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Are you looking for a new way to make money but not sure how to get started? No matter what skills you have, there are great small business ideas for everyone. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur and want to start a profitable business, there are many different options for good business ideas. So how do small business owners like you ensure that they choose the right business opportunity that can actually make money? Whether you're a college student who is new to the business world or you've been in the workforce for decades, the best way to get started is by taking a look at some of the most profitable business ideas out there so you can get inspired. 18 Best business ideas to make money While many people dream about working from home and earning money, creating and running a profitable business takes a lot more than a desire to be your own boss. There are many details to consider, including the monetary investment you'll need to develop your business idea. You should also factor in how much demand there is for your product or services, and don't forget about tax preparation and registering your small business. Luckily, we've rounded up some of the best opportunities for aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs so that you can get a sense of how small business owners make money around the world and how you can do the same. 1. Create and sell chatbots to other business owners You may not have heard of chatbots before, but chances are you've encountered them while browsing on the internet. Many websites will have a popup in the corner, prompting you to ask for help. This will lead to an automated conversation where the chatbot's responses are based on keywords that you use. Chatbots can even be set up to interact with page visitors on Facebook Messenger. So as a small business owner, why should this matter to you? Even if you have no experience with coding or web development, you can become an expert in creating and running chatbots for other small businesses. Many different types of businesses use chatbots to interact with their potential customers, and that means that there is a large market of individuals and companies who are willing to pay someone like you to fill that demand. You can build a basic chatbot using sites like ManyChat, and then use it as a model to pitch your services to new customers. Depending on what kind of business model you have in mind, you can either set up your clients with a functional chatbot for a one-time fee, or you can set up a retainer where you consistently offer services to run and improve the chatbot based on client feedback and customer interaction. 2. Become an online fundraising consultant If you're interested in starting a small business that makes use of your excellent people skills and passion for making the world a better place, working as a fundraising consultant could be the perfect fit for you. It's also one of the best side hustles you can start on your own. Help raise funds for non-profit organizations or special projects while making a good living for yourself too. In order to work in this field, you may require a bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, nonprofit management, or public relations. You might also need experience with fundraising and the necessary listening, verbal, and writing skills to build and maintain relationships with potential donors. 3. Get paid for educational blogging Were you amazing at making study notes in school, and want to use those skills to fill the demand for educational content on the internet? Why not start a business where you can help people around the world with their educational needs? Blogging is just one of the many popular ways to earn money online. Whether it's online courses, news and opinions related to your field, resources for college students, or lesson plans for parents who homeschool, there is a huge demand for digital content. If you want to monetize your blog by using ads, affiliate sales, dropshipping, or selling your own products and services, you'll need to learn the fundamentals of SEO to build a reliable source of traffic and ensure you're ranking for the right keywords so that people can find you when they search for your services online Make use of your network by promoting your new blog on social media channels like Instagram for Business and reaching out to friends, family, and peers to share your small business idea. Then reach out directly to parent groups or advertise and local colleges and universities, depending on who your target audience is and where they hang out. 4. Use your education to teach classes online Whether you know it or not, you probably have a ton of real-world experience that you can translate into educational content for people who need help with school. In fact, even if you don't have any idea what you could teach, you can look up what services are in demand and become an expert in a matter of days using the internet. You could even take a course online and use the notes you take to create your own lesson plans. First, you need to figure out what you will provide and how to make it worth paying for. Once you've done that, you can create your own online courses on a video platform like Udemy, which already has a built-in audience so that you won't have to build your clientele entirely from scratch. In addition to pre-recorded classes, you can offer live one on one or group tutoring, and you can even sell your lesson plans to other educations using resources like Teachers Pay Teachers. 5. Become a green app developer Green apps are applications that focus on addressing environmental issues. These can include products like carbon footprint tracking apps, ride-sharing apps, fuel calculators, and remote power apps, among many others. Whether you have a notebook full of great ideas for green apps, or just want to use your expert app developer skills to help visionaries bring their ideas to life, green app development is a field with many opportunities for small businesses. You will probably need to have a degree in software engineering or a related field and be proficient in at least one of the most common programming languages in order to score the opportunities of your dreams. 6. Make money through social crowdfunding If you have an idea for a creative project you want to pursue, like a filmmaking venture or a line of products to launch, social crowdfunding can be a great way to earn money for your small business through donors. Once you have your business idea ready to go, use a crowdfunding site or create your own website donation page. Make use of your network and ask everyone you know to help you raise funds by donating or sharing your campaign. 7. Write and publish your own ebooks You have a ton of knowledge that you can translate into profitable ebooks to bring in cash flow. Rather than investing all sorts of money into publishing a physical book, you can simply create a PDF document that consumers can download from your website or that you can send directly to their email address. Once you've put in the initial work to develop your ebook, you'll be able to earn passive income every time a copy sells without having to lift a finger. If you're struggling to develop the idea that you think others would be interested in, search trending ebooks to conduct market research. Once you've decided on the content of your ebook, create an outline with chapters and topics. After you're done translating your knowledge into book format, it's time to edit your writing and focus on the design of your ebook through elements like colours, fonts, and images. Then it's all about raising brand awareness and content marketing to reach new audiences. 8. Use your mechanical skills with auto detailing You may not need a four-year degree, but starting your own auto detailing business takes more than just a knack for cleaning cars. You'll need to get some technical training and hands of experience in an auto detailing shop so that you have the skills, knowledge, and cash flow to branch out on your own. A good way to start your business without investing a ton of money upfront is by starting out as a mobile business rather than renting your own garage location. Then, as you build up your cash flow and a solid customer base, you'll be able to invest in your business with confidence. Auto detailing equipment like pressure washers, hot water extractors and towels can cost a lot of money. Be sure to register your business and open a business bank account to keep your finances sorted. 9. Offer babysitting services If you have experience with babysitting kids, starting your own babysitting business is one more way to make money by setting your own rate. Aside from reliable transportation and a website or social media presence, the investment in a babysitting business is very low. It's also a great job for students since you can charge a small fee per hour to babysit while getting your schoolwork done, and you can even babysit out of your own home. If you're serious about helping people take care of their children, eventually, you may consider opening up a physical location, where caregivers can drop their children off. The cost of running your own location will be higher, but so will the potential earnings. 10. Rent out a room in your home Do you have an extra room in your house that's not being used? You can rent it out as a side business. The bigger the room and the more amenities you can offer (i.e. a private bathroom and kitchen), the more money you will be able to make. Think outside just renting a bedroom—many people are working from home and don’t have the space to create a home office in their own place. You could offer a home office space and set hours for when it will be available so your space is still yours when you want it. 11. Help others with snow plowing Snow plowing is a great seasonal business opportunity, especially if you are a truck driver with a plow hitch, and you live in a highly snowy area. The initial investment and ongoing upkeep can be expensive, so you could start out by simply offering to shovel your neighbours’ driveways by hand to raise funds for your business. Since customers will be relying on you, this is one business where you have to ensure that all of your equipment is reliable, and you should have a backup in case something happens, and you can't make it so that people don't get snowed in and blame you. 12. Cleaning services for clients and businesses One of the great things about a cleaning business is that you don't need to have any specific formal education. In addition to basic cleaning skills, you may need to be familiar with more advanced techniques, including stain removal, floor polishing, and oven cleaning. Start by determining whether you want your clients to be individuals or larger organizations. If you’re the only employee, you may decide that starting out with individual clients makes the most sense. You can also expand beyond cleaning to offer additional services, like professional organizing. 13. Become a personal chef In order to run your own business as a personal chef, you don't necessarily need professional training. Still, you do need to be able to pitch yourself and your qualifications to your clients. The start-up costs are low since you generally will use the kitchen and appliances that belong to your clients, and they will pay for ingredients as well. However, remember to factor in transportation costs as well as any specialized equipment you need. Eventually, you could even branch out into a catering business and invest in (or rent) a food truck for weddings and other onsite events. 14. Start an event DJ business Plenty of weddings and events hire DJs to take care of the music and entertainment. If you love to get people dancing by spinning tunes all night long, becoming a professional DJ could be your calling. The initial investment can be quite expensive, including the costs for your laptop, music, speakers, lights, microphone, vehicle, and insurance for everything. Make sure that you set your DJ rate to accommodate your expenses. 15. Get into healthcare consultancy Are you an expert in healthcare law, with a bachelor's degree in a related industry like public health, business or nursing? Healthcare consultancy businesses give advice to healthcare organizations on a variety of issues dealing with public health. You can either work for an existing firm or create your own. There are even more opportunities in this field for people with a master's degree in business administration or public health. 16. Start an employee recruitment service If you want to help more people get into the workforce, the employee recruitment industry is always growing. First, choose a niche based on your interests. For example, do you want to work with college students and recent graduates who are new to the job market, or do you prefer to help people who are older and want to change to a new field? It's important to know who your ideal customer is to market your services to them effectively. 17. Create a real estate brokerage firm Real estate businesses can be a huge money maker, but there are many hoops to jump through if you want to create your own brokerage firm. You will need to gain approval from your local real estate council in order to obtain the real estate broker designation, and you will also need to submit an application to the real estate board. It's a good idea to hire an accountant to help you handle your multiple bank accounts and keep track of transactions in accordance with the laws and regulations. 18. Become an expert at agribusiness If you have a passion for farming, running your own agribusiness will allow you to work with farmers on their land and livestock. Before you get started, determine which products and services you want to provide. You might need some financing or a loan, as well as specific operating licences depending on your local laws. Establish a physical office location where you can store your materials, tools, and machinery, but most of your work will require visiting clients in their homes. Now that you have a long list of great business ideas, you're all set to start brainstorming some more ways that you can use your unique set of skills to offer a value that is worth paying for. Don't forget to stay up to date with your business registration so that you can focus on what matters: growing your business and making more money. Ready to start your business? Ownr has helped over 25,000+ entrepreneurs hit the ground running quickly – and affordably. If you have questions about how to register or incorporate your business, give us a call at 1-800-766-6302, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm EST, or email us support@ownr.co