Starting an online business can feel like standing at the edge of a giant cliff, unsure whether to jump. But once you’ve got the right strategies and tools, you’ll quickly find that the digital world offers limitless opportunities to earn, grow, and succeed. The best part? You don’t need years of experience or tons of money to get started.
So, let’s break down the best online businesses for beginners. I’ll give you actionable examples, stories, and tips to help you launch your own digital venture today.
1. Affiliate Marketing: Earn by Promoting Other People’s Products
Affiliate marketing is one of the most accessible online businesses for beginners. In simple terms, you promote products or services and earn a commission when people make purchases through your referral link. The beauty of affiliate marketing is that you don’t need to create your own products, and you can start with a blog, social media, or YouTube channel.
Example: Amazon Affiliate Program
Amazon’s affiliate program is perfect for beginners. All you need to do is sign up, pick products you love (think of items you use every day), and start promoting them. The real key is creating valuable content around these products. Whether it’s a blog post, a YouTube review, or even TikTok videos, focus on how the product improves someone’s life.
Personal Story: When I first got into affiliate marketing, I started by reviewing simple household items on my blog. Over time, I realized what worked and what didn’t. Now, I’m earning steady income from affiliate links, and it’s been a game-changer.
Pro Tip: Check out the Amazon Influencer Program and start creating content around products that you already use or love. This will help you connect with your audience and make product recommendations feel authentic.
Tools You Need:
- Lasso Plugin: This tool helps you easily manage and track affiliate links on your WordPress blog (get it here).
- Sortiox: This tool helps you find the best products to review and track your Amazon affiliate rankings (get it here).
2. Dropshipping: Sell Products Without Holding Inventory
Dropshipping is another popular online business for beginners. With dropshipping, you create an online store, choose products from suppliers, and when someone buys, the supplier ships the product directly to the customer. You never handle inventory, making it a low-risk business.
Example: Shopify Dropshipping
Shopify is one of the best platforms for setting up a dropshipping store. It’s user-friendly and integrates with apps like Oberlo to help you find trending products. You can sell everything from gadgets to beauty products. The key is finding the right niche.
Personal Story: I tried dropshipping in the early days, and while it wasn’t easy at first, I learned the ropes and now run a successful e-commerce store. The key to success is finding a profitable niche and marketing it consistently.
Pro Tip: Start small. Pick a niche that you’re passionate about and ensure that there’s demand for it. Don’t try to sell everything—focus on specific products to create a better connection with your audience.
Tools You Need:
- Shopify: Set up your online store and start selling today (get it here).
- Repurpose.io: Create an automated workflow to repurpose your content across platforms like Instagram and TikTok (get it here).
3. Content Creation: Build Your Brand and Monetize
Content creation is not only for influencers. Whether you create blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos, or TikTok content, you can monetize your audience through affiliate marketing, sponsored content, or even direct sales. The key to success here is consistent and valuable content creation.
Example: YouTube Content Creation
If you’re camera-shy, don’t worry—YouTube isn’t just for vloggers anymore. Many creators use it to promote products, provide educational content, and even do product reviews. By using YouTube’s affiliate programs or ad revenue, you can start generating income.
Personal Story: I started creating content on YouTube before monetization even kicked in. At first, I made simple product reviews. Over time, my videos began to rank, and I started earning money from ads and affiliate links. The best part? You don’t need millions of followers to make a consistent income!
Pro Tip: Use a mix of content types, such as tutorials, reviews, and tips. It’s easier to get started with short-form content (like YouTube Shorts) before committing to longer videos.
Tools You Need:
- VidIQ: A powerful tool to help you optimize your YouTube content (get it here).
- SEO Writing AI: Use AI to create engaging blog posts or YouTube descriptions that rank (get it here).
4. Online Coaching or Consulting: Share Your Knowledge
If you have expertise in a specific area, online coaching or consulting could be your perfect fit. Whether it’s business, fitness, or personal development, you can offer one-on-one sessions, group coaching, or even courses. The key is to create value that solves your audience’s problems.
Example: Coaching on Digital Marketing
I started coaching content creators on how to grow their social media and affiliate marketing income. I leveraged my own experience to help others avoid common mistakes and get real results.
Personal Story: Starting my coaching business was one of the best decisions I made. I already had a loyal following from my blog and YouTube channel, so offering group coaching was a natural next step. Now, I help hundreds of people scale their online businesses.
Pro Tip: Offer a free resource, such as an e-book or guide, to attract potential clients. This establishes trust and can help grow your email list.
Tools You Need:
- Stan: Create a landing page for your digital products or coaching services (get it here).
- MailerLite: Set up an email list to connect with your audience (get it here).
5. Print-on-Demand: Create Custom Products Without Inventory
If you love designing and want to sell products, print-on-demand (POD) could be a great online business for you. With POD, you can create and sell custom products like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. The best part? The products are only printed and shipped when a customer orders them.
Example: Etsy Print-on-Demand
Platforms like Etsy allow you to sell POD products without worrying about inventory. You simply upload your designs and choose your products. When someone makes a purchase, the platform handles the printing and shipping.
Personal Story: I got into print-on-demand by designing simple graphics and selling them on Etsy. It’s low effort, and the profit margins can be high, especially once you find a niche audience.
Pro Tip: Focus on a specific niche and design products that cater to that audience. For example, if you’re into yoga, create shirts with funny or inspirational yoga quotes.
Tools You Need:
- Printful: Integrates with platforms like Shopify and Etsy to handle all your POD needs (get it here).
- Pinclicks: Use this tool to research popular designs and products on Pinterest (get it here).
6. Virtual Assistant: Help Entrepreneurs Thrive
If you’re organized and love helping others, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) might be the best online business for you. As a VA, you can help entrepreneurs with tasks like email management, scheduling, social media management, or customer service. You get to work with a variety of clients and can choose your own hours.
Example: VA for Content Creators
As a virtual assistant for content creators, you could manage their social media, schedule posts, handle emails, and more. This allows creators to focus on their core business while you take care of the behind-the-scenes tasks.
Personal Story: I started as a VA for a few bloggers who needed help with social media scheduling and content management. As my skills grew, I expanded into project management and marketing services. It’s a flexible and scalable business to get into.
Pro Tip: Start by offering a small package of services to build your portfolio, then raise your rates as you gain experience and clients.
Tools You Need:
- Trello: Organize tasks and manage your VA projects effectively (get it here).
- ClickUp: Streamline all your project management and communication with clients (get it here).
Wrapping It Up: Ready to Get Started?
There’s no perfect time to start a business, but now is always a good time to dive into the digital world. Whether you want to create content, sell products, or offer services, the opportunities are endless. Each of these online businesses for beginners can be tailored to fit your interests, skills, and resources.
Take Action Now: Start by choosing one business idea that excites you the most. Focus on building a solid foundation, creating value for your audience, and testing your strategies.
If you’re ready to learn more and accelerate your progress, join my [Ballen Blueprint Coaching Group](https://stan.store/loriballen
