Last Updated on by Dan S
Originally Published January 2, 2023.
Here are 20 potential small online business ideas for you to consider:
- E-commerce store for a specific product niche
- Online tutoring service
- Virtual event planning and coordination
- Social media management
- Dropshipping
- Search engine optimization (SEO) consulting
- Online course creation and sales
- Virtual bookkeeping and accounting services
- App development
- Online personal shopping and styling service
- Website design and development
- Graphic design services
- Digital marketing agency
- A t-shirt print-on-demand business
- Virtual interior design consulting
- Stock and commodity trading education
- Virtual personal training and fitness coaching
- Start a pet accessories business
- E-commerce beauty store
- Writing and editing services
1. E-commerce store for a specific product niche
Starting an e-commerce store for a specific product niche involves several steps, including research, product sourcing, building and launching your online store, and marketing your business.
First, research your niche to understand the target audience, the existing competition, and the potential demand for your products. Then, find a reliable supplier for the products you wish to sell. This can be done through online marketplaces, wholesalers, or even manufacturing your own products.
Next, build and launch your online store using a platform such as Shopify. Choose a visually appealing design, organize your products in a user-friendly way, and make sure to include all necessary information such as product descriptions, pricing, and shipping details.
Finally, market your business to attract customers to your store. This can be done through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. It’s important to have a marketing strategy and to continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business. And don’t forget to ensure your website and checkout process is optimized for conversions, mobile and SEO friendly.
Overall, starting an e-commerce store for a specific product niche can be a great way to turn a passion for a certain product or industry into a successful small online business. With hard work, persistence, and a bit of knowledge, you can start your e-commerce journey in no time.
2. Online tutoring service
Another small online business idea is starting an online tutoring service involves several steps, including identifying your niche and target market, developing a curriculum or lesson plan, and building an online presence for your business.
First, identify your niche and target market. What subjects or skills do you want to teach? Who are your potential students? Understanding your niche and target market will help you develop a curriculum or lesson plan that is tailored to their needs and interests.
Next, create a curriculum or lesson plan that includes a variety of teaching materials such as videos, quizzes, and interactive activities. This will help you to deliver engaging and effective lessons to your students.
After that, you need to build an online presence for your business. This can be done by creating a website and social media accounts to promote your service and attract potential students. This website should be professional, easy to navigate and with all the necessary information about your service, pricing, and contact details. You can also consider using an online tutoring platform like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet to conduct your lessons.
Finally, market your service through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other educators, parents, and professionals to expand your reach and get more students. It’s important to have a marketing strategy, and to continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business.
Starting an online tutoring service can be a great way to share your knowledge and skills with others while earning an income. With hard work, persistence, and a bit of knowledge, you can start your small online business of tutoring in no time at all.
3. Virtual event planning and coordination
Starting a virtual event planning and coordination online business involves several steps, including researching the market, developing a unique selling proposition, and building an online presence for your business.
First, research the market to understand the demand for virtual event planning and coordination services, the existing competition, and the types of events that are in high demand. This can help you to identify a niche that you can specialize in and develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your business.
Next, develop a USP that sets your business apart from others in the market. For example, you could specialize in virtual conferences, virtual networking events, or virtual team-building activities. Or you could focus on a specific industry or target market.
After that, you need to build an online presence for your business. This can be done by creating a website and social media accounts to promote your services and attract potential clients. Make sure that the website is professional, easy to navigate, and includes all necessary information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
Finally, market your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other event planners, professionals, and business owners to expand your reach and get more clients. It’s important to have a marketing strategy and to continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business.
Starting a virtual event planning and coordination online business can be a great way to turn your passion for planning and coordinating events into a successful business. With hard work, persistence, and a bit of knowledge, you can start your virtual event planning and coordination journey in no time.
4. Social media management
In order to establish an online social media management business, one must undertake several steps such as researching the industry, creating a unique selling point, setting up an online presence, and obtaining the necessary skills. To begin, research the market to gauge the demand for social media management services, understand the competition and familiarize yourself with the platforms that are most commonly used by businesses. This research will aid in identifying a niche and developing a unique selling point (USP) for your business.
Next, create a USP that differentiates your business from others in the market. This could include specializing in a particular industry or target market, or offering services that are not commonly provided by other social media management companies, such as analytics or advertising.
Following that, set up an online presence for your business by creating a professional website and social media accounts to advertise your services and attract potential clients. The website should be easy to navigate, and should include all relevant information about your services, pricing and contact details.
Then acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage social media accounts for businesses. This could include understanding of social media platforms, analytics and metrics, and social media advertising. Training and certifications can help in acquiring these skills.
Finally, market your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners and professionals in your industry to expand your reach and gain more clients. Continuously analyze and optimize your marketing strategy to ensure the growth of your business.
Starting an online social media management business can be an exciting opportunity to turn your passion for social media into a successful venture. With effort, determination and the right knowledge, you can begin your journey in social media management.
5. Dropshipping
Starting an online dropshipping business is a relatively straightforward process that can be done in several steps:
- Research your niche: Determine what products you want to sell and research the demand, competition, and profit margins in that niche.
- Choose a platform: You can use platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce to set up your online store. They are easy to use and integrate with dropshipping apps.
- Find a supplier: Look for a supplier that offers dropshipping services and has a good reputation. AliExpress, Spocket and Oberlo are popular options.
- Set up your store: Customize your store’s design and layout, add products, and set up payment and shipping options. Make sure to have a clear and easy checkout process.
- Launch your store: Once your store is set up, launch it and start promoting it. Use social media and other marketing techniques to attract customers to your store.
- Optimize your store and marketing: Continuously analyze and optimize your store’s design and layout, products, and marketing strategy to improve conversions and increase sales.
- Monitor your supplier and keep track of inventory: Keep an eye on your supplier’s inventory levels and prices to ensure your store has the latest products and prices.
- Provide excellent customer service: Make sure to respond to customer inquiries and complaints in a timely and professional manner to build trust and loyalty.
Starting a dropshipping small online business is an easy way to enter the e-commerce industry with a low startup cost. With the right research, platform, supplier, and strategy, you can quickly launch your own online store and start selling products.
To help sell your products, you can look to install Shopify apps to increase revenue. Delivery Timer helps encourages customers to checkout quicker on your store, as the app shows a timer so they know when they can receive their items by.
Remember that as with any business, it’s important to be persistent and continuously analyze and improve your business to achieve success.
6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consulting
Starting a Search engine optimization (SEO) consulting business involves several steps, including acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge, building an online presence, and marketing your services to potential clients.
First, acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to provide SEO services. This could include understanding of SEO best practices, keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and analytics. Training and certifications can help in acquiring these skills.
Next, build an online presence for your business. This can be done by creating a website and social media accounts to promote your services and attract potential clients. Make sure that the website is professional, easy to navigate, and includes all necessary information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
Finally, market your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners, professionals, and website owners to expand your reach and get more clients. It’s important to have a marketing strategy, and to continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business.
Starting an SEO consulting business can be a great way to turn your passion for search engines and online marketing into a successful business. With hard work, persistence, and a bit of knowledge, you can start your SEO consulting journey in no time.
7. Online course creation and sales
Starting an online course creation and sales business involves several steps, including identifying your niche and target market, developing your course material, and building an online presence for your business.
First, identify your niche and target market. What topics or skills do you want to teach? Who are your potential students? Understanding your niche and target market will help you develop a course that is tailored to their needs and interests.
Next, develop your course material. This could include creating video lectures, quizzes, and other interactive elements that will help students learn and engage with the material. Make sure that your course is well-organized and easy to follow.
After that, you need to build an online presence for your business. This can be done by creating a website and social media accounts to promote your course and attract potential students. You can also use platforms like Udemy, Skillshare or Coursera to host and sell your course. Make sure that the website is professional, easy to navigate, and includes all necessary information about your course, pricing, and contact details.
Finally, market your course through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other educators, professionals, and business owners to expand your reach and get more students. It’s important to have a marketing strategy, and to continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business.
8. Virtual bookkeeping and accounting services
In order to launch a virtual bookkeeping and accounting services company, one must undertake several steps such as obtaining the relevant skills and qualifications, building an online presence, and promoting your services to potential clients. To begin, acquire the necessary skills and certifications to provide bookkeeping and accounting services. This may include obtaining a degree in accounting or a related field, and obtaining certifications such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification.
Then, establish an online presence for your business by creating a professional website and social media accounts to market your services and attract clients. The website should be easy to navigate and should include all relevant information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
Once your online presence is established, set up the infrastructure and tools necessary to run your business such as accounting software, communication and project management tools, and security protocols to ensure the safety and confidentiality of your clients’ information.
After that, promote your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners, professionals, and other accounting and bookkeeping service providers to expand your reach and gain more clients. Continuously analyze and optimize your marketing strategy to ensure the growth of your business.
9. App development
To start an app development online business for Shopify, you will need to conduct market research, create a unique selling proposition and establish an online presence for your business.
Begin by researching the market to understand the demand for Shopify apps, the competition and the types of apps that are in high demand. This research will help you identify a niche and create a unique selling proposition (USP) for your business.
Next, develop your USP that sets your business apart from others in the market. For example, you could target a specific industry, or offer a feature or integration that is not typically provided by other apps.
Then, set up an online presence for your business by creating a professional website and social media accounts to promote your services and attract potential clients. Make sure that the website is easy to navigate and includes all necessary information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
After that, use Shopify’s App development platform and its API to create your app and submit it to the Shopify App store for review. Once your app is approved, it will be listed in the Shopify App store and available for merchants to install.
Finally, market your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners, professionals, and app developers to expand your reach and get more clients. It’s important to have a marketing strategy and continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business.
10. Online personal shopping and styling service
To start a small online business that specializes in personal shopping and styling service, conduct market research to understand demand, competition, and platforms commonly used. Identify a niche, develop a unique selling proposition (USP) and create a professional website and social media accounts to promote your services and attract potential clients.
Acquire necessary skills and knowledge such as understanding fashion trends, styling techniques, body shape and proportions, and knowledge of different fabrics and materials.
Promote your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing and Network with other business owners and professionals in your industry. Continuously analyze and optimize your marketing strategy to ensure the growth of your business.
11. Website design and development
Starting a small online website design and development business involves several key steps to ensure success. First, conduct thorough market research to understand the demand for website design and development services, the existing competition, and the different platforms that are most commonly used by businesses. This research will help you identify a niche that you can specialize in and develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your business.
Once you have a clear understanding of your niche and USP, it’s important to build an online presence for your business. This can be done by creating a professional website that showcases your portfolio and services, as well as establishing social media accounts to promote your business and engage with potential clients. Your website should be user-friendly, easy to navigate and include all necessary information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
In addition to building an online presence, it’s crucial to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to design and develop websites effectively. This may include understanding of web design and development languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks such as WordPress, Shopify, ReactJS, AngularJS etc. Consider taking relevant training and certifications to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this field.
Marketing is a key component in the success of any business, and website design and development is no exception. Promote your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners and professionals in your industry to expand your reach and get more clients. Continuously analyze and optimize your marketing strategy to ensure the growth of your business.
12. Graphic design services
Another small online business idea is to start a graphics design service. This is how you could start it:
- Develop a strong portfolio of your work. This will be the first thing potential clients will see, so make sure it is professional and showcases your best work.
- Create a website for your business. Make sure it is visually pleasing, easy to navigate, and includes information about your services and portfolio.
- Establish your brand. This includes creating a logo, choosing colors and typography, and developing a consistent look and feel for all of your communications and materials.
- Define your target market and create a marketing plan to reach them. This can include social media, advertising, networking, and content marketing.
- Set your prices and establish a billing system. Research the going rates for graphic design services in your area and determine what you will charge for different types of projects.
- Develop a contract and establish a clear process for working with clients. This will help ensure that both you and your clients are on the same page and that expectations are met.
- Continuously improve your skills and stay current with the industry trends.
- Network and build relationships with other professionals in the industry, such as photographers, developers, or other designers.
- Finally, be patient, persistent and don’t give up, it takes time to build a successful business.
13. Digital marketing agency
Starting a digital marketing agency can be a fulfilling and profitable business venture. The first step is to gain a deep understanding of the digital marketing landscape and the various tactics that are used to drive online growth for businesses. This includes SEO, PPC, social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, and more.
Next, develop a strong portfolio of your work and case studies that demonstrate your ability to drive results for your clients. Then, create a website and establish a brand for your agency. After that, define your target market and create a marketing plan to reach them. Network and build relationships with other professionals in the industry.
Next, set your prices and establish a billing system. Develop a contract and establish a clear process for working with clients. Continuously improve your skills and stay current with the industry trends. Finally, be patient, persistent and don’t give up, it takes time to build a successful business.
14. A t-shirt print-on-demand business
Starting a t-shirt print-on-demand business using dropshipping and Shopify can be a relatively simple and low-cost way to get started in e-commerce. Here are the steps you can take to get started:
- Research and find a reputable dropshipping supplier for t-shirts. This supplier will handle the printing and shipping of your t-shirts to customers.
- Set up a Shopify store. Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows you to create and manage an online store. It also integrates with many dropshipping suppliers and offers various apps and plugins that can help streamline the process.
- Choose a niche and design your t-shirts. Identify a specific niche or target market for your t-shirts and create designs that will appeal to them.
- Create your product listings on your Shopify store. You can import the products from your supplier and set your own prices.
- Promote your store. Use social media and online ads to drive traffic to your store and generate sales.
- Fulfill orders and handle customer service. Once you receive an order, your supplier will print and ship the t-shirt directly to your customer. You will be responsible for handling any customer service issues or returns.
- Continuously improve your store and your designs. Keep testing new designs and optimize your store for conversions and customer experience.
- Create a unique brand and build trust with your customers.
15. Virtual interior design consulting
Another small online business idea is starting a virtual interior design consulting business, which can be a great way to turn your passion for design into a profitable venture. The first step is to develop your skills and knowledge. It’s important to have a strong understanding of design principles, color theory, and the latest trends in interior design. Consider taking courses or earning a professional certification in interior design to ensure that you have the necessary knowledge to provide professional services.
Once you have developed your skills and knowledge, you need to build a portfolio of your work. This will be the first thing potential clients see, so make sure it is professional and showcases your best work. This portfolio can include images of your previous work, testimonials from clients, and any other relevant information that will help to demonstrate your expertise and credibility.
After that, you should create a website for your business. Make sure it is visually pleasing, easy to navigate, and includes information about your services and portfolio. This will be your online presence, and it should reflect your brand and your target market.
Establishing your brand is also important, this includes creating a logo, choosing colors and typography, and developing a consistent look and feel for all of your communications and materials. This will help you to stand out in the market and create a unique identity for your business.
To attract customers and generate revenue, you need to define your target market and create a marketing plan to reach them. This can include social media, advertising, networking, and content marketing. The key is to identify the specific needs and preferences of your target market and tailor your marketing efforts to reach them.
You also need to set your prices and establish a billing system. Research the going rates for virtual interior design consulting services in your area and determine what you will charge for different types of projects. This will help you to remain competitive and generate profit.
It’s important to establish a clear process for working with clients by developing a contract, This will help ensure that both you and your clients are on the same page and that expectations are met. This contract should outline the scope of work, timelines, and payment terms.
Investing in virtual design tools such as 3D rendering software, visualization tools, and virtual meeting platforms will allow you to present your designs to clients in a professional and effective manner.
To stay competitive in the market, it’s important to continuously improve your skills and stay current with the industry trends. This means keeping up with new design techniques, materials, and technologies, as well as following the latest design trends.
Networking and building relationships with other professionals in the industry, such as builders, architects, or other designers, will help you to expand your reach and find new clients.
Finally, starting a business takes time and effort, it’s important to be patient and persistent. Don’t give up when faced with obstacles, and keep working towards your goals. With hard work, dedication, and a strong knowledge of the industry, you can build a successful virtual interior design consulting small online business.
16. Stock and commodity trading education
To start a stock and commodity trading education small online business, you can:
- Develop your knowledge and skills in trading, and gain a strong understanding of markets, strategies, and risk management.
- Build a track record, if possible, to establish credibility as a trading educator.
- Create a business plan, including target market, pricing, marketing strategies and projected revenue.
- Establish a legal structure, e.g. register as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation.
- Create a website with information on services, pricing, testimonials, and contact details.
- Develop a curriculum with both theoretical and practical components.
- Choose a method of delivering your education, e.g. online, live webinars, or in-person.
- Establish a marketing plan to reach your target market.
- Set prices and establish a billing system.
- Continuously improve knowledge and skills, stay up to date with market trends and regulations.
- Network and build relationships with other professionals in the industry.
- Be patient and persistent, as building a successful business takes time.
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
It’s important to note that starting a stock and commodity trading education small online business also requires compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. It is necessary to be well-versed in these requirements and comply with them to ensure a legally compliant operation of the business.
17. Virtual personal training and fitness coaching
Another small online business idea is starting a virtual personal training and fitness coaching business involves several key steps to ensure success.
First, research the market and the competition to identify a niche and develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your business. For example, you could specialize in a specific type of training or target market, or you could offer services that are not typically provided by other personal training and fitness coaching companies such as virtual workout plans, online nutrition consulting, or customized training programs.
Next, acquire the necessary qualifications and certifications to become a personal trainer and fitness coach. This could include obtaining a degree in a related field such as kinesiology, and obtaining certifications such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).
After that, you need to build an online presence for your business. This can be done by creating a website and social media accounts to promote your services and attract potential clients. Make sure that the website is professional, easy to navigate, and includes all necessary information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
Then, acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to provide virtual personal training and fitness coaching services effectively. This could include understanding of exercise science, nutrition, and the use of various fitness technologies such as fitness tracking apps or online workout platforms.
Finally, market your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners and professionals in your industry to expand your reach and get more clients. It’s important to have a marketing strategy, and to continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business.
Starting a virtual personal training and fitness coaching business can be a great way to turn your passion for fitness into a successful business. With hard work, persistence, and the right qualifications and skills, you can start your virtual personal training and fitness coaching small online business in no time.
18. Start a pet accessories business
Setting up and starting a pet accessories small online business on Shopify involves several steps, including researching the market, developing a unique selling proposition, building an online presence for your business, and setting up your Shopify store.
First, research the market to understand the demand for pet accessories, the existing competition, and the different platforms that are most commonly used by businesses in this market. This can help you to identify a niche that you can specialize in and develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your business.
Next, develop a USP that sets your business apart from others in the market. For example, you could specialize in a specific type of pet or target market, or you could offer products that are not typically provided by other pet accessory companies such as eco-friendly or handmade products.
After that, you need to build an online presence for your business. This can be done by creating a website and social media accounts to promote your services and attract potential clients. Make sure that the website is professional, easy to navigate, and includes all necessary information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
Then, set up your Shopify store. Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that allows you to easily create an online store and sell your products. Shopify offers a variety of tools and features such as inventory management, payment processing, and shipping integrations to help you run your business efficiently.
Once your Shopify store is set up, you can start adding your products and customizing your store to match your brand and style. It’s important to optimize your products pages and images for SEO and usability. You can use apps and add-ons from the Shopify app store to optimize your store.
Finally, market your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners and professionals in your industry to expand your reach and get more clients.
19. E-commerce beauty store
To start an e-commerce beauty store, begin by researching the market to identify a niche and develop a unique selling proposition (USP).
Build an online presence by creating a professional website and social media accounts. Set up your e-commerce platform, such as Shopify, to easily create and manage your online store. You can add Shopify apps to help elevate your store. SellUp is great app that allows you to create upsells and cross-sells to increase your average order value. This means you will generate more revenue.
Add and optimize your products, customizing your store to match your brand and style. Market your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing.
Network with other business owners and professionals in your industry to expand your reach and get more clients. Continuously analyze and optimize your marketing strategy to ensure the growth of your business.
20. Writing and editing services
To start a writing and editing services small online business, you need to first conduct market research to understand the demand for writing and editing services, the existing competition, and the different platforms that are most commonly used by businesses in this market. This will help you to identify a niche that you can specialize in and develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for your business.
Once you have a clear understanding of the market and your USP, you need to build an online presence for your business. This includes creating a professional website and social media accounts that promote your services and attract potential clients. Your website should be easy to navigate and include all necessary information about your services, pricing, and contact details.
In order to provide high-quality writing and editing services, it’s important to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge. This includes understanding grammar, punctuation, style, and knowledge of different writing and editing software. You may want to consider obtaining training and certifications that can help you to acquire the skills and knowledge you need.
To attract clients, promote your services through various channels such as social media, Google Ads, or influencer marketing. Network with other business owners and professionals in your industry to expand your reach and get more clients. It’s important to have a marketing strategy, and to continuously analyze and optimize it to ensure the growth of your business. As your business grows, you can consider hiring more writers and editors to scale your services.
Let’s conclude 20 best small online business ideas
In conclusion, starting a small online business in 2023 presents a wide range of opportunities for entrepreneurs with various interests and skills. From e-commerce and app development to social media management and virtual event planning, the possibilities are endless.
Whether you’re looking to turn your passion into a successful business or simply seeking a new career opportunity, these 20 small online business ideas offer a great starting point. With the right combination of research, hard work, and persistence, you can turn your small online business into a thriving venture in no time.
Remember, it’s essential to conduct market research, develop a unique selling proposition, build an online presence, acquire necessary skills and knowledge, and continuously optimize your marketing strategy to ensure the growth of your business.
With the right approach, you can achieve your business goals and be your own boss in the digital world.
