20 online business ideas to launch in 2021

Haitham April 13, 2021
online business

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For all those who dream of starting their business, the internet is an exceptional playground.

It is now possible for anyone to start an online business with just their computer and with little or no investment!

There are many ways to make money online that will allow you to be your own boss and work at your own pace while developing your income. You don't have to be a pro at running a business or even renting space. An entrepreneurial dream come true!

In this article, we'll show you 20 online business ideas to create in 2021, all ideal for those who dream of working from home. And whether you want to start your business full time or develop it little by little in parallel with your job as an employee.


1. Launching your blog

Starting your blog (like the one you're currently on) is fun and a rewarding way to make money online... but it's also one of the most time-consuming.

If you love to write or have a passion you'd like to share with the world, starting a website is a great way to turn your hobby into real money-making activity. The start-up costs are relatively low, the main expense usually being the hosting of your website.

You can also start building your blog as a hobby, and then gradually build your business and brand over the months. This will allow you to earn a little extra income before going full-time.


2. Dropshipping

Among the dozens or even hundreds of opportunities that exist to start an online business, dropshipping is certainly one of the most interesting. "Dropshipping" means that you sell a product on your website without managing the stock yourself, but asking the supplier to ship the orders directly to the customer.

Even if the margin is lower than if you manage the stock yourself, the advantages are very attractive: no need for warehouses or logistics - you can manage your business directly from your computer!

Once you've found your products and your supplier, all you have to do is create an online storefront on a platform like Shopify, list your products, and you're ready to ship! An ideal solution to make money, even while sleeping.

You can also place by eBay to set up your dropshipping store, a solution often easier to take in your hands for beginners than a Shopify store.

If you want to take a detailed course to launch your first dropshipping project easily and accompanied, I recommend the training courses of eCommerce Academy which are particularly reputable.

I will recommend however to be careful to stay ethical in this model. It is not about buying abroad products of dubious quality to resell them on the Internet with huge margins. The goal is above all to find quality products that are interesting for your niche.

3. Become a coach


how to earn money online 2021

If you are passionate about personal or professional development and dream of helping others develop their potential, consider selling your services as a coach!

Whether you want to be a life coach, a relationship coach, a business coach, or a niche coach, your passion and expertise will allow you to offer advice and actionable steps to those who want to grow in the area you are targeting. Depending on your preferences, you can offer different types of coaching:

  • Individual coaching, where you accompany your clients in a personalized way through individual work sessions.
  • Group coaching, where you organize webinars, training, online workshops... to involve several of your clients at the same time on a specific topic. Later on, you can even consider selling ebooks or coaching material to build your passive income in the long term.

4. Selling stock photos

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If you enjoy photography (and know the basics), selling your photos online can be a great way to turn your talent into a real online business.

Many businesses, bloggers, and others are in constant need of new photographs to accompany their content. There are some pretty popular sites like Getty Images, Shutterstock, or Adobe Stock where you can submit your photographs and get paid for each upload.

To ensure sales, you will need to take photographs that are likely to interest the largest number of people, adding your personal touch to differentiate yourself from the competition. It is also a good way to build a portfolio of your work as a photographer by highlighting you're most popular images.

5. Freelance Writer

If you have a minimum of writing talent (you don't need to be a journalist) and you like to write on one or more specific topics, the web writing business as a micro-entrepreneur is for you!

Launching your online business as a freelancer will inevitably require some promotion (for example by creating your website where prospects can contact you) and networking to find your customers.

Starting on popular platforms like Fiverr or 5euro will allow you to get some visibility at the beginning. But in the long run, once you have proven yourself worthy of the task and have worked on your reputation, the ideal way to earn more will be to work directly with your clients and companies.


6. Create websites

With the many online course platforms available and all the resources, one can find on the internet, there is no need to take formal training to learn how to design websites.

Many CMS or other site builders such as WordPress or Shopify allows you to create content or business sites that are both powerful and easy to manage. If you lack the technical side, however, take the time to improve your website design and building skills.

You may then find clients (such as small businesses or freelancers) who need to create their website but don't have the time or knowledge to do it themselves.


7. Community manager

Nowadays, almost every company needs to have a presence on social networks. Whether it's to work on their image, communicate with customers, promote their products, or ensure quality customer service, social media is becoming more and more essential for brands.

If you have a knack for creating inspiring or engaging content on the networks and federating online communities, this online business idea might appeal to you.

You can also find many opportunities on sites like Fiverr, then develop your reputation to eventually work directly with your customers.

8. Personal / Virtual Assistant

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Becoming a virtual assistant for companies or individuals is a great way to start an online business quickly and without big investments.

The role of a personal assistant is to cover various tasks such as answering calls, scheduling meetings, sending emails or communications on behalf of your client, etc. or even managing customer support if you work for a company.

You could easily work towards becoming THE reference in business support and grow your reputation so that even the biggest clients will fight for you.

9. SEO Consultant

Yes, SEO is one of my favorite things. It's the first job I ever had, as an SEO manager in an agency and then in an advertiser's office. All this while being self-taught thanks to the hundreds of wonderful online courses available on the subject.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for anyone who has a website, or more broadly an online business. It is the art of optimizing your website and content so that it appears as high as possible in search engines like Google.

Once trained, you can offer consulting and strategy services, or simply focus on the operational side and work on your clients' SEO yourself. You can also accompany them punctually when they have specific needs, such as during the redesign of a website.

10. Launch a resume writing service

Are you particularly proud of your resume, which has won you many interviews? Do you have the art of highlighting the value of others and bringing out the potential of each person? Consider marketing your resume and/or cover letter writing services, or more broadly job search support.

Most of this online business will revolve around writing, editing, designing, and proofreading resumes or online profiles like LinkedIn. So you'll need few supplies besides your computer and basic design software to get started.

11. Create your Etsy store

Do you like art, DIY, creating with your own hands? If so, you should take advantage of Etsy, an online platform dedicated to selling handmade or vintage (even pre-made) items.

Whether you make art, jewelry, clothing, decorations, or any other handmade item, creating your own Etsy store will allow you to showcase your work and earn money quickly thanks to shoppers who love your original creations.

12. Graphic designer

Graphic designer

You don't need a degree in graphic design to start your online business in this field, although you will, of course, need to have trained in the job.
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Graphic design skills are required for all types of projects: advertising displays, Pinterest images, illustrations for a website, or flyers for an event...

Again, you will find many opportunities on sites such as Fiverr, 5euros, or Malt. As your business develops, don't hesitate to create an online portfolio to promote your designs and gain notoriety.

13. The resale of blogs

It's a bit like the "House for Sale" of websites: buy a blog that is already online but that its creator wants to sell and then rework it, improve it, generate regular traffic... and resell it for a (much) bigger profit. This allows you to earn money without having to permanently maintain your blog. There are plenty of sites where you can buy and sell blogs, but one of the most popular is probably Flippa.com.

14. Online advertising manager

Many small local businesses don't know how to grow their business with online advertising and many large companies don't have the time to do it themselves.

By offering online advertising creation services (Facebook or Twitter Ads, Google Ads...), you make it easier for your customers to gain visibility on the internet and reach their sales goals. And you can easily create your brand to turn your activity into a real online business.

15. Become an Amazon seller

Trading on Amazon has exploded over the past few years, and it's easier than ever to make money through this platform.

For example, what is known as Amazon Arbitrage involves buying local products at a discount in a store and reselling them at a profit on Amazon. For example, buying items at 75% off or more, and then charging the normal price or a lower discount on the platform.

However, this technique requires a lot of time spent tracking down the latest deals around you, which can be quite time-consuming.


16. Create and market your box

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You've probably already heard of them: Birchbox, Gambettes Box, My Little Box...

At the moment, this market of monthly subscription boxes is particularly active, and new ideas are born all the time. If you're passionate about a particular area (beauty, food, sports, wine...), now is the time to get started!

I was considering this project myself a few months ago (which I still have in mind, but put on hold for the moment to dedicate me to 1001ebusiness), and I highly recommend the Cratejoy blog which has a lot of content to understand this business model and create your box.

17. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is the principle by which a site selling products or services offer partners to promote their products in exchange for a commission.

For example, if you have a blog or an active presence on social networks, you can link to the product of the company you are partnering with. Depending on the compensation method, you then earn money every time someone clicks on your link and purchases that product/service.

It's a simple, fun online business idea with the potential for passive income, or close to it (as long as you already have some visibility or plan to build it).

18. Create a translation service

If you are bilingual (or better), you can use your language skills to create your online translation and/or interpretation business.

There is a demand for almost every language imaginable, but some languages can be more lucrative than others (like Japanese or Chinese, for example).

19. Buy and resell items on eBay

If you've ever watched the series Girlboss, you know what I'm talking about. Based on a true story, this Netflix original tells the story of how Sophia Amoruso created the company, Nasty Gal, by starting to resell on eBay collectibles that she found in San Francisco thrift stores.

But this scenario doesn't only exist in the TV series. Thanks to the development of online commerce, there are more opportunities than ever to buy and resell products on the internet.

If you have a sense of value and commerce, selling items on eBay is an online business idea that can make you a lot of money. As with everything else, you'll first need to find your niche, know what to sell and at what price - but also promote your business.

20. Brand strategy consultant

The Brand Strategist's mission is to help companies understand what consumers want and to build the brand accordingly. Because even with the amazing window of opportunity the internet provides, there are still tons of small business owners who have no idea how to market themselves.

Of course, to succeed in branding, you'll need some advertising or marketing expertise as well as project management knowledge.

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