Looking for some extra income? Always wanted to be an entrepreneur? Ready to ditch your 9-to-5 or start up a side hustle of your own?
There are so many reasons to start an online business. And, thanks to the many ways we can connect online, you don’t need to sink a lot of money into one to get started.
With some extra free time and your unique skill set, your next business opportunity might be just around the corner—here are 11 online businesses you can start for free to inspire you.
How to Start an Online Business
Before jumping into some business ideas, let’s start by looking at what you need to start an online business for free.
A lot of people find success selling physical products, but it’s not free. So, to keep your expenses at zero, or as close as possible, you’ll be working in the services industry. To be successful in this space, you need three key things:
- A marketable skillset: What do you have to offer that people can benefit from? Perhaps it’s something you do in your “day job” and can translate to your own business. It might also be a passion, hobby, or interest you can monetize.
- Time and Elbow Grease: You may not be investing dollars, but you’re investing time and hard work. Before getting started, consider how much time and effort you have to devote to this and assess if it’s realistic for the option you pick.
- An online marketplace: The last thing you need is somewhere to sell your service online. This might be your own website or an online marketplace dedicated to the service you’re providing. Note that there may be some small fees associated with the platform you choose here.
As your online business takes off, you’ll likely also need a fourth thing: somewhere to work.
A coworking space membership or private office provides a productive environment for you to focus on your new business. You’ll benefit from being around other like-minded professionals and entrepreneurs while accessing everything you need to become a success!
Many successful businesses today started small in a coworking space—and yours can, too.
11 Online Businesses You Can Start for Free
1. Advertising and Marketing
Skills required: Marketing best practices, copywriting, SEO
Many small businesses don’t have the budget for in-house marketing and advertising specialists. You can start a small business offering freelance services in areas such as:
- SEO (search engine optimization)
- Creating a sales funnel
- Writing and implementing PPC ad campaigns
- Copywriting
Find clients by connecting with small businesses in your community or finding new ones on freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr.
2. Blogging
Skills required: Writing, research, blog publishing
As one of the original ways to make money online, blogging has lost some of its popularity to short-form content platforms like Twitter or other social media sites.
But there are still many people who avidly consume long-form blog content. If you have expertise in a specific area such as cooking, traveling, or another popular hobby, you can build a successful online presence.
Blogs can be monetized through advertisements, sponsored content, or subscription services like Substack. This option may be easiest for someone who already has an audience they can promote their blog to.
3. Affiliate Marketing
Skills required: Effective communication with your audience
Another great option for people who already have a good social media presence, affiliate marketing involves earning commission for products you promote.
This works best when you honestly and authentically promote products you love and use. An avid outdoor enthusiast might talk about camping gear they’ve used, offering honest reviews on what works and what doesn’t. Like-minded followers can then purchase those products through an affiliate link, earning you a small commission.
Amazon, Shopify, AWeber, and ConvertKit are all popular affiliate programs, but there are many to choose from—here’s a list of 50+ options from HubSpot.
4. Social Media Management
Skills required: Writing, time management, developing ideas, filming
If you’ve got a knack for social media, consider managing other people’s platforms. You can offer services and individuals such as:
- Content planning
- Scheduling
- Content creation
- Managing comments and messages
Many people use platforms like Hootsuite and Buffer to manage multiple social media platforms at once. Consider putting together a bundle of services and charging a monthly retainer to each client.
5. Copy and Content Writing
Skills required: Writing, editing
There’s so much demand for written content today. There’s a lot of variety, too—articles, blogs, social media, newsletters, emails, advertisements, and website copy are all needed by businesses and individuals. To get started, put together writing samples and look for clients on freelance platforms.
6. Tutoring
Skills required: Effective communication, subject matter expertise
If you enjoy working with people, online tutoring is a great option. You can either build your own client base through local connections or take advantage of online platforms like Skooli, TutorMe, or Chegg.
7. Translation
Skills required: Effective communication, deep knowledge of multiple languages
If you speak another language, offering online translation services might be your best option. You can work with an online agency like Gengo or Semantix that offer live translation services to people who need them.
If you prefer writing, consider translating documents or offering localization services, which is taking a company’s work and making sure it fits into the local language and context for their audience.
8. Digital Sales
Skills required: Content creation, managing an online store, communication
While selling physical products has start-up costs, selling digital products doesn’t. Etsy and Redbubble are full of creative entrepreneurs selling items like:
- Artwork—photos, paintings, drawings
- Graphic prints and designs
- Digital planners, calendars, or journals
- Templates for emails, newsletters, or social media posts
9. Design
Skills required: Technical design skills, communication
Creative professionals with design skills are in high demand. Consider starting a freelance business by providing services like:
- Graphic design (logos, marketing, social media)
- Website design and layout
- UX (user experience) design
- Motion graphic design
While there are many DIY options for businesses today, many people want to level up the professional look and feel of their online presence. Managing a design business also has the potential to scale up if you add more members to your team.
10. Online Coaching
Skills required: Expertise and credentials in a specific field, strong communication skills
Many people are seeking guidance, whether it’s for their business, career options, or fitness. If you’re a certified and experienced coach, you can grow your business by offering virtual coaching. Mighty Networks and Kajabi are two popular online platforms to use for your coaching business.
Some coaches create other monetization opportunities with online courses or retreats for their clients.
11. Virtual Assistance
Skills required: Communication, organization, self-starter, administration
Start a business by helping businesses! Virtual assistants take care of many day-to-day tasks for the clients such as:
- Appointment scheduling
- Answering emails and calls
- Managing social media accounts
- Booking travel
- Data entry
If you enjoy working in administration and have a knack for staying organized, being a VA can be a very lucrative and interesting job.
Inspired? We hope so! There are so many cool ways to start a business online today without breaking the bank.
And you don’t have to do it alone—there are so many coworking community benefits for solopreneurs or small teams just getting started.
If you’re looking for the right workplace to launch your new online business, you’ll find it at The Post. Book a tour of The Post today.