most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

121+ Best Business Ideas, WFH Opportunities, & Side Hustles (Updated for 2020)

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Need Profitable Business Ideas in 2020?

No matter how rewarding your full-time job may be, finding a profitable business idea in 2020 and eventually becoming fully self-employed is even more meaningful than great pay and solid benefits.

Choosing the path of entrepreneurship this MMXX year, and working on your unique business idea, is without a doubt riskier than being content with holding a 9-5 job. It requires way more sacrifice. However, once you’re reaping the lifestyle benefits of being your own boss and hustling your way into making significantly more money with your business idea than you ever could at your day job, the hard work will have all been worth it. So, let’s talk business ideas for the year 2020.

The Cost of Setting up a New Business

The cost of setting up a new business has never been so low. Especially for online based businesses. Technology has made starting your own business easy, affordable and possible. All you need to start a business online is a phone, a computer, and an internet connection. Coming up with a good business idea is often one of the hardest hurdles.

Ideally (and for you to succeed), your perfect business idea should consist of three things:

  1. It should be something you like doing,
  2. It should be something you are good at, and
  3. It should be something that is in demand (i.e., people would pay for).


most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

I  put together this massive list of the 121+ Most Profitable Business Ideas You Can Start While You’re Still Working a Full-Time Job, to help give you inspiration with proven business ideas that can be executed on while you still keep your day job—and primary source of income. And then I revised and updated all of them for the 2020 profitable business ideas edition.

The big problem for many of us is that working a full-time job makes it too exhausting to even consider trying to find an alternative outlet. Many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs struggled with this when they wanted to start a business for the first time while they still had a day job. Searching for ideas to start can be so tiring, especially if you want to find the right profitable small businesses.

Obviously, some of these small business ideas have more earning potential than others, but what they all share in common are relatively low barriers to entry and the flexibility to work at them for a limited amount of time per week. I also tried to focus on a list of business ideas that have some sort of online component to them, since that’s what I love most.

Let’s dive right into the 121+ best business ideas you should start in 2020.

 

Download this Business ideas article and get more profitable ideas to start your business in our PDF Version

Sign up now and receive 5 mini-lessons to get you started. This training is absolutely FREE. Click Here to learn more about how you can leverage other people’s properties to build a 6-figure business on Airbnb.

#1 Airbnb Rental Arbitrage

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

Airbnb Rental Arbitrage is a smarter way to build a profitable cash-flow business. The idea is by renting then subleasing a property via Airbnb or other popular timeshare platforms. And if you do it right, your profit margin should be around 40~50% (of course, depending on seasonality), which is more profitable than Apple.

So, how does Airbnb rental arbitrage work?

It’s a master lease where you secure the rights to sublease and because you have the right to sublease, then you can list it on Airbnb for a higher price.

There are two ways to sign a master lease: 1) incorporate an LLC and use the legal entity to sign a business lease or 2) don’t incorporate and use a landlord pitch deck to secure your sublease rights

For example, if your monthly lease is $1,000 and you make $2,000 per month from Airbnb, and your utilities and expenses come to be around $200 monthly, your take-home from that one property is $800 per month.”

Pretty simple right? Airbnb profit – rent – utilities – misc expenses = your profit.

Sam’s Tip: Do thorough research on properties. Scale to several properties (3+), outsource time-consuming tasks like cleaning, and automate check-in/out processes by getting a smart lock for your Airbnb.

This business model has generated me and my students millions in revenue.

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

One student’s final 2019 earnings.

(You can sign up for free lessons here and learn more to see if it’s right for you. Got a spare bedroom? That’s the perfect way to start!).

You can check out this blog post here to find out more about Rental Arbitrage as one of the best entrepreneur ideas 2020, or you can start making money with Airbnb Hosting by following this guide. It’s our most complete and updated hosting guide!

Grab this FREE ebook to get a headstart on Airbnb Arbitrage in 2020.

#2 Kawaii Plush – Small Business Idea for 2020

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

There has been a surge in Japanese-themed stores. You can sell kawaii plush, products or even Japanese snacks. Kawaii is the Japanese word for cute. Essentially, a kawaii plush store is one of the best small business to start in 2020 and involves selling cute plush. There’s a specific look for these types of products and not all cute products are considered kawaii. For example, Hello Kitty is a popular example of this product style. But remember not to sell trademarked products without a license. If you search kawaii on AliExpress, you’ll find a range of products such as plush, notebooks, pens and other stationery products that could potentially sell well.

There’s definitely a market for these types of small business ideas. You can target people who have an interest in kawaii, Japan, anime, or other relevant keywords. On average, Asian women tend to be the target audience for kawaii products. However, you don’t need to limit yourself to Asian countries. You can target people who speak Asian languages, or are interested in the Asian culture that lives in Canada or the United States.

#3 ONLINE BOOKKEEPING

Just like so many other professions, bookkeeping has gone online. This is a great news for many bookkeepers and accountants who feel trapped in the office environment and long for more personal freedom and the ability to work during their own hours.

The reason why i placed Online Bookkeeping as one of the most profitable businesses to start in 2020, is because more and more Americans choose to work from home. People like me who like to outsource, find Online Bookkeeping not only more cheaper, but more practical.

#4 Graphic Design

While having a formal background in graphic design is absolutely going to be helpful, it’s also relatively easy to learn the foundations of graphic design on your own. An increasingly easy-to-use Adobe Illustrator and even more easily accessible tools like Stencil and Visme are making it so that just about anyone with two opposable thumbs, a bit of creativity, and motivation can earn a side income doing things like designing (and selling) images like these motivational quotes that can be printed onto posters and sold on platforms like Etsy.

Or you can find a local startup, small business owner, or photographer who could benefit from some extra help designing or altering images. If  you love design this can be one of the best side jobs in 2020

graphic design as business idea

But before you can graduate from side business idea and start earning a full-time living as a graphic designer, you’ll need to build your skills—I recommend starting with reading the foundational book Graphic Design School and Steal Like an Artist, the incredible book by Austin Kleon about how to become more creative.

To accelerate your education in becoming a graphic designer even quicker, check out the online courses Graphic Design Fundamentals and The Graphic Design Bootcamp. Graphic Design is one of those creative small business ideas where u might find your passion, and make nice side income.

#5 BUSINESS BROKER

business broker is someone who assists buyers and sellers of privately owned businesses in the buying and selling process. As such, he or she must have a good knowledge of business law and common practices in the particular industry. Business brokers are rewarded with commissions for the sales they make.
Business broker cab be one of the most profitable businesses in 2020, only if you play it right and do a thorough research into your assets.

#6 Wedding Food Trucks

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

Of all the new business ideas 2020, this is one of the more shocking ventures. Hiring a food truck is becoming a trendy way to cater your outdoor reception. Even stationary restaurants are looking into this mobile catering plan to expand their current businesses.

Food Trucks are a low-cost alternative to renting a store. With the changing weather, trucks can travel to keep where the business is good. Next, to wedding receptions, they also have their typical hot spots such as farmers markets and festivals.

#7 OFFICE SPACE RENTAL

Office sharing is a booming industry that’s largely driven by the needs of young entrepreneurs who are working on the next Google or Amazon.

If you already own a suitable property, then your investment costs will be negligible. However, if that’s not the case, you are looking at a substantial investment.

Web Design is one of the small profitable business ideas that will continue trending in the years to come,

#9 Self-Publish On Amazon

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

like this one

Currently rated #1 in corporate reputation, Amazon has the advantage of already being hooked up to 300 million credit cards. The company gives users the purchasing power to buy your book with quite literally one click of a button.

(check out my ebook if you’re interested)

Turning out short but quality literature at an inexpensive rate has been hot on the list of new business ideas in 2020 to generate passive income. The great thing about passive income is that once you publish a book on Amazon, you’re set. Besides any marketing you choose to do, the book will just sit and generate money over time.

Self-publishing is one of many people’s favorite and amazing home business ideas 2020 to grow your authority and establish brand presence.

#10 VIRTUAL CALL CENTER OPERATOR

Unlike regular call centers, virtual call centers often employ people from all parts of the world, who then do the job from their homes. You can be sitting in your dorm room and the person you are talking to could still think that he or she is talking directly with someone who is physically present in the company.

#11 Smartwatches – Startup Ideas

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

By 2018, there are expected to be 141 million unit sales of smartwatches around the world.
By 2018, the smartwatch industry is expected to shoot up to an astonishing $19 billion worldwide.
Yet, by 2020, it’s expected to earn $53.2 billion in sales revenue. Whether it’s being used to track steps or plan your day, there will likely continue to be innovation in this niche. It’s safe to say that this business idea has huge potential.

#12 LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

Despite the impressive advancements of machine translation, the demand for skilled translators is still very high and will probably remain so for quite some time.

You can start looking for work on platforms such as Fiverr or Upwork and slowly build your clientele. It’s also a good idea to directly contact popular bloggers and ask them if they would consider having their blog translated into another language.

#13 IMPORTING ELECTRONIC OEM GADGETS

If you look at top selling items on Amazon or eBay, you will probably notice that many of them are from China. The formula is fairly simple: you purchase your initial inventory, create a brand, and advertise your products online.

You can even use drop shipping or Amazon fulfillment services to do the whole thing without a physical warehouse.

The most profitable small businesses in 2020, follow the rule of the ages. Buy low, sell high and be useful.

#13a Dash Cam – Business Startup Ideas

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

Dash cams are one of those startup business ideas that’ll continue to grow in popularity because they’re practical while also having a viral element to them. In 2014, dash cam sales increased by 918% in the United Kingdom because of the viral dash cam videos were taken in Russia. Many insurance companies now accept dash cam videos in claims to be used as evidence and some may even lower your insurance premium if you have one installed in your car. By 2020, the industry is anticipated to be worth $4.03 billion worldwide.

If you decide to create a dash cam business, you can drop ship from a wide range of AliExpress products. The best way to build upon your new business idea is to show how beneficial your product is. You can regularly post videos on your blog or social media of crazy events that happened but were caught on dash cams. If you decide to do this, you need to make sure you blur out faces and license plates. You’ll also want to have permission from the person who recorded the video to share it. By building out your brand, when people search ‘dash cam videos funny’ or ‘dash cam videos 2017’ one of your videos is likely to pop-up if you post regularly. Content creating – blog posts to videos – can help grow this business.

#14  Start an ONLINE STORE, Online Business ideas for 2020

Opening an online e-commerce store is just as viable a way to make a living as it was a decade ago. Yes, the completion is tougher, but you have an access to a wide range of free tools that you can use to set everything up with very little effort. This is one of online business ideas 2020 that implements market research and offers very nice profit margins.

Growth of the digital age, and its transition brought big success to the brands like Amazon, Ebay, Zappos, Simmi Shoes, Indestructible and this is why it is considered as one of the most profitable business in the world.

#14a Wireless Earphones – E-commerce Business Ideas

most profitable business ideas, home-based business opportunities, and side hustles

The wireless earphone market is expected to grow at a rate of 7.0% according to a 2016 report. Wireless headphones currently own 31% of the market share which is expected to continue seeing growth. The retail market for the headphone industry is expected to grow to $15.8 billion by 2025 making it worthwhile for entrepreneurs to start businesses in this niche.

#15 Web Development this Year

Most Profitable business 2020 - web development

As a web developer, you’ll build incredibly valuable skills that are in extremely high demand. You can get up to speed on building websites in as little as a few months with inexpensive or free online education programs like Treehouse, the Web Developer Bootcamp on Udemy and Codecademy. This personal training needs low investment, time and it is extremely profitable small business

If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, here’s a list of the 45 best places you can learn to code for free. Once you command a knowledge of HTML, Ruby, Python, Javascript, or CSS, you can start a freelance business as a side business idea to build your portfolio while you still hold onto your full-time job. Listen to my podcast interview with Laurence Bradford about her journey to become a freelance web developer, too. And over time, you’ll build more relationships, have more experience and eventually take this side business idea over to becoming a full-time source of income.

Web Development is one of those Online business opportunities in 2020 that trends will continue to climb up

#16 Become An SEO Expert in 2020

new business ideas

The idea of blog writing for profit isn’t anything new, but 2020 has brought an opportunity for writers to take their talents a step further. Many organizations are jumping towards the chance to hire people who are experts in search engine optimization (SEO). Google has a forever-changing formula for ranking a page’s popularity, and businesses want their website to be on top.

An SEO consultant helps organizations to edit existing content, write new material, and is knowledgeable about current industry trends. Dwell, the amount of time a user spends on a page and click-through-rate are the current two highest measurements that RankBrain looks at. Rankbrain is the name of Google’s artificial intelligence system that monitors user experience signals.

#17 Teach A Digital Course – Smart Business Idea for the years 2020, 2021

2020 business idea - teach a digital course

Imagine the opportunity to teach a class to thousands of people anywhere around the world. With the power of the internet, careful planning, and a universe full of eager students it is now within the realm of possibility. Teaching what you know is as simple as writing out a course, setting up a whiteboard, and recording it for the anyone to access.

Usually followed along with a published e-book, digital courses have been an excellent opportunity for successful people to share their tips, tricks, and industry secrets. Classes are taught through blogs, podcasts, and video lesson. The money is a small price to pay for the knowledge that will continue to aid you for the rest of your lifetime. Teaching a digital course can be one of the most profitable business ideas 2020.

Speaking of an e-course, I will be releasing my premium e-course in June. Want to join the waitlist? Click here.

#18 AFFILIATE MARKETING – Most Profitable Business in The World?

Affiliate marketers promote products of other people and earn commissions on their sales. Amazon is currently the most popular platform for affiliate marketing, but there are many alternatives as well. Affiliate marketing is often combined with blogging to create a seamless mix of content and promotion.

#19 DATA ANALYST CONSULTING

With the rise of “big data,” increasingly more companies need to make sense of heaps of information to adjust their overall business strategies. A data analyst is someone who has the technical expertise to accomplish this job, often having a background in economics, mathematics, or finance.

#20 CAREER COACH 

 

2020 Profitable Business - Career Coach

 

Have you cracked the code for landing higher-paying jobs at the drop of a hat? If you have a knack for helping your friends or co-workers navigate the process of finding their dream job, nailing an interview, negotiating a better salary or getting a raise at their current day job, other people would be willing to pay for your help too—making this a great side business idea that doesn’t take too much time. Get started by sharing your advice on a personal blog and becoming a career coach on platforms like The Muse and Coach Me where there’s already an existing audience of people looking to make a move in their careers. From there, keep your focus on helping people get real results, building case studies to support this side business idea, and eventually charging for the results you’re delivering clients.

#21 DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Marketing has gone digital, and it’s the job of digital marketing campaign managers to produce best results possible.

You can start your career as a digital marketing campaign manager by studying freely available online resources and experimenting on your own. Once you know what you are doing, try cold-calling local businesses, asking them whether they would be interested in your services.

#22 NICHE WEBSITE OWNER – One of the Best Businesses to Start in 2020

New trends start every day, and some of them grew to be pop culture sensations. Your job as a niche website owner is to capture the market before it gets too saturated.

Creating a niche website (using WordPress) will allow you to secure your place on the very top of search engines, resulting in thousands of daily visitors. It is one of the low cost business ideas with high profit.

 #23 Brand Ambassador – Profitable Business Ideas 2020

2020 Profitable Business Idea - Brand Ambassador

It sounds too good to be true—getting paid to represent your favorite brands at events across the nation. But, if you have a friendly and outgoing personality (a growing social media following helps too), you can forge a potentially paid relationship as a brand ambassador with companies who want to reach other people within your community with this side business idea. As a Brand Ambassador, you do anything from demoing the latest technology, to passing out free swag at music festivals, to going on nationwide tours, to pumping people up as a mascot, and more. Depending upon the gig, you can expect to earn anywhere from $18-$100/hr. You can get started as early as this weekend by joining the Brand Ambassador Facebook group for your nearest major city (e.g. join the “Brand Ambassadors of Seattle” group if you live in/near Seattle). Once you’ve been approved by the group, you’ll get access to daily job postings from big brands and agencies with opportunities in your area. All you need to do is submit your resume and headshot to apply.

#24 BUSINESS INCUBATOR

The job of a business incubator is to help new companies and startups to achieve growth and success. A typical business incubator will provide clients with management training, office space, high-speed internet connectivity, gym, food catering, and other necessities.

You don’t have to think too big – a small, local incubator can the perfect place where to start.

#25 SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT

The job of a social media consultant is ideal for someone who stays on top of all the latest social media trends and knows how to engage audiences on a very large scale.

While some social media consultants can earn big bucks, most can only manage to earn something around the average wage.

#26 Litter Removal for Local Businesses

2020 Profitable Business - Litter Removal

Like recycling, this side business idea requires the willingness to get your hands a little dirty. If you enjoy working outdoors, then you can make a pretty good side income cleaning up litter outside retail, office and industrial properties—especially for businesses that have large parking lots that need regular cleaning. Property management companies need their properties maintained litter free and you can do so with an on-foot service using inexpensive equipment like this cheap pick-up tool and a broom. Charge for your time at $35 – $50 per hour and bill your clients the same contract price each month.

#27 Matcha Tea – Business Ideas 2020

Business Ideas this year

Tea is the second most popular drink after water. Approximately 80% of American households have tea in their home. There are 158 million daily tea drinkers showcasing the growth potential for a niche tea store. Matcha tea has rapidly grown in popularity due to its various nutritional benefits. For example, it’s packed with antioxidants, helps improve your metabolism, naturally detoxes the body, and more. People also make desserts and other recipes with their matcha tea showing the drinks’ versatility. With the number of matcha tea drinkers growing and the trend on the rise, it’s a great business idea to make money.

#28 CONTENT WRITER in 2020

Businesses of all sizes embrace content marketing as their leading way of attracting customers and establishing their position as market leaders.

A content writer should be able to quickly digest complex topics and turn them into engaging posts that are well optimized for search engines. As such, it’s great for people who know a little bit about everything.

#29 PODCASTING

Podcasting is a fantastic way how to make a few bucks on the side for anyone who deals with interesting or niche topics that are suitable for this type of format.

Do you like video games or ethnic music? There are definitely plenty of people just like you, who would look forward to hearing your show on their way to work or school.

2020 Business Idea - Recycling

Though certainly not for everyone, recycling the containers from products left strewn around on the ground can become a surprisingly decent side business idea if you put in the time. Attending events like street fairs and outdoor concerts can be a great starting place. Put on a clean shirt, jeans, apply your sunscreen, grab a cheap pick-up tool like this one, sturdy plastic bags, and you can sell them for upwards of $4.00/pound on eBay.

#31 BLOGGING in 2020 ( similar to this site)

Blogging is alive and thriving in 2020. It’s still free to get started, but it will probably take awhile to get some exposure. These days, the competition is so fierce that getting on first pages of major search engines in no piece of cake.

A good knowledge of SEO is essential, apart from the content itself. Your main motivation should be the fact that top bloggers can earn high six figures despite working only 20 or so hours every week.

#32 YOUTUBE STARDOM

Who hasn’t heard about PewDiePie, the biggest YouTube star with over 46 million subscribers? His journey to stardom started in his room with a humble webcam and one simple Let’s Play video, which he does to this day.

Beyond live game streaming, there are still vast, unexplored seas filled with opportunities for anyone on YouTube who dares to go after them.

#33 Floral Design

2020 Profitable Business - Floral Design

Valentine’s day. Birthdays. Weddings. The list goes on and on—throughout the course of a calendar year, there are dozens of occasions when people need to order flowers. What’s more is that once you’re up to speed with this business idea, your costs can stay relatively low if you know where to source your flowers, and typical margins are in the neighborhood of 300% (or more) on cut flowers which makes this a particularly profitable side business idea in the right geographic area.

#34 HANDMADE GOODS – Profitable Business Ideas 2020

If you are a crafty person, you should take a look at Etsy, the largest online market for homemade and vintage goods.

You will find an amazing mix of leather wallets, lamps made from river wood, unique hand-printed t-shirts, jewelry, organic soup, and countless other things. Top sellers often expand beyond the platform, creating their own brands and opening stores across the globe, which makes this one of the profitable business ideas for 2020.

#35 Build a Chrome Extension.

2020 Profitable Business - build a Chrome Extension

With nearly 100,000 different custom extensions both free and paid available in Google Chrome’s marketplace, there’s a huge opportunity for creating a useful extension for people to use while browsing the web as a low effort business idea. One of my favorite Chrome extensions, Yet Another Mail Merge, which enables you to send bulk customized emails from within Gmail, gives you 50 free credits to send emails and gives you the chance to upgrade to a paid account to unlock more sending—a great upsell for the people who are getting value from the extension. Even free Chrome extensions like SVRF Tabs by SVRF, which replaces your new tab with stunning VR and 360º images, have the potential to bring in new users and eventually drive revenue for the startup’s core business. Another fun example from a friend of mine, Kathleen Garvin, is Hide images with NOPE, a Chrome extension that hides images on the web pages you’re browsing—to help eliminate distractions and keep you from seeing images (like those of certain politicians) that you may want to hide. This side business idea is particularly great because it also allows you to showcase your development skills—which can be put to work as an adjacent side business idea on a freelance basis alongside the Chrome extensions you launch.

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Sign up now and receive 5 mini-lessons to get you started. This training is absolutely FREE. Click Here to learn more about how you can leverage other people’s properties to build a 6-figure business on Airbnb.

#36 ANTIQUE REFURBISHMENT

If you like working with wood and beautiful, valuable objects in general but don’t have the creative talent to create your own, antique refurbishing could be your ticket to success.

Depending on what exactly you do, you don’t need to invest a lot of money to get started, but you will need to travel across the country to get the best pieces you can.

#37 WORDPRESS THEMES – Good business for 2020

Are you a web developer or designer who earns for passive income? If so, creating WordPress themes might be the right path for you.

Once your theme is finished, you will still need to provide customers with ongoing support and work on updates, but you can do so when you please.

#38 Beard Oil – Niche Examples

Best Business Ideas

One of the most popular niche examples targeting men is beard oil as the grooming industry makes approximately $6 billion in annual sales. There are many success stories of flourishing beard companies making tens of thousands in sales each month. Other companies are selling hundreds of thousands worth of beard grooming products each year. Approximately 39% of American men have beards which are an increase of 15% from 2012. The men’s toiletries industry is worth approximately $3.4 billion surpassing the men’s shaving industry by over $1 billion.

#39 Professional Organizing.

2020 Profitable Business - Professional Organizer

If keeping your home organized comes naturally and you enjoy helping other people, consider becoming a professional organizer as a side business idea. As the need for baby boomers to start downsizing grows, you can use your organizing and declutter skills to start making an industry standard $50-125 an hour with very little startup costs and some free expert advice from Jen Kilbourne. Believe it or not, pro organizers don’t just work with hoarders. More and more people are hiring professional organizers in order stop wasting time and money due to the stress of everyday disorganization. What’s even better, is that you can take this on as a side business idea during the nights and weekends when your clients will be at home.

#39a Workwear – E-commerce Business Ideas

Ecommerce Business Ideas

Workwear is one of those good 2020 business ideas that you can take in a number of directions. There’s the work safety niche which has specialized workwear such as safety shoes, scrubs, eye protection and more. Or you can go into the business man’s workwear and sell suits, ties, dress shoes, and other men’s fashion. There’s also women’s workwear where you can sell professional clothing for women such as conservative dresses, blazers, blouses and more. It doesn’t make sense to combine all of these niches since they all serve different audiences. However, within each of these business ideas, there’s a lot of room to expand into other verticals.

Marketing your workwear brand depends on which audience you serve. For example, if you sell specialized workwear, you’ll likely be targeting people who work in the trades such as construction or nursing. You’d be selling products like safety shoes and scrubs. However, even within that niche, you’d find that you can’t do a one size fits all ad. The person who’d buy safety shoes is very different than a nurse looking for scrubs. Within the men’s workwear niche, it’s considered more of a men’s fashion store. You’d target men between 25-40 with your apparel. You might choose to target men of different industries depending on what type of workwear you sell. For example, if you sell suits you might choose to target those who work in finance or law. In the women’s workwear niche, you’d likely market to women aged 23-34. If you sell professional work apparel, you might choose to target women who work in business, public relations, law, administration, or within a government role. As you can see, this is a business idea that can be taken in many different directions, depending on which niche you aim to focus on.

#40 MAKEUP ARTIST

This profession is one of the few that you can start working on in your bedroom and end up on the set of a Hollywood movie just a few years down the road.

What’s more, makeup artists can take advantage of platforms such as YouTube and make their content visible to billions of people from all over the world.

#41 Buying and Selling Cars

2020 business idea -  buy and sell cars

Car flipping can be a fun way to turn your love for cars into a quick side business idea if you have the capital and a stomach for the inherent risk. Buying and selling cars is similar to other “buy low, sell high” business models, but the profit potential per hour invested can be very high. According to Jeremy Fisher at 3HourFlip.com, the trick is to learn how to make car deals come to you, so you can minimize yo

#42 IMAGE CONSULTANT

You are probably wondering who needs an image consultant. We don’t blame you. But the reality is that many companies and individuals rely on their image, making it worthwhile to hire someone to manage it.

The best image consultants are people with a proven track record of success and inside knowledge of the particular industry.

#43 E-MAGAZINE

These days it’s very easy to start an e-magazine; you can outsource everything online and act as the chief editor.

The subscription model allows you to know exactly how much money you will make the next month, and the global nature of the web gives you a very large audience to target.

E-Magazine can be one of the most profitable business to start in 2020, and this is due to the fact because people love drama.

#44 DRONE VIDEOGRAPHER

If you like piloting drones, perhaps you should consider working as a drone videographer. You get to go to interesting places, meet cool people, and eventually develop a portfolio that could land you a job in Hollywood.

Professional drones are very expensive, but you can start small with a mid-sized drone and a GoPro camera and go from there.

#44a Selfie Drones – Business Ideas

Trending Business Ideas this year

The drone niche is one of the best niche examples for a growing trend. Approximately 600,000 drones are expected to be used in the air by 2018. From drones delivering packages to farmers checking out their crops to videographers getting the best aerial shot, there’s a growing demand and interest in this niche market. So much so that by 2020, the industry is expected to grow to $127 billion. Selfie drones have seen recent surges in popularity making them the drone you should consider selling your business idea. Selfie drones allow people to easily take pictures of themselves from different angles without needing a selfie stick.

#45 LANGUAGE TEACHER

For a long time, language teaching has been the go-to way of making money on the side for students and even full-time high-school or university teachers. Now, with Skype and ubiquitous internet access, everyone can start teaching languages from the comfort of his or her home.

#46 ONLINE TEACHING

The success of Khan Academy, a non-profit educational organization created in 2006 by educator Salman “Sal” Khan, has proved the effectiveness of online teaching and paved the way for talented educators and their students.

You can sell your expertise as a video content on YouTube, or create your own website and charge your students on an hourly basis for Skype lessons.

#47 HOSTEL OWNER

With services like Airbnb, everyone can turn their house, garage, or just a single room into a unique accommodation for tourists and travelers from all around the world.

The platform will take care of the initial exposure and will provide a way for owners and clients how to conveniently communicate. If you happen to own a house in a very attractive destination, you can even expect to earn pretty good money.

#48 Voice-Over Talent

2020 work from home voice-over talent

If you speak like James Earl Jones or Scarlett Johansson, quite a number of digital publishers (including game developers, animated film-makers, and training video producers) pay good money for voice talent and the time investment isn’t too intensive—making this a great side business idea. You can find these publishers looking for voice-over artists on sites like PeoplePerHour, Freelancer, and Upwork, as well as their calls for talent directly on their websites or through voiceover agents. If you do pursue this as a side business idea, be prepared to invest for the long-haul as it can be a very competitive industry.

#49 EVENT PLANNER

The internet has enabled people to connect with like-minded individuals from across the globe, creating the perfect opportunity for event planners.

An event planner uses his or her organizational skills to organize an event like a wedding or a trade show. Money can then be made from entrance fees, sponsorships, on-premise sales to attendees, and other things.

#50 CATERING BUSINESS

These days, starting a catering business is all about finding the right niche. You can specialize in any type of food you like, any type of clients, and any type of venues.

Perhaps you would like to cater to young professionals who want to organize networking events, or you would like to be known as the go-to caterer for child parties – there’s nothing stopping you.

#51 Part-time Bicycle Delivery

2020 Best Business Ideas Part-time Bicycle Delivery Freelance

Believe it or not, this freelance bike messenger makes more money than some people glued to their office desks. You won’t rake in a whopping $50,000 as this guy does by just doing this in your free time as a side business idea only, but you’ll surely get a piece of the action. Even Uber is trying out a blueprint for a delivery service, and companies like WunWun and Amazon are stepping up their efforts to expand same-day delivery, increasing the demand for more to jump in on this business idea. If you have a decent bicycle, those pair of pedals might just earn you a healthy side hustle income.

Yup, one of the best side hustle ideas 2020 that can make you money but keep you healthy as well.

#52 CRAFT BEER BREWING

Producing small amounts of beer has recently turned into a popular hobby and fantastic business opportunity.

You will need to invest in equipment, acquire the necessary knowledge, and possibly even employ a handful of people to help you with the entire operation. But seeing the finished product being served to customers in your favorite pub will be a wonderful reward.

#53 ESPRESSO CART

Your first espresso cart could be a start of a much larger business. The key is to not actually spend your time selling the coffee and, instead, employing someone else to do the job.

You can then focus on growing your fleet of espresso carts and moving the business in the right direction. Outsourcing for the management position after your fleet is grown make this one of the top 2020 side hustle ideas.

#54 Hair Removal Tools – Top Business Ideas 2020

Top Business Ideas

Hair removal tools are frequently used by women to remove body hair. With this top business idea, you can sell laser hair removal tools, facial threading tools, shavers, wax warmers and other related products. Hair removal tools can be created as its own store or you can add it as a subcategory on a beauty store. The beauty of marketing a business idea like this one is that you can get repeat sales since consumers will likely buy multiple shavers or threading tools. And for laser hair removal products you can have a high-profit margin even if it’s still below market value.

Hair removal tools are best marketed with a search engine optimization approach. Niches that can be considered embarrassing such as hair removal typically don’t do well with Facebook ads and retargeting ads can make people feel uncomfortable. Typically, people searching for these products will look them up online and buy the product as they need it. However, if you’re selling other beauty products, you can feature hair removal tools within the email.

#55 Dance Instructor

2020 Best Business Ideas Dance Instructor Freelance

Most people, even those many won’t admit it, love moving their bodies. It’s also a great workout. If at some point in your life, you had to hang your dancing shoes for a more sensible office job, there’s nothing stopping you from earning money with this side business idea as a passion project around your day job. Part-time dance instructors get a fraction of the pie that their full-time peers enjoy, but it can add up to hundreds each week if you’re consistent—making for a great side business idea to those with the skills and drive.

#56 Phone Case Business

2020 Best Business Ideas Phone Case Business Freelance

There’s a huge growing market for mobile phone accessories, and this can end up one of the best 2020 business ideas that require little effort. Plenty of handmade sellers are raking in 6 and sometimes 7 figures from their phone case businesses. You can get your own phone case business up and running as a side business idea in a matter of days with turnkey solutions from Case Escape, my previous company, and you can now get ready-to-go kits that’ll give you everything you need to start a phone case business. Once you’re up and running, you can sell cases on EtsyAmazon Handmade, and Fancy. During our first year of selling phone cases as a side business idea on our Etsy store, we made around $60,000 in revenue from that selling channel alone—not to mention additional sales from fairs, trade shows, promotional products vendors, parties, events and other online marketplaces. From there, the sales only continued growing and we graduated from side business idea to full-time company that I ran with my best friend for multiple years.

Startup Ideas

The phone accessories industry may be worth as much as $121.72 billion by 2025. While it may include products other than phone cases, this new business idea still offers a lot of flexibility for you as an entrepreneur should you decide to tap this niche market. Notably, the phone case market accounts for 20.5% of the phone accessories industry making it a profitable niche regardless.

#57 GLUTEN-FREE BAKERY

Just like a regular bakery only free from gluten! While a very small home bakery won’t cost you that much, a larger commercial operation is not cheap.

Luckily, you can often get the necessary equipment for a much better price, if you search for used commercial machines online.

#58 ORGANIC VENDING MACHINES – 2020 business ideas

Vending machines are not exactly in vogue, but there’s still one niche that could end up being extremely profitable: organic vending machines. Where else can you get your favorite granola bar at any time of the day?

This business is most suitable for high-traffic areas in affluent parts of larger cities.

#59 GUIDED TOURS – Business Ideas for 2020

Are you situated in a popular tourist destination? If so, you may consider yourself lucky.

Starting a guided tours business can be a lucrative opportunity how to make extra money during the summer, or it can be the start of a much larger business that employs other people to work as guides.

#60 ORGANIC FOOD CATERING

Organic food catering is such a popular and lucrative niche in the catering business that it deserves to be mentioned on its own.

You should establish close ties with local farmers to ensure a steady supply of organic products. Then it’s just about acquiring the right equipment and marketing your services.

#61 ORGANIC CAFÉ

Being an owner of a small café definitely sounds like a wonderful experience. In fact, the only thing that sounds even better is being an owner of an organic café.

The main advantage of organic cafés is that you can charge premium prices for the items on your menu.

 #62 Commission-Only Sales – Entrepreneurial ideas 2020

2020 Best Business Ideas Commission-Only Sales Freelance

If you have a knack for connecting with people and the willingness to take on some risk, a commission-based freelance sales role could be a great side business idea for you. Many startups seek part-time and commission-only salespeople, especially when they’re just getting started, which means you’ll often be able to make this a home based business idea 2020.

Develop your sales strategies and become an inside sales rep on the side in your free time for nothing but the commission, negotiate a little equity and you could profit big time if you’re pitching a solid product and the startup succeeds. Start your sales education with the acclaimed books, Secrets of a Master Closer and To Sell is Human by famed bestselling author Daniel Pink and you’ll be well on your way to getting this side business idea off the ground.

Commission-only sales is one of the best business opportunities in 2020, and this is due to the fact that one opportunity can make a huge change in your income.

#63 MOBILE APP DEVELOPER – Business idea 2020

Mobile applications are more popular than ever, and people are willing to pay good money for ways to manage their lives from their smartphones.

If you have a great idea and happen to know coding, you can run with it and create your app yourself.

If you just have an idea, there are plenty of software developers looking to collaborate with people on app creation. Mobile App Developer is one of the top 5 business ideas from home.

#64 CUSTOM DRONE BUILDER

After a teenager won $250,000 by piloting his drone to victory on Dubai’s World Drone Prix, the frills global drone-racing event in history, it’s clear that this new sport will be huge in the future.

And because professional drone racers need professional custom-built drones, now is the perfect time to establish your name as a custom drone builder.

#65 VR/AR APP DEVELOPER

The virtual reality software market is expected to reach $24.5 billion dollars in revenue by 2020. A good chunk of that revenue could be in your pocket.

All you have to do is learn how to develop immersive VR and AR experiences. The internet is full of resources and communities of like-minded people to help you along the way.

#66 Virtual Assistant in 2020

2020 Best Business Ideas Virtual Assistant Freelance

Have a knack for staying organized? If you’re a jack of all trades, you should consider working as a virtual assistant as a side business idea. You can find great gigs on ElanceIndeed, or Upwork. It can be an awesome way to rub shoulders with some very important people, build up your professional network, develop in-demand new skills (like creating GIFs and VR videos), grow your side business idea and you’ll have the added perk of being able to start this as one of the home based business ideas 2020. Becoming a virtual assistant can be a particularly great side business idea if you’re hoping to travel the world while making money online as a digital nomad.

The work from home trends in 2020 are growing. Hiring a Virtual Assistant is becoming more and more popular.

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#67 IOT SERVICE PROVIDER

Likewise, the Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding at a rapid rate, and it appears that soon every device will be connected to the cloud. Businesses and organizations of all sizes will need someone to provide them with the necessary infrastructure, hardware sensors, and continuous support.

#68 VR ARCADE OWNER

The very first batch of VR arcades is just starting to pop up in some of the world’s largest cities.

Virtual reality is the perfect fit for arcades and could really bring a new life to this dying business. The technology is still not 100% there, but it probably will be in just a year or two.

However, there are VR studios for the people who want to experience VR. So VR Arcade owner can become one of the best home based business ideas 2020 for you.

#69 INDOOR DRONE RACING

Drone racing is expected to be a multi-million-dollar sport within the next few years.

If you have a suitable indoor venue where you could let people practice their flying skills or host races, you should definitely consider giving this business a try. Additional income could be made from posting the footage online.

#70 ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION PROVIDER

Electric vehicles are the future of transportation and electric vehicle charging stations are the backbone of this revolution.

If you own a highly frequented property, you might consider installing a charger and offering it to EV drivers for a small fee.

Having Electric Charging Station is trending and most definitely is one of the future business ideas for 2020. Just don’t forget to buy solar roof too 🙂

 #70a Power Bank – Startup Business Ideas

Startup Business Ideas

By 2022, the power bank industry is expected to climb to $25.16 billion USD. A power bank is a mobile charger which is charged in advance for a later use. It’s a great product for those who plan to be in a remote location with limited access to electrical outlets. With an astounding 80% of internet users owning a mobile device, accessories like power banks are expected to continue growing in popularity. So, this startup idea might just be the perfect opportunity for you to make money in the power bank industry.

#71 Tax Preparation.

2020 Side Business - Tax Preparation

It’s not the sort of side business idea that’s covered in glory, but someone needs to make sure all the numbers add up at the end of the year. Every business and most individuals need someone with the domain expertise to help prepare tax returns, especially time or resource-strapped small business owners.

Majo Jacinto in his Udemy course provides an in-depth foundational understanding of how to prepare tax returns (and stay current with ever-changing laws) that’ll certify you with tax prep skills in as little as a few hours of training and practice.  Then once tax season rolls around you’ll be able to charge an average of $229 per return as a freelance tax preparer with this side business idea, according to CNBC.

#72 ENERGY AUDITOR

Green energy solutions can lead to dramatic savings, allowing some people to completely drop from the grid.

As an energy auditor, you will help businesses and individual home and apartment owners find ways how they could decrease their energy footprint and decrease their monthly bills.

#73 3D PRINTING SERVICES – Business ideas 2020

3D printing is trending this year too as one of the business ideas 2020 that are taking the world by storm, and you can be part of this revolution if you just invest in a high-quality 3D printer and offer it to other people.

They will simply send you their projects for you to print and then come to pick them up or have them send to them in a box.

#74 E-BIKE REPAIR SERVICES

E-bikes are finally starting to become affordable for the average consumer. But most traditional bike shops lack the necessary expertise that would allow them to service the often complex electronic components found inside.

If you feel up to the task, this could be a tremendous opportunity how to become the biggest player in your local area.

#75 SAAS BUSINESS OWNER

Offering Software as a Service is a business model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted.

It has the advantage of predictable monthly revenue and complete control over the entire project. It takes time, skill, and effort to develop SaaS software.

#76 SAT Tutor

2020 Side Business Idea - SAT Tutor

If you had a knack for standardized tests and had no trouble acing the SAT, ACT or other college exams, why not start tutoring high schoolers as a side business idea? Parents of all economic backgrounds are more than willing to shell out upwards of $100/hr to the right tutor if it means their son or daughter will get admitted to the college or university of their choice. See this quick checklist for starting an SAT tutoring business from the Work At Home Mom. Whitney over at Rookiemoms also has a cool story to share about a stay-at-home mom making $40/hr helping kids out with homework and turning it into a profitable side business idea.

#78 DOG WALKER

A dog walker is a profession that involves a person walking with a dog, usually from the dog’s home and then returning the dog back to its home.

A dog walker can either be an individual or be part of a business like Rover. He or she will be paid by the dog owner to walk their dog or dogs for them.

#79 PERSONAL SHOPPER

Shopping for groceries, clothes, or electronic goods can eat up a lot of time very quickly. A personal shopper can help busy people reclaim this time in exchange for a small fee.

A personal shopper can be someone who goes to stores in person, or it can be someone gives online recommendations about which product the client should buy.

#80 Presentation Design Consultant.

2020 Creative Business Ideas Presentation Design Consultant

Yes, even the PowerPoint presentation requires outside consulting every now and then—especially if it’s not your forte. I know I would happily outsource the visual layout of my presentation decks for work meetings, investor pitches, and lectures. Tobias Schelle of 24Slides is living proof that you can turn your skills into slideshow presentation design into a legit side business idea—and potentially earn up to $20 a slide for your time and talents.

#81 Travel Consultant.

2020 Best Business Ideas Travel Consultant

If you love to travel and find yourself randomly searching for airfare sales or browsing Lonely Planet, why not carve out a niche for yourself as a private travel agent? Take my friend, Mark Jackson’s lead with what he’s doing to build a travel consulting side business idea. Start with word of mouth recommendations from friends who know they can count on you for the cheapest flights, create a Facebook or LinkedIn group to invite people who want to stay on top of the latest deals and eventually you could spin this business idea into a full-time consultancy teaching people how to make your dream trip a reality.

#82 MOBILE LAUNDRY

Mobile laundry services can be the ideal extension of an existing laundry business. Anyone else will have to deal with high investment costs and relatively low returns.

In this day and age, it’s paramount to make the entire service as convenient as possible, which often means creating mobile applications and a dedicated website interface where customers can schedule deliveries and pickups.

#83 PET GROOMING

As more and more people are postponing the decision to have children, they turn their attention to their pets.

Many owners are willing to pay as much as several hundreds of dollars to give their beloved pets a makeover. Just be aware that you might encounter a customer who wants to trim her tarantula’s hair.

#84 Landing Page Specialist

2020 Best Business Ideas Landing Page Specialist

If you have a way with words and know how to make the keyword-friendly, beautifully designed, SEO-optimized landing pages, why not charge other companies for your services and turn it into a money-making side business idea? Even a short landing page is worth a couple hundred bucks in most cases, and so much more if you know how to pitch your prospects well. If you want to get started with your business idea of becoming a landing page specialist or freelance copywriter, check out Len Smith and Sean Kaye’s awesome course on Udemy, Copywriting Secrets: How to Write Copy That Sells.

#85 FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

Whether it’s because people fail to adhere to a strict fitness regimen or because new fad diets and fitness movements are cropping up on a regular basis, the demand for fitness instructors is always high.

Modern fitness instructors should definitely consider exploring the online space and, perhaps, recording a series of educational videos and post them online.

Not only is this a fantastic marketing strategy, but it’s also a viable way how to generate additional income.

#85a HIIT Equipment – Niche Examples

Business opportunities and Niche Examples

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts are one of the most popular niche examples in the fitness realm. The fitness and weight loss niches tend to be stable and profitable for many entrepreneurs. This startup idea is best for those who are looking to do HIIT workouts as these individuals tend to need equipment like weights, jump ropes, medicine balls, fitness mats and more.

You can dropship HIIT equipment from AliExpress. You likely won’t find any results on AliExpress under HIIT equipment, you’ll need to search for individual products such as medicine ballsankle weightsjump rope and more. Ranking for HIIT equipment should be fairly simple as it isn’t too competitive. You can run Google Ads since most of these items are search based. However, if you create video content around your brand, you can likely succeed with Facebook Ads as well.

#86 Interior Design Consultant in 2020

2020 Home Based Business Idea - Interior Design Consultant

Someone out there is remodeling their kitchen and needs to know which shade of granite will match best with mahogany flooring. That someone will often be happy to pay you for your advice, especially if you’re the kind of person that subscribes to websites like Contemporist and you have the motivation to turn this business idea into a money-making enterprise.

Keep in mind that these Interior Design trends gonna keep growing in 2020 to the public. It is much better to hire an expert if you have property for Airbnb, for example.

#87 ANTI-AGING SPA

The quest for eternal youth is as old as the hills. Modern technology gives us new treatment options how to prolong our good looks and keep health problems at bay.

A good anti-aging spa will require a substantial investment and constant maintenance. The upside is that, anti-aging spa is one of the investment ideas in 2020 that will attract clients who have money to spare.

#88 GREEN CLEANING SERVICES

The only thing that differentiates green cleaning services from regular cleaning services is the type of products used for actual cleaning. But this simple thing can turn the otherwise unattractive businesses into something highly desirable.

People in upscale neighborhoods are willing to pay a lot of extra money just to know they are helping to preserve the environment.

#89 TATTOO STUDIO

Talented individuals can make a small fortune by opening their own tattoo studio and establishing themselves in the industry.

Some people are willing to travel across the world to have a tattoo from the artist they love. A substantial initial investment will be necessary and the job requires a lot of responsibility.

#90 Housesitter

2020 Small Business Idea - House Sitter

It’s not exactly a way to make consistent great money, but housesitting—exactly what it sounds like—is a fantastically easy business idea that can fund your ability to live in exciting locales around the world (or your city) without paying a dime in rent. Did I mention it’s a way to travel and live rent free? Here’s a list of four great websites from the legendary Nomadic Matt, to start your housesitting side business idea search.

#91 PET DAYCARE

If you love animals and have enough room to spare in your house, you can start a pet daycare.

There’s not much to it: pet owners leave you their animals whenever they have to go out for a longer time, and your job is to provide them with everything they need and ensure that they will be happy.

#92 CROSSFIT GYM

Opening any kind of gym can be a fantastic business, but CrossFit gyms are what’s currently “in” the most.

Compared to traditional gyms, CrossFit gyms don’t require often overly expensive machines, as you get by with a high-quality set of barbells and squat racks.

#93 GROWING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

If you live a state or country where medical marijuana is legal, you can consider starting your own growing operation.

The initial setup can be costly, but it’s relatively smooth sailing after that.

Your days will be spent taking care of a wonderful plant and helping people improve their health and well-being in general.

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#94 Property Manager in 2020

2020 Hot Business Idea - Property Manager

Know someone who rents out property to others? Perhaps they could use a hand managing their property. If so, you can make a decent amount of money on this side business idea with relatively little work on your part (most of the time). It’ll take some hustling and the willingness to be flexible with your schedule, as you’ll be responsible for collecting rent checks, managing repairs, and improvements, and simply being on call for emergencies. But, a property manager is essential for most real estate investors that have a large enough portfolio, so there’s definitely merit to this business idea for 2020.

#95 SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING

The purpose of sustainable landscaping is to offset negative environmental impacts by using strategic methods for business and residential landscapes.

Sustainable landscapes often feature shade structures and bike racks made from recycled materials, a wireless irrigation system, native grasses, and large, open areas for sport and leisure.

#96 SECURITY SERVICES

We live in turbulent times, so it’s no surprise that the demand for security services is rising at a steady pace.

Such security services can take place either offline – home and personal security – or online.

The online side of things deals with identity theft, protection against doxxing, or general information security.

#97 SOLAR CONTRACTOR

People are embracing solar energy and are even using it to become completely self-sufficient. Solar contractors help realize complex solar projects by supplying suitable equipment and ensuring that everything will be properly installed.

Background in electrical engineering is definitely recommended.

#98 Wedding Photographer.

 

Wedding photographers command premium rates. After all, you are capturing one of a couple’s most important life moments, making it a very lucrative side business idea. Many professional wedding photographers charge between $2,500 – $10,000 (or more) to shoot a wedding, so it’s realistic that this side business idea could quickly blossom into becoming a full-time endeavor with the right happy clientele base that’s willing to refer you to their friends and family. Check out the Complete Wedding Photography Experience over on CreativeLive to get up to speed on everything you need to launch a successful wedding photography business.

#99 Online Dating Consultant.

2020 Love Business Ideas Online Dating Consultant

Believe it or not, some people have such a difficult time with dating, that they don’t even want to participate in the online (or app-based) component of it. If you’re a smooth talker, why not leverage that skill into becoming a paid matchmaker as a side business idea? People are paying.

#100 Writing Erotic Fiction.

2020 Writing Business Ideas - Writing Erotic Fiction

Werewolves, step-brothers, and tentacles—the demand is high. As odd as it may sound, if you’ve got the imagination (and a clever pseudonym), you can make upwards of $5,000 a month writing erotic fiction in your free time as a side business idea.

#101 Writing Greeting Cards.

2020 Writing Business Ideas - Writing Erotic Fiction

Fancy yourself a poet? You can earn $300 for every poem you write that this greeting card company publishes—not a bad side business idea if you’ve got a way with words and aren’t afraid of rejection on poems that aren’t a good fit.

#102 Cateye Sunglasses – Business Startup Ideas

Business Startup Ideas - Trending this year

If you’re looking to launch a startup business, the cat-eye sunglasses niche might be perfect for you. The niche tends to have steady and reliable growth but has seen an uptick in popularity recently making it a trend worth jumping onto. Over 3.5 billion sunglasses are sold each year globally. While your online store doesn’t have to sell exclusively cat-eye sunglasses, you should put an emphasis on those products. You can eventually expand into other product categories like watches, scarves, and seasonal accessories to capitalize on year-round sales.

When marketing cat-eye sunglasses, you’ll likely want to tap into Instagram influencer marketing. You can offer influencers a commission for selling your sunglasses so that you only pay a fee for the products they sold rather than a post on their page. You’ll also want to try Facebook ads likely targeting fans of other sunglasses brands. Partnering with a relevant brand can also help you grow your sales such as a sunscreen or beach accessories brand. You can also reach out to publications such as women’s magazines and offer them a free sample to be included on their website or magazine.

#103 Rent Your Car on Turo.

 

If you own a car but barely use it, you can make some easy cash as an effortless side business idea by renting it out on Turo. Before you freak out, know that there’s a $1 Million insurance policy on all cars, plus drivers are prescreened, so you can have peace of mind.

#104 Art Collector.

 

Not to be confused with hoarding, this business idea takes a lot of time, patience, and passion. If you have an eye for good art, it’s easy to get in on the ground level by visiting the studio department at your local university—though don’t expect to get rich overnight with this side business idea. Many art students are more than happy to sell their work for a bargain, and in as little as a few years, there’s a chance that piece you bought for a couple hundred bucks may be worth well into the thousands. Beware though, this business idea will take a whole lot of patience (and storage space for all that art).

#105 Online News Correspondent.

2020 Work From Home Business - online news correspondent

You don’t need to have a degree in journalism to be a reporter these days (and pursue this business idea). Plus, there are many news websites that can always use a bit of help on getting local coverage. Some of them, such as The Examiner or HuffPost, will compensate contributors based on ad revenue generated per article written—a great incentive to provide compelling content to news organizations as your side business idea.

#106 Patent Something.

 

This side business idea isn’t for most, but consider Kia Silverback who has been granted over 4,665 US Patents in his lifetime (so far). You don’t have to invent the wheel to make good money from your patented concepts—just make sure that your idea can be produced affordably, or it will never stand up against a lawsuit in the future.

#107 Bamboo Toothbrush – New Business Ideas

New Business Ideas

If you’re looking for new business ideas, the bamboo toothbrush niche is at an all-time high. It’s been maintaining high search volume for a few months now showing that this is one trend you need to jump on right now. Bamboo toothbrushes have risen in popularity due to growing interest in reducing plastic. Toothbrushes are replaced every couple of months resulting in higher plastic waste which doesn’t biodegrade.

Bamboo toothbrushes allow your customers to be more eco-friendly. There are many different directions in which you can take this business idea. Some have chosen to create a standalone bamboo toothbrush store. However, you can also create a general bamboo store. Or you can add these trending products to a teeth whitening products store.

#107 Buy and Sell Domain Names.

Old Business Ideas that still work in 2020 - Buy and Sell Domain Names

Domain name trading has been around for the last couple decades, and while most slam-dunk names have long been sold off (Insure.com went for $16 Million in 2009) there’s still plenty of others that you can get your hands on for relatively cheap and broker as your side business idea. But beware: some experts doubt the long-term viability of this business idea, so you shouldn’t quit your day job just to put all your effort into this one without some successes already in the bag.

To get you started, here are some tips from GoDaddy, arguably the world’s largest and most famous repository of domain names. Imagine owning desirable domain names for the next decade’s most innovative companies.

#108 Buy Used Electronics and Refurbish Them.

Electronic Business Ideas 2020 - Buy Used Electronics and Refurbish Them

Many people give up on their faulty laptops, mobile phones, or cameras without even looking into the cause of their malfunctions. If you have the skills to fix them, consider pursuing this side business idea of refurbishing and reselling used electronics in your free time.

#109 Acquire Parts from Electronics Stores.

Best Business Ideas Aquire Parts from Electronics Stores

Believe it or not, there’s a treasure trove of valuable items being thrown away by big box stores around the world. Electronics stores toss out everything from printer cartridges to tablets, and if you’ve got the stomach for rummaging around in dumpsters you can easily earn a bit (more than you ever thought possible) with this side business idea.

 #110 Licensed Product Distributor.

Lucrative business ideas 2020

It doesn’t happen overnight, but licensing a foreign product for sale domestically, can be a lucrative business idea that (at times) leads to a big payoff down the road. Invest intelligently, sell a product you believe in, and you can reap the rewards for years to come.

#111 Fill Out Online Surveys.

what business to start in 2020 online surveys

It’s not very engaging, or mentally stimulating, but online surveys do payout (a little), believe it or not. Just don’t expect to make bank with this side business idea—I recommend combining it with another source of side income from this list of my best business ideas 2020, and turning to surveys in your downtime when you need a little extra income.

However, filling online surveys can be one the best places to start over with no money 2020, and this is due to the fact that you can do it everywhere and you don’t need any investment.

#112 Video Doorbells – Trending Business Ideas

Trending Business Ideas

Video doorbells have been growing in popularity making it one of the most popular trending business ideas. With the rise of people screening phone calls, it makes sense that people would also want to screen who shows up at their door. It could also be positioned as a security device. This new business idea could be added as an individual product on an security, trending products, or electronics online store.

When it comes to marketing video doorbells, I’d actually recommend a different layout than the traditional e-commerce store. These type of trending products tend to perform really well with long-form product copy. Instead of a traditional e-commerce layout, you should consider emulating the digital product landing page, especially if marketing video doorbells as a security product. This product could do well on a standard layout but conversions can drastically increase with a more detailed landing page. For example, check out BeachBody’s landing pages for inspiration.

#113 Yoga or Meditation Instructor.

Healthy Business Ideas Yoga or Meditation Instructor Freelance for 2020

Yoga is getting ever more popular, which means yoga instructors are more in demand than ever—making this another physically rewarding side business idea. Link up with a local yoga studio to teach nightly classes or offer personalized yoga in-home at a higher rate to pursue this kind of emotional and physical balance with others, during your free time while helping your bank balance, too.
Even if it might not be for everyone, yoga or meditation instructor business ideas 2020 can turn into something that you want to do everyday.

#114 Music Instructor.

Business Ideas for those who love Music in 2020

Do you play a musical instrument well enough to teach it to others? How about taking your skills at producing music or sound design and teaching others as a service-based business idea based on your experience? Private music instructors in all disciplines charge upwards of $20-100/hr (or more depending upon skill and experience), and you don’t necessarily have to do them in person, either. This makes for a great side business idea that can channel your passion for music into profits.

#115 Fake Flowers – New Business Ideas

best new business ideas 2020

From floral arrangements to wedding decor, fake flowers can be used at home or for special events. In the wedding industry, they’re a new business idea as more brides are opting for artificial flowers to save costs. They can be sold to customers looking to liven up their home or to businesses who want to sell custom floral arrangements to their customers. Since they’re artificial, you won’t need to worry about flowers that die too soon making the shipping process easier for customers.

If you’re looking to go after the wedding market, your best bet is to sell silk flowers which have a more realistic appearance to ensure an elegant look.

#116 Ghostwriter.ghostwriter business for 2020

Ghostwriting pays pretty well, and if you’re talented at researching and creating great content within a certain subject domain, you can quickly build a roster of high-paying clientele with this business idea. Ghostwriters like Jeff Haden have created very lucrative careers for themselves by writing for business executives and CEO’s—and Jeff also started his ghostwriting career as a side business idea outside of his full-time job as a factory manager. Listen to his interview with me on The Side Hustle Project (podcast) right here.

#117 Online Subcontracting – One of the most profitable business?

freelance subcontracting business idea 2020

Once you’ve established yourself in any number of freelance verticals online, spending your time focusing just on doing inside sales (booking freelance contracts with high-value clients) and then subcontracting your work out to other freelancers can help significantly grow your client list, and revenue-generating possibilities with this business idea.

#118 DJ-ing.unique business ideas 2020

Take the time to develop your skills at either making your own music, or becoming a pro at mixing, and your side business idea of dj-ing local events could turn into a much bigger endeavor. Though you’ll first need to command a solid knowledge of sound design, mixing and music production before expecting to land your first gig with this business idea, as developing an entirely new skill set is not for the faint of heart.

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#119 Throw Pillows –  Trending Products

Trending Products

A couple months ago Bloomberg featured an article stating that millennials are finally moving out and buying homes. As a result, they’re starting to buy more furniture and home decor than ever before. While we’re giving a shout-out to throw pillows, there’s also been an increase in other home related products such as kitchen supplies. That’s why it’s a great idea to capitalize on this new business idea to make money.

But does this make it one of the hot new business ideas?

Having a store related to home decor or home related products can prove to be profitable for you. You can add a wide range of home related products to your store to fill out your product collections.

#120 Being a Task Rabbit.small business ideas for men

If you don’t mind doing other people’s chores, then TaskRabbit may be the right side business idea for you. Earn a little side money doing odd jobs like walking your neighbor’s dog or mowing Mr. Smith’s lawn. Running errands not your style? Tell that to the top taskers on the portal who reportedly earn as much as $7000 a month, making this a full-time business idea for some. Being a Task Rabbit can be one of the best jobs in 2020 that is never boring.

#121 Air Sofa Beds – Startup Ideas 2020

small business ideas for women

At Oberlo, we’ve seen a rise in air sofa bed sales. They can be used for lounging in a kid’s room or used outdoors for a camping trip. As a popular business idea, they work well alongside other products in an outdoor or home store. This startup idea has been trending upwards for a while now with slight peaks in the summer. Thus, giving you the perfect amount of time to start working on optimizing your online store for keywords.

There’s More…

#123 Elephant Decor – Popular Business Ideas

Popular Business Ideas in 2019

A popular business idea is elephant decor. It’s been trending upwards ever since we saw the rise of yoga blankets. Elephant decor can include tapestries, figurines, pillows, and more. In some cultures, when children move out for the first time, the parents buy an elephant figurine for their home to give them good luck and protection. They’re also used in feng shui.

#123 Private Labeling and Selling Products on Amazon – Lucrative Business Ideas 2020

business ideas to start at home sell on Amazon

Counted amongst the most valuable tech giants, Amazon is also a massive global market where virtually anyone can cash in on the rising tide of eCommerce if you have the right business idea. But, like everything else that involves money, you have to do quite a bit of work to earn it. In this case, you need to do tons of research (looking for generic products such as clocks, key chains and mugs to attach your brand to) as well as developing a sensible inside sales strategy that’ll help you generate profits from your private label side business idea.

Even if some would say that the Amazon FBA is getting crowded, it can never be! New products are discovered all the time, and you need only few products to make this work pretty well for you. This is without a doubt one of the best business to start in 2020

#124 Start a Daycare Business.

Businesses that fall under the child services umbrella are experiencing a lot of demand and growth. In fact, job growth in childcare is expected to hit 7% over the next decade. If you have the passion and skill for educating and entertaining young children, starting a daycare is a relatively stable choice.

It’s pretty easy to start a daycare in your home. You’ll just have to prove that your home meets your state’s health and safety requirements. You’ll also have to get all the necessary certifications, licenses, and insurance. Visit your state’s Division of Child Care Services (or its equivalent) to find out what you need, and then you’re off to having your own daycare business.

What Did I Miss?

Share in the comments if I’m missing any of your picks for the best side business ideas that you can start while working full-time! Bonus points if you’ve already gotten started on one of these business ideas, and share the link to your website.

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Some questions answered about the business ideas for 2020

What are the most successful small businesses in 2020?

The most successful small businesses are the ones where you are most helpful but also willing to invest into Product Design, Branding and Digital Marketing. Every small business can become successful if you know how to place yourself in front of the people.

What’s the best business to start in 2020?

The best business to start in 2020 is probably the one where you are offering practical solutions and make people’s lives easier. You can never go wrong with this type of approach and the best part is you can implement this methodology in every business.

What are the best business ideas this year?

You cannot call a business idea “the best” if you don’t love doing it. Whats the point of all that hard work where you don’t want to wake up in the morning and go to work. The quest to find the best business idea is a tough one, and you should research all the possible answers until you find at least 10 ideas that you might enjoy doing them. Then prioritize.

What are the most profitable business?

The most profitable business that is achievable by anyone is probably having a website, online store, reselling stuff or selling digital products.

CONCLUSION

In this list of business ideas for the year 2020, without a doubt you will find some of the most successful small businesses. But it is you who will decide what are the best businesses to start. If my 121+ most profitable opportunities aren’t enough, you can always try to generate business ideas by tapping into your own interests and brainstorm your curiosity.

No matter what type of business (online or offline) you would like to start in 2020 or how much money you have to invest, we are sure that, at least, a few ideas from our list will match your criteria.

Just remember that the most profitable 2020 business idea alone is not enough. You have to show passion, persistence, and dedication to overcome all challenges as they arise. If you do, there’s nothing that can stop you from joining the ranks of successful entrepreneurs and business people from all around the world.

2020 Profitable Business - Career Coach
35 Comments
  • Elizabeth Uchealor
    Posted at 23:17h, 02 January Reply

    I love the ideas about digital marketing and graphic designs, I think that in this year, we will see an explosion in that area as more and more businesses seek to find ways of reaching their consumers online. Thank you for sharing

  • Tony Lars
    Posted at 12:48h, 05 January Reply

    Would love to get into graphic design at some point in the future as it’s one of my favourite things to do. Although I never realised you could make money online by doing it and now that I do know I can’t believe I hadn’t already thought of it. Great article Sam, that should be a great source of extra income for me as I’m quite talented at it if I may say so myself.

    • Nutan Bagh
      Posted at 09:18h, 07 June Reply

      Great choice Tony! I am a Graphic Designer and as per my experience you will be able to make some money working at home. If you are a beginner than I would recommend you to learn the basic principles of Graphic Design and get hands on experience on Graphic Design tools.

    • Sam Zuo
      Posted at 10:23h, 21 June Reply

      Have you thought about interior designing?

  • William Jones
    Posted at 13:31h, 05 January Reply

    A lot of ideas to look for. Among them I love the idea of web design and online store. Online store is becoming more popular day by day with an increase in online sells demand. Web design could be annoying though but learning design with development really helps people developing their career in a short amount of time.

  • Johnno B
    Posted at 13:59h, 05 January Reply

    Loved this article! The web development section was really insightful. You can learn a new skill and earn from it. Its great! Thank you very much! 🙂

  • Md Abdur Rahman
    Posted at 15:00h, 05 January Reply

    I want to start an online store. but i have no idea how i done this. please teach me how can i start an online store.

  • hoda
    Posted at 15:24h, 05 January Reply

    I love these work from home business ideas, there are lots to choose from! For me I enjoy yoga and I love the idea of being a meditation instructor. it will feel great if I was able to offer the support and tools needed to guide students on this journey of remembering who they are. Thank you for sharing all these ideas and looking forward to more articles.

  • chris temmer
    Posted at 16:24h, 05 January Reply

    These are some great ideas. I think self publishing might be the one for me. I’ve always wanted to write, and maybe I can make some money doing it.

  • sartle power
    Posted at 16:44h, 05 January Reply

    i just badly needed this article for a long while.lots of information about easy small business thats are really helpful.graphic design i think would be a great choice .thanks for sharing.

  • Weston Smith
    Posted at 16:54h, 05 January Reply

    I really like the tea one considering that I drink tea on a daily basis. The podcasting one is pretty cool too, I was looking into it a while ago. Self-publishing on Amazon can be hard but it would definitely be profitable!

  • Caroline K
    Posted at 17:21h, 05 January Reply

    These are all some very good ideas, definitely worth putting time into. I already take surveys, I bring in enough to live on doing that. I’ll be adding photography to the list of things I do this year. I’ve already done web design and graphic design… Much rather do graphic than web!

    • Chase V
      Posted at 00:42h, 23 January Reply

      Where do you take surveys that pay that well? I need to know lol.

  • kavi viji
    Posted at 17:50h, 05 January Reply

    Wow! all of your ideas are too impressive. I like the Graphic Design idea was fabulous.

  • Shelly Saw
    Posted at 18:54h, 05 January Reply

    These are alot of good ideas. I really like the food truck idea. I would need to start smaller to save up for the truck and equipment. I do surveys now but it’s not much money. I’m going to try some of the things in this article to increase my income

  • Margaret Paylor
    Posted at 19:44h, 05 January Reply

    Some good business ideas here. Most impressive was the Airbnb rental arbitrage which is about making money with other people’s properties. Other business plans that had me interested was the branding of products and selling it in Amazon and growing medicinal marijuana at home.

  • Jenifer Lapinski
    Posted at 19:48h, 05 January Reply

    My favorite one is to self publish on amazon. Amazon is such a huge platform so this makes the most sense for me. I use Amazon all of the time so I know it will work great.

  • manrr
    Posted at 18:52h, 10 January Reply

    Excellent content from beginning to end. Sharing useful and effective information in all your detailed and well explained information about how to earn extra income for me .

  • Sam
    Posted at 10:00h, 22 January Reply

    Hi! I’m quite interested in starting a vegan vending machine biz here in Europe. Anyone knows how to proceed?
    Thanks

    • Sam Zuo
      Posted at 18:27h, 22 January Reply

      This would be cool! Keep us posted on how it goes.

    • Alex
      Posted at 14:07h, 25 January Reply

      I would suggest to join some Vegan Forums and ask what the people want first, and what they will expect from the vegan vending machine. This way you are starting from the customer first. Also, contact all of the vegan websites and tell them about your idea and ask for their opinion.

      Research what closest manufacturers can provide you with this kind of vending machines.

      Another easier option is to reach out to already existing companies like LeCupboard and ask them if they want to expand in Europe.

  • Emma
    Posted at 23:07h, 25 January Reply

    Great list of business ideas for this year Sam. Seems like your predictions about kawaii push were spot on. I keep seeing these big eyes toys everywhere lol.

  • Marietta Olivar
    Posted at 12:35h, 23 February Reply

    I like the idea of growing medical marijuana.

    • Sam Zuo
      Posted at 18:35h, 26 February Reply

      That’s a booming business. Keep us posted if you do grow some!

  • Martin Lindeskog
    Posted at 13:23h, 03 March Reply

    I found your post via BizSugar. I have to bookmark your post for reading material in the future. I like you tip 9 and 25 so far. I have published my first book on Amazon’s service, CreateSpace, and I am a social media consultant.

    • Sam Zuo
      Posted at 10:17h, 21 June Reply

      Thanks Martin!

      • Mpk Zion
        Posted at 22:28h, 13 November Reply

        So helpful Mr. Sam

  • Ros Am
    Posted at 06:23h, 29 April Reply

    Hi great ideas. it would be helpful to guide as where to go to find the ppl or company we can collaborate with. Along that line. thanks

    • Sam Zuo
      Posted at 10:10h, 21 June Reply

      Hi Ros,

      It depends on what you’re trying to do. That’s pretty vague.

  • Ramanadham
    Posted at 15:20h, 26 January Reply

    A mix of new and old good ideas that still works.

  • debasish banik
    Posted at 23:09h, 31 January Reply

    There is lot of Idea for start small-big catagory business.

  • James Spiro
    Posted at 20:06h, 17 December Reply

    Hi, my name is Jim. Great information here and I very much appreciate your efforts in sharing. Being December of 2020… What are your thoughts on air-bnb for 2021?
    I retired in 2020, live in Sacramento CA which I hope to rent a out and move back to Upstate NY where I have ideas for both Airbnb in a home I will live in (with a mother-in-law floor including kitchen, bath & bedroom). I am also considering purchasing a small lot off a lake which could be used for RV lake access.

    Any thoughts?

    • Sam Zuo
      Posted at 09:28h, 18 December Reply

      Sac and Davis are both great places for Airbnb. I went to UC Davis so I know. You should check out 1) my e-course and 2) this blog post: https://www.passiveairbnb.com/airbnb-hosting-guide/

      RV access is something a little bit out of depth as it’s not what I deal with. But I know companies like Hipcamp are innovating in that space.

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