15 online business ideas you can start now

Is it possible to become an entrepreneur without owning a physical business, with premises and rent and electricity bills, employees, etc.? Just a few years ago, the very idea of having an online business was unimaginable.

With the democratization of Internet access and the ease of online money transactions, it is now easier for almost anyone to offer a service or sell a product without leaving their chair at home. It's also much easier to receive online payments securely.

At Nindohost, our core business is to provide you with web hosting and domain names at very competitive prices, of course. But our concern doesn't stop there! We would like to help you find online business ideas that will allow you to make money.

The main categories of online business

To help you quickly find your way around, we have organized these 15 ideas into 4 main categories:

• Web and technical services: If you enjoy technology and digital tools
• Content creation and writing: If you enjoy writing and creating content
• Product sales and e-commerce: If you want to sell products online
• Audience monetization: If you have or want to develop an audience

Online business ideas that work

Our online business ideas will work for you on one condition: that you have the right skills to get started.

When it comes to skills, fortunately, there are two obvious scenarios:

• Either you already have a gift that you can develop into a real skill
• Either you have the motivation and intelligence to learn new things

In both cases, it is not enough to have a few online business ideas: you will need to teach yourself how to master the activities you will be carrying out using a computer connected to the Internet. Below, we will present fifteen online business ideas that you are sure to find useful.

Web and technical services

1. Hosting and domain name reseller

Here's a first service you can quickly set up. Initially, all you need to do is find a good domain name/brand for your activity and choose a reseller hosting package that suits you best to start.

But you will also need to demonstrate good marketing skills, as you will need to convince customers to purchase their future websites from you. NindoHost guarantees you a high-quality 24/7 service that will allow you to focus on your goal: bringing in customers.

Our Reseller hosting plan gives you access to a management space called WHM, which allows you to create customized packages and host multiple websites on multiple cPanel accounts.

This will enable you to create "white label" accounts with complete control over your customers' access, without having to worry about the technical configuration, security, or maintenance of the services.

This is an ideal setup for web design agencies or businesses looking to offer hosting services to their clients.

2. Web developer or designer

Since we're talking about hosting and domain names, here's one of the online business ideas you can also implement. Website design is no longer as difficult as it was in the early days.

Nowadays, even the most novice user can create a website without necessarily having knowledge of programming languages or code. The WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) concept allows everyone to arrange web page content through simple drag-and-drop actions.

With the famous WordPress, one of the best-known CMS (Content Management Systems), designing a website has become a real piece of cake! And when we say "piece of cake," we mean that it's a truly enjoyable activity that many people take pleasure in doing.

So what are you waiting for? We have WordPress hosting plans to suit all tastes! What's more, WordPress is pre-installed: all you have to do is complete the installation in just a few clicks, with complete peace of mind.

3. Virtual assistant

Certainly one of the oldest online business ideas. Businesses and individuals have always (and often) needed extra help managing their emails, drafting standard responses to various inquiries, using social media, and sticking to daily schedules.

A virtual assistant is someone who can perform these tasks and support them remotely, from home, without having to physically go to the workplace.

Unlike an office assistant who only performs administrative and clerical tasks, a virtual assistant will cover these traditional tasks while offering a multitude of other services, ranging from content creation to website or project management.

As a virtual assistant, there is plenty of room for creativity and personal fulfillment, allowing you to add or modify your services based on your availability, customer demand, or your interests.

You can also choose your clients and your industry. Today, you can take advantage of numerous online tools, from file sharing to virtual calendars, to help you carry out most assistant tasks without significant upfront investment.

4. Remote technical assistant

Sometimes a small business needs to outsource technical support due to budgetary constraints or space limitations. If you have a strong background in IT and enjoy working from home, you can set up a paid technical support service for your local businesses.

In addition to generating a good source of income, remote technical support is one of many excellent online business ideas. In fact, it can even be managed using only a mobile device! Does this idea appeal to you? The first step to getting started is to create your website.

Content creation and writing

5. Blogger

Let's start with creative writing. In our opinion, the fastest way to become a web writer is to write for yourself! Yes, you could start a personal blog where you talk about a topic that is close to your heart: you'll be creating great content while having fun!

Yes, but will it be profitable for me? Would you say... Well, your ultimate goal every day will now be to bring as many visitors as possible to your website. Lots of visitors means lots of web traffic and therefore a good ranking on Google and other search engines.

After that, you can monetize your blogging activity however you like! We'll explain a little more about that later in this article.

6. Web Editor

At the end of your studies, regardless of the level you have reached, one thing is certain: you know how to read and write! Why not put these two basic skills to good use? With self-study and practice, you can become a web editor.

For many of you, this writing exercise may seem "tedious," and that's normal. But the good news is that there are as many areas of writing as there are online business ideas.

7. Copywriting for marketing

A copywriter is someone who writes engaging text or "copy" for marketing or advertising purposes to reinforce a client's message or brand. Good copy is designed to motivate readers to take action. Those who share a passion for creating clear, high-quality content know that mastering copywriting requires a lot of practice and skill.

Start by searching the web for writing job listings. Numerous new opportunities arise daily. A freelance writer can determine their rate per hour or per word count. The pay rate can also increase based on your experience.

Small businesses looking to expand their online audience need quality online content and would benefit greatly from the services of a skilled writer. A diverse writing portfolio, covering different types of content, will help you attract a wider range of clients.

8. Technical writing

There are situations where content needs to be more technical than creative. Think about the importance of manuals at certain times in our lives, like when we need to assemble an Ikea shelf or when we start a new medication. A technical writer deals with this type of work with clarity and eloquence.

Once you have decided which industry you want to pursue—healthcare, engineering, or technology—it will be easier to focus on building your specialization. Potential clients for technical writers include businesses and pharmaceutical companies.

9. Resume and Cover Letter Writing

Resume and cover letter writing is in high demand. Although the typical word count for a professional resume or cover letter doesn't exceed 400 words, the work of a resume and cover letter writer is crucial and highly impactful.

Your target audience is any individual looking for a job, meaning you will work with an unlimited number of clients. Make sure to provide potential clients with examples of successful writing you have done in the past or share links to CV websites you have created. This allows you to showcase your skills and industry-specific jargon for any market or niche.

10. Author of e-books (information products)

While few authors manage to be published during their lifetime, many new authors are already making their debut in the e-book field thanks to the growth of the digital book market. This is another way to capitalize on all those years of study spent in school.

Self-publishing your book has never been more affordable and effective. Several options, including Apple Books, Smashwords, and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, will assist you with post-production aspects of distribution and sales.

Consider investing in an editor or proofreader and an illustrator to make your book more marketable. As a writer, becoming an e-book author is one of the online business ideas that could help you succeed in your industry. Whatever your online business, you will need a professional domain name. Check its availability now.

Audience monetization

11. Affiliate marketing

If you have built up a large online audience that follows your activity and believes in your opinion on your favorite subject, here's how you can monetize your content (blog/website). In this sense, you would team up with a company to market its products or services by recommending them or sharing them with your fans.

You will then become an affiliate who receives a commission each time they convert one of their followers into a buyer of the brand's products through a unique referral link, known as an affiliate link.

There are a number of affiliate marketing platforms that provide the link between companies and affiliates. However, we advise you to choose products that are interesting for you and your audience. Remember, your audience trusts you.

There are various ways to promote affiliate products to your readers without appearing as a spammer. One method is to try incorporating product recommendations into a blog post, tutorial, or video using relevant and engaging content. Be creative and think of new ways to adapt your marketing strategy for maximum benefit.

Product sales and e-commerce

12. Online seller

With the advent of online payment and home delivery services, shopping habits have changed significantly. Retailers have therefore had to evolve in the same direction. E-commerce was born out of this new virtual market dynamic, where financial transactions take place every day. You could also decide to become an online retailer, selling different products and services in different ways:

13. E-commerce Online Store

Creating an online store offers many advantages. Running an e-commerce site allows you to control all aspects of your business, from secure online payment acceptance to order fulfillment management, advanced marketing tools, and an optimized shopping experience.

With so many business possibilities, all you need to do is decide what you want to sell since choosing the right products for your online store will be at the core of your business. When selecting products to sell, let your skills and experience guide you. You can confirm your choice by conducting in-depth market research.

Knowing how to start an online business in your niche market means listening to your customers. On your website, it's important to maintain clear communication with your customers through live chat, forums, email marketing, etc.

14. Dropshipping store

Some business owners like the idea of managing an online store but don't want or have the ability to store inventory. In this case, there's another solution to start a business on a limited budget: dropshipping.

With dropshipping, you can sell products on an online store without having to manage your own inventory. Your online store is only used to take orders from your customers. These orders are then forwarded by you to a third-party retailer (your supplier), who takes care of delivering the product to your customers. This way, you avoid the risk of stocking up on expensive products or discovering that the products in your inventory are no longer marketable.

Dropshipping, when done right, has many benefits:

• You don't have to go to a warehouse or other physical location to access your inventory.
• You can manage your dropshipping business from anywhere: all you need is an internet connection.
• You have the opportunity to expand your product offering, as you will not be limited to what is in inventory.
• You can adjust your merchandise by experimenting and testing it, allowing you to keep your offerings in line with the latest trends.

15. Selling Handmade Products Online

What if you sold products that you made yourself? Selling handmade crafts is one of the online business ideas that has been very popular for quite some time. There is a special customer base that is looking for authentic and unique products. There is even a category of buyers who seek to encourage artisans by purchasing their creations, even at a high price.

If you want to venture into this type of business, we recommend setting up your workshop at home and buying your materials in bulk. This will help optimize your costs and maximize your profits.

You can decide to design your own online store using services that allow you to set up e-commerce sites in just a few clicks, such as Shopify, PrestaShop, or WordPress. Or you could sell your products on marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon Handmade, Etsy, or even Instagram.

Turn your idea into action

Now that you know these 15 online business ideas, here are the simple steps to take action:

1. Choose your idea → Identify the one that best matches your skills and goals
2. Register your domain name → Secure your online identity before someone else does
3. Create your website → Launch your professional online presence
4. Attract your first customers → Start promoting your services or products

Conclusion: the list goes on...

We've mentioned several profitable online business ideas, but there are still more, and you should seriously consider learning new skills. We will soon be back with another list of interesting online business ideas.

Today, more than ever, it is quite easy to start a business from home with minimal financial investment. You now have several online business ideas. Take action today by creating your website and reserving your domain name.