The internet is quickly taking over shopping from physical stores as our go-to. This shift brings a big plus – starting an online business is easy and doesn’t cost much upfront. With just a computer, the possibilities are endless. You can choose from setting up shops that sell various products, to novel ideas like subscription services. In this piece, we’ll look at 20 great online business ideas in the UK. These include selling crafts, subscription services, blogging, becoming an influencer, and creating digital goods like apps and websites.
Key Takeaways
- The internet has made it easier than ever to start an online business in the UK with minimal investment.
- There are numerous online business ideas to explore, from selling handmade products to launching a subscription service.
- Blogging, podcasting, and influencer marketing are also viable options for generating income online.
- Developing apps, software, and websites can be a lucrative online business venture.
- The flexibility and potential for growth offered by online businesses make them an attractive prospect for entrepreneurs in the UK.
Sell Handmade Items Online
If you can craft your own products, think about selling handmade items online. Etsy is a great place. It lets you set up a ecommerce store for handmade products. You can manage, track, and send out orders easily.
You can make products beforehand. Then, list how many you’ve got. This lets you choose how much to work.
Utilise Etsy and Other Marketplaces
Etsy is known for selling handmade items online in the UK. You can open your own shop there. It’s a big community looking for unique, handcrafted items.
There are other places besides Etsy. Consider notonthehighstreet.com and ArtFinder too. They are also good for selling handmade items online.
Build an Ecommerce Store for Your Products
Or, you might want to create your own ecommerce store for handmade products. Shopify or WooCommerce are good for this. Making your shop means you control the look and feel. But it may need more tech skills or money.
This way, you can show your work to more people. You can find new customers online.
Partner with Other Local Businesses
To get more people to see your handmade items, try working with local shops. You can sell your stuff in their shops or online. Or, you could do promotions together. This lets you tap into their customers, helping you sell to more people.
Launch a Subscription Business
In recent years, the subscription economy has become very popular. More people enjoy the ease and thrill of getting a curated box regularly. These can include anything from snacks, beauty items, to home decorations. For entrepreneurs, starting a subscription business in the UK offers great potential.
Offer Products with Customisable Delivery Options
A subscription model lets you give customers a tailored service. You can offer deliveries every week, month, or even every two weeks. This meets the specific desires of your audience. Such flexibility can attract more consumers to your business, making it stand out.
Raise Awareness of Local Brands
You might also partner with local brands to feature their products in your subscriptions. This supports local businesses and excites customers with new, quality goods. By using your subscription service, you introduce people to these brands, offering a varied and interesting range of items.
Online Businesses Ideas
Are you an expert in a certain area? Starting a blog or podcast could be perfect for you. You just need a laptop, a microphone, and recording software. You earn money through ads, partnerships, or making sponsored content.
Start a Blog or Podcast
Blogging and podcasting let you share what you know and make friends worldwide. If you love a certain area, like games or fashion, you’ll have fun making content. Also, you can make money through ads, sponsored posts, and selling things.
Monetise Through Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a good way to earn for those with blogs or podcasts. You work with companies to promote products, getting money when your followers buy something. This way, you can make money without directly selling anything.
Sell Merchandise to Loyal Followers
Got a big fan base for your blog or podcast? Think about selling merchandise with your brand on it. This could be clothes, mugs, or even special downloads. It’s a way to make more money and show you’re a real expert in your field.
Become an Influencer
A few years back, being an online influencer for money wasn’t around. However, now you can make a living by guiding your social media followers. You promote product selling to them. When you gather a big crowd, companies reach out to you. They want you to help them get more customers. Most influencers use YouTube and Instagram. They also have a blog for more earnings through marketing products they like.
Build a Community on Social Media
In the UK, to be a top influencer, focus on YouTube and Instagram. Post content that’s interesting and useful to your viewers. Talk with them often. This makes a community feeling. As you get more followers, you can work with brands. You’ll help sell their stuff to your viewers.
Partner with Brands for Promotions
After making a big name online, brands will want to work with you. They’ll pay you if your content helps sell their products. Earning money this way can be good. Companies pay a lot to influencers to get through to their followers. It helps boost the brand’s sales.
Develop Apps, Software and Websites
Experienced web designers and developers have a great chance to start a thriving business in the UK. They can work on developing apps and software for a broad range of customers. This work requires great coding skills and a keen eye for detail to meet client needs.
If you prefer, becoming a website manager is another option. You’ll help businesses keep a strong online presence and update their software when needed. Many businesses want help to build websites for clients and help in their growth.
Offer Design and Video Creation Services
Businesses love adding pictures and videos to their online stuff now. A well-designed picture can make a business look better. It can also help people feel more connected to the brand.
Provide Graphic Design and Illustration
It’s easier now to learn how to create content or make videos. There are many online resources to help you learn. Even if you’re not an expert, you can start offering design services in the UK.
Video Production for Businesses
In the UK, businesses need people who can make great videos. They want videos to promote, explain, or show off happy customers. This makes video production for businesses uk a growing field. Your video skills could be just what companies need to be noticed more.
Provide Tech Support Services
If you love IT but not creating web designs, there’s another path. You can assist companies with their product issues remotely. This way, much of your work can be done from home. You’d talk to customers over the phone to solve their problems.
Troubleshoot Product Issues Remotely
Your tasks would include checking online systems and doing tests to sort out problems. You’d also help pick the right products for the businesses. Being in tech support means you’d offer services to various UK companies.
Specialise in Specific Tech Areas
Or you could focus on one tech support area, like software or hardware. This way, you’d really know your stuff. You’d give expert and custom help to your clients.
Work as a Marketing Consultant
Help companies improve their marketing plans by giving advice or running their promotions. A marketing consultant knows a lot about SEO, social media trends, and ads. They use tools like Google Analytics to measure success.
Advise on SEO and Social Media Strategies
You’ll use your skills in SEO and social media to help businesses. You’ll give advice on how they can be more visible online. This way, they can reach more people.
Manage Promotional Activities for Clients
Handling a client’s email and social media is part of your job. You’ll update their content and use important keywords. Your work makes it easier for companies to grow.
Offer Financial Consulting Services
Have a background in accounting or bookkeeping? You could set up a financial consultancy business. Gain qualifications first. Then, attract clients, especially online, by offering good prices.
Provide Industry Insights and Best Practices
Once started, share finance insights and best practices with clients. Your knowledge in areas like financial planning and risk management can help businesses improve. This can be very valuable.
Help with Tax Returns and Cash Flow
Besides strategic advice, help clients with practical tasks such as tax returns and cash flow reviews. Showing the real benefits of your services this way can be very effective.
Become a Virtual Assistant
Personal assistants have always been in demand. Now, the internet opens a new door. You can work as a ‘virtual assistant’ online. You’ll help business owners and top managers around the world. Tasks range from simple calls to complex research and bill handling.
Assist with Personal and Professional Tasks
In the UK, as a virtual assistant, you’ll cover a lot. You might set meetings, tidy up emails, book travels, and more. If you also handle market research or data entry, your earnings could rise.
Offer a Wide Range of Support Services
As a virtual assistant, you can customise your services. You could do bookkeeping, manage social media, or write posts. Drawing from a broad skill set makes you attract more clients. And, you can set your prices higher.
Start a CV-Writing Business
The job market is getting tougher, making CV-writing companies more important than ever. They provide a much-needed service for many.
There are many ways to help job hunters. You could make video tutorials on cover letters. Or you could offer one-to-one consultations for those seeking career advice. LinkedIn is key for this kind of work, as it’s full of professionals looking for new opportunities. It’s perfect for promoting your services and growing your business network.
Produce Video Tutorials and Career Guidance
Video tutorials on making a CV and cover letter are a brilliant way to show off your knowledge. They can draw in clients who need your expertise. Also, giving personal advice in consultations can really make your business stand out.
Leverage LinkedIn for Networking
If you’re in the CV-writing business in the UK, LinkedIn is your best friend. This platform helps you connect with professionals who might need your help. By being active on LinkedIn, sharing useful posts, and making connections, you can grow your business. This way, you’ll find more clients who need your services.
Launch an Online Recruitment Company
If you’re looking for an online business idea, try the recruitment industry. It’s great for working from home. You connect businesses with job seekers online. You don’t need special qualifications to start.
Specialise in Specific Industries
As your online recruitment company grows, focus on certain industries. Build a network among growing businesses. Become an expert in your chosen area. This way, you can offer better services to your clients.
Build a Network of Business Contacts
To succeed, it’s vital to have a strong network of business contacts. Start by getting in touch with local companies. Attend events in your industry. Use your connections to find clients and job seekers.
Make sure to maintain these relationships. This will help you find the right people for the right jobs. It’ll also boost your company’s reputation in the recruiting world.
Offer Tutoring and Coaching Services
Running online courses is a wonderful way to share what you know with others. It’s great if you want to help people while using your own knowledge.
Start by making a learning plan focused on your area of expertise. This will help you enhance your knowledge further. You can then start a tutoring service online. Building a good reputation through positive reviews will help you get more clients. After showing you give excellent service, you could increase your fees.
Become a Subject Matter Expert
Becoming really good in a certain area helps you stand out. You can show you know a lot and attract students or clients looking for detailed knowledge. Keep on learning to stay up to date in your field. This will ensure you offer the best help or coaching possible.
Provide Online Courses and Sessions
You can also make and sell online courses. Pick topics that interest people. This way, you can reach more students and make money while you sleep. You could also do live coaching sessions online. Here, you can give personal advice and tips as people learn in real-time.
Provide Writing Services
This area involves many specialisms like copywriting, editing, and proofreading. Online businesses look for help in these areas to stand out. Being focused on a specific industry helps offer more valuable insight.
Copywriting, Editing and Proofreading
If you’re a skilled copywriter, you can help online businesses. They often need content that’s persuasive and interesting. You might write text for websites or work on marketing materials.
Your expertise in copywriting comes in handy here. By focusing on certain industries, you can offer services that truly meet your clients’ needs.
Research and Analysis for Businesses
Another role is being a research expert. You’d look into technical documents and market trends. Your work helps online businesses make smart choices and beat their competitors.
Translation and Transcription Services
There’s also a big demand for translation and transcription. Businesses in various fields need help with these. By offering your skills, you open up more opportunities to grow your business.
Start an Interior Design Business
Many dream of being an interior designer. But not all know they can give advice online. Now, with tech, you can make three-dimensional imagery of property interiors. You can also make interactive plans of renovation and design proposals. This means you can run your business from anywhere, without visiting the space.
Create 3D Imagery and Interactive Plans
Use the newest software to give clients a new way to plan their projects. Your online business can offer unique services like 3D visualisations and interactive floor plans. These are things that regular designers can’t do, making your business special.
Offer Home Décor Products and Tutorials
Keep growing your business by adding different ways to make money. You can do decorating tips, video tutorials, and write blogs with links to buy products. This way, you share your love for design and make money in various ways.
Launch a Dropshipping Business
Dropshipping is when an online store gets an order and sends it directly from a supplier. They don’t handle the product themselves. Imagine it’s like a standalone retail department that scouts items from many places.
If you’re good at finding unique or high-quality items, dropshipping is for you. You can set up your own catalogue. This way, you become known for your great product selections – sort of like a personal shopper for your customers.
So, if starting a retail business sounds good but you can’t manage stocks, consider dropshipping. In the UK, there are many dropshipping opportunities. This is because more shoppers buy online. It’s a low-risk way to begin your business journey.
Success in dropshipping comes from offering unique, top-notch products. With the right items and marketing, you can grow a successful dropshipping business in the UK. You’ll meet the rising demand for convenient online shopping.
