The 48 Best Business Ideas In Bahrain [2024]

Updated: June 21st, 2022

Interested in starting a business in Bahrain in 2024?

We put together 48 of the best businesses you can start in Bahrain today.

In this list of ideas, you can find:

  • Home-based businesses to start in Bahrain
  • Profitable online business ideas
  • Unique business opportunities for Bahrain
  • Low investment business ideas (under $5k to start)
  • Easy businesses you can start in Bahrain today

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, + a step-by-step on how to start your small business in Bahrain.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a financial consulting business

Financial consulting is a business that helps individuals and businesses manage their financial affairs. Managing financial affairs include creating financial plans, analyzing financial data, and advising investment and financial decision-making.

To start a financial consulting business, you will need a strong understanding of financial principles and practices and excellent communication and problem-solving skills. You may also need to obtain necessary licenses or certifications, such as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

To start the business, you must create a business plan, establish a business structure (such as a sole proprietorship or LLC), and identify your target market. You may also need to secure financing and create a marketing plan to attract clients. It is also important to network with other professionals in the financial industry and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the field.

How much you can make: $12,000 — $2,000,000/month

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

I Grew My Spreadsheet Templates Side Hustle Into A $240K/Year Business

ProjectionHub helps entrepreneurs create financial projections using a library of 50+ CPA-developed financial projection spreadsheet templates, generating over $20,000 per month in revenue without the need for software subscription models.

Read by 9,953 founders

2. Start an online video editing business

Video editors manage camera footage, dialogue, sound effects, graphics, and special effects to produce the final film or video product. To become an online video editor, you must have media production and communication knowledge and the ability to work with others.

To start a video editing business, you can outsource video editing skills from an experienced professional. Your role will be to pick video footage from the customers and upload them for the video editor to do the magic.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month

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

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

On Creating An App To Help Families Record Their Memories As It Was A Podcast

Saga, a private family podcast app, was founded to help families save the life stories of loved ones through audio and has raised $1.8 million in seed funding to date, has thousands of users across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is set to launch on Android.

Read by 12,832 founders

3. Start a content writing company

Content writing involves writing, editing, and publishing content in a digital format. Examples of content include a blog post, product description, and podcast script—eBooks, press releases, or landing page content.

Becoming a content writer allows you to work as your boss. Therefore, you choose whatever working schedule suits you and take a manageable workload. Moreover, content writing helps you develop essential skills you may not obtain from regular writing.

Content writing is a highly-on-demand service, as companies compete for the online audience who often begin their shopping journey by searching for relevant and educative content online. Therefore, a content writing company is an excellent source of passive income.

To start a content writing company in Bahrain, research the market and choose a suitable niche. Sketch a proper business plan and create a website. Hire a pool of talented writers and leverage modern technology to streamline operations.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $550,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How Dani Mancini Transformed Her Freelance Gigs Into A SaaS Business

Scribly.io, a subscription-based copywriting service providing high quality content that helps businesses scale at roughly 50% of the cost of hiring in-house, created by Dani, a first-time entrepreneur who started with just a few hundred dollars worth of projects and with the help of three other writers; as of last month, Scribly.io topped $14K monthly revenue.

Read by 13,239 founders

4. Start an event planning business

Event planners handle different tasks related to making the business a success. Some of the event planner’s responsibilities include:

  • Conducting research
  • Creating the event design
  • Finding an ideal site
  • Arranging for food, décor, and entertainment
  • Planning logistics to and from the event
  • Sending invitations
  • Supervising at the site etc

To start this business on a budget, begin by honing your organizational and communication skills.

Next, create a detailed business plan outlining your services, target market, and pricing structure.

Utilize free or low-cost online tools for marketing, and consider starting small by offering services for smaller events before expanding your business as you gain experience and resources.

How much you can make: $20,000 — $500,000/month

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

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

How I Started A $35K/Month Event Decor Business

Akshay Patel's event rental and decor business, Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, saw an average ticket price of $2,000, as their advertising budget decreased from $20k to $5k, leading to 40% of their clients coming through social media advertising, 30% from expos, and 30% online in google, yahoo, and other platforms.

Read by 17,774 founders

5. Start a mobile photography business

Want to start your own photography business? You're not alone. With the rise of social media and photo-sharing, blogging, and online retailing, it's never been easier to start making money behind your camera.

There are photographers shooting weddings, creating images for ad campaigns, freelancing for magazines, touring the world, taking photographs of destinations — the list is endless!

To start mobile photography in Bahrain, research the target audience and determine which specialization area is more lucrative. Invest in high-quality, professional cameras, lenses, and a computer with professional software photo-editing software.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $500,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)

Embracing the Experience Economy with a $300K/mo Photo Booth Startup

Photobooth Supply Co. offers a profitable business opportunity through their sleek and portable photo booths, with up to 97% satisfaction rate and a focus on customer experience, in a fast-growing event industry where photo booths are exploding.

Read by 16,562 founders

6. Become a proofreader

Proofreading business is a service that helps customers review their written work and ensure it is ready for publication. Typically, a proofreader corrects grammatical errors and provides the written piece meets any relevant style guide.

As a proofreader, you can work online, allowing you to choose what time to work.

If you plan to start a professional proofreading business in Bahrain, make sure you possess the following skills:

  • Have an excellent grasp of grammar
  • Ability to correct mistakenly capitalized words
  • Familiarity with the proper use of capitalization
  • Use spell-checkers to flag misspelled words

Proofreading is a great way to enhance content quality. With the increased use of written content marketing to reach a broader market, the demand for professional proofreaders has grown tremendously. Professional proofreaders earn an average of $12/hr. And $30/hr.

Therefore, consider proofreading as a business if you are looking for a great side hustle idea or simply looking for ways to increase your income.

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

How I Added $2,000 To My Monthly Income Proofreading Blog Posts

A proofreader was able to build a consistent income of ~$2,000 per month from scratch with zero experience in the field, no expenses, and barely any upfront costs by targeting bloggers and content creators who want their content to be copy edited and proofread.

Read by 14,881 founders

7. Start a construction company

Running a construction company can be very rewarding and require hard work, attention to detail, and a hustle mentality.

Construction companies are responsible for building/designing a variety of apartments, buildings, properties, housing, infrastructure, facilities & developments, motorways, roads, paths, pavement, and more.

How much you can make: $40,001 — $10,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How I Gamed The YouTube Algorithm and Went Viral With 25M Views

Mountain Fire Woodworks founder Cameron Vilcsak shares how he used YouTube to promote his log cabins, chainsaw carvings, and passion for woodworking, culminating in one of his videos that has gone viral with over 25 million views and counting.

Read by 9,035 founders

8. Start a SEO agency

An SEO agency is a company that provides search engine optimization services to businesses. The function of an SEO agency is to help businesses rank higher in search engines through organic or paid means.

SEO is a rapidly growing industry, with experts across all aspects of the field already making six-figure incomes and expecting to see these earnings grow dramatically over the next few years. Getting into SEO today, before it gets too saturated, will allow you to establish a strong base in a new career, with an excellent chance for success.

It’s easier than ever to start your SEO agency in Bahrain. The tools are there, and the competition isn’t as stiff as it used to be. If you’re considering starting an SEO or digital marketing agency, it might be a good idea to learn how other digital agencies succeed.

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

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

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

How I Started An SEO Agency For Lawyers Generating $3.6M/Year

Rankings.io is a hyper-focused SEO agency that helps elite personal injury law firms dominate first page rankings and was ranked #858 in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for 2018, with a current revenue just under $300,000 per month, with plans for a record-breaking year.

Read by 38,410 founders

9. Become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants support businesses, teams, or individuals by performing administrative tasks remotely. As businesses these days tend to outsource their tasks, the demand for virtual assistants is growing rapidly.

Becoming a virtual assistant is flexible, as you can choose a work schedule and location at your convenience. Many virtual assistants in Bahrain have a dedicated home office where they work in a quiet and distraction-free environment.

To become a virtual assistant, identify a niche you like and undertake any training. Then, figure out how much to charge your customers and create an online presence where you can apply for jobs. As a virtual assistant, you can define your work schedule depending on your availability.

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

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

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

On Starting A Business Training Virtual Assistants

Filipino Virtual Assistance by FVA Business Consultancy, founded by Julmar Grace Locsin, offers online and offline training to empower marketers, enable businesses, and equip freelancers which has trained 25,000 students from their 31 courses, has 16 coaches assigned from different territories, and fifteen in the FVA team for global digital leadership that will impact the world through digitalization, one life at a time.

Read by 8,229 founders

10. Start a language translation service

Language translation services bridge the linguistic barriers, helping businesses reach a wider audience outside of a single language. A language translation job is an opportunity to cover a wide range of topics and meet people from different cultures.

To become a language translator in Bahrain, master a second language and earn some experience so you become fluent in the second language.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $550,000/month

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

How We Started A $100K/Month Company That Provides Transcription Services

How this founder started a $100K/month guaranteed transcription service for medical, legal, law enforcement, financial, academic and general business industries, winning the NASPO ValuePoint transcription services contract over 26 other companies and learning valuable lessons about getting a coach and getting as much PR as possible.

Read by 13,211 founders

11. Start a niche web design business

Niche web design business focuses on a specialized market such as law, home improvement, videography, fashion, etc. typically, when a web designer niches down their services, they are simply choosing to concentrate on one industry and create websites for businesses within the particular niche. To become a niche web designer, consider honing the following skills and personal qualities:

  • Visual design, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Strong communication skills
  • Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Teamwork and research skills
  • Attention to detail

Narrowing your focus to a particular niche gives you a higher chance of becoming a recognized expert and places you in a better position to charge more for your services.

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 7,126 founders

12. Start a freelancer platform

Freelancer platform is a place where people come with skills and services to offer and people come who need those skills and services. So we can say freelancer platforms are a marketplace for sellers and buyers of services and skills.

The freelancing industry is growing rapidly and it's becoming a popular career option for people who are "non-traditional" employees. The global Freelance Platforms market size is expected to reach $6.7B by the year 2025. While working on a full-time job, freelancers simultaneously work on a freelance career. The platforms available online help them to increase their business by attracting new clients.

With all of the businesses looking for help on their websites, it would be a good idea to start a freelancer platform. Freelance platforms do well because people have jobs that need to be done and businesses have the resources to pay for the job at hand.

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 17,058 founders

13. Become an interior designer

Interior designing involves making indoor spaces safe, functional, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting essential & decorative items such as colors, lighting, and materials.

The global luxury interior design market is growing at a CAGR of 9.0%. The growth metrics show there is great potential for entrepreneurs targeting households.

If you are starting a luxury interior design business, focus on style and specialty. Add valuables with creative professions, such as interior design, so you stand out from the rest. Ensure you hire the right people and hone the brand identity.

How much you can make: $100,000 — $415,000/month

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

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

How We (Mother And Daughter) Started A $1M/Year Boutique Design Firm

Mother and daughter duo turn passion for antiques and design into a boutique design firm with over $1 million in annual revenue and hundreds of trophy projects, showcasing the importance of grit, determination, and passion in building a successful business.

Read by 8,812 founders

14. Start a boutique

You may consider opening a boutique if you are passionate about the fashion and textile industry.

A boutique is a shop that sells clothes. Opening a boutique is a dream for entrepreneurs who want to experience the joy and freedom of owning a cash business. Starting a boutique is easy and can be managed by a single individual. In addition, a boutique requires a comparatively smaller capital to start.

To succeed, the boutique owner must coming creativity and passion.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $25,000/month

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

How I Grew My Clothing Boutique to $10K/Month in 6 Months

Boutique Rye is an online-only women's clothing and accessories boutique that has grown to 3,200 Facebook Group members and a successful website through organic customer sharing, live sales, and open communication with customers.

Read by 36,581 founders

15. Start a cleaning business

Starting a cleaning business is an excellent opportunity to be your boss and make money doing what you love. This business is relatively easy to create and does not require much equipment or funds.

There are many cleaning services, so deciding what services (or combination of services) you will offer and what hours of the day or week those services will be available is essential.

To start cleaning service in Bahrain, you’ll want to consider investing in professional cleaning equipment such as a vacuum cleaner, a quality mop, and a good cleaning bucket. You will also need to buy environment-friendly cleaning products such as detergent, bleach, paper towels, and trash bags.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $708,333/month

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

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

How I Started A $100K+/Month Home Cleaning Service For Busy Individuals And Airbnb Hosts

MaidThis®, launched by Neel Parekh in Los Angeles with just one cleaner in 2013, has achieved over $10 million in total revenue by focusing on cleaning Airbnbs and vacation rentals, thanks to its successful remote business model and new-age marketing tactics, and has now launched MaidThis Franchise to expand the business further.

Read by 21,616 founders

16. Start a blog

In recent years, blogging has become a highly sought-after & lucrative Business. This location-independent business is a creative outlet to reach a broader audience and even work at any time. According to Optinmonster’s list of blogging statistics and facts:

  • Blogs have been rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of gathering online information.
  • 77% of internet users read blogs.
  • Each month, approximately 409 million people view more than 20 billion pages.

Originally blogging started as an online journal, but today it is a highly profitable career option. Many people are choosing blogging as their full-time career and are earning their bread and butter from this profession.

If you want to start blogging as a side hustle or as a full-time profession, choose a niche you will enjoy writing about and have a content strategy ready. Then, create a mailing list, and decide on a good blog posting routine to keep your audience engaged.

How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Running A Blog

Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.

Read by 28,466 founders

17. Start an online advertising agency

An online advertising agency helps businesses promote their products or services on the internet.

To start this business on a budget, first learn the basics of digital marketing through free online resources.

Create a professional website and set up profiles on social media platforms to showcase your skills.

Build a portfolio by working on mock campaigns or offering discounted services to friends and family, and gradually market your services to attract clients.

With dedication, you can grow your agency over time.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $1,250,000/month

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

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

How I Started A $120K/Month Online Course For Social Media Marketing Agencies

Iman Gadzhi made over $1.2M in profit within two years with his social media marketing agency and education company, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to start and scale a profitable SMMA, with over 45 of his students making over six figures with their SMMA, and over 300 students having quit their regular jobs.

Read by 15,607 founders

18. Start a podcast

The podcast business involves creating and producing audio content that people can listen to online.

It’s a popular form of entertainment and information-sharing.

To start a podcast business on a budget, you'll need a few key steps.

First, choose a niche or topic that you're passionate about and that has an audience.

Next, get basic recording equipment like a microphone and headphones.

Then, find a free or affordable hosting platform to publish your episodes.

Finally, promote your podcast through social media, online communities, and word of mouth to build an audience and potentially attract sponsors or advertisers.

How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month

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

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

Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week

How I Started A Successful Podcast Production Company

A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.

Read by 19,013 founders

19. Start an affiliate marketing business

Are you looking for a side hustle to pay you a passive income? Affiliate marketing is one of those side hustles that will pay you well over the long term. It is a way to earn money online by promoting other companies' products and services. You will be paid a commission for each sale you make as an affiliate marketer.

To get started, learn how to find the right product and brand to partner with. For example, you may prefer becoming an affiliate marketer for an eCommerce store, partnering with a manufacturer, and marketing their products for a commission.

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 (?)

How I Built A $3.5K/Month Authority Site With A Full Time Job

Bar Games 101 is an authority website about classic bar games with over 200K monthly visitors and revenue over $4,000 for the month of August, achieved through consistent publishing of researched articles and outsourcing by the founder.

Read by 31,160 founders

20. Start a voice over service

Voiceover artist is an auditory performer who uses their voice in scripted presentations. The role of a voiceover artist is only to be heard but not to be seen.

Working as a voiceover artist is an opportunity to choose the projects you enjoy engaging in. The role of a voiceover artist is also fun and can help you meet new people.

To become a voiceover artist in Bahrain, start practicing aloud reading so you familiarize yourself with your sound. Then, create your recording studio where you can practice your voiceover skills. It would help if you had a quality microphone, professional recording software, a computer, and soundproofing materials.

How much you can make: $400 — $85,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)

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

How I Started A $40K/Month Multilingual Voice Over Agency And Marketplace

Voice Crafters, a multilingual voice-over agency and marketplace founded by Mony Raanan, doubled their revenue to over $765,000 in 2022 with a bottom line of around 30% after transitioning to an online marketplace and carefully vetting their network of over 1,000 professional voice actors in more than 80 languages.

Read by 6,566 founders

21. Start an online fitness business

Thinking of starting an online fitness business?

Online fitness is growing rapidly in popularity because it’s convenient, affordable, and accessible to everyone. The best part is that you can stay in your home to start.

Starting an online fitness business can be a great way to make money and help people. When you start an online fitness business, you don’t have to worry about overhead costs like rent or maintaining a physical location - all you need is a computer and an internet connection to get started.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $500,000/month

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

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

How I Started A $48K/Month Business With An Online Fitness Training Service

This case study is about a former personal trainer who launched his online personal training platform, TeamFFLEX, starting with no money and a lot of drive, and grew it into a 6-figure business in less than a year, now doing $48,000 a month with potential for continued growth.

Read by 26,124 founders

22. Sell auto alarms

Although cars come with an inbuilt alarm system, owners choose to upgrade the alarm systems to keep the vehicles safe from thieves.

Therefore, the auto alarm sales and installation business is in high demand and can be lucrative to start as long as you love things to do with car alarms and GPS tracker systems. To ensure professional services, consider undertaking the alarm technician’s course. Through the course, you will learn how to install or service the alarm systems and related components.

Some of the services offered by alarm sales and installation professionals include fitting alarms and immobilizers, tracking devices, upgrading the existing systems, fault diagnosis, and repairs.

Before starting, research the car alarm industry in your area and check the current alarm installation prices, the alarm trends, and find out what customers want.

23. Start a dropshipping business

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products to customers without holding inventory.

Instead, when a customer makes a purchase, you buy the product from a third-party supplier, who then ships it directly to the customer.

To start a dropshipping business on a budget, choose a niche or category of products you want to sell.

Next, set up an online store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Then, find reliable suppliers from platforms like AliExpress, list their products on your store, and focus on marketing and customer service to grow your business.

Remember to carefully manage your expenses and monitor your profit margins to ensure profitability.

How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,000 (?)

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

Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week

How I Started A $100K/Month Business Mentoring Dropshipping Entrepreneurs

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.

Read by 25,381 founders

24. Start a travel agency

Are you a passionate traveler with entrepreneurial skills? Then starting a travel agency can be a great career choice for you.

As a travel agency, you'll be responsible for linking travelers to providers of all the travel and tourism-related services such as accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, tour guides, local adventure, etc.

Starting an online travel agency is a lot easier than you might think. You'll need to perform market research, get a few necessary certifications (such as your IATA number), study competition, build a website, and do proper marketing.

To maximize earnings, negotiate discounts from the industry service providers, and charge travelers within the market rate.

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

How much does it cost to start: $1,250 (?)

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

How I Started A $2K/Month Side Hustle Selling Vacations

Marissa Daniels runs a successful travel agency, Spread Your Wings Travel, that hit $100,000 in sales within a year of launch and provides payment plan options for its all-inclusive vacations, and she hopes to help 100 families supplement their income through the business.

Read by 17,952 founders

25. Become a mobile personal trainer

Do you love helping people through their fitness journey? If you want a great side hustle to earn extra income, consider becoming a personal trainer.

The fitness trainer side hustle can be an adamant industry to earn good money. However, once you develop a reputation as a good trainer, you can get more clients through referrals. You need to register for the certification course to start offering personal trainer services in Bahrain.

To attract your first clients, consider online advertising, and seek referrals from every customer.

How much you can make: $600 — $60,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 4 hours/week

How We Launched A $25K/Month Interactive Live Streaming Group Fitness Workout Platfrom During The Pandemic

Sweat from Home is a two-way, interactive, and live-streaming group fitness workout startup that has held over 800 classes since March 2020, generates $25k in monthly recurring revenue, and has donated over $7k to 6 different charities; they aim to become the world's best live-streamed fitness class.

Read by 8,951 founders

26. Start a dog treat business

Dog treats are a cornerstone of the dog food market. If you enjoy baking and love dogs, you can combine these passions to create healthy, natural, and tasty treats for your furry friends.

As a dog treat entrepreneur, you have the opportunity to make delicious canine confections that are both good for dogs and enjoyable to eat.

Focus on ensuring your products meet the nutritional requirements and will be safe for their consumption, and consider introducing specialty services like custom birthday cakes and holiday gift boxes to provide an inviting niche.

Leverage online and local markets to transform homemade dog treats into a thriving and rewarding enterprise.

How much you can make: $400 — $1,833,333/month

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

How This Couple Started A Healthy Dog Treat Business

Toronto-based Treats Happen saw a gap in the market for healthy dog treats, and now makes roughly $15K per month. Their biggest lesson? As a brand, they don't just sell on their website but want to be available on as many profitable channels as possible.

Read by 15,335 founders

27. Start a bedding company

At the end of a hard day, we all need a good night’s sleep. A good quality mattress, bedsheet, or pillow makes all the difference when it comes to sleeping comfortably. That’s why many people invest in quality bedding materials, making it a profitable business idea.

The first step to starting a bedding business is to choose your niche. You need to decide what bedding you want to specialize in, which will help determine the products you’ll sell. Do you want to focus on luxury sheets? Or perhaps more affordable linens that are still high-quality?

Next, you’ll need to find a manufacturer who can supply the bedding products you want to sell. You’ll want to research different options and ensure they can provide what you need at a reasonable price.

Once you’ve got all that lined up, start setting up your website and social media accounts! These are essential tools for any business owner—especially in today’s digital landscape.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $3,500,000/month

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

Starting A Bed Sheet Business Making $600K In First 8 Months

Sheets & Giggles, an eco-friendly bedding brand, earned nearly $500,000 and 6,000 orders in the first 6 months of business through Indiegogo, and utilizes pun-based marketing and a DTC model to tap into a fragmented, low brand loyalty market.

Read by 62,581 founders

28. Start an online retail store

Starting an online retail store is straightforward. All you need is a computer, a domain, and a web hosting service. Then, determine a niche for your online store, and conduct product research before listing products.

You can start your online store based on a drop shipping business model or list your self-made products in your online store.

How much you can make: $400 — $1,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How I Started A 1.6K/Month LEGO Reselling Business At The Age Of 14

A high school student turned his love for LEGO into a $1.6k/month business, Summerfield's Toys, by reselling sets online through eBay, BrickLink, and Facebook Marketplace, in addition to buying and reselling brand new sets.

Read by 27,701 founders

29. Start a car rental business

Starting a car rental business can be a profitable venture for those interested in the auto industry.

Retail and corporate are the main segments within the car rental industry. Retail car rentals focus on individuals who rent cars for shorter periods, while corporate car rental targets companies that want to transport clients or employees.

If you are starting a car rental business in Bahrain, target airports, hotels, railway stations, commercial offices, and other high-traffic areas.

Market your business, hire employees who will manage the operations and keep records, and purchase business insurance for both cars and employees.

How much you can make: $870 — $10,000/month

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

How We Started A Camper Van Rental Business and Quit Our Full Time Jobs

ROAMERICA, a campervan rental company founded by Taylor Hood and Gretchen Bayless who quit their full-time jobs to focus on their business and have expanded their fleet quickly to meet the demand of adventure-seeking customers, with most of their web traffic coming from organic Google searches and a focus on social media and brand awareness.

Read by 37,114 founders

30. Start a restaurant

If you love cooking and are passionate about entrepreneurship, starting a restaurant can be a fun and lucrative business.

To get started, choose a great location, and hire an excellent support team. You will need a chef to inspect the food and line cooks, waiters, and waitresses to serve the customers. No matter the restaurant type, you need great culinary and business skills to make your dream come true.

If you plan to open a restaurant in Bahrain, gain insight from consumer preferences and focus on serving modern consumers what they need.

How much you can make: $124,998 — $2,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

Starting A $1.5M Healthy Meals Delivery Business

One Life Meals is a Toronto-based healthy meal delivery service that made 14,500 meals per month and generated $130k in monthly sales in 2018 through their one-on-one consultation, lean protein and seasonal veggies-based meals, and their focus on the client experience.

Read by 22,009 founders

31. Start a freelance writing business

Freelance writing can be a good career choice if you are looking for a flexible online job.

Working as a freelancer gives you the flexibility to define your work schedule. You can work from home at any time. Freelance writers work across various niches, writing about various topics assigned by the client,

To earn good money as a freelance writer, you need the following personal qualities:

  • Strong writing skills
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Stay on the cutting edge
  • Be a self-starter
  • Be up-to-date with the current writing tools & writing trends
  • Proper communication skills

How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)

How I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.

Read by 24,628 founders

32. Start a webinar hosting business

Are you an app builder looking for a profitable business? Consider building a webinar hosting platform.

Businesses host webinars as a tool for helping them convert leads into paying customers.

Therefore, starting your webinar hosting service could be a profitable business venture.

To attract customers, focus on building a robust webinar hosting service that provides the users with all features they need to host an interactive webinar. A webinar hosting service should offer custom solutions and support for all technical issues.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $897,000/month

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

How long does it take to build: 183 days (?)

How I Turned My Teenage Hobby Into A Profitable Static Web Hosting Service

Tiiny.Host is a web hosting company that's doubled its monthly recurring revenue every three months, amassing 40,000+ users by providing an easy-to-use hosting and file sharing solution, and built up its brand through SEO.

Read by 6,104 founders

33. Start a stock video business

Stock video is pre-filmed footage that can be purchased and used in various projects and films. Like stock photos, copyrighted stock videos cannot be used without permission and licensing from the rightful owner.

Businesses and filmmakers use licensed stock footage as they save money and hours, they would need to create original footage. Starting a stock video suitable for use in commercials and entertainment can be a great venture.

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

How long does it take to build: 197 days (?)

I Built A $120K/Year Stock Animation And GIF Images Side Hustle

VideoPlasty, an affordable and easy-to-use platform for buying pre-made stock animation elements and GIF images, has attracted over 600,000 visitors since its launch, with over $100k in revenue in 2020 alone, thanks to free organic traffic from YouTube tutorials and optimized SEO.

Read by 4,066 founders

34. Sell building materials

A building material business trades materials used in the construction industry.

The building materials include loose rocks, sand, iron, bricks, cement, poles, cement, and all other materials the building contractors need. Your target market will be building and construction managers, hardware, and contractors.

To promote your business, get featured in industry magazines and online forums. Create a website and ensure an active online presence through social media and SEO.

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

I Make $20K/Month Selling Tiny Cinder Blocks Online

Startup Mini Materials sells miniature masonry and woodworking supplies with a cult following gained through viral videos, social media and email newsletters.

Read by 31,330 founders

35. Start a hotels business

If you are considering starting a hotel, then it is time to implement your plan. There are five key elements to understand if you want to succeed in this industry: location, size, budget, experience, and market demand.

Here are some tips to consider before forming a hotel:

  • Name your business
  • Decide on a marketing strategy
  • Start by renting out a room in your home.
  • Hire a business capital broker
  • Try Airbnb
  • Make a marketing plan
  • Offer complementary services

How much you can make: $15,000 — $500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 325 days (?)

Starting A 5 Star Boutique Resort And Event Center Based On A Fiction Book Lore

Boyd Hollow Resorts is launching a 5-star boutique resort and event center based on a fiction book that will be the first of many Villages to be built around the world, with over 200 event inquiries received before launching.

Read by 7,607 founders

36. Start an auto repair business

Many people just love to tinker with, fix and repair cars. This is an all-consuming hobby for some people. They like to take things apart and figure out how things work. The process of fixing and repairing cars is almost therapeutic for them.

An auto repair business is a rewarding way to make extra money or build an entire business.

You can do it in the comforts of your own home, working around your schedule and getting paid handsomely for it. The United States automotive service market is expected to reach $75B by 2026.

How much you can make: $415,000/month

How long does it take to build: 40 days (?)

I Quit My Full-Time Job & Launched A $5M/Year Towing & Auto Repair Business

Finish Line Towing & Auto Repair is Wisconsin's largest roadside assistance provider, bringing in $5 million in annual sales through its dedication to customer service, effective dispatching, and clean service, with a goal of expanding to other markets in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Read by 4,548 founders

37. Start an online course sales business

Do you know you can make money selling what you are passionate about? People are making money creating courses and selling them online. Common online courses include music, cooking, coding, web design, dropshipping, etc.

Thus, you can turn it into a passive income by launching online classes if you have a skill. All you need is to choose a target audience, create the online course and choose an online learning platform where you can sell the course.

The e-learning market is expected to be worth over $645 Billion in the next few years.

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 (?)

I Make $120K/Year With My Print On Demand T-Shirt Side Hustle

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.

Read by 11,789 founders

38. Start a soap business

Soap-making business is a growing industry that can be home-based or a small local business. Soap business is one of the most lucrative home-based businesses that perfect your decision to work in your free time while you earn good cash.

Starting a soap business sounds simple enough. You can buy supplies for probably less than $1,000. Popular skincare products are now being sold online, and this doesn’t seem like a challenging field to break into. Below are some success stories of the soap business that will inspire you.

How much you can make: $1,200 — $380,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

Leaving The Cubicle To Start A $23K/Month Soap Company

Outlaw Soaps, a soap company that started with just $13.72 of supplies, now makes an average of $23,000/month, with 46% of website orders from repeat customers who are loyal to the company's unique products and top-notch customer service.

Read by 24,917 founders

39. Start a real estate brokering business

Real estate brokering involves helping individuals and businesses buy, sell, and rent properties. As a real estate broker, you will connect buyers and sellers, negotiate prices, and handle the paperwork. To start a successful real estate brokering business, you must obtain a state license. This typically involves completing a certain number of real estate courses and passing a licensure exam.

In addition to a license, you will also need a strong understanding of the local real estate market and a network of clients and contacts. Marketing and networking skills are essential for attracting new business and building your client base. You should also be organized and able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, as real estate transactions can be complex and time-sensitive.

To run a successful real estate brokering business, you must stay up-to-date on industry trends and regulations. This may involve continuing education courses and keeping abreast of changes in local zoning laws and market conditions.

Overall, real estate brokering requires legal knowledge, marketing savvy, and strong negotiation skills. If you are driven and passionate, starting a real estate brokering business can be a rewarding and lucrative career path.

How long does it take to build: 7 days (?)

40. Start an acting lessons business

Mumbai is the hometown of Bollywood, and many people are coming to Mumbai to become actors. As the owner of an acting classes business in Mumbai, you will provide training, coaching, and support to those considering getting into the Mumbai Bollywood industry. To get started, you may choose to work with children or with a career-oriented adult audience interested in stage acting, film, commercials, voice-over work, or other areas of specialization.

41. Start a home healthcare service business

Today’s lifestyle patterns have introduced new diseases, and the demand for healthcare services is rising. As we age, we develop different health problems resulting in medical services. Thus, starting a health service business can be a lucrative opportunity with the rising demand for healthcare.

Niche markets within the healthcare industry include:

  • Ambulatory surgery centers
  • Medical labs
  • Kidney dialysis facilities
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Mental health facilities etc.

To start a health service business, research the market and acquire all necessary medical equipment. You can choose a franchise or partnership or start your own health center from scratch.

How much you can make: $300,000/month

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

How I Started A $75K/Month Liposomal Natural Health Products Brand

A health supplement company established in 2017, with revenue streams from different brands, aims to hit the 1 million EUR mark this financial year, having shipped orders to over 30 countries with over 20 products on its main sales site, primarily from organic traffic, and building trust and brand authority organically.

Read by 7,410 founders

42. Start a cell phone & computer repair shop software

Are you a person who has a knack for fixing things and is updated about the latest phone and computer updates and tech? For technology lovers with a talent for fixing phones and computers, opening a repair business may seem like the perfect venture.

Listed are the steps to start a cellphone and computer repair shop business.

  • Register your business
  • Secure necessary legal documents to operate a business
  • Find financing
  • Open a bank account for business transactions
  • Obtain insurance
  • Promote your business

43. Start a grocery store

A grocery store sells a wide variety of food products, fresh or packaged, and other household & personal care items. The grocery store industry is the largest retail channel that makes $682 billion in the United States.

To start a basic grocery store, you can expect to spend a minimum of $50,000. Ideally, the bigger expense would be the rent, equipment, labor cost, cash registers/POS systems, and software. Some of these are recurring monthly fees. However, the location, size of the store, competitors, and local customers will significantly impact the business. A new grocer should sell more items for a lower price to make a more significant profit.

A new grocer can also save costs by buying the items from local distributors. The distributor is the middleman between the manufacturer and the grocery store selling it. Once the store cost and location are decided, the next step is to obtain a seller license. In most states, a grocer's license is required to run a grocery store.

Thus an average grocery store has a profit margin of 3% to 5%. The profit rates depend on the store's location, size, and popularity. On average, a small to medium grocery store can make a profit of up to $300,000 annually if all the profit factors are considered.

Another way to make your business more profitable is to diversify your store and add amenities like a coffee shop or stocking up the front of the store with magazines, batteries, etc., as these items can cross a margin of up to 70%. As a rule of thumb, offering lower prices on higher purchases will ultimately win more customers and increase profitability.

44. Start a data analysis service

A data analysis service is a great way to help businesses make sense of their data. This type of service can be used to provide insights into customer behavior, improve marketing campaigns, or simply help businesses make better decisions.

If you're interested in starting up a data analysis service, You will need knowledge in data analysis and the ability to communicate effectively with clients so they can benefit from what insights have been found by analyzing their information properly - this way it's not just about making money but also helping others!

iTechArt is a leading custom software development company that helps both startups and enterprises streamline their analytics process. They also generated revenue of $209 billion in 2019, while creating more than a million jobs over the past three years.

Starting a data analysis service is a perfect business idea for those with analytical skills and a desire to help businesses to make better use of their data. This business is in high demand and can be very profitable, with data analysts earning high salaries.

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 9,993 founders

45. Start a youtube channel

For anyone looking to start a successful YouTube channel, there are plenty of YouTube channel success stories that can be used as inspiration and encouragement. In addition, YouTube has an established monetization system and boasts incredible popularity, making it a potential platform for revenue generation.

In this article, we'll look at different approaches you can use to help promote your channel and grow your viewers. While there's no quick and easy way to success, you can take these tips to build your own YouTube Channel Success story. If you love content creation, you can capitalize on YouTube's popularity to earn extra income.

If you want to join the Youtube partner program to monetize your channel, you will need to reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.

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

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

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

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How This Couple Makes $5K/Month Generating Content About Ways To Make Money Online

Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.

Read by 14,237 founders

46. Start a mobile phone cases & accessories kiosk

The increasing adoption of mobile phones and other handheld devices has created a secondary demand for phone accessories. Experts project the mobile phone accessories market will reach $166 Billion in the next decade.

High-demand mobile phone accessories include phone cases, batteries, headphones, portable speakers, etc.

Opening a mobile phone accessories kiosk can be a profitable way to make money. Do you plan to start a mobile phone accessories kiosk? Find a busy shopping mall where people buy phones. You can sell mobile phone accessories in retail or wholesale only.

How much you can make: $125,000/month

Selling One Million Phone Accessories

Phone Loops founder Jean-Philippe Brousseau developed and launched his first product after realizing how often he dropped his phone and caused costly repairs, and to date, the company has sold over one million Loops in 66 countries.

Read by 9,075 founders

47. Start a hotel booking platform

The explosively popular Airbnb and countless similar services have proven that the market for home and apartment rentals is growing rapidly.

As an entrepreneur who loves travel, you see an opportunity to extend this model to hotels.

That’s why you start a hotel booking platform where travelers can search for and book accommodations worldwide.

The market size of the online hotel booking platform industry worldwide amounted to nearly $518B in 2020.

Starting a hotel booking platform can be so interesting as an idea that can proliferate. It doesn’t require any license, no inventory — only mobile phones, an internet connection, and some motivation to succeed.

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

48. Start a social media management business

Similar to virtual assistants, social media managers offer various services, including but not limited to:

  • Developing a marketing strategy based on clients’ goals
  • Setting up social media accounts
  • Posting on behalf of their clients
  • Coming up with strategies for increasing client’s social media following
  • Marketing analysis.

To become a social media manager, know the various platforms and understand how they work so you can develop strategies that help clients reach their goals.

The beauty of working as a social media manager is that you can define your work schedule and choose what niches to work on.

How much you can make: $100 — $550,000/month

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

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

How I Left My Job To Start A $50K/Month Digital Advertising Agency Specialized In Facebook Ads

This case study is about how the founder of AdvertiseMint, a Facebook advertising agency, started the company with just one employee and has since grown it to 25 employees, managing close to $100 million in digital media buys for clients such as Coca-Cola and Viacom.

Read by 11,851 founders

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.