Top 5 Online Businesses You Can Start in 2023

The new year is just around the corner, and you’re itching to start something fresh. Maybe you’re dreaming of escaping your 9-to-5 job and becoming your own boss. The good news is, there are plenty of online businesses you can launch in 2023 without needing a tonne of start-up capital or technical experience. In fact, with a steady internet connection and the drive to succeed, you have everything you need to build a thriving ecommerce store, online course, or digital service in the next 12 months. Over the following five entries, we’ll explore some of the most promising online business ideas you can turn into reality this year, even if you have to start out moonlighting from your dining room table in the evenings. By this time next year, you could be running a lucrative online venture and well on your way to achieving financial independence. The future is yours to shape – so what are you waiting for?

Selling Kids’ Clothes Online

Selling pre-owned kids’ clothes online can be a lucrative stream of income if you do it right. Who doesn’t love finding quality outfits for their little ones at a fraction of retail prices? As a parent, you know how quickly children outgrow their clothes, so why not turn that cycle of constantly buying new outfits into an opportunity to make some cash?

Bundles and order bumps

Creating bundle offers, like tops and bottoms together, or adding on extras like socks or hair clips, are a great way to increase the value for customers and your sales. Offering free shipping on larger orders is another tactic buyers love.

Choose the right platform

eBay is ideal for selling children’s clothes, especially high-quality or name brand pieces. Their large market of buyers means more potential customers. You can also open an online store on eBay without any fees. On the flip side, for smaller bundles or lots, Facebook Marketplace and local parenting groups are good options to avoid high seller fees.

Take quality photos

No matter where you sell, eye-catching photos are essential. Make sure clothes are clean and ironed, style complete outfits together, use natural lighting, and capture details like tags and logos. High quality photos will make your items appealing and help them sell faster.

Set competitive prices

Do some research to determine reasonable prices for the types of clothes you want to sell based on brand, condition, and current trends. Price items competitively and be open to offers, especially for larger lots. The more you sell, the more you’ll get a feel for the best prices to ask.

With some time and effort, selling pre-owned kids’ clothes online can become a steady source of side income for your family. And you’ll feel good knowing that perfectly good outfits are going to new little owners rather than into the trash.

Starting a Kids’ Activity Blog

Starting an online kids’ activity blog is a great way to turn your passion for fun and creative pursuits into a viable business. Kids’ activities are always in demand, and parents are constantly on the lookout for inspiration and new ideas to keep their little ones entertained.

Finding Your Niche

Focus your blog on a specific age group or type of activity. Some ideas include:

• Arts and crafts for preschoolers
• Science experiments for elementary kids
• Board games and puzzles for all ages

Look for gaps in the market and underserved niches. The more targeted your content, the more authority you can build.

Creating Content

The key to a successful kids’ activity blog is frequent, high-quality content. Aim for 2-3 posts per week with:

• Step-by-step activity tutorials with lots of pictures
• Activity roundups and lists (e.g. 10 Easy Crafts for Rainy Days)
• Reviews of the latest kids’ products, books, games, etc.
• Seasonal and holiday-themed content

Pinterest is crucial for driving traffic to your blog. Create eye-catching pins for all your posts to increase visibility.

Making Money

Once you’ve built up your content and audience, you can start to monetise your blog through:

• Affiliate marketing – promote relevant kids’ products and earn a commission
• Sponsored posts – work with brands to feature their products and activities
• Digital products – sell ebooks, printable packs, online courses, etc.
• Ads – sign up for ad networks to run ads on your site

With time and consistency, a kids’ activity blog can become a successful business. The opportunities to partner with brands, create useful resources for parents, and impact children in a positive way make it a very rewarding venture.

Selling Handmade Crafts on Etsy

Selling handmade goods on Etsy is a popular way to start an online business from home. As an experienced Etsy seller, you’ve learned a lot over the years about what works and what doesn’t. You want to share some tips to help new sellers find success on the platform.

Product Selection

Choosing products that will resonate with buyers is key. Look for handmade crafts or goods that are unique, high-quality, and fit into popular niches on Etsy like:

• Jewellery (gemstone, boho, minimalist)
• Home decor (wall art, pillows, candles)
• Stationery (planners, notebooks, greeting cards)
• Clothing and accessories (t-shirts, hats, scarves)
• Toys and baby items (stuffed animals, blankets, mobiles)

Once you’ve selected some products to focus on, make sure to take eye-catching photos, write engaging product listings, and set competitive prices.

Build Your Shop’s Reputation

Having a professional looking Etsy shop and developing a solid reputation will help you gain more views and sales. Some tips to build up your credibility:

• Choose an unique shop name and create an appealing banner
• Write a brief bio or “about” section to give buyers insight into your business
• Provide quality customer service by responding to messages and shipping orders on time
• Ask happy customers to leave reviews on your product listings and shop
• Be an active member of the Etsy community by liking and commenting on other sellers’ items

Drive More Traffic

Getting found on Etsy with so much competition can be challenging. Try these techniques to increase traffic to your shop:

• Use relevant keywords, tags, and titles for your product listings so people can find you in searches
• Promote your shop on social media like Instagram to reach potential new customers
• Run occasional sales or coupon codes to boost visits and conversions
• Participate in Etsy teams and forums to make connections with other sellers and shoppers

With time and persistence, you can build up a successful handmade business on Etsy. Keep improving your products, providing great service, and optimising your shop to gain more sales and loyal customers.

Launching a Dropshipping Business

Launching a dropshipping business is an exciting way to start selling online with little risk or upfront investment. As a dropshipper, you’ll source popular products from a wholesale supplier and list them for sale on your own ecommerce store. When an order comes in, the supplier ships the item directly to your customer—you never have to handle any inventory.

Find a profitable product

The key to success is finding a product with high demand and good profit margins. Do some research on trending items, search volume, and competing listings. Look for products that are lightweight, non-perishable, and have a wide appeal. Things like accessories, gadgets, beauty and self care products are all great options.

Set up your online store

You’ll need an ecommerce platform like Shopify, BigCommerce or WooCommerce to build your online storefront. These make it easy to create a professional looking site, list products, accept payments and track orders. Most dropshippers pay a monthly fee for their platform, typically around $30-$50/month.

Source from a reliable supplier

Find a reputable dropshipping supplier, preferably in the US or your home country. They should offer wholesale pricing, fast shipping and good customer service. Popular options include AliExpress, Doba and Wholesale2B. Compare suppliers to get the best deal on the products you want to sell.

Market your new business

With your store up and running, focus on driving traffic and getting sales. Use social media, blogging and email marketing to spread the word about your new dropshipping company. Offer promotions and discounts to attract new customers. As sales start to pick up, consider expanding into new product niches or opening additional storefronts.

Dropshipping is an easy business model to get started with, but it does take time to build up. If you keep costs low, find popular products, and are willing to put in the effort to market your store, you’ll be well on your way to launching a successful dropshipping company.

Renting Out Jumping Castles

Renting out inflatable bounce houses, also known as jumping castles, can be a fun and profitable business. These giant inflatables are always in demand for kids’ birthday parties, school events, and community festivals. If you invest in high-quality bounce houses and market your business well, you can build a successful rental company.

Low Startup Costs

Compared to other businesses, the startup costs for a bounce house rental company are relatively low. You can find commercial-grade inflatables for between $3,000 to $10,000 each, depending on the size and features. Start with a few basic models, like a small slide, obstacle course, or princess castle. As your business grows, you can add more extravagant designs.

High Earning Potential

Bounce house rentals are in demand for all sorts of kids’ events, especially birthday parties. According to current industry estimates, the average inflatable rental company rents each unit out about 1.5 times per week. At rental fees of $30 to $50 per hour, 4 bounce houses can generate around $750 in revenue each week. Promote your business well and provide great customer service, and you can quickly scale up to 10 or more units, increasing your weekly profits.

Low Maintenance

Inflatable bounce houses require minimal maintenance. Simply set them up, monitor them during events, take them down, clean them after each use, and store them securely when not in use. The inflatables are durable and long-lasting if properly cared for. To get some more expert input on this we encourage you to read this article What to Look for When Buying Jumping Castle for expert knowledge. it describes everything you need to know professionally.You will need liability insurance, as with any rental business, and you must follow all safety guidelines to prevent injuries. But overall, a bounce house rental company does not demand a huge time commitment to operate.

Flexible Schedule

One of the benefits of this business is a flexible work schedule. You can set your own rental hours and book events on days and times that work for you. Bounce houses are usually rented on weekends, so your busiest times will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. But weekdays, especially in the summer and on school holidays, can also be profitable. You can adjust your schedule as needed for your own priorities or events.

Fun Work Environment

For many business owners, the most rewarding part of renting bounce houses is bringing joy and fun to children and families. Although it requires effort, seeing kids laughing and playing in the inflatables can make it worthwhile. An enjoyable work environment and the satisfaction of spreading smiles are attractive benefits of this line of work.

Becoming a Freelancer

Becoming a freelancer is an attractive way to start your own online business. As a freelancer, you work for yourself by finding freelance jobs and clients to provide services to. While rewarding, freelancing does require certain skills and traits to be successful.

To get started as a freelancer, tap into your talents, skills, and interests. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Some popular freelance gigs include:

• Writing and blogging
• Web design and development
• Virtual assistance
• Online tutoring
• Consulting in your industry or area of expertise

Next, build your online presence. Create a personal website to help establish your credibility and allow potential clients to find you. You should also create profiles on freelance websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to connect with new clients. These platforms make it easy to find freelance work that matches your skills.

Freelancing gives you flexibility and freedom, but also demands self-motivation and discipline. You need to find and keep clients, track hours and payments, and manage your own schedule. Look for ways to diversify your client base so you have steady work. It may take time to build up your reputation and client roster.

Some other tips for new freelancers:

•Set a regular work schedule and stick to it. Treat freelancing like a real job.

•Learn how to effectively communicate with clients and manage their expectations. Meet deadlines and stay in frequent contact.

•Continue improving your skills. Take online courses or get additional certifications and training. The more you know, the higher you can charge.

•Charge appropriately for your services. Research standard rates for the types of freelance work you do. You can adjust your rates over time as you gain more experience.

•Keep good records of your income and expenses. As a freelancer, you’ll need to pay quarterly estimated taxes. Track your business costs to claim deductions.

Freelancing gives you the freedom to work for yourself on your own terms. While challenging at times, starting your own freelance business can be rewarding both personally and financially. With hard work and persistence, you can build a successful freelance career.

Offering SEO Services

Offering SEO services is a great online business you can start in 2023. As an SEO service provider, you help small businesses improve their visibility in search engines like Google. This can drive more traffic to their website and boost sales.

Where do you start? First, build your knowledge of search engine optimization best practises. Stay on top of algorithm updates and learn techniques like on-page optimization, link building, and keyword research. With experience, you’ll get better at diagnosing issues and developing strategies for different industries.

Next, determine your service offerings. You might provide basic SEO audits and recommendations, or full-service solutions like:

• On-page optimization: Optimising page titles, content, image alt text, and internal linking.
• Link building: Gaining quality backlinks from other authoritative sites to build domain authority.
• Keyword research: Finding keywords potential customers are searching for to target.
• Content creation: Writing blog posts, product pages or other content optimised for search engines.

You’ll also need to set your pricing. SEO agency fees typically range from $500 to $5,000 per month. As a freelancer, you can charge $50 to $200 per hour. Offer packages at different price points based on the scope of services.

Build a website to establish your online presence and credibility. Optimise your own site for search to attract organic traffic. Create case studies showcasing your successes. Collect reviews and testimonials from happy clients.

Promote your services on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour to find new clients. Reach out to local businesses in your area. Join relevant LinkedIn groups and online communities to network and look for opportunities.

With hard work and persistence, an SEO consulting business can be very rewarding. You get to help other entrepreneurs achieve their dreams by improving their visibility online. And as their businesses grow, so can yours. The key is providing real value through ethical SEO practises and a customer-centric approach.

Creating Online Courses or Tutorials

Creating and selling online video courses or tutorials is a great way to generate passive income from your knowledge and skills. Here are some tips to get started:

Conduct customer research to identify topics and formats people want to learn. Survey your email list or social media followers, check popular course platforms, or see what people are searching online. Finding a niche topic you know well that also has strong demand will set you up for success.

Pre-sell your course to gauge interest

Once you have a course topic and outline, start promoting it to build hype and allow people to enrol at a discount before the official launch. This helps validate your idea and provides upfront funding to produce a high-quality course. Offer a limited number of spots at 20-50% off the regular price.

Choose the right course platform

The platform you sell your course on will greatly impact your reach and revenue. Popular options like Udemy, Teachable, and Thinkific make it easy to create, host, market, and sell your courses. They handle payment processing and charge a percentage of sales. You can also sell courses on your own website using a payment gateway like Stripe.

Build your course content using a mix of video lessons, downloadable materials like workbooks or cheat sheets, quizzes, and discussion forums. Keep lessons under 10 minutes for the best engagement. Outline your course into logical sections and modules to make the content easy to follow.

Once your course is live, focus on driving traffic and sales through social media advertising, email marketing, and search engine optimization. Offer promotions and discounts to boost enrollment. Provide great support and engage with your students to build word-of-mouth referrals.

Continuously improve your course by updating content, adding new lessons and materials, and incorporating student feedback. Online courses require maintenance to remain valuable and encourage repeat customers or word-of-mouth sales. With consistent effort, online courses can become a major source of income. The key is starting with a topic you know well, validating the idea, choosing a good platform, and building a high-quality course that provides real value.

Building an Ecommerce Website – FAQs

An FAQ page is essential for any ecommerce website. It addresses common questions from customers and helps put them at ease before making a purchase. Here are some of the FAQs you should include on your online store.

Payment methods

Customers will want to know what payment options you accept. List major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, etc. You may also offer financing through services like Affirm or Klarna. Explain your policies around pre-orders, deposits, and payment plans if you offer them.

Return and refund policy

Be very clear about your return window and any restrictions. For example: “You may return most unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.” Explain if return shipping costs are the customer’s responsibility and if there are any products exempt from returns. This helps set proper expectations.

Shipping information

Customers will have questions about where you ship, delivery estimates, and shipping costs. For example: “We ship to the United States and Canada. Most orders are delivered within 3 to 5 business days. We offer free shipping on all orders over $50. Expedited shipping is available for an additional fee.”

Product questions

Have a section where customers can find information on specific products like size charts, assembly guides, or product specifications. For example: “For sizing on clothing and shoes, please refer to the size charts on each product page. If you need additional measurements or recommendations, please contact us.”

Coupons and discounts

Explain if and when you offer sales, promo codes, or other discounts. For example: “We frequently run site-wide sales around major holidays like Memorial Day, Labour Day, and Black Friday. Sign up for our newsletter to get promo codes and be the first to know about upcoming deals and discounts.”

An FAQ page reassures customers by providing them with important details about your business and products before they make a purchase. Be transparent and cover the key points that will help convert interested buyers into happy customers. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Conclusion

So there you have it, five online businesses poised for success in 2023 that you can start right from your living room. The opportunities are endless if you have the drive and determination. While the initial workload may seem daunting, choose a path that ignites your passion and the hard work will feel worthwhile.

Think of your online business as a seed you’re planting. With time and nurturing, it will grow into something that provides both financial and personal rewards. Don’t get discouraged if things move slower than you anticipated. Stay consistent, work hard, learn from your mistakes and keep your eyes on the bigger picture.

Before you know it, you’ll be running a thriving business and inspiring others to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. The future is online, so take that first step and start building your own digital empire today. You’ve got this! Now go out there, believe in yourself and make it happen.