23 MOST PROFITABLE BUSINESS IDEAS:

Many of the best small business ideas for 2022 involve an online business model.

Choose a business idea that you are knowledgeable and passionate about and develop a detailed business plan.

Before starting a business, find out if there is a demand for the product or service you want to provide.

This article is for anyone looking for inspiration on how to start a business.

If you are considering starting a business in 2022, you should consider whether your idea fills a need in the way people live their lives and approach their work. If you can identify an unmet need and a target market, then you might just have a business idea with legs. But how do you even come up with a good idea? This list of business ideas contains 23 great types of business that will help you achieve success in 2022 and beyond.

23 great ideas for small businesses:

This list of 23 great business ideas will get you started on your entrepreneurial journey. Note that many of the ideas below only require you to have a credit card processing partner to start with, so you can keep your startup expenses relatively low.

 

Read on for inspiration for the many types of businesses that could set you up for success.

Consulting:

If you have knowledge and passion for a specific topic (such as business, social media, marketing, human resources, leadership, or communications), consulting can be a lucrative option. You can start your own consulting business, then grow your business and hire more consultants over time.

Online reselling:

If you are interested in clothing and/or selling, you may want to consider starting an online store. Although it takes time, dedication, and fashion sense, you can start a business as a side hustle and turn it into a full-time business. You can start by using e-commerce sites like Poshmark and Mercari to sell your unwanted clothes and then expand to your own resale site

Online teaching:

The demand for online education has opened up opportunities for entrepreneurs. Since this is an online business, you can choose any subject you know and teach the course regardless of location. If you don't have advanced knowledge in any particular subject, consider teaching English as a foreign language online for overseas students.

Online bookkeeping:

As with education, technology allows many accounting services to be performed online. If you are an accountant or bookkeeper and want the freedom and autonomy of your own business, take advantage of modern technology and start your own online accounting service.

Medical courier service:

If you have a reliable vehicle and good time management skills, consider starting your own courier service – more specifically, a medical courier service. As a driver, you would be responsible for transporting medical items such as lab specimens, prescription drugs, and equipment. You can start your own courier business or hire other drivers to work for you.

App development:

If you have knowledge and experience in technology, you may want to consider a career in app development. Smartphones are an everyday accessory for many Americans, which has increased the demand for mobile apps. Similarly, virtual reality software has become popular in recent years, so there is also a demand for VR app development.

Transcription service:

If you have a good ear and can type quickly, a transcription service will allow you to work from home with a flexible schedule. Medical transcription services are especially needed as voice recognition technology proliferates for dictation by healthcare providers.

You can accept as few or as many rewrite jobs as you like. This flexibility can be especially beneficial if you don't want to start right away or if you have a day job that you'd like to keep for now. To increase your business prospects and justify higher fees, consider becoming a certified transcriber and delve into multiple specialties.

Transcription doctors typically charge 6 to 14 cents per line of transcription, which adds up quickly. The typical turnaround time for a transcript is 24 hours, so it's important to keep track of the jobs you're accepting. However, the ability to only accept a few requests at first means you can scale when you're ready. Best of all, the initial cost and overhead are very low. All you need is a computer, the appropriate software, and a secure messaging service.

Professional organizing:

Are you looking for a business idea that can really spark joy? Professional organizers like Marie Kondo help people declutter and minimize their lives. In an age of materialism, many people are desperate to downsize and take control of their possessions. Minimalism is becoming extremely popular, but it is often difficult for people to say goodbye to things they have owned for a long time. Part of being a professional organizer is helping clients develop a downsizing system.

If you're a highly organized person who likes to make spaces functional and comfortable, you may be good at leading others to do the same. People will pay you to help them figure out a way to minimize their possessions and maintain an organized space. To promote your business, ask your clients to allow you to take before and after photos of the areas of their homes that you have organized and use them to create a portfolio that you can post on social media to attract more clients.

Cleaning service:

If you enjoy cleaning, you can easily turn it into a business. With a few employees, a variety of cleaning supplies, and transportation, you can offer cleaning services to homeowners, apartment complexes, and commercial properties. Most cleaning services charge $25 to $50 per hour. Cleaning services are simple businesses that require relatively little overhead; you just need planning, determination, and marketing to attract customers.

If you want to differentiate yourself from other cleaning services, consider adding premium options such as floor waxing or exterior washing for an additional fee. These services can be the deciding factor between your new cleaning service and seasoned companies that maintain too large a client list to provide this level of cleaning.

Freelance copywriting or content writing:

If you're a natural copywriter with a bit of marketing knowledge, you can make a name for yourself as a freelance copywriter or content writer. Whether you write blogs, web content, or press releases, many companies will pay for your services. Increase your value with SEO knowledge that helps clients strategize for specific keywords that their target audience is already using in their online searches. Most freelance copywriters charge $40 to $50 an hour, but those with industry expertise can charge even more.

Freelance copywriting is a great business because as long as you have an internet connection, you can work. It's a business you can run from the comfort of your own home or even on the go if you're traveling. If you build a large enough network and get referrals from happy clients, you can even turn to write your work as a full-time freelancer.

Home care service:

A background in care and hospitality can make a significant contribution to supporting seniors in the home who require home care. It's also a service that will only grow in demand. According to the Population Reference Bureau, between 2020 and 2060, the population aged 85 and over is projected to triple from 6.7 million to 19 million. The global number of centenarians (over 100 years old) has already reached almost 600,000. Many will need care and assistance, often in their own homes. 

Fortunately, you don't need a degree in healthcare to be able to help seniors and grow a successful business at the same time, although those skills will also be in demand. Many seniors need help with all kinds of tasks, such as errands or repairs around the house. With some experience, you could consider expanding your business to help seniors transition from their homes to assisted living facilities, offering services such as packing, moving, setting up, or storing their furniture and possessions.

Translation service:

According to IBISWorld research, the translation services industry saw a decline in 2020, as did many industries; However, IBISWorld predicts a "big upside" for the industry over the next five years. This projected growth is not surprising because the Internet has opened up English-speaking markets to entrepreneurs in other countries and vice versa.

This trend has created an opportunity for multilingual speakers to offer specific services such as document translation and translation of website information into languages ​​for use in other markets. If you are fluent in multiple languages, you could be successful in carving out a niche in the translation services industry.

Digital Marketing:

The importance of the internet is growing with each passing day, but it's also becoming more difficult for businesses to cut through the clutter online and get their footing right. Digital marketing services are always in demand and many SMEs prefer to outsource rather than build a costly in-house team. If you have experience in SEO, content marketing, pay-per-click advertising, web development, or social media management, you can take advantage of a business opportunity that gives you the freedom to work from home.

 Digital marketing is an important part of any brand, so you will need to respond to the evolution of your client's marketing strategies. Social media management means constantly monitoring comments and messages, not just scheduling posts with a set-it-and-forget-it mindset. If you enjoy carefully strategizing and implementing marketing plans, digital marketing could be the right business for you. You can also consider becoming an affiliate marketer, which is another form of digital marketing.

Owning a food truck:

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have become accustomed to dining options other than eating in. Because of this, aspiring restaurateurs may find more success with a food truck.

Food trucks come in all shapes and sizes and offer a wide variety of snacks and cuisines. Take your favorite style of food on the go and sell your culinary passions directly to hungry customers. Sure, you'll be working, but you'll be in a space that excites you, with the opportunity to connect with people who share similar interests.

Food trucks may sound like a wild idea, but the industry is growing. The overhead and maintenance of a car are significantly lower than that of a restaurant, and you also have the advantage of mobility.

Lawn care service:

If you grew up with a lawn, chances are your parents forced you to maintain it. For many of us, lawn care is a nuisance, but for some, it offers a sense of peace and serenity. Working outdoors with your hands to tame and beautify the natural landscape can be a rewarding experience, and because so many people find this work tedious, it can also be profitable.

Lawn care services require little more than some basic equipment, a trailer, and maybe some staff, depending on how many clients you have and how big the jobs are. You can grow a small lawn care service into a full-service landscaping company by offering premium services and building a reputation as a brand that does thorough work with a smile. If you enjoy working outdoors and creating elegant landscapes, this business may be for you.

 Rideshare driving:

If starting your own business seems daunting or too risky, you can always use your car to become a rideshare. The overhead and responsibility of running the company fall to the ridesharing service, giving you the freedom to work as much or as little as you want. Ride-sharing apps like Umber and Lift allow people to start with side hustles that pay well and only require a willingness to drive people to their destinations and the occasional friendly chat.

 Rideshare drivers are independent as small business owners without the heavy workload required to manage behind-the-scenes logistics. If any of the other business ideas seem like they require too much effort or seed capital, carpooling can be a way to dive into the world of entrepreneurship.

Real estate:

For many people, navigating the housing market is overwhelming. As a real estate agent, you can help people find their dream home at a price that fits their budget. In many states, all you need to do is take a few months of classes and pass an exam to qualify as a real estate agent. Keep in mind that even with certification, you'll need strong social skills, so if you're not a people person, this might not be the path for you.

Graphic design:

Corporations, small businesses, and sole traders need eye-catching promotional materials, but not everyone has a sense of what looks good. If you have artistic direction and know how to organize content into a visually pleasing format, start a graphic design business to provide flyers, digital ads, posters, and other eye-catching visuals. Graphic design requires few physical tools besides a laptop and a desk

T-shirt printing:

As with graphic design, you may enjoy starting a t-shirt printing business if you have a keen artistic sense – or if you enjoy taking someone else's designs and screen printing them onto a blank t-shirt. Either way, if you have the space for a t-shirt printing setup, you can easily get the tools you need and get started.

Drop shipping:

Not all companies that sell goods store them on-site. In drop shipping, people who run e-commerce sites go to a third party to fulfill all orders. The third party is likely to be a wholesaler or other warehousing and shipping entity. The minimal inventory and tools required for drop shipping make it an especially great startup idea if you're worried about overhead and physical space.

Pet sitting:

About 70% of US families have a pet. When these families go away for an extended period, your small pet-sitting business can give them peace of mind. As a sitter, you will look after your clients' dogs, cats, or other pets in their homes. The job also includes feeding them, giving them water, playing with them, spending time with them, and (with dogs) walking them as needed. To keep clients happy, you need to regularly update them on how their pets are doing.

If you have other sources of income that require nothing more than an internet connection and a laptop, pet sitting can be an especially good small business idea. Almost all pet owners are happy to let you work on your computer while you spend time at their homes with their pets, meaning you can run two streams of income at the same time.

Personal training:

If the gym is like your second home, you may want to share some of your expertise and help others achieve their fitness goals. As a personal trainer, you can offer home workouts that cater to the exercise abilities of each of your clients. You can also help clients create their own nutrition and meal plans so that their diet reflects their physical goals.

Many personal trainers begin the client acquisition process with social media pages that detail their experiences at the gym along with some motivational quotes. While certification can help expand your customer base, you are not legally required to have any specialized training to start this type of business.

 Resume writing:

People are constantly applying for jobs, whether they want to change careers, increase their salary or change their work environment. Of course, most job applications require candidates to submit resumes detailing their professional backgrounds. As a resume writer, you can help job seekers' resumes stand out from the competition.

What are the most successful small businesses?

Small businesses that include website design, a subset of digital marketing, are among those that generate the most sales and profits. People find out about businesses online more often than through other avenues, so finding clients and a steady stream of income isn't that difficult. Cleaning services and real estate businesses also have a high success rate, which makes sense—all people need homes and prefer to keep them clean.