They say that if you love what you do, then you’ll never have to “work” again… I believe this wholeheartedly.
These days, it’s entirely possible to turn your passion project into a thriving online business. The internet has made it so creatives can reach audiences like never before.
In this post, I’m going to share some fun and creative online business ideas for those of you who are interested in becoming your own boss while expressing yourself through your work.
Most of these business ideas involve selling something online. I’ve also included some that involve teaching and a few other unique ones as well.
You may be surprised at these ideas. Some are easier to start, while others may only work for someone who already has the skillset that’s necessary for the particular type of work. Still, I hope this list helps to spark some inspiration, even if you don’t find something that works for you.
Creative Online Business Ideas
1. Sell crafts online
There are tons of sellers on Etsy that have turned their crafting hobby into a business. Here’s a list of crafts you can sell online:
- Crochet projects
- Knitting projects
- Plushies
- Doll clothes
- Clay figurines
- Custom painted dolls
- Handmade clothes
- Pet toys
- Pet clothes
- Pottery
…And so much more! The possibilities are endless, so it really depends on what you like to craft.
2. Start a blog
Disclosure: I am an affiliate for Bluehost, which means I will receive a commission if you sign up through my referral link at no additional cost to you.
Having a blog gives you an unlimited amount of creative freedom. Your blog is YOURS and you can make it about anything you want.
Blogging isn’t just a hobby. You can turn it into a full on business by monetizing it. You can monetize a blog with affiliate marketing, ads, sponsored posts, selling your own products and more.
Blogging is actually my full time job, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I get to write about things I enjoy, be my own boss, set my own schedule and help people with my blog posts.
Here are a few tips for becoming a blogger:
Pick a profitable topic that you enjoy. Some of the top profitable topics include beauty, health/fitness/weight loss, food, finance, travel and more. Check out my article on 10 successful blogs in 10 different niches if you need some ideas.
Register your domain. I would recommend going for a “.com” domain. Pick a domain name that you think is brandable! I’ve been purchasing my domains from Namecheap for years and I’ve never had a problem.
Create a WordPress blog with a hosting service. There’s no question about it. When it comes to blogging, WordPress is the way to go! You can create a wordpress blog for free, BUT I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re planning on turning your blog into a business. Instead, I would recommend getting a hosting plan with Bluehost and setting up your website with them. P.S. You get a free domain name for one year if you sign up for bluehost!
Set your blog up and get posting! You don’t have to worry so much about your blog’s design or other things in the beginning. Blog posts are the core of what’s going to turn your blog into a business, so start writing those blog posts!
RELATED: How To Start A Blog: Step-By-Step Tutorial
3. Sell plants online
Did you know you can sell plants online? If you love growing and caring for plants, you can start an online plant business.
And don’t worry, it’s totally possible to ship plants in the mail.
If you have a look around online (Etsy is a great place to check), you’ll see that people are actively creating home based plant selling businesses. Cacti and succulents are great plants to consider selling since they ship well, but you can ship all kinds of plants.
Check out this video by Mike Kincaid where he shows how he packages and ships live plants.
4. Become a music teacher
If you’re a musician, you can start an online music teaching business. Many voice and instrument teachers offer Skype/Zoom lessons on their websites. You can also create instructional videos to sell.
If you don’t want to create a website, make yourself a Youtube channel instead. Youtube is a great way to market yourself as a teacher. Plus, you can make money off of the ads on your videos!
Here’s a good example: AndyGuitar sells video guitar lessons on his website. He also has his own Youtube channel, which can generate an income as well.
5. Self-publish children’s books
What a fun idea, right? Many authors have taken charge in their own business by self-publishing their work. Self-publishing with Amazon KDP is a popular option.
Don’t worry if you don’t think you’re a great writer. Children’s books are supposed to be fun, creative and easy to read. A simple, short and entertaining storyline is all you need (I totally didn’t mean for that to rhyme). Plus some colorful pictures of course!
RELATED: Online Business Ideas You Can Start With NO Money
6. Sell DIY kits
DIY kits are a fun and popular gift idea, and you can create your own DIY kits to sell online. All you need to do is gather the materials for the DIY of your choosing, package them nicely and include instructions.
Here are some ideas:
- DIY Needle Felt Kit
- DIY Macrame Kit
- DIY Terrarium Kit
- DIY Fairy Garden Kit
- Paint Your Own Ceramic Dish/Bowl/Mug Kit
- DIY Lip Balm Kit
…And the list goes on! Search “DIY Kit” on Google or Etsy for more ideas.
7. Become a Youtuber
You’re your own boss on Youtube. You can create videos on any subject you’d like as long as it fits under Youtube’s guidelines.
There are multiple ways you can make money as a Youtuber. Youtubers can enable ads on their videos, allowing them to paid based off of how many views and clicks they get. They can also monetize the descriptions of their videos by including affiliate links to products they use or talk about. Youtubers are also able to get sponsorships from companies who pay them to promote a product or service.
On top of all of that, Youtube is a great place to market yourself or your own products. If you have something to sell or offer (such as a book, coaching services, etc.), you can up your sales by creating videos.
8. Sell eBooks
Thanks to digital book reading devices like the Kindle, eBooks are super popular these days! You can sell eBooks by self-publishing them with Amazon KDP (or any other self-publishing service).
Your eBook(s) can be on any topic of your choosing, whether it’s self-development, business, fiction novels, etc. If you love writing stories or have knowledge in a particular subject to share, you can turn it into an eBook and sell it.
If this is something you’re interested in, I highly recommend checking out NaNoWriMo to help you achieve your goals. NaNoWriMo is a free website where you can set word count goals and track your progress when it comes to writing. You can also connect with other writers who have similar goals through their forum.
9. Sell your artwork
If you’re an artist, you can sell your artwork on your own website or on an online marketplace like Etsy! You can also do commissioned work for clients who like your artistic style.
If you don’t want to sell full-on original paintings, you can also consider selling stock art. Many content creators like to use stock art to spruce up their graphics. For example, watercolor art is a very popular and trendy stock art product at the moment. Check out the watercolor search results on CreativeFabrica to get an idea.
Quick Tip: One way you can promote your work is by uploading videos of yourself creating your art on Youtube. You can also monetize your videos with ads to make some extra money!
10. Sell T-shirts on Print-On-Demand websites
This is a fun, easy and creative online business idea that you can start today with NO money! Print-On-Demand is where you create a design and upload it to a Print-On-Demand website such as Redbubble or Amazon Merch.
This is completely free to do as long as you have a laptop, computer or tablet and a software that you can use to create designs (GIMP is a good, free option).
Once you upload your design, it gets displayed on a T-shirt (or other products such as mugs, pillows, etc.). If someone buys your design, the website will print it onto the product, ship it out to the buyer and pay you a percentage of the product sold.
11. Sell jewelry online
You can create your own unique style of jewelry right from your home and sell it online. Etsy would be a great place to get your jewelry business going.
There are so many different kinds of jewelry pieces you can sell. Some include:
- Beaded pieces
- Engraved pieces
- Earrings
- Pendent necklaces
- Polymer clay jewelry
- Vintage pieces that you find & re-sell
- Chokers
…And so much more! The possibilities are endless.
Want to sell jewelry but don’t want to make it yourself? Look into this print-on-demand website called ShineOn. ShineOn is a free, print-on-demand service where you can sell pre-made jewelry in a jewelry box that you customize (typically with a written note that gets printed on the box).
The products are made to order, so all you have to do is create your design and put it up for sell. Then, they get shipped out when it’s been purchased. This is a great way to get into the jewelry selling business if you don’t have any money to invest!
12. Sell printables
Printables are downloadable products that you can print at home (or wherever you have access to a printer). There are so many different types of printables you can sell. Here are a few ideas:
- Calendars
- Wall art
- Activity binders
- Budgeting binders
- Bridal/baby shower games
- Birthday games
- Coloring pages
- Lessons/guides
- Workbooks
- School work trackers
- Exercise/food trackers
…And tons more!
Need some inspiration? Sarah Titus earned $52,060 in her FIRST MONTH selling printables! Now she makes over $130,000 a month selling printables! Crazy, right?
13. “Upcycle” thrift store clothes
If you’re a fashion lover, this creative online business idea is for you. You can purchase clothes from thrift stores and “upcycle” them by adding embellishments, cutting/re-sewing them, dying them and more.
Buyers will love the fact that they’re getting a custom, handmade piece. Plus, many people are shifting their focus from fast fashion to more environmentally friendly options such as thrifting or higher end products.
You can post your items on your own website or on an online marketplace like Etsy.
14. Sell homemade soap
Believe it or not, there’s quite a large amount of people buying and selling homemade soap online, so there’s definitely a market for it!
A search for “soap” on Etsy shows just how successful a soap-making business can be. There are tons of shops selling homemade, organic soap with thousands of sales and positive reviews.
If you’ve never made soap before, you can find soap making kits like this one that have everything you need to get started including molds, essential oils, soap base and more.
15. Sell homemade candles
Much like homemade soap, there are so many people who are buying and selling homemade candles online thanks to a large community of people who value natural, hand-crafted products with minimal ingredients.
You can see just how popular it is by searching for “candles” on Etsy. Like with soap, these candle shops have thousands of sales and positive reviews.
Here’s a candle making kit that has everything you need to get started with making your first set of candles. If you want to make something more unique, you can find all different kinds of beautiful, silicone candle molds that your customers will love. I personally think this bubble candle mold is amazing!