all the difference in landing an interview for a dream job, and many people struggle to write one effectively. If you have experience in recruitment or writing, offering resume-writing services can be a profitable online business.
Platforms like LinkedIn, Fiverr, and a business website are great for attracting the right kinds of clients. Consider offering packages at different levels, such as entry-level jobs and executive packages, and to increase your earnings, you could expand into writing cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, or a grant writing business.
Print-on-demand is almost a ‘no-brainer’ ecommerce business model, allowing you to sell custom-designed products like T-shirts, mugs, and phone cases without holding inventory. There are many platforms available now that provide a print-on-demand service. Printful and Redbubble are probably the most popular, and they easily integrate with sites like Shopify.
This business is ideal for designers and artists looking for passive income and is a great way to start your own clothing line. Marketing through social media and niche branding can help maximize sales. The print-on-demand market shows no sign of slowing down, and since products are only printed upon ordering, upfront costs are low, making this business almost risk-free.
Nobody starts a small business because they love accounting and bookkeeping (unless they are an accountant, of course), and entrepreneurs often need help managing their finances.
If you have a background in accounting or finance, offering virtual bookkeeping services can become a steady source of income. Software like QuickBooks and Xero make bookkeeping super easy, and you can manage clients’ financial records remotely.
There is also the chance to offer invoicing, expense tracking, and tax preparation services alongside basic bookkeeping. If you are just starting out on your own, bookkeeping is a great freelance job for a beginner.
The best thing about a bookkeeping business is that it’s an ongoing need, and you can easily build long-term client relationships. Even better, if you can specialize in a particular industry, it will help you to attract the right clients for your business.
Online tutoring has always been in demand, and even more so now for students of all ages from all over the world.
If you have teaching experience and specialize in subjects ranging from maths to science to languages, then online tutoring could be for you. If you have expertise in a particular area, you can teach one-on-one or offer group classes via Zoom, Outschool, or Teachable.
Create a website to market your tutoring services or join established platforms like Wyzant, VIPKid, or Preply. Another great way to earn a passive income with your skills is to make and sell educational courses.
Consider how you might attract students using social media, offer free trial lessons, and gather testimonials from happy clients. Online tutoring can be highly flexible, allowing you to set your hours with the satisfaction of helping students to succeed.
If you have a passion and a flair for writing, then becoming a freelance writer could be the ideal route to becoming your boss. If you have previous experience writing blog posts, articles, or reports, you likely already have the foundational skills needed to get started.
With businesses increasingly relying on content to connect with their audiences, the demand for skilled writers is only increasing. Becoming a freelancer means you can choose your hours and write about topics that interest you while building your writing portfolio.
Making the most of platforms like UpWork or Fiverr means you can start small, build your experience, and grow your reputation over time.
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Dropshipping is an excellent business as it allows you to sell products without ever handling inventory or holding stock. It works by partnering with a supplier (the most popular one is Amazon) that ships the products directly to your customers, enabling you to focus on building and marketing your online store.
A considerable benefit of dropshipping is that you don’t need to invest in inventory upfront, with your main cost coming from setting up a website, usually through platforms like Shopify.
You’ll need to invest some time and money in creating a strong brand and remember to provide excellent customer service consistently. If done correctly, dropshipping can be a lucrative online business and a way to manage your own company from anywhere in the world.
As a virtual assistant (VA), you support business owners by taking on various tasks, often using skills you already possess.
Day-to-day activities can involve anything from writing articles and creating email marketing campaigns to handling invoicing, providing customer support, overseeing projects, or social media management. Virtual assistants can also listen to the business owner and provide a sounding board for new business ideas.
If you enjoy collaborating with people, learning new skills, and are confident using online tools, becoming a virtual assistant is an excellent way to turn your expertise into a booming online business.
Businesses want talented social media managers to build their online presence, and as a social media manager, you’ll be expected to be skilled in all areas of digital marketing and social media. You’ll create and schedule posts, engage with audiences, and monitor performance analytics across all social media accounts and platforms.
With the ever-changing algorithms and trends, businesses need professionals who understand how to grow engagement and drive sales. It could be your perfect online business if you have a knack for content creation and audience interaction, with some data thrown in for good measure.
Building a portfolio of work is worthwhile before approaching businesses, and a quick online search will soon bring up examples of social media portfolios.
To begin with, offer your services as a freelancer. Eventually, you could start an agency catering to multiple clients across different industries. Specializing in a niche, such as fashion, wellness, or tech can help you stand out and attract high-paying clients.
Pretty much every business benefits from having a website, and skilled web designers are always in demand. Platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Shopify make website creation more accessible, and you can design stunning, user-friendly sites without coding from scratch.
Web development could be a lucrative career if you have an eye for aesthetics and understand the principles of UX/UI design. Many businesses also need ongoing website maintenance, which provides recurring revenue opportunities.
You can specialize in e-commerce sites, personal branding websites, or even membership platforms and eventually move into app development. Offering bundled packages that include branding and SEO optimization can make your services even more appealing.
Selling digital products is a truly scalable online business, creating digital downloads such as ebooks, templates, stock photos, and printables. These digital products can generate passive income with minimal ongoing effort.
Platforms like Etsy and Shopify make it easy to sell digital products without the hassle of inventory or shipping. Once you have built your digital product you can sell repeatedly, making it an excellent way to earn residual income. Focus on your skills, find a niche in the market, and with some online research, you’ll soon learn how to create digital products that solve a problem for your target audience.
Blogging has evolved into a serious online business, with many bloggers earning a full-time income from their content. Whether through ad revenue, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing, a well-monetized blog can become a long-term source of income.
Choose a niche you’re passionate about—such as travel, personal finance, or health and then consistently create valuable content. Learning search engine optimization (SEO) will help drive your blog traffic, so it’s worth investing in some courses.
To maximize your earnings, consider incorporating digital products, online courses, or even memberships into your business plan. While blogging requires patience and consistency, with dedication, it can be a rewarding online business.
E-commerce shows no signs of slowing down, and there are multiple ways to start your online business. For example, you can sell handmade products, dropship items, or create a private label brand with your unique products.
You will need to build an e-commerce website, and platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon make setting up an online store more straightforward than ever. A strong marketing strategy which includes social media advertising and influencer collaborations, can help drive traffic and sales.
Brainstorm online business ideas and take some time to research a specific niche that interests you and build a brand that resonates with your target audience. Customer service and branding are crucial for setting yourself apart from competitors.
Affiliate marketing is one of the best online business ideas and is a great way to create a residual income by earning a commission by promoting other people’s products. It works through your referral links when you join affiliate programs such as Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or individual brand partnerships. You decide which products or businesses you want to be an affiliate for, and when someone clicks through and buys using your link, you earn a commission.
It’s a well-established business model that bloggers, YouTubers, and influencers with an engaged audience have used successfully over the years. However, it’s essential that you only recommend products that align with your brand and that your audience will find valuable.
Create high-quality content, such as reviews, tutorials, blogs, and product comparisons, to develop trust with your audience and increase your conversions. Affiliate marketing can take time to grow and build, but it can become a significant source of passive income if you persevere.
Starting your own online business allows you to work from anywhere worldwide while building something you can be proud of. You can also create a steady and often residual income on your own terms, so if you love social media, have a knack for design, or are a skilled writer, there are plenty of ways to turn that into a thriving business.
Be mindful that success doesn’t happen overnight. Building an online business requires consistency, some planning, and a willingness to adapt and be flexible. The good news is that you’re in control, and you get to decide what you work on, who you work with, and how you grow.
If you can’t wait to create digital products, start a consulting business, sell print-on-demand products, or offer online teaching, remember to provide real value and connect with your audience. With the right mindset and tools, you can turn what you love into something that supports you financially while allowing you to work the way you want.