16 Small Business Ideas and How to Find Yours

Key takeaways

• Small business ideas offer a broad range of possibilities, including in-person options such as IT or computer consulting, repair services, gardening or landscaping, professional organizing, interior design, photography, and cleaning services, as well as online businesses such as writing or virtual assisting.

• The best small business ideas depend on your personal interests, brand, and value of your services; depending on your budget, they may also offer low start-up costs because they don’t require an office, furniture, or operating equipment.

• Small business ideas from home include self-employed roles as a graphic designer, web developer, writer, or virtual assistant.

Small business ideas include work you own and operate, and may involve hiring employees or providing services as an entity of one. Explore 16 profitable business ideas, and learn a bit more about what each entails.

Then, consider enrolling in the AI For Business Specialization. In as little as one month, you’ll have the opportunity to learn effective marketing strategies using data analytics and how personalization can enhance and prolong the customer journey and lifecycle. Upon completion, add this shareable credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What is a small business?

As a small business owner, you will have the opportunity to develop your product and service offerings while maintaining control over business tasks behind the scenes, such as scheduling, marketing, bookkeeping, and hiring. With your small business, ultimately, you get the final say.

A small business owner can benefit from a strong desire to learn, an interest in innovation, or the motivation to work toward their ideas of success. According to the Small Business Administration, there are 36.2 million small businesses in the United States as of 2025 [1], and every one of those small businesses started with one thing: an idea.

16 small business ideas

The first step toward launching your own small business is knowing the type of business you’d like to launch. Use this list as a starting point for your own creativity. Here are a few questions to consider as you read through the options below:

• What skills do you already have, and what are you interested in learning more about?

• What kinds of tasks do you enjoy doing?

• Do you have any limiting factors to consider, such as scheduling blocks or start-up costs?

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of July 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

1. IT/computer consultant

An IT or computer consultant helps other small businesses set up and fix their computer systems. Often, these other businesses won’t have internal IT departments, so when they run into an issue, they’ll call their consultant. An IT consulting business may also deal with computer vendors when clients require new systems or parts for repair.

Good for people who like: Building and fixing computers

Requires: Tool set, local travel, and some physical strength

Median total annual salary (US): $111,000

2. Repair person

Just about everything requires some maintenance from time to time, whether it’s clogged gutters, a leaky faucet, or a gate that won’t latch closed. A repair person fixes issues around the home or workplace. These can range from odd jobs all the way to more specialized problems, like repairing air conditioning systems or installing new water heaters.

Good for people who like: Working with their hands, learning how things work, and fixing things

Requires: Tool kit, local travel, physical strength, and flexibility

Median total annual salary (US): $55,000

Small business vs. side hustle

A small business is “generally defined as firms with fewer than 500 employees” [1]. Running a small business can be a person’s full-time job, or it can be something they do in addition to another job that serves as their primary employment, at which point it becomes a side hustle.

3. Landscaper/gardener

People living in suburban or rural areas will often have yards to maintain, and a landscaper or gardener can help with that. As the owner of your own landscaping business, you may mow the lawn, tend to shrubs, plant flowers, or help manage minor pest problems, such as installing fencing to keep squirrels away from blooming fruits.

Good for people who like: Physical work, being outside, and yard design

Requires: Landscaping equipment, local travel, and physical strength

Median total annual salary (US): $52,000

4. Cleaning service

Many people opt to hire professional cleaners to help them keep up with dust and grime build-up, having them come to clean their home or business weekly or monthly. This type of predictable scheduling can be helpful for people who like to plan ahead. As the owner of your own cleaning business, you may vacuum, dust, and scrub sinks regularly, and offer deep cleaning services for harder-to-reach areas as needed.

Good for people who like: Cleaning and organizing

Requires: Cleaning supplies, local travel, and maneuverability

Median total annual salary (US): $120,000

Which is the easiest business to start?

The easiest business to launch typically needs minimal capital, little to no licensing hurdles, and doesn’t demand advanced expertise. Due to their high demand, low overhead, and scalability, virtual assistants, cleaning services, and online resellers rank among the highest for success in the US.

Other good business ideas in terms of easy orchestration include pet sitting, which works well in suburban areas and appeals to animal lovers. Although it requires steady clients, freelance writing and blogging can offer flexible incomes.

5. Professional organizer

Professional organizers help people manage clutter in their homes. They may organize closets, clean out junk drawers, or sort more visible belongings. In dealing with their clients’ things, professional organizers may help get rid of things that they no longer need via donation, disposal, or sale, and some specialize in organizing for people living with disabilities or seniors.

Good for people who like: Sorting and organizing

Requires: Organization supplies (such as bins), local travel, and maneuverability

Median total annual salary (US): $56,000

6. Personal chef

Personal chefs make sure their clients are well-fed, incorporating both their nutritional needs and taste preferences into the menu selections. Personal chefs may work for singular clients, or they may prepare meals for many clients on a daily or weekly basis. It may help to take nutrition courses or cooking classes before becoming a personal chef, though it is not a requirement.

Good for people who like: Working in the kitchen and nutrition

Requires: Cooking tools, local travel, access to ingredients

Median total annual salary (US): $92,000

7. Interior designer

Interior designers furnish and decorate their clients’ homes, doing everything from selecting paint colors and light fixtures to filling rooms with furniture and art. Some interior designers also oversee contract work, such as cabinet installation or wall tear-downs. Interior designers may frequently collaborate with other local artists, woodworkers, or furniture crafters to get better deals for their clients, and they’ll often build a roster of reliable contractors.

Good for people who like: Design and styling

Requires: People skills and organization

Median total annual salary (US): $76,000

8. Photographer

People often like to hire photographers to capture big events, like birthday parties or weddings, as well as personal moments, such as an engagement or their family’s growth. Some photographers may specialize in one type of event, while others offer a range of services. Either way, photographers play a big creative role in many people’s most special days.

Good for people who like: Art direction, artistic expression, and capturing moments

Requires: Camera equipment, local travel, and maneuverability

Median total annual salary (US): $60,000

9. Event planner

Event planners help organize and coordinate events such as birthday parties, weddings, and conferences. They work with vendors like caterers and photographers, secure any necessary permits, keep to a schedule from set-up through clean-up, and manage any needs that pop up on the day of the event. Some event planners may also work on virtual events, which include coordinating digital access and sending guests any physical items they’ll need in order to participate from home.

Good for people who like: Hosting and creating memorable moments

Requires: Organization, people skills, and travel

Median total annual salary (US): $70,000

10. Bookkeeper

Bookkeepers work with businesses to organize their finances. They may process payroll, invoices, and expense reports. They’ll also track spending and balance bank accounts to make sure all of the business’s money is where they expect it to be. Bookkeepers may be able to work from home if their clients use online banking systems; however, some businesses may still process paper invoices, requiring local travel. In some locations, bookkeeping requires a certification.

Good for people who like: Balancing checkbooks, math, and budgeting

Requires: The ability to work independently

Median total annual salary (US): $58,000

11. Personal trainer

Personal trainers are exercise partners for people who want to work on their physical health. They may offer private sessions to individual clients or organize group classes as a fitness instructor. Personal trainers typically need a certification to get started, and they may rent space in a gym, set up their own gym, travel to people’s homes, or organize virtual classes online.

Good for people who like: Physical activity and working with clients

Requires: Certification, physical strength, and exercise equipment

Median total annual salary (US): $76,000

12. Life/career coach

A life coach is someone who helps clients change areas of their lives, and a career coach is someone who specializes in navigating career changes. Coaches may work with individual clients in private sessions or organize group sessions with clients hoping to achieve similar outcomes. Many coaches will take a class or seek certification before becoming a coach, but that is not a requirement, and coaches might work with clients in person or virtually.

Good for people who like: Helping people navigate change

Requires: Emotional intelligence

Median total annual salary (US): $89,000

What is a good business to start remotely? Home business ideas

If your ability to travel is limited, you may prefer the option to work from home. Operating a small business from your home may require a computer, an internet connection, and sometimes specialty software.

13. Graphic designer

Graphic designers create digital imagery like logos, flyers, or infographics for brands. This work calls for some collaboration between the designer and their clients. As the designer, you will listen to your potential client’s needs, offer your opinions on how to best deliver those needs, and create the assets based on your agreement. You’ll often be working independently while you create graphics, but depending on the project, there may be some back-and-forth required.

Good for people who like: Design, visual storytelling, and collaboration

Requires: A computer and a design program, such as Photoshop or Canva

Median total annual salary (US): $63,000

14. Website developer

Website developers build websites for other businesses or individuals, ensuring they have an appropriate web presence. This service blends IT skills with design skills, as you need some knowledge of both in order to create websites that are functional and user-friendly. As a website developer, you will build websites according to your clients’ needs and offer suggestions on how to create the best website experience for their users. You may also work with companies that host websites or sell domain names if your client doesn’t yet own a website.

Good for people who like: IT, coding, and design

Requires: A computer with an internet connection

Median total annual salary (US): $101,000

15. Writer

There are many ways to be a writer. For example, you might focus on editorial writing for publications, content, copywriting, or social media management for brands or businesses, or resume writing for individuals. Many writers incorporate a variety of services into their business offerings. Writers who manage their own small business may offer their services on a freelance or contract basis, allowing them to maintain control over the projects they take on and how they spend their time.

Good for people who like: Writing and storytelling

Requires: A computer

Median total annual salary (US): $89,000

16. Virtual assistant/administrator

Virtual assistants or administrators are discreet professionals who keep their clients organized. They may manage schedules, sort emails, create itineraries, or help with other digital tasks. Typically, once they onboard a client, they’ll likely work with them consistently for a period of time, opening the potential for long-term, collaborative relationships.

Good for people who like: Digital organization and personal collaboration

Requires: A computer with an internet connection

Median total annual salary (US): $53,000

Learn more about working with Microsoft programs with the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Specialization, available on Coursera. These three courses are designed to familiarize you with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, commonly used by businesses everywhere.

How to start a small business: How can a small business owner be successful?

There are many ways to measure the success of a small business, but one widely accepted success metric is whether your business earns a profit. A profitable business is one that generates more money than it spends. The majority of small businesses are not profitable for the first two or three years in business, but there are some areas that can help you forecast whether your business will become profitable.

1. Know your business costs.

Every business costs some amount of money to run. These costs are often split into start-up costs and operating expenses.

• Start-up costs are upfront expenses that you’ll incur before you can start offering your services. These may include equipment purchases, office space, furniture, insurance, and incorporation fees.

• Operating expenses are recurring costs that you’ll routinely owe as you run your business. These may include utility bills, transportation, and employee salaries.

Developing a business plan can help you estimate how much money you’ll need to launch and run your business. Once you’ve determined your anticipated business costs, you’ll be able to calculate the amount of money you’ll need in order to launch your business, as well as the amount of money you’ll need to earn each month in order to make a profit. Depending on the amount of money needed to launch, business owners may rely on business loans, personal savings, investments, or a combination of all three to fund their business.

2. Determine the value of your services.

The ability of your business to make a profit will largely depend on the services you are offering and where you are offering them. For example, if you are offering highly specialized and necessary services in an area where the availability of similar services is limited, you’ll be able to charge more for your work.

Additionally, consider variables that may contribute to the overall value you are providing. Being able to complete work quickly may help you earn more money in the same amount of time, or offering higher quality work than your competitors may help you attract more customers.

Conducting market research in the areas where you are hoping to run your business and assessing the value of your services can help you forecast the potential profitability of your small business.

Learn more about conducting market research with the Market Research Specialization from the University of California, Davis, available on Coursera.

3. Build your brand.

Whether you're becoming a freelance content writer, a repair person, or a photographer, you'll want to build your brand. Otherwise, how will people know about your talents and services?

Based on your values, figure out what makes you and your personal brand unique. Develop a strategy for outreach, which may include the use of social media platforms, a website, and/or search engine optimization. Get clear on what your niche is. If you're a photographer, are you focused on weddings, promotional events, or fashion photography? Make sure your marketing and brand-building efforts are in line with your target market.

Read more: How Do You Identify and Define Your Target Market?

Explore career-building resources

Subscribe to our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for industry updates, tips, and trends. Then, discover free, digital resources to optimize your professional growth:

• Watch on YouTube: What Can You Do with a Business Degree?

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

• Learn from experts: Future-Proofing Your Business Strategy with GenAI

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial