Embarking on a new hustle is exciting. That’s especially true when it comes to ecommerce – the global market is predicted to reach $6.3 trillion this year!
Online sales show no signs of slowing down. However, the markets are changing all the time. It’s hard to tell what’s worth investing your time (and cash) into.
Fortunately, Whop is here to help. We’ve compiled 101 of the best ecommerce business ideas for 2024 and beyond, from digital products to print-on-demand. We’ll also give you a quick rundown on how to find the best ideas for you.
Read on to discover the best ecommerce business ideas, backed by plenty of industry data to motivate you.
How to Evaluate Ecommerce Business Ideas
There is no set formula to determine which ecommerce business ideas are the best.
Sometimes, niche ideas can skyrocket in popularity. For example, HelloFresh was one of the first businesses of its kind back during its startup days in 2011. Now, the German company has expanded into the US, capturing an immense 74% market share.
Meanwhile, some famous brands dive into obscurity. Consider video rental chain Blockbuster, which declined and went bankrupt, primarily due to the rise of online streaming services.
The skill in finding the best ecommerce business ideas is to find what will stand the test of time – and provide growth opportunities.
Market research
Ecommerce businesses don’t live in a bubble. They exist in an ever-changing market. Your first step should be to immerse yourself in that world.
- Find out what’s trending: Use Google Trends to find out what search terms are popular. Have those trends increased with time? Do they look set to continue? How much demand is there for the product? Is there room for the business to scale?
- Social listening: Keep an eye on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. What are people interested in your niche talking about? Are they dissatisfied with a product? Is there a gap in the market you could fill?
- Competitor analysis: The best ecommerce business ideas are untapped gems. No matter how good your idea is, if the market is already saturated, you’ll find it hard to make your mark. Make sure you know your competitors – and how your products will stand out from the crowd.
Financial analysis
Consider your finances carefully before you embark on any ecommerce business idea. Ecommerce is a lot of fun, but you must take the financial side seriously if you want to win big – and NOT lose. How much will you need to invest in the initial start-up, marketing, inventory, and more?
Businesses need to bring in a profit. Conduct a profit and loss forecast to determine your potential financial performance, considering both the best- and worst-case scenarios.
You can learn how to create a projected profit and loss statement in this tutorial from BookkeepingMaster:
Personal interest
This may seem obvious, but the best ecommerce business ideas originate from genuine passion.
Watch this video to see how one entrepreneur started a $1 million ecommerce side hustle from home. He could only sleep with thin pillows but couldn’t find any online.
Businesses take time to grow. You’re more likely to persevere through the challenges if you’re passionate about your business. You’ll also have insider knowledge about the industry, its trends – and what customers are looking for. That was certainly the case for the duo behind the online sports betting community, Parlay Banditz.
What are the Best Ecommerce Business Ideas for 2024?
Whilst it’s always good to conduct your own analysis, Whop has compiled some of the best ecommerce ideas for 2024. These business ideas include:
- Show consistent or increased market demand
- Have opportunities for scale
- Require a low initial financial investment
- Have an unsaturated market
- Provide space to showcase your unique skills and passions
Online courses
With a projected worth of $848 billion by 2030, the global e-learning market offers great opportunities for businesses to grow. So, it’s not surprising that online courses are the top money-maker for six-figure creators. Here are ten online course business ideas to consider:
- Generative AI for businesses
- Dropshipping 101
- Marketing on TikTok
- Mindfulness for stress management
- Cardio workouts
- Responsive web design
- Ecommerce for beginners
- Writing your first ebook
- Managing your personal finances
- Understanding cryptocurrency
For example, Tori Trades’ “Learn to Trade” course offers lessons, live demonstrations, and an interactive ebook to provide students with the skills they need for trading success.
Digital products
This year, spending on virtual goods is expected to reach $135 billion worldwide. Selling digital products is one of the best ideas for ecommerce businesses in 2024. That’s thanks to its diversity. Digital products cover everything from Canva templates to ebooks (which have an estimated market volume that could surpass $15 billion by 2027).
There are many examples and types of digital products you can sell online, including:
- Passive income eBook
- Investing strategies eBook
- Personal development strategies eBook
- Retirement planning eBook
- Time management planner
- “Setting up a business” worksheet
- Desktop background artwork
- Downloadable excel spreadsheets
- Canva templates for businesses
- Custom website templates
Online subscriptions
Online subscription services make some of the best ecommerce business ideas, as they offer recurring revenue. The subscription box market reached $32 billion in 2023 worldwide, making it a highly profitable niche.
You won’t be limited just to physical products either. Aside from subscription boxes, you can also offer recurring online products or services. Online subscription ideas include:
- Fairtrade coffee subscription box
- Healthy meal kit subscription box
- Pet supplies subscription box
- Eco-friendly cleaning products subscription box
- Luxury skincare subscription box
- Fitness coaching subscription
- Marketing workshop subscription
- Ecommerce paid newsletter subscription
- Sales training bundle subscription
- Online software subscription
For example, Closer Cartel offers access to their remote sales courses and community through a paid monthly subscription.
Pet products
It’s no surprise that the pet supplies market is booming. People always want to ensure their pets are happy and healthy. According to data from the American Pet Products Association, USA pet owners spent $147 billion on their furry friends in 2023, with over $64 billion on pet food and treats.
So, what are the best ecommerce business ideas for pet products? Some ideas to try include:
- Lick mats for dogs and cats
- Natural cat litter
- Organic pet treats
- Personalized pet beds
- Print-on-demand pet coats
- Cat water fountains
- Pet behavior courses
- Dog coaching sessions
- Custom pet portraits
- Pet photography online workshops
Dropshipping
Valued at over $221 billion in 2022, the global dropshipping market is expected to rise to a whopping 931.9 billion by 2030. That represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.8% between 2023 and 2030. Dropshipping is one of the best ecommerce business ideas, especially if affordability is a priority.
Through dropshipping, you’ll have a supplier who creates and ships the products when a customer orders them. You won’t have to worry about inventory, and you’ll only invest in products as they’re sold.
You can sell products across a variety of niches. For example, here are some dropshipping ideas from the electronics niche:
- USB chargers
- In-ear headphones
- Smartwatches
- Home security devices
- Wireless earphones
- Video game console controllers
- Electric kettles
- Portable speakers
- Drones
- Car radios
Online communities
76% of web users interact with online communities, including through forums, blogs, and more. Whilst paid online communities are a relatively new ecommerce business idea, nearly half of all established membership businesses bring in six figures per year.
Paid communities work like traditional forums, but you can create paid tiers which, for example, could provide access to exclusive threads or content. Potential paid community ideas include:
- Real estate investing community
- Sports betting community
- Online gaming community
- Dropshipping for beginners online community
- TikTok creation online community
- Sports coaching community
- Fitness training community
- Time management community for students
- Business mentoring community
- Cryptocurrency education community
Leading cryptocurrency educators Wealth Group provide paid access to their exclusive Discord community on Whop. Group members can participate in $1k to $10k trading challenges, watch daily, real-time demonstrations, and receive professional guidance on crypto portfolio management.
Software and web apps
The mobile app market is projected to reach a market volume of $673.80 billion by 2027. Meanwhile, the market for progressive web apps is expected to grow to just over $10 billion.
Entrepreneurs can create applications that offer solutions for their customers across diverse niches. When you sell with Whop, you don’t even have to be a developer yourself – our platform gives you access to skilled mobile and web developers! Below are some ideas you might like to use for your own apps:
- Financial management app
- Trading e-learning app
- Sleep quality app
- Sports news app
- Study schedule app
- Nutrition planning app
- Life coaching app
- Photo or video editing app
- Online discussion app
- Solo traveler app
Print-on-demand products
The market for print-on-demand products is set to skyrocket to over $45 billion by 2031. This would represent a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 25.3% since 2023.
Print-on-demand is a type of dropshipping, with the major difference being that you can personalize your products with your own designs.
Popular print-on-demand platforms include Printify, Printful, and Gelato. Here are some print-on-demand business ideas to get you started:
- Tote bags
- Backpacks
- Custom wall art
- Sweatshirts
- Phone cases
- Baby clothes
- Hats and caps
- Blankets
- Gym clothes
- Candles
Private label business
If you’re set on having stock in your hands, then you might prefer to start a private label business. Similar to dropshipping, you’ll work with a manufacturer who creates your unique products. However, unlike dropshipping, you’ll order the products yourself, and then sell them on.
With a value of around $236 billion, private labels make up almost 21% of the overall consumer goods sales volume in the US. Some of the best ecommerce business ideas for private-label brands include:
- Water bottles
- Shampoo and conditioner
- iPhone cases
- Yoga mats
- Gym equipment
- Sneakers and trainers
- Wellness supplements
- Planners and organizers
- Lunchboxes
- Vegan sweets and snacks
Eco-friendly goods
According to a recent study from PDI Technologies, 80% of U.S. consumers are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases. This is a clear increase from the recorded 66% in 2022.
Meanwhile, market growth for sustainable products has grown 2.7 times faster than traditional products. Passionate about the environment, but not sure where to start with an eco-business? Check out the ideas below:
- Natural fiber bowls and baskets
- Sustainable pet toys
- Plastic bag alternatives
- Reusable steel straws
- Natural dishcloths
- Upcycled furniture
- Upselling vintage clothing
- Wooden kids’ toys
- Beeswax wraps
- Reusable produce bags
For example, Chilly’s Bottles sell reusable water bottles and cups, encouraging shoppers to avoid using single-use plastic bottles.
Discover Unlimited Ecommerce Business Opportunities with Whop
And our 101st best ecommerce idea is to set up a Whop!
If you’re bursting with ideas for a new ecommerce business, you’ll need to settle on the right platform. There are plenty of choices out there, but most come with limitations.
For example, if you choose a niche platform, you may be limited to a certain type of online product, like ebooks or online courses. This limits your opportunities to make a profit from your business by exploring multiple income streams.
What makes Whop stand out from the competition is that you can sell a whole range of digital products and services, right from within your very own whop.
Want to schedule, sell, and host live coaching sessions from one platform?
Fancy creating and selling your own bespoke course?
Or perhaps you have the perfect ebook, but you’re looking for a place to bundle it with a thriving paid community?
You can do it all with Whop.
Whatever kind of digital business you want to create, Whop can help you to make it a reality. You can sell an online course, create a paid community to accompany it, and add an ebook as an add-on, all within one whop. Plus, Whop takes care of payment processing and can even act as your MoR. All of this for just a 3% fee, with no monthly fee to pay.
Make a start on your ecommerce business journey today and set up a free Whop account – it takes just 15 minutes to complete.
