85 online business ideas you can start in 2025

Thinking about starting an online business? You’re not alone.

Whether you want extra income, a career change, or to turn a hobby into profit, many people are launching side hustles or full-time ventures.

The biggest challenge? Finding the right business idea.

Here we share 85 online business ideas, from easy side hustles to scalable opportunities for all skill levels.

Plus, we’ll cover how to get started and what you need to succeed.

85 online business ideas you can start in 2025

Content creation: Making money with digital content

1. Clipping content

Clipping means turning long-form content — like streams or YouTube videos — into short, attention-grabbing clips for social media.

While some people do it just to grow their own audience, many creators are hiring clippers to boost their reach. And it pays: with platforms like Whop offering view-based compensation.

Creators like Sketch and TJR are investing heavily in this, paying clippers to repurpose their content and distribute it across platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Dylan Lundgren helps people make money online by clipping videos. Dylan says:

If you're looking to make money online, Content Rewards is one of the easiest side hustles to start with 0 experience. There are people making 10, 20, even 30 thousand dollars a month by simply making copy-paste clips or UGC.

Watch the video to hear more of what Dylan has to say:

If you're interested in clipping, join Whop Clips to learn how to get started, and the Content rewards discovery page on Whop to find creators to clip for.

What you need: Video editing software, social media accounts, familiarity with viral content, clients or creators to clip for
How much it costs: Given that you already have a smartphone, clipping can be started for free 
How much you can earn: Anywhere from $50 to $5000+ per month, depending on your monetization approach.
How to start: Find a whop that offers content rewards, clip their content, and share it on social media. Once you meet the creator’s requirements, simply submit your clip on Whop—and get paid.

2. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is huge — and for good reason. If you have any type of online presence (through social media, a website, or a newsletter) then you can make a lot of money with affiliate marketing.

Here’s how it works: you promote a product, someone buys through your link, and you get paid. Simple.

But not all affiliate programs are equal. Some make it really hard to earn. So the time and effort affiliate marketing takes depends on the affiliate platform you work with.

One of the best options for affiliate marketers is Whop Affiliates.

It’s fast to join, gives you access to a huge range of creators, and takes care of all the tech stuff. Just pick a creator, promote their Whop page, and start earning.

Plus, you can promote as many whops as you like.

If you're interested in learning about affiliate marketing on Whop, make sure to check out our guide on Whop Affiliates.

What you need: A website or social media following, affiliate marketing platform, selection of affiliate-friendly products that you feel confident promoting
How much it costs: Can be done for free, but having an initial budget of around $200 for marketing is ideal
How much you can earn: $50–$1000 per month to start. Multiple affiliate offers and a large audience can easily push your earnings to $5000+
How to start: Find an affiliate program, get your affiliate links, and share them on socials, newsletters, and blogs.

3. Write and sell ebooks

Becoming an author has never been easier. You don’t need a traditional publisher anymore — self-publishing lets you launch your book online, on your terms.

If you’ve got a story to tell, a skill to share, or expertise in any niche, writing ebooks can be a great income stream.

You can also offer your writing services to entrepreneurs, or other people who want to write books but don’t quite have the time or skill for it. Ghostwriting means your name isn’t up in lights, but it’ll still bring the checks in.

What you need: Writing software, a publishing platform (Amazon, Gumroad), promotional methods
How much it costs: $0–$200 (minimal setup and promotional expenses)
How much you can earn: $50–$2,000 per month initially, scalable to $5,000+ with consistent sales and multiple titles
How to start: Start writing (you can use AI tools if needed), find a platform to publish your book on, and start selling. Read this full guide to selling books online.

4. Sell online courses

Courses are one of the best ways to pick up any skill, so by creating and selling a course you’re creating a product that is highly desirable in nature.

But, there are plenty of courses out there on the internet, so you’ll have to differentiate yourself from the rest in some way.

If you can ensure that you deliver your course effectively and pick a high-traffic marketplace like Whop to sell on, selling online courses can become very lucrative very quickly.

It’s important to deliver value when you sell a course, but if your audience is appreciative, you might be able to incorporate other revenue streams such as memberships.

What you need: Course creation software (Whop, Kajabi, Teachable), video recording/editing tools, expertise in a topic
How much it costs: $0–$500 (software subscriptions, equipment)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000+ monthly, dependent on niche, marketing, course price and reach
How to start: Once you have your content outlined, use a course builder (like the Whop Courses app) to make and sell your course.

• How to create and sell courses on Whop
• Best LMS for selling courses online

5. Become a YouTuber

You can create video content across many platforms, but YouTube still reigns supreme.

YouTube offers a direct way to make money with your videos — all it takes to start earning on YouTube is a subscriber base of 1000 and 4000 hours of video watch time.

So, if you choose a good niche and deliver high-quality content on a regular basis, then you will easily meet these thresholds.

Leroy is a YouTube strategist who works with some of the biggest and fastest-growing YouTubers in the world. He's also in the top 1% in the world when it comes to YouTube earnings.

Talking about making money on YouTube, Leroy says:

If you're not getting views or making money with your videos right now — even though you're trying — it's not your editing, it's not your gear, it's your ideas.

Every creator I work with wants the same thing — more views, more money, and less guessing. But here's the truth: most of them are obsessing over the wrong things. I've helped creators get 500+ million views in the last 12 months — long form only. It's probably closer to a billion, but that's neither here nor there.

Want the rest of Leroy's advice? Watch this video:

What you need: Camera and microphone, video editing software, engaging niche or content
How much it costs: $50–$1,000 (basic equipment setup)
How much you can earn: $100–$10,000+ per month after monetization, sponsorships, and ads
How to start: Pick something you’re passionate about, create your strategy, and start filming. Then, it's all about growth and marketing.

6. Become a TikToker

TikTok is geared toward shorter content, and is an extremely popular platform for content creators.

But, making YouTube or TikTok videos isn’t just about memorable videos — if you can make content that has actual value to watchers, you too can start making money.

Check out our guides on how to make money on TikTok or how to sell products on TikTok to learn how you can monetize this popular social platform.

What you need: Smartphone, engaging content ideas, niche
How much it costs: Essentially free to $100 (for optional equipment or software)
How much you can earn: $100–$5,000+ monthly through sponsorships, ads, and product sales
How to start: Map out your content journey so you know what to post and when. Getting it right on TikTok is all about trial and error, so see what works for you.

• Top TikTok courses to help you grow, go viral, and make money
• Read our guide on making money with TikTok shop here

7. Podcasting

Podcasting has become an extremely popular form of content loved by people on the go — and it can make you a lot of money if you do it right.

Once you’ve found a niche it’s all about adding value, whether it’s through entertainment or education.

There aren’t too many limits to what you can cover on a podcast, so whether it’s fireside chats about the state of the world or deep dives into various nooks of pop culture, there’s nothing stopping you from starting your podcast right away.

You can start monetizing your podcast from the get-go.

What you need: Microphone, podcast hosting service, audio editing software
How much it costs: $50–$300 (basic equipment and hosting subscription)
How much you can earn: $100–$1000+ monthly through sponsorships, affiliates income can push up to $5000+ with a larger audience combined with premium memberships and digital product sales
How to start: Once you have an idea in mind, do some audience research. Then, map out your content, make a recording schedule, and set up your channels.

8. Streaming

If gaming is your thing, whether it’s the latest FPS, Minecraft, MMORPG or just about any genre or title imaginable, there may be a streamer somewhere in you.

Get on Whop, YouTube or Twitch, hook up your mic and camera, and start playing—all that remains is to get discovered.

You don’t just have to play games to stream. Streaming is simply a live version of a YouTube video for a lot of creators, and many use it like a soapbox or a stage to share details of their life, work, experiences — whatever excites their viewers.

Check out our list of the best live streaming platforms for creators.

What you need: Gaming or niche expertise, microphone/camera setup, streaming platform (Twitch, YouTube)
How much it costs: $100–$500 for equipment, software setup
How much you can earn: $100–$10,000+ monthly from subscribers, donations, and sponsorships
How to start: It's simple — start streaming! But make sure you're consistent, engaging, and have multiple channels for cross-promotion.

9. Start a blog

Blogs have long been a trusted source of expertise on many topics, but they can take time to generate income.

Building an audience and reputation doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistent, quality content, you can steadily grow your reach and start making money.

This is one of the oldest ways to start making money online, and you can snowball your blog into a solid online business if you are able to consistently deliver good value and keep growing your reach.

What you need: Blogging platform (WordPress), domain, hosting, writing skills
How much it costs: $50–$200 (hosting, domain, themes)
How much you can earn: $100–$5,000+ per month from ads, sponsorships, affiliate links, and product sales
How to start: Get started by reading this guide to blogs that make the most money.

10. Create cross-platform content

We’ve talked a lot about content creation, so here’s a hot tip: the smartest creators don’t just stick to one thing. They mix it up to make money from all angles, creating multiple revenue streams and reducing the risk of being deplatformed.

Many YouTubers also livestream on Twitch or do TikTok videos, plenty of bloggers have podcasts, and practically all of them try their hand at ebooks or courses at some point.

Basically, broadening your content can open up new revenue streams. Taking advantage of the fact that you’ve got a ready-made audience who won’t need too much convincing to consume your content on other platforms as well.

What you need: Multiple social platforms, content creation tools, video/audio editing software
How much it costs: $100–$500 (software and optional equipment)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000+ monthly through combined audience monetization methods
How to start: Set up profiles across multiple platforms, and turn once piece of content into many. You can always get AI to help you out here.

11. Create UGC content

This Gen X dad (in the video below) never set out to be a UGC creator — but that’s exactly what makes him stand out. He’s not your typical TikTok face, and that unexpected edge is what turned content creation into a surprising new income stream.

This space is dominated by Gen Z women — and don't get me wrong, they are crushing it. But I kept seeing the same type of content, the same delivery, and the same aesthetic.

And I knew brands — especially male focused ones — needed something different. So I leaned into what made me different."

Get the rest of the advice in this short video:

Content creation is usually about building a personal brand and growing an audience that snowballs as you consistently share content people enjoy.

UGC (User-Generated Content), on the other hand, is a bit different. While you still bring your own voice, style, and authenticity, the goal is to help a brand promote its products or services through content you make.

Finding paid UGC work can be a bit of a process. Typically, you have to get your socials ready, create a portfolio, reach out the brands, and start accepting offers.

Whop's content rewards system makes it much simpler to get paid for UGC. All you have to do is browse paid UGC opportunities, create your content, and share your link. No portfolio or negotiating required.

What you need: Smartphone/camera, editing software, social media presence
How much it costs: Free to $100 (basic setup)
How much you can earn: $200–$3,000+ per month from brand deals and content sales
How to start: Head to Content Rewards, filter by UGC, and start filming content

• UGC platforms for creators to turn content into cash
• UGC creator jobs: How to get brands to pay you big money

12. Sell memberships

If you have a following of any kind, paid memberships can be a huge revenue stream.

Whether you’re teaching people how to trade or making videos on whatever subject, you can sell memberships if you can guarantee value to those willing to pay a little more for it.

From member-only videos, to access to you for one-on-ones or anything else you can think of, this is a great addition to any content creation business.

A lot of platforms recognize the value of memberships and have on-platform options (such as YouTube Channel Memberships) but going off-platform will save you from losing a massive chunk of revenue to the platform.

What you need: Membership platform (Whop, Patreon, Kajabi), valuable content or community
How much it costs: $0–$100 (platform fees, initial marketing)
How much you can earn: $100–$10,000+ monthly with a solid member base
How to start: Keep your free audience, but start sharing exclusive content behind a paywall with platform like Whop. Funnel your free viewers to become paid members.

13. Monetize faceless content

Just about every aspiring entrepreneur is feeling some form of FOMO in regards to the creator economy gold rush that’s making tons of individuals serious cash every day.

However, one of the biggest reasons people aren’t taking action is because they’re afraid to show their face.

If you’re camera shy but still want to cash in as a creator, it’s easier today more than ever to monetize content even as a personal brand without ever having to show your face.

Faceless affiliate marketing and faceless TikTok are two methods, and both have great income potential once you take the time to grow your audience and build relationships.

What you need: Content creation skills, editing software, faceless content platforms (YouTube automation, podcasts, blogs)
How much it costs: Minimal, $50–$500 primarily for editing software and outsourcing costs
How much you can earn: $200–$8,000 monthly, scaling significantly with viral content and multiple monetization methods (ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing)
How to start: Start a faceless TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram channel. Start searching for faceless UGC work on UGC platforms.

Start your own online store: Ecommerce business ideas

14. Start an online shop

It’s never been easier to sell products online and start an ecommerce business.

First, you need to create a website or sign up for a platform like Whop to sell your thing, and then you need to consider the manufacturing and fulfillment side of the business.

It’s even easier if you’re selling something digital since Whop can take care of just about everything else for you, letting you concentrate on getting your product just right.

What you need: A product, a platform to sell on, marketing methods
How much it costs: Can be started for less than $100 or even free with the right platforms
How much you can earn: Varies wildly depending on marketing strength and product, $100 to $10,000+ per month
How to start: Figure out what you want to sell, then either create your product or find a supplier.

15. Start dropshipping

Dropshipping is an ecommerce business model that lets you run an online store without actually holding any physical inventory.

When someone places an order, it goes straight to your supplier, who handles the storage, packing, and shipping.

You focus on what you do best — marketing, selling, and keeping customers happy. Just know: if something goes wrong, you’ll need to play middleman with the supplier. Communication is key for dropshippers.

What you need: An ecommerce platform, dropshipping suppliers, marketing strategy
How much it costs: $50–$500, including ordering samples, paid marketing, and ecommerce platform fees
How much you can earn: Anywhere from $100–$500 per month is typical with the right methods for a single product dropshipping store
How to start: Research trending products and find a supplier. Then, set up your online store.

• How to get started as a dropshipper
• How to find dropshipping suppliers

16. Sell your prints

If you’re the creative type, consider the print-on-demand (POD) ecommerce model.

It’s just like dropshipping, except you’re adding a print service to the mix, and there are a lot of companies that will happily do it all for you. POD is a simple online business to run, and it's easy to fit in with other business models.

You’ll see lots of your favorite influencers selling their own ranges of mugs and hoodies, for example, which shows you just how easy it is to get started with POD.

What you need: Designs or artwork, print-on-demand supplier, online storefront
How much it costs: $20–$100 for initial designs and setup costs
How much you can earn: $75–$300 per month to start is typical, popular sellers with strong marketing can sell much more
How to start: If your prints are ready to go, then just upload them to a POD supplier. Then, promote your products online.

17. Sell handmade goods

Are you creative and crafty? If yes, you could turn handmade goods into a very successful online business.

Scaling will be the ultimate challenge, of course, but true creativity and skill are prized, and handmade items of any kind will do well if you’re able to find and connect with the right market for it.

Sites like Etsy and Pinterest tend to be the first stop for people looking for really neat handmade items, and this guide to the best DIY products to sell online is a good place to get started.

What you need: Materials, production tools, marketplace or website, shipping supplies
How much it costs: $100–$500+, depending on materials
How much you can earn: $200–$5000 monthly
How to start: Explore how you can scale up your hobby, check your profit margins, and make a business plan.

18. Create and sell gifts

Custom gifts are a huge market on platforms like Etsy — just like this selection of Fallout-themed gifts shows, containing as it does several of the series’ most distinctive elements:

But remember, intellectual property is something you’ve got to be very careful about as a small business owner.

Make sure to do plenty of research on what sort of imagery and designs you can use for your gifts.

What you need: Gift materials, design software, ecommerce platform, shipping infrastructure
How much it costs: $100–$2500+ (if bulk buying wholesale inventory for a seasonal sale)
How much you can earn: $100–$1000 per month on average, up to $10,000 or even more for a well-executed seasonal launch.
How to start: It all starts with research – IP research, market research, and consumer research.

19. Curate and sell subscription boxes

Subscription boxes are a neat ecommerce model where you’ll be hand-picking a selection of products and selling them via a regular subscription.

Just like how milk and newspapers used to be delivered to houses every day, you can set up innovative subscription boxes in exchange for recurring revenue.

There could be a market for all sorts of boxes, such as monthly fitness supplements or weekly cheese selections.

What you need: Products, packaging, subscription management software, logistics
How much it costs: $500–$5000 for initial inventory, packaging, marketing and fulfillment
How much you can earn: $1000–$10,000 per month, can scale predictably with subscribers
How to start: Think of some themes for your box, then research products to fit this theme. Make sure you take all costs into account, including packaging and postage.

How to start a subscription business: the secrets to monthly revenue

20. Retail arbitrage

Arbitrage is the practice of buying a product cheaply on one market and selling it for a higher price on another market, and you can take this into the world of ecommerce with a little research.

By taking advantage of programs such as Amazon’s FBA, Walmart Plus, and Facebook Marketplace, you may be able to establish consistently profitable retail arbitrage streams.

Jasmine Green makes six-figures a year with Amazon FBA. Jasmine says:

Amazon FBA is basically just reselling branded products that you would buy from retail, online stores, or wholesale. You resell it on Amazon.

We don't have to deal with marketing, we don't ever have to do with spending on ads or PPC. This is because we're already selling branded products like Nike, Stanley — any products that you see that market themselves.

Hear more of her advice in this video:

For more details on how to get started, read our guide to retail arbitrage.

What you need: Initial inventory, good sourcing skills, accounts on marketplaces (Amazon, eBay), packing supplies
How much it costs: $5–$5,000+ for initial inventory (from thrift store to wholesale purchasing)
How much you can earn: $50–$200 per month part time and $3000–$5000+ per month if pursued full time, depending on niche
How to start: Join a community dedicated to retail arbitrage to learn the ins-and-outs of this business.

21. Sell templates

If you’re good at organizing and visualizing information, then software templates could be an excellent small business idea. Notion templates have been all the rage for a while now, and Whop has a thriving marketplace for your creations.

If Notion isn't your thing, you can also create templates easily with Canva. You can sell templates for just about anything - business plans, fitness trackers, shopping memos — the list goes on. Then, just sell your templates with Whop, Canva, or Etsy.

What you need: Template software (Notion, Canva), marketplace platform (Whop, Etsy)
How much it costs: $0–$100 (initial subscriptions, setup)
How much you can earn: $100–$5,000 monthly with strong marketing
How to start: Take a look at the kinds of templates people will pay for. Search forums like Reddit for ideas. Then, make themed templates to fit these markets.

22. 3D print your products

This would have been impossible a couple of decades ago, but today, a home 3D printer can be a fantastic investment!

You can use your own printer or a 3D printing service to create products that you sell in your own online store—this’ll work just like any other online store, except you might need some CAD (computer-assisted drawing) skills to make your vision a reality.

If you’re doing your own printing you’ll probably have to think long and hard about fulfillment as well—storage, picking, packing, and delivery might all have to begin with you.

What you need: A 3D printer or printing service, CAD software (e.g., Fusion 360), ecommerce platform
How much it costs: $200–$2,000 for a reliable printer, or less if outsourcing your printing
How much you can earn: Typically $100–$3,000 per month, depending on your niche and marketing effectiveness
How to start: Start small and test out low-cost 3D printed goods.

23. Create a print-on-demand store

Print-on-demand has been a popular online business for some time. With POD, instead of keeping a stock of goods, you print when you get a sale, or 'on demand.'

The regular term refers to actual press products like books, but today, people refer to clothing products like print t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, etc.

One of the biggest advantages of print-on-demand stores is the minimal upfront costs and the low financial risk. Traditional businesses that hold an inventory requires capital. Print-on-demand stores, on the other hand, allows businesses to list their goods without having the actual product in their hand.

What you need: Unique designs, a reliable POD supplier (Printful, Printify), online storefront
How much it costs: $50–$200, mostly for initial test products and design samples
How much you can earn: Typically $100–$3,000 monthly, easily scalable with effective marketing and trendy designs
How to start: check out our guide on starting a print-on-demand business and the best print-on-demand products to sell.

24. Flip domains

You might think that domain flipping is dead, but if so, we’d ask you to think again.

Sure, a lot of the big .com domains are gone and the current business manuals advise founders to pick extremely odd and unpredictable names, but there are newer domains as well as regional ones that you can look into.

Domain names can sell for $100,000s, even millions of dollars.

Blockchain address flipping is also a thing, and many crypto enthusiasts have done this successfully with .eth.

What you need: Initial capital, domain marketplace knowledge
How much it costs: $50–$1,000 (initial domain purchases)
How much you can earn: $100–$5,000 monthly, scalable with experience
How to start: Browse domain registrars (like GoDaddy and NameCheap) to find expiring domain names that you can buy and flip.

25. Resell PLR digital products

One of the hardest parts about selling digital products is the time-consuming process of creating them in the first place.

But, with private label rights (PLR), you can access ready-made products that you can resell without needing to do much more than slapping your brand name on them.

PLR digital products come in many forms, including ebooks, video courses, templates, lead magnets and even coaching programs.

This variety makes it simple to pick a product type and niche that you’re most aligned with, making promotion relatively easy if you put in the work.

What you need: Access to PLR content providers, online storefront (Gumroad, Whop, Etsy), basic marketing skills
How much it costs: $20–$200 for initial PLR purchases and store setup
How much you can earn: $100–$5,000+ monthly, easily scalable through bundle offerings and targeted marketing
How to start: Buy a PLR bundle on a site like Etsy or Whop. Rebrand, then resell.

• Best PLR digital products to sell online
• Best free PLR products that you can resell for profit

Digital marketing business ideas: High-demand social media & SEO hustles

26. Email marketing

Nearly everyone has an email address — often more than one — which makes email marketing one of the most powerful tools of any business. But while the potential reach is massive, few companies manage to use it effectively.

Change that by specializing in email marketing, lending your services to firms who want to take that extra step. Before you know it, you’ll be thinking about building out your own marketing agency.

What you need: Email marketing software, lead generation strategy, copywriting skills
How much it costs: $10–$200 per month for email software subscription. Possible to start with free tiers, with limits.
How much you can earn: $1500–$5000 per month, more with premium clients or an agency
How to start: Create a portfolio of your email marketing skills, then reach out to local businesses

27. Create a paid newsletter

Newsletters are an extremely powerful extension of email marketing, but they can also be lucrative stand-alone revenue streams.

You can build an entire business out of a premium newsletter alone.

The key here is offering value. If you’ve got some sort of content to provide your audience with, whether that’s a monthly short story, a weekly recipe, a deal round-up, or something else, you can charge a decent amount for a subscription.

What you need: Newsletter platform (Substack, Beehiiv, ConvertKit), engaging niche or content, audience-building methods
How much it costs: Free to around $50/month, depending on your chosen platform and audience growth strategy
How much you can earn: $100–$5,000+ per month, depending on subscriber count and pricing model
How to start: Create an audience that you can funnel your newsletter to. Then choose a platform to create your newsletters.

28. Digital marketing

Every business needs to market itself, and it’s one of the most important aspects of running a company. If you’ve got what it takes to make waves online, you’ve already got a leg up on most other entrepreneurs.

Best of all, you don’t have to do too much more — simply offer out your services to other small businesses and entrepreneurs and show them what you can do.

Digital marketing is an all-in-one approach, covering more than just one or two areas like the previous entries. As a digital marketing business, you’ll be taking care of clients’ SEO, email marketing, social media, and much more.

What you need: Marketing knowledge (SEO, email, social media), client outreach methods, website or online presence
How much it costs: $100–$500 (software, tools, basic advertising)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000+ monthly, depending on number and size of clients
How to start: Create a portfolio using examples of your digital marketing, then send this to businesses and creators.

29. SEO expert

Search engine optimization is becoming one of the most vital components of running a business, and it’s not something everyone can wrap their head around.

You can pick up the basics with a little work, though, and there are some fantastic (including free) courses out there that’ll level up your SEO expertise to the point that you’ll start to be able to hire yourself out as an SEO consultant for a pretty penny.

As the internet continues to become a hub for practically every type of commerce, it seems as if SEO expertise will only grow in demand. For example, you could specialize in SEO for affiliate marketing or SEO for Shopify.

What you need: SEO skills, tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, client outreach
How much it costs: $100–$300 (software subscriptions)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly depending on clients and expertise level
How to start: Make a name for yourself as an expert by offering advice for free in forums, starting a community, and making a website for your business.

• Our list of the best low-cost business ideas with high profit margins
• Ultimate list of side business ideas: How to make up to $10,000 a month
• Work at home business ideas to help you make money in your pyjamas

30. Social media manager

Social media can be tricky for entrepreneurs and larger businesses alike, so if you’ve got some skill in that area, your services will very much be in demand.

The number of businesses that outsource the management of their social media might surprise you.

If you set up a social media agency, you’ll be swimming in business in no time.

What you need: Social media knowledge, scheduling tools (Buffer, Hootsuite), client acquisition skills
How much it costs: $0–$200 (subscriptions, initial ads)
How much you can earn: $300–$5,000 monthly, scaling higher with multiple clients
How to start: Create a website for your offering, and make sure to include a portfolio that highlights your skills.

Check out all social media related posts in our blog here

31. Community manager

If you’ve got a knack for dealing with people, you could try becoming a community manager or moderator.

All of those content creators, streamers, and other social media personalities who have Discord servers, Telegram channels and whops? All of them need help keeping their communities in order, taking care of member concerns and stepping in when a voice of authority is needed.

This can become a tricky gig at times, but most of the time it’s an extremely relaxed way to earn money.

What you need: Strong communication skills, community platforms (Discord, Telegram, Whop), moderation skills
How much it costs: $0–$50 (typically just the cost to join a community to network)
How much you can earn: $100–$2,500 monthly based on client base and community size
How to start: If you're already in communities, then reach out and offer your services.

32. Become a tweet manager

Running a successful X (formerly Twitter) account is crucial for many online businesses and creators. The platform is great for creating an influence sphere and getting people to know the business/creator.

But, not many businesses are great at actually interacting with people and pushing out tweets that slap. If you believe in your communication and social media management skills, you can offer tweet management services.

Tweet managers come up with tweets that have the potential to go viral on the platform — their content should be engaging, interesting, and should be digestible by all kinds of people.

What you need: Strong writing skills, knowledge of trends, scheduling software (e.g., TweetDeck, Hypefury), clients
How much it costs: Free to around $50/month for scheduling tools
How much you can earn: $300–$3,500 monthly per client, depending on content quality and audience growth
How to start: Make a portfolio of your services. Send this out to Twitter accounts. Personalize your outreach by writing a free Tweet for them.

33. Social media ghostwriting

Not every public figure has the time, skills, or interest when it comes to writing.

So, if you’re good with words and are familiar with the copy that performs well on social media platforms, you can make money by offering ghostwriting services.

Some of the best platforms to offer such services include X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Each platform has different styles–X for example is more intellectual and in-depth, particularly with threads, LinkedIn can be more concise and highlights expertise, and Instagram is often story-based and emotionally engaging for reels.

You can choose to be a platform specialist or offer ghostwriting services across different channels.

What you need: Strong copywriting skills, familiarity with social media platforms (X, LinkedIn, Instagram), client management tools
How much it costs: Minimal, $0–$100 for scheduling software and outreach efforts
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000+ monthly per client, scalable with multiple high-profile clients and premium packages
How to start: Make a portfolio of your writing skills to send to potential clients

34. Influencer outreach specialist

With the social media audience becoming more fickle and less trusting of influencers than ever, the demand for individuals who can act as outreach specialists in this field is incredibly underserved.

Your job as an influencer outreach specialist will be to identify, contact, and secure influencers that are hand-picked to be reliable, trustworthy, within budget, and aligned with specific brands.

So, if you have a knack for social media and a good radar for sussing out whether or not an influencer is legit and reliable, you can do well in this role.

What you need: Strong knowledge of influencer marketing, analytical tools, communication and negotiation skills
How much it costs: $50–$300 for analytical tools and initial client outreach
How much you can earn: $500–$8,000+ monthly, depending on influencer deals and client campaign budgets
How to start: Make a great profile or landing page for your services, and be sure to include a list of influencers you are already in contact with

How to find influencers for brands

Tech & development businesses you can start from home

35. Web developer

Every business needs an online footprint, and the most controllable way to do that is with their own website. These are then upgraded and improved constantly, so as a web developer there’s always plenty of work out there.

Look at it this way — if 79 other people were to read this article and pick the other online business ideas on this list, that’s 79 new businesses willing to hire you to set up their new websites!

What you need: Web development skills, coding software, hosting/domain
How much it costs: $50–$300 (software, hosting)
How much you can earn: $2500–$10,000 monthly with multiple projects or high-value clients
How to start: Create an online presence that shows off your work, and use this to reach out to potential clients

36. App developer

Apps are everywhere now, and businesses are spending big to get them built. That means there’s plenty of opportunity if you want to freelance or start your own app development business.

It’s not always easy, but it’s a super rewarding field, especially with how fast tech is evolving.

You’ll usually need some coding knowledge, but AI tools can help you bring ideas to life faster. Still, things like user logins and payment systems can be tricky to set up on your own.

That’s where Whop comes in. With the launch of the Whop App Store, you can build your app and plug straight into Whop’s built-in authentication and payment systems.

Even better? Your app will instantly get exposure to thousands of creators on the platform.

If you’re ready to build, check out our developer documentation and get started. Using AI to develop? Our LLM docs will help you teach your AI exactly what it needs to know to build on Whop.

What you need: Coding knowledge, app development software, device testing
How much it costs: $0–$500 (software, hosting, testing devices)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly depending on complexity and number of projects
How to start: Think about the type of app you want to build and check what's already on the market — then make your app!

37. Sell SaaS

Software-as-a-Service has really taken off in recent years, and it’s been one of the fastest growing industries around.

If you’ve got some development skills or just a great idea, you can translate that into a fast-growing business and start making money with SaaS.

What you need: Coding knowledge or development team, domain/hosting, marketing budget
How much it costs: $500–$5,000+ (initial software development, marketing)
How much you can earn: $1000–$20,000+ monthly, scalable depending on product popularity
How to start: Map out your SaaS product, stack it up against what's already on the market, and get your team ready to start building

38. Test software for bugs

If you’re in the field, you’ll know how crucial software testing is. No independent developer or software company can survive without rigorous testing, so if you have the requisite skills and resources, you could be able to get a lot of business quickly by becoming a bug tester, either on a freelance basis or by setting up your own company.

Bigger development firms can devote plenty of resources to bug testing, but smaller firms will be happy to take you on on a contract basis.

What you need: Testing skills, bug-reporting software, computer
How much it costs: Free to $50 (software)
How much you can earn: $100–$3,000 monthly based on client volume
How to start: Check out sites like YesWeHack and BugCrowd to find bug bounties

39. Remote tech support

This is another one where smaller businesses and even independent developers might be your target market. A company small enough not to have its own IT department still needs support, and that could be you.

Keep in mind that when it comes to technical things like writing code, you need to communicate with your clients about their specific needs since anything from laws to units of measurement differ by region.

What you need: IT knowledge, communication tools, CRM or ticketing software
How much it costs: $0–$200 (software, setup)
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000+ monthly based on clients and complexity
How to start: Make your landing page, put together a list of services, and start reaching out to local businesses to set appointments

40. Provide IT consultant services

A huge chunk of businesses use computers and other digital components – but not all of them are good at it.

That's where IT consultants come in. They don't cost as much as a whole IT team and they can help out small businesses (and big businesses sometimes) with their IT-related problems.

One of the easiest ways to offer IT consultancy services to clients is by creating a Whop for your business and adding the Calendar Bookings app to it so that your clients can join your whop for free, book a session with you, and you can get started on the job.

What you need: IT expertise, remote access software, reliable communication channels, a professional website or Whop page
How much it costs: Around $100–$500, primarily software tools and setup costs
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000+ monthly, scaling quickly if you secure corporate contracts
How to start: Create a whop for your services, or sign up to freelance platforms

41. Create and sell no-code websites

Before AI services became popular, you had to have web development skills to create a website.

That's not the case anymore. If you're interested in AI platforms, you might've heard the term 'no-code website' before. Building no-code websites with AIs is something everyone can do.

If you're interested in this idea, make sure to check out our guide on creating no-code websites (or apps) using Bolt.new and hosting them for free on Netlify.

What you need: No-code platforms (Webflow, Bolt.new), creative marketing strategy, basic web-design skills
How much it costs: $0–$100, with free trials and basic plan options readily available
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000 per month, depending on your sales strategy and client base
How to start: Play around with AI until you're confident enough to sell your website services

42. Create automation programs and sell them

Online automation can mean a couple of things. It can be using a Python script to quickly handle a task that would otherwise take hours or creating an automated AI agent to run your desired workflow 24/7.

If you have a knack for software/web development, you can offer to create automation solutions for their tasks.

What you need: Coding or automation skills (Python, Zapier, Make), a Whop page or professional website
How much it costs: Minimal ($50–$200), primarily development tools and platform subscriptions
How much you can earn: $1500–$10,000+ monthly, highly scalable depending on the complexity and niche of your automations
How to start: Search freelancing platforms like UpWork and Fiverr for clients

43. AI Prompt engineering

Prompt engineering is a fast-growing role as businesses scramble to make the most of AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Claude. If you know how to craft prompts that get impressive results, you might already have what it takes.

This role often includes refining outputs, building automation, and consulting on strategy or creative. It’s more about creativity and problem-solving than formal qualifications.

The best way to stand out? Build a portfolio of your best prompts that highlights your best prompts and their use cases is the best way to land opportunities.

What you need: Familiarity with LLMs (ChatGPT, Midjourney), strong prompting skills, a portfolio of successful prompt outputs
How much it costs: Free to about $200 (AI subscriptions and platform fees)
How much you can earn: Typically $500–$8,000 monthly, more with corporate or specialized clients
How to start: Test prompts on different AI platforms and see what works, then put together a master list of your ideas

44. Launch an AI-powered agency

Businesses are turning to AI for small tasks and scalable automations. But, the average business owner doesn’t have the time or bandwidth to test and explore how exactly to leverage the power of AI.

That's where AI agencies come in. The top two niches for AI-powered agencies are customer service and content marketing.

You can charge for setup, customization, and ongoing optimization services that will allow you to cash in with recurring revenue.

What you need: Website or whop to showcase your agency, in-depth skills with different AI tools, familiarity with automations and programming is a huge plus.
How much it costs: $250–$1000 for AI and automation software and initial marketing budget
How much you can earn: $1,000 per month in profit can be had with a single client, so getting to $10,000+ monthly is realistic within 6 months to 1 year.
How to start: Create your website or whop and add in the AI tools that you have made, or a course on how to use AI

• What is ecommerce automation
• The best AI chatbots for ecommerce

45. Sell done-for-you automation setups

From lead capture forms, CRMs, ecommerce sales data, invoicing software, and accounting, the manual management of businesses often leads to burnout and inefficiency.

So, there is a demand for business automations. If you have experience with tools like Zapier and Make and can adapt quickly to current business needs and priorities, you can earn a great online income offering done-for-you automation services.

This can be as simple as automating lead captures and email follow ups but can quickly become complex when building out intricate back-end systems with variable triggers and deliverables.

What you need: Automation expertise (Zapier, Make, Airtable), defined service packages, client management system
How much it costs: $100–$500 for automation software and initial client outreach setup
How much you can earn: $1000–$10,000+ monthly, scalable revenue through ongoing management services
How to start: Buy your automation software and make your business page

Creative freelance services: Sell your design, art & media skills

46. Graphic artist

Graphic designers and artists are always in demand, and always going to be in demand given that human creativity knows no limits.

We’re in the middle of an AI revolution, but the odds are that it’ll disrupt other fields far more so than the creatives over the long term — if AI were to replace either Banksy or a hedge fund manager, which do you think is more likely?

If you’ve got artistic chops, you can have your pick of industries to work in or with once you’ve built a solid portfolio. Check out our guide on how to make money as a digital artist.

What you need: Digital design software (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate), a portfolio showcasing your style, platforms to sell your work (Fiverr, Whop, Etsy)
How much it costs: $50–$500 (software subscriptions, optional drawing tablets)
How much you can earn: $200–$5,000+ monthly depending on your client base and niche market
How to start: Make your art portfolio and share it on your socials and website

47. Designer

This is similar to graphic art and design, but we’re being specific because there’s so much design work put into practically every product you can think of.

We spoke to Ilya Miskov from Whop about making money as a designer:

"We all get those days when we don’t feel motivated, ideas don’t come to us as easily, and we just feel like we’re not good designers at all. Especially if you compare yourself to other designers.

First of all, you need to stop doing that. Everyone’s path is different and unique, and so is yours. And believe me, those flashy designers that you see online probably had a bumpy road themselves, and there’s no saying what kind of problems they’re facing right now."

My best design work in life came from these sudden rushes of creativity that I was able to find by staying consistent with my craft. Success does not suddenly fall on your head. You gotta show up to grab it."

What you need: Design software (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Suite), creative skills, an online portfolio
How much it costs: $50–$500 (monthly software, hardware)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly with multiple projects and clients
How to start: It all starts with a design portfolio

48. Art consultant

Have an eye for art and design but don’t think you can cut it as an artist? Art consultant might be a good option!

You’ll be leveraging your art background and helping clients get the digital (or physical, but most likely digital) art that they need by commissioning artists.

You can do this fully online, and it’ll require you to build and nurture relationships with artists, getting to know their styles and capabilities so you can get your clients exactly what they want.

What you need: Art knowledge, network of artists, client outreach skills
How much it costs: $0–$100 (minimal online setup, initial outreach)
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000 monthly, based on commissions and client budgets
How to start: Make sure your art knowledge is up to scratch, then start developing your personal brand as an art consultant

49. Sell your music

Music is yet another area of creative skill that you’re able to monetize in more ways than traditionally possible — it’s not all about record deals or reality TV, thankfully.

Oftentimes, companies such as ad agencies are looking to place tracks in their adverts, but all sorts of production firms need original music.

What you need: Music production software (Ableton, Logic Pro), distribution platforms (Distrokid, Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud), musical talent
How much it costs: $50–$500 (software, distribution fees, mixing and mastering)
How much you can earn: $50–$5,000+ monthly, scalable with consistent releases and promotion
How to start: Pick a DAW, make great tracks, distribute, and pitch to playlists or licensing sites

50. Photography

Photography is a favorite hobby for lots of people, but it needs a certain level of skill and finesse. Not every hobbyist will make it as a pro!

Even though a lot of photography gigs require your presence on location (like wedding photography) it’s possible to make photography a purely online business by selling photos online.

Stock photos are a very interesting niche too, and there are a lot of platforms you can use to sell your own stock photos.

What you need: Camera equipment, editing software (Lightroom, Photoshop), platforms to sell photos (Shutterstock, Etsy, Adobe Stock)
How much it costs: $100–$5,000 (equipment, software)
How much you can earn: $200–$5,000+ monthly, based on licensing, event shoots, or stock photography sales
How to start: Start snapping, get a social presence to show off your snaps, and upload your photos to stock sites

51. Video editing

Video editing is an incredibly difficult skill to acquire and is in very high demand in some areas, so picking it up can make you very sought after.

Becoming an efficient and creative video editor will give you your pick of projects to work on, so whether you’re aiming at TV and mainstream entertainment, the corporate world, or more independent content creation, there are a huge amount of video editing and production gigs out there.

Despite how difficult it is, it’s actually something you can pick up practically for free — a lot of the best video editing software tends to be free, and you can find some great tutorials on platforms like YouTube.

What you need: Video editing software (Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, iMovie), editing skills, portfolio
How much it costs: $50–$500 (software, basic equipment)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly based on clients and project complexity
How to start: Get some good video editing software, show off your skills, and start applying for work

52. Audio editor

Very similar to video editing, but without the visuals. It sounds like it should be easier, but it’s not — as a matter of fact, the audio track used by the video editor would likely go through an audio editor first.

It requires a lot of skill since you need to ensure consistent sound quality across an entire production, cut out background noises, trim down pauses, and ensure that you don’t miss any gaffes that may have been made in the recording booth. 

As an audio editor you may be editing social media posts, audio books, or podcasts.

What you need: Audio editing software (Audacity, Adobe Audition), audio processing skills, portfolio
How much it costs: $0–$500 (software, audio equipment)
How much you can earn: $300–$5,000 monthly, depending on projects and client base
How to start: Buy your software, make your portfolio, and get yourself known in the industry

53. Voice over and voice acting

Voice acting is having a major moment — thanks to big titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, which showcased just how impactful great voice and motion-capture work can be. But don’t worry, most VO work doesn’t require theatre training or high-end studios.

Voiceover is everywhere: films, podcasts, games, explainer videos, sports content, and ads. If you’ve got a good mic, a strong voice, and an ear for quality, you can carve out a niche.

We spoke to an experienced voice-over actor, and here's what he had to say:

Voice acting is one of the most overlooked but powerful side hustles out there, and you can get started right from home. You don't even need a full studio setup for this — all you need is a quiet room, a decent USB microphone, and free recording software.

He goes on to offer advice on how to start, building your profile, and pricing your work. Find it all in this short video:

What you need: Microphone setup, recording software, clear vocal skills
How much it costs: $50–$300 (microphone, basic setup)
How much you can earn: $200–$5,000 monthly, scalable with larger projects or consistent clients
How to start: Start by listening to different voice over actors and try to find your own style

54. Podcast editor

When you're watching or listening to a podcast, you're not consuming the raw media but a beautifully edited version of it. That's the magic of the person behind the mic (or camera).

If you're experienced in audio editing, you might want to consider becoming a podcast editor. This means using audio effects where necessary, cleaning up audio, cutting it, and preparing the full episode ready to release. Of course, it's a bit time-consuming.

Since many of the modern podcasts come with videos as well, having video editing skills will help you get more clients if you're interested in becoming a podcast editor.

What you need: Audio and preferably video editing skills
How much it costs: $50–$300+ (headset, editing software, etc.)
How much you can earn: $200–$3,000 per month depending on clients and episode count/length
How to start: Start by creating sample episodes or improving the ones you find on the web. Then create a store page to display your portfolio and attract clients

Writing & editing side hustles

55. Copywriting

An image may be worth a thousand words, but if every website resorted to pictures alone we’d be on a one-way track back to hieroglyphics. This isn’t the case, and copy remains a vital part of practically every piece of online content out there.

All of that copy in turn has to be produced by a professional, making copywriting a huge business. Many copywriters work as freelancers so there’s plenty of potential in gathering other copywriters under your banner and setting up an agency.

What you need: Writing skills, SEO knowledge, clients, word processing software
How much it costs: Free to $100 (basic software, initial outreach)
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000 monthly depending on client base and content specialization
How to start: Get known online — Tweet, post, share short videos and make a portfolio

56. Grant writing

Grant writing is an area of writing that deserves a special mention because it tends to be paid higher than most other writing gigs. As a grant writer, you’ll be completing applications on behalf of businesses or individuals hoping to gain certain financial grants.

Part of the reason they’re coming to you is for specific expertise, though, so don’t expect to just walk into this sort of job and pick it up on the fly.

You’ll need to come from an adjacent area, or at least spend some time researching grants before you can start your grant writing business.

What you need: Writing skills, knowledge of grants and applications, clients
How much it costs: $0–$200 (minimal setup, research materials)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly, depending on number and size of grants secured
How to start: Reach out to small businesses and let them know about grants they could apply for with your help

57. Technical writing

This one could go under copywriting, but most copywriters fall into the English major camp and can struggle to tackle in-depth engineering and scientific writing.

If your background resonates with the latter but you also fancy yourself as a writer, technical writing is a great opportunity. You can start by going it alone, and then broaden your business as your client base grows.

What you need: Specialized knowledge (tech, science, engineering), writing software, documentation tools
How much it costs: $50–$200 (software, basic setup)
How much you can earn: $1500–$8,000+ monthly, depending on workload, niche and complexity
How to start: Learn everything you can about the tech you are writing about

58. Resume writing

Another very lucrative niche of writing and one that’s always in demand is resume writing.

It’s a tricky business model since your customers probably won’t come back to you for a while (since you’d hope they’re able to hold the job you help them get) but the nature of economic cycles does at least mean that companies lay off tons of employees all too frequently — meaning more business for you.

What you need: Writing and formatting skills, market knowledge of industries, editing software
How much it costs: $0–$20 (either Google docs or Canva works)
How much you can earn: $200–$5,000 monthly, scalable with client volume and premium packages
How to start: Post in local business groups, college groups, and community groups to offer your services

59. Proofreader or editor

We’ve already mentioned a lot of business ideas that involve writing, including the previous three as well as creating and selling ebooks.

The thing is, all of this written content needs to be proofread and, in most cases, edited. Most copywriting agencies will have their own editors on staff, but there’s no reason you can’t sell your services as a proofreader or editor of whatever written work you specialize in.

There are plenty of clients out there who understand the value of consistent, quality copy, and it’s them you should target.

What you need: Excellent grammar and writing skills, client outreach. Editing software like Grammarly can help.
How much it costs: Free to $100 if using editing software, outreach tools
How much you can earn: $300–$5,000 monthly, depending on project sizes and volume
How to start: Get your portfolio together and start sharing snippets of your writing on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social networks

60. Translating business

If you’re bilingual or a polyglot, you’ve got a big advantage over plenty of other people. You can turn this advantage into a significant business opportunity by becoming a translator.

Lots of companies need translators for a variety of things when they move into new markets, and bureaucratic requirements are a thing too.

Some countries need certified translators to sign off on paperwork when it comes to a variety of processes, and embassies could also be a great source of business. 

What you need: Fluency in two or more languages, translation software, clients
How much it costs: $0–$200 (minimal setup, basic software)
How much you can earn: $200–$5,000 monthly based on language rarity and workload
How to start: Make an online hub (you can use a whop for this) to meet with clients, take payments, and sell your services

61. LinkedIn optimization services

The job market’s crowded — graduates, job switchers, and career pivoters are all vying for attention. That’s why more people are turning to career pros to sharpen their resumes and LinkedIn profiles.

If you’ve got experience in hiring, recruiting, or simply making someone shine on paper, there’s real business potential here. Start with one-off services like resume rewrites or profile audits, then level up to packages that offer deeper strategy and recurring income.

What you need: Recruitment experience or HR background, strong writing skills, LinkedIn proficiency
How much it costs: Minimal, $0–$100 for basic software and outreach
How much you can earn: $300–$5,000 monthly, scaling with bundled services and recurring career coaching packages
How to start: It all starts with networking, so make sure your own LinkedIn profile is up to date

62. Create internal wikis/documentation for other businesses

Strong knowledge bases help businesses run smoothly and scale effectively, and keeping everyone on the team synced gives them a leg-up over other, less organized businesses.

Since most AI tools now support knowledge bases, creating and managing wikis and documentation is easier than ever. So, many businesses are interested in implementing documentation. They just don't know where to start. If you have experience in people operations and technical writing (based on the business type), you can offer services to create internal wikis/documentations for businesses.

You can use platforms like Notion and Google Drive/Docs to create interconnected pages, or if you want to go the full-on-wiki approach, you can create MediaWiki-based websites with user authentication for your clients.

What you need: Writing skills and knowledge on using platforms like Notion, Google Drive, Google Docs, or even MediaWiki in some cases
How much it costs: $0–$100 (free tiers of software, optional subscriptions to platforms like Notion)
How much you can earn: $500–$2,000 per project, depending on its scale and complexity
How to start: Build a wiki or internal documentation sample for your portfolio, and start with small businesses to get experience

Virtual assistance & remote support businesses

63. Virtual assistant

This doesn’t sound particularly glamorous since it’s often a starter-level remote freelance gig. However, good organization and communication skills go a long way, and you can easily find yourself building this out into a bona fide agency before too long.

You don’t even need much experience in the field before going in, although a good understanding of the corporate world and the knowledge of what managers want will help get you off on the right foot.

What you need: Organizational skills, communication tools, client outreach
How much it costs: $0–$100 if paying for premium project management software like Slack, Notion, or ClickUp
How much you can earn: $300–$5,000 monthly depending on number of clients and task complexity
How to start: Start by reading this: How you can create your virtual assistant business on Whop

64. Customer service agent

Customer service is one of those jobs that many companies now hire for remotely.

While freelance roles might not pay heaps or offer fast career growth, it can still be a solid online business — especially if you enjoy helping people and solving problems every day.

What you need: Communication skills, customer service platforms like Zendesk, phone/internet
How much it costs: Free to $50 (basic software)
How much you can earn: $200–$3,000 monthly based on client volume
How to start: Decide if you want to run this business as a solopreneur or a freelancer, and then make a list of the services you will offer

65. Recruitment agency

Recruitment is a great online business idea because most companies now outsource their hiring, and many are looking for a more personal, affordable option than big agencies.

If you’ve worked in a specific industry, you already have an edge: you know what good candidates look like and what employers really want. As a freelance recruiter, you can run your entire business online, helping companies find the right people and helping jobseekers stand out — without ever setting foot in an office.

What you need: Networking skills, recruiting software (LinkedIn Recruiter, ATS), communication skills
How much it costs: $150–$500 (software, outreach tools, potential marketing budget)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000+ monthly, depending on placements and commissions
How to start: Make sure you have a good list of contacts, then start shaping your offering

66. Remote sales

Another department that a lot of companies are willing to outsource is sales. While firms that do mega-deals won’t do this, most consumer-facing companies will, and you can look into setting up a remote sales agency that can take care of a variety of key sales processes on behalf of your customers.

You might end up taking on many of the less glamorous sales functions on behalf of your clients, but it’s still a lucrative online business if you get the mix right. Check out how Alexis Seleste went from $0 to $100k per month as a remote closer.

What you need: Sales skills, CRM software, lead lists or lead generation tools
How much it costs: $50–$200 (CRM subscriptions, minimal marketing)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly, plus commissions for high-ticket deals
How to start: Start by learning as much as you can about remote sales by taking a course or joining an online coaching academy

67. Lead generation

Lead generation is something that you’d think companies do themselves, but is in fact, very time-consuming and therefore often outsourced. That’s where you come in, helping different businesses by building lists of potential leads and then reaching out to them with tailored sales pitches.

You can do this for a variety of industries, and even influencers outsource lead generation these days — it’s definitely part of the remote sales universe, but worth its own mention because of how much potential for profit there is if you get good at this.

What you need: Lead gen tools, sales and outreach skills, CRM
How much it costs: $100–$500 (tools, software subscriptions)
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000 monthly based on client count and deal structures
How to start: Pick a niche, learn basic outreach strategies, and use tools like Apollo or Hunter.io to build and contact lead lists

68. Build whops for businesses/creators

Whop Tutorials

Learn how to use Whop to run your business no matter what you sell. For more help join Whop University - https://whop.com/c/whop/university

YouTube

New whops are being created every day by individual creators and big businesses. Whop is easy to use, but knowing the right tricks can make your whop stand out.

If you have experience building whops and using the platform, you should give providing this as a professional service a try. By knowing which apps to add, what kind of a pricing option system you should set up, customizing app visibilities, and upselling some, you can deliver whops that can stand out to your clients.

Plus, when you invite clients through your affiliate link, you'll earn ongoing commissions from their sales.

What you need: Deep understanding of how Whop platform works, tips and tricks of building whops, expertise with the full range of apps in the Whop App Store
How much it costs: $0
How much you can earn: $50–$500+ per project based on the client and complexity of the whop(s)
How to start: Create a whop, expand your portfolio, and reach out to potential clients who can benefit from having a whop

Consulting & professional services

69. Event planner

Event management is another of those skills that is extremely difficult to find, so if you’ve got it, use it! Whether it’s planning private events like weddings or focusing more on the corporate sector, the event space is growing again post-lockdown.

You’ll need to be organized and professional, and having an established contact network is a huge plus. This is something you can definitely manage remotely for the most part, but some in-person availability does help…

What you need: Planning skills, contacts, event management software
How much it costs: $100–$500 (software, marketing)
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000 monthly, scalable with experience and reputation
How to start: Make a great visual portfolio of events you've planned and services you can offer

70. Virtual event planner

…unless the events you’re planning are virtual too! There are plenty of virtual event platforms around right now, and even if you or your clients aren’t quite ready for a trip into the metaverse, there are other ways to run virtual-only events.

That said, plenty of clients will be fine with a remote-only event planner as long as you can pull the strings competently from a distance.

What you need: Online event platforms (Zoom, Hopin, Whop), event planning skills, communication skills
How much it costs: $50–$300 (platform subscriptions)
How much you can earn: $500–$5,000 monthly depending on event size and frequency
How to start: Same as physical event planning — make a portfolio that shines

Read about how to use the Events app on Whop to host your own virtual events for free

71. Bookkeeping/accountancy

Just about every business needs someone to take care of its books, and while most larger companies have entire teams of accountants, plenty are happy to take on freelancers.

How far you take it is up to you — simpler bookkeeping can be managed easily with the use of some simple software, but to take care of higher level accounts and ensure regulatory compliance you may need to get yourself certified.

What you need: Accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), relevant certification or training, client management system
How much it costs: $100–$500 (software subscriptions, training materials)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly based on clients and complexity
How to start: Get a professional website made and showcase the services that you offer

72. Online teaching and tutoring

If you’ve got knowledge in a subject, turning it into an online teaching or tutoring business is a smart move — especially with a constant stream of students and companies looking to learn new skills. Schools provide built-in demand, but corporate clients often have budgets set aside for training too. Tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and Loom make it easier than ever to teach remotely.

Just keep in mind: online teaching is a little different. You might be used to reading body language in person, but now you’ll have to work around cameras off and students who are one browser tab away from distraction.

What you need: Knowledge or expertise in a subject, video conferencing tools (Whop, Zoom, Google Meet), platform (Whop, Teachable, tutor.com)
How much it costs: $0–$100 (minimal tech setup)
How much you can earn: $100–$5,000+ monthly, scalable based on student numbers and pricing
How to start: Create your online platform (a whop is great for this) where you can easily meet people online

73. Teach languages

Very much related to the previous entry, languages deserve their own section because of their prominence. Communication is a basic need, and if you know a foreign language, you’ll often be able to command quite a decent rate for your services.

Don’t worry if all you speak is English — it’s the language most in demand, both from people moving to English-speaking countries and needing help to professionals working abroad and needing to learn English as their companies globalize and even adopt English as their business language.

Check out our full guide to teaching English online for more information.

What you need: Fluency in at least two languages, video conferencing tools, teaching materials
How much it costs: Free to $50 (basic software)
How much you can earn: $200–$5,000 monthly, scalable with group sessions and specialized classes
How to start:

74. Consultancy

High levels of expertise or industry experience can be put to use in other areas, but if you’re a real expert, consider consulting.

It might be worth looking into whether your current job is possible as a consultant, too — a little bit of market research will give you an idea of how many people can do what you do.

If your company would struggle to replace you, you might be able use your current expertise to immediately transition to a higher-paying consulting role.

This can then lead to broader opportunities where you offer that same service to other companies, and before you know it, you’ll be considering taking a couple more consultants on board to help you share the workload.

What you need: Expertise in a niche, communication tools, professional online presence (LinkedIn, personal website)
How much it costs: $0–$200 (basic setup, marketing)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000+ monthly based on industry and expertise
How to start: Show off your stuff on socials, make a website, and create your packages

• Signs you’re ready to start a consulting business
• Consulting business ideas that you can start today

75. Tax expert

Tax season is a source of plenty of headaches, which also means that it can be a fantastic opportunity.

If you’ve got a background in tax, or even finance or law, you might look at becoming a tax expert or tax consultant.

You can then provide your services to both individual and business clients looking for help with managing expenses and deductions, and optimizing their tax returns.

What you need: Tax preparation skills/certifications, tax software, client network
How much it costs: $50–$500 (software, training)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000 monthly based on complexity and client count
How to start: Build out your website with your services and start targeting small businesses with paid ads

76. Financial advising

A financial advisor is a trained and certified professional who is allowed to advise clients on investments and wealth-building.

The requirements for getting qualified may vary based on your location, but it’s not something you need to be a banker or stockbroker for.

As a financially-skilled individual, you can work independently and take on clients, manage their wealth and investment portfolios, and grow your own through your expertise.

What you need: Certification, financial knowledge, advisory tools
How much it costs: $100–$500 (certifications, software)
How much you can earn: $1,000–$10,000 monthly depending on client assets managed
How to start: Share your skills across socials and the clients will come to you

77. Professional trading

On the other hand if you’re not up for the professional education and certification that goes into becoming a financial advisor, you can focus on building your own wealth instead.

Becoming a full-time trader requires a little bit of starting capital, both in terms of seed to grow as well as a computer, screens, fast internet connection as well as optional subscriptions to advanced data feeds.

From then on, though, you can do it however you like—put bags of cash on the line during the day as a day trader or scalper, or make some longer term deep value plays and emulate legendary online traders like the Roaring Kitty.

Whatever your style, trading can be a great career if you’re a quick mover with a good head for risk management. Just check out these top trading whops and trading Discord servers to get trading advice and education.

What you need: Capital, trading software, market knowledge
How much it costs: $500–$10,000+ (capital, subscriptions for software or trading communities)
How much you can earn: $500–$20,000+ monthly, highly variable. You can even lose money as a trader–in fact, most do, so exercise caution
How to start: Before you start get all the advice you can through courses, communities, and online education

78. Career advisor

Have you had success in your career? If the answer is yes, you can offer career advice to others for a fee.

You don't have to be a CEO or member of the 30-under-30 club to offer career advice. Clients can come to you for help with interview prep, salary negotiation, and team management skills. You can also help clients find their ideal career path based on their experience and interests.

As a career advisor you can host your services fully online, offering up career advice in ebooks and courses, and live video calls for face-to-face (virtual) sessions.

What you need: Career experience or HR background, video conferencing setup, digital marketing strategy
How much it costs: Free or minimal (up to $50–$100), using free or inexpensive video conferencing
How much you can earn: $200–$3,500 per month, significantly more if offering group courses or webinars
How to start: This is another business that you can build up by showing off your skills on socials and then taking on paying clients

79. Virtual personal trainer

One great opportunity for making money online is with online fitness training. As a PT or fitness enthusiast you could offer up your fitness skills with an online community or coaching.

Share your skills with a self-led online course and pre-recorded classes for time-poor clients. Or, virtually train clients in real-time through live video sessions.

What you need: Fitness certification or relevant experience, virtual conferencing tools, client management software
How much it costs: Minimal setup ($50–$300), primarily software and basic equipment
How much you can earn: $300–$6,000 per month, scaling with online group training and specialized coaching programs
How to start: Make sure you have your training up to date, then create a virtual space for your fitness coaching

If you like the sound of making money with online fitness, check out:

• How to sell fitness programs online
• How to launch a virtual fitness community

80. Create and sell meal plans online

Selling meal plans is a great online money-maker. Anyone with a background in nutrition can create and sell meal plans online.

There are multiple ways that you can do this, including selling a subscription to a weekly or monthly meal plan, creating and selling macro-personalized plans, and selling niche meal plans for specific dietary requirements.

This online business idea can be used in conjunction with online fitness training and life coaching services.

What you need: Nutrition expertise, meal-planning software, attractive website or whop
How much it costs: $50–$200, mostly software and initial marketing
How much you can earn: Typically $200–$5,000 monthly, scalable with recurring subscription-based customers
How to start: Share photos and videos of your meal plans online, then start creating your virtual plans

81. Become a digital advertising consultant

Paid ads are one of the pillars of online businesses. Many of the business ideas we've covered so far use advertising at one point, whether that's social media ads, PPC search engine ads, or display ads on websites and apps.

While many platforms allow you to easily create ad campaigns, you need to put in some effort to research, learning platform-specific algorithms, and creating catchy ads that can capture people's attention and actually generate a return on investment. Most people don't have the knowledge or the time to do this.

If you already know how to run ad campaigns on platforms like Meta (Facebook) Ads Manager, TikTok Ads Manager, and Google Ads (or want to learn), you should definitely try offering ad consultancy services to creators and businesses.

What you need: Ad platform experience (Facebook, Google, TikTok, etc.), marketing skills, client outreach methods
How much it costs: $50–$500 (testing ads, software subscriptions, initial client demos)
How much you can earn: $300–$5,000+ monthly, depending on clients, campaign budgets, and the number of campaigns you run
How to start: Learn how platforms like Facebook Ads Manager and Google Ads work, create a portfolio showing your results, then reach out to creators and small businesses

• Best advertising platforms
• Are pre-roll ads the key to your advertising campaign?

82. Collect and sell data

Even though AI models and search engines have plenty of data to work with right now, the demand for hand-collected, unique datasets still remains strong.

So, if you know how to gather insightful niche information with methods like scraping or surveys to build on top of publicly available data, you can package and sell this as a product.

Make sure to choose a niche with a clear need for precise data that  can’t easily be found online or even using an AI tool–think Airbnb pricing trends in a specific city or a curated list of influencers including their behind-the-scenes engagement rates.

As long as your insights are hard to find, unique, accurate and valuable, you’ll be able to stay competitive and immune to even the latest AI updates.

What you need: Data scraping tools, survey software, analytical skills, sales channel (newsletter, Whop store)
How much it costs: Minimal ($50–$200), mainly for tools and surveys
How much you can earn: $300–$5,000 monthly, higher if your data solves clear market needs
How to start: Pick a niche with unmet data needs, collect unique insights (via scraping, surveys or manual research), and sell them through newsletters or marketplaces like Whop

83. Personal brand coaching

Building a personal brand is a major priority for creators and entrepreneurs — which is why many hire coaches to help them grow.

If you’re skilled at storytelling, niche targeting, and monetisation, you can turn those strengths into a thriving business as a personal brand coach.

Your role as a personal brand coach can also be more on the financial side if you’re good at identifying and executing monetization opportunities which might include digital products, memberships, or one-on-one coaching.

What you need: Strong personal branding expertise, a professional online presence (LinkedIn, website), coaching platform (Whop, Kajabi, Zoom)
How much it costs to start: $50–$300 (initial setup, website, video conferencing tools)
How much you can earn: $500–$10,000+ monthly, significantly more with premium coaching packages or group workshops
How to start: Share results from your own brand or client work, then offer 1:1 sessions or audits via a simple site or platform like Whop

84. Business AI consulting

A few years ago, AI struggled to form basic sentences. Now it helps billion-dollar companies streamline their workflows and boost efficiency - but not everyone can keep up with these rapid changes.

This is where business AI consultants come in - if you're experienced in the AI field, whether that be prompt engineering or training custom models, you can offer AI consultant services to businesses who are looking to integrate the future into their business.

While knowing AI basics is essential for consultants, many businesses need more than just good prompts. AI is expanding every day - most people didn't know what MCPs were a year ago. By staying up to date with the new AI technologies and having a firm understanding, you can start finding clients in no time.

What you need: Strong understanding of AI technologies
How much it costs to start: $50–$300 (subscriptions to AI tools)
How much you can earn: $1,000–$10,000+ monthly, depending on client size
How to start: Start by finding a special niche and then create case studies where AI proves a return on investment. Then, create a store page where clients can find your work and services

85. Organize and monetize mastermind sessions

Mastermind sessions are meetings where a small group of like-minded individuals gather and share knowledge, assist each other in projects, and help everyone move towards their goals. These collaborative groups benefit individuals by exposing their ideas and goals to a broader thinking tank.

If you have expertise in a specific field or you're good at people ops, organizing mastermind sessions and monetizing them might be a good idea. These aren't just regular Zoom calls - they need a solid organization, but they're highly in demand, especially when you bring together successful people from the same industry.

You can run mastermind sessions on platforms like Whop, which would make it easier for you to organize the access, monetization, and the session itself.

What you need: Expertise in a field, organizing skills, and the ability to manage a small group of people effectively
How much it costs to start: $50–$150 (marketing)
How much you can earn: $200–$1,000+ per session, depending on how much marketing you did and the individuals included in the session
How to start: Choose a niche to specialize in, create solid marketing campaigns, and start with small groups to build up a reputation in your field

Starting an agency: one of the best online business models

If you're looking for an online business model with low startup costs, high demand, and serious income potential, launching an agency, especially a clipping agency, is hard to beat.

Top entrepreneurs like Whop’s Iman Gadzhi got their start this way, and it’s easy to see why: agencies are flexible, scalable, and quick to launch.

While some of the more traditional agencies (e.g. social media or influencer marketing) have become crowded and competitive, clipping is still an early opportunity with a wide open playing field for anyone willing to start.

How to start a clipping agency

Clipping — aka editing short-form videos for creators and brands — is one of the fastest-growing agency offers right now.

With short videos dominating platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, demand is sky-high. All you need to do is:

1. Learn basic editing (use tools like CapCut or InShot)
2. Create a simple offer (per video, package, or monthly)
3. Reach out to potential clients (creators, coaches, brands)

Want to skip the client chase?

Whop’s Content Rewards program lets you earn by creating viral clips for existing offers. Or, if you’re a business owner, use it to grow your reach by paying clippers to promote your products.

Whop Content Rewards

If you want to get started even faster without needing to find clients, Whop’s Content rewards program is a perfect launchpad. 

• Sign up for the program
• Create an offer (e.g. $3 per 1000 views) and fund it
• Post it publicly
• People will start signing up for your offer and creating content
• Review content and make your payouts

Content Rewards is the easiest way to find individual clippers to help your brand go viral. 

Read more about setting up Content Rewards here

Launch your online business with Whop

Execution is what turns ideas into income, and platforms like Whop make launching fast and simple.

With built-in discoverability and a ready audience, your whop becomes your digital storefront for selling anything from coaching and templates to memberships, picks, or writing.

Don't just take our word - here's what Whop sellers Bravo Six Picks have to say about Whop:

With Bravo Six Picks, we turned a passionate audience into a profitable membership-based community using Whop, the best platform for today’s entrepreneurs.

If you want to monetize your community, Whop gives you everything you need to grow and automate. Work smart and let your community work for you.

Whether you need a platform to manage premium content subscriptions, a marketplace to sell your products, or a storefront for your digital services—Whop has you covered.

Online business FAQs

How to get started with your online business idea

Starting a business can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

A lot of the online business ideas we’ve provided above can be started as side hustles, meaning that you can just jump in and start doing them—this essentially means that you’re starting off as a sole proprietor. Plus, many of these are cheap businesses to start.

Once you start getting serious about your business, it’s time to consider changing legal structure. Sole proprietorships are generally fine, but they do have a couple of big disadvantages such as personal liability.

Incorporating your online business or establishing an LLC is a great way to insure yourself against this risk.

Beyond the limited liability that an LLC provides, you’re also able to take advantage of pass-through taxation, and have the credibility that goes with an established firm—clients may take your fledgling business more seriously if you present it as an LLC than as a sole proprietorship tied so closely to your personal brand.

Aside from the legal structure for your online business, you’ll also have to grab a federal employer identification number and choose your business name.

The latter step might not sound like much, but branding is everything these days. A great business name that ties into the nature or niche of your business can be a brilliant marketing tool.

Should you start an online business?

A lot of people tend to be quite blasé about how “easy” it is to start your own business, and while some of the ideas we provided above have low entry barriers, starting something new is always a challenge.

When not to start an online business

The most successful entrepreneurs we think of today had massive advantages through which they were able to get off the ground. Bill Gates (full name: William Henry Gates III) was the beneficiary of access to cutting edge computers via his private school at an age where most children didn’t know what a computer was, and Jeff Bezos’ parents put hundreds of thousands of dollars into his little ecommerce startup that we now know as Amazon.

Elizabeth Holmes, now incarcerated but once Wall Street’s favorite entrepreneur, benefitted from her father’s vice-presidency at Enron and investment from her rich neighbors. Sam Bankman-Fried, whose career path has been eerily similar to Holmes’, is the scion of Stanford Law professors Barbara Fried and Joseph Bankman. 

Even Kenneth C. Griffin, the billionaire Republican donor and founder of market maker Citadel who recently claimed that “markets are efficient because of active managers (like his own hedge fund) setting the prices of securities”, was given a push-start by his grandmother who had herself inherited multiple businesses and farms. 

The point here is that a lot of successful (or successful to a point, in some of the examples) entrepreneurs have a safe, stable background from which they can take risks and found their ventures. Most entrepreneurs fail, and not just once—it’s considered a badge of honor in Silicon Valley to have failed multiple times before finally striking gold.

The problem is, not everyone can afford to fail. While it might be a risk worth taking, you may need to think long and hard about whether you can afford to give up your day job and start a new business—you still need to pay your bills, after all.

That’s why we’ve spoken several times about taking your time getting things off the ground, and treating your new business idea as a side hustle until it reaches a critical mass and generates enough money for you to live off comfortably. 

Why you should start an online business 

Despite the arguments against starting an online business, there’s every chance that you could make it work, turning as little as a couple of hours a week into a side hustle that doubles or triples your existing income. It’s all about your expectations—if you want to be the next tech billionaire then the bar’s set pretty high, but you’ll find it far easier to succeed if your goals are attainable.

The thing about starting an online business is that it doesn’t have to be hard. It’s extremely easy to get started with an online business or side hustle today thanks to the tech and tools out there. The vast majority of online business ideas we posted above are ones that you can get started with almost immediately.

If you want to be a video editor? Download Resolve, and Google some tutorials. YouTuber or streamer? Create an account on YouTube and get your phone or screencap software out. Need to learn a new skill to start one of the ecommerce businesses? Check out Whop, you should find a course or community that’ll help you get started.

How to start an online business

One of your first steps to starting your online business is having a business plan. Getting all of your thoughts down on paper won’t just help you refine via iteration, it’s also a requirement in some jurisdictions when filing for a freelancing or business license.

Check out our guide to how to create a business plan and also look over these business plan templates to get you started.

You should also think about your target persona and your customer policies. Courtney Gras, the Director of Operations at Whop emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the creator and their customers:

"A big step to growing an online business that is easily overlooked is to be completely obsessed with your customer: know their habits, know their needs - inside and out,"

she says.

"Being able to answer clearly: why you are the right person to help solve their problems through your products or services? If you can nail this, everything else follows!"

Then, think about what infrastructure you’ll need to run your business. If it’s POD, you’ll need marketing, an online site or store, and partners for manufacturing, printing, and fulfillment. For a YouTube business, you’ll need video and audio capture gear (a mobile phone might be fine, though) and software to edit said video and audio as well as images (for thumbnails and inserting into video) along with a YouTube account.

The differences between those two options are stark—some online businesses can be done purely with a single platform, such as with YouTube doing everything for you in the background including processing platform ad revenue and customer donations or subscriptions.

With other business ideas, you might also need to think about linking up with payment processors, cloud hosts, customer service providers, and much more. It’s a huge plus when a single partner, like Whop for example, can provide you with each and every one of those services no matter what sort of business you choose to start!

Finally, remember to take care of yourself. Realizing a business idea and becoming an entrepreneur can be as much of a heady rush as it is a drain on your time and resources, and it’s important to be mindful of your own capacity and responsibilities.

Even though it’s worth putting time and energy into your work, don’t neglect family, friends, or your own mental health.