25 Online Businesses for Beginners

The digital era has transformed the way businesses operate, making it easier than ever for beginners to start their entrepreneurial journey. With a vast array of online business opportunities available, aspiring entrepreneurs can choose from numerous ventures that align with their skills, passions, and goals. In this article, we will explore 25 online businesses that are particularly suitable for beginners. We will also be highlighting the reasons that make them ideal starting points for your entrepreneurial journey.

There are a lot of in-demand online businesses a person could start. And, there are several types of online businesses out there, too. However, not all of them are suitable for new entrepreneurs. That is why we’ve decided to focus on the online business with the lowest barrier of entry, the quickest startup times, and the lowest relative costs.

Blogging

Blogging is an accessible entry point for beginners looking to share their thoughts and expertise with the world. By consistently producing quality content, bloggers can attract a loyal audience and monetize their platform through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, or advertising. The low startup costs, ease of use, and potential for passive income make blogging an attractive online business option. 

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing allows individuals to partner with brands and earn commissions by promoting their products. This business model is beginner-friendly, as it doesn’t require inventory management or shipping. By leveraging your online presence, you can generate income passively while promoting products you believe in.

A successful affiliate marketer can earn up to $300/day. Many are making more. But the average is closer to $20-$30/day. Especially if you are just starting out.

E-commerce store

Opening an e-commerce store enables you to sell physical or digital products online, reaching customers worldwide. Platforms like Shopify and Etsy simplify the process, making it easy for beginners to set up and manage their stores. With minimal startup costs and various product niches to explore, e-commerce offers a flexible and scalable business opportunity.

However, you will need to create a marketing strategy for this online business. Just launching a store is not enough to get people to visit the site. But, once you get the hang of it, you should soon see your site’s user numbers increase as well as an uptick in sales. Shopify reports that its average store owner earns around $51K per year.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping involves partnering with suppliers who fulfill orders on your behalf, eliminating the need for inventory management. This low-risk business model allows beginners to focus on marketing and customer service, with the potential to scale rapidly as demand grows. Successful drop shippers can earn upwards of $100K per year, but the average is likely around $40-$60K. Here are some of the most popular dropshipping sites around.

• AliExpress Dropshipping
• Modalyst
• SaleHoo
• Doba
• Spocket
• Wholesale2b

Freelance writing

There are several types of online freelancing business ideas out there. However, freelance writing remains one of the most popular. For individuals with strong writing abilities, freelance writing offers a flexible and in-demand online business opportunity. By providing content for websites, blogs, and marketing materials, you can work with diverse clients and industries, build a portfolio, and potentially generate a steady income.

Even with the rise in A.I. writing tools, this online business remains one of the easiest and best to get started. If you want more freelancing business ideas, check out our article 10 Tips for Starting an Online Freelance Business.

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants provide administrative, technical, or creative support to businesses remotely. This online business option is ideal for beginners with strong organizational skills, as it allows you to leverage your abilities while gaining valuable experience working with diverse clients.

Being a virtual assistant is a great online business for students who have extra time in between classes. Many tasks assigned to VAs can be done within 24 hours and do not need extensive expertise. However, it is important that the tasks are done correctly. One of the most important attributes of being a VA is attention to detail.

Social media management

Social media management is an excellent online business opportunity for beginners well-versed in various platforms. By helping businesses create engaging content and grow their online following, you can hone your marketing skills and generate income in a high-demand field.

To start a social media management business, begin by identifying your niche. This should be a type of industry or business that aligns with your interests and areas of expertise. Once you have your niche, work on acquiring the necessary skills. This includes understanding the workings of various social media platforms and honing skills such as content creation, SEO, analytics, and advertising.

Networking is a crucial part of your business development. Actively reach out to potential clients, attend relevant industry events, and consider forming partnerships with other businesses to widen your client base.

The average social media manager’s salary is $50,473, as per Payscale. 

Print-on-demand

The print-on-demand business model involves designing custom merchandise and partnering with a fulfillment company that handles production and shipping. This low-investment, low-risk model is ideal for beginners with creative skills, as it allows you to test different designs and products without incurring significant upfront costs.

• Teelaunch
• Printful
• SPOD
• Printify
• CustomCat

Graphic design

Photo by George Milton: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-faceless-woman-working-on-laptop-and-graphic-tablet-7015034/

Beginners with artistic talent can start a graphic design business, offering services such as logo creation, website design, or marketing material design. This online business allows you to work with diverse clients and industries, developing a portfolio and potentially building a lucrative freelance career.

Web development

If you have basic coding knowledge or are willing to learn, web development presents a lucrative online business opportunity. Platforms like WordPress and Wix make it simpler for beginners to design and build websites for clients, allowing you to develop your skills and generate income.

Online tutoring or teaching

Sharing your knowledge or skills through online tutoring or teaching is a beginner-friendly business with strong growth potential. By offering live lessons or creating online courses, you can reach a global audience and potentially generate passive income.

Podcasting

Podcasting is a booming industry, and starting your own podcast on a topic you’re passionate about can be both rewarding and profitable. Beginners can generate income through sponsorships, advertising, or crowdfunding while building a loyal audience and enhancing their personal brand. Successful podcasters can make $25-$40 for every 1,000 listeners per ad, according to The Atlantic.

YouTube channel

Image by DCStudio on Freepik

Creating a YouTube channel allows beginners to produce video content on specific topics and monetize their channel. With minimal equipment and editing skills, you can share your passions and expertise while potentially building a substantial following. To make the most of your channel there are some specific things you should focus on. First, create engaging, high-quality content consistently to attract a large audience.

Monetize through YouTube’s Partner Program, focusing on ads, channel memberships, and Super Chat. From there, begin collaborating with brands for opportunities to post sponsored content. Top YouTubers can make millions, but an average YouTuber earns $3-$5 per 1000 video views.

Online language instruction

Teaching languages online is a beginner-friendly business idea with strong growth potential. By offering live lessons or creating and selling pre-recorded courses, you can reach a global audience and establish yourself as an expert in your field. As a result, you may be able to increase your rate per hour once you’ve gained experience. 

Online subscription box service

Curating and delivering niche-themed subscription boxes is a creative and engaging online business idea for beginners. By identifying a target market and sourcing unique products, you can establish a loyal customer base and generate recurring revenue. CrateJoy suggests that successful subscription box services can earn $1,000-$2,000/month within a year.

Stock photography

For photography enthusiasts, selling high-quality photos to stock photography websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock is an accessible online business opportunity. This venture allows you to earn passive income while honing your photography skills and building a diverse portfolio. Top photographers can earn hundreds per photo, but the average earnings per download are closer to $1-$2 on sites like Shutterstock.

Online coaching or consulting

If you have expertise in a specific field, online coaching or consulting can be a lucrative and fulfilling online business. By offering personalized coaching or consulting services in areas like fitness, nutrition, or business strategy, you can leverage your knowledge and help others achieve their goals. Check out our article for the different types of online consulting businesses available. 

Mobile app development

With the growing demand for mobile apps, developing your own app or creating apps for clients presents a promising online business opportunity for beginners. By learning basic coding skills and familiarizing yourself with popular platforms, you can generate income through in-app purchases or advertising.

Self-publishing

Self-publishing empowers aspiring authors to write and publish their own e-books or audiobooks, bypassing traditional publishing routes. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing make it easy for beginners to distribute their work and earn royalties from sales.

SEO Consulting

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a vital aspect of online businesses, and offering SEO consulting services can be a profitable venture for beginners familiar with the field. By helping businesses improve their online visibility and rankings, you can develop a steady client base and grow your expertise.

Email marketing

Email marketing is a highly effective digital marketing strategy, and offering email marketing services is an excellent online business opportunity for beginners. By helping businesses create and manage email campaigns, you can drive sales and customer engagement, while honing your marketing skills.

Essentially, your business would be creating emails and managing marketing campaigns. Understanding how to navigate platforms like MailChimp, Constant Contact, and Sendin Blue will be an important skill to have.

Online event planning

With the rise of virtual events, online event planning is a growing business opportunity for beginners. By organizing virtual events like webinars, conferences, or workshops, you can cater to a global audience and generate income through ticket sales or sponsorships.

Webinars/Course Publishing

Hosting paid webinars on specific topics or industries is a valuable online business idea for beginners with expertise to share. By providing valuable insights and knowledge, you can attract an audience willing to pay for your expertise and build your personal brand. Successful hosts can make thousands per webinar, but it varies widely based on audience size and the price of admission.

If you have knowledge in a particular area, you can also publish online courses. Publishing courses create passive income if you can create a course that is on an in-demand topic. For beginners, it is best to sell a course on a site like Udemy. The platform does the marketing for you which makes it easier for newbies to publish their first course.

Influencer marketing

If you have a strong online presence on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, leveraging your influence to partner with brands and promote their products can be a lucrative online business. By creating engaging content and promoting products you believe in, you can generate income while maintaining authenticity. Top influencers can make millions, but Micro-influencers may make $300-$500 per post

Membership site

Creating a membership site with exclusive content, resources, or services is an attractive online business model for beginners. By offering valuable content to members who pay a monthly fee, you can generate recurring revenue while building a loyal community. A membership site with 100 members paying $20/month would earn $24,000 per year.

Conclusion

The wide array of online business ideas available today provides beginners with numerous opportunities to launch their entrepreneurial journey. The 25 options outlined in this article cater to diverse skills, interests, and goals, ensuring that there is an ideal starting point for everyone. One of the major mistakes people make when launching an online business is selecting the wrong venture. Take the time to review your options and select the best business that will help you reach your goals.