27 Business Ideas For Application Engineers [2024]

Updated: September 5th, 2024

Interested in starting a business as a doctor in 2024?

If managed well, building a business as a doctor could be more lucrative than employment. So, which are the best business ideas for Doctors?

We put together 27 of some of the best doctor business ideas you can start in today.

For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other doctor businesses to help you see what it takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a business communications software ($1.48M/month)

As an application engineer, starting a business communications software could be a highly synergistic and lucrative endeavor. Leveraging your technical skills and understanding of software development, you could create innovative tools that facilitate seamless communication within companies. This could involve designing platforms that enhance messaging, video conferencing, task management, and file sharing, thereby streamlining workflows and increasing overall productivity.

Given today's increased reliance on remote and hybrid work environments, the demand for reliable and user-friendly communication software is exploding. You could seize this market opportunity to develop solutions that bridge communication gaps and foster a more collaborative work atmosphere. By doing so, you not only address a critical need but also position yourself as a pioneer in the business software solutions space, potentially transforming how companies interact and operate.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $10,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

Raising $19,000 Building a Positive Card Game

PEAR Cards is a card-based tool/game that empowers players to open up and initiate positive conversations, and with the help of Ad Magic, their Kickstarter had an all-or-nothing fundraising goal, which they met with so much support the company is now growing through the power of Twitter and Instagram.

Read by 8,232 founders

2. Create a shopify app ($52.4K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your coding and UX design skills to develop a Shopify app, tapping into the growing ecommerce market. Your expertise could be directed towards creating solutions for common store owner problems such as customer engagement, inventory management, or sales optimization. This kind of project requires dedication to ongoing development, customer support, and regular updates, making it an excellent fit for someone with your technical background.

Moreover, a successful Shopify app has the potential to generate recurring revenue through monthly subscriptions or one-time fees, providing a steady income stream. Given that the Shopify App Store offers a built-in market, it becomes easier to reach your target audience and create a valuable tool for ecommerce businesses. If you have an entrepreneurial mindset and a tech-savvy approach, this venture could be both financially rewarding and professionally fulfilling.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $110,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How We Developed A $29K/Month WhatsApp Plugin For Shopify

SuperLemon, a WhatsApp plugin for Shopify eCommerce stores, crossed $29,000 in MRR as of July 2020, with 20,000 users from 50+ countries and 1700+ paying customers, all acquired through organic marketing strategies and a relentless focus on customer service and satisfaction.

Read by 23,585 founders

3. Start an educational technology product ($48K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical expertise to develop an educational technology product, placing yourself at the forefront of this transformative industry. Imagine creating an interactive learning app or a comprehensive online platform tailored to meet specific educational needs, such as assisting teachers with lesson planning or helping students grasp difficult concepts through gamification.

This venture involves identifying gaps in the current educational system and offering a solution that makes learning more engaging, accessible, and personalized. By conducting thorough market research and understanding your users' needs, you could continuously refine your product to keep pace with evolving technological and educational trends. Moreover, strategic marketing efforts and partnerships with schools and educational institutions could help you reach your target audience effectively.

If the idea of blending technology with education to make a tangible difference excites you, starting an edtech product could not only supplement your income but also offer a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.

How much you can make: $50 — $120,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 67 days (?)

How We Launched An Educational Platform During COVID-19 And Landed Partnerships With Houston Rockets And Whataburger

UpBrainery Technologies, founded by Ghazal Qureshi, revolutionizes STEAM education by providing hands-on learning experiences in the form of education kits, virtual tutoring, and online curriculum, while also offering their services to organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Girls Inc., and the Houston Rockets.

Read by 8,293 founders

4. Start a tutoring or education business ($60.3K/month)

As an application engineer, starting a tutoring or education business could be a lucrative and fulfilling side venture. You could leverage your technical expertise to offer specialized tutoring in subjects like programming, software development, or computer science. This not only allows you to supplement your income but also helps you build entrepreneurial skills by managing your own schedule, setting your rates, and creating meaningful relationships with your students and their parents.

Additionally, you could offer workshops or online courses that teach practical skills needed in the tech industry, providing you with a platform to share your knowledge on a larger scale. Given the increasing demand for STEM education, your skill set is highly valuable, and you could command a competitive rate for your expertise. In this way, you could establish a profitable business that compliments your current career while enabling you to make a positive impact on the future generation of engineers.

How much you can make: $50 — $235,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A $200K/Month Online Makeup Academy

Online makeup academy, Vizio Makeup Academy, founded in 2011 by Anastasia Andreani and her partner, has enrolled over 3,300 students and generated $2.4M in revenue this year, by offering professional makeup courses online and creating their own cosmetic line.

Read by 15,646 founders

5. Start a data analysis service ($42.6K/month)

Starting a data analysis service could be a natural extension of your skills as an application engineer. With your expertise in understanding complex systems and data, you could help businesses make sense of their customer behavior, optimize their marketing campaigns, and improve decision-making processes. Besides, your technical background would enable you to communicate insights effectively, ensuring that clients understand and can act on your findings.

This entrepreneurial path not only allows you to supplement your income but also positions you as a crucial asset for businesses looking to leverage their data. Given the high demand for data analysis services, the potential for profitability is significant. Leveraging your analytical skills to start a data analysis service could be a fulfilling and lucrative side business or even grow into your primary business venture.

How much you can make: $20 — $250,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

I Built $1.54M/Year Tool That Finds The Best Investment Properties [From UK]

Founder of PropertyData creates a subscription website for UK property investors and developers that is now making $128,000 per month in recurring revenue.

Read by 10,238 founders

6. Start an ecommerce management software ($536K/month)

As an application engineer, venturing into the ecommerce management software space could be a lucrative side business or even a full-time endeavor. You could leverage your technical expertise to develop a platform that automates and simplifies key ecommerce tasks for online retailers, such as inventory management, order processing, and customer interactions.

With the growing demand for streamlined and error-free ecommerce solutions, your skills could fill a vital niche in the industry. This business opportunity not only allows you to utilize your software development skills but also addresses a genuine need in the market, making it a rewarding and impactful venture.

Furthermore, by targeting various scales of business—from small startups to larger enterprises—you could create tailored solutions that offer real value, thereby increasing your chances of success in the competitive ecommerce landscape.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $2,400,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $6,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How We Started A $30M/Year Warehouse Management Software And Outsourced Ecommerce Fulfillment Business

ShipHero co-founders built their successful e-commerce fulfillment business, offering warehouse management software and outsourced eCommerce fulfillment, growing revenues from zero to $30 million annually, processing over $5 billion of e-commerce gross merchandise volume (GMV) annually while only having received $435,000 in outside capital investment.

Read by 9,379 founders

7. Start a data mining and analytics tools business ($237K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical expertise to start a data mining and analytics tools business. This venture focuses on developing software that processes and analyzes vast amounts of data to uncover actionable insights, helping businesses make data-driven decisions. With your robust programming skills and understanding of machine learning, you can create sophisticated tools tailored for high-demand industries like finance, healthcare, and retail.

The market for data-driven solutions is expanding rapidly, offering lucrative opportunities for innovative analytics tools. By tapping into this growing demand, you could provide businesses with the intelligence they need to drive strategic decisions and industry transformations. This entrepreneurial path allows you to combine your technical prowess with market insights, making it a rewarding way to supplement your income or build an entirely new business.

How much you can make: $450 — $1,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 107 days (?)

How We Developed A $40K/Month Email Parser Application

Parseur, the data extraction tool, helps businesses automate their data entry process, catering to multiple industries such as food delivery, real estate and marketing, and has grown to over $40k in revenue per month since its launch in 2017.

Read by 10,496 founders

8. Start a sales automation platform ($160K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your software development skills to build a powerful sales automation platform. This business idea involves creating a software solution that automates various sales tasks, from lead generation to follow-ups, helping businesses save time and reduce errors.

By developing such a platform, you could provide companies with a tool that enhances efficiency, allowing them to concentrate more on closing deals rather than dealing with administrative burdens. This is particularly appealing in today's fast-paced business environment where the demand for streamlined solutions is growing.

Additionally, combining your technical expertise with an understanding of sales strategies could result in a highly effective product that adds significant value to companies. The current trend towards digital transformation makes this an ideal time to launch a sales automation platform and capitalize on the increasing need for automated business processes.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,666,667/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)

On Starting A $160K/Month CRM & Automations Company After A US Air Force Career

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.

Read by 12,019 founders

9. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical expertise to develop a robust email marketing tool, tapping into a booming industry expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028. Your coding skills and problem-solving abilities make you well-suited to create software that helps businesses manage and automate email campaigns effectively.

By starting an email marketing tool business, you could supplement your income through subscription models or licensing fees. The ability to innovate and customize features based on customer feedback could set your tool apart in a crowded market, providing additional entrepreneurial opportunities.

Whether aiming for a side business or a full-fledged endeavor, your background in application engineering offers a strong foundation for success in this lucrative field. Regular updates and improvements based on user feedback could enhance customer satisfaction, driving growth and long-term business viability.

How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

I Built A SEO Tool That's Completely Free For Users [From Lebanon]

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.

Read by 14,148 founders

10. Start a micro saas ($83.3K/month)

As an application engineer, starting a micro-SaaS company could be a highly lucrative venture, given your technical expertise and problem-solving skills. A micro-SaaS business allows you to target niche markets with specialized software solutions, differentiated from broader SaaS models. This can be particularly appealing if you've identified specific, recurring problems within the industry that larger SaaS providers have overlooked or inadequately addressed.

By leveraging your deep understanding of software development, you could develop highly customized solutions that meet the unique needs of your target customers. This fosters a closer relationship with your clientele, ensuring that you can iterate quickly based on their feedback. Additionally, the focused scope of a micro-SaaS business means that your startup would require less initial investment and could deliver quicker returns, making it an excellent side business or potential full-time venture for entrepreneurial-minded application engineers.

How much you can make: $117 — $1,766,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How We Developed A $29K/Month WhatsApp Plugin For Shopify

SuperLemon, a WhatsApp plugin for Shopify eCommerce stores, crossed $29,000 in MRR as of July 2020, with 20,000 users from 50+ countries and 1700+ paying customers, all acquired through organic marketing strategies and a relentless focus on customer service and satisfaction.

Read by 23,585 founders

11. Start a freelancer platform ($391K/month)

As an application engineer, you possess a deep understanding of both the technical and practical aspects of software and system applications. Starting a freelancer platform could provide you with the opportunity to create a marketplace where skilled individuals like yourself can offer their expertise to businesses in need of specialized services. This venture could leverage your industry knowledge to attract a niche market, making your platform the go-to place for high-quality technical freelancers.

The freelancing industry is rapidly expanding, with the global market size expected to reach $6.7 billion by 2025. By launching your own platform, you could tap into this growing trend and create a side business or even a full-time endeavor that capitalizes on the increasing demand for specialized technical services. Not only could this provide supplemental income, but it could also position you as a key player in a thriving market.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $5,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $6,100 (?)

How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)

We Bootstrapped A Tech Talent Platform To $1.2M Sales In Our First Year

CloudDevs, a tech talent platform that sources and vets freelance tech talent and matches them with companies, has achieved $1 million in GMV in its first year, plans to achieve 100% growth year on year, and focuses on customer loyalty through its Net Promoter Score metric.

Read by 17,343 founders

12. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)

Starting a social media automation business could be a natural extension of your skills as an application engineer. You could leverage your technical expertise to create robust tools and services that schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across multiple social media platforms. These tools would save your clients—from small businesses to influencers—valuable time while driving engagement and growth.

Given the ever-increasing demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, there is significant potential to generate supplemental income or even build a standalone business. You would need to stay updated on the latest social media trends and strive to tailor your offerings to meet client-specific needs. For someone with a knack for technology and marketing, this could be a rewarding and lucrative venture.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A Social Media Automation Tool To $2MM/Year

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.

Read by 15,249 founders

13. Start a social media marketing service ($97.8K/month)

As an application engineer, starting a social media marketing service could be a smart way to supplement your income and potentially grow a side business. Your technical skills and analytical mindset are excellent assets for navigating the complex algorithms and data-driven strategies that power effective social media campaigns. You could help businesses enhance their online presence by creating and managing content, analyzing engagement metrics, and fine-tuning strategies on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Given your proficiency in understanding and leveraging technology, you could offer a unique value proposition by integrating your technical know-how with creative marketing strategies. This combination could make you an indispensable asset to companies looking to boost their online engagement and attract more followers. Plus, the flexibility of this business allows you to work on it during your free hours and scale up as your client base grows, eventually offering both stability and growth.

How much you can make: $3,000 — $800,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,380 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A Social Media Automation Tool To $2MM/Year

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.

Read by 15,249 founders

14. Start an user feedback app ($28.7K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to develop a user feedback app, a tool that provides direct insight into customer needs and preferences. This app would seamlessly integrate with websites, mobile apps, and email campaigns, enabling businesses to gather valuable feedback in real time without disrupting the user experience.

By building a platform that organizes and analyzes feedback, you could help companies make data-driven decisions to improve products, services, and customer satisfaction. The technical know-how required—app development, data analysis, and user experience design—aligns perfectly with your skill set. Additionally, a user feedback app offers the potential for recurring revenue through subscription models, making it a viable and sustainable business option to supplement your income or even become a full-time venture.

How much you can make: $100 — $150,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How I Started A $4.5K/Month Website With User Flow Design Inspiration

Page Flows is a library of inspiration videos for digital product designers and makes about $4,500 per month in revenue from a small, one-off price, with slow and steady growth and long-tail keyword SEO as key drivers of success.

Read by 9,031 founders

15. Become a software developer ($51.7K/month)

As an application engineer, venturing into software development could be a natural and lucrative extension of your career. With your strong technical skills, experience in programming, and a deep understanding of how software works, you could start a side business developing custom software solutions. Your expertise in designing, testing, and overseeing the creation of software aligns perfectly with the demands of this evolving field.

Given the growing trends towards mobile apps and cloud-based solutions, you could leverage your knowledge to create innovative applications that meet the specific needs of businesses and consumers. Considering the average salary for software developers is $110,140, with the potential to earn up to $140K annually, this career pivot or supplementary business could significantly boost your income. By starting your own software development company, you could explore the exciting opportunities this industry offers while utilizing your existing skills and experience.

How much you can make: $500 — $350,000/month

How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)

How We Started A $350K/Month Business Developing Software Tools For Ecommerce Brands

SkyVerge, a software company, has grown rapidly with revenue of $350,000 per month, over 100,000 eCommerce customers, and a globally distributed team of 30 people, all through starting with consulting projects and building focused and solutions-based products, acquiring small products from other developers, and focusing largely on content marketing and providing excellent customer support.

Read by 39,449 founders

16. Start a niche web design business ($50K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical expertise in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to start a niche web design business tailored to a specific industry like law or home improvement. By concentrating on one particular market, you could become a recognized expert, thereby positioning yourself to command higher fees for your specialized services.

Your strong analytical and problem-solving skills would be invaluable in understanding the unique needs of your chosen niche, allowing you to deliver more effective and customized web solutions. Additionally, your ability to communicate well and work as part of a team could help you build stronger relationships with clients, ensuring repeat business and referrals.

How much you can make: $200 — $200,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)

How I Left Silicon Valley And Started A $100K/Month Digital Agency

Never Settle, a digital agency with over 1,000 completed projects and a focus on lean methodology and building relationships with clients, has made a name for itself in the eCommerce space, offering comprehensive solutions to businesses of all sizes while maintaining consistent and moderate growth.

Read by 7,272 founders

17. Start a game development ($214K/month)

As an application engineer, starting a game development business could be a natural extension of your technical skills and problem-solving expertise. Your programming background provides a solid foundation for understanding the intricate coding and development processes involved in game creation. This technical aptitude, combined with a passion for creative storytelling and interactive design, could allow you to bring unique and innovative game concepts to life.

You could leverage your existing knowledge of software development lifecycles to manage and optimize the game development process efficiently. Additionally, your experience in application design and implementation could be invaluable in creating user-friendly and engaging game interfaces. By focusing on a specific niche or genre, you could distinguish your games in a crowded market and build a loyal customer base.

Another advantage you have is the ability to stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in the gaming industry, thanks to your background in tech. This knowledge could be crucial in developing cutting-edge games that appeal to modern gamers. With strong business acumen and a strategic approach to marketing and partnerships, you could successfully turn your game development passion into a profitable side business or even a full-time venture.

How much you can make: $200 — $1,725,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,400 (?)

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How I Started A $40M-Revenue Business Creating Tabletop Games

How one founder turned a successful Kickstarter campaign into a $40 million tabletop game company with a focus on crafting a few special products each year and using social media to build community and relationships with customers.

Read by 13,317 founders

18. Start a freelance marketplace business ($124K/month)

As an application engineer, starting a freelance marketplace business could capitalize on your technical expertise and understanding of project-based work. Given the shift towards remote work and the growing freelancing economy, you could create a platform tailored to specific niches within your industry, such as software development, system integration, or product design. This would not only supplement your income but also provide opportunities to leverage your network and industry knowledge to attract top-tier clients and freelancers.

By developing a user-friendly platform with escrow and contract management features, you could facilitate secure transactions and ensure a seamless experience for both clients and freelancers. Your background in application engineering positions you well to understand the technical requirements needed to build and maintain such a platform efficiently. This entrepreneurial venture could also diversify your career portfolio and provide significant growth potential as the freelancing market continues to expand.

How much you can make: $100 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A $80K/Month Business Connecting Freelancers With Companies

Flexiple is a customer-funded profitable business, generating $80K in gross monthly revenues on an average over the last 6-months, driven by their focus on connecting high-quality freelancers with companies looking for reliable and remote talent, while continuously iterating on their business model and expanding into complementary areas like tech hiring and content marketing.

Read by 16,795 founders

19. Start a clothes business ($2.29M/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your problem-solving expertise and attention to detail to tap into the growing clothing manufacturing industry. This side business opportunity could involve selecting a niche like streetwear, fitness apparel, or leisure wear, which aligns with the increasing global demand for quality clothing items.

Utilizing your technical skills, you could streamline production processes or even develop custom software to manage inventory and sales more efficiently. By focusing on market trends and consumer needs within your chosen niche, you could create unique, high-demand products, supplementing your income or even transitioning to a full-fledged entrepreneurial venture.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $25,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

How We Started A Clothing Manufacturing Business

Bryden is a clothing manufacturing agency that offers an end-to-end service to fashion brands all over the world, serving customers in over 20 countries and bringing in an average monthly revenue of $74,000 within just a few years of launching.

Read by 27,437 founders

20. Start a robot cafeteria business

As an application engineer, starting a robot cafeteria business could be a highly lucrative entrepreneurial venture. Leveraging your technical expertise, you could design and optimize automated systems that efficiently prepare and serve food, reducing labor costs and increasing operational efficiency. This allows you to fill a niche market focused on providing quick and consistent service, ideal for environments like tech parks, corporate campuses, and even universities.

By integrating advanced software and hardware solutions, you could ensure that your robot cafeteria operates seamlessly, offering a unique dining experience that attracts tech-savvy customers. This approach not only supplements your income but also positions you at the forefront of innovation, showcasing your ability to apply engineering skills to real-world business problems. The experience gained from this venture could further enhance your engineering portfolio, presenting additional career advancement opportunities.

21. Start a Garment Retail Store

As an application engineer, starting a garment retail store could provide a creative outlet and an additional income stream. With your problem-solving skills and analytical mindset, you could implement technology in your store, such as an e-commerce platform or inventory management system, to enhance operational efficiency and attract tech-savvy customers.

Developing a strong business strategy that differentiates your store from big discount chains is crucial. You could focus on a niche market, such as sustainable fashion or tech-infused wearable garments, to stand out and give shoppers a compelling reason to choose your store. Leveraging your technical knowledge and commitment, you could optimize your marketing efforts and streamline operations, creating a successful business venture.

22. Start a seo consultant business ($151K/month)

As an application engineer, leveraging your technical expertise to start an SEO consultant business could be a highly profitable venture. Your background equips you with a strong foundation in analyzing and optimizing complex systems, skills that are directly transferable to improving website search rankings for businesses. With the rising demand for SEO services across industries, your ability to understand and implement SEO strategies can set you apart from competitors.

Starting a side business as an SEO consultant allows you to offer your specialized skills to companies struggling to enhance their online presence. By providing professional advice on search optimization, you could help businesses achieve higher search rankings and, in turn, gain more visibility and customers. This could supplement your income and potentially grow into a full-time entrepreneurial endeavor.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,800,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A $22K/Month One-Stop Shop Marketing Company For E-commerce Businesses

Power Move Marketing is an innovative digital marketing company founded by Hailey Brooke McFadden, which has achieved an impressive monthly income of $22,075 and is projected to make almost $300,000 in its first year, by offering a one-stop-shop for e-commerce businesses looking for a marketing powerhouse with a female positive culture.

Read by 11,652 founders

23. Start a writing tool ($381K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to develop an innovative writing tool, addressing the growing demand for high-quality written content in today's digital age. Imagine creating software that assists users in crafting well-structured and engaging material, providing features such as grammar checking, style suggestions, and AI-generated content ideas. Your expertise in software development makes you uniquely positioned to build a tool that appeals to a wide range of users, from students and professionals to bloggers and novelists.

This writing tool could significantly boost your income, either as a side gig or a full-fledged business, while allowing you to utilize your engineering skills in a creative and impactful way. The journey would involve continuous research and updates to meet evolving user needs, presenting you with a fulfilling entrepreneurial challenge. If you’re passionate about enhancing communication, this business venture could be your next successful project.

How much you can make: $30 — $2,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

I Built An Online Word Counter Tool That Makes $20K/Month [Google's Top Result]

Founder Kevin Miller's online word counter tool achieved over 300,000 keyword rankings, over 2,400 domain referrals and made $40,000 per month through Google's top results in just two years through SEO practices, proving the value of investing in quality and SEO.

Read by 12,359 founders

24. Start a two sided marketplace ($20.3K/month)

As an application engineer, starting a two-sided marketplace could be a natural extension of your technical skills and problem-solving abilities. You could develop a platform that connects clients in need of customized software solutions with freelance application developers. This marketplace could streamline the process of matching specialized developers with specific software projects, making it easier for companies to find talent and for developers to find work.

Your engineering background would be invaluable in creating a seamless user experience, ensuring robust security features, and optimizing the platform for scalability. Additionally, your industry insights could help you identify niche markets that are currently underserved, providing a unique value proposition that sets your marketplace apart from the competition. With diligent planning and strategic user acquisition, you could turn this side business into a thriving full-time venture.

How much you can make: $100 — $100,000/month

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

How This Uber Driver Created A $270K/Year App For Gig Workers

Muver is a mobile app for gig workers allowing them to multi-app seamlessly between Uber, Uber Eats, Doordash, Grubhub, Lyft, Instacart, and more within a single app with over $270k revenue in the past 12 months.

Read by 4,988 founders

25. Start a video content creation business ($125K/month)

Starting a video content creation business could be an excellent way for an application engineer to supplement their income or launch a side business. Leveraging your technical skills, you could produce high-quality promotional videos, social media content, or even in-depth tutorials that appeal to a wide range of clients, from small businesses to social media influencers.

Given your background, you likely already possess a strong understanding of how to engage an audience, a skill that is invaluable in video production. Plus, your attention to detail and problem-solving abilities could set you apart from competitors in the field. With a growing demand for video content across various platforms, there's a significant market eager for innovative creators like you.

To get started, you will need some basic video equipment and editing software, along with a solid portfolio showcasing your work. By delivering high-quality content consistently and understanding your clients' needs, you could carve out a successful niche in this burgeoning industry.

How much you can make: $7,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)

How We Started A $30K/Month Ecommerce Video Marketing Business

Silksocial produces rockstar video ads for eCommerce brands, with a turnover of around $30K/month and a focus on differentiation through a deep understanding of e-commerce video ad production techniques that optimize investment returns.

Read by 7,166 founders

26. Start an AI based content creation business ($19.3K/month)

As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to start an AI-based content creation business. Utilizing advanced machine learning, you could develop a platform that automates the creation of articles, social media posts, and product descriptions from simple keywords, streamlining content marketing strategies for businesses and reducing man-hours and costs.

Given the high demand for smart, automated solutions in the realm of content creation, tapping into this market could be highly lucrative. With your technical acumen, you have the opportunity to pioneer an innovative platform that unites cutting-edge technology with an essential business function, positioning yourself at the forefront of digital transformation.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $100,000/month

How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)

This Self-Taught Programmer Built A $360K/Year GPT-3 App

Nichesss is an AI content generation tool that helps businesses and individuals write content quickly; founded by self-taught programmer Malcolm Tyson, the company has generated a monthly revenue of $30,000, with a user base consisting of copywriters, small businesses and marketing agencies.

Read by 10,849 founders

27. Start an AI SaaS business ($39.3K/month)

Starting an AI SaaS business could be a highly lucrative avenue for you as an application engineer. With your expertise in software development and problem-solving, you could create cloud-based applications powered by artificial intelligence that businesses can subscribe to. This eliminates their need to build such technologies in-house, providing them with advanced solutions while generating a steady income stream for you.

The landscape is ripe with opportunities, from developing natural language processing tools to offering predictive analytics. Given your technical skills and understanding of diverse industry needs, this venture could not only supplement your income but also position you at the forefront of tech innovation. If you are tech-savvy and vision-oriented, an AI SaaS business could be a scalable enterprise that leverages your existing skill set.

How much you can make: $150 — $200,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 20 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped My Notion Form Builder $180K ARR

NotionForms, a SaaS company offering a form builder integration to Notion, boasts an impressive total of 26k users, 850 paid subscribers, and an ARR of $182k, with steady growth since its launch and being used internally by many huge tech companies.

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Pat Walls