Online Side Business Ideas You Can Start Today

The numbers tell a compelling story. US side hustlers earn an average of $885 monthly, which adds $10,000 to their yearly income. Smart side business ideas work as assets that generate money while you sleep, rather than draining your energy. The global gig economy's value exceeds $582 billion, and experts project it to reach $2.1 trillion by 2034. This makes it the perfect moment to explore your options.

Let's explore online side businesses you can launch today. These range from zero-investment ventures to expandable services, including opportunities in healthcare. The ride-share industry alone should hit $185.1 billion by 2026. You'll find options to supplement your income or maybe even build your future full-time business.

Key Takeaways

• Side hustles are booming, with 27% of Americans earning about $885/month in extra income.
• Many online side businesses require little to no startup cost, including freelance writing, virtual assistance, affiliate marketing, and digital products.
• Low-risk product businesses like dropshipping, print-on-demand, and Etsy selling offer scalable income opportunities.
• Service-based options such as online tutoring, consulting, and telehealth can grow into high-earning ventures.
• Telehealth is a fast-growing field (24.3% CAGR) with platforms like Bask Health lowering startup costs and technical barriers.
• The global gig economy is projected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2034, making now an ideal time to start a side business.

Online side businesses you can start with little to no cost

You can start a profitable online side business without spending much money. There are several ways to make use of your existing skills and resources to earn income.

Freelance writing or editing

The content marketing boom has created plenty of opportunities for skilled writers. Digital publications still prefer human-generated content despite AI tools, and talented writers are in high demand. Local businesses often want blog posts or reports. You can also create profiles on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to find clients.

Prices range from $5 entry-level gigs on Fiverr (with strategic upsells) to specialized writing at premium rates. In fact, many experienced writers earn substantial income—some freelancers have made over $300,000 from platforms like Upwork in their early careers.

Virtual assistant services

A virtual assistant (VA) helps entrepreneurs with tasks they can't handle themselves, all from home. You just need a computer, internet access, and organizational skills.

VAs typically handle:

• Email and calendar management
• Simple administrative work
• Data entry and research
• Social media assistance
• Travel arrangements

This business gives you flexibility—you can work with clients worldwide and focus on areas you enjoy. Earnings range from $38,964 for customer service representatives to $70,000 for project management specialists.

Affiliate marketing through blogs or social media

Affiliate marketing lets you earn commissions by recommending products through your tracking links. This works well with blogs, social media, and email lists.

Commission rates vary by industry: 5-15% for fashion, 10-20% for health products, and up to 70% for software. Some programs pay per lead instead of per sale, offering $10-$200+ depending on the service.

Selling digital products like templates or printables

Digital products are great for scaling—create once, sell unlimited times with no inventory to manage. Popular items include Canva templates, planners, budget trackers, and educational resources.

Template creators often earn over $1,000 monthly. Etsy remains one of the best platforms to sell printables because of its built-in traffic and ready-to-buy customers. The market continues to grow, with projections to reach $26.06 trillion by 2034.

Product-based online businesses with low startup costs

Physical products can propel your side income without huge upfront costs. Several online business models let you sell goods with little financial risk.

Dropshipping with platforms like Shopify

You won't have to deal with inventory hassles since suppliers ship products directly to customers. A Shopify store setup comes with a free trial, and you can connect through options like Shopify Collective that syncs your pricing and inventory automatically. Dropshipping apps make it easy to link your store with suppliers and take care of everything from product imports to order processing. You can start with free plans on platforms like DropCommerce for North American suppliers and Syncee for global brands.

Print-on-demand merchandise

Print-on-demand businesses create custom products only after a customer places an order. You design the artwork, and companies like Printful put your designs on t-shirts, mugs, and other items. The best part? You don't need to buy stock upfront, which makes this one of the safest ways to start. The market looks promising too—the global POD industry should hit $59.40 billion by 2033.

Selling handmade goods on Etsy

Etsy puts you in touch with 22.6 million active buyers. The platform keeps startup costs low at $0.20 per listing that stays up for four months. Sales do come with extra charges (6.5% transaction fee plus payment processing), but Etsy's loyal customers make it worth it—75% of purchases between 2011-2014 came from repeat buyers.

Flipping thrift store finds online

Thrift store flipping lets you buy undervalued items and sell them at a profit. Some resellers make $100+ daily, and a few are getting close to $100K annually. Success depends on spotting the right items - brand-name clothing, electronics, and vintage pieces usually sell for more. You can sell your finds on eBay, Depop, and Poshmark, making this business available to anyone with a smartphone who can spot a good deal.

Service-based online businesses you can scale

Service-based online businesses can grow remarkably well with modest startup costs. You can utilize your expertise to build recurring revenue streams.

Online tutoring or teaching a language

Teaching English online has become a profitable option. Platforms like VIPKid pay $14.00-22.00 per hour. The flexibility makes this option even more attractive since there are no minimum hour requirements, and the curriculum is already developed. Language tutors on Preply can earn up to $1,462 monthly with full-time work.

Offering consulting in your area of expertise

You can turn your specialized knowledge into solutions that clients need. The first step is to identify your unique value proposition and research your target market. Your pricing strategy could include hourly rates, project-based fees, or retainer models. Independent consultants earn around $150K yearly, making this an expandable business venture.

Starting a telehealth business: what you need to know

Telehealth technology helps solve healthcare delivery challenges through remote communication. The launch process requires attention to regulatory compliance (HIPAA), licensing requirements, and payment structures. The telehealth market grows at 24.3% annually through 2030, creating substantial opportunities.

How to build a telehealth business model that works

The best telehealth models focus on value proposition and financial variables. You can choose between B2C (serving patients directly) or B2B (working with healthcare organizations) approaches. Many providers use both models to create stability and broaden their revenue streams.

Understanding telemedicine startup costs and tools

The original investments typically range from $10,000 to $40,000. This covers essential equipment like HIPAA-compliant video platforms, secure storage solutions, and medical peripherals. Technology development costs the most, ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 for custom platforms.

How Bask Health supports your online side business journey

What is Bask Health, and who is it for?

We serve as the 'Shopify for Telehealth'—an all-in-one digital health platform that helps create direct-to-consumer telehealth services. Our solution helps entrepreneurs, doctors, and developers launch their telehealth businesses without deep technical knowledge or huge investments.

Tools and features that help you launch faster

Our platform removes traditional barriers with these features:

• White-label solutions you can customize with your own brand
• Simple drag-and-drop tools to create asynchronous telehealth questionnaires
• Nationwide provider and pharmacy networks that deliver medications throughout all 50 states

Why health ecommerce and telehealth are growing markets

The telehealth sector hit $101.15 billion in 2023 and shows a projected growth of 24.3% CAGR through 2030. Patient visits through telehealth jumped from 0.1% in 2019 to 17% by 2023. This growth creates remarkable opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs.

Using Bask Health for telehealth business management solutions

Our complete solution combines key elements like customizable patient onboarding, EMR integration, advanced analytics, and ready-to-use provider networks. You can focus on patient care while we manage the technical backbone—cutting typical startup costs from $70,000-100,000.

Conclusion

The digital world opens amazing doors for entrepreneurs ready to begin their side business trip. You can start with zero-cost options like freelance writing and virtual assistance, or try ventures like dropshipping and print-on-demand to make extra money. Side hustlers make about $900 each month, which adds up to $10,000 yearly on top of their main income.

Service-based businesses shine bright because they can grow fast without huge startup costs. People who share their knowledge through online tutoring, consulting, and telehealth can build steady income streams. Telehealth stands out as this sector grows at 24.3% every year through 2030.

Starting a telehealth business used to need big money and tech skills. That's not true anymore. Our platform at Bask Health helps entrepreneurs jump into digital health. We're your complete solution with white-label options you can customize, easy-to-use builders for patient forms, and provider networks that ship medications to all 50 states.

The gig economy will hit $2.1 trillion by 2034, making side hustles even more attractive. Your success depends on picking a business that matches your talents and interests—whether it's freelancing, dropshipping, consulting, or joining the telehealth wave. Great side businesses do more than just make money—they become assets that work while you rest.

The perfect time to start is now. All the digital tools, platforms, and support you need are ready. Just take that first step today.

References

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3. Instructables. (n.d.). How to start selling on Etsy: 19 steps (with pictures). Instructables. Retrieved November 16, 2025, from https://www.instructables.com/How-to-start-selling-on-Etsy/
4. ZIK Analytics. (n.d.). Thrift store flipping: 10 easy items that you can flip for profit. ZIK Analytics Blog. Retrieved November 16, 2025, from https://www.zikanalytics.com/blog/thrift-store-flipping/
5. VIPKid. (n.d.). Teach English online. VIPKid. Retrieved November 16, 2025, from https://www.vipkid.com/teach
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