Online business ideas: 11 businesses to consider

The online world has made it easier than ever before for people to start a business. Each year, new trends and new ideas come along to inspire established and fledgling entrepreneurs alike.

As more and more people get online and as our total time online continues to increase, the opportunities will only keep on rising. If you want to set out on your own, this could be exactly what you want to hear.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the top online business ideas for 2023, 2024 and beyond.

Niche online stores

While massive players like Amazon and eBay might seem to have a hold on the ecommerce market, there is always space for specialist stores to make waves in their own market.

Specialising in a specific type of product can be a great way to target a dedicated and passionate audience. While you may not have a big brand name behind you (yet), you might be able to demonstrate your passion and authority in the right space.

Is there a hobby you love? A niche sport that you consider yourself an expert in? Take a look at the market and see what competition there is. You might be able to carve out some space for yourself.

If you’re interested in launching an online store, you can compare easy-to-use providers on our best ecommerce website builder page.

Digital learning

In recent years, online education providers like Masterclass have shown us that there is a strong appetite for online learning. Why not turn that appetite into a business?

Whatever field you work in, there’s a good chance that you’ll develop a level of expertise over time. Maybe you’ve been working as an electrician for a decade or as a chef. Whatever it is you do, you can almost guarantee that thousands of people will want to learn how to do it too.

Create video content, ebooks, online courses or downloadable resources. Whatever you think is the best method of teaching, you can launch a site that will help people follow in your footsteps.

Not sure how to get your idea online? Take a look at our best website builder page to compare the easy-to-use platforms that can help you out.

Subscription boxes

People are busy and keen to make things more simple for themselves. That’s where subscription boxes come in.

Whether it’s a monthly selection of gourmet snacks, a range of beauty products, or even niche hobby suppliers, subscribers love the surprise and anticipation that comes with subscription services.

Our top tip: think about what sort of subscription box you’d love to start using. If there’s nothing on the market now, you could be just the person to get that business started.

Dropshipping

Interested in launching an online shop but worried about the overheads? Dropshipping might be the answer.

While traditional ecommerce stores will need to house and hold their stock, a dropshipping business doesn’t. Instead, when a customer places an order, the product is shipped from your supplier to your customer.

Dropshipping can be a great way to get started online because it reduces the complexity that you need to consider. It can also be a great way to build momentum for your own business before becoming a fully-fledged online store in your own right.

You can check out our page on how to start an ecommerce website for more tips.

Freelance services

Freelancing has been around for a long time, and the online world has made it more accessible than ever.

You can turn your talents into profit by offering freelance services in any number of fields. Writing, graphic design, website development, social media management. There are a range of platforms online that can help you get started, but launching your own site can help to build your profile.

Affiliate marketing

If you’re confident in your ability to effectively market a website then affiliate marketing might be a great option for you.

Unlike with starting your own ecommerce store, with an affiliate website, you’ll be promoting other companies’ products. You might write a review for a certain type of software, for example. If someone lands on your site and is interested in that product, they’ll travel from your site via an affiliate link to your partner. If they purchase that product, you’ll receive a commission.

Commission rates vary massively across products, but there is a range of affiliate networks that make becoming a partner easy. Even sites like Amazon will partner with affiliate websites meaning that if they have a product, you can probably advertise it.

You can take a look at our page on how to start a review website for more tips on getting started.

Virtual consulting

If you work in a specialist industry, you might want to start offering one-on-one virtual consulting sessions.

Perhaps you’re an accountant or a business expert, but with the right online platform, you may be able to turn your experience into a side hustle.

If you’re interested in providing virtual consulting, consider how you can attract an audience. Think about social media marketing as a way to reach a wide audience.

If you do go down this route, make sure to consider which industries you excel in. You’ll also want to ensure that you stay at the top of your game; invest in training for yourself to stay ahead of the game.

Custom products

Personalised products are always in high demand. Launching your own print-on-demand service might be a great way to launch online.

You can create custom designs for a range of products, from clothing to household items such as mugs, plates or cutlery, or home decorations. Think about products you’ve seen, products you’ve owned. What sort of gap do you think there is in the market?

Think about how you want to handle your business. Will you design and manufacture your own products? Or rely on support from third parties?

Eco-friendly platforms

With eco-conscious lifestyles and products becoming more and more popular, an ecommerce platform or website specialising in eco-friendly offerings can be a great way to tap into a consumer base seeking responsible options.

Perhaps you’re passionate about ethically sourced clothing, or maybe you want to recommend cruelty-free cosmetics or foods. Whichever area you are interested in, an online platform can provide you with a global platform.

Virtual events and hosting

During the COVID pandemic, virtual living became the norm. Since then, it has remained a key part of life for a huge number of people.

Though there are a range of businesses already operating in the online space, there is definitely room for more virtual events and hosting companies to get started, if they tap into the right niche.

You might be an entertainer or facilitator already that has focused on live events for your income in the past. Moving online might be an excellent way to expand your customer base globally, adding a new stream of revenue to your operation.

If you are planning to launch an online events business, think about what platform you might need to create, as well as the tools and software you might want to invest in to make sure you are successful.

Online fitness and wellness

Experts in fitness and wellness might be able to take their experience online to share with a wide audience.

Developing online fitness or wellness plans can be a great way to create a platform of evergreen content to supply to a new audience. Additionally, you can begin providing one-on-one training to people to improve your range of online products.

Take a look at our how to start a fitness website page for more advice and tips.

Choosing an online business idea: Top tip

Our number one tip for choosing an online business idea to get started with is to find an idea that you’re passionate about.

Working hard and knowing how to get online is one thing, but you’ll find it a lot easier if you truly care about the product you are providing. What’s more, it will translate to your audience.

With niche products, in particular, people care a lot about the experience you have as a product or service provider. They want to know that they can trust you to make the right decisions, provide the right information, or sell the best products.

Whatever your passion is, think about the gaps in the market and how you might be able to fill them. Think about how you would want to engage with your passion online and provide that experience for your users.

Bryn Glover

Bryn is the founder and editor of WebsiteJumpStart. He has worked in the digital field for over a decade and was editor for Startups.co.uk - the UK's leading small business website - and for NerdWallet UK before launching WebsiteJumpStart to help people and businesses get online with ease.

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