The Different Types of Online Businesses and How to Start One

Did you know that there are over 31 million businesses in the U.S? While most of these companies have establishments, there are many eCommerce-type businesses, which means they are online shops. This kind of business is becoming increasingly popular because most consumers have access to the internet.

Would you like to know the different types of online businesses? If so, we invite you to keep reading as we’ll go through some of the most popular eCommerce businesses in the market. Additionally, we’ll give you some pointers on how to start an online business.

Dropshipping

Starting an online business doesn’t mean you’ll need to create everything from scratch, which is why starting a dropshipping business is cheap and easy. As a dropshipping company, you can choose products from a wide array of suppliers and then sell them on your website. The best part of a dropshipping eCommerce is that you don’t have to stick to one product, but rather, you can sell as many as you like.

Additionally, manufacturers or importers will contact you if your business gains popularity. But, of course, you’ll want to make sure your website is easy to navigate and intuitive. So, be sure to check out this design company for some web design ideas.

Video Production Business

Nowadays, social media platforms like Instagram or YouTube have skyrocketed people into stardom. As you can expect, the more fame they gain, the less time they have to edit their videos. That’s why video production is one of the most profitable online business ideas.

Of course, you’ll need to have certain programs like Adobe Premiere Pro or CyberLink PowerDirector 365. While video production is a more technical type of business, there will be instances where you can express your creativity. Additionally, you can work with multiple clients, but just make sure you meet all the deadlines!

Online Therapy

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people could not attend their therapy sessions. But, the good news is that some companies like TalkSpace and BetterHelp broke the norm and started offering online therapy sessions. And even after the pandemic began to lessen, people preferred to attend their sessions online.

So, if you have the proper credentials and education, you could easily start an online therapy business. And as your business grows, you can hire additional counselors, therapists, or psychologists to meet the demand. The best part is that you can help people from any part of the world! 

Travel Planning Business

Even though most people love traveling, there are some that hate the planning phase. This is why an online travel planning business is a great idea. Here are the things you’ll need to do as an online travel planner:

• Book flights
• Book hotel rooms
• Give recommendations for eating out
• Currency exchange
• Research things to do

As you can see, starting a travel planning business is quite easy, especially if you enjoy traveling. But, keep in mind, some clients may want you to plan every aspect of their trip, which can get stressful at times. Another benefit of an online travel planning business is that you can have clients from all over the world.

Online Transcription Business

Without a doubt, most people around the world use video streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. And each streaming platform can have hundreds of different series or movies. So, as you can imagine, a transcription business can be very lucrative since there’s no shortage of content.

Additionally, this business idea doesn’t require background knowledge or experience since all you need to do is type what you hear. And you don’t have to limit your business to streaming platforms since many podcasters also transcribe their podcast. But, before you start an online transcribing business, be sure to buy professional studio headphones since you’ll need to make sure you’re accurate while transcribing. 

Online Personal Assistant

As surprising as it may seem, there are people out there that want to have virtual assistants. So, if you’re extremely organized and devoted to a schedule, then starting an online personal assistant business is perfect for you. Here are some of the jobs you’ll perform:

• Data entry
• Customer management
• Appointment scheduling
• Researching

But, of course, each client may need a different degree of assistance, so while some may be easy to manage, others may demand more. And, just as with the other online business ideas, you can work for anyone from the world.

Bookkeeping 

In recent years, many companies have stopped hiring permanent accountants or bookkeepers and instead started using freelance ones. As you can imagine, this situation presents a good business opportunity, especially if you’re good with numbers. With an online bookkeeping business, you’ll be able to work for multiple clients, some of which can hire you as a permanent freelance bookkeeper.

Of course, you’ll need to have the necessary training and certification before starting this type of online business. Additionally, you’ll need to ensure you have all of the latest accounting programs, which can be quite expensive. 

eCommerce Store

Do you have hand-crafted products you can sell? If so, then starting an eCommerce store can be the perfect business idea. And having your own online shop will be a lot more profitable than using websites like Amazon or Etsy since these companies take a significant percentage of your profit.

Of course, you’ll need to make sure you use SEO on your website since that’s one of the most effective ways for people to find your eCommerce business. Additionally, you can pay an influencer to sponsor your products on their social media accounts.

Different Types of Online Businesses You Can Start Today

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of the different types of online businesses. But, of course, it takes time and hard work to get started, so don’t feel frustrated if your business isn’t going as well as you want. So, what type of online business will you start?

Did you find this post about online business ideas helpful? If so, be sure to check out our other business-related topics!