Many people dream of becoming entrepreneurs. While it’s always a challenge to get a new business up and running at a profit, there has never been more opportunity for upstart enterprises than right now, in 2024. Startups like RideAlike have emerged as major players in their niche this year.
The first challenge is determining what business venture to enter, one with the best chance of success and, hopefully, the least possible amount of complication.
Every aspiring entrepreneur struggles to find a sustainable business idea. So, we’ve come up with a bunch for you to consider: Here are the 10 best business ideas you can start in 2024.
The 10 Best Business Ideas You Can Start in 2024
First things first: getting into a business is a risky proposition at the best of times. You plan to leave the security of your 9-to-5 job. You are getting into a new, less predictable lifestyle. Plus, you will likely be investing your time and money.
There are also many benefits of having your own business. Of course, it will require a lot of hard work on your part, as well as support from family, key employees, and maybe even investors. The bottom line is that you are your boss. Hopefully, the following examples and ideas will provide you with some inspiration so that you find your own personal best business idea.
1. Starting a Blog
Starting a blog is the least expensive business venture anyone can get into. You won’t need a lot of startup equipment. You won’t need to carry any inventory of products; the product is the words coming out of your mind. It will require a talent for writing and a topic that engages and attracts readers visiting your site. The work, then, is twofold: 1) developing great written content with your excellent writing skills and 2) building your audience.
Blogging is a great platform for content marketing—that is, writing about other people’s products and services. Bloggers who develop a reputation as authorities on a subject can earn a considerable income from their writing and affiliate marketing commissions.
The beauty of blogging is that it is not confined to your local area. Your work can be seen and responded to worldwide, allowing you to develop relationships and business globally with different international companies. Again, the startup costs are minimal. Your domain name will cost you less than $100 per year. Popular bloggers have incomes well into the six figures.
2. Web Development and Design
Web developers are in high demand. You may have a lucrative business opportunity if you possess this skill set. Expertise in web development and design enables you to secure contracts with companies of all sizes, from small startups to large established companies. Put your coding skills to work as your own business.
The demand is high, and so is the earning potential. However, remember that competition is also out there as more and more graduates from post-secondary institutions enter the industry. You’ll need the skills and tenacity to prosper in this lucrative but tough marketplace.
3. Online Coaching Classes
An endless list of subject areas requires online teaching or coaching classes. If you possess a particular skill and can share it effectively, you may want to consider starting an online coaching business. You can set up a curriculum, materials, and schedule, where you can conduct classes online, either one-on-one or in a group setting.
One of the benefits of online coaching is that it is entirely home-based. As a result, don’t need to invest in an offsite location to conduct your classes.
With this type of business, you will also establish a community that can be leveraged into additional business through sponsorships from suppliers in your field of expertise who are always looking for viable advertising and affiliate opportunities.
4. Graphics Design and Editing
Graphic design is an absolute necessity in our digitized world. If you possess this valuable skill, you can enter business as a graphic designer, providing your know-how to many companies and clients. This area also involves videography and other editing works.
Graphic design is highly skilled work that requires knowledge of all the technical stuff and a healthy amount of creative flair. A good graphic design business can make plenty of money. Also, with the internet, your services can be plied worldwide, not just in your local area.
5. Amazon Reselling
Amazon reselling has taken off like gangbusters as the online giant continues to expand its reach. The platform allows you to resell interesting, innovative products in your local market.
You will need to find potential hit products. Then, resell them online, using attractive pricing as the lure or the products’ uniqueness or innovation to ride the wave of new trends.
It’s been shown that Amazon reselling has a lot of money-making potential; remember that the competition is fierce, and you’ll have to work to reach and stay at the top.
6. Renting Your Car with RideAlike
One of the newest car-share platforms, focused on the Toronto area, is RideAlike. With its innovative concept and user-friendly platforms, Car Share gives traditional car rental services a run for their money. As a RideAlike member, you can provide your vehicle(s) for rent to your community. Rent your car, SUV, minivan, or truck for a few hours or days. If you have more than one vehicle, you could have a whole fleet on RideAlike and be your own miniature car rental service in your community. It’s a real, viable money maker that uses equipment and resources you already have – your vehicles.
7. Portrait and Wedding Photography
There has never been a busier time for photography than now – just think about all the selfies being taken out there every minute of the day. The quality of photographic equipment, editing software, and accessories continues to improve, even as prices come down. It could be a perfect business opportunity for a skilled, enthusiastic photographer to fire up their own portrait and wedding pictures business. This type of business could easily be initiated from a single room in your home or studio.
8. Podcasting
Put your journalism and communication skills to work with a podcast. The demand for audio content has never been greater. People follow their favorite bloggers, vloggers, and podcasters faithfully. As a result, if your podcasts take hold, there are various ways to monetize them, with advertising and affiliate deals.
Podcasting is a good option if you already have a blog and a loyal customer pool. Use a trusted podcast hosting platform to host your podcast and make money from it. Skilled content creators can also take advantage of podcasting as an additional revenue source
9. Consulting Services
A viable way to enter business is to take advantage of your specific skill set, no matter the subject. If you are an expert in a field, you can sell your knowledge through consulting. A few common examples – computer or tech services, marketing, engineering of all types, industries of all types – you name it, if you know about a subject, preferably with some sort of designation, you can become a consultant. Your consultancy may focus on established businesses or assisting new startups with your expertise.
10. Affiliate Marketing
Your existing website can be transformed into a money-making machine by adding affiliate marketing. A website that generates high traffic is very attractive to advertisers who want the same eyeballs on their product. Many companies would happily pay you to include their ads on your website. You get a portion of any sales generated from your pages, and the amounts can be impressive. The content of your website will likely be tied somehow to the advertiser’s product, so it’s a win-win all around. Your website visitors are interested in your content; some will likely be interested in your advertisers’ stuff. You cash in from those affiliate ads.
Conclusion
No business is “easy” to start up. But there are so many great business opportunities today that if you have an entrepreneurial dream, now would be a good time to chase it. Our list is just a slice of the many potential enterprises you must consider. Yes, launching will take hard work, and you’ll need an ongoing plan for success. But it will be your plan, dream, and money when everything works out. Best of luck to you!