Low-cost business ideas are changing how entrepreneurs start their ventures today. A candle business owner's story proves this - they turned $500 into $150,000 in just 3 months during the pandemic. This shows what you can achieve by starting small.
Success stories of small business owners who start with minimal investment are common. The numbers tell an impressive story. A typical consulting business brings in $363,049 yearly with just $1,000 to start. Vending machine operators made over $10 billion in revenue in 2022 and grew 3.8% from last year. Cleaning businesses also show promise, with average yearly earnings of $74,880 and startup costs ranging from $1,000 to $30,000.
These results show why you have been drawn to opportunities that need low investment but offer high returns. We'll explore proven business models in this piece that help you start lean and boost profits. Telehealth stands out here - it's an emerging sector that combines low overhead costs with exceptional growth potential.
Scroll down to meet your high-profit, low-investment future.
Key Takeaways
- You don’t need deep pockets to launch a profitable business—just the right idea and solid execution.
- Affiliate marketing, online tutoring, freelance writing, and social media management are top low-cost business ideas with high profits.
- Telehealth is rising fast—entrepreneurs can start with minimal capital and earn strong returns, especially with tools like Bask Health.
- Bask offers an all-in-one platform that removes tech headaches, handles compliance, and helps you go live in days, not months.
- Starting small and smart isn’t just trendy—it’s the future of entrepreneurship in 2025 and beyond.
Top Low-Cost Business Ideas With High Profit
Starting a profitable business doesn't require deep pockets anymore. Smart entrepreneurs can now find multiple ways to make good money without spending much upfront. Let me share four low-cost business ideas that can bring in impressive profits.
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is available to new entrepreneurs right away. You earn commission by promoting other companies' products or services through your unique affiliate links. The best part? You don't need to create products, handle inventory, or manage customer support.
The most successful affiliate marketers work with multiple companies to vary their income streams. Data shows that affiliate marketers who make at least $10,000 per month use at least three affiliate networks. Success comes from focusing on conversion rates rather than commission percentages. To cite an instance, a product with a $20 commission at a 12% conversion makes more money than one paying $200 but converting at only 1%.
Online tutoring
The digital world has changed how we learn, and parents need online tutors more than ever. Students' reading and mathematics levels dropped between 2012 and 2020, prompting parents to seek extra academic help.
"Online tutoring is just in huge demand right now, and I think it's just going to continue to grow," says Angelique Rewers, founder of BoldHaus. The money is good too—tutors make anywhere from $15 to more than $100 per hour based on what they teach. Students looking for specialized knowledge can connect with tutors through platforms like Outschool, Wyzant, and Lessonface.
Jade Weatherington's story shows what's possible. She left public education to teach English on Outschool and was making $10,000 per month by 2020. "I have enjoyed teaching online because it provides me with a level of flexibility and autonomy I didn't have working in traditional public schools," she explains.
Freelance writing and blogging
Freelance writing lets you start earning with almost no investment. Writers who plan well can build their income fast. One successful freelancer shows you can make $5,000 monthly from blog writing with just 15-17 quality posts at $300+ per article. That's nowhere near the old days when you needed 60 posts for the same money.
Technical writing tops the earning chart at $5,700/month on average, while finance writing and copywriting both bring in around $5,000/month. Magazine writers do well too, averaging $4,505 monthly.
Social media management
Social media management has become vital for businesses in any discipline. You can start this business with minimal costs and earn well if you have the right skills.
Your focus could be content creation, community management, paid advertising, or complete account oversight. Many managers grow by picking specific industries or becoming experts in particular platforms.
Getting started means setting up your services, deciding on prices (hourly or project-based), and building a professional online presence. Your own social media accounts should showcase your expertise and serve as your portfolio.
These business models help you start small and grow big—perfect if you want to begin with little money and expand smartly.
Telehealth as a High-Margin Business Opportunity
The digital world is revolutionizing healthcare. Telehealth stands out as a budget-friendly business venture with high profit margins. Healthcare delivery through technology has become essential rather than just convenient. This creates perfect conditions for entrepreneurs who want profitable ventures without massive upfront investments.
Why telehealth is booming
The global telehealth market is expected to soar to USD 123.26 billion in 2024. Experts project a remarkable growth rate of 24.68% through 2030. This rapid expansion comes from wider smartphone use, better internet access, and advancing technology.
U.S. regions have picked up on this trend significantly. The West and Midwest regions saw 9.5% growth. The South followed with 6.7%, while the Northeast showed 3.2% growth. Patient satisfaction numbers are a big deal, as it means that they exceed 90%. Many patients now prefer virtual consultations to traditional office visits.
Low startup costs and high demand
Telehealth's budget-friendly nature benefits both healthcare providers and patients. Virtual visits cost USD 40-50, while in-person acute care visits run USD 136-176. This saves about USD 126 per patient visit. The success rate is impressive - 83% of patients resolve their health issues in just one virtual consultation.
Entrepreneurs can start a telehealth business with USD 10,000 to USD 250,000. The final cost depends on platform features, service types, and equipment. Notwithstanding that, the returns are substantial. VHA telehealth programs cut bed days by 25% and hospital admissions by 19%. Each patient saved around USD 6,500 on average.
How to start a telehealth business
Starting a telehealth venture needs these key steps:
- Review healthcare needs and create a telehealth business plan
- Choose the right technology infrastructure and telehealth platform
- Meet HIPAA and state-specific requirements
- Create marketing strategies to reach the target audience
- Build a skilled team with technical and clinical expertise
Your community's specific needs are vital to success. Look at local rates of chronic conditions like diabetes or respiratory disorders. Check if potential patients have access to devices and internet connectivity.
Telehealth business model examples
Successful telehealth businesses usually follow three main models:
- B2B (Business-to-Business): Selling telehealth solutions to healthcare organizations brings steady revenue through long-term contracts
- B2C (Business-to-Consumer): Direct patient services work through subscriptions or per-consultation fees
- Hybrid: This model combines both approaches to broaden revenue streams
Johns Hopkins' "Hospital at Home" program shows great results. They cut costs by 32% compared to traditional hospital care (USD 5,081 vs. USD 7,480). Avera Health's telehealth program achieved an impressive 3.6% hospital readmission rate.
Bask Health: The Turnkey Solution for Health Pros
Bask Health has become the go-to turnkey solution that powers over 100 telehealth companies. Healthcare professionals can now enter the telehealth market without huge upfront costs. The platform works like "Shopify for Telehealth" and removes traditional barriers to starting digital healthcare services.
What is Bask Health?
Bask Health stands out as a detailed telehealth infrastructure company that helps entrepreneurs, doctors, and pharmacists build their digital healthcare brands. They don't need technical expertise to scale their business. The platform comes with a fully integrated, white-label solution that takes away the complexity of starting a telehealth business. Most healthcare platforms need multiple separate systems, but Bask gives you an all-in-one enterprise-grade solution from patient intake to prescription fulfillment.
How Bask simplifies telehealth business management
Bask makes telehealth operations easier through these breakthroughs:
- No-code questionnaire builder: Users can create custom clinical workflows and patient intake forms without coding skills
- Integrated pharmacy network: Users get nationwide distribution of commercial and compounded medications
- Automated compliance: The system includes HIPAA, SOC-2, and LegitScript compliance safeguards
- Complete patient journey management: One system handles everything from consultations to prescription delivery
Bask's infrastructure has proven its worth by processing over 1.3 million orders and serving more than 755,561 patients across its network.
Benefits of using Bask for your telehealth startup
Healthcare entrepreneurs looking for economical business ideas with high profit potential will find Bask advantageous.
The platform cuts down launch time significantly. Businesses can start within days instead of waiting 12-18 months for custom development. Users don't need expensive software engineers or complex technology integration. The subscription-based model grows with your business, which works great for startups with limited funds.
Success stories from Bask Health users
Real-life results show how Bask works in different healthcare segments:
"While my experience is in pharmacy, Bask's doctor group and platform allowed for a seamless nationwide launch. I was able to launch our telehealth business in just a matter of days," explains Phong Truong, PharmD, and founder of Ivy Rx.
Dr. Rebecca Emch of Eden adds that Bask gave "invaluable insights into our business that have helped shape our strategic decisions". Her experience shows how the platform supports both operations and business intelligence.
Conclusion: The Future of Low-Investment Entrepreneurship
Smart entrepreneurs no longer need huge capital to launch profitable ventures. Today’s lean business models—like affiliate marketing, online tutoring, freelance writing, and social media management—prove that low-cost startups can deliver high returns.
Among these, telehealth stands out as a top opportunity. With a projected 24% annual growth rate through 2030 and lower startup costs than traditional healthcare, it offers a powerful blend of accessibility and profitability.
Platforms like Bask Health make it easy for healthcare professionals to enter the market fast, offering the tech foundation needed to succeed. Real-world success stories from pharmacists and doctors show the power of combining medical expertise with the right tools.
Whether you go into content creation or telehealth, starting small and smart is the new way to win. Match your skills to the right market, use available tech, and build from there.
References
- Davey, L. (2025, January 24). 16 low-cost business ideas with high profit returns (2025). Shopify Blog. Retrieved from https://www.shopify.com/blog/low-cost-business-ideas-with-high-profit
- Davey, L. (2025, April 11). 16 affiliate marketing tips and strategies to earn more money (2025). Shopify Blog. Retrieved from https://www.shopify.com/blog/affiliate-marketing-tips
CNBC Make It. (2022, December 14).
In-demand side hustle for 2023 is online tutoring: How to start
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