Why is 2021 the best time to start an online business?
Despite the Corona spread and Global recession faced by the businesses, it’s the best time to start your own business. Because of the pandemic, most of the companies moved to an online business model.
An internet-based business eliminates the need for massive investments, which may hinder young entrepreneurs’ business plans. This online model will encourage youngsters to start their ventures. As a result, Young minds can launch the new many futuristic innovations and products.
Innovation is a necessity.
Not all businesses need significant investments and office space to start. If you are really into something and have good experience in a specific field, you can put your knowledge, expertise, effort, and social media skills to kick start your new business.
No business is too old to start. Companies are always reliable; what matters the most is the quality of service, price, customer service, and the trust your customers have. Invent new ideas, adapt to the new working model, generate sales and revenue.
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From Cleaning to Building Brands -
50 Business ideas for 2021
Here is a list of business ideas that are mostly low cost and online businesses that you can start from anywhere.
1. Become an Online reseller
If you want to start a business with a low margin or no margin, you could try an online reselling business. Many online E-Commerce platforms support reselling products from anywhere, anytime. Poshmark and Mercari are the popular ones among the reselling media.
Reselling can exist in both online and offline forms. Hence, it is a great way to start your business as a side pursuit and turn it into a full-time retail resales business.
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2. Cleaning services
Cleaning services are always a profitable business because people like to keep their home clean. Since the Covid spread, many companies and commercial properties are looking for a hygienic space that requires cleaning.
This business just needs planning, dedication, and strategic marketing to grow and expand. You can start with a low budget and hire more employees while expanding.
3. Home care services
Home care services are where you lend a hand to senior citizens in doing their daily errands or when they need assistance. The demand for these services will increase over time. If there are volunteers who could help take care of senior citizens in their homes, you can start a business with them.
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- Deliver medical supplies and kit
Many online stores sell various products globally. The delivery of medical supplies, kits, and other equipment has not been much popular among the other delivery services.
Starting a medical courier service with limited employees will surely be a hit. Get the doctor’s prescriptions from the customers through an online platform, proof check it, and deliver the medical supplies.
- Business Consultancy
Many companies have fired their employees during the pandemic. People with high expertise and talent have also faced the recession. Those who are knowledgeable and passionate about their area of expertise shall consider starting a consultant business. Once you grow and achieve on your own, you can expand and hire consultants over time.
- Mobile Application developer
Mobile application developers are always in demand, especially if you’re a hybrid application developer. If you’re good at coding and creativity, you can build an app and sell it to a business. You can start this as freelancing and look for projects on Upwork, Freelancer, and more. Many companies look for freelance developers, and that is to avoid the cost of in-house development.
A person with high coding skills can create a small company by hiring freelancers and part-time developers to develop creative and demanding applications and sell them to other companies for higher profits.
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- Freelance Content Writer
As the number of websites increases every day, the demand for content writers increases with it. Content writers play a vital role in writing blogs, articles, website content, and reviews on various product websites. If you’re someone who can create engaging content, you can become a content writer.
Become a freelance content writer and look for work on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and more. Write content and grow your professional network.
Start a blog or niche website of your area of expertise and write regular content, fact checks, reviews, post photos and create engaging content that attracts the target audience. Using Affiliate marketing when you have a popular blog with many readers across the globe helps generate income.
- Digital marketing
Digital Marketing is always in demand because many small companies are looking for outsourcing rather than establishing a costly in-house team. If you’re knowledgeable about digital marketing services and social media strategies, you can consider starting your own online digital marketing business.
- Food truck
Food is the best and the most common idea when it comes to business. Start a food truck and select a perfect location to generate sales. You can start a Food Truck business with a comparatively less budget than a hotel business.
You may have your doubts about the success rates, but all you need is excellent culinary skills to serve various snacks and cuisines to your hungry customers. Once it reaches the target market, then it’s all about expanding your business at other locations.
- Lawn care services
Having a beautiful and serene landscape garden is a dream for many. Most people have a garden set up in their outdoors, but they may find it troublesome to maintain it most of the time.
Though few people prefer maintaining gardens on their own, not many choose to work with their hands. When you set up a small lawn care service in your location and provide landscaping services to your customers, it may be profitable.
Once you establish your brand’s reputation, you can expand your services in other locations for higher revenue.
- Rideshare driver
Booking rides on Uber and Lyft can be expensive sometimes due to traffic, demand, location, or distance. What if a mobile application allows customers to book shared rides that assure safety and on-time pick and drop?
Build a ridesharing application that allows users to book rides on sharing basis. Test the application on a small scale that is available only for specific destinations. Once you attain good revenue and growth in your company, think about expansion.
- Online T-shirt printing business
If you’ve artistic skills and graphic design knowledge, you can start an online T-shirt printing business. People prefer custom print T-shirts for gifts, themed parties, and more. Set up a small space to put your necessary tools and accessories and go online about your business.
- Start a grocery store.
If you’re into gardening and horticulture, you can consider starting an online grocery store or selling it directly at your local business place. Set up a small space where you can cultivate your fruits and vegetables.
Using social media and digital marketing services will help increase sales and demand. If there is demand, then you can look for expanding your online store for all locations.
- Online Bookkeeping
If you’re an accountant or bookkeeper who wants to start a business of their own, make use of modern technology to create your virtual accounting business and take on other companies as clients.
- Online fitness and wellness programs
Are you a fitness trainer who is professionally trained and skilled in fitness? Being fit is healthy. It needs professional advice and regular workouts to stay fit and healthy.
Starting a fitness and wellness business needs proper planning, dedication, fitness course, virtual class set-up, and more. Start with a virtual fitness program and create brand awareness on social media platforms to gain a target audience.
- Dropshipping Businesses
Suppose you’re a seller to sell your products online without the hazard of having to store them in a warehouse, pack them with care, or delivery. In that case, Dropshipping is your perfect choice as e-commerce platforms like Amazon, AliExpress, and others will handle the hazardous processes.
- Home-based Catering
If you have a knack for cooking, home-based catering can be your business. Start the catering business on a small scale and allow customers to share their feedback. Making and delivering excellent and hygienic food can be an excellent idea for someone with a culinary passion.
- Website Flipping
Websites play an essential role in creating a brand across the digital space. The quality of your website describes a lot about your brand’s reputation, effort, and values. Learn UI/UX concepts to design great websites that are easy to use, minimal and interactive.
If you’re interested in redesigning websites, you can consider website flipping as your business. Buy a website, redesign it, increase its values and sell it to the highest bidder.
Image source - Pixabay (Copyright free)
- Greeting Cards
Ecards are the best way to send personalized greetings, messages, and gifts to friends and family. If you know graphic designing, you can start an online business to design and sell your ecards.
- WordPress Support
Most companies have a WordPress website, but they do not maintain it regularly. If you’re someone who can support WordPress websites, you can start a business where you can work with and provide support to WordPress websites. Look for freelance work and create a portfolio that showcases your work.
- Career Coaching
If you’re knowledgeable and good at tutoring, you can have career coaching as your business. To start with, you need to be an expert in the subject you take up. Prepare a course plan and tutor students for competitive exams online.
- Stock Photography
Stock images are used everywhere, from websites to digital marketing. Photographers can make use of it by capturing high-quality photos and selling them on online platforms like AdobeStock, iStock, Shutterstock, Pexels, Unsplash, and more.
- Dance Studio
Having a virtual dance studio set-up saves a lot of investment, neglects to rent out an ample space, and limits entry to the classes. All you need to do is invest in video conferencing software such as zoom, stable high-speed internet to avoid lags and buffer during the live stream.
- Instagram Consulting
If you’re capable of driving engagement on Instagram, you can get paid by companies for creating content, captions, and creative posts. You can get paid on an hourly basis by your clients. For digital nomads, this business idea can be a great way to be managed via a smartphone. But it would be best if you mastered the art of creating engaging Instagram Ads that generate leads for your clients.
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- Video Production
Online video contents are in demand because of the online tutoring that is in the recent trends. Companies are looking for a person who can record, edit, cut, and publish videos. The recording needs investment as it requires cameras, lenses, wireless microphones, lighting sets, and editing software like Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, or similar software.
- Software Education
Many small scale business owners are not much aware of the software usage. Having good proficiency in Softwares like Microsoft Word, Excel is much needed to create proposals or quotes for your clients. If you are highly proficient in Software skills, create an online channel to tutor your students virtually in a live stream and interact with them.
- Graphic Design
If you’re a college student with excellent designing skills, you can try being a freelance graphic designer. This business will need software proficiency and license to start.
You can look up freelance projects on Upwork, SimplyHired, Dribble, Behance, and so on. Maintain a good portfolio that showcases the design skills that will help you fetch new clients. Once you have a good network of clients, you can create significant revenue by freelancing.
- Instagram Influencer
If you are highly influential on Instagram and have a good engagement with your followers, you can become an Instagram influencer. Clients pay you for promoting their products and influencing purchase decisions among the audience.
- Phone Case Business
Who doesn’t like a custom phone cover? If you’re creative and have the designing experience, you can try setting up an online business where you make and sell phone cases or covers. If you could ship your products anywhere anytime and assure proper delivery, then this business will be a sure hit. It needs software skills, creativity, marketing skills, an online store, and a small space to set up your business.
- Travel Business Consultant
People love to travel, but they might be confused about where, when, and how to go to a place. Adventurous travel experts can guide customers through an online consultancy service to provide information about cities, climate, cafes, restaurants, transportation mode, places to stay, and more. Get paid for sharing knowledge and provide them with discounts on collaboration with other companies.
- Interior Designer
If you are an interior designer who can enhance a space’s interior by creating an aesthetic and pleasing environment, you can consider starting a business in Interior Design. Set up an online platform where your clients can interact with you about their plans and stuff.
- Wedding Photographer
Are you a photographer with the right expertise? If so, you can consider starting your own wedding photography business. You can either invest and set up an indoor space with custom backdrops, make creative indoor shoots or select a beautiful outdoor location to capture the photos. Use social media platforms to showcase your photography skills, which might help you expand your network.
- Drive an Uber or Lyft
If you own a car and you’re looking for a part-time job that might help fill your wallet, you can consider driving Uber or Lift in your free time. Take shorter rides and maintain good contact with customers. Customer Service, Patience, on-time pick and drop is significant in this business and will get you useful tips if done correctly.
- Create a YouTube Channel
Do you have skills that might interest people? It can be anything like cooking, drawing, designing, tutoring, gardening, traveling, coding, or others of any sort. Create videos that are engaging and informational to the audience.
Talk to your audience and engage with them in the comments section that will build trust. Make sure your videos are crisp and short because the longer they are, the more boring your audience might feel.
Create high-quality videos, point out facts, give tips, ask for feedback, share new stuff and finally ignore negativity. Learn to forget the hatred and concentrate on your growth.
- Translator
If you are proficient in one or more languages, you can become a translator. Finding translators has always been rare all the time. To do this, you just need proficiency, error-free translation, and a good network of clients.
If you are looking to teach your language proficiency skills online, use social media platforms. Create an online course and start tutoring.
- DJ-ing
DJ’s are always in demand for local parties, and finding someone within the budget is challenging. If you know the art of mixing beats and have a great taste in music, you can consider DJ-ing as your side pursuit.
But it's not as simple as you think, to launch yourself as a DJ you need to learn more about music, beats, use of music equipment and so on. Consider taking up an online course to gather more knowledge about it.
Image source - Pixabay (Copyright free)
- Baking
Do you know how to bake cookies? If you have a passion for baking, you can start baking as your business. Start baking your best recipes and sell them on social media platforms.
Create social media pages where you can post your baking products and gather an audience. Once you have a good network, take orders, bake them and deliver the oven-fresh products on-time.
Create a blog where you talk about baking the recipes and engage with customers. Learn what they want and act accordingly to grow and expand.
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- Invest your Money
If you have investment and have stocking expertise, you can start investing your money in the online trade business. Start with a low margin and learn the tricks of earning more profits. Avoid losing the investment by dropping out of the trade at the precise time.
Once you are an expert, you can consider starting your own stock consultancy business.
- Handmade Jewelry
You can certainly make money by selling handmade jewelry online, especially if you’re creating something unique. Find an online store where you can sell handmade jewelry. Create custom designs that stand out among the competitors.
- Mobile Laundry Service
Though laundry service has been in the market for a long time, it is still reliable for businesses to start a laundry service. Take up a retail laundry course on educational websites such as Udemy, Unacademy where you can learn about the proper usage of chemicals on fabrics before entering the market. Maintain good contact with the locals and offer the best service at affordable prices.
- Wedding Planner
Organizing a wedding takes a lot of planning, communication, and time management. If you’re passionate about every aspect of a marriage, you can start your own wedding planner business. Creating incredible experiences for the wedding guests can be rewarding and memorable. If you’re someone who can turn dreams into reality, you can become a wedding planner and explore unique locations.
- Office Space Rental
Co-working space is a booming industry where you can rent out office spaces to young and budding entrepreneurs. If you already own a property at a perfect location, then the investment cost will be negligible. If not, you might have to spend a substantial amount to get it started.
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- Organic Cafe
Being an entrepreneur and setting up your diner seems delightful. The idea of starting a cafe may sound general, but the catchy part is that it’s an organic cafe.
The main difference between a cafe and an organic cafe is the products you sell and their price. Since it’s organic, you can charge a premium price for the items on your menu. The cafe set-up might seem quite expensive but worth it.
- Beard Care Products
Beards are never out of fashion, and they will always remain a thing. If you are into chemical-free cosmetics, you can initially start your beard care brand with just a few available ingredients online. Set up an online store and create brand awareness across the social media platforms. Make right quality products using non-allergens and organic products that catch customers’ eyes.
- Yoga Instructor
Do you hold a degree in Yoga? If you’re professionally trained and have a Yoga degree, you can start a business with your knowledge. Make a standard course pattern in Yoga and start tutoring at your local place. If you’re interested in sharing your knowledge across various locations, consider setting up virtual classes globally.
- Online selling of art
Art is always a creative and solely a passion-based skill. If you’re one of the creative and artistic people, creating an online e-commerce store to sell your art across the country will surely be a hit. Maintaining good relationships with clients and on-time delivery of quality products is the key to success.
The e-commerce platform allows users to develop and launch their online store. Shopify, BigCommerce, Woocommerce are perhaps among the best e-commerce tools.
- Launching a clothing line
Launch a designer studio online where you sell your clothes and fashion accessories. If you’re a passionate fashion designer who is highly skilled and creative, starting a clothing line can be worth it. Use social media platforms for marketing your designer label and creating brand awareness. Instagram and Facebook can be beneficial to generate sales and revenue.
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- Pet Grooming
If grooming is your thing, start a pet grooming business in your locality. Look for clients in your neighborhood or find them on social media platforms. You can create a pet sitting business if grooming doesn’t inspire you.
- Social Media Manager
If you have experience in social media marketing and know-how the ad works, you can start a consulting business on social media. Managing social media is not as easy as it may seem. It requires immense experience in creating custom ad campaigns, generating leads, and staying ahead of the competition.
Improve your skillset by learning courses on Udemy, identify the best marketing solutions that provide potential leads to a startup idea.
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- Build AR/VR applications
Industries using VR and AR technologies have been immensely successful in understanding various aspects of their products. Applications developed using VR/AR are popular among new users as it provides a virtual experience where people can interact and feel the environment around them.
The developers who want to build VR/AR applications must have complete knowledge of these technologies. Taking up a course and gaining the required expertise is appreciated before becoming a developer.
Conclusion
You don’t need money to start a small business. Knowledge and experience are much essential when you decide to start a business from home. When you think of making passive income, pick an idea, focus on it and market your ideas to create awareness for your brand. Create social accounts on various platforms and create engaging content for social media marketing.
Learn courses on Udemy to understand the business model. Online business ideas are the most reliable and smart choice for starting your own business. Make detailed research on the market before starting any business.
Although there are many business ideas, the most profitable business ideas include an online working model. Choose a small business idea with minimal startup costs in which you are passionate. There are plenty of opportunities to make a substantial income; finding one and adapting to it is your choice.
