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31 Profitable Business Ideas for Anyone to Start in 2024

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  February 23, 2021

If you work in the corporate workforce, there’s a good chance you’re looking to escape.

A study in 2018 by Gallup found that 66% of employees worldwide are either not engaged or are actively disengaged in their job.

If you are one of these people, you’ve likely explored almost every method on your journey to escape the corporate workforce.

One of my favorite paths is entrepreneurship. Starting a business can be a fun, yet challenging way to quit your 9 to 5 and enjoy your work again.

I’ve put together a list of 31 profitable business ideas for anyone to start in 2021. Let’s get started.

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Profitable Business Ideas for 2022

Below are some of my favorite profitable business ideas you can start in 2022 and beyond so you can get the benefits of being an entrepreneur!

Freelance Writing Business

If you’re a skilled writer, starting a freelance writing business is a great idea to showcase your gift and get paid to do so.

There are many large media outlets that utilize freelance writers to create compelling content for their websites. You’ll want to have a portfolio of your work to obtain new clients and grow your business.

Depending on your skills, freelancing writing can pay over $1 per word!

Pressure Washing - Best BusinessePressure Washing - Best Businesses

Pressure Washing Business

Pressure washing is an excellent business option for those who enjoy working outdoors and don’t have a large sum of cash to pay for startup costs.

You'll need some basic equipment to get started including a pressure washer, hoses, nozzle attachments, as well as a vehicle to get around.

Starting a pressure washing business can take less than a few weeks to get started. You’ll want to pass out flyers or connect with friends on social media to promote your services.

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Print on Demand Business

If you've ever seen custom t-shirts sold around the web, there's a good chance it's operated as a print-on-demand business. This means that whenever a piece is ordered, it is custom printed right then.

These businesses are primarily found online and can be very profitable. You can grow your business into various forms of clothing including t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and more. You can choose to operate your business through various commerce channels including Etsy, Amazon, or a company website.

Related: Best Rental Business Ideas

House Painting Business

Similar to starting a pressure washing business, starting a house painting business can be very affordable and profitable.

The equipment and materials needed to get started can cost less than $1,000.

To get started, you’ll want to create a company website with your contact information and print out some flyers to pass out around your city to attract new clients.

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Lawn Care Business

Lawn care is another great low-cost startup business perfect for people looking to work for themselves. While the startup costs are somewhat higher than other service businesses, that comes with increased profitability.

Most of your startup costs will be associated with pieces of equipment that can be considered an investment and also provide some tax benefits by choosing to depreciate them annually.

Cleaning - Best Businesses

Cleaning Business

Starting a cleaning business is the perfect way to make money with the satisfaction of leaving a home or business sparkling.

Like other service businesses, the startup costs are extremely cheap. You’ll need to purchase a vacuum and some cleaning supplies to get started, all of which can be purchased for less than $500.

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Electronics Repair Business

In 2021, almost everyone has a personal electronic device. Between smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices, the market for repairs for these items is massive. IBIS World estimates that the cell phone repair business is valued at $4 billion in 2021.

This provides an enormous opportunity for those with the skills and equipment to repair electronic devices. But you don't need to have an electronic engineering degree to get started!

Repairing many devices can be simpler than you think. You can browse through various online resources to get a better understanding of how to repair broken screens, battery replacements, and other common repairs.

To get started, you’ll want to purchase a few small pieces of equipment that cost less than a couple of hundred dollars.

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Auto Detailing Business

If you live in a region with ample sun, washing and detailing cars can make for an awesome business to start.

You’ll need to do some research on cleaning car interiors to ensure your techniques are up to par with vehicle owners.

Depending on your location, you can make a couple of thousand dollars each month with a car detailing business.

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Digital Product Business

If you’re looking for an online business that can produce passive income, creating and selling digital products can be a great option.

It’s common for digital product creators to have an established audience to sell their products to, but you can also opt to sell your products via affiliates.

Creating digital products can take some time to develop, but the costs are typically minimal.

Web Design - Best Businesses

Website Design and Development Business

You might be thinking you need to have special skills to start a web design and development business, but that’s not always the case. With today’s technology, there are several web applications that can make designing websites a breeze.

Many local companies lack the time or skills to develop a website, offering you the perfect opportunity to make money.

Depending on the size and complexity of the website, it’s common to charge anywhere from $750 to over $5,000 for your work.

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Personal Training Business

If you have a passion for health and fitness and you’re looking to make money helping others, consider starting a personal training business.

You can help clients transform their bodies and develop a healthy lifestyle while getting paid to do so.

You’ll need to become a certified personal fitness trainer to get started, which can cost around $1,000 in total. Once you’re certified, you can start gaining new clients by working at a local gym or completing sessions online.

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Handyman Business

For those who are skilled with their hands, starting a business as a handyman can be a great investment.

You’ll be tasked with completing odd jobs around the house like changing electrical outlets, mounting televisions, and various other small tasks. 

Like many service-based businesses, word-of-mouth marketing is vital to your success, so you'll want to encourage happy customers to pass your name along to friends and family.

Bookkeeping - Best Businesses

Start a Bookkeeping Business

If you're a bookkeeper or CPA, a bookkeeping business can be a perfect low-cost service business to start in 2021.

To get started, you’ll need a computer, a clean place to work, and an internet connection.

You can promote your services at local professional networking events or social media websites like LinkedIn.

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Event Planning Business

For those who are extremely well versed in organization, starting an event planning business is an excellent option.

Event planning requires tedious organization and communication skills that can be acquired with experience.

Finding a niche in event planning can also be critical to your success. Wedding, festival, and entertainment planning are the most common forms of event planning.

Videography Business

If you are experienced with videography, starting a videography business can be a great profitable business to start in 2021.

You'll want to invest in the right equipment to get started but it can more than pay for itself in a few months' time. Both businesses and people use videographers to take and edit videos making the market quite large.

Similar to event planning, you’ll want to find a niche for your business. There are many types of videography, so you’ll want to specialize in a form that is common in your region.

Candles - Best Businesses

Selling Candles from Home

Starting a candle-making business is an excellent option for those looking to get their creative juices flowing.

Making candles to sell is easier than you might think and the supplies can be purchased for less than $500.

You’ll want to spend some time testing various scents and types of candles before committing to one style.

Candle businesses can scale quickly and while margins are strong, competition can be stiff. You'll need to find a way to stand out from the competition and keep your customers coming back.

Candles can be sold through various channels. Finding which channels work for your business is crucial. Between selling on your company website, Etsy, other e-commerce retailers, or locally at farmers markets or retail locations, finding the optimal channels will take some testing.

Related: 35+ Best Business Ideas for Women

Tutoring Business

Starting a tutoring business can be very profitable for those gifted at teaching. There are many different subjects you can specialize in, making for a great business opportunity.

Rates for tutoring vary depending on the subject of teaching, the level of difficulty requested, and your region.

Moving Company

While a moving business certainly isn't the most attractive business to start, it can be extremely profitable.

By hiring a few helpers and purchasing a moving truck, you can start a profitable moving company.

You’ll need to be capable of lifting heavy items and performing strenuous work to become successful.

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Domain Flipping Business

Flipping domain names can be a lucrative business for those with an understanding of online marketing.

Domain flipping can be a great side hustle turned business and can be done from anywhere. Like other forms of flipping, your goal is to purchase a domain name at a discount and sell it for a profit.

To be successful you’ll need to understand how to value domain names and find cheap methods to purchase them.

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Website Flipping Business

Just like domain flipping, website flipping provides an amazing opportunity for marketers to cash-in on their skills.

If you're knowledgeable about building and growing websites, this might be the perfect online business to start.

Websites come in all shapes and sizes. You’ll want to find something you’re comfortable with and work to grow the revenues or cut costs before selling it for a profit. If you want to make a large income flipping websites, you’ll likely need to flip multiple websites per year.

Photography - Best Businesses

Start a Stock Photography Business

Making money with stock photography can be an excellent choice for those with some basic photography and photo editing skills.

To be successful and grow your business, you’ll need to spend some time learning how to take the perfect photos and learning which ones tend to sell more.

Start a Blog

Starting a blog is not the quickest way to make money, but it can be a good option for those looking for an online business that can be operated from anywhere.

Starting and growing a blog will take a few key pieces: time to write quality content, marketing knowledge to understand how to promote your content, and a small amount of technical website development knowledge to get started.

You’ll want to start by selecting a topic that interests you and has a strong audience. Then you can find a domain name that works for your niche. Next comes purchasing hosting and building your website. Finally, it’s time to create content and market your blog to the world.

Growing a profitable blog will take some time. At minimum, you’ll want to dedicate anywhere from 6-12 months to give your blog time to grow.

Related: Starting a Laundromat Business

Start a Virtual Assistant Business

Online business owners are always looking for ways to outsource mundane tasks. These tasks are often handed off to a virtual assistant to complete.

From responding to emails to creating social media graphics, starting a virtual assistant business is a great idea for anyone with some extra time on their hands.

Start a Woodworking Business

Woodworking is a unique business that can be quite lucrative. By creating custom pieces you can easily earn a few thousand dollars each month making it an excellent profitable business idea for 2021.

You’ll need to have some skills to start this small business, however. Woodworking can take some time to master so you’ll want to take the time to properly learn the fundamentals of the craft.

Start a Podcast

Podcasting is a great method of content creation for those who dislike or don't have time to read text and appreciate an audio format of content. Starting a podcast will take some time to grow similar to a blog or other online businesses.

You’ll need to dedicate some time to learning the basics of podcasting as well as planning content, editing your podcast, and including show notes on a website for listeners to access.

Start an Etsy Business

Etsy opened the doors for many so-called “creativepreneurs”. These entrepreneurs create goods with their heightened creativity and sell them for a profit through websites like Etsy.

There are many different categories of items to sell so there's sure to be an area for your products. Growing your Etsy business is all about customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth marketing. Keeping customers happy and referring their friends to your products will help to increase your revenues.

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Furniture - Best Businesses

Furniture Flipping Business

Similar to woodworking, a furniture flipping business is a great choice for those with a creative bone in their body.

The process is quite easy to understand. You’ll need to purchase distressed pieces of furniture, repair them, and sell them for a profit.

It’s common to find distressed pieces at thrift stores and garage sales. You can then sell your finished pieces online through social media or a website.

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Resume Writing and Career Coaching Business

Do you have a knack for the professional environment and understand how to make a resume stand out?

Consider starting a resume writing business or career coaching to help professionals obtain a new job, negotiate a higher salary, or find the best path for them with their skills.

You can find clients at local professional networking events or through social media websites like LinkedIn.

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Final Thoughts on the Best Profitable Business Ideas to Start in 2021

No matter your age, starting a business can be one of the quickest paths to achieving financial independence. For those new to the world of entrepreneurship, it’s a good idea to start a business with a proven business model with a fast path to profitability.

Starting a profitable business is not always easy. You’ll need to dedicate your time to growing the business and expanding your skills to better serve your customers.

Do you have a favorite business idea? Comment yours below!

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
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