Business Ideas For Absentees [2024]
If you're considering dipping your toes into business ownership without the day-to-day grind, 2024 offers a wealth of opportunities for absentee owners. Imagine setting up a business that generates revenue while you focus on other ventures or enjoy your leisure time. The concept of being an absentee owner means you delegate daily operations while overseeing from a distance.
In this article, we'll explore 45 business ideas that you could run with minimal involvement. Each idea provides the freedom and flexibility you might be craving. Discover how you could balance profitability with a hands-off approach, maximizing your investment without sacrificing your time.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other absentee businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog can be an excellent way for absentee entrepreneurs to supplement their income by leveraging their expertise on a specific topic with minimal ongoing effort. Identifying a profitable and underserved niche—such as fashion, video games, film reviews, or cooking—allows you to engage with a passionate online community. By creating unique and informative content like top product lists, how-to guides, and video interviews, you could attract a dedicated audience and monetize your blog through affiliate links, collaborations, and other methods.
To succeed in niche blogging, you need to produce engaging content and regularly interact with your followers. Once your blog gains traction, you could even expand your reach by launching a YouTube channel or speaking at events. This passive income stream is ideal for absentees, allowing you to focus on your primary commitments while your blog continues to generate revenue.
Why consider starting a niche blog?
- Low maintenance: After setting it up and creating initial content, maintaining a niche blog requires less time than many other businesses, making it ideal for absentees.
- Scalable income: With successful monetization strategies, your blog could earn passive income through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and ads.
- Community engagement: Building a niche blog allows you to connect with like-minded individuals, creating a loyal following that appreciates your expert insights.
For more details on how to start your niche blog, click here.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
2. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
Are you looking for a focused online business that offers both creative freedom and potential revenue? Consider building a niche website. A niche website centers around a specialized topic, serving a dedicated audience with targeted content and products.
Starting this venture involves selecting a niche you're passionate about and knowledgeable in, creating compelling content, and driving traffic to your site. You'll need to invest time in research, content creation, and SEO to attract loyal followers. Monetization options are varied—whether through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products, your specialized content could generate income. A niche website can become a reliable source of passive income once established. If you've got a specific interest and the drive to dive deep, building a niche website could be your next rewarding project.
Why build a niche website?
- You could earn passive income. Once your site is established, it can generate revenue with minimal ongoing effort.
- It offers flexible management. You can run the website from anywhere, perfect for absentee entrepreneurs.
- Low startup costs. Creating a niche website has lower upfront expenses compared to traditional businesses.
For inspiration and success stories, check out this link.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
3. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business could be an ideal way for absentees to supplement their income, make extra money, or even launch a full-fledged business. Since it doesn't require holding inventory, you can manage your company remotely, focusing on marketing and customer service to grow your business effectively. Platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce make it easy to set up an online store and connect with reliable suppliers from marketplaces like AliExpress.
Why start a dropshipping business?
- You could manage your business from anywhere, giving you the flexibility of an absentee owner.
- It requires minimal upfront investment, as you don't need to purchase inventory in advance.
- Your focus can primarily be on marketing and customer service, making it easier to leverage the skills you already have. For successful dropshipping business examples and inspiration, visit Starter Story.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
4. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business offers a fantastic opportunity for those looking to supplement their income or even build a primary revenue stream. As an absentee owner, you could benefit from the flexibility of earning passive income by promoting other companies' products and services online. Commission from sales could steadily trickle in, allowing you to manage this business with minimal intervention thanks to automation tools and analytics software.
For a successful start, it's crucial to identify the right products to market and the best brands to partner with. By doing so, you could set up a sustainable source of income with the potential to generate results long-term. For more tips and insights, check out this comprehensive guide on how to start an affiliate marketing business.
Why start an affiliate marketing business?
- Minimal startup costs allow you to get started with little initial investment.
- Flexibility to work from anywhere and at any time, fitting around your current commitments.
- Opportunities for automation reduce the need for active management, making it ideal for absentee ownership.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
5. Start a drinking water business
Starting a drinking water business could be a fitting venture for absentees, given the essential nature of the product. With clean water being a fundamental need, a drinking water business involves sourcing, purifying, and delivering water to consumers. The beauty of this business is that it requires minimal day-to-day oversight, allowing you to leverage automated systems and reliable staff to handle the operations while you focus on high-level management and strategy.
Initial investment might be needed for purification systems, packaging, and logistics setup, but the potential return on investment is substantial. Health-conscious consumers and those advocating for sustainable living will appreciate options like eco-friendly packaging or refill stations. By addressing a critical human need with a focus on quality and sustainability, you could carve out a profitable niche and make a significant community health impact.
Why consider starting a drinking water business?
- The demand is constant. Access to clean water is a universal need, guaranteeing a steady customer base.
- Operations can be automated. Systems for purification and distribution can be set up to run with minimal supervision.
- Focus on sustainability. By offering eco-friendly packaging or refill stations, you could attract the growing market of health-conscious and environmentally aware consumers.
6. Start a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
Starting a stock investing business can be a great avenue to supplement your income or build a profitable side business, even as an absentee entrepreneur. This business revolves around buying and selling stocks to generate profit by analyzing market trends, making informed decisions, and executing trades with precision. The flexibility of managing your portfolio through online platforms allows you to work at your own pace and from virtually anywhere, making it an appealing option for those who need to balance other commitments while growing their investment returns.
For those intrigued by finance, this business offers an exciting opportunity to turn a passion for numbers into a profitable venture. Educational resources and trading platforms provide the necessary tools to begin, although success demands continuous learning and a strategic approach. If you're ready to engage deeply with market analysis and develop a long-term investment strategy, starting a stock investing business could be a rewarding path.
Learn more about successful stock investing businesses.
Why consider starting a stock investing business?
- Accessible from anywhere, making it ideal for absentee entrepreneurs.
- Potential for high returns with informed and strategic investments.
- Flexibility to scale your investment efforts as your knowledge and experience grow.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Ticker Nerd is a monthly subscription service for investors that surfaces and analyzes trending stocks before the hype train arrives, and now has $4.5k in monthly recurring revenue from its newsletter without spending a single dollar on advertising, having validated the business via subreddits and organic Product Hunt launch strategy.
7. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
Starting an online course sales business is an excellent way for absentees to supplement their income or even create a full-fledged side business. With the e-learning market expected to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years, capitalizing on your expertise by creating courses in areas like music, cooking, or web design can generate significant passive income. All you need to do is identify a target audience, develop your course content, and choose an online learning platform to sell your courses.
Why consider starting an online course sales business?
- Minimal ongoing effort: Once your course is created, you could continue to generate revenue without continuous active involvement.
- Flexibility: You can work from anywhere and at any time, making it a perfect fit for those with other commitments.
- Scalable income: With the right marketing, a single course could reach thousands of students, multiplying your earnings.
For more insights, visit Starter Story.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
8. Start a music and video sales business
Starting a music and video sales business can be an excellent way for absentees to supplement their income or even transition into a full-time entrepreneurial endeavor. By capitalizing on digital platforms and leveraging third-party fulfillment services, you could manage inventory, sales, and customer interactions from anywhere, thus making your business highly scalable and low-maintenance.
Streaming services and digital downloads are continuously growing, giving you multiple revenue streams such as selling exclusive content, limited editions, or thematic collections. Additionally, with an evergreen demand for entertainment and cultural artifacts, this business model offers the potential for long-term profitability. Check this resource to explore more about the pros and cons of starting a music and video sales business.
Why start a music and video sales business?
- Low overhead costs make it a feasible option for absentees.
- With digital platforms, you could automate sales and distribution to run your business from anywhere.
- Growing demand for unique and niche content provides a significant market opportunity.
By considering these points, you could find yourself well on your way to a profitable, low-maintenance business model that aligns perfectly with an absentee lifestyle.
9. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Starting a health and wellness app as an absentee entrepreneur can be a highly rewarding venture. These apps offer personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, mental well-being exercises, and progress tracking—all virtual, making it easier for you to manage the business remotely. By building a platform that serves as a virtual coach, you'll be able to positively impact lives while tapping into the rapidly growing health and wellness market, without needing to be physically present.
Read about the pros and cons of starting a health and wellness app
Why consider starting a health and wellness app?
- The digital nature of the app allows for effective remote management, making it ideal for absentee entrepreneurs.
- The growing market for health and wellness tech offers significant revenue potential.
- Positive social impact by helping users achieve their fitness and well-being goals from anywhere in the world.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
10. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business is a promising venture for absentee entrepreneurs looking to supplement their income. By uploading high-quality stock photos to specialized platforms, you could earn passive income as businesses, marketers, and bloggers purchase your photos for their projects. With an initial investment in good photography gear and an effective online presence, you’ll be set to tap into a continually growing market that’s driven by the perpetual demand for fresh visual content.
Why start a stock photography business?
- The demand for high-quality images is constant, providing a steady income stream.
- Your business can run autonomously, allowing you to earn money while focusing on other ventures.
- Investing in good gear and learning photography skills offers a low barrier to entry for a potentially lucrative venture.
For more insights, check out stock photography business success stories.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
11. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
Considering leveraging cutting-edge technology to supplement your income? An AI-based business solution could be a strategic move. This concept allows you to optimize business processes, automate routine tasks, and provide valuable insights without requiring a deep technical background. With user-friendly platforms and robust support systems, you could efficiently manage and scale your AI business even as an absentee. Explore how others have succeeded with AI solutions.
Why start an AI-based business solution?
- Automation of repetitive tasks can free up time for more strategic activities, making it easier to manage remotely.
- Data-driven insights provide a competitive edge, making more informed decisions to boost profitability.
- The growing demand for AI solutions ensures an expanding market with ample opportunities to innovate and engage clients.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
12. Develop a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
If you're looking to supplement your income or start a side business entirely as an absentee, developing a lead generation tool could be an excellent choice. This business idea revolves around creating a software application or platform that identifies and captures potential customer leads for businesses, allowing companies to focus on conversion. With high demand from businesses of all sizes eager to streamline their marketing efforts and grow their customer base, a lead generation tool offers a lucrative opportunity.
By integrating your tool with websites, social media channels, and other digital touchpoints, you could automate the often laborious process of finding new clients. This not only makes the tool highly valuable but also creates a passive income stream as businesses continuously seek effective ways to generate leads. If you're tech-savvy and have an eye for marketing, this could be your next profitable venture.
Why develop a lead generation tool?
- You could automate the process of attracting new clients, freeing up businesses to focus on conversion.
- There's high demand for efficient lead generation tools from businesses looking to streamline their marketing.
- Developing a software tool can create a passive income stream, ideal for absentees who want to earn without constant involvement.
For more in-depth insights, you can explore further on Starter Story here.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
13. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print on demand business could be an ideal venture for an absentee looking to supplement their income or make extra money. This business model eliminates the need for upfront inventory costs, allowing you to sell customized products like apparel and home goods with minimal financial risk. By leveraging dropshipping services for production and fulfillment, you could manage your operations remotely from virtually anywhere, focusing instead on designing trendy products and reaching global audiences via platforms like Amazon and Etsy.
The minimal startup costs and scalability of a print-on-demand enterprise empower aspiring entrepreneurs to monetize their creativity and build a side or full-time business at their own pace. If you're interested in a flexible and low-risk venture, these characteristics make print on demand an appealing option to explore.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- With dropping shipping and fulfillment, you could run your business remotely, perfect for an absentee entrepreneur.
- No need for upfront inventory costs means lower financial risk and easier entry into the market.
- Utilize global platforms like Amazon and Etsy to reach a broad audience, maximizing your potential earnings. For more details, check out these successful print-on-demand businesses.
For more insights, explore success stories and marketing ideas for print-on-demand businesses.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
14. Create an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
Venturing into the realm of AI writing tools offers a lucrative opportunity for absentees to supplement their income or launch a side business effortlessly. This business revolves around creating a digital tool powered by Artificial Intelligence to aid content creation—efficiently generating accurate and engaging material for businesses, bloggers, and students alike. With the growing demand for high-quality, consistent content, an AI writing tool can streamline workloads and significantly enhance productivity for writers worldwide.
Embedding artificial intelligence into the core of content creation, this entrepreneurial idea leverages rapid advancements in technology to offer an innovative solution. Automated, error-free, and time-efficient content is now just a click away, making this business proposition appealing and ahead of its time. Imagine the impact of providing a tool that revolutionizes the writing process for numerous individuals and organizations, easing their workload and transforming their productivity.
Discover the potential of AI writing tools here.
Why start an AI writing tool business?
- It allows you to generate passive income with minimal daily oversight, ideal for an absentee.
- The demand for quality, automated content is continuously rising, creating a ready market.
- AI technology enhances productivity by producing error-free content quickly, making your tool indispensable.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
15. Develop an online survey tool ($304K/month)
Starting an online survey tool is an excellent venture for absentee entrepreneurs looking to supplement their income or create a full-fledged business. The growing demand for data collection among businesses makes this a promising opportunity. By offering features like a survey builder, data collection tools, and reporting systems, your online survey tool can become an indispensable asset for companies seeking customer feedback.
Why develop an online survey tool?
- Scalability: Your initial investment in development could pay off significantly as more businesses adopt online surveys, allowing you to scale with demand.
- Low Maintenance: Once set up, an online survey tool generally requires minimal day-to-day oversight, making it manageable for absentee owners.
- Automation and Passive Income: Automated data collection and reporting mean that your tool can generate revenue with limited manual intervention.
For more ideas on how to start an online survey tool, check out these success stories on Starter Story.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
16. Start a niche investment platform ($167K/month)
Starting a niche investment platform as an absentee could be an innovative and lucrative way to supplement your income. With the increasing interest in alternative asset classes—such as collectibles, cryptocurrencies, real estate, or athletic prospects—you could create a specialized online exchange that caters to these unique markets. By leveraging modern technology, you can build secure and transparent trading environments for passionate investors, generating recurring revenue from transaction fees and premium subscriptions.
For instance, if you're interested in athletic prospects or fine wine, you can attract and build a robust user base in those sectors by offering flexible portfolio options and exclusive trading opportunities. This focused approach not only helps in creating a reliable revenue stream but also ensures that your platform stands out in its niche market. If this sparks your interest, explore more about it through this comprehensive guide on startup costs to begin your journey.
Why consider starting a niche investment platform?
- You could generate recurring revenue through transaction fees and premium subscriptions.
- Modern technology allows for more secure and transparent trading ecosystems, which can operate with minimal oversight.
- By specializing in alternative asset classes, you can attract passionate investors looking to diversify their portfolios amid volatile stock markets.
To delve deeper, you might find this collection of success stories from niche investment platforms inspiring for turning your entrepreneurial ideas into reality.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
17. Start an email marketing tool ($235K/month)
Starting an email marketing tool business could be an excellent opportunity for absentees looking to supplement their income or establish a side business. These tools, typically software applications, allow entrepreneurs to create, manage, and automate email campaigns, reaching a wide audience with minimal ongoing effort. Given the booming email marketing industry, which is expected to reach $2.53B by 2028, investing in this space could be a lucrative venture with a broad user base ranging from startups to real estate agents. For more details on profitability, you could visit Starter Story's email marketing tool profitability page.
Why consider starting an email marketing tool?
- It enables automation, reducing daily operational involvement required for other businesses.
- The global market is growing, presenting lucrative opportunities for new entrants.
- High demand from various sectors ensures a broad and diverse customer base.
How much you can make: $120 — $2,083,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 170 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
18. Start a wallet brand ($28.8K/month)
Starting a wallet brand can be a lucrative venture for absentees, leveraging the growing market demand with minimal hands-on involvement. With the global wallets market predicted to reach $8.78 billion, tapping into this trend can create consistent revenue streams. By conducting thorough market research and designing unique wallets that cater to lifestyle needs, your brand could stand out in a competitive field, ensuring profitability and growth over time. For insights and inspiration, consider exploring successful wallet brand success stories.
Why start a wallet brand?
- The market is growing at a CAGR of 8.87%, indicating high demand and profit potential.
- Absentee management is feasible with robust manufacturers and effective online sales strategies.
- Creative design and branding can help differentiate your products and capture a niche market.
How much you can make: $200 — $60,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Everyman, an everyday carry eCommerce company, has been generating around $60,000 per month in revenue after completing a brand and website revamp last year, with an average of 35% returning customers who spend $50 or more on the site.
19. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Starting a social media automation business can be an ideal venture for absentees who wish to supplement their income or establish a side business. By leveraging technology to automate tasks such as post scheduling, interaction, and data analysis, you could manage multiple accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth for your clients. This business model allows you to cater to small businesses, influencers, and other entities seeking to enhance their social media presence without the constant need for hands-on management.
For those with a flair for technology and marketing, the demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement creates lucrative opportunities. As an absentee, you could set up automated systems and focus on acquiring clients, leaving the day-to-day operations to the software.
Why consider a social media automation business?
- Automation allows for scalable and efficient management, freeing up your time for other pursuits.
- The rising demand for social media presence means a steady stream of potential clients.
- It offers a blend of technology and creativity, ideal for those with a penchant for innovative solutions.
Want to learn more about starting a social media automation business? Check out our tips and profitability guidance here.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
