19 Small Business Ideas For 2024 (2024)

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Every day, hardworking individuals choose to step away from their employers and start their own companies. Small businesses launched by everyday entrepreneurs have added over 12.9 million jobs to the United States. economy in the last 25 years. If you’re looking to join the fray but aren’t sure which path is best for you, here’s a list of 19 profitable small business ideas.

1. Tutoring

If you’re a master of a particular subject, you can help students struggling in their classes by becoming a tutor. No certification is required to become a tutor, but you should be an ace in the topic. Usually, a tutor has a college degree in the subject they are tutoring.

You can teach in person or online to expand your target market. You may want to invest in some teaching aid tools, such as Canvas or Blackboard. These will help you interact more effectively with online students. You can market yourself or join a tutoring platform, such as BuffTutor, that brings clients to you.

19 Small Business Ideas For 2024 (1)

Tutoring is an excellent way to make some money while enriching the lives of the next generation.

2. Music and Voice Lessons

Are you skilled with a musical instrument, or do you have golden pipes? Do you love teaching as well? Sharing those skills with others can help foster a love of the arts. You can either set up a studio at your home or travel to your clients’ homes, depending on what works best for your situation. The flexibility means the possibilities here are endless.

You can market yourself to local schools or community theaters where parents are looking to get their kids music or voice lessons. A good teacher quickly gets word-of-mouth referrals for new business, which helps reduce the amount of marketing that you need to do.

Learn more: Find the right scheduling app to keep your sessions organized.

3. Bookkeeper

If you’re someone who is great with numbers and pays attention to the little details, starting a bookkeeping business might be a viable idea. Bookkeepers sell their services to small businesses that need help managing the books, preparing payroll and gathering data for taxes. You would need to be very well-organized and understand the inherent liabilities that can come with handling someone’s finances; make sure you form an LLC if you choose this route.

While you don’t need specific credentials to become a bookkeeper, getting something, such as the QuickBooks Bookkeeping Certification, will not only teach you a lot but will also give potential clients confidence in your ability. However, it might cost you as much as $450 to obtain the certification.

4. Pet Care Services

A dog walking business is an excellent opportunity for someone who loves dogs and is good with other people’s dogs. You get out every day and enjoy fresh air with grateful pups. This business requires you to go to people’s homes to let their dogs out to play or go for a walk. You don’t need any special credentials to be a dog walker, and since you’ll be using your clients’ leashes, you don’t need to invest in much. Primarily, you should purchase items, such as dog treats and waste bags, so that you are prepared for any situation.

If you live in a rural area where clients are spread out, you could pursue the option of offering more generalized pet-sitting services for those who are on vacations or business trips. The income for this type of service may be less consistent, but it’s an excellent fit for someone with experience handling different types of animals. Many small critters, such as birds, reptiles and fish, require very detailed care that their owners don’t trust just anyone to handle. If you can build a reputation for taking good care of these pets, winning new clients will come with ease.

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5. Subscription Box Service

Subscription boxes are a hot trend right now. There are subscriptions for anything and everything, including vitamins and contraception. If you have an idea for a subscription box, you could have the next hot trend.

You’ll want to establish a website where customers buy your box. At the end of the month, you send each customer a curated box of goodies. While you can often purchase these items based on the demand, you may need to carry some inventory of certain products. It will all depend on your subscription box.

6. Dropshipping Website

A dropshipping website promotes products that it doesn’t keep in stock. Instead, it has a deal with a distributor who will take your orders and mail them to your customers on your behalf. This eliminates the cost of having inventory and expands the number of products that a business owner can market and sell.

To start a dropshipping business, you’ll need to find relationships with dropshippers. There are big companies that have thousands of products, such as Oberlo and Alibaba, that do this. You’ll also need to create a website that features the products. Getting started may cost you $500 to $1,000 if you need help setting up a website.

7. Dog Grooming

Dogs’ coats need regular care, and dog grooming is a service that is in high demand. Washing dogs, trimming their nails and clipping their fur must be done as often as every 4-6 weeks for some breeds. While you can do this in a client’s home, most groomers have either a retail location or a mobile pet salon where they have all their supplies and tools.

To have a complete setup, a mobile pet grooming van may cost anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000. If you’d prefer clients bring their pups to you, converting a shed into a grooming salon may be a more convenient option.

8. Copywriter

Just about every business has an online presence, most with some sort of blog or distributed content. This content needs to be written, and most business owners don’t have the time to do this themselves. They hire a professional writer. If you have a passion for certain topics, an ability to do deep research and are a good writer, this can be a profitable business for you.

There are no startup costs other than having a computer with a good internet connection. Many writers market their services on LinkedIn or in business social media groups. You can also reach out to the marketing director of businesses to offer your services.

9. Copy Editor

With hundreds of blogs and content streams starting every day, there’s a huge demand for reliable editors who can ensure high-quality content goes live. If you have an eye for grammar and punctuation, you might consider becoming an editor who reads and helps improve content. And you don’t have to be limited to blogs or social media; you can edit books and print articles as well.

Make sure that you are a grammar stickler and that you know the differences between AP and Chicago-style writing. You’ll want to invest in these manuals so that you can help your clients meet the right style guides. Other than that, you only need your computer to start this business. You’ll market yourself in online groups and may choose to invest in building a website to help promote your new business.

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10. Wedding or Events Planner

If you’d love to help make a special day as memorable as possible, the events business is very rewarding. Those who organize these events should have strong networking skills, pay close attention to details and be highly organized. It helps to have a creative edge that enables you to come up with new and exciting ideas for your clients.

If you want to focus on weddings, be prepared to help with all aspects of the wedding, from the decorations and venue to entertainment and food. While you don’t need any licensing or credentials to do this, you want to have a Rolodex of professionals who can fill certain roles at the event.

Learn more: Use CRM software to keep your vendors and your clients organized.

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11. Photographer or Videographer

This is a great business for a creative person with an eye for composition. You can be a generalist or niche down as a wedding videographer or family photo session provider. You don’t need any specialized certifications to start a photography business or start producing videos.

However, you do need a high-quality camera and may also want to invest in lighting accessories. To start a videography business, you’ll need a good digital video camera, lights, microphones and bounce boards to help you get the best quality footage. You should also launch a website that shows potential clients your portfolio of work.

12. Home Cleaning

A home cleaning service business is an excellent idea for detail-oriented people who want to be solopreneurs or who want to grow to have a team. As a home cleaner, you go to people’s homes and clean the kitchen, bathrooms and all other rooms. You’ll dust, mop and vacuum rooms and make sure that sinks, toilets and tubs are clean.

You don’t need to be licensed to be a home cleaner, but it’s a good idea to get bonded and insured. This gives clients confidence that you are a professional. As far as investment goes, you will want to have your own cleaning tools and supplies so that you don’t rely on clients to provide them—though some will.

13. Personal Trainer

A personal trainer helps people meet their fitness goals. As a trainer, you are part workout expert and part motivational expert. You help develop workout plans to help people either lose weight, build muscle or meet other fitness goals. Certification is required if you plan to work at a gym and will also help you build your credentials to get new clients.

A certification might cost you anywhere from $500 to $1,000. Many fitness trainers also have degrees in kinesiology from a university, but this is not required.

14. Sewing and Alterations

If you’re talented with a needle and thread, you could have a business sewing and making alterations for others who don’t have this skill or the tools to do it. While you may be busy with alterations, the real money is in custom jobs for dresses and costumes. If you live near a thriving Renaissance fair or convention center, you can expect to find plenty of potential customers dressing up for events at these locations.

You don’t need any certification to become a seamstress or a tailor. You will need to invest in a good sewing machine and get materials and supplies that you use when working for clients. Advertising your services on-call or even setting up “emergency” booths at costumed events can bring you new clientele from those in a bind.

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15. Virtual Assistant

More business executives are turning to virtual assistants (VAs) to help them with certain business tasks. This saves the business money because they don’t need another full-time employee with benefits while still getting the work done. As a VA, you will do certain tasks, such as managing social media, coordinating travel and maintaining the calendar.

There is no prerequisite to becoming a VA. You just need to be good with people and have keen organizational skills. You’ll want a computer with a fast internet connection to service your clients.

16. College Consultant

Parents will do whatever they can to help their children get into the college of their dreams. This includes hiring a college consultant who can help prepare them for standardized tests, review personal statements and navigate the world of financial aid and scholarships.

There is little to no overhead as a college consultant. You simply need a computer and a good internet connection. While there are no required certifications, the College Consultant Certification from Heartland Institute can help give you credibility in a competitive market.

17. Antique Sales

You might love going to garage sales and auctions. This hobby can become a business where you buy antiques and then resell them after freshening them up with some paint. You may even work on consignment for clients to limit your cash outlay.

This is a business where you can work from your garage or invest some money and open a storefront. The cost will depend on your location and the size of the store.

18. Life Insurance Agent

If you’re passionate about helping families prepare for the worst-case scenario, then you may be highly fulfilled working as an independent life insurance agent. You’ll work with people to help assess their life insurance needs and find the right type of coverage. You’ll become their main point of contact for sales and service.

To become a life insurance agent, you must pass a state licensing class and a standardized test. Once you do that, you’ll need to get appointed with life insurance companies to offer their products.

19. Life Coach

A life coach helps people navigate through difficult times in their lives. Coaching may come into play for relationships, parenting or other challenging life transitions. A life coach has a lot of experience and can bring that experience to the table to help people successfully navigate through their troubles and blocks.

While you don’t need a certification to become a life coach, it does help to give you credibility in what you do. A certification may cost you anywhere from $500 to $1,000, depending on where you get it from. The International Coach Federation offers a three-day, accredited program that is $995.

Bottom Line

If you’re ready to start a small business, start with what you’re passionate about and what you already have skills in. You may need a certification or to buy some tools and equipment, but many small businesses can be started for under $1,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a small business with no money?

There are several funding sources for new businesses and most require a business plan to secure it. These include the SBA, private grants, angel investors, crowdfunding and venture capital.

How can you get money to start a business?

While it takes some work to apply and there’s no guarantee of funding, there are many different types of grants for small businesses available. Competition here can be fierce so make sure you send applications to a variety of sources. Usually, each state has its own programs, but there are also national foundations and organizations that offer grants specifically to minorities. If grants don’t work out, you can always pursue business loans or private investors.

What is the best way to get a business loan?

Online lenders tend to be more flexible than traditional banks, so you may consider shopping around for different rates before applying. Pay close attention to eligibility requirements and repayment terms, and carefully read consumer reviews to gauge the lender’s reputation. Check out our list of the best small business loans to see some of the top lenders.

What is the easiest SBA loan to get?

Small Business Administration (SBA) microloans are the easiest to get because they have little in terms of revenue requirements and are designed for new businesses needing a small amount of capital.

19 Small Business Ideas For 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Which business is best to start in 2024? ›

50 best small businesses to start
  1. Accounting and bookkeeping. Are you a licensed CPA or a business accounting software wizard? ...
  2. Business consulting. ...
  3. Marketing services. ...
  4. Real estate business. ...
  5. Event planning. ...
  6. Video production. ...
  7. Podcasting. ...
  8. IT consulting.
Feb 26, 2024

What business will boom in 2024? ›

15 of the most profitable small businesses to start in 2024
  • Cleaning services.
  • Dog walker.
  • Mobile car wash.
  • Tutoring.
  • Fitness and personal training.
  • Social media expert and influencer.
  • Digital marketing.
  • Food trucks and food stands.

What is the most successful small business to start? ›

The most profitable small businesses you can start today
  • Web design and development.
  • Social media marketing and management.
  • Technology installation and repair services.
  • App development and coding.
  • Cleaning services.
  • Virtual assistant services.
  • The best small business to start today is up to you.
Apr 2, 2024

What business is booming right now? ›

Pet care of almost every kind is on the rise. 66% of households have at least one pet, according to Forbes Advisor. In 2023, people spent $147 billion on pets, a figure that has been growing since 2018. This interest and demand in animal services are reflected in job growth.

What is the cheapest most profitable business to start? ›

Low-cost business ideas with high profit potential
  • Become a personal trainer.
  • Produce online courses.
  • Start a dog-walking or pet-sitting business.
  • Perform social media management services.
  • Become an event planner.
  • Create a car wash business.
  • Start a photography business.
  • Offer freelance writing services.
Jan 25, 2024

What is the best business to start with little money? ›

18 of the best business ideas to start with little money
  • Dropshipping.
  • Print on demand.
  • Selling on Amazon.
  • Move your brick and mortar store online.
  • Video creation.
  • Subscription boxes.
  • Interior design business.
  • Start a podcast.

Which sector will grow most in 2024? ›

Overview:-
RankIndustryExamples
1Healthcare and Insurance Sector
2Renewable Energy SectorReliance Industries, NTPC, Adani Green Energy
3IT SectorInfosys, HCL Technologies, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services
4Real Estate SectorOberoi Realty, Indiabulls Real Estate
1 more row
May 29, 2024

What is the best investment for 2024? ›

Overview: Best investments in 2024
  1. High-yield savings accounts. Overview: A high-yield online savings account pays you interest on your cash balance. ...
  2. Long-term certificates of deposit. ...
  3. Long-term corporate bond funds. ...
  4. Dividend stock funds. ...
  5. Value stock funds. ...
  6. Small-cap stock funds. ...
  7. REIT index funds.

What is the fastest business to start? ›

Business ideas that are easy to start quickly
  • Freelance services. ...
  • Selling on eBay. ...
  • Pet sitting. ...
  • Cleaning service. ...
  • Delivery service. ...
  • Hauling. ...
  • Tutor. Tutoring is an excellent home-based business idea. ...
  • Entertainer. Got a talent that people enjoy seeing you perform?

What business will always be in demand? ›

Industries that will never go away are those that cater to basic human needs and thus have continued high demand. Food is considered one of the safest industries for investment and is comprised of diverse sectors including agriculture, ranching, processing, preservation, preparation, and packaging.

What business is most profitable? ›

Here are the top 10 most profitable big business ideas you must start noting down today!
  • Website Designing. ...
  • Interior designing and decorating. ...
  • Dropshipping. ...
  • Pet care services. ...
  • Travel agency. ...
  • Organic farming. ...
  • Coaching classes. ...
  • Digital marketing services.
Jun 6, 2024

Is 2024 a good year to start a business? ›

Now Is a Good Time To Start a Small Business

Though there are evergreen challenges for small businesses, 2024 is shaping up to be a great year to launch one.

What business will boom in 2025? ›

These future business ideas are mentioned below:
  • 3D Printing.
  • Online Education.
  • EV charging stations.
  • Solar Power.
  • Renewable energy.
  • Outsourcing business.
  • Coworking spaces, and others.
Feb 29, 2024

Which business is best for next 5 years? ›

Now, let's discuss the best demanding businesses to look for in the next 5-10 years.
  • Co-working space business. ...
  • Online business consultation. ...
  • Affiliate marketing. ...
  • Home solar installation business. ...
  • Pharmaceutical business. ...
  • Wedding Planning. ...
  • Home-based bakery. ...
  • Drop shipping.

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