The 85 Best Ideas for Small Businesses in 2025

Recently, we’ve seen a record number of people leave the corporate workforce in favor of gig work, freelancing, or starting a small business. We’ve all considered it! That’s why we dove in to find the best small business ideas for those of you who are looking to get out of your mundane 9-5 job, or just want something new to invest your time and brain power into.

In this post, you’ll get 85 of the most profitable and unique small business ideas, in these categories:

The best ideas for starting a small business in 2025 Home-based business ideas Unique small business ideas
Profitable small business ideas
Easy small business ideas for teens or adults
Creative small business ideas for women
How do you select the most promising new businesses? Even more excellent concepts for a small business The most successful small businesses to start in 2025: Our verdict
Because they are ready to be their own boss, many people decide to start their own small business. There is a small business for you, no matter your reasons for starting your own business. Here are our favorite small business ideas for stability, profitability, ease of running from home, ease of starting, and creativity:
The best home-based small business: web developer Most stable small business idea:

childcare owner

Most profitable small business: event planner
Easiest small business to start: notary
Travel planner is the most original idea for a small business. Want suggestions for marketing throughout the year? Free guide >> The Mega Must-Have Marketing Calendar
Small business ideas from home
Remote work is all the rage, for good reason. Why leave your house to make money when you don’t have to? There will no longer be a commute, costly lunches, or coworkers who cannot be avoided. We have the best small business ideas that you can make happen right from the comfort of your home.

1. The childcare industry

Daycare providers are in high demand among parents who have switched to remote work after entire families were confined to their homes for prolonged periods of time. What’s better? You can provide daycare outside of your home and still take care of your kids if you stay-at-home parent. The median annual salary is $29,000.

2. Virtual personal trainer

Gym memberships dropped significantly during and after the pandemic, and influencers had a field day with at-home DIY videos. People realized that working out doesn’t have to be done in a gym. And the rise of video fitness trainers created an interest in a variety of exercise experiences. Which is a fancy way of saying that the MindBody app, YouTube, Instagram, and other forms of online fitness training are all successful business models. Salaries for trainers range from $30,000 – $70,000 per year, but the money you make online would be dependent on your pricing model.
Video is the way to go, whether you have a trainer or not. Follow our tips on how to get more video views and rank higher on YouTube.

3. Web designer

To become a web developer, you’ll need training and money to get started. On the other hand, there are numerous boot camps that can get you up to speed. The best part about web development is that you can specialize in a wide range of areas, including blogs, e-commerce, marketing, and just about anything else you can find online. If you’re not looking to actually be a web developer, consider starting a small business to manage them. Web development freelance is in high demand! Web development salaries range from about $60,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on your skillset and location.

4. Executive assistant

There are a lot of up-and-coming executives in the C-suite who have never learned how to schedule meetings, despite the fact that the economy is expanding at a massive rate thanks to technology. But really, being an executive assistant can take place from the comfort of your home at a remote company, and if your executive is looking for part-time help, you can take on more than one. A home-based, growing small business, there you have it! Starting salaries for executive assistants start around $60,000.

5. Charitable Work

Knowing that you are doing a net-good for your community makes starting a small business much easier. Starting a nonprofit isn’t easy, but it can be done remotely, particularly if you’re looking to run this business yourself. Pick a cause that you feel passionately about and dive right in.

Unique small business ideas

What does it mean for a small business to be “good”? We’re referring to long-lasting, solid businesses that provide a service that people will always require. Anecdotally, my grandfather heard Hoover say that everyone would get a chicken. Chicken will always be eaten by people. So he started a chicken business. Don’t worry, these small business ideas don’t require plucking feathers.

6. Translator

As the world becomes more global, the need for translation services continues to rise. While some of this involves translating content, emails, and documents, others are more service-oriented, such as accompanying groups or business leaders on international trips. It’s important to remember that you’ll need to be able to translate conversations as well as understand a language’s grammatical and structural structures.

7. Tutor

If you are an adult who has completed high school or college, you probably have something that you can share with children. First, give tutoring a shot if you enjoy teaching. You can tutor multiple students and specialize in a variety of subjects, such as the SAT or remedial Spanish. The amount of time required varies, and small tutoring businesses are in high demand even from a distance.

8. Nanny

People continue to have children! A nanny business might be right for you if you enjoy playing with children, using your imagination, and packing snacks. Depending on your level of commitment to one family, sometimes nannying positions offer food, board, and benefits, or you could be a part time nanny!

9. IT consulting

This is a small business that other small businesses always need. Make a website and start collecting payments if you know how to use an IT stack and how to fix it when it breaks because you are in high demand. IT professionals are well-compensated by job or by the hour.

10. Online advertiser

It would be like to say that digital marketing is an industry that is expanding at an ever-increasing rate at this point. It’s a fact and businesses that want to survive must invest in online marketing strategies, but small business owners wearing many hats don’t have time to learn or keep up with the ever-changing platforms. Consider starting an advertising gig for small businesses. You might even start your own business. You, my friend, are in the right place if you want to learn about online advertising (both in this post and on this blog). The following are our top recommendations: The 9 Best Free Courses on Google Ads for Every Level The 8 Facebook Ads Courses for Every Level
Ideas for small, profitable businesses Why start a business if you’re not sure you’ll make money? We all work to live (hopefully), and these small business ideas will make you the most money to keep your bank account plump and your vacations fancy.

11. Handyman

Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. I have never appreciated handymen more than I do while renovating an old house. A handyman business might be right for you if you like to fix things and are handy around the house. The nature and length of a job determine how much handymen are compensated. Related: Home Services Advertising Benchmarks

12. Event planner

This may fall into creative small businesses, but it is also a fairly steady job (despite the pandemic). Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and holidays will always necessitate assistance in event planning. Consider organizing events if you are meticulous, highly organized, and able to herd cats like a pro!

13. Transcriptionist

Transcription services become even more essential as the popularity of video content grows annually. In fact, I was desperately searching for transcriptions just last week. Now, I’m referring to casual marketing video transcription but for a legal or court transcriptionist or medical, you’ll need certifications that are fairly affordable to get.
Transcriptionists make an average of $52,000 per year.

14. Movers

We’ve seen a rash of big moves the past few years with people exiting urban areas to purchase homes in the suburbs—and some migration back to big cities as well. Everyone hates moving, and small moving companies have made a lot of money from the real estate boom. Start a small moving company to get in on the action. Movers typically get paid per hour or per job, if it’s a multi-day, out-of-state move.

15. Antiquities renovation

Okay, you probably haven’t heard of this one, and most people who live in historic areas probably do. However, there is a niche market for people who are able to restore and reinstall original fixtures in old homes, from cabinet pulls to bricks and old window panes. In fact, I just purchased local, 200-year-old bricks for the house I’m renovating. So if vintage charm is your style, this small business may also be.

16. Manager of short-term rentals

Once upon a time, my parents rented out half of their house on AirBnb. They made a killing in their little hotel-less town with grandparents visiting family, families in between homes, and business people staying for a consulting project. Because it was too much work for my mother to clean and sanitize after each guest, Airbnb eventually came to an end. Point of the story: rental managers are largely successful and becoming even more so with the rise of home rentals. Check with local hosts on VRBO and Airbnb to see if you can serve as a sort of superintendent for their rentals.