The 31 Most Profitable Businesses For You To Start Making Money

Are you ready to change your life? Are you looking for the most profitable businesses out there? We can help!

If one in five businesses fail within the first year, you'll want to give yourself the best opportunity for success when you're just starting. Finding a business with the potential to be immediately profitable is the difference between succeeding long-term or falling short of your goals.

In this post, you'll get a complete breakdown of 31 different profitable businesses and what makes them so easy to make money.

The Most Profitable Business Ventures

Profitable businesses have low overheads and great margins. They can operate with minimal equipment or upkeep, and their product or service doesn't require much effort.

Below are 31 of the most profitable businesses you can start and what makes each one ideal for earning profit.

1. Blogging

Online journals and blogs have been around for decades. The original platforms allowed people to share their thoughts and ideas globally before Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms made it mainstream.

Since the days of old, blogging has exploded into an extremely profitable business for entrepreneurs.

With just a hosting fee and website-building service, you can potentially build a six-figure business by writing articles that attract people from search engines.

The ongoing business costs are encouragingly low, and the potential is high for solo entrepreneurs. If you're looking for a successful business to start, blogging has one of the lowest barriers to entries you'll find.

And you can learn how to go from a complete beginner to choosing a niche and growing your own successful site by following the Authority Site System (TASS) by Authority Hacker.

We did a full TASS review if you'd like to learn more, but in short, it guides you step-by-step through the entire process through easy-to-follow over-the-shoulder video walkthroughs and templates.

2. Auto Repair Service

An auto repair store with its own brick-and-mortar premises will have a higher upfront cost. You'll need to pay a lease and get all the equipment installed.

But if you want to make this small business even more profitable, open up a mobile auto repair service. You won't have any overhead costs at all. You'll just need to pay for the gas and upkeep of your vehicle.

Helping motorists by traveling to broken-down vehicles will save people money for towing (see our list of towing company name ideas here) and make your auto repair service more profitable.

3. Delivery Service

Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash have proven that delivery services are more popular than ever. People don’t want to leave their homes and businesses when they can use delivery services to get products delivered right to their door.

Delivery services are great small businesses because they can be one-off services, or you can provide recurring deliveries for a subscription fee (check out our list of delivery business names to help you start brainstorming).

The more subscribers to your service, the more recurring revenue your business can count on.

You'll pay money for car maintenance, but the customer takes care of all other expenses. A delivery service is a great profitable business for first-time entrepreneurs (and we have a full guide on how to start a delivery business here).

4. Online Course Creator

When you're thinking about the most profitable small businesses, you can't leave out an online course creator.

5. Construction Supplies Manufacturer

Entrepreneurs with construction or manufacturing experience have the advantage of being able to start a construction supplies manufacturing business (and there are lots of manufacturing business ideas to pursue).

Think of this business as a bigger version of dropshipping successful Etsy shops or Amazon.

Once you arrange the logistics of the manufacturing and find customers for the supplies, it becomes one of the most profitable business ideas to start.

Customers choose what supplies they want, and your team delivers the goods. If you set up your system well enough, you don't even have to be involved in the daily operations.

6. Food Trucks

A huge growth of food trucks exploded in the last decade, and it's still one of the best small business ideas you can start.

Restaurants are notorious for having a high overhead with small margins, but food trucks are the exact opposite.

Buy yourself a truck, clean it up, find a spot to park, and worry about cooking. The only overhead costs you'll need to consider are your supplies and any rental space fees.

Chefs, bakers, and cooks looking to break out of the rat race of the restaurant industry should immediately think about a business plan for opening a food truck.

7. eCommerce Store

It's easy to make money with eCommerce now that dropshipping has lowered the barrier to entry. You don't even need to buy any inventory with a dropshipping store, and you can test out different products or services before fully investing.

Focus on a specific niche, like luxury pet products, outdoor gear, or home decor, to start an eCommerce store.

You'll need to create your website, set up marketing channels, and find the right suppliers for dropshipping the product. Once you have your system in place, you'll start making money with minimal upkeep costs.

8. Real Estate Flipping

You don't even need a real estate license to start flipping homes in your city.

Flipping houses used to be reserved for agencies and investors, but now it's available to entrepreneurs who don't have the money to become full-time real estate investors.

Online technology and the pandemic forced innovation in the industry, and the result is easier lease negotiations, virtual property viewing, and quick bank processes.

You can find properties with potential at auctions and fix them up for resale. You'll make money by flipping one house, then reinvest that into another project, and continue making money as you go along.

9. Mobile Notary

Notaries go through a certification process to become licensed, which allows them to sign off on important documents for the public (check out our list of notary business name ideas).

The concept has been around for generations, and it's one of the most profitable business ideas to start because once you have the skill, there is practically no financial upkeep.

The way to make this business profitable is by becoming a mobile notary. You'll visit people's homes who need important documents notarized. The only overhead is gas and car maintenance, but you can write both of those off when tax season comes around.

10. Pregnancy Services

You don't have to be in the delivery room to provide pregnancy services. Pregnant yoga, nutrition counseling, and selling products specifically for pregnant women are all avenues entrepreneurs can try.

A background in prenatal nursing or taking courses can help give you a competitive edge over other pregnancy services.

A birth doula is a professional labor assistant who helps expecting mothers with emotional and physical support. This type of pregnancy service requires virtually no overhead and is almost entirely profit.

Check out our list of doula business name ideas to spark inspiration for your exciting new venture.

11. Landscaping Business

Not everyone can afford landscaping for their yards, but that's what makes a landscaping business so profitable: you're only working with clients who can afford the service.

The best part about the service is the customers are paying for all the supplies. You only need to offer your expertise and get help planting everything in the ground.

You can start a landscaping business with nothing but basic gardening tools, although having some power tools will increase your quality of work and help you land bigger contracts.

Once you get a good portfolio, you can move up to bigger homes and start hiring help to get more work done in the same amount of time.

12. Graphic Design

Graphic design is a great business to start because you can set your own hours, learn as you go, and make money from anywhere with internet access.

No college degree is needed; you just need to take a few online courses and start learning the latest trends in the industry.

You'll have to pay some money for design software, but the upkeep is minimal with a graphic design business. Transition some of your customers to retainers so you can have consistent income coming in every month.

13. Business Consulting

Businesses are always looking for ways to be more efficient and cost-effective, which is where you come in.

Business consulting involves analyzing company operations and making changes to improve efficiency. This can include streamlining processes, implementing strategies to reduce costs, researching new technology, expanding into new markets, and just about anything that improves a business.

Experience is a must in business consulting, so you're unlikely to land a job right out of college.

But, entrepreneurs who have proven experience in growing companies can make lots of money just by spending a few hours helping others do the same thing.

14. Copywriter

Freelancing copywriters set their own hours, choose their own clients, and make money from anywhere in the world (and you can also learn more about freelance copywriter rates here).

Copywriters write content for businesses, which can include website pages, email marketing campaigns, advertising copy, and more. The best copywriters are the ones who understand how to make words sell a product or service.

In a copywriting business, all you need is a computer and an internet connection. Writing the words costs you nothing, and the more you write, the more you earn.

You don't even need a degree to become a copywriter. Some of the most successful copywriters in the world started just by writing every day to sell products.

15. Tax Preparation

Tax preparation is another easy business to start that can make you lots of money quickly.

You don't need a college degree, and you don't even need to be a licensed CPA.

But, you will have to obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number to help others file their taxes.

Becoming a mobile tax preparer makes this business highly profitable to run because of the low overhead costs. You'll pay for gas when traveling to clients, but no other major expenses are needed.

Accountants and people with a natural gift for numbers can easily make a profitable business by becoming tax preparers.

Take a look at our extensive list of ideas for tax business names!

16. Social Media Management

The explosion of social media networks has opened up a massive opportunity for entrepreneurs.

Businesses looking to get in front of more people need help with social media management to grow their pages and get more engagement.

You don't need a special degree or certification to become a social media manager, but you do need to know how to grow a social media channel.

Besides spending your time and a few cheap software purchases, upkeep is practically nothing when running a social media business.

It's one of the most profitable businesses to start for entrepreneurs with a passion and gift for social media.

17. Photographer

Starting a photography business has a slightly higher barrier to entry than some of the other businesses on this list but only because of the equipment.

You'll need to purchase some cameras, some storage parts, a laptop, and editing software, but once your equipment is purchased, the upkeep is minimal.

Photographers can make a lot of money taking pictures while traveling to events, weddings, family portraits, and commercial projects (and also from their own website, like we detail in our Zenfolio review).

Once you get traction, start selling your photos online or to publications. You'll have a chance to make even more money from the same photos without putting in any extra work.

18. Personal Trainer

Entrepreneurs with fitness experience have a lot of options for starting a profitable business.

Personal trainers provide one-on-one instruction for clients to help them reach their fitness goals. Some trainers are responsible for creating nutrition plans that coincide with physical workouts.

Becoming a personal trainer for individuals and traveling to their homes is a great way to start, but to make more money, you'll need to move online.

Getting customers to join a virtual session with you is how you can make more money without spending as much effort. You'll only need to pay for online meeting software, so the ongoing costs are minimal.

19. Catering Business

Just like running your own food truck, starting a catering business is the perfect way to work in the food industry without the high costs of running a restaurant.

Caterers provide food for weddings, corporate events, and family gatherings.

You'll need to hire a staff of chefs and servers to help you out on the big days, but you'll be able to run smaller parties all on your own.

Bigger parties will require the cost of renting a commercial kitchen, but you can make it work in your kitchen for smaller events.

Entrepreneurs in the food industry that are looking to break out of a brick-and-mortar establishment but don't want to open their own restaurant should consider a catering business (and checking out our list food business ideas can help).

Take a look at our article listing catering name ideas for help coming up with a name for your new venture.

20. Handyman Service

A handyman service is a low barrier to entry profitable business that almost anyone can start (and we even made a list of names for handyman businesses to help).

Although there are no federal laws regarding handyman services, each city has its own restrictions. Some cities require an application process, some require you to register for a license, and others don't require any process for minor repairs and maintenance.

Handy men and women can help fix a number of different issues:

• Cars
• Toilets
• Air conditioning units
• Automatic garage doors
• Plumbing
• Light connections

You'll need to make a small investment in some tools and equipment, but once you get going, you won't have any more major costs to the business.

Everything you make after your initial investment is practically all profit.

21. Cleaning Services

Cleaning services is another profitable business with a very low entry barrier (and we have a full guide on how to start a cleaning business here). All you need is a skill and fortitude for cleaning, and the business practically takes care of itself.

The biggest expense you'll incur is the supplies you need to clean the homes and the gas you'll need to travel.

Other than that, the rest of the money is profit to help you grow your business.

Use all-natural products, and you'll be able to increase your rates to make even more profit. It will be safer for your clients, and those with pets will be extra appreciative.

22. Web Development

Web development is similar to graphic design, except the financial ceiling is much higher.

You can set your own hours, choose which clients you want to work with, and complete the job from anywhere as long as you have internet and a computer.

Having a degree will help, but as long as you build a strong portfolio, you won't have trouble finding clients.

Web development takes very few resources to run a business. If you have a computer, you can get clients, build websites, and scale your business without needing other major expenses.

The world continues to need web development as more apps and programs are integrated into everyday life, so you'll never have to worry about a lack of demand.

23. Children Activity Service

The pandemic forced many parents to consider alternative education for their children.

This is where a children's activity service comes into play.

You can provide:

• Supplemental education
• After-school tutoring
• Educational activities

Being a former teacher or having tutoring experience will be key to starting this type of business. Parents will be more critical of who you are and your background if you do not have this experience.

This business is incredibly profitable because you won't need expensive equipment or supplies but the pay per hour is extremely high.

24. Virtual Assistant

Like many of the services on this list, starting a virtual assistant business requires very few resources. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and the skills to help your clients.

Virtual assistants can do anything from checking emails to managing social media accounts and much more.

You'll most likely be working with new entrepreneurs that are just starting out but if you prove yourself, you'll quickly find yourself in demand for bigger projects.

With little overhead, minimal upkeep, and the potential to make a high pay-per-project, a virtual assistant business is a highly profitable endeavor.

25. Personal Chef

Culinary expertise is becoming more and more valuable. People are willing to pay a lot of money for good home-cooked meals.

Starting a personal chef business requires little investment since you probably already have the skills and the knives to get started.

The price of the ingredients will be included in your service, so everything you make goes straight to your bottom line.

Having connections with local stores or farmers will be beneficial since you'll want to get the lowest prices possible for the best ingredients.

26. Car Wash Service

To start a profitable car wash service, you won't want to buy a huge automatic machine that cars can drive right through (find out how to start a car wash business here).

Instead, you'll want to go for a simpler setup, like renting a pressure washer and purchasing some buckets and scrubs to clean the cars.

This is one of those businesses you can start with very few resources, but it has the potential to scale into something bigger with enough recurring customers.

You'll only need to pay for supplies as you run your business, so most of the money you earn will be profit.

27. Electronic Repairs

As people rely on electronics more and more, the market for repair services is growing.

Starting an electronic repair business doesn't require any fancy equipment or a lot of money to get started.

To make this business more profitable, take it on the road by making it mobile. Offer to travel to people's homes, and you'll save money from having to pay a lease every month on a brick-and-mortar store.

28. Property Management

The rise of popular rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO has made property management a very profitable business.

You don't even need to make any personal investments to start the business other than advertising your services.

The person who owns the property will take care of all expenses, and you'll spend your own time taking care of everything else.

Once you get clients, you'll clean the properties, take care of any major issues, and ensure visitors are comfortable.

Choose a name idea for your new business from our list of 901 property management company names.

29. Payroll Service

Small businesses don't have the large budgets to hire corporate payroll services, which is why there is a market for individuals who can help.

If you have a background in HR or payroll, you can start a freelance payroll service business (see also our comparison of entrepreneur vs freelancer). You might need accounting software, but the overhead is incredibly low.

This is also one of those businesses that can scale up quickly once you have some clients and more people realize how valuable your services are.

30. Pet Sitting 

Love for animals can translate well into a profitable business. You can either host pets in your own home or travel to a pet's home to take care of them there.

No investment is required to get started, and you won't need to pay for any supplies.

The parents of the pets will take care of food, bedding, and toys, while all you need to do is take care of their daily routine.

All the money you make is pure profit, and you can scale the business by hosting more than one animal in your home at one time.

31. Courier Service

Starting a courier service business is one of the more popular business ideas today.

You'll need to have a reliable means of transportation, either in the form of a car, bike, or scooter, but that's about it. 

The money you make is all profit since you won't need to pay for supplies or rent space. The only expenses you'll need to keep up with are all based on transportation.

Your courier business should have a catchy name. Check out our big list of ideas for courier company names.

Starting A Profitable Business

Starting your own business doesn't need to take months to get started or have angel investors throwing huge sums of money at you.

All you need are simple business ideas that cost very little to run and have a high potential for financial success. Use the businesses in this article to get started and continue to improve our service or product as you scale.

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