It’s no secret that money is tight for many people. In fact, according to a recent survey, 78% of Americans said they live paycheck to paycheck.
So it’s not surprising that more and more people are looking for ways to make money online.
But starting an online business can be challenging. There are many things to consider, and it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 20 profitable online businesses you can start today.
Each business model has its advantages and disadvantages, so read through them before choosing the right one. Let’s get started.
What and How Do You Want to Sell Online?
You have four popular options to choose from when it comes to selling online. They are:
- Ecommerce
- Print-On-Demand
- Side Hustles
- Affiliate marketing
We’ll go through each option in more detail below, but first, let’s quickly answer the question, “what can I sell online?”
This is a great question; the answer will depend on which of the four online business models you choose.
Ecommerce: If you want to sell physical products, then e-commerce is the way to go. You can sell pretty much anything through an online store, including clothes, jewelry, books, furniture, and more.
Print-on-Demand: This is an excellent option if you want to sell physical products but don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping and inventory. With print-on-demand, you can sell items such as t-shirts, hats, mugs, and more without worrying about stocking or shipping products.
Side Hustles: A side hustle is a great way to make money online without committing to a full-time business. There are many side hustles, such as freelancing, consulting, and more.
Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing is performance-based marketing in which a business rewards an affiliate for each visitor or customer brought to the site by the affiliate’s marketing efforts.
Now that you know the different types of online businesses, let’s take a closer look at each.
Best Products to Sell In an Ecommerce Store
This is the most traditional way of selling online. You create an online store and stock it with products you source from suppliers. Customers come to your store and purchase items, which you then ship.
When it comes to ecommerce stores, there are a few things you need to take into account before you decide what products to sell:
- Think about what you’re good at and know a lot about.
- Consider what’s popular right now.
- Choose unique products that people wouldn’t be able to find at big box stores.
Advantages
- You’re in control of your inventory and can choose to sell whatever you want.
- It can be a great way to build a brand around unique products.
Disadvantages
- You need to source and manage your inventory.
- It can be challenging to stand out from the competition selling popular products.
Here are a few products that are popular in ecommerce stores:
1. Clothing
When it comes to clothing, ecommerce stores have a lot of options. You can sell everything from shirts and pants to dresses and coats. You can also sell accessories like hats, belts, and sunglasses. And if you have a niche audience, you can sell clothes for groups like plus-size women or petite men.
To find suppliers for your clothing store, you can search online directories like AliExpress or Dhgate. These directories have thousands of suppliers who offer a wide variety of products.
Make sure to choose a reputable supplier with a good return policy. This is important because you want to be able to offer your customers a refund or exchange if they’re not happy with their purchase.
You can use Instagram or Snapchat to show off your clothes creatively. You can also use Facebook or Twitter to drive traffic to your store.
2. Home Decor and Furnishings
If you’re looking for something different, consider selling home decor and furnishings in your ecommerce store. There are lots of things that you can sell to make money. This includes furniture, rugs, lighting, and art. You can also sell home decor items like curtains, blinds, and picture frames.
To promote these products, you may build your own website using Shopify. With this platform, you can easily create an impressive-looking shopping store with minimal effort.
Also, you may use paid advertisements on Google or Facebook to drive traffic to your store.
3. Beauty and Health Products
Health and beauty products are always popular, especially among women. You can sell makeup, skincare, hair care, and fragrance products.
Another option is to sell health-related items like vitamins and supplements.
Creating a blog or YouTube channel is a great way to promote and sell your products. There are different types of videos you can make, like tutorials, product reviews, or hauls. You can produce videos where you try out different products and share your thoughts with your viewers.
This is a great way to build trust with potential customers and generate sales.
4. Toys and Games
If you want to sell products for children, consider selling toys and games in your ecommerce store. You can find suppliers, from puzzles and board games to dolls and action figures. A good supplier is VR Distribution, which offers a wide variety of products for children.
To market your products, you can use the same methods explained previously.
5. Electronics
If you’re looking for something high-tech, consider selling electronics in your ecommerce store. Suppliers for laptops, tablets, phones, cases, chargers and other devices can be found with a simple online search. However, you may start with these two reputable suppliers, Megagoods and DHGate.
If you’d like to learn more about how to start a profitable online store in 12 weeks, click here.
Read more: 10 Ecommerce Tips to Grow Your Brand
What To Sell In Print-on-Demand?
Print on demand (POD) is a printing technology and business model in which orders are printed only after they have been ordered. This eliminates the need for large up-front printing costs and inventory. Because of this, POD is becoming an increasingly popular way for entrepreneurs to start their online stores.
Before starting your store, you need to know a few things about POD:
- You need to find a good printer that offers high-quality products.
- You need to choose the right products to sell.
- You must create effective marketing materials that will help promote your products.
Also, this business model is great if you have a creative flair and are interested in selling physical products like t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, notebooks, and more. You can make your designs through Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or another online design tool.
Once you’ve created your designs, upload them to your POD platform, and they’ll take care of the rest.
Advantages
- No need for large up-front printing costs or inventory
- It can be a great way for entrepreneurs to start their own online store
- You have control over the design, quality, and price of your products
- There are many different types of products you can sell
- You can reach a global audience with your products
Disadvantages
- You need to find a good printer that offers high-quality products
- You need to create effective marketing materials to promote your products
- It can be difficult to stand out in a crowded market
- You may have to pay higher prices for some products
Now that you know a little bit more about POD, let’s take a look at some of the best products to sell:
1. T-shirts and Apparels
T-shirts are always popular, especially if they have a cool design or catchy message. You can find POD services that will print your designs on t-shirts, hoodies, and other clothing items.
A few good platforms to sell your t-shirt designs are:
If this idea interests you, check out this comprehensive guide on how to start a t-shirt business.
A popular way to market your t-shirts is to wear them publicly and take pictures of people wearing your designs. You can also post these pictures on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
2. Mugs and Drinkware
Mugs and drinkware are popular items to sell through print-on-demand services. You can find companies that will print your designs on mugs, water bottles, and other types of drinkware.
A few good platforms to sell your mug designs are:
You can easily use print-on-demand services to create and sell your mugs and drinkware. All you need is a cool design and some effective marketing materials.
3. Phone Cases
Phone cases are another fantastic product to sell through print-on-demand. You can find companies that will print your designs on phone cases for iPhones and Android phones.
A few good platforms to sell your phone case designs are:
If you want to design phone cases, go to YouTube. You will find many videos explaining how to do it.
4. Art prints
Another popular item to sell through print-on-demand is art prints. You can find artists online who will create custom prints for you. Or you can choose from various stock images to use in your prints.
You can try these platforms:
Printify is one of the best choices for selling art prints because they offer a wide range of products and services. You can make an online store and pick how it looks for your art prints.
However, Imprint provides art prints of higher quality compared to other similar POD services. So, try several options and see the one you prefer the most.
5. Books
Books are another popular item to sell through print-on-demand services. You can create and upload your book files with ease on these platforms. Whenever your books are sold, you earn money (royalties).
A few good platforms to sell your books are:
I did self-publishing for many years, and it’s a great way to make money online for beginners. It doesn’t have a huge learning curve or require any special skills. To write a book, you need to either write it yourself or hire someone to write it for you. You also need to get a book cover done. Once you have all of that, you can publish your book.
Most of the marketing will be done by the platform you choose to publish your book. But you can also do some extra marketing on social media or run paid ads on Amazon etc., to sell more copies.
Top Side Hustle You Can Do In Your Free Time
In today’s economy, a side hustle is more important than ever. A side hustle is a money-making venture that you do in addition to your regular job. It can be something as simple as selling items online, doing freelance work, or something more complex like starting your own business.
The great thing about a side hustle is that it allows you to make money while still keeping your day job. This gives you the security of knowing that you have a steady income, even if your side hustle is starting and isn’t making much money yet. And if things go well, you can eventually quit your day job and focus on your side hustle full-time.
So if you’re looking for ways to make extra money, consider starting a side hustle. It may be just what you need to get ahead financially.
Advantages
- You can make extra money fast
- Can eventually become a full-time job
- It may help you build your own business
- It can help you develop new skills
- It can give you a sense of accomplishment
Disadvantages
- May be time-consuming
- It may require some investment
- It may not always be profitable
Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of starting a side hustle, let’s look at some of the best options.
1. Freelance Work
One of the easiest ways to start a side hustle is by doing freelance work. If you have a skill that others need, such as writing, web design, or marketing, you can start offering your services to businesses and individuals.
There are a few ways to find freelance work, such as:
Or you can contact businesses directly and inquire about opportunities. You can also network with other freelancers and learn about new projects.
2. Sell Items Online
Another easy way to make money is by selling items online. If you have products that you want to get rid of, or if you make homemade products, this can be a great option for you.
You can sell about anything on platforms such as:
To get started, create an account and list your products. Take good photos, write compelling descriptions, and set fair prices.
3. Provide a Service
If you have a skill or talent that others need, you can start a business providing a service. This could be anything from pet-sitting to home-cleaning to lawn care.
To get started, you can create a list of services you may offer and their prices. Afterward, you can promote your business on platforms such as:
Or you can go the traditional route by handing out flyers, business cards, or door hangers in your neighborhood.
4. Rent Out a Free Space
If you have an extra room in your house, apartment, or a free garage, you can make money by renting it out. This is a great option if you live in a city or near tourist attractions.
There are a few platforms you can use to rent out your space, such as:
Head to these platforms, create a profile, and list your space. Include high-quality photos, a description, and the price you want to charge. Sooner or later, you’ll start getting renters.
5. Social Media Consultant
If you love social media and know how to use it effectively, you can start a business as a social media consultant. You’ll help businesses with their social media presence as a social media consultant. This can involve anything from creating content to managing their accounts.
To get started, you can create a portfolio of your previous work. Afterward, you can start reaching out to businesses and offering your services. You can also look for social media consultant jobs on job boards.
These are only a few of the many sides hustles you can start.
But if you want to learn more, then don’t stop here. Click here to start an online side hustle in 30 days or less (free training).
Best Products To Promote as an Affiliate Marketer
One of my favorite ways to make money online is with affiliate marketing. You don’t need to worry about developing your product or service with affiliate marketing. Instead, you promote someone else’s product or service and earn a commission for every sale you generate.
When choosing a product to promote as an affiliate marketer, you must keep a few things in mind:
- Make sure the product is popular and in demand.
- Choose a product you like or consider high-quality so it’s easy to sell.
- Make sure your product has a good affiliate program.
Advantages
- You don’t need to create a product
- You can start making money quickly
- There are no production or shipping costs
- It’s easy to get started
Disadvantages
- You don’t have control over the product
- You’re at the mercy of the affiliate program
- It can take time to build up a sales volume
Here are a few products that are popular among affiliate marketers:
1. Health and Fitness Affiliate Offers
The health and fitness industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and there’s no shortage of affiliate programs to promote. If you’re looking for a high-earning affiliate program, look no further than the health and fitness industry.
You can promote the following affiliate products:
- Weight loss programs
- Exercise equipment
- Health supplements
- Nutrition and online fitness courses
You can find both digital and physical products to sell in this niche. And there are many different ways to market health and fitness products. You can start a blog, create YouTube videos, or write eBooks about health and fitness. Include affiliate links to the products you promote in your blog, videos, or eBooks.
2. Make Money Online Affiliate Offers
A lot of people want to learn how to make money online. So the make-money-online niche is very popular. Here are some affiliate offers you can promote in this niche:
- Making money online eBooks
- Online courses
- Events and webinars
- Memberships to mastermind groups
I like this niche because there are many different digital products you can promote. These products have higher commission rates than physical products, meaning you can make more money selling them.
3. Technology and Gadgets Offers
The technology industry is constantly changing, and new gadgets are always coming out. That’s why this is a great niche for affiliate marketing. You can stay up-to-date on the latest gadgets and technology trends and make money promoting them as an affiliate.
Here are a few products you can promote in this niche:
- The latest smartphones
- Tablets
- Smartwatches
- Fitness trackers
- Headphones
A great way to promote these products is with reviews and comparison articles. You can also do unboxing videos and create a YouTube channel dedicated to technology and gadgets.
4. Relationship and Dating Affiliate Offers
One of the most important basic needs we have is the need for love and companionship. And that’s why the relationship and dating niche is so popular.
People are always looking for advice to help them find love, improve their relationships or get over a breakup.
Here are a few products you can promote in this niche:
- Dating and relationship eBooks
- Online course(s)
- Events
- Webinars
A great way to promote these products is with blog posts, YouTube videos, and social media. You can also create a podcast dedicated to relationships and dating advice.
5. Travel Affiliate Offers
People love to travel, and the travel industry is huge. If you’re passionate about traveling, you can make money by promoting travel products as an affiliate.
Here are a few products you can promote:
- Airline tickets
- Hotel reservations
- Car rentals
- Tour packages
- Travel Insurance
You can make videos visiting different travel destinations, write blog posts about your travel experiences, or take pictures and share them on social media. And remember to include your affiliate links in your travel posts.
Read more: 6 Businesses That Make Money Right Away (In 1-3 Months or Less)
Start Your Online Business Today
There are many different types of products you can sell online. This guide lists four popular ways to make money and a few tips on how to market these products effectively. Are you still struggling to decide? Here’s a quick recap of the four ways to make money online:
An ecommerce store is an excellent solution if you want to sell physical products. However, print-on-demand may be a better option if you don’t want to bother dealing with shipping items and have a creative mind.
If you don’t have much time, but want some extra cash going to your bank account monthly, try a side hustle. Lastly, affiliate marketing is perfect if you want to avoid creating your products, dealing with customers, and don’t mind earning a commission for every sale you make.
No matter your choice, there are endless possibilities for making money online. So what are you waiting for? Start your online business today, we’re here to help with our free product ideas guide.
