50+ Business Opportunities for 2026

Sometimes, finding success as an entrepreneur is about chasing your passion. Other times, it’s about identifying a business opportunity and seeking to address it. A business opportunity can manifest as a gap between what people want and what’s easy to find, like a product nobody sells locally, a service people already pay for but can’t book online, or an automated process other small businesses still handle by hand.

In May 2026, the US Census Bureau recorded 523,971 seasonally adjusted business applications in May 2026, up 3.7% from April. Behind each of those filings is someone who spotted a gap like this and decided to act on it.

Looking to do the same? This guide compares more than 50 business opportunities for 2026 across online stores, low-cost side businesses, local services, food and beverage, and AI-powered ventures. Each is analyzed for demand, feasibility, and fit, so you can compare options and find the best business opportunity that matches your skills, budget, and goals.

What is a business opportunity?

A business opportunity is a real, current gap between what people want and what’s easy for them to get right now. It typically combines four aspects: consumers who want something, a way to reach them, a cost you can afford, and a model for getting paid. 

A few examples that fit this definition include reselling a trending product through dropshipping, tutoring high school students over video call, running a weekly lawn care service in your neighborhood, or offering AI-assisted copywriting to local businesses that don’t have time to write their own marketing materials.

Each of these examples has different demand, cost, and skill requirements, which is why “business opportunity” isn’t the same as “good business opportunity for you.” At the end of the day, you’ll need to determine which opportunity lands in the sweet spot between skillset, bandwidth, and profitability.

How to evaluate a business opportunity

Before picking from this list, run your new business ideas through a few checkpoints, including:

• Customer feedback. Talk to the people you’d be selling to before you build anything. In a 2025 Shopify survey of store owners,* 57% said they validated their business idea using personal experience as a customer, a previous business owner, or a professional in the field.
• Competitor gaps. Look at what existing businesses in your category offer, then find what they’re missing. There could be a price point, a feature, a turnaround time, or a niche they’ve ignored.
• Inefficient workflows. Some of the strongest opportunities come from watching how a task gets done currently (on paper, by phone, through email) and offering a faster or online version of it.
• Search demand. Use a tool like Google Trends to check whether people are actively searching for your product or service, and whether that interest is growing.
• Startup cost. Map out what you’d need to spend before your first sale. Consider inventory or supplies, software, licenses, and marketing. Then, compare that figure against how much cash you can risk.
• Margin potential. Estimate what’s left after the cost of goods, fees, and shipping. A product with healthy margins gives you room to test ads, offer discounts, and still turn a profit.
• SWOT analysis. List your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the idea.

“Research is important to do for any business,” says Susie Harrison, co-founder and CGO at Hearth Display, in an episode of Shopify Masters. “Any problem you’re trying to solve, you need to validate that the problem exists and that it’s a problem people want to solve so much they’re willing to pay for the solution. Those pieces are critical for any business, particularly for a hardware business.”

That validation doesn’t need to be expensive, though. Becca Stern, cofounder of Mustard Made, set a small, specific target before placing a full order. 

“We hadn’t even ordered any products from our manufacturer at this point. We just had that first batch of samples. We set ourselves the target of making nine orders,” she says. 

Once she saw she had a customer pool interested in her product, she felt confident moving forward with a larger order. 

Startup cost works the same way. Jazzi McGilbert, founder and owner of Reparations Club, ran the numbers on her worst-case scenario before signing a lease. 

“If I sign this lease for a year, I know what the rent is. If nobody walks into this space and buys anything, how much do I stand to lose? That was my business plan: I was prepared to lose it all,” she says in an episode of Shopify Masters.

Once you’ve validated demand, plan out how you’ll fund growth. In a 2025 Shopify survey,* 79% of store owners said they use profits to self-fund growth rather than rely on outside investment. Before you commit, ask yourself:

• Who is the customer, and how do they solve this problem today?
• What would make them switch to you?
• How much money and time can you risk before you’d need to stop?
• What’s your margin once costs, fees, and shipping are covered?
• What skills or relationships do you already have that fit this idea?
• What’s the fastest, cheapest way to get a real customer to pay you?

If you’re still narrowing down your options, these tips for coming up with a business idea and this guide to testing a business idea walk through the process in more depth. And, if you’re tempted to chase an idea because you love it rather than because people will pay for it, this advice on finding a product to sell is worth reading first.

Business opportunity comparison table

Online business opportunities

Online business opportunities let you reach customers anywhere, test products quickly, and run lean. US retail ecommerce sales reached $326.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 16.9% of total retail sales and growing 9.8% year over year, nearly two and a half times faster than total retail.

To validate an online business idea before you build an online store, check search volume for your product category on Google Trends, browse marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy to see what’s already selling (and at what price), and read the negative reviews on competitor listings. Complaints about quality, shipping, or missing features can point to demand you can meet. 

Some proven online business opportunities include:

• Dropshipping
• Print on demand
• Affiliate marketing
• Digital products
• Video games
• Self-published author
• Selling on Amazon
• Online recruiter
• Ethical hacker
• Virtual event planner
• Website design
• Social media influencer
• Bookkeeping

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products without holding inventory. A supplier ships orders directly to your customers, so you only pay for stock once someone buys an item.

To find products worth dropshipping, start with what’s already selling. Search a supplier marketplace like AliExpress or CJdropshipping for products with high order volumes and strong reviews, then check the product name on Google Trends to see whether interest is steady or growing, rather than a short-lived spike. 

TikTok Shop and Instagram Reels can also be a useful place to spot products gaining traction before they show up on mainstream marketplaces. Just make sure to order samples to check quality before listing anything in your store.

How to start: Validate three to five products using a supplier marketplace and Google Trends, set up your store with a dropshipping app like DSers, order samples, and launch one or two ad creatives.

Print on demand

Print-on-demand services let you work with a supplier to add your designs to white-label products, such as tote bags or T-shirts. Here again, you won’t pay for inventory until a customer orders it.

Apps like Printful manage the whole process for you, from design and production to fulfillment. Raven Gibson, founder of Legendary Rootz, uses Printful to create and test products.

“I really appreciate the ability to connect everything together,” she says. “I have an idea. I’m able to go in, see if they have a product that serves me or serves that idea that I have, and get that sample created. And once it’s approved through me, cause I’m the approver, obviously, I’m able to go in, and it’s all connected to Shopify. I love it.”

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing pays you a commission for promoting other people’s products or services. You share a unique link, and when someone buys through it, you get paid. It works across almost any niche, so you can choose products that fit your interests or audience.

To make it work, promote products you’d genuinely recommend and create content that helps people decide what to buy, such as reviews, tutorials, or comparisons. Share your links through blog posts, newsletters, or social channels, and disclose them clearly.

How to start: Pick a narrow niche, join programs like Amazon Associates, Impact, or PartnerStack, publish comparison or review content, and build an email list with a tool like Kit.

Digital products

The e-learning market is projected to reach $701.07 billion by 2030, growing at 14.6% a year. Creating digital products such as templates, ebooks, and online courses is one way to tap into that growth.

Digital products are inexpensive to create and distribute. Make one good product and sell it repeatedly without restocking inventory or negotiating with suppliers. Package your expertise and sell it for a one-time fee or as a subscription.

How to start: Validate your topic through search volume and questions people ask on social media, build a minimum viable product such as a template or short course using Canva, Gumroad, or Kajabi, and presell it to your existing audience.

Video games

Capitalize on your love of video games by building a video games business. Options here include livestreaming gameplay, building a YouTube channel where you share tips or footage, or selling game-inspired merchandise.

How to start: Pick one game and platform, stream regularly on Twitch or YouTube, repurpose clips with CapCut, or sell merch through a platform like Fourthwall.

Self-published author

If you love to write, self-publishing lets you skip the traditional publishing process and sell your work directly. Choose a print-on-demand service, set up an online store, or list your books on marketplaces like Amazon. You might also choose to sell ebooks and audiobooks as well as paper copies.

How to start: Outline your book around demand using Amazon KDP category research, write it in Scrivener or Google Docs, publish through Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital, and build a simple funnel with a lead magnet and email list.

Selling on Amazon

Shopify Marketplace Connect lets you list and manage products on Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Etsy from your Shopify admin, syncing inventory and orders so you’re not managing separate dashboards. The app is free to install, with the first 50 marketplace-synced orders free each month and a 1% fee per additional order, capped at $99 a month.

Once you’re set up, Amazon’s Professional selling plan costs $39.99 a month and gives you access to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). It handles receiving, packing, shipping, and returns for products sent to Amazon’s warehouses. Referral fees vary by category, but typically range between 8% and 15% of the sale price, on top of FBA fulfillment fees, which are based on product size and weight.

How to start: Connect your store to Amazon with Marketplace Connect, map your products to Amazon listings, sign up for an Amazon Professional account, and decide whether to fulfill orders yourself or through FBA.

Online recruiter

If you’re good at matching people with roles based on their skill set, becoming an online recruiter can be a good business opportunity. Sites like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and Glassdoor make it possible to find clients and candidates without a large network.

How to start: Pick a niche, determine your recruiting fee, source candidates with LinkedIn Recruiter Lite, manage your pipeline in Airtable or Notion, and post roles on Indeed or ZipRecruiter.

Ethical hacker

Cybersecurity firms hire ethical hackers to test clients’ systems and find weak spots before attackers do. Identity theft and data breaches are a constant concern for any business operating online, so if you have expertise in coding, networks, and databases, this can be a good way to monetize your skills. 

How to start: Build a practice lab using Kali Linux, then find paid work through Upwork or bug bounty platforms, like HackerOne.

Virtual event planner

Forecasted to be worth more than $36.63 billion by 2030, the virtual event industry includes online social gatherings such as weddings, baby showers, and birthday parties, as well as professional lectures, conferences, and webinars. A virtual event planner can help organize these events, charging for their services per hour or per event.

Responsibilities typically include sending invitations, setting up the virtual meeting space, building the event itinerary, choosing party favors, and arranging recordings or photos of the event.

How to start: Run events on Zoom, Airmeet, or Hopin, manage timelines in Trello, and find clients through LinkedIn and local organizations.

Website design

Every ecommerce business needs a platform, which makes website design a steady source of work. If you have a knack for design or experience with platforms like Shopify or WordPress, you can turn your skill set into a thriving business. If you have programming skills, combine them with your design services to increase your potential opportunities. 

How to start: Pick a platform such as Shopify, WordPress, or Webflow, build three portfolio sites (even as mockups), list your services, and reach out to potential clients directly and through Upwork.

Social media influencer

Building an audience takes time, but social media influencers earn money across a variety of industries—including gardening, fashion, food, travel, and parenting—by growing an engaged following around a topic they’re genuinely interested in.

How to start: Choose a niche and two content pillars, post short-form videos daily, track which hooks perform in a tool like Notion, and pitch brands through platforms like Modash or Impact.

Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping suits anyone who is detail-oriented and comfortable with numbers. Every business needs someone to track income, expenses, and invoices, which means steady, recurring work. To get started, build a solid understanding of accounting basics and tools like QuickBooks or Xero, then choose a niche, such as freelancers, small retailers, or service businesses, before networking or pitching potential clients.

How to start: Learn QuickBooks or Xero, pick a niche such as contractors or ecommerce sellers, and set up monthly service packages.

Businesses to start with little money

These business ideas need little money to start because they run on skills and time rather than inventory, equipment, or a lease. Once you’re up and running, referrals tend to do the heavy lifting when it comes to bringing in new clientele. In a 2025 Shopify survey,* word of mouth was the most common first-year growth strategy, relied upon by 53% of respondents. If you want to go even further on a shoestring budget, this guide to starting an ecommerce business without spending money covers the basics. Businesses you can start with little to no overhead include:

• Freelance copywriting or design
• Tutoring
• Used-book reselling
• Virtual assistant
• Gig work

Freelance copywriting or design

Freelancing involves using your existing skills to offer services to clients, with common paths, including web design, graphic design, SEO, digital marketing, copywriting, and app development.

If you’re creative, freelance design is a strong option. Web designers build and optimize websites for clients, while graphic designers create branding, social media visuals, and marketing materials. Writers, on the other hand, might focus on:

• Content writing. Producing SEO-driven articles and blog posts that attract traffic.
• Copywriting. Crafting sales copy and landing pages that increase conversions.
• Proofreading and editing. Polishing content to make it clear, professional, and error-free.

Your rates will grow with your skills and portfolio, and platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and LinkedIn can help you find your first clients.

How to start: Build a portfolio, create two or three fixed-price service packages, pitch contacts on LinkedIn, and manage projects in Notion.

Tutoring

The online tutoring market was worth $12.06 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $23.73 billion by 2030, growing at a rate of 14.5% a year. How much you can earn as a tutor can depend on your subject matter and expertise. Sites like Wyzant and Superprof allow you to set your own hours and rates and let students find you. With Zoom or Google Meet, you can tutor from home and reach students anywhere in the world.

How to start: Choose one or two subjects or test-prep areas, list yourself on Wyzant or Superprof (or build a simple page on Shopify), and manage bookings with Calendly and Zoom.

Used book reselling

Have a passion for literature? Why not shop for secondhand books, often found at thrift stores, charity shops, library sales, or online marketplaces, and resell them for a profit? Tools like Amazon Seller Central or eBay let you list and ship books without a storefront, making this an easy business to run from home.

Learn to spot books with resale value by scanning ISBNs with apps like ScoutIQ or BookScouter, which show what buyers are paying online for similar items. Keep your inventory organized, take clear photos, and write accurate descriptions to build trust with buyers.

How to start: Source books at thrift stores and library sales, scan with ScoutIQ or BookScouter, list on Amazon Seller Central or eBay, and set up a simple system for shelving and shipping.

Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants handle day-to-day tasks so a company doesn’t need a full-time employee. The tasks you do will depend on your skills and interests, and might include answering emails, scheduling social media posts, managing calendars, or data entry. You can find gigs on Upwork, Fiverr, and Belay.

How to start: Define two or three service packages, such as inbox, calendar, or social media management, list yourself on Upwork or Belay, document your processes in Notion, and communicate with clients through Slack.

Gig work

The gig economy covers short-term work you can pick up through apps like Upwork, GigSalad, and TaskRabbit, from plumbing and tutoring to ride-share driving and grocery delivery. It’s an ever-growing category, and one that’s expected to reach $497.9 billion by 2032. 

In most cases, you set your own rates and hours. Gigs involving regulated work, like plumbing or driving, typically ask for proof of qualifications or a valid license. Simple tasks, like picking up dry cleaning or helping someone move, usually don’t require any proof of experience.

How to start: Pick gigs that build toward a longer-term service, join TaskRabbit, GigSalad, or Thumbtack, and ask for a review after every job to build credibility and draw in new clientele.

Small business ideas

The small business ideas below differ from the low-cost options above because they usually involve inventory, equipment, or time spent directly with clients and customers. They’re split into three groups: products you make or source, creative work you sell as a service, and care-based work that runs on trust and reputation. Some options include:

• Selling secondhand clothes
• Selling on Etsy
• Photography
• Handmaking products
• Home-based child care
• Pet sitting
• Pet products

Selling secondhand clothes

The secondhand apparel market is set to grow by $245.6 billion between 2025 and 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15%. It grew almost four times faster than the broader retail clothing market in 2025, and the rise of apps like Vinted and Depop has made it possible for resellers and buyers to connect all over the world.

How to start: Pick a niche by style or era, list items on Poshmark, Depop, or eBay, and standardize your photos and sizing charts.

Selling on Etsy

If you’re crafty, Etsy is a strong marketplace for selling DIY products, from dog collars and paintings to vintage doll dresses or bespoke embroidery. List your creations on Etsy’s website and app in exchange for a commission on sales, and Etsy may even feature your products in its own ads.

How to start: Validate demand using a keyword tool like eRank or Alura, launch with 20 to 40 listings, optimize your titles and tags for search, and promote your listings through social media platforms like Pinterest or Instagram.

Photography

Selling photography can mean selling your photos and prints on your own website as well as on stock image sites like Getty Images, Shutterstock, iStock, 500px, and Stocksy. Find a niche and choose a handful of sites to sell on; just check the terms and conditions of each site to make sure you’re allowed to promote your photos on multiple sites at once. 

Alternatively, you could offer your photography services to consumers directly. If you go this route, aim to focus your attention on a particular category of subject matter, like professional headshots, family photography, or design photography. 

How to start: Choose a specialty such as brand, product, or portrait photography, build a 10-shot portfolio, and sell through stock photo sites alongside direct packages.

Handmade products

Selling DIY and handmade items can turn your creativity into income. If you’re not sure what to make, start by looking at what’s trending and what’s missing from your own home, whether that’s a concrete pot, a colorful artisan bed cover, or something else you’d buy if you could find it.

Once you’ve decided what to make and sell, keep gathering feedback. 

“At Blume, we have focus groups, we do interviews, and we’re constantly running surveys through our online shop,” says Karen Danudjaja, founder of Blume in an interview with Shopify Masters. “It’s one thing to be a customer and understand what the needs are, but you also have to be directly seeking that feedback. That’s something we take seriously at Blume.” 

How to start: Prototype three products, test them at markets and on Etsy or your Shopify store, and gather feedback before reordering.

Home-based child care

If you’re willing to childproof your home and enjoy spending time with kids, a home-based child care service can work well as a small business and as a resource for friends and neighbors. Home daycares are regulated in most places, and requirements vary by state and municipality. Check your state’s licensing requirements and local zoning rules before you start, as operating without the right license or insurance can carry legal and financial risk.

How to start: Check your state’s child care licensing requirements, get CPR and first-aid certified, set group ratios and policies, and list your service on Care.com and local community groups.

Pet sitting

The US pet economy is projected to reach close to $200 billion by 2030, according to Bloomberg Intelligence’s Global Pet Economy report. If you love animals, you can earn money with a pet-sitting business, including boarding pets in your home. With sites like Rover, you set your own hours, rates, and services.

How to start: Create profiles on Rover and Wag, define add-on services like walks or medication, collect reviews, and set a service radius you can comfortably cover.

Pet products

An online pet store lets you sell everything from organic food and accessories to beds and apparel. Whether you dropship or sell homemade treats, demand stays steady because pet owners keep spending on the animals they love. A product sourcing app can help you find pet products worth selling.

How to start: Choose between dropshipping and wholesale, launch on Shopify, validate demand with TikTok or user-generated content ads, and add a subscription option for consumables.

Local service business ideas

Local service businesses suit anyone who prefers hands-on work and wants to serve people in their community. Before you take on clients, check what your city or state requires. You might need a business license, liability insurance, or specific permits depending on the work involved. In-demand categories include:

• Home cleaning
• Home repair
• Lawn care
• Mobile car wash
• Car sharing

Home cleaning

Home cleaning is one of the easiest service businesses to start, because you don’t need any special qualifications, only attention to detail and consistency. Start small with weekly or biweekly cleans, then expand into move-in, move-out, or deep cleaning services. With a few supplies, insurance, and a reliable schedule, you can build a loyal client base quickly. As your business grows, you can specialize further, such as by offering eco-friendly cleaning or short-term rental turnover, or by hiring others as demand for your services increases.

How to start: Offer recurring packages, pick a niche such as eco-friendly cleaning or Airbnb turnover, and book clients through Calendly, and collect Google reviews.

Home repair

If you’re handy and enjoy fixing things, consider starting a home repair business. Homeowners often need help with small jobs, like patching drywall, installing shelves, fixing leaks, or assembling furniture. You don’t need to be a licensed contractor for minor repairs, but professionalism and reliability go a long way. Start with smaller projects, advertise locally, and collect reviews to build trust. Over time, you can expand into specialized work or build a small team.

How to start: Start with small jobs like assembly or fixture installation, list your services on Thumbtack or Nextdoor, and upsell maintenance plans to repeat clients.

Lawn care

Lawn care services include anything to do with tidying and maintaining lawns, such as mowing, trimming, edging, and leaf removal. As your business grows, you might add landscaping, seasonal cleanups, or garden maintenance. Work on building relationships and delivering consistent quality to keep your schedule full and referrals flowing.

How to start: Sell seasonal packages, plan efficient routes with a tool like Route4Me, and use door-hanger flyers and local SEO to find new clients.

Mobile car wash

A mobile car wash business needs little more than cleaning supplies, water tanks, and portable vacuums to get started. You can charge a premium for on-site service, especially for busy professionals or local fleets. Over time, you can add higher-margin extras, like waxing or detailing.

How to start: Offer three packages, such as basic, wax, and detail, and target office buildings and local fleets directly.

Car sharing

If you own a car that sits unused most of the time, consider car sharing to earn some extra income. Platforms like Turo or Getaround let you rent your car to verified drivers and handle most of the logistics, including insurance and payments. You can start with one vehicle and add more, or manage other people’s vehicles for a share of the profits.

How to start: List your car on Turo or Getaround, set dynamic pricing, add remote access if needed, and maintain a high rating through a consistently clean, reliable experience.

Specialized business opportunities

This group of opportunities suits people with a trade, specialized skill, or unused assets to put to work. Several of them, especially security, construction, and equipment maintenance, can also lead to government contract work. Federal agencies aim to award 23% of prime contract dollars to eligible small businesses, according to the US Small Business Administration. Business opportunities in this category include:

• Renting your unused space
• Security
• Construction
• Equipment maintenance
• 3D printing

Rent your unused space

Sites like Neighbor connect people who need extra storage with people who have space to spare, often at a fraction of the cost of a commercial self-storage unit. Instead of customers driving to a storage facility, they come to you to store and retrieve their belongings.

How to start: List your space on Neighbor or StoreAtMyHouse, set access hours and house rules, and ask for ID and a signed agreement from anyone renting from you.

Security

Security work ranges from private property protection to corporate services. Businesses need security solutions for office buildings, retail stores, warehouses, and large events, whether that means on-site guards, mobile patrols, or surveillance system installation.

Consider building a niche around high-end residential security, surveillance technology, or security consulting for businesses looking to improve their internal protocols. You can also keep an eye out for companies looking for security personnel for events or transporting valuable assets. 

How to start: Get the required state licenses, pick a niche such as events or residential security, sell retainer contracts, and log patrols with a tool like TrackTik.

Construction

The construction industry covers everything from residential and commercial builds to renovations, HVAC installation, roofing, and plumbing. If you’re a small operation, consider subcontracting opportunities with larger firms or targeting niche markets like sustainable building materials, smart home installations, or custom renovations. Check your state’s licensing board before taking on paid work, since unlicensed contracting can carry fines or void your insurance coverage.

How to start: Start with one specialization, such as bathroom renovations or decks, partner with general contractors for overflow work, and estimate jobs using a tool like Jobber or Buildertrend.

Equipment maintenance

Equipment maintenance covers IT support, HVAC servicing, elevator repairs, vehicle fleet management, and commercial kitchen equipment repairs.

Look for companies that hire external maintenance providers for long-term contracts. Services like data center maintenance, cybersecurity infrastructure checks, and smart device repairs offer further opportunities for anyone with a technical background.

How to start: Choose a category such as HVAC, IT, or commercial kitchens, sell preventive maintenance contracts, and manage requests through a ticketing tool like Zendesk or ServiceM8.

3D printing

The 3D-printing market is expected to reach around $34.85 billion this year. 3D printing has many uses, and the printers themselves are affordable, with entry-level models starting under $300. Ways to earn money with a 3D printer include:

• Making prototypes for brands and companies
• Making jewelry
• Making costume or cosplay pieces
• Selling 3D-printed art online
• Selling your own 3D printer designs
• Renting out your 3D printer

How to start: Offer prototypes, cosplay pieces, or jewelry, model designs in Fusion 360 or Blender, and sell through Etsy alongside local business-to-business work.

Food and beverage business opportunities

Food and beverage businesses range from selling coffee online to running a food truck, and demand for food service work keeps growing. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of food and beverage serving and related workers to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,159,600 openings projected each year, on average.

Check your state’s cottage food laws and your local health department’s requirements for licensing, labeling, and inspections before you sell anything to the public. Various avenues in the food and beverage category include:

• Selling coffee
• Owning a bakery
• Coffee carts
• Food trucks
• Home meal prep kits
• Specialty food products
• Food subscription boxes

Selling coffee

Coffee is one of the world’s most consumed beverages, which means plenty of potential customers are already looking for what you sell, whether that’s beans, roasters, mugs, coffee makers, or coffee-themed products.

Subscriptions are a natural fit for the coffee category, since customers reorder on a predictable schedule. 

“The subscription part of our web business is really important because it’s recurring revenue,” says Colby Barr, CEO and cofounder at Verve Coffee, in an interview with Shopify Masters. “But for us, it’s about retention: having excited customers is proof that people like what you do, they’re willing to stick with you, and they want your product.” 

How to start: Private-label your coffee or partner with a roaster, sell through your Shopify store, add subscriptions with Recharge, and sample your products at local markets.

Food bakery

From artisan bread and pastries to custom cakes and cookies, bakeries serve both everyday cravings and special occasions. You can start small from home under a cottage food license, selling at local markets or online, then expand into a storefront once you’ve built a following. Pick a niche, such as sourdough, gluten-free goodies, or custom celebration cakes, and use word of mouth marketing, social media, and partnerships with local cafés or gift shops to grow.

How to start: Pick a niche, take pre-orders through Shopify, and pitch your products to local cafés for wholesale.

Coffee carts

Coffee carts are a low-cost alternative to opening a café because you don’t need to lease a building. You’ll need a portable setup, basic barista skills, and a sense of what your local crowd wants, whether that’s specialty espresso, cold brew, or grab-and-go coffee. Once you’ve found a strong location or built regular customers, you can scale by adding more carts or hiring staff.

How to start: Secure a high-traffic spot or recurring events, build a menu of six to eight drinks, use a mobile POS, and expand into weekday corporate routes once you’re established.

Food trucks

Food trucks are well suited to high-demand, portable meals, such as tacos, burgers, or street-style dishes, served at events, festivals, or busy downtown areas. The flexibility to move between locations means you can test new markets or menu ideas without committing to a lease. 

How to start: Test your menu at pop-ups, build a weekly route around local events, and create catering packages once you have a following.

Home meal prep kits

Home meal prep kits suit people who want healthy, ready-to-cook meals without the planning. You can sell pre-portioned ingredients with recipes, or fully cooked meals that customers heat and serve. Start small by serving your local community or partnering with gyms, offices, or families who want regular deliveries.

How to start: Choose six to eight recipes, sell them as a subscription, handle local delivery with a route-planning tool, like Route4Me, and partner with gyms or offices for recurring orders.

Specialty food products

If you’ve got a signature sauce, jam, spice blend, or baked good that everyone raves about, turning it into a packaged product could be your next business move. You can sell specialty food products online, at farmers markets, or through local retailers. Focus on branding and packaging that communicate your story and stand out on shelves. Before scaling, check labeling and food safety regulations in your area, and start by testing small batches to find what sells best.

How to start: Confirm your cottage or commercial kitchen meets local requirements, develop your brand and labeling, and sell through markets and your own site before approaching retailers.

Food subscription boxes

Food subscription boxes include monthly snack boxes, coffee blends, spice kits, or international treats. This model delivers recurring revenue and works well if you enjoy sourcing and packaging unique items or collaborating with other small food brands.

Subscription apps like Recharge handle the billing, scheduling, and customer self-service that recurring orders need, so you can focus on sourcing and curation. Start locally or with a niche theme, build a strong brand identity, and use social media and influencer partnerships to attract subscribers who stick around.

How to start: Curate a tight theme, presell through email and your Shopify store, manage subscriptions with Recharge, and seed your first boxes with influencer partnerships.

Established business models with recurring demand signals

These established business models cover services people need on a recurring basis, whether that’s a clean shirt for work, a car that starts in the morning, or help moving into a new apartment. Because the same customers come back on a predictable schedule, these models can support a lifestyle business built around steady, local demand. Consider the following business opportunities to start:

• Laundromat or dry cleaning services
• Car repair and maintenance
• Moving services
• Vending machine business
• Child enrichment programs
• Senior care services

Laundromat or dry cleaning services

A laundromat or dry cleaning business builds on stable, repeat customers and reliable cash flow, once it’s set up. Start by researching local demand, then secure a location, washers and dryers (either self-serve or full-service), and the right permits. 

If you’d rather avoid the overhead of a physical space, an app-based pickup and delivery service like CleanCloud or DoorDash Drive can handle logistics. Over time, add subscription wash-and-fold plans or eco-friendly cleaning options to bring in more revenue.

How to start: Research local foot traffic and negotiate a lease with tenant improvements, or launch a delivery-only service using CleanCloud or DoorDash Drive.

Car repair and maintenance

Car repair and maintenance are built on an ongoing need: As long as people drive, they need oil changes, brake work, and routine repairs. A car repair business can range from a small mobile mechanic service, using apps like YourMechanic or Wrench, to a full-service garage. Getting started calls for automotive repair skills, the right tools, and local business licenses. You can move into a physical shop when demand grows. 

How to start: Start mobile with oil changes and brake jobs. Book work through Wrench, YourMechanic, or your own site, and build a base of reviews before leasing a bay.

Moving services

Each year, 31 million Americans relocate, and moving services see steady demand in cities and university towns, where people relocate on a regular schedule. To get started, you need a reliable van or truck, basic equipment such as dollies, straps, and blankets, and insurance. List your services on TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, or MovingHelp.com to find your first customers. 

How to start: List on TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, or MovingHelp.com, offer flat-rate local moves, and upsell packing and storage to existing customers.

Vending machine business

A vending machine business runs on relatively low overhead once it’s set up, and most of the work comes down to finding the right location. Look for high-traffic spots, like offices, schools, gyms, or hospitals. Start by buying or leasing a few machines and stocking them with snacks, drinks, or niche products such as tech accessories or healthy foods. Tools like VendSoft or Vending Locator help manage inventory and find new placement opportunities. 

How to start: Secure locations first, buy combo machines, monitor sales with VendSoft, and test healthier or niche product lines.

Child enrichment programs

Child enrichment businesses, such as art classes, STEM clubs, sports coaching, or music lessons, give parents a way to support their kids’ interests outside of school. To start, pick an area you’re skilled in, then find a local space or run sessions online through a platform like ActivityHero or ClassBento. Partnering with schools or community centers can help you reach families early on.

How to start: Pick a program, such as STEM, art, or music, run a pilot session at a community center or school, and manage bookings through ClassBento or ActivityHero.

Senior care services

You don’t need to be a nurse to start in senior care. In fact, a non-medical home care business offering companionship, housekeeping, transportation, and meal prep can be enough. 

Start small by offering local services and listing on Care.com or Home Instead to find clients. Background check, insurance, and bonding requirements vary by state, so confirm what your local agency requires before working in someone’s home. As the business grows, consider hiring trained caregivers and partnering with local healthcare providers to expand your services.

How to start: Define your services, such as companionship, transport, or meal prep, complete background checks, list on Care.com, and build referral relationships with local clinics.

Business opportunities in generative AI

Generative AI now touches most parts of running a business, from writing product descriptions to answering customer questions. McKinsey reports that 88% of surveyed organizations used AI regularly in at least one business function in 2025, up from 78% the year before. Store owners are following the same pattern: in a 2025 Shopify survey, 75% reported using AI tools.

The market for these tools is growing to match. Grand View Research projects the global generative AI market will reach $324.68 billion by 2033. The AI business opportunities below cover services you can offer to businesses that want to use AI but don’t have the time or in-house skills to set it up. 

• AI-powered content creation
• AI-assisted customer support
• AI-driven personalization tools
• AI-generated media services

AI-powered content creation

If you’re skilled at writing, editing, or content strategy, you can offer AI-assisted content creation using tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, or Copy.ai to generate first drafts, then refine them for tone, accuracy, and SEO.

How to start: Package content as “AI-first, editor-refined,” use ChatGPT or Jasper alongside SurferSEO, show before-and-after samples, and sell on a retainer basis.

AI-assisted customer support

You can build or customize AI chat solutions using platforms like Intercom Fin, Zendesk AI, or Manychat, helping clients automate FAQs, order tracking, and basic troubleshooting.

With the right setup and training, you can offer a done-for-you chatbot implementation service or ongoing optimization support for clients who want round-the-clock customer service.

How to start: Use Intercom Fin or Zendesk AI, map FAQs and workflows, launch on one high-volume channel, and review performance weekly.

AI-driven personalization tools

AI-driven personalization tools use customer data to recommend products, courses, or content in real time. If you have a background in marketing, data analysis, or development, you could build or integrate personalization systems using tools like Segment, Klaviyo, or Dynamic Yield.

How to start: Start with an integration service, such as connecting Klaviyo with Segment, build proof-of-concept projects that lift order value or conversion, then package the service for more clients.

AI-generated media services

AI tools can now generate visuals, videos, and music in minutes, which opens an opportunity for creative entrepreneurs. You could offer AI-generated media services for brands that need content fast but don’t have in-house design or production teams. Tools like Runway, Pika, Synthesia, and Midjourney can create product demos, ad visuals, explainer videos, or background music.

How to start: Offer fixed media packages, such as social-style ads or explainer videos, and create them with Runway, Synthesia, Midjourney, or Pika.

Finding the right business opportunities for you

With more than 50 ideas to weigh, narrowing down comes to a few practical filters, including:

• Budget. Match your available cash investment to the opportunity you’re interested in, and build in a buffer for costs you didn’t plan for.
• Time. Some of these businesses, like content creation or affiliate marketing, fit around a full-time job. Others, like food trucks or laundromats, need hands-on hours from day one.
• Location. Decide whether you want to work from home, in your community, or fully online, then check that idea’s setup against local licensing and zoning rules.
• Existing skills. An idea that uses skills you already have, whether that’s design, cooking, or organizing, gets you to your first sale faster than one that requires training first.

If none of these feel like the right fit, these unique business ideas and these profitable small businesses cover more ground.

*Based on a 2025 survey of 500 Shopify merchants conducted in English across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. Respondents were established merchants with two or more years on the platform. Results reflect the experiences of this specific sample and may not be representative of all merchants.