The business ideas to make money that work best don't always need big investments or complex setups. You can start most of these businesses with less than $500 and see profits right away. A laptop and some spare time are all you need to explore many online business models that pay quickly.
The market for low-cost startups keeps growing in many industries. Podcast listeners worldwide will reach 505 million by the end of 2024. This number shows a 20% jump from two years ago and an 85% increase over five years. The US clothing market hit $43 billion in 2023, up from $23 billion in 2018. The pet industry has become a game-changer worth over $300 billion, with plenty of room for new businesses.
We've put together a complete guide of the best money-making ideas you can start today. These opportunities are available to everyone and are ready to tap into. From freelance writing to pet care services, print-on-demand products to telemedicine startups—each option needs minimal upfront costs but can provide quick cash flow and long-term growth potential.
Ready to find the best business ideas to make money? Scroll down now!
Key Takeaways
- Low-Cost Startup Opportunities: Many profitable businesses can be started with under $500, utilizing skills you already have or learning new ones.
- Growing Markets: Industries like podcasting, used clothing, pet care, and telehealth are booming, with plenty of room for new businesses to emerge.
- Quick Income with Service-Based Businesses: Pet care, home cleaning, mobile car detailing, and event planning offer fast cash flow with minimal upfront costs.
- Scalable Online Businesses: Digital opportunities like dropshipping, digital courses, subscription boxes, and blogging can grow quickly and with low overhead.
- Telehealth Potential: The telehealth sector is expanding rapidly, offering entrepreneurs a chance to enter a growing industry with platforms like Bask Health.
- Minimal Capital, High Returns: Many of these businesses don’t require significant investments, and success is driven by creativity, persistence, and smart execution.
- Choose What Fits You: The best business for you is one that aligns with your strengths and interests. Start small, build confidence, and scale as you grow.
Low-cost business ideas you can start today
You don't need thousands of dollars to start your own business. Many people have built successful ventures with just $500 by using their existing skills or learning new ones. Here are four simple ways to start making money without breaking the bank:
Freelance writing and editing
AI content tools are everywhere now, but the need for quality, original content remains strong. A freelance writer or editor can create engaging content that helps businesses and professionals improve their brand presence. Writers who know their way around language can offer proofreading, website and magazine copywriting, or help develop content strategies. You'll find plenty of opportunities on Upwork, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter for writers and editors at all experience levels.
Virtual assistant services
The rise of remote work has created a huge spike in the need for virtual administrative support. VAs help with calendar management, emails, data entry, and other admin tasks from anywhere. You can earn $25 to $50+ per hour based on your skills and experience. On top of that, it lets you work from anywhere, anytime. Your services can go beyond simple admin tasks to include social media management, customer service, digital marketing, and specialized help like translation or tech support.
Print-on-demand products
Print-on-demand (POD) works great for creative entrepreneurs. You can sell custom-made-to-order products with your designs without buying or storing inventory. The printing service makes and ships orders only after customers buy, which means no upfront inventory costs. T-shirts, mugs, hoodies, phone cases, and wall art are popular POD items. The global print-on-demand market should hit $48.40 billion by 2032, and you can expect profit margins of 15-20% per item.
Affiliate marketing for beginners
About 80% of online companies now exploit affiliate marketing. This performance-based model lets you earn money by promoting other companies' products or services. The concept is simple: promote products, get customers to buy through your tracking link, and earn commission. New affiliate marketers usually earn up to 30% per sale, with yearly earnings between $10,000 and $100,000. Right now, affiliate marketing makes up nearly 15% of all digital media revenue, and U.S. spending reached $9.56 billion in 2023.
Service-based businesses with fast returns
Service businesses give entrepreneurs a great advantage when they want quick income. They need minimal startup costs and can use their existing skills. Several service niches remain strong, whatever the economic conditions.
Pet care and dog walking
The pet industry has grown huge, reaching $100 billion, and experts predict it will triple by 2030. Animal lovers can grab this perfect chance to start profitable pet care businesses. Professional dog walkers earn $10-$35 for each 30-minute walk. Their yearly full-time income ranges from $21,000-$44,000. Mobile pet grooming offers better earning potential, with a global value of over $640 million. Starting is simple - begin with friends and family and grow through good reviews. Rover or Wag! help you find your first clients. Many 10-year-old businesses move away from these apps later to avoid paying commission fees.
Home cleaning and organization
A solid client base in residential cleaning creates steady, recurring revenue. You'll need a professional brand, proper insurance, and dedication to build your original client list. Quality work naturally brings word-of-mouth referrals that help expand your business steadily. Beyond regular cleaning, organization services are popular now. They help busy homeowners declutter everything from kitchens to playrooms. Commercial cleaning also offers strong recurring income opportunities.
Mobile car detailing
The car detailing market hit $37.91 billion in 2022 and should grow 5.5% yearly through 2030. This service attracts 64% of Americans who see vehicle cleanliness as vital. You can start a profitable mobile operation with basic equipment costs between $500-$2,000. Average yearly earnings reach $67,852, and top performers make more than $147,000.
Event planning for local clients
Event planning lets creative entrepreneurs manage everything from weddings to corporate functions. This business needs strong organizational skills rather than big startup money. Clear communication with clients prevents confusion. Offering multiple options helps set realistic expectations.
Scalable online businesses with long-term potential
The digital economy lets entrepreneurs build businesses that can grow without limits. Online ventures have a unique advantage—they can expand rapidly without the usual overhead costs that traditional businesses face.
Dropshipping and e-commerce stores
Starting an online store is one of the most available paths to online entrepreneurship. Global retail sales will be a big deal, reaching $7.00 trillion by 2025.
Something I love about dropshipping is its flexible model—you don't need to keep inventory. Your suppliers handle shipping directly to customers when orders come in. This business model needs very little money upfront and gives you amazing freedom:
- A laptop and an internet connection let you work from anywhere
- You can add or remove products without worrying about stock
- Your marketing can grow step by step with your business
The path to dropshipping success lies in finding markets others haven't discovered through keyword research. One business owner built a $3.00 million dropshipping company by spotting an untapped market: e-bikes for hunters.
Creating and selling digital courses
Digital courses are a goldmine right now. The e-learning market should hit $400.00 billion by 2026. These courses can bring in profit margins up to 85%. The best part? You create the course once and sell it many times without extra costs, which means steady passive income.
Subscription box services
Subscription boxes work on a simple idea—customers get carefully picked products regularly, giving businesses predictable income. This model has taken off, with the global market worth $33.70 billion in 2021. Experts predict it will reach $145.00 billion by 2032. With profit margins between 40-60%, subscription boxes are among the most profitable flexible businesses.
Blogging and content monetization
Blogging needs very little money to start and can grow impressively. Your growing audience opens doors to multiple income streams—ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, premium subscriptions, and product sales. Smart content creation can build passive income streams while you retain control in your chosen field.
How Bask Health is shaping the future of the telehealth business
Telehealth stands out as one of the most rapidly growing sectors in the digital healthcare world. It gives entrepreneurs a chance to blend state-of-the-art solutions with profit potential. We at Bask Health have seen how this industry transforms healthcare delivery while creating business opportunities that are available to many.
Understanding the telehealth business model
Telehealth works through three main models: B2B (serving healthcare organizations), B2C (serving patients directly), or hybrid approaches that combine both. Success depends on creating value for everyone involved—patients, providers, payers, and vendors. Our platform at Bask Health supports different revenue structures. These include subscription-based plans for ongoing care, pay-per-visit models for as-needed consultations, and mutually beneficial alliances with healthcare networks.
Benefits of telehealth for entrepreneurs
The telehealth market was valued at $34.28 billion in 2018 and should reach $200.00 billion by 2028. Beyond money-making potential, telehealth makes healthcare available to more people; patients just need a smartphone to connect with providers. Entrepreneurs can reach underserved markets and cut operational costs. Virtual visits cost $40.00-50.00 compared to $136.00-176.00 for in-person appointments.
How to start your own telehealth business
Start by finding your niche—whether you want to offer specialized services like hormone therapy or target specific demographics. Next, handle regulatory requirements, including state licensing (around $1000.00 per state) and HIPAA compliance. Then choose between building your own platform or using existing solutions like Bask Health. We combine key functions like scheduling, video consultations, and billing.
Telemedicine startup costs and tools
Simple telemedicine platforms cost between $25000.00-50000.00, while advanced solutions range from $60000.00-150000.00. Key components include:
- Secure video conferencing capability
- HIPAA-compliant electronic health records
- Scheduling and billing systems
- Remote monitoring tools to keep patients engaged
Telehealth business management solutions
Bask Health's platform streamlines operations throughout telehealth delivery. Our system cuts routine workload by up to 40% through automation. It maintains regulatory compliance and smooth patient experiences. Our complete management solutions help telehealth businesses focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional patient care.
Conclusion
The right business idea ends up being a balance of your skills, interests, and financial goals. This piece explores many paths that require minimal startup capital but still offer substantial returns. Anyone can start with simple tools and skills in areas like freelance writing, virtual assistant services, print-on-demand products, and affiliate marketing. These options are available right away.
Service-based businesses create quick cash flow opportunities. Pet care services tap into the booming animal industry. Home cleaning, car detailing, and event planning show steady customer interest, whatever the economic conditions might be.
Looking at the long-term picture, flexible online ventures like dropshipping, digital courses, subscription boxes, and content monetization create exciting possibilities. These business models let you grow without adding too much overhead cost.
Telehealth opens up an exciting frontier for entrepreneurs. At Bask Health, we've built a platform that makes entering this faster-growing industry more available than before. Our detailed solutions take care of everything from HIPAA compliance to billing. You can focus on providing exceptional care instead of dealing with administrative tasks.
You can start many of these ideas with less than $500. Success doesn't need massive capital—you just need creativity, persistence, and smart execution. These business models help you achieve financial independence, whether as a side hustle or full-time venture.
Note that the most profitable business idea is one you'll pursue and stick with. Pick something that matches your strengths, start small, and grow as you build confidence. Every successful enterprise starts with that vital first step.
References
- Forbes Business Council. (2024, August 21). Telehealth entrepreneurship: Expanding expertise and access to care. Forbes. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/08/21/telehealth-entrepreneurship-expanding-expertise-and-access-to-care/
- Printify. (2023, May 4). How to start a print-on-demand business. Printify. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://printify.com/blog/how-to-start-a-print-on-demand-business/
- Search Engine Land. (2023, November 8). Affiliate marketing for beginners: A guide. Search Engine Land. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://searchengineland.com/guide/affiliate-marketing-for-beginners
- Shopify. (2023, June 15). How to start dropshipping. Shopify. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-start-dropshipping
