12 Unique business ideas to try this year
Finding the right idea is often the hardest part. The unique business ideas below will help you move from stuck to started.
Each one meets a real need, has high demand, and offers a path toward building something sustainable. Whether you’re aiming for a flexible side hustle or a full-time venture, these are great business ideas with the potential to grow.
Unique online business ideas
1. Freelance UX testing for small brands
If you’re considering a freelance writing business but want a more strategic, research-driven alternative, this is it.
Small ecommerce brands need actionable feedback, especially from real users. As a freelance UX tester, you’ll review things like navigation, product pages, and checkout flows, offering feedback via video walkthroughs or live Zoom calls. You don’t need to be a designer—just know how to evaluate clarity, friction points, and trust signals.
Demand is growing fast. With so many businesses launching on online platforms like Shopify and Etsy, there’s a steady stream of potential customers looking for cost-effective ways to improve conversion. Most can’t afford a full agency, making this service accessible and valuable.
Pro tip: Pick a brand you like and create a short sample video offering a few UX suggestions. Share it publicly (tag them if it feels right) or privately, mentioning you’re building your portfolio. Even if they don’t hire you, leading with value builds trust and can lead to referrals.
2. AI avatar modeling for print-on-demand stores
AI avatar modeling uses lifelike, digital models to showcase clothing without the need for human models or photoshoots. For print-on-demand brands, it’s a faster, more scalable way to present apparel on diverse body types, in different poses, and across various backgrounds.
This is a smart move for anyone looking to start a profitable small business in the creator or ecommerce space. Brands are turning to tech-driven solutions for visuals, and high-quality avatar modeling boosts conversions without the traditional content production costs.
Offer this as a freelance or agency-style online business, creating styled product mockups or lookbooks for new collections. Use AI-generated avatars and virtual fitting software to produce assets that sellers can plug directly into product listings, ads, and social posts.
This service is especially valuable for small brands selling on social media platforms, where visuals are key to making sales. It also ties directly into digital marketing efforts—polished content drives engagement and stronger ad performance.
You don’t need to build the tech, but you do need to know how to use it well. Get familiar with AI avatar platforms like Lalaland.ai or Creati.ai, and understand the basics of garment visualization, digital lighting, and export formatting for ecommerce. You’ll also need a solid grasp of how brands use content across social and paid channels.
3. Digital “reset” retreats for remote workers
As remote work blurs the line between life and labor, many are seeking ways to unplug and reset without taking a full vacation. Digital reset retreats offer structured experiences for remote workers to decompress, refocus, and regain balance.
Create guided content—audio, video, and PDFs like journaling prompts, meditation guides, and reflective exercises—curated into short, self-paced retreats. This appeals particularly to Millennials and Gen Z professionals who prioritize mental health and productivity.
Monetize these retreats through standalone sales or bundled with online courses. Distribute them via email, websites, or social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Startup costs are low—just time, digital tools, and a clear structure to get started. Map out the experience, record or source high-quality audio, design downloadable materials, and choose a hosting platform like Teachable or Podia.
Pro tip: Theme your retreat around a specific outcome like “reset your focus after burnout” or “rebuild structure after a move” to attract the right audience and increase satisfaction.
4. Micro-consulting for brand voice and tone
Strong messaging is the backbone of any brand, but most small business owners aren’t writers. That’s where a specialized consulting business focused on voice and tone comes in.
This idea is perfect for those with writing, brand strategy, or marketing experience. Offer short, focused sessions to help solopreneurs and early-stage brands define their voice. Services can include tone audits, voice-of-customer research, and rewrites for key messaging like taglines, About pages, or product descriptions.
There’s high demand for this type of support, especially as personal brands, niche dropshipping stores, or micro-businesses grow. These entrepreneurs often can't afford a full brand agency.
Package your services for solo founders and creators, and promote them through digital marketing or email outreach. Showcase your social media management skills with before-and-after messaging examples, voice tips, or short video audits.
5. Ethical influencer onboarding support
Many eco-friendly brands need influencers but struggle to find the right ones or build meaningful partnerships. Ethical influencer onboarding helps brands connect with creators who align with their values.
This isn’t about managing influencer campaigns or chasing viral reach, but creating a process for discovering, vetting, and approaching social media creators who can represent a product authentically. For example, an online bakery business might need micro-influencers who already speak to interested audiences, not just lifestyle bloggers with big followings.
Build a short audit template for founders to define their ideal partner, including tone, audience, non-negotiables, and campaign goals before they send any DMs.
This is a great fit for those with influencer marketing or creator management experience, or a passion for sustainability. You’ll help founders source the right influencers, write outreach messages, and provide onboarding guidance to make the collaboration smooth and respectful.
6. TikTok trend repurposing services
As content cycles speed up, brands need to extend the life of their videos. TikTok trend repurposing turns short-form video content into blog posts, email newsletters, and long-form assets using AI and editing tools.
This is one of the most profitable small business ideas for marketers and creators with editing skills and a strong sense of narrative. It’s especially valuable for founders and personal brands who want visibility across channels but don’t have time to repurpose content themselves.
Strong customer service skills are key, especially when managing quick turnarounds. Providing excellent customer service (like offering two-day delivery or custom formatting) will set you apart.
Follow 5–10 niche creators and study how their best videos can be reframed into evergreen content. Then pitch a bundle (e.g., 3 videos = 3 articles) to growing solopreneurs. Craft headlines using both visuals and audience comments.
Unique small business ideas
7. Mobile “fresh space” cleaning and reset for new parents
This niche take on traditional cleaning services focuses on scent-free, baby-safe, and pet-aware home updates for new parents. Think eco-friendly products, decluttering, and smart storage tailored to newborn routines.
It’s one of those small business ideas with low startup costs—no inventory or certification required, just basic cleaning products and a thoughtful approach. The concept appeals to a time-strapped customer base willing to pay for calm, functional spaces during major life transitions.
To start, define a basic service package, partner with doulas or baby sleep consultants, and promote locally through parenting groups or on Instagram. Offering a one-time “home reset” can quickly generate referrals.
Pro tip: Position yourself as a trusted partner, not just a cleaner—small business owners who deliver thoughtful extras (like safe toy-sanitizing or pet coordination tips) see stronger word-of-mouth growth.
8. Subscription-based pet sitting with add-ons
Elevate standard pet sitting services into a premium, personalized experience by offering monthly plans with enrichment toys or puzzles, short training routines, and optional social media updates to keep pet owners connected while they’re away.
This is a smart twist on the traditional dog walking business, especially for busy professionals in urban areas seeking consistent, reliable care. Bundling services creates steady income and boosts retention, a hallmark of successful small businesses.
Offer 2–3 tiered packages for pet owners and promote locally through vet offices, pet stores, or social media with short reels showing your services.
Include a short intake form that asks about pet personality, quirks, and daily habits. It makes first-time visits smoother—and signals a level of care that sets you apart.
9. Local tool library + DIY classes
Turn underused home tools into community assets by creating a membership-based system for borrowing tools for home projects and offering weekend classes on basic repairs or upgrades. This is a practical way to support local businesses and meet the growing demand for hands-on learning.
This is one of those easy small business ideas that delivers real value without complex setup or equipment, especially if you have your own tools or donations. Hosting beginner-friendly classes adds another revenue stream and helps build community loyalty.
Find a small space, define borrowing terms, and set up a simple booking system. Promote through neighborhood groups, hardware stores, or city newsletters. With rising interest in sustainability and DIY skills, it’s a strong candidate for anyone looking into top small business ideas with long-term potential.
10. Entertainment for kids’ parties
With 67% of parents hiring pros for birthdays, offering structured kids’ party entertainment—like themed games, interactive storytelling, music, or creative activities—is genius. It makes parties more fun and less stressful.
Perfect for people with performance, teaching, or childcare experience who want to build a flexible business with steady weekend demand. It’s also one of the best small business ideas if you’re looking for work that’s both creative and community-based.
Create customizable packages by age or theme. Partner with local photographers or bakeries to expand your offer and promote through schools, parent groups, and event listings. Clear communication, friendly service, and reliable execution lead to repeat bookings.
11. At-home closet concierge for busy professionals
Think The Home Edit, but for wardrobes.
One of the most unique small business ideas is helping people organize and streamline their closets to build functional, stylish clothing collections. This hybrid service combines closet cleaning services with styling, photography, and digital organization.
You’ll photograph items, create a digital wardrobe, suggest pieces to donate or sell, and optimize closet space for easier daily use. It’s a smart niche for detail-oriented small business owners with experience in fashion, personal assistance, or home organization.
Use platforms like Thumbtack to book local clients, and build a simple website with before-and-after examples. Offer an initial consultation, a digital inventory session, and a final blueprint for your vision. Stylists, personal shoppers, and resale app users make great referral partners.
12. Backyard micro-farm planners
Turn a green thumb into your own business by designing compact, productive gardens for homes or small offices. This blends outdoor design with practical food production—perfect for eco-conscious homeowners or local entrepreneurs who want to grow herbs, vegetables, or pollinator-friendly plants.
Offer customized layouts, recommend space-saving tools, and offer starter kits that include soil, compost, and beginner-friendly guides. Create a few sample plans tailored to different spaces like small yards, patios, or shared office gardens, and use them to create service tiers with clear pricing.
Promote through local groups, sustainability events, or farmers markets. The personal, hands-on nature of this creative small business idea makes it ideal for building referrals and partnerships with eco-friendly brands or workshops.
Pro tip: After planning and planting, offer follow-up cleaning services for garden beds, patios, or balconies to build recurring income.
How to know if a business idea is right for you
The right business idea fits your skills, aligns with real demand, and gives you a realistic path to growth.
Before committing, weigh your idea against 3 factors: personal fit, market demand, and execution potential.
1. Start with your advantage
Not every good idea is good for you. The best fit plays to your experience, connections, or access—especially if you want to build your own small business without outside funding or a big team.
If you’re great at short-form videos, lean into content-heavy spaces. If you’re well-connected in a specific industry, consider a B2B service they need.
Skip ideas that call for skills you lack or put you in overly saturated spaces.
2. Get laser-specific about market demand
The best ideas are rooted in a niche market with a defined target audience and clear demand.
To test this, ask:
Knowing exactly who you’re selling to (and why) better defines your offer and makes it easier to stand out from day one.
Read more: 17 Print-on-Demand Niches to Watch in 2025
3. Make sure it’s viable
You don’t need a massive budget to get started—but you do need a clear plan.
Outline your startup costs (products, tools, software, and marketing), then think about how it fits your time, resources, and energy.
Map out your lowest-risk way to test the idea. Can you run a local pilot? Pre-sell before producing? Test your offer with a small customer base to get proof of concept before you launch.
The best idea isn’t just the one with the most potential—it’s one you can actually start, sustain, and grow.
Launch your chosen business idea
Once you’ve chosen the right business venture, it’s time to launch. These unique business ideas are built for flexibility, so start small and test what works. Here are the necessary steps to get started.
Create a business plan
Before you dive in, write a solid business plan that outlines what you’re offering, who it’s for, and how you’ll grow.
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Start with an overview summarizing your business idea, target audience, and goals.
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Outline your target customers by detailing demographics, buying behaviors, and needs.
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Research the industry to understand market trends, size, and demand for your product or service.
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Study the competition to identify gaps in the market and what sets your business apart.
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Define your business setup, operations model, and legal or logistical requirements.
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Develop a financial plan that includes startup costs, revenue projections, and strategies for profitability and growth.
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Build a marketing strategy that outlines your product positioning, pricing, sales channels, and promotion plans.
Without a detailed business plan, you risk targeting the wrong audience, miscalculating pricing, or running ineffective marketing campaigns. A thoughtful business plan creates a clear roadmap for your goals, helping you spot issues early and avoid expensive mistakes.
Open an online store
Not every profitable business needs a store, but for product-based ventures—like AI modeling for apparel, branded merch, or digital retreat kits—it can be a key revenue channel. If your idea includes physical goods, Printful makes it easy to launch an online store without managing inventory.
Here’s how to get started:
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Create a free Printful account and choose an ecommerce platform or marketplace to connect.
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Pick your products and design them using Printful’s Design Maker or upload your own artwork.
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Add products to your store, write custom descriptions, set your pricing, and publish.
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Set up shipping and payment methods, then promote your store to attract customers.
Learn more: How to Start an Online Store with Printful
You don’t need a big budget, just a smart mix of digital marketing, clear messaging, and consistent visibility.
Use online advertising to test offers and reach niche audiences. Boost your presence on social media channels where your target market hangs out, and focus on value-driven content to attract customers.
To create a successful strategy tailored to your business, check out our blog post on How to Develop an Effective Marketing Strategy.
Build your network
Growth starts with connection. Join online communities your target customers are a part of, engage in industry-specific groups, and connect with other small businesses. Attending in-person events like trade shows or local markets will also boost visibility.
Strategic networking can mean the difference between simply landing multiple clients and building a reliable referral system that will grow your brand.
Conclusion
There you have it: 12 unique business ideas you can tailor to your strengths, fill real market gaps, and grow into a reliable income.
Starting a business doesn’t have to require a huge investment or a perfect plan from day one. With the right idea and a simple roadmap, you can move from concept to execution faster than you think.
Read next: Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start
