10 Ideas for How to Start a Small Business Online in 2022

Although small businesses have their appeal, they also present many challenges. It isn't easy to start a business of any type. Although some people view the internet as a quick way to make money, it still applies basic business principles.

This guide will give you ideas for online businesses and step-by-step instructions on opening a small online business.

Online is a way to connect businesses with people. It is a powerful tool that allows you to reach anyone, anywhere in the world. It's still about connecting the right customers to the right offer when you create a business.

Numerous people have leaped to entrepreneurship. You can make it happen too if you have the right ideas for online businesses and enough sweat equity.

This is not about one life-changing tip, as it's not easy to start an online business. Still, we've compiled a list of easy ways to launch a profitable online business without leaving your job.

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Jump to:

1. Start a blog

2. Start your own clothing business

3. Start a small dropshipping business

4. Sell your artwork online

5. Become a freelance writer, designer or offer other services

6. Create apps and websites

7. Become an influencer

8. Create handmade goods

9. Become a social media manager

10. Become a translator

1. Start a blog

Since its birth, blogging has evolved a lot. The blog was originally a virtual journal. It has evolved into a marketing tool and even a monetization resource.

A blog can be an excellent way to start an online business, whether you make money by publishing sponsored posts, hosting third-party ads, or selling products.

Building a loyal, engaged audience is the key to launching a successful blog. You will build trust if you approach your audience with a trusting mindset.

You can then start driving revenue when you earn trust. This is how Mr. Money Mustache began his popular blog about personal finance. The movement that started as a small business has grown into a national phenomenon and is now a well-known brand.

It's really easy to get started, essentially you only need a Wordpress site and hosting for it. Popular options are Hostinger, Bluehost or other providers.

Why should you start a blog?

• Blogs offer unlimited growth potential. There are many ways to expand your blog into affiliate marketing, ecommerce, and courses. There even are blogs that use a paid subscription model to drive revenue.
  

• Blogs are a long-term investment. Although you may not see immediate results, blogs are more likely to last. Blogs can be found online forever, or at least until they are deleted.
  

• You can practice your writing, an important business and communication skill. To improve it, you can use tools such Grammarly or Jasper (for AI to help you with your content).

2. Start your own clothing business

You can start your clothing business with some ideas and a little time.

If you already have a Shopify store, you can create your own clothing line with Printify, Printful or another product-sourcing app. Each one automatically links your shop to clothing printers and manufacturers. You can also have them handle all aspects of the retail fulfillment process, giving you complete freedom to design and ship large quantities of products right away.

What are the pros of starting your own clothing company?

• Nothing is more satisfying than designing products that people use every day.
  

• You can start selling immediately after you have set up your Shopify store. The process of creating and delivering custom-made clothing is now much easier thanks to print-on-demand apps like Printify or Printful.
  

• It's a great feeling to see your ideas come to life and make them profitable.

3. Start a small dropshipping business

You think you will need a warehouse to manage your business? You might be wrong! Dropshipping can be an excellent way for a small business to get started.

You can get up and running quickly by sourcing pre-existing products from suppliers. They will take care of fulfillment and packaging.

This allows you to skip many of the obstacles that could be preventing you from starting your business. It also eliminates the possibility of discovering that there is no market for your product once you have placed a large order with a supplier or manufacturer.

Dropshipping is a great option because:

• Stock products don't have to be kept in physical locations. This means that cash flow will not get impacted by inventory. There is less risk of cash shortages.
  

• You place an order with third parties when a purchase is made. They handle all the rest. Dropshipping is a great way to eliminate potential headaches, such as tracking inventory and mailing packages.
  

• You can operate your business from any location because there is no warehouse for you to take care of. You can work anywhere you like, whether it's in your living room or at the café down the street.

4. You can sell your artwork online

You can turn your latest creation into a source of revenue by creating a beautifully designed ecommerce website. Regardless of whether you are a photographer, a painter, or have any other talents.

Printify and Printful allow you to sell your photography or painting work as prints, canvases, or framed posters. This is a fantastic way to make your art tangible so people can take it home and incorporate it into their space.

Are you a music lover? You can also sell your beats and songs as digital downloads and use Wix or Shopify for that, as it's really easy to do that.

The Drum broker is the largest online drum sample company in the world. With the help of apps such as ShipStation and FetchApp, it created a sustainable and profitable small business model.

Why should you sell your art?

• You can make a difference in people's lives by bringing your work into their homes.
  

• By opening an online shop, you'll be able to showcase your work.
  

• Artists aren't limited to a hobby. It's an integral part of your daily life. This is your opportunity to make your passion a career and have an additional income stream.

5. You can become a freelance writer, designer or offer other services

A freelancer can be a writer, a graphic designer, or even a developer. You can use your skills as a freelancer to help people around the world with their projects while also making money. It really depends on the skills you have, as you can offer a lot of different services.

You don't have to take on lengthy projects that consume your time. Freelancing does not mean you must. It's easy to pick up small tasks that work around your schedule.

You can find people who need your assistance by using freelancing marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr.

Fiverr is not like a traditional job board. Many of the jobs are $5, as the name implies. You can earn a lot of money with Fiverr by carefully structuring your offers to be able to upsell clients for more money.

For example, you might offer to write a 150 word introduction for your first $5 service. You could also charge $10 per 150 words more. You can adjust your services until you find a combination that is worth it.

Why should you freelance?

• Freelancers can choose the projects they want to work on and create their own schedules and workplace.
  

• It's a great feeling to get paid to do something you are good at.
  

• Freelancing can be a great way to expand your writing, design, development, or other skills. It also allows you to gain real experience in many industries. You may discover a passion or knack for something that you didn't know you had.

6. Create apps and websites

You can learn coding skills if you're tech-savvy and begin building. You can make digital products for sale, whether you're using Shopify apps, mobile apps, or just any other website.

I.e., a custom Shopify template can be created and sold to merchants seeking a DIY, affordable approach to designing their website.

Work directly with clients to develop websites and apps customized to their requirements. You can also create Wordpress websites, help choose the best hosting providers, and set everything up.

Why should you build apps and websites?

• Technology is not going anywhere. The demand for technical skills required to build websites and apps will continue to grow.
  

• There are numerous platforms and systems. Learn and move on to the next platform if you are bored with one.

7. Become an influencer

Influencer Marketing has been a huge success in the marketing world. While consumers are becoming more tech-savvy, there are still many business opportunities.

There's been a movement toward micro-influencers, profiles with smaller but more engaged followings. Having millions of followers to make money on Instagram or any other platform is unnecessary. You can really start small and build on increasing numbers of followers.

What's the point of being an influencer?

• It's a chance to get an introduction to marketing. It's precious if you're interested in pursuing that as a career or additional business venture.
  

• You'll discover new and exciting brands. You might find products or companies you love, even though they didn't seek your help initially.

8. Create handmade goods

Selling handmade items could be a great business idea if you are a crafty person. One business idea that you can do is to make jewelry, frames, or furniture and then sell them online.

Although you can use Etsy and Craigslist to sell your items, having an online shop gives you more control over the process. It allows you to track orders and fulfill them.

Why should you sell handmade goods?

• You can spend as much or as little of your time as you like. You can decide how big you want to get.
  

• Your schedule is your guide. Create your handmade products according to a set schedule. You can do this whenever you have time.
  

• Turn your passion into income. As with many other online business ideas, entrepreneurship that is driven by passion can lead to more satisfying experiences.

9. You can become a social media manager

It takes a lot of skill to manage and grow social media accounts. You can become a social media manager, or consultant for brands if you are able to do so.

Your responsibilities include managing a company's online social media presence, developing its social marketing strategy and managing campaigns. With tools like CoSchedule, campaign management becomes easy and structured, as you can schedule unlimited posts into the future.

This is a great online business idea with a lot of demand, as you could work remotely, gain a lot of knowledge along the way, and provide services to multiple brands simultaneously.

Jobs in Social Media is expected to grow by 10% by the end of 2030. It doesn't require much capital to start, just to gain knowledge and practice along the way.

Start by creating a website and your own social media channels. (Grow them and use them to prove you are worthy of clients!). You can cater to more social media needs as you gain experiences such as brand sponsorship management, outreach, and profile growth.

Why not start your own social media management company?

• Service-based businesses have few barriers to entry, and they are relatively easy to start.
  

• You can make your own decisions about your earning potential. Your service fees will be higher if you have more experience and can demonstrate results.
  

• As a social media manager, you can make something you do daily into a profitable business.

10. Become a translator

It can be lucrative to earn money if you know more than one language. An internet connection and a laptop are all you need to start an online translation business. The translation industry has seen a boom in recent years with a double-digit increase in its size over the previous decade.

You can use your skills as a translator to translate articles, resumes and any content. You can either charge per hour or per project as you improve your skills.

Whatever your preference, a translation company can be flexible and profitable once you have started working with your first clients.

Why would you want to start a translation company?

• You can also list your services on Fiverr or UpWork to get a more independent approach and set your own prices, translate and earn there.
  

• Suppose you aren't looking to start your own business. In that case, there are many translation platforms like Gengo that will pay competitively for your work.
  

• Translation is a flexible business that doesn't require inventory management, making it easier just to use your knowledge.

Get started with your online business today!

If you've been considering starting an online company, now is the time to go and do it. It doesn't mean you have to invest all of your time and money.

You can start small by starting a side-hustle, with multiple examples we showed, and then grow. You can also keep it small. It's entirely up to you to learn how to start an online business.

Do you have questions about starting an online business? Leave us a comment below.