25 Best and Most Lucrative Online Business Ideas You Can Start in 2022

Are you looking for the best business idea to start in 2022?

Today, we will look at some of the most lucrative online businesses to start in 2022. It should be noted that 64% of small businesses have websites. We’ll look at the best online business ideas to start in 2022.

Starting a business can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first business. 

As a new online entrepreneur, you must familiarize yourself with the digital interface. You must learn how sales funnels and sequences work, discover hosting platforms and tools, and you should know what a sales process looks like.

With this guide, we’re looking to create a long resource list with many lucrative business ideas to start in 2022. And with most small business models following the online business model, these ideas are very simple online businesses you can begin immediately. 

The objective of starting a business is for profits, right?

You’d start an organization if you are interested in donating.

Now, there are countless business ideas you could start, but which proves most lucrative?

Which online business is easiest to start?

What online business tends to have lower risk?

What’s the cost of starting, running, and managing the business?

You must consider these things when starting a business, especially as a new entrepreneur. For this guide, we’ll help you navigate through a long list of profitable online business ideas to start in 2022, even as we approach 2023.

Most ideas listed here will require minimal financing to get them off the ground. These ideas will help you to start your own successful business.

25 Most Lucrative Online Businesses Ideas to Start in 2022

These business ideas or business models will help you with ideas to get off the ground. You can choose a business idea you feel knowledgeable and passionate about.

But before we start, how did we come up with this list?

Well, we chose the most popular online business models around today. There are countless businesses you could start today and still not profit from them. So to avoid this, we looked at the business ideas with the most demand in today’s economy. 

Looking for inspiration to start your own business as an entrepreneur today?

Here are 25 lucrative online business ideas to try out.

#1. Promote Affiliate Products 

Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular business models online. The idea behind affiliate marketing is to drive sales to other products and services for an affiliate cut. 

This online business idea is ideal for 9-5ers, stay-at-home moms, and students. I’ve been doing affiliate marketing for nearly ten years, and it’s been a lucrative source of income for me. 

How does affiliate marketing work?

What you do is find products that you want to promote to your audience. This could be physical or digital products like coaching, eBooks, clothes, shoes, online courses, etc. 

Successful affiliate marketers like Michelle Gardner of Makingsenseofcents.com make well over $100,000 monthly from affiliate earnings. She even has an in-depth course that teaches beginners how to make their first $1000 promoting affiliate products or services. 

For instance, Bluehost runs an affiliate program through Impact.com. 

#2. Dropshipping 

What is dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a business model where an entrepreneur sets up an eCommerce store and sells products they don’t necessarily keep in stock. They contact the manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer to ship products when a customer makes an order. 

Can you run a dropshipping store without having any products or inventory yourself?

Yes, you can. There are thousands of retailers online with numerous products you can promote on your store and make sales. When you make a sale, the profits are split between the vendor and the dropshipper. 

An example of a retail company you can work with is Amazon dropshipping. 

Amazon’s dropshipping program reported over 300 million users with more than 280 billion dollars in sales in 2019 alone.

#3. Help Small Businesses With Social Media Management 

Social media management is one of the oldest online business models. Millions of experienced marketers help businesses and entrepreneurs with social media management and social selling. 

What skills do you need as a social media manager?

Social media management for companies is probably the easiest business model. 

You need the base knowledge on how social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Quora, Pinterest, etc., work. You should also learn how these platforms can be used to build a fan base and attract leads and customers for brands. 

According to an old report by Vertical Response, small businesses spend an average of 6 hours weekly on social media networks. That is time that could be invested into other aspects of the business. 

Entrepreneurs and startups today are willing to cut down this time. You can find outstanding social media marketing courses to learn the basics of social media marketing and management and get certified. 

This way, you can write to businesses and offer to help them with social media management.

#4. Start Freelance Writing

A freelance writer is self-employed and helps businesses with content writing, and they are paid based on the project, time, or value. Most freelance writers prefer to charge by the hour. You can also work and charge per project depending on the brand you’re working with. 

Most freelance writers create a portfolio where they publish all past works for clients to see. An example is Simon Zaku of simonzaku.com. 

You can also begin taking content writing courses to build your brand and portfolio. As a beginner, I got clients by pitching ideas to CEOs and offering to write a test project so they could see exactly how my writing skills could help them save time and convert more web readers. 

Freelance writers charge anywhere from $.05 to $.25 per word. It depends on your experience level and the value your writing brings to the table.

#5. Become an Instagram Influencer

Instagram influencing is a fast-growing business model for entrepreneurs willing to build their brands.

Are you good at building a dedicated following?

Can you get social media users to test certain products and services you recommend?

Consider building your brand on Instagram. You can select a niche and focus on growing your page. 

You can begin charging companies to promote their brands or products when you have more followers. For example, Amazon best-selling author Andrew Macarthy says Instagram influencers with one to one thousand followers (1-1k) charge anywhere from $10 to $100 per Instagram post. However, those with 100K+ can command between $500 to $1000 per post, depending on influence and fan engagement. 

#6. Web or Software Developer

A web developer works with companies to build web software and applications. You must learn various coding languages like HTML and CSS to do this. 

In basic terms, a web developer is paid to make, design, and maintain websites for brands. They take care of website technical issues as well as capacity and performance.

A web developer should be skilled with web analytics, JavaScript, backend basics, and search engine optimization.

#7. Start a Social Media Marketing Agency 

Are you already skilled in social media marketing? Consider building a team as an agency to help bigger companies with social media management and marketing.

You see, huge companies like Amazon, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter still spend millions of dollars on social media advertisements.

You can begin helping big companies with their Facebook and Instagram advertisements as a verified social media marketing agency. 

Tai Lopez shows entrepreneurs how to start and build a social media marketing agency from scratch for $10,000 per month in his social media marketing course. 

Looking for social media agencies to get ideas from?

Check out this resource:

The 8 Best Social Media Marketing Companies of 2021

#8. A T-Shirt Business

This is another e-commerce store where an entrepreneur prints and sells branded t-shirts in their online stores.

T-shirt often reflects our personalities and what we love. Because of this, selling t-shirts online has become popular and profitable. 

The T-shirt market is projected to hit $10 billion by 2025, according to Business Insider. In 2019, it was valued at $1 billion by the same resource. 

You can begin researching your t-shirt niche and source quality materials and printing options. Then start designing and selling your unique t-shirts and building your brand.

#9. Translating

Translating is a lucrative business idea for new entrepreneurs. Are you skilled in more than one language?

Are you good with speaking and writing in multiple languages?

You can become a freelance translator and help businesses and entrepreneurs translate written, audio, video, or even live content.

#10. Content Editor 

As a content editor, you are responsible for planning, proofreading, editing, and publishing traditional and online media content. Content editors are commonly known to edit and fact-check articles written by content writers. 

They are also responsible for finding and picking great content writers for a specific project. In essence, content editors oversee content projects and ensure only the best content pieces are published by their clients. 

A content editor needs to have writing and editing skills and should have some level of copy editing and proofreading experience. Here are some skills a content editor possesses:

• Content planning
• Search engine optimization
• Communication skills
• Social media copywriting
• Keyword research

A content editor is in charge of organizing all the content for their clients and ensuring detailed orientation for all published content. 

#11. Sell Digital Courses and eBooks

Did you know that the e-learning industry was valued at $107 billion in 2015 and is expected to hit 300 billion dollars by 2025?

Selling digital courses is one of the fastest growing sectors on the internet. It has become lucrative for entrepreneurs and digital e-course creators. 

Many entrepreneurs on the internet today make seven figures selling digital courses and eBooks. I made my first dollar online selling eBooks on my website. 

In December 2016, Melyssa Griffin, who teaches bloggers how to grow traffic on Pinterest, made $258,108 in sales from her e-course, Pinfinite Growth. 

That’s a lot of money from a business you don’t need a physical office for!  

Do you possess any special skills you want to teach people?

You can begin by finding unique, lucrative topics you are knowledgeable about and can conveniently teach people. Platforms like Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi (my personal favorite) let creators host, launch and manage their course content easily.

#12. Amazon Kindle Publishing 

Amazon is a platform that initially allowed people to sell their books online. Today, the Amazon Kindle Program lets book authors sell their books online easily. It is a great self-publishing platform for people looking to build their authorship online. 

The Amazon Kindle Program is perfect for authors looking to write and sell eBooks, paperbacks, or audiobooks online. 

To begin, you must create an Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account through kdp.amazon.com and add your Kindle eBook details. 

The platform allows authors to enter their eBook titles, subtitles, and book descriptions to encourage sales. You’ll need to verify your ownership and select target niche keywords for your book.

#13. Become a Book Author or Editor

A book editor is responsible for ensuring a book is published correctly. From the book planning process to writing and proofreading, a book editor ensures all is in place. 

It takes time and effort for an author to write and publish a book. You can provide writing and publishing and make a living. 

To become a certified book editor, get a bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, or Communication and begin building your book portfolio. Consider writing a book yourself; this can help promote your works to more clients easily. 

Even though a college degree isn’t necessarily needed to become a book author or editor, you should educate yourself and build your skills in book planning, writing, editing, proofreading, publishing, and marketing.

#14. Get into NFTs and Cryptocurrency 

NFTs are the next big thing. Celebrities and influencers are investing huge sums in this project, But what are NFTs?

And how can you get into NFTs?

NFT stands for “Non-Fungible Token” and is simply a digital asset that links its ownership to a unique person or digital character. These could be real estate, art, music, or valuable collectibles. 

Every NFT has a unique identification code that sets it apart. This allows a buyer to own an item originally and provides secured proof of ownership to the buyer. 

How do you begin making money through NFTs?

Entrepreneurs treat NFTs like company stocks; you buy them and then sell them when the value appreciates. 

You can also begin by minting or creating your NFT collection and selling your works through platforms like Appt Pie. 

Ensure you invest in the right NFT to reduce risk. 

#15. Freelance Portfolio Photography

Are you good with cameras?

Do you have experience working with complex cameras or taking professional shots?

You can offer your services to professionals looking to build their brands. Countless entrepreneurs are willing to pay good money to get nice professional shots for their websites and social media profiles. 

When I started, I paid around $1,000 for my website and brand shoot, and the photos were great!

You can begin by building your portfolio and relationships with entrepreneurs and freelancers on platforms like LinkedIn. 

#16. Sell Website Themes Online 

You can make good money today by making and selling website themes online. Many websites are developed every day, and a good number pay for premium themes. 

You can tap into this growing industry if you are good with web coding or development. You could also go specific, like WordPress themes, which are popular.

Platforms like Themeforest.net and Creativemarket.com allow theme designers to upload, sell and manage theme orders from clients.

#17. Start and Build a Profitable Blog

A blog is an online journal where an author (or authors) create and update content on their websites. 

Blogging is the process of writing and publishing content periodically on the internet for a target audience. Bloggers simply find lucrative topic ideas their desired audience wants to read or learn about. 

This could be video, audio, or written content.

Bloggers make money through content sponsorships, advertisements, pay-pay-click, or by selling secondary products and promoting them through blog posts. 

A video blogger is called a vlogger. It’s a fast-growing business sector online. 

#18. Video Editing

Do you have experience editing videos for brands?

There are about 8,600 openings for video editors and camera specialists annually. This is projected to grow at 29% by the year 2030. 

You can begin freelancing as a video editor on sites like Fiverr, Freelancer, or Upwork. Or, if possible, you can also set up your website and build a portfolio. 

Don’t want to set up a website? Consider going for YouTube.

Create videos and upload them. Send links to prospects, and you can consider doing sample work for leads when you’re just starting. Speaking of YouTube, you can search for YouTubers on YouTube and pitch to them with your video editing and videography skills.

#19. Start a Podcast

Did you know that the Podcast industry is set to generate over $4 billion by 2024?

Podcasting is a fast-growing business sector entrepreneurs should pay attention to. 

Podcasting is the distribution of digital recordings of live broadcasts, available on digital platforms for streaming and downloads. It is available through RSS feeds to users who have subscribed. 

You can select a niche for your podcast and begin releasing episodes to build your listener base. You can then begin generating revenue through sponsorships, premium content, and complementary products. 

You can learn from podcasters Pat Flynn from SmartPassiveIncome (SPI) and John Dumas from EOFire, who make over six figures in podcasting.

#20. Go into Graphics Design

This is one of the most popular business models on the internet today. Millions of graphic designers make thousands of dollars by offering graphics design skills. 

What do graphic designers do?

A graphics designer designs company brand logos, typography, and color palettes to improve user interface on applications or websites. 

This could also be in magazines, publications, or product packaging. A graphics designer also takes care of all graphics used in advertisements, commercials, or signage for stores or event spaces.

How do you become a graphic designer?

Get trained by taking graphic design courses online. You can also go for an in-depth course on design software like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. 

Set up a comfortable home studio to help with inspiration and clear thinking. Training as a graphic designer takes time and energy; why not do that in a peaceful, comfortable space?

Then you can apply for jobs online on Fiverr or LinkedIn. To do this, create a portfolio showing people what you can do. 

YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the internet today. And with over 2.6 billion active users, YouTube is one of the fastest-growing social media networks. 

To start earning on YouTube, you need at least a thousand (1000) subscribers and four thousand (4,000) watch hours on your YouTube channel to be eligible to earn through Google Adsense. 

How do YouTubers make money from Google?

YouTubers simply create and publish video content on their channels. They can apply for YouTube third-party advertisers to promote their products or brand to their audience.  

If a YouTuber publishes a video on how to make a salad, YouTube displays ads from kitchen-related websites on this video. YouTube pays the video owner when people watch and interact with these ads.

How much does YouTube pay per view?

YouTube’s average pay rate is around $.01 to $.05 per 1000 views depending on your target audience. For instance, if your YouTube fans are from the US, you are more likely to get a higher pay rate than viewers from Cyprus.

#21. Start Forex Trading

Forex or foreign exchange trading is a global market for trading or exchanging national currencies (USD, EUR, etc.). 

The forex market is the world’s largest and most liquid market. This is a result of the market’s worldwide reach of trade and finance of international currencies. 

So as a forex trader, your job is to trade different currencies on the forex market for profit. Many forex experts and agencies spend enormous time studying this market.

This allows experts to effectively predict whether or not a currency will rise or decrease in value. The ability of a forex trader to make the correct projection generates revenue. 

You need in-depth knowledge of the forex market and how it operates. 

You must practice trading and understand that you will make many wrong trade decisions at the start. Focus on trading specific currency pairs and build your unique experience around them. 

You can also consider learning and using automated trading programs like AvaTrade and eToro. As a beginner, having a mentor is a plus.

#22. Become a Resume Writer

A resume writer is responsible for planning, designing, and creating resumes that convert well. Resume writers help their clients build resumes that display the highest skills, background, and experience. 

They also provide career advice to find high-paying jobs or score job interviews. 

You can begin by looking for internship opportunities during or after your bachelor’s degree to build your experience and portfolio. You can also get certified and attend live and online workshops to find clients for your new business idea.

#23. HR Consultant

A human resources (HR) consultant is a professional who initiates and leads human resource projects. An HR consultant is responsible for identifying a problematic situation and finding the cause. 

According to Indeed, becoming an HR consultant can be financially rewarding, as reports reveal that the average annual salary for an HR consultant is $79,009.

They provide recommendations and HR advice to personnel and human resource brands. 

To become an HR consultant, you need a bachelor’s degree in business administration, human resource management, or any related discipline. Build experience by looking for internships while getting your bachelor’s degree. 

Get certified and consider getting a master’s degree to boost your career as an HR consultant. 

#24. SEO Manager or Specialist

An SEO manager focuses on developing and implementing an effective search engine strategy for clients. The SEO manager is also responsible for handling Pay-Per-Click (PPC), search marketing, link building, content creation, and content marketing. 

You can begin with an SEO course to learn about search engine optimization. You can also get digital certificates to display in your portfolio. With time, you can begin taking on SEO clients or working with SEO marketing agencies to build your experience.

#25. Project Manager

Organizations run huge, complex projects from time to time. These projects are supervised by a project manager who oversees the entire project. 

A project manager is responsible for coordinating all the people involved in ensuring the project goes as planned. An example of a project could be a promotion series to get leads for an event. 

The typical requirements to become a project manager are:

• At least three years of experience in a project management facility
• Leadership skills
• Time management skills
• Effective communication skills
• Decisiveness

A project manager’s roles involve regular communication, budgeting, reporting, team building, and project conflict management.

How Can I Start My Own Business for No Money?

Starting a business without investing money can be impossible, but you will see it is possible with the right tools and strategies. 

Now that most businesses can be set up in minutes online, it’s cheap or free. 

For example, using Shopify, you could set up an eCommerce store for free today. With Shopify’s free 7-day trial, you can create a Shopify store now. 

But what’s my advice on starting a business without investing any money?

Keep your main day job and use your earnings to fund your business. Most times, you’ll still need to invest a little in tools and platforms to help you run your business better.

This resource is also meant to help you with business ideas that are free (or almost free) to start. What’s an example?

What Are 10 Business Ideas You Can Start With Zero Capital Today?

1. Blogger/WordPress.com blogs
2. Affiliate marketing
3. Social media management 
4. Instagram influencer 
5. Content editor
6. Content marketing 
7. Consulting (though you’ll need to set up your brand website)
8. SEO expert
9. Graphics designer 
10. Professional organizing 

Now, can you start these businesses for free?

You can, but in the long run, you need to invest in tools, courses, resources, mentorships, platforms, and even advertisements to run a successful business.

Can I Start My Business from Home?

The nature of the internet today has made starting a business easy. Even without knowing much about starting a business, you can start several businesses quickly from home on the internet.

I could set up an e-commerce store, blog, niche website, affiliate website, YouTube channel, dropshipping website, etc., in a few hours.

What Do You Need to Start Your Own Business From Home?

1. Computer
2. Phone
3. Network
4. Tools
5. Hosting 
6. Domain
7. Social media accounts

What Are the Five Steps for Starting an Online Business?

Are you ready to start your online business?

Do you have a lucrative business you want to start up?

You should follow five key steps to ensure you start your business properly. 

How to Start an Online Business in Five Steps

1. Do your research and select the online business you want to start. You can choose one and begin your research from the long list of business ideas. Learn about the industry, products, competitors, target audience, and possible loopholes your competitors are missing. 
2. Select a business name. Selecting a business name can feel overwhelming at first because your brand name can positively or negatively affect your brand. You can do your research to find the best business name that fits your brand voice and what you stand for. 
3. Build a business plan. How do you plan on starting and growing? What’s your plan for your business in the next two years?
4. Get your digital space ready (hosting and domain). This is where you familiarize yourself with all the necessary tools needed for your type of business model. You can consider registering your business to solidify your brand name even more. 
5. Get your first ten (10) to fifty (50) customers and build a team to help grow and expand your business or company.