Check Our Recommended Resources to Grow & Monetize Your Website

⤴️ We verify & approve but do not endorse any products advertised.🔥 Place your 728 x 90 banner here.🔥

Best Online Business Ideas You Can Start With Almost No Money
Best Online Business Ideas You Can Start With Almost No Money

Best Business Ideas You Can Start Online With Almost No Money

Investing money in starting a business is, for many, the most significant impediment when they think about going their way and starting up a business. Even with the capital, you fear that you may lose it. If many people can overcome this capital hitch, we will witness many thriving small businesses. I’ve put together a list of best business ideas you can start with very little money online.

Interestingly, these business ideas require necessary skills, such as operating your phone or typing on a laptop. You only require licenses or setting up physical locations for some of them.

But let’s cut the chase and start talking business 🙂

Are these business ideas profitable?

Let’s face it! Most articles you read about starting a business are written by freelancers or college students hired by bloggers, so their business experience could be better.  And they certainly don’t know what makes for a good business idea.

That’s not the case here. I’ve been doing business for almost two decades. Till now, I’ve been into the following industries: betting agency (back in 2005 or so), currency exchange company, blog network, affiliate marketing, dropshipping, property management, computer repair shop, web developing agency, and now I run my digital marketing agency along with my network of blogs including Monetize.info.

Besides that, some of my business connections are running the businesses I recommend, and I could see how they started and developed their businesses with my own eyes. Oh, and of course, the struggles.

To hint, I use some of the screenshots from their businesses, haha.

Check the list carefully and pick the one that you like. Need help? Let us know in the comments form. I would love to help you make your 1st steps into the business world.

42 #business ideas you can start with little to no #money in #2022. Which one suits you best? via@monetizeinfoClick to tweet

Affiliate Marketing

The company/ business owning the product
The company/ business owning the product
The entity promoting the merchant's product through its marketing efforts
The entity promotes the merchant’s product through its marketing efforts
The person/ entity buying the product (directly or through an affiliate)
The person/ entity buying the product (directly or through an affiliate)

Affiliate marketing helps you earn by referring people to purchase a recommended product. You can promote the products using a website, social media marketing, and other methods. One of the easiest ways to earn online as it requires only requires a mobile phone with an internet connection.

Affiliate marketing has good margins. Most affiliate programs pay anywhere between 5% to 40% of the sale. You can sign up for multiple affiliate programs to earn more money and focus on those that perform best. Starting an affiliate marketing blog and using an affiliate theme optimized for conversions it’s an almost sure way to earn more money. It Will help to learn about marketing automation software that simplifies the distribution of affiliate links.

Business type: Online
Time amount: High
Earning potential: High

That’s, in my opinion, one of the best business ideas you can start this year. It’s a lot of work, but you grow an asset that will make you money for years to come.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best business ideas you can start in 2022. Grow an asset that will make you money for years to come. @monetizeinfoClick to tweet

How to start your affiliate marketing business?

Once you have found a niche and the products you want to recommend, signup for their affiliate programs, get your unique affiliate links, and promote the products. Don’t spam, as you risk getting your account disabled.

Further readings: Affiliate Marketing for Beginners [Complete Guide]How to Start an Affiliate Marketing Blog and Grow it to $100K11 Best Niches for Affiliate Marketing in 2022How to Turn Your Affiliate Blog Into an Authority Website: 21+ Tips50+ Best WordPress Themes For Affiliate Marketing

Not ready to start an affiliate marketing business? Get an affiliate marketing manager job instead.

Online Tutoring

What can you teach the world? Is it a foreign language or piano? Can you coach fitness or teach coding?

Prepare videos and e-learning materials for distribution to your students. Promote your work online through advertising or by social media. Request your students to provide referrals through friends and relatives.

Charge viewers for webinars and workshops held online. Let them buy your video courses, e-books, and webinar recordings, and you will be smiling to the bank from the comfort of your bed.

Business Ideas you can start in 2021 - Online Tutoring Business
Business Ideas you can start in 2021 – Online Tutoring Business
Business type: Online
Time investment: Low
Earning potential: High

How to start your online tutoring business?

Create a course on the topic you know best and sell it on Udemy, Skillshare, Askademic, etc. You can also start a blog, create an online course, and sell it to your visitors so you can keep all the profits. You will have to take care of marketing the course and handle sales and support, so it’s not the best way for beginners.

Further readings: Prerequisites & 8 Steps To Success, How I Earn $1000/week Tutoring for the ACT.

Blogging

The Survival Mom - Prepping blog (Business Ideas You can Start in 2021)
The Survival Mom – Prepping blog (Business Ideas You Can Start in 2022)

Blogging is one of the most popular ways to Earn Money from home. It involves choosing a profitable niche, starting a blog, and monetizing it to generate revenue when you reach enough traffic. Blogging requires creating quality content, engaging your visitors, and ultimately offering them the products and information they need. Most bloggers earn around $500 – $2000 each month in their first three years, and then when their blog has authority in their niches and a solid audience, they can earn more than $20K each month, up to $100K or even more. It’s proven that hard work and persistence pay off in blogging.

Business idea type: Online
Time investment: High
Earning potential: High

How to start your blogging business?

Choose a niche that can attract substantial traffic. Popular niches are competitive and require top-grade content. Should you settle for the less competitive niches, you should prepare for low traffic numbers. Still, the quality of your content and how well you market the blog determine its value. Once it has achieved moderate sustained traffic, you can make money through many methods:  affiliate marketing, selling advertising, creating a paid course, and ultimately selling the blog for a profit.

Further readings: How to start a blog in 2022 [Ultimate Guide]How to Monetize Your Blog in 2022How to Start an Affiliate Marketing Blog and Grow it to $100K

Vlogging

No surprise here; YouTube is primarily about videos. Can you create exciting videos that keep viewers returning to your channel? Then you are the right entrepreneur for a YouTube channel.

Depending on your success (virality, subscriber base, and topic), you can make a lot of money, and there are plenty of stories every week of more and more YouTubers making it their career.

Business idea type: Online
Time investment: High
Earning potential: High

How to start your vlogging business?

You can earn on YouTube in two ways. The number of views on your channel will attract revenue from YouTube advertisers. Secondly, you can feature products on your channel through endorsements. However, endorsements require a careful approach because they might send viewers who disagree with the brand away from your channel.

Further readings: Rank YouTube Videos: Best Practice (2022)How to Monetize Your YouTube Channel Through Affiliate Marketing

Start a niche website

CoinPedia - Cryptocurrency Niche Blog (Business Ideas You can Start in 2021)
CoinPedia – Cryptocurrency Niche Blog (Business Ideas You Can Start in 2022)

Fortunately, you can still start a website with less than $500 that, with the right amount of research, hard work, and marketing, can grow into a $3000+ monthly money maker. To give you some ideas: plumbers/electricians review directory in your area, healthy food producers directory, small businesses directory, etc.

But you don’t have to limit yourself to your local area; you can go national or even international.

Business idea type: Online
Time investment: High
Earning potential: High

How to start your niche website business?

Spend a lot of time researching a profitable and crowded niche. When you have found it, post content about your niche, gather an audience, and then contact businesses and professionals to list in your directory. You can charge anywhere from $10 to $200 per month for a premium listing.

Further readings: How to Turn Your Blog Into an Authority Website: 21+ Tips, 12 Proven Ways To Make Money In Any Niche [GUIDE]21 Businesses That Will Thrive in the 2022 RecessionBest 21 Advertising Networks For Publishers in 2022,

Fitness Coach

Business Ideas you can start in 2021 - Fitness coach
Business Ideas you can start in 2022 – Fitness coach

A demanding life is causing more people to remain unfit. They have no time to exercise or have the facilities but do not know how to utilize them.

Can you get people into shape? Whatever your knowledge or experience, some people will pay you to share that information with them, whether in person or online.  As a fitness instructor, you will be working online to guide interested persons on the best routines and improvise around the house. This is one of the highly demanded content online.

Business type: Offline / Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Low

How to start your fitness coach business?

This is a healthy, great business; you can start for free, have fun, and pay well enough. Start advertising your services on classified websites like Craigslist, Olx, and social media to get your 1st customers. Later on, you can get in touch with other fitness coaches that want to have a side gig.

You can extend the work to include creating text materials on fitness and customizing packages for different clients. Live streaming fitness sessions are also an option, especially during this pandemic.

Further readings: Steps to Become a Successful Online Fitness Coach, How to Start a Personal Training Business from Home.

Life Coach

Life coaching is the realm of motivational speakers. It also encompasses persons who can inspire others to be better at something like a skill. Students will be your business’s target if you understand education progression well. Life coaches also cover business, marriage, sex, relationships, socialization, and entrepreneurship, among other topics.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Medium

How to start your life coach business?

You need a video channel for the easier production of your content. A phone and lapel microphone will serve as a studio. Promote your content on social media and engage your followers on different topics. You build a sizeable following that will eventually consume your e-coaching products like books and podcasts. Life coaching requires the mastery of your craft and the ability to inspire confidence.

Further readings: 8 Steps to Build a Successful Coaching Business

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an idea coming to replace the physical store and the need to build extensive warehouses. Your role will be to advertise products on any platform like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay, including creating a website and social media. At this point, you buy the product from the manufacturer or distributor and ship it to the interested customer. Once a potential client orders, he will send the payment with delivery details.

You can sell anything from spoons to yachts with no penny in your account. In some cases, you never even get to see the product. All you need is a place where your clients can find you and agree with a delivery company. Goods are paid before ordering or delivery, eliminating any chances of losing money.

Keep in mind that there are some downsides of dropshipping business: High shipping duration, Lack of customer support, Refunds taking a lot of time, and unprofessionalism of sellers. But if you do enough research and choose the best sellers, you can overcome these downsides and set your business aside.

Business type: Offline
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: High

How to start your dropshipping business?

Ecommerce and dropshipping profits have reached over $4 billion, which is a 7% year-on-year increase. Start your research on sites like Amazon (use a tool like IOScout) to find products that people want, and then look for sellers on sites like AliExpress. When you find the product, the seller starts advertising it and processes the orders.

Further reading: How To Make Money Dropshipping, What Is Dropshipping? on Shopify.com

SEO Agency

Businesses of all sizes need search engine optimization (SEO) to stake out a place near the top of Google and other search engines to get traffic, leads, and ultimately sales. Even if the SEO industry started more than two decades ago, there is still growing strong, and there is plenty of room to grow.

You can learn the basics of search optimization relatively quickly and learn about it independently. Get started in this business by applying your best SEO techniques to your business website and tinkering with it until you have excellent search engine placement to talk up with potential clients.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: High

How to start your SEO agency business?

The first step is to ensure you are updated with the best SEO techniques that work now and with the 2022 SEO trends. Fortunately, there are many places where you can learn SEO. Check our list of top 10 FREE SEO Courses to get the necessary training. Next, start with your website and optimize it properly. It’s essential to TEST as much as possible to discover what works and doesn’t. Then you can contact companies and offer them your SEO services.

Further reading: 10 Most Complete SEO Guides You Can Read For Free in 2022How to start and grow your digital marketing agency [Actionable Guide]

Not ready to start an SEO agency business? Get an SEO specialist job instead.

Social Media Management Agency

The changing role of social media for businesses and professionals has opened new avenues for freelancers and people who want to start a business. Since companies must focus on their core areas, they outsource social media management to remote professionals. Your role will be to update details on the page, answer queries by customers or followers, and engage the fans on the page.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: High

How to start your social media management business?

A social media manager requires an internet device and a stable internet connection. Plenty of resources online will teach you about social media marketing. You will be paid based on the hours of an engagement or contractual terms. You can manage several pages simultaneously, helping to boost your earnings. When you get more customers, you should consider hiring V.A.s to help you with basic tasks.

Further readings: How to Optimize Your Social Media Campaign, Best Social Media Automation ToolsHow to Craft an Effective Social Media Strategy

Not ready to start a Social Media agency business? Get a social media manager job instead.

Virtual Assistant

Entrepreneurs and businesses are in the process of scaling down. Some minor duties might not fit a full-time employee, like booking appointments, flights, and answering queries.

In such an unstable business environment, companies t to leave staff and outsource work to individual contractors or remote work to reduce expenses.

It would help if you had a phone or laptop to access such facilities as customer management systems and a database with customer details. Such tools will help you to serve your customers well. You can serve several professionals and clients from anywhere around the world.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Medium

How to start your virtual assistant business?

Find out what services you can offer and start looking for companies that need virtual assistants. You can begin on freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Freelancer.com. Once you have a stable number of customers, you should hire more virtual assistants, train them, and expand activities.

Further readings: How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business in 2022, How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business When You Have Zero Experience

Ghost Writing

Ghostwriters can delve into fiction or non-fictional writing. A ghostwriter delivers a paper or book to get payment. However, the material will not be accredited to this name. The person or institution that issued the assignment gets the credit.

Ghostwriters are some of the best-paid home jobs. Since clients are looking for writers in all disciplines, you have a chance to work on your favourite topic. It is interesting to interact with the knowledge and still earn a livelihood.

Check WriteMyEssay.today to see how a business like this works.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: High

How to start your ghost writing business?

If you have a writing talent, you can make a ton of money by doing ghostwriting. Find your 1st clients on freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com. Once you have a stable number of customers, you should hire more ghostwriters, train them, and expand your activities.

Further readings: How to Become a Ghostwriter for Beginners

Web Development

Web Development Agency - Best Business Ideas to start in 2021
Web Development Agency – Best Business Ideas to start in 2022

Can you code or customize existing WordPress themes to create a fully functional website? Or maybe you can make from scratch software or mobile apps. You are a ripe candidate for working at home as a web developer. Companies and entrepreneurs are looking for skilled developers. You can easily make from $3000 to $10000 as a web developer.

Luckily for web developers, numerous templates online exist for different business operations. All you need is to understand the features and how they can be customized to serve other customers. Check the Monetize.info Top of the Best Maintenance Services for WordPress or the Best WordPress Development Companies to find out how others sell this service.

Business type: Online
Time investment: High
Earning potential: High

How to start your web developing business?

Fortunately, you don’t need anything besides a computer and an internet connection. There are plenty of tutorials on every topic you can think of regarding web development. Go to Youtube or start a course on Udemy, create a portfolio and then start hunting for customers.

You can find many places:  freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Facebook groups, and Classifieds websites. Once you have a stable number of customers, you should start hiring web developers, training them, and expanding your activities into a full-time web development agency.

Further readings: My journey to becoming a web developer.

Not ready to start a web development business? Get a job as a web developer instead.

Graphics Design

With the world becoming increasingly visual, designers are in demand. Professionals and businesses want to brand events and products. These businesses turn to graphic designers for the best posters, banners, animations, and other branding materials.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: High

How to start your web developing business?

A graphics designer requires basic training in I.T. However, knowledge of design software like Photoshop, Illustrator, Gimp, or even Canva will give you a pass into the world of graphic design. Furthermore, you can learn graphics design on YouTube and other tutorials offered by the product developers.

It opens opportunities to serve clients worldwide and earn significant revenue. You can find many places:  freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Facebook groups, and Classifieds websites.

Custom Illustrator

In the wake of an increased appetite for images, viewers have developed fatigue. They are looking for innovative ideas to tell the story without video or pictures. Illustrations are turning out to be valuable.

The traditional illustrations were done on canvas. Businesses and professionals look for pictures printed on merchandise, billboards, and videos. If you have the best illustration software and can deliver, there is a rewarding market for it.

Business Consultancy

Do you have considerable experience in business? Then entrepreneurs and companies are looking for you. The role is incredibly profitable for professionals and executives who have been in the industry for a while.

Such professionals understand all the requirements for these industries and will guide amateurs to get to space. For instance, a seasoned accountant will help businesses and startups set up accounting structures. It starts as freelancing but eventually becomes a consultant firm and later a company.

Business type: Offline / Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: High

Translator

Can you read, write, and speak multiple languages? Then you are a talent in high demand. Businesses expanding to foreign regions often require translators. You will be working on documents, transcription files, and research, among other language-related aspects. You may also be invited for a live translation session during a meeting. Advertise your skills and services online through social media or freelancing websites.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Medium

E-book Writing

E-books are growing in popularity as people find a way to read using gadgets and credible authors. Whether fiction or a tutorial on remote work opportunities, an e-book will be more believable than a blog.

Writing an e-book requires extensive research on the subject. Take time to provide credible information in such an easy way that anyone can understand. Authors whose believable style and content gain a sizable following to sustain your revenue stream. Pick any area, write, market the book, and begin earning your reward.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Medium

Content Writing

People write at work and school, and some do it as a passion. However, writing is not as straightforward or natural as it sounds. Millions worldwide are looking for tutors to help them polish their skills. If you are good at it, you have endless opportunities to start a business on this.

The first clients are students handling different assignments. You may also target executives stuck with reports, press releases, memos, and other business materials. Please help them to express their ideas effectively.

Business idea type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Low

Not ready to start a content writing business? Get a content writer job instead.

Data Entry

Digitization of files and capturing data is an ongoing process. Businesses and professionals would like to upload materials on websites or systems. They enlist the services of data entry clerks to key in the information manually. The rewards are exciting based on the hours of engagement and the complexity of the task.

Data entry does not require any special skills. It can be done over the phone or using a laptop. You are ready for a data entry job if you can handle a computer or phone.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Low

Domain brokerage

The top 5 most expensive domain names
The top 5 most expensive domain names

The buying and selling of domain names can be a lucrative online business. Several domains have been sold over the years, sometimes costing a hundred times the buying price. For instance, a $10 investment on this site led to a sale of $2600. That’s, I think, even more, profitable than buying and holding Bitcoin.

Business type: Online
Time investment: Low
Earning potential: High

How to start your domain brokerage business?

There are two main ways you can do domain brokerage. The first is to look for aged domains with excellent SEO and traffic figures but are looking to expire and purchase them. Use tools like Domain Hunter Gatherer [discount here] and SpamZilla.

The second is to read about trends, new domain extension releases, and register domains that will get popular soon. Ensure to avoid registered brands as the companies can demand you handle the domains for them.

Further readings: How to Start a Profitable Domain Buying – Selling BusinessHow to Make Money With Aged DomainsHow to Find a Domain Name with Fun, Memorable Domain Phrases

Proofreading 

Editing is crucial for any document to avoid misrepresentation arising from errors in a written document. An editor is the last person to polish a paper or book before submission. If you are good at grammar, you have a lot of work. Luckily for editors, you get to work with clients from all over the world. With a different topic each day, you will enjoy the intellectual discourse while earning your living.

Business idea type: Online
Time investment: Medium
Earning potential: Medium

Start an eCommerce Site

Start an eCommerce Website - Panflute Shop
Start an eCommerce Website – Panflute Shop

Setting up a virtual shop and selling items has never been easier today. Fifteen years ago, you had to spend at least $10-20K to launch an e-commerce store. Later on, after WordPress and Woocommerce appeared, you could end up with a $1500 bill. Today, with Shopify, you have to spend just $40 ($11 for a  domain name and $29 monthly for Shopify) to launch your shop in hours.

Go with niched products and find unique ways to present and sell them. We have many e-commerce tutorials here on Monetize.info, so I’m not going to tell you more.

Business idea type: Online
Time investment: Low
Earning potential: High

How to start an e-commerce business?

Go to Shopify, get an account, and set up your first store. Not ready to pay? You get a 14-day free trial. Add your products and start advertising your store.

Further readings: 27 Best eCommerce Books For Every EntrepreneurHow to Grow your eCommerce Business Fast [Ultimate Guide]How to Start & Grow a Subscription eCommerce Business [Actionable Guide]25 eCommerce Link Building Methods for 2022 (Step by Step Guide)

Are you looking for money-making business ideas? I recommend you read Finty’s guide. You will find some incredible gems.

Business Ideas FAQ

Now that you’ve read our most profitable online business ideas, you can start in 2022 with almost no money. I’m sure you have some questions along the line. Let me answer some of them:

What business can I start with no money?

If you have no money to start a business, you can still try many business opportunities. Most of them are ways to make money online by offering their services. You are exchanging your time for Money.

Here are some of the best ones:

  1. Start a blog and make money with affiliate programs, ads, and online courses.
  2. Become an online business coach, fitness trainer, Yoga trainer, etc.
  3. Become a freelance writer.
  4. Offer your graphic design services on Fiverr, UpWork, and Freeancer.com.
  5. Start developing websites and mobile apps.
  6. Offer other digital services like Social Media Management, SEO, Social Media Management, or content marketing services.

What are the best business ideas to start for college students?

I’ve put together a list of attractive business ideas for college students. Some, like web developers, require previous experience. But many do not.

Here are some of the best business ideas for college students:

  • Online tutoring
  • Vlogging
  • Social Media Management
  • Virtual assistant
  • Translator
  • Data entry
  • Graphic design
  • Proofreading

What are the best business ideas to start for stay-at-home moms and dads?

We’ve taken all of the business ideas in this article and created a list of the particularly suitable ones for stay-at-home moms or dads.

Here are some of the best business ideas for stay-at-home moms and dads:

  • Affiliate marketing
  • Blogging
  • Start a niche website
  • Life coach
  • Online tutoring
  • Virtual assistant
  • SEO agency
  • Social Media Management
  • Web development agency
  • Graphic design
  • Translator
  • Data entry
  • Proofreading.

What are the best business ideas to start for teens?

We’ve taken all of the business ideas in this article and created a list of particularly suitable ones for teens.

Here are some of the best business ideas for teens:

  • Vlogging
  • Data entry

What are the best online business ideas to start?

My list includes both online and offline businesses. If you prefer to start an online business, then you got you covered:

Here is the list of online-only business ideas:

  • Affiliate marketing
  • Blogging
  • Vlogging
  • Start a niche website
  • Online tutoring
  • Cryptocurrency trading
  • Virtual assistant
  • SEO agency
  • Web development agency
  • Social Media Management
  • Graphic design
  • Translator
  • Data entry
  • Research
  • Writing tutor
  • Proofreading

What are the best startup ideas?

If you’re looking to create a startup business in 2022, there are plenty of options.

Here are some of the best startup ideas:

  • Start a blog
  • Start a niche website
  • Dropshipping
  • SEO Agency
  • Web development agency
  • Social Media Management

Conclusion on Business Ideas for

No matter what type of business ideas you will put into practice or how much money you have to invest, I am sure that a few ideas from our list will match your criteria.

Just remember that the idea alone is not enough.

It takes hard work.

You have to show passion, persistence, and dedication to overcome all challenges as they arise.

If you do, nothing can stop you from joining the ranks of successful entrepreneurs and business people worldwide.

Don’t procrastinate. Start now working on your future business.

Do you have an excellent idea for a business? Have I missed anything?

Let us know via the comments here below.

About Daniel S.

Daniel is the founder of Digital Media Intelligence digital agency and digital marketing manager here at Monetize.info. For over 14 years he has helped hundreds of customers to establish a presence online and win the digital race.

4 comments

  1. The Bespoke Group of Entrepreneurs (Bespoke-G-Ent) is a community of like-minded people that interact over startups, networking and trends. Our products are there to serve the needs that an every day entrepreneur may incur. Be it networking, style, productivity or health. We also have an eco-friendly selection.

    Bespoke community

  2. These are some great ideas for starting a business without needing any investors or initial large capital. When I started my marketing company, I didn’t have much to invest in, except for hard work, determination, and devoted time.

  3. There is quite a list there and most are achievable. If any of your readers are interested in becoming a remote worker | virtual assistant I would suggest they read https://assistantadvice.com/how-to-become-a-freelance-virtual-assistant

    I have created several articles dealing with the start-up phase and I am at the stage where I am enjoying giving something back to those who are just starting out – always happy to share.

    Taylor Watson

  4. Very informative blog even in 2024. Thanks for great information shared in this blog. looking forward to read new business idea for 2024.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

English
8