Lifestyle Business Ideas: 11+ Fun Online Businesses You’ll Actually Be Excited About

Looking into lifestyle business ideas can be a smart choice if you’re ready to ditch the 9-to-5 life in favor of a more freeing, flexible lifestyle. You might want to be a digital nomad and work wherever you can bring your laptop. 

Or, you crave living a life where you’re home for your kids and can volunteer for school field trips.

These are internet businesses where you make money online.

There are tons of different lifestyle business ideas to choose from. We’re sharing a list of 11+ different lifestyle businesses to consider. 

To make the process easier, we’re covering this roundup of different businesses, sharing:

• What each lifestyle business is about
• How it works and,
• Income potential

Let’s dive in!

Lifestyle Business Ideas You Can Start Today

Starting a lifestyle business can be a very exciting journey. It may feel overwhelming to see all the different options available. Take your time going through this list and exploring unique business ideas that appeal to you.

1. Blogging

Blogging is one of the best lifestyle business ideas for creatives. Starting a blog is about creating a content website around a niche, like gardening, food, or fashion. In this relatively easy online business to start, you’ll get a chance to blog about your interests and attract an audience that has similar interests.

Make money blogging through:

• Ads
• Sponsored posts
• Affiliate marketing and,
• Selling products and services

Bloggers can make a very lucrative living. Check out these helpful examples highlighting real income reports up to $100K/month! 

How To Start?

First, choose a niche for your blog. Then, buy web hosting and a domain. Connect WordPress and begin adding content to your blog. 

For a detailed breakdown, check out our blogging guide on how to start a blog on WordPress.

Or if you'd prefer a full video walkthrough to take you from zero to hero, check out The Affiliate Lab.

It's a very popular blogging, SEO, and affiliate marketing course that teaches you everything you need to get your site off the ground, grow it into a profitable business, and eventually sell it!

2. Podcasting

Podcasts are like independent radio. Literally anybody can become a podcaster. With this online business, you start a show around a theme or niche, can invite a friend to co-host with you, interview guests, and just record yourself talking about your show’s topic.

It’s kind of like audio-based blogging. You can run a podcast on its own as a money-making business or hobby project. You can also use podcasting as a marketing tool for your business.

Podcasts usually have seasons like TV shows and each season contains a set number of episodes. Listeners can stream and download your podcast, listening to it on their device of choice, like their smartphone or car radio.

Podcasting can be pretty lucrative, too.

You’ll make money podcasting from sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling products and services.

How To Start?

First, come up with a show concept. Pick a niche or topic for your show like exploring startups or sharing true crime stories.

Next, name your podcast. 

Then, invest in tools to launch:

• Microphone
• Headphones
• Editing software
• Podcast hosting service

Consider filing a copyright or trademark to protect your work. Lastly, you’ll pick a show format (i.e. interviews, solo host, etc.) and record your first episode!

For a step-by-step guide, read how to start a podcast that actually makes money.

3. Ebook Author

Ebook authors write and sell ebooks. You can write fiction, nonfiction, guides, etc.

This is pretty easy for anybody to do. You just need:

• A concept for your book
• To know who your target audience is, and
• Sell on a digital platform like Gumroad (or the best Gumroad alternatives)

Ebooks are an excellent form of passive income. Once you write and publish your ebook, you can put systems in place to help you make money on autopilot, passively.

How It Works?

Read this 4-step process on how to write an ebook and make money.

4. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is an e-commerce business model that eliminates the fulfillment and shipping process for you as the online store owner. It’s one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to start an online store.

When a customer places an order with your online store, it’ll be sent to your dropshipping supplier, who will pick, pack, and ship the order to your customer for you!

This cuts down on expenses like overhead, warehouse costs, and inventory overages. It lowers the barrier to entry for new e-commerce businesses and makes it more affordable for anybody to launch their own e-commerce business.

This is the perfect lifestyle business to run part-time or full-time. And, it can be a pretty lucrative operation. 

Chad Brinkle makes $4K/month dropshipping car parts. 

How It Works?

1. Choose a niche
2. Find dropshipping suppliers: Aliexpress is a common dropshipping supplier. Here are 22 websites like Aliexpress that you can check out for even more suppliers!
3. Set up your online store and launch : We recommend Shopify.

5. Start A YouTube Channel

Becoming a YouTuber is like visual-based blogging.

This is a beginner-friendly lifestyle business. All you need is a smartphone to record videos and upload them to your YouTube channel.

YouTube can be monetized through multiple avenues, like:

• YouTube Partner Program
• Sponsored posts and,
• Selling products and services

Creating a YouTube channel is a good source of passive income and you can even record faceless YouTube videos if you’re shy to show your face!

How It Works?

1. Pick a niche
2. Create your YouTube channel
3. Start uploading content and monetize your channel

6. Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents help buyers and sellers buy, sell, and lease property. This is a lifestyle business because of the flexible nature of the work. You can work with your clients to set appointments that fit your scheduling needs, including taking weekdays or weekends off.

There is uncapped income potential, location independence, entrepreneurial opportunities, and excellent work-life balance.

How It Works?

1. Pass a state licensing exam
2. Work under a sponsor broker who will be your mentor then,
3. Become licensed and show properties on your own

7. Fitness Coach

For people who have a love of fitness, what better lifestyle business than fitness coaching? You’ll help your clients reach their fitness goals and lead a healthier, more active lifestyle!

This is great for fitness enthusiasts who enjoy being active. You won’t be chained to an office or desk job. Instead, you will work with clients one-on-one in a gym or outdoor setting, helping them reach their goals.

You can create your dream schedule based on your needs and take as many or as few clients as you wish!

How It Works?

Depending on your area, you may need to get licensed to be a fitness coach. Once you get licensed, if required, you can begin attracting clients and start training them.

8. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is an online assistant. In this role, you’ll help clients run their day-to-day activities. These are generally routine admin-based tasks like:

• Email management
• Calendar management
• Scheduling meetings
• Note-taking
• Data entry

This is one of the best lifestyle business ideas for people who enjoy helping others. If you’re well-organized and detail-oriented, working as a VA can be the perfect business to run.

How It Works?

1. Pick a niche
2. Build your business and attract clients
3. Start work

To grow your business, here are 31 of the best virtual assistant software tools you can check out!

9. Event Manager

Event managers run full-scale events for people, like:

• Weddings
• Anniversary parties
• Banquet dinners

You’ll be in charge of making sure the event runs smoothly and doing things like coordinate vendors, order supplies, staff servers, hosts, etc.

How It Works?

1. Choose a specialty: like wedding planning, birthday parties, or a general event manager.
2. Build a website
3. Network
4. Attract customers and book your first clients

10. Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is a great option for a digital nomad lifestyle business. Write on the beach in a tropical location, from your cozy hotel room in the wintry mountains, or from a busy city on the Eastern seaboard.

If you want a lifestyle where you can work when you want and earn an unlimited income, and you are a creative, consider freelance writing.

This is a good beginner-friendly, no-degree, and no-experience business to take on. You can start with this list of 11 best remote freelance writing jobs for beginners.

How It Works?

First, define your niche:

• Content writing
• Copywriting
• Direct response writing

Then, acquire clients and start work.

11. Graphic Design

Graphic designers create visual graphics like:

• Logos
• Website design
• Product packaging
• Marketing materials

If you know how to use graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or Canva, you can design for clients! Consider this lifestyle business if you're naturally customer-oriented and a great listener with design skills!

There are even graphic design AI tools you can use now, making it easier and faster to create your designs.

How It Works?

1. Build a website or online portfolio
2. Attract clients
3. Start design projects

12. Photographer

Photography is a fulfilling and enjoyable hobby that can be turned lifestyle business pretty easily. A former coworker of mine transitioned from banking to amateur photography in her own business within a year of starting!

There are so many different styles of photography.

You’ll never get bored:

• Wedding photography
• Graduation portraits
• Street photography
• Lifestyle photography

Launch a photography lifestyle business and work one-on-one with clients. You can also take photos on your own and sell those images in an e-commerce store or stock photo site.

Here are 15 profitable ideas on how to make money with photography.

How It Works?

1. Invest in photography equipment
2. Get photo editing/video editing software
3. Attract clients and launch

Pros And Cons Of Lifestyle Business Ideas

Here are the pros and cons of starting a lifestyle business:

Pros

• Flexibility: The biggest draw of becoming a lifestyle entrepreneur is the flexibility. This includes flexible work hours and the ability to work when and where you want.
• Work-life balance: A better balance between work and life allowing you to pursue your personal interests and hobbies outside of work.
• Personal fulfillment: Lifestyle businesses often align with the owner's passions, interests, and values, providing a sense of satisfaction from pursuing work that is meaningful and enjoyable.
• Low overhead costs: Lifestyle businesses tend to be service-based with lower overhead costs. This means you can run your company with less of an investment and lower financial risk, overall.
• Autonomy: Lifestyle business ideas are known for giving you more control over your business and you can choose what direction you take your enterprise.

Cons

• Unstable income: Small businesses are known for unstable income. Big shifts in income are common among lifestyle business ideas.
• Limited growth potential: Lifestyle businesses tend to be run by solopreneurs, with limited funds and resources compared to larger enterprises, which can lead to stagnant growth.
• Limited resources: This includes limited capital and manpower, which can make it difficult for lifestyle businesses to scale.
• Owner-dependent: Lifestyle businesses revolve around the owner’s expertise and schedule. Delegating tasks and outsourcing with tools and social media can prove challenging.

How Do I Start A Lifestyle Business?

When starting a lifestyle business, you can follow this 5-step plan to take your lifestyle business idea to launch:

• Step 1: Choose a niche and conduct market research: Identify what kind of lifestyle business you’ll start. Then, research the market and audience.
• Step 2: Develop your business plan: Outline business goals including short-term and long-term goals, revenue model, marketing strategy, and other important details.
• Step 3: Invest in tools and resources: Delegate responsibilities and outsource responsibilities to people and software, as needed. Having the right systems in place can help you run your business on autopilot.
• Step 4: Network: Take advantage of in-person and online networking opportunities so you can collaborate with other lifestyle entrepreneurs and business owners.
• Step 5: Measure and adjust your goals: Review performance, get customer feedback, and make adjustments as needed.

Bottom Line

For the desired lifestyle that can bring you flexibility, happiness, and a nice work-life balance as a business owner, lifestyle business ideas are the way to go!

I hope this roundup of different lifestyle business ideas helps provide some options for you to consider. Remember to consider your passions and interests and dive into your expertise. Use your knowledge and skills to solve a pain point your customers are experiencing.

Which of these lifestyle business ideas will you be pursuing?

Check out our list of service business ideas for more inspiration.

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