20 Online Business Ideas: Money Making Ideas That Work in 2025

Whether it’s for a secondary income or a plan to replace the day job, everybody wants to have an online business. Working from home, working while you travel, earning money when you’re not even at work, these are all potential benefits of running an online business. But how can you decide what, out of the many online business ideas out there, is the best option for you?

• Required investment (rated low 🟢 – medium 🟡 – high 🟠)
• Skill to enter (rated low 🟢 – medium 🟡 – high 🟠)
• Income type (active ⚡ or passive ⌛)
• What types of people this business is good for

We hope this list will help you choose the best online business opportunity for you.

Best online business ideas: 20 excellent options

1. Niche website building for clients

Website design can be a highly lucrative online business model, but it’s difficult to make your web design business stand out in today’s crowded marketplace.

One of the best ways to do this is to focus your business on building niche websites. These are websites optimized for affiliate marketing around a specialized topic.

The great thing is that you can build these sites without coding using modern WordPress tools or site builders like Elementor, Bricks, or Framer. AI design assistants and content generators can speed up your workflow even more.

2. Building your own niche website

One of the best long-term online business ideas is to build a niche website and use it for affiliate marketing. For example, you might start a coffee-themed review website and use affiliate links for all of the coffee machines you review.

WordPress or code-free website builders make it easy to build your niche website. However, this is not an overnight money-making solution. You will need to post high-quality reviews optimized for high-traffic keywords. When enough of those reviews start to rank highly on search engines, you will start to make money.

3. Audiobook narration

Audiobook narrators can expect to earn an impressive $100 per hour, and with the continuous growth of audiobook sales, opportunities abound.

You will pay a heavy price to get started though. You’ll need to invest in high-quality recording equipment and practice reading to a microphone until you feel truly at ease. Once you feel comfortable recording, you can record an audition piece and pitch yourself on sites like ACX and BunnyStudio.

4. Social media management / consulting

Social media is where billions of people spend their time, and businesses want to reach them. If you can help brands grow on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or YouTube Shorts, you can build a steady business.

You’ll need strong marketing skills and the ability to adapt fast. Social media trends move quickly, and algorithms change constantly. AI tools like Buffer, Notion AI, and Metricool can help you automate scheduling, content planning, and analytics.

The best social media consultants specialize in short-form video, storytelling, and community engagement rather than just posting updates.

5. SEO management/consulting

Search engine optimization (SEO) is still the backbone of online visibility. As an SEO consultant, you’ll research keywords, analyze data, and help clients improve their search performance.

Today, SEO is becoming more and more AI-driven. You’ll use tools like Surfer SEO, Ahrefs, and ChatGPT to analyze competitors and identify content gaps. You’ll also need to understand EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) and topic clusters to keep your clients ahead.

If you like research and analytics, this business is perfect. And you can start with free tools and a laptop.

6. Copywriting

Copywriting hasn’t gone away. It’s evolved. Businesses still need persuasive words that sell, but now many use AI writing tools to speed up the process. The opportunity lies in combining AI-generated drafts with your human creativity and marketing insight.

If you understand what makes people buy, you can build a career writing emails, ads, landing pages, and brand stories. AI helps you brainstorm faster, but your voice and judgment are what clients pay for.

7. Freelance blogging

Freelance blogging continues to be one of the easiest ways to start making money online. Businesses need high-quality blog posts to attract visitors, and they’re willing to pay for it.

Most professional bloggers use AI tools to help with topic research and outlines, but human tone, expertise, and storytelling are what make their posts stand out.

The main things you’ll need to become a freelance blogger are a good grasp of the language(s) you plan to write in and basic knowledge of SEO. You can find freelance blogging work in places such as the BloggingPro job board and Upwork.

8. Technical writing

Technical writing is still in high demand, especially in software, AI, and digital tools. You’ll create guides, manuals, and documentation that help users understand how something works.

Today, companies value writers who can translate complex topics into clear instructions and who know how to work with AI documentation tools or platforms like Notion, GitBook, and Confluence.

9. Logo / business identity designing

Go beyond generic graphic design to focus on helping companies develop their brand identities and logos.

The main things you need to pursue this business idea are an eye for design, an understanding of marketing, and good graphic design software. You can use a program like Gimp to break into this business on a low budget.

10. Self-publishing a book on Amazon

Turning your expertise or story into a book is still a great business idea. The self-publishing industry continues to grow thanks to tools that make writing and formatting easier.

You can now use AI editing assistants to polish your drafts, design your cover, or format your book for Kindle automatically. Amazon KDP, Reedsy, and platforms like Vella even let you publish serialized fiction or short content for recurring income.

Once published, your book can generate sales passively for years.

11. Video editing

Another great way to make money online is to help brands turn raw footage into high-quality video content.

The big investment you’ll need to make here is software. While there are many free and affordable software options for video editing, to do this professionally you must invest in either Final Cut Pro for Mac or Adobe Premiere Pro for Windows.

12. Online courses

Sharing your skills through online courses is one of the best ways to earn online. You can teach anything from design and marketing to coding or AI workflows.

Video lessons are still the most popular format, but cohort-based courses, live workshops, and micro-courses are trending. You can sell your content through platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, or directly on your WordPress site using an LMS plugin like Masteriyo.

AI tools can help you script, record, and edit your courses faster, while communities (like Discord) keep your students engaged.

13. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is the act of using a third-party to manage production, warehousing, and shipping of products to customers. This allows you to sell products online without worrying about storage space or complicated shipping laws.

The main thing you will need to be successful in dropshipping is a well-designed eCommerce store. You can build one on your existing WordPress website using WooCommerce or on a new site with Shopify.

You can connect to suppliers via platforms like DSers or Printful.

👉 How to start a dropshipping store

14. Virtual assistant

This option is last on our list of online business ideas because it has the least in common with a typical business. As a virtual assistant, you will help businesses with basic administrative and marketing tasks.

Virtual assistants are still in demand, but the job looks different today. Many businesses now expect their assistants to know how to use AI tools, manage content calendars, and automate tasks.

If you can combine organization skills with platforms like Notion, Zapier, and ChatGPT, you can offer AI-powered assistance that saves your clients even more time.

You can offer virtual assistant services through your own website or sign up with an agency like Virtual Gurus to get your first job as a VA.

15. AI automation setup services

Businesses today rely on dozens of tools to manage their work, from Google Sheets and Notion to WordPress, Slack, and email marketing platforms. Setting up automations between these tools can save hours every week, but most people don’t know where to start.

That’s where you come in. You can offer AI automation setup services using platforms like n8n, Zapier, or Make. You’ll help small businesses automate repetitive tasks such as lead tracking, data syncing, and report generation.

This business is perfect for problem solvers who like to tinker with workflows and integrations. Once you learn the basics, you can charge premium prices for even simple automations.

16. Prompt engineering and AI tutoring

AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Claude have created a new demand — people need help using them effectively. Businesses, teachers, and writers all want to learn how to get better results from these tools.

As an AI tutor or prompt engineer, you can teach others how to write prompts, design workflows, and use AI tools productively. You can do this through consulting sessions, live workshops, or short online courses.

This is a growing field, and being early gives you an advantage. You don’t need to build anything. Just know the tools well and be able to explain them clearly.

17. Micro-SaaS or plugin creation for WordPress / Shopify

If you can identify a small problem that many people share, you can turn it into a simple software tool or plugin. That’s the idea behind micro-SaaS – small, focused apps that solve one clear problem.

You don’t need a big team. You can use low-code tools or frameworks to build something lightweight, such as a Shopify extension or a WordPress plugin. Once built, your income becomes mostly passive.

For example, you might create a WordPress plugin that adds AI-powered image optimization, or a Shopify app that syncs inventory between stores.

18. Community-based businesses or paid newsletters

Online audiences are moving away from social media and into smaller, focused communities. This creates a big opportunity to build a paid newsletter or membership community around a topic you know well.

You can use platforms like Substack, Ghost, or Circle to create your space and offer premium content, Q&As, or behind-the-scenes updates. People will pay for access to high-value insights and a sense of belonging.

This model is flexible. It can start as a newsletter and grow into courses, events, or even a small brand.

19. No-code app development

Not a programmer? No problem. With modern no-code tools like Bubble, Glide, and Framer, anyone can create apps, dashboards, and websites without writing a single line of code.

You can build apps for clients or create your own tools to sell. Businesses are constantly looking for internal apps, booking systems, or product configurators, all of which can be made with no-code platforms.

The demand for no-code experts keeps growing as startups and small companies want to launch fast without hiring developers.

20. UGC creation and influencer content services

Brands need authentic content for social media, and they’re turning to UGC (user-generated content) creators instead of traditional influencers. You don’t need a huge following, just good camera skills and a clear style.

You can create product reviews, demos, or lifestyle videos that brands can reuse in their ads. Many creators now earn steady income producing UGC packages for multiple clients each month.

All you need is a smartphone, creativity, and some basic editing skills.

Start your online business today

Do you have any questions about how to get started with any of these ideas? Ask us in the comments section!

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