2025 is just around the corner and aspiring entrepreneurs are planning to kickstart it with their own new online business.
You should also check out these eye-popping eCommerce and online shopping statistics to change your mind in favor of starting an online business:
- 49% of customers start their online shopping journeys on retailer websites or apps. (Hostinger)
- 36.4% of customers spent less than $200 on online purchases. (Hostinger)
- As of September 2024, 34% of people worldwide shop online. (Hostinger)
- According to Statista, global retail e-commerce sales reached an estimated $5.8 trillion in 2023. (Statista)
- Projections indicate a 39% growth in global retail e-commerce sales in years to come, with expectations to surpass $8 trillion by 2027. (Statista)
By starting a business online now, you can join this growing market and make a fortune from it.
However, starting an online business can sound very overwhelming for people as it also requires a solid business strategy just like starting a traditional business.
Most of them struggle with coming up with an idea. If you’re one of these people, your struggle is over.
In this article, I’ll share with you 30 different best online business ideas that will help you kickstart the next year.
Most of these don’t require much startup funding and you can start with minimal investment in the form of your savings.
Let’s start!
30 Best Online Business Ideas for 2025
The details of online business ideas are shared below:
1- Start a Clothing Brand
Starting a clothing brand is a great business idea if you’re interested in building a fashion brand. This idea revolves around starting a clothing line and selling it through online platforms. It’s a great idea for beginners but it still requires a lot of struggles.
You will have to set up a manufacturing line and make clothes like shirts, trousers, jackets, or any other garment item. Then, promote it online and deliver it to customers to make a profit.
Requirements:
- Deep market analytics
- Designing and manufacturing line
- An online social media platform
- Product delivery system
2- Sell your Art Online
Artists all around the world are making huge money by selling their art on the online marketplace. Despite the rise of digital artworks, there are millions of people who still prefer hanging originally created artworks in their homes.
It’s a great idea that requires a minimal investment since you are the manufacturer yourself. The only investment required will be for art supplies, marketing, and delivery.
Requirements:
- Time and talent
- Art supplies
- Online platform
- Marketing
3- Sell an Online Course
If you have a skill that you’re working on, you can teach it to others and make money from it. It is generally known as selling a course online. It is one of the best ways to make money online.
It’s a great model that not only helps the owner make a lot of money but also helps people who want to learn a skill and start working on their own. The specialty of this idea is that it is very versatile.
Requirements:
- A skill you’re good at
- Good communication skills
- Marketing and an online teaching platform
4- Resell Thrifted Items
We all love purchasing items such as clothes from thrift stores. It is not only cheaper but also gets you very high-quality and branded items. Now, you can buy these items from a general thrift store and resell them to other people online. It is also a low-investment model and can give you a great profit margin if done the right way.
The key to making this idea successful is searching and finding great products at thrift stores. Going to a nearby thrift store might be actually good instead of purchasing from online stores.
Requirements:
- Thrift store research
- Great second-hand products
- Online marketplace or store
5- Start a Blog
Not many people are aware of the fact that blogging can actually be a great online business idea. Starting a blog is a great way to express your thoughts and knowledge to people on the Internet and make money over it.
You can also find lots of free blogging tools to start and manage your blog without breaking the bank. If you’re a great writer and know how websites work, you might not have to invest a lot in this model.
The basic way to earn from this idea is by running ads via Google Adsense. As an owner, your sole target is to focus on delivering quality content and attracting more traffic so that there’s more ad revenue.
Requirements:
- Good writing skills
- Knowledge of websites
- SEO knowledge
- A proper website
6- Become a Virtual Assistant
Business owners online require assistants that can handle their basic everyday tasks. You can become a virtual assistant and offer your services to them. The beauty of this model is that it is very versatile as well.
You can pick any field and be an assistant in it. However, keep in mind that you will have to do some decent research to find people who require assistance. Also, a basic knowledge of handling office work, attending business phone calls, and managing other tasks is also necessary for running this business.
Requirements:
- Knowledge of office management
- Communication skills
- A proper work setup
- Client research
7- Become a Social Media Influencer
A social media influencer is a person with a great fan following and influence over their audience. It usually requires creating content on a niche such as sports, movies, fashion, etc. However, creating fun content is also a great idea to make it work. The primary way of earning from this model is through ads and sponsorships.
Many brands and businesses approach influencers to promote their products. As a result, you get to make money in return.
Requirements:
- Engaging content
- Niche research
- Active social media presence
- Good communication
8- Build an App
As a developer, working on other’s products isn’t the only thing to do. It’s also a decent way of developing a business of your own. One way to do that is by building an application. Do thorough market research and find an issue that an application can solve.
Then, build an app for it and turn it into a business. Building an improved version of already existing apps is also good. Keep in mind that you will have to rank and promote the app on the App Store and Google Play Store to make the model work.
Requirements:
- App development skill
- Market research
- ASO knowledge
9- Start Podcasting
Podcast hosts are making millions all around the world by just sitting and talking about different topics. It is a huge market and over 546.7 million people listen to podcasts around the world. It requires lots of struggle as well. However, if you’re willing to put in the work, the reward will be huge.
Simply set up a decent setup and speak on different topics with your friends. The main earning here comes from sponsorships and ads. There are free platforms like YouTube that can help you get started with the model.
Requirements:
- Engaging topic research
- Good communication skills
- A proper podcast setup
- A guest/guests
10- Be an Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate Marketing is another promising business idea you can try out. Marketers all around the world are using this technique to make good money. The best thing about this model is that you don’t have to create or manufacture a product.
Simply promote other brands’ products and make a commission over it. There are a lot of affiliate marketing programs available including Amazon Associates that are a good point to start.
Requirements:
- Niche selection
- Good marketing skills
- Good online presence
- Client research and audience building
11- Sell Handmade Items
Just like any other product, selling handmade goods online is a decent profitable business idea. It is perfect for people who are good at making handmade crafts like purses, hats, handbags, etc.
Despite the revolution of industrial products, a lot of people are willing to pay good money to purchase handmade products. Etsy is a platform where you can begin. Simple, make items you’re good at making and sell them on Etsy or any other online platform to make a profit.
Requirements:
- Good crafting skills
- Online store setup
- Marketing and branding
12- Be a Social Media Manager
Being a social media manager has huge scope in this growing market. Brands and individuals related to almost every field have social media accounts on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.
These people are on a constant lookout for people who can manage the accounts. You simply have to find a client and start managing their socials. It requires deep social media knowledge and public relations skills.
Requirements:
- Social media expertise
- PR skills
- Client research
- A little content-creating knowledge
13- Become a Translator
Now that the world is getting together for business engagement rapidly, being a translator can be very profitable. It is a great model for people who are multilingual. Many companies and individual brands require translators to deal with resumes, meeting transcriptions, and document processing.
Using the multilingual skills to deal with these requirements can be very profitable. You can charge clients by hour or by project to increase the profit margin as well.
Requirements:
- Multilingual proficiency
- Client research
- Document processing knowledge
- Cultural understanding
14- Be an Online Fitness Trainer
The fitness training industry as a whole is a huge market where you can start a profitable business. The online fitness training saw a huge shift in demand during the lockdown days. It is still growing and is a great idea if you’re into health and fitness.
It’s a low-investment model where you only have to give your time and use workout and exercise skills to train other people. Fitness trainers can also charge by hours and have a great potential of making a lot of money.
Requirements:
- Fitness and workout expertise
- Client hunting
- Time management
15- Do Voiceover Projects
For people having a good voice with the ability to speak in different tones, starting a voiceover business is a huge idea. Many industries such as advertising, audiobooks, gaming, etc., require this skill. Not many people are gifted with a good voice so there’s always high demand in the field.
High demand means you will get more projects and can charge high as well. You can find clients for this unique idea by using platforms like Upwork or social media in general.
Requirements:
- Voice acting skills
- Decent recording equipment
- Audio editing skills
- Client outreach
16- Write and Publish eBooks
If you have great writing skills, you can write and publish eBooks as an individual business. It is a unique model that requires great writing and story-telling skills. As an author, you publish books on platforms like Amazon and earn a percentage of sales over it.
The percentage can be different depending on the deal. So, the model has a huge potential of generating decent income if you can sell a lot of books on different platforms.
Requirements:
- Writing and story-telling skills
- A publishing platform
- Marketing and promotion
17- Offer Skills as a Freelancer
This idea is for people who are already working on a skill as a professional. To turn this skill into a business, you can start offering it as a freelancer. Skills like writing, designing, web development, etc., are in high demand all over the world.
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr can help you connect with industries and businesses looking for these skills. As a business owner, you can handle multiple projects at once while making a good profit. The investment for this idea depends on the skill you’re offering.
Requirements:
- Good grip on the skill you have
- Client hunting and outreaching
- Skill-relevant setup (i.e., good editing system as a designer)
- Profile-making on different platforms
18- Start Dropshipping
Another idea that demands almost no investment is dropshipping. It is based on the model where you sell in-demand products to customers without stocking them. In other words, you ask a supplier to send a product to the customer’s address directly without stocking it.
This market has become huge in recent years due to the rise of e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Amazon. Keep in mind that you will have to conduct thorough research to find in-demand products that can give good profit. This business has the potential of helping you earn around $1000-$3000 monthly.
Requirements:
- Supplier and product research
- An online store on an e-commerce platform
- Pricing and profit margin analysis
19- Sell Curated Subscription Boxes
The business of selling curated subscription boxes is becoming very popular. It is about making a package of curated/selected items and delivering it to the customer’s address.
This package usually includes items related to a certain theme such as beauty and skin care. Another example of this package is delivering prepared meal packages.
To make this model work, you need to make sure your subscription price is more than the money you spend on buying, packaging, and delivering items.
Requirements:
- Niche selection
- Packaging skills
- Subscription package creation
- Delivery logistics
20- Provide Customer Service Remotely
People who like helping out others with their issues can start the business of providing customer service remotely. It’s a great idea if you don’t want to work in a physical call center or office.
As a service provider, you will have to link with a company or an organization. The company will give you access to their customer support system. You will be responsible for answering people’s queries through email, text, call, or online chat portal.
Requirements:
- Problem-solving skills
- Good communication skills
- Proper setup for remote working
- Relationship building with clients
21- Start Online Teaching
Online teaching business is blooming in this digital age as well. Many local as well as international students require assistance in their academics which creates a decent business demand in the field.
You can start teaching these students and charge them according to the format that works best for you. Online teaching also does not require much investment. You only need to perform some research and approach students who need assistance.
Requirements:
- Teaching expertise in certain subjects
- Online meeting platform
- Client/student searching
- Communication and engagement skills
22- Become a Proofreader
If you like reading and have a knack for spotting mistakes in a written work, becoming a proofreader is a great business idea for you. It involves proofreading client’s work which can be manuscripts, assignments, transcripts, articles, etc.
The client provides you with all the guidelines that help complete the proofreading process. As a proofreader, you can charge per hour or per project according to the format that gives you the most profit.
Requirements:
- Good grammatical and language skills
- Attention to details
- Client hunting
- Knowledge of tools used in proofreading
23- Become a Language Tutor
If you have a good grip on demanding languages like English, French, Spanish, etc., becoming an online language tutor is the right choice for you. It works similarly to the general teaching business but focuses solely on teaching a specific language.
Also, the techniques and procedures involved in it are also different. The process of client hunting here requires great research and effort.
Requirements:
- High language proficiency
- Familiarity with language teaching techniques
- Online meeting tools
- Client outreach
24- Build Resumes
People all around the world need decent and well-crafted resumes to apply for and get jobs. However, not many people know how to create a CV or make a decent resume. As a service provider, you can start building resumes that are tailored and well-crafted according to the relevant industry needs.
The charging method for this model is straightforward. Clients can be charged per resume which keeps things streamlined. People who need this type of service can be found on different social media platforms. Reach out to these people and offer services and make money from it.
Requirements:
- Good resume writing skills
- Knowledge of industry requirements
- Marketing to find clients
25- Make Presentation Slides
Making presentation slides is a common and profitable business idea. Many people in the business industry require presentations almost every day to present their ideas. However, not many of them have the time or skills to make great presentation slides.
It is an opportunity for you to use your editing and designing skills to build a business. Many online platform allows you to find and connect with such clients.
Requirements:
- Awareness of business presentation formats
- Good editing and designing skills
- A decent editing setup
26- Sell Mobile Accessories
Another versatile and highly profitable business idea is selling mobile phone accessories. These accessories include covers, screen protectors, headphones, etc. You can either sell one accessory or deal with multiple according to your expertise.
To run this setup, you need to connect with suppliers who can provide you with such accessories at cheaper prices. Then, build an online store and promote it on different platforms. Client outreach here mainly depends on your marketing and advertising quality.
Requirements:
- Product supplier
- An e-commerce store
- Marketing
- Delivering and customer service systems
27- Sell Stock Photographs
If you like capturing photos of random objects, the stock photography business can be very profitable for you. This idea is all about capturing stock photos and selling them through stock photography platforms like Shutterstock.
Many professionals who require such photos pay to buy their rights. It’s a great way to turn your photography passion into a continuous income stream. The method of earning usually depends on the platform you’re selling the photos through.
Requirements:
- Decent equipment for photography
- Selection of a well-paying stock photography platform
- Consistent content creation
28- Website Flipping
Website flipping is a promising online business model that works similarly to any general trading. As a business owner, you purchase websites that are underperforming. After that, you make improvements to it and sell it to other buyers for profit.
This model requires a deep understanding of the website world and Search Engine Optimization. The website nature can be different such as blog sites, news sites, etc. If performed the right way, website flipping can help make a decent profit.
Requirements:
- Good knowledge of website functionalities
- SEO and marketing skills
- Profit margin analytical skills
- Deep understanding of website flipping platforms
29- Create and Sell NFTs
Creating and selling NFTs is a modern online business idea that can help you earn a lot of money. This model revolves around creating digital assets and selling them as NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Many people around the world use these NFTs to represent their ownership of different assets such as music, art, etc. It is a little complex idea where you go through a series of multiple steps from creating, minting, and selling NFTs. However, the hard work put into this model can pay off in a big way.
Requirements:
- Digital art-creating skill
- Understanding of blockchain and crypto
- Crypto wallets for minting
- Marketing and promotion
30- SaaS Development
SaaS Development is another business model that is helping a lot of companies and individual brands around the world. It is based on the idea of making a cloud-based software system and selling it as a service.
In simple words, you create a software and your clients will purchase its subscription to use the included features. It is a very profitable idea that requires both talent and creativity. You will have to spot problems that businesses are facing and make software to fix them.
Requirements:
- Software development skill
- Cloud hosting system
- UX designing skills
- Market research
Up to You!
2025 is going to be a very promising year for online business owners. Companies and markets are shifting their systems online offering huge opportunities for making a fortune.
The above-discussed data explains the best online business ideas that can help you kickstart the upcoming years. These ideas are related to a number of different fields and you can pick the one that suits you the best.
However, you need to do proper research and develop business management skills to survive and thrive in this competitive business world.
Good luck!
