20 Business Ideas For Genealogists [2024]

Are you passionate about genealogy and looking for ways to turn your skills into a business? This article explores various business ideas tailored specifically for genealogists in 2024. By leveraging your expertise, you could transform your hobby into a profitable venture.

From personalized research services to creating educational content, there are numerous opportunities to explore. You could offer your skills in various ways, helping others uncover their family history or teaching them how to do it themselves. Discover how you could capitalize on your passion and make a meaningful impact while earning an income.

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

Here's the full list:

1. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)

As a genealogist, starting a niche blog could be an excellent way to supplement your income or even kickstart a side business. By sharing unique insights, how-to guides, and stories from your own research, you could build an engaging online community passionate about family history and heritage. Monetization opportunities such as affiliate links, collaborations with genealogy-related brands, and even speaking engagements can further enhance your revenue streams.

Why start a niche blog?

• Build authority and credibility in your field by sharing your expertise.
• Create multiple income streams through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and speaking engagements.
• Engage and grow a passionate community interested in genealogy and family history.

For more information on starting a profitable niche blog, check out this guide from Starter Story.

2. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)

As a genealogist, you have a wealth of knowledge that can be transformed into an income stream by creating and selling online courses. You could teach people how to research their family history, use genealogical software, or break through common brick walls in ancestry searches. With the e-learning market projected to be worth over $645 Billion in the next few years, this could be a lucrative side business or even a full-time endeavor. Furthermore, creating an online course offers the flexibility to work from anywhere and reach a global audience.

Why start an online course sales business?

• You could monetize your expertise and generate passive income by creating and selling online courses.
• The e-learning market is rapidly growing, increasing your potential customer base.
• Sharing your knowledge and helping others discover their heritage can be deeply fulfilling.

For more detailed insights, check out these success stories from others who have turned their skills into successful online courses.

3. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel as a genealogist offers a unique opportunity to share your expertise, engage with a broader audience, and potentially generate additional income. By creating content around genealogical research, historical storytelling, or how-to guides, you could build a community of dedicated viewers who value your knowledge. Revenue streams such as ad revenue, sponsorships, and merchandise sales can supplement your income or even become your primary business.

Why start a YouTube channel?

• You could establish yourself as an authority in genealogical research, attracting clients and collaborations.
• A YouTube channel allows you to monetize your passion through various revenue streams like ads and sponsorships.
• Engaging video content can help you reach a global audience, expanding your influence and network.

For more information on starting a YouTube channel and its potential profitability, check out this link: YouTube Channel Success Stories.

4. Start a niche investment platform ($167K/month)

Starting a niche investment platform could be an exciting and profitable venture for genealogists looking to diversify their income streams. With your keen research skills and attention to detail, you could create a platform focused on specialized investments, such as fine art, vintage collectibles, or even historical manuscripts. This venture could offer investors unique opportunities to diversify their portfolios and gain exposure to alternative asset classes.

By leveraging your expertise, you could create a transparent and specialized trading ecosystem, attracting a dedicated user base. Recurring revenue from transaction fees and premium subscriptions would ensure a steady income flow, helping you grow your business with a stable financial foundation. Read more about the startup costs involved here.

Why start a niche investment platform?

• You could leverage your genealogical research skills to identify and validate rare and valuable assets.
• You could diversify your income by tapping into the growing market for alternative investments.
• You could build a community of passionate investors who appreciate unique asset classes.

5. Start a niche website ($107K/month)

Consider building a niche website if you’re a genealogist looking to supplement your income or start a side business. A niche website focused on genealogy allows you to share your expertise in areas like family tree research, historical records, and DNA testing, while connecting with a passionate audience. This venture involves creating targeted content that draws traffic through well-researched articles, guides, and how-to tutorials.

You could monetize this platform through affiliate marketing with genealogy services, ad placements, or selling specialized digital products such as family tree templates or e-books. Once established, a niche website can become a reliable source of passive income, enabling you to turn your passion for genealogy into a rewarding project. For more ideas on starting a niche website, check out these real-life success stories.

Why starting a niche website?

• You'll leverage your specialized knowledge, attracting an audience interested in your unique insights on genealogy.
• You can generate multiple revenue streams, from affiliate marketing to selling digital products and ad placements.
• Building an online presence lets you connect with a community of like-minded individuals, expanding your influence and reach in the genealogical field.

6. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)

As a genealogist, starting an affiliate marketing business could be an excellent way to supplement your income or even create a full-fledged business. By promoting genealogy-related products, such as DNA kits, family tree software, and historical records subscriptions, you could earn commissions while helping others uncover their family histories. This approach allows you to leverage your existing expertise and audience, turning your passion for genealogy into a profitable venture.

Why start an affiliate marketing business?

• You could earn passive income by promoting products that you already use and trust in your genealogy work.
• Partnering with well-known genealogy brands could enhance your credibility and expand your professional network.
• It's a low-investment opportunity, allowing you to start without significant upfront costs and grow your business over time.

For more insights on affiliate marketing businesses, check out these success stories.

7. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)

Starting a podcast could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a genealogist. By sharing your expertise, you can attract a dedicated audience interested in family history, research tips, and fascinating stories. Podcasts allow you to monetize through sponsorships, listener donations, and even by promoting your own genealogy services.

To get started, you'll need basic recording equipment and a hosting platform, both of which can be cost-effective. For more inspiration, you can check out some podcast success stories, which highlight how others in various fields have found financial success through this medium.

Why start a podcast?

• You could reach a broad audience with your genealogical knowledge and engage with listeners who share your passion.
• Monetization opportunities exist through sponsorships, ads, and listener support.
• Podcasts create a platform to position yourself as an expert in genealogy, bolstering your brand and attracting clients.

8. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)

Looking to streamline your genealogy business and increase efficiency? Consider an AI-based business solution. This idea leverages artificial intelligence to optimize various aspects of your genealogical services, from automating research and data analysis to providing personalized customer experiences. By integrating AI tools, you could enhance your productivity, reduce operational costs, and offer more accurate genealogical insights to your clients.

AI solutions can automate repetitive tasks such as data entry and document searches, allowing you to focus on deeper research and client interaction. Furthermore, AI can analyze vast amounts of historical data to detect patterns and predict genealogical trends, giving you a competitive edge in the market. Launching an AI-based business solution could be a strategic move to tap into this rapidly growing field without needing a significant tech background.

Why consider an AI-based business solution?

• You could automate time-consuming tasks like data entry and document searches, allowing more time for in-depth research.
• AI analytics can provide insights and detect patterns in historical data, enhancing the accuracy and quality of your genealogical reports.
• Many AI platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and robust support, making it accessible even for those without a technical background.

For more insights on launching an AI-based business solution, check out our success stories.

9. Start a web scraping API ($34.2K/month)

In today’s data-driven world, accessing web data efficiently can make or break a business. By launching a web scraping API, you could offer valuable services to companies looking to automate their data collection for purposes such as market research, competitor analysis, and content aggregation. Although it requires robust coding skills and knowledge of web protocols, this business idea can be highly rewarding for those willing to dive into technical details.

As a genealogist, you could use your web scraping API to gather and organize vast amounts of genealogical data from various sources, making it easier for clients to trace their ancestry. This service could not only supplement your income but also help you specialize in a niche market. For more insights on this business idea, you can check out web scraping API success stories.

Why start a web scraping API?

• You could greatly enhance the efficiency of your genealogical research by automating data collection.
• Offering a versatile tool, you would attract clients from various industries, expanding your business opportunities.
• Specializing in data analytics and web scraping could distinguish you from other genealogists, creating a unique selling proposition.

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

Starting an email marketing tool can be an excellent supplementary income stream or a primary business venture for genealogists. Given your storytelling prowess and familiarity with family histories, you could create specialized content that resonates with your audience and leverages your existing network. By offering unique insights and updates via email, you could engage more clients and generate steady revenue. Learn how successful entrepreneurs have leveraged email marketing tools on Starter Story.

Why start an email marketing tool?

• Genealogists have access to a niche audience hungry for customized content related to family histories.
• Creating and automating email campaigns can help you manage client relationships and upsell your services efficiently.
• Email marketing tools are scalable, allowing you to expand your reach without a significant time or financial investment.

11. Create a developer tool ($3.75M/month)

Entering the developer tool market as a genealogist can offer a unique blend of technology and genealogy expertise. By creating software applications that help developers, you could streamline various coding tasks, significantly improving their productivity and efficiency. With the growing demand for digital solutions in numerous industries, this could be a lucrative side business or even a full-time entrepreneurial venture.

Additionally, your unique perspective as a genealogist can bring innovative solutions that other developers might overlook, enriching the developer ecosystem. You can explore and execute various tool ideas, ranging from code editors to project management dashboards and automated testing suites, all tailored to meet specific developer needs. For more insights and inspirational stories, you could explore developer tool success stories.

Why create a developer tool?

• You could capitalize on a growing and essential market by helping developers enhance their productivity.
• Your genealogical analytical skills can bring a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to tech challenges.
• The market demand offers substantial financial opportunities, making it a promising side business or even a full-time venture.

12. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)

Thinking about creating a mobile app as a genealogist? This could be a game-changing move for you. By developing an app focused on genealogy, you could offer innovative solutions like family tree builders, ancestral data repositories, or DNA analysis tools. Mobile apps are increasingly integral to everyday life, offering both a potential income stream and a way to reach a global audience. For more inspiration, check out some successful mobile app success stories on Starter Story. (/ideas/mobile-app/success-stories)

Why consider creating a mobile app?

• You could make genealogy accessible and engaging for a broader audience, right from their smartphones.
• You could generate a passive income through app downloads and in-app purchases.
• You could leverage your expertise to offer unique and valuable insights, setting your app apart from the competition.

13. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)

Starting a health and wellness app could be a lucrative side venture or even a full-time business for genealogists. By leveraging their skills in research and data analysis, genealogists can design a wellness app that provides personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, and mental well-being exercises. This digital tool could cater to users' unique health needs, similar to how genealogists tailor their research to individual family histories.

Developing this app involves researching market trends, collaborating with health experts, and employing effective marketing strategies. If you are passionate about health and technology, this venture presents an opportunity to positively impact lives while tapping into a growing market.

Why starting a health and wellness app?

• Genealogists excel at deep research, which is critical for understanding user needs and trends in the health and wellness market.
• Your attention to detail can translate into creating highly personalized and effective health programs for app users.
• The ability to analyze patterns can help you optimize user experiences and improve app accuracy, potentially leading to higher user satisfaction and business success. Discover more insights here.

14. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)

As a genealogist, starting a stock photography business could be an excellent way to supplement your income and potentially create an entirely new venture. By photographing historical sites, family heirlooms, and ancestry-related artifacts, you could build a unique stock photo portfolio that caters to both genealogical enthusiasts and broader markets. This niche focus allows you to leverage your expertise while taking advantage of the growing demand for high-quality, specialized images.

Why start a stock photography business?

• You could achieve a passive income stream; once your photos are online, they can generate revenue continuously.
• Combining your passion for genealogy with photography allows you to uniquely capture and sell images related to family history and heritage.
• A compelling visual portfolio could enhance your reputation and attract more clients to your genealogical services.

For additional ideas and insights, check out this Starter Story on stock photography businesses.

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

Starting a social media automation business could align perfectly with your skills as a genealogist by leveraging your attention to detail, research abilities, and knack for managing large sets of data. This venture involves creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms for clients such as small businesses and influencers. The increasing demand for consistent social media engagement offers a lucrative opportunity to supplement your income or even establish a full-fledged business.

Why consider a social media automation business?

• You could utilize your data management skills to create efficient, automated social media strategies.
• It allows for flexible work hours and remote work, making it a perfect side hustle.
• The growing demand for social media presence means a steady flow of potential clients.

For more insights on starting a social media automation business, check out our starter guide.

16. Start an eco-friendly retail business ($86K/month)

As a genealogist, starting an eco-friendly retail business can help you supplement your income while making a positive impact on the environment. By offering products like organic apparel, zero-waste toiletries, and eco-friendly home goods, you could create a business that aligns with your values and meets the growing consumer demand for sustainable products. This venture allows you the opportunity to promote ethical consumerism and educate others about the benefits of sustainable living through responsible product sourcing and transparent marketing.

If you’re passionate about sustainability, this can be both a lucrative and fulfilling way to diversify your income as a genealogist. Check out eco-friendly retail business startup costs to get a sense of what you’ll need to get started.

Why start an eco-friendly retail business?

• You could leverage your research skills to source sustainable products and vet ethical suppliers.
• Your passion for historical preservation can align with the eco-friendly mission of preserving the planet.
• The growing demand for sustainable products offers a lucrative market opportunity, making it a profitable side business.

17. Start a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)

Starting a WordPress plugin business as a genealogist could be a lucrative side hustle or even a full-time venture. As a genealogist, you might identify specific needs within the genealogy community that existing plugins don't address, giving you a unique edge. By developing and selling WordPress plugins that cater to genealogists, such as tools for managing family trees or organizing historical data, you could provide valuable solutions to your peers while generating income.

Why start a WordPress plugin business?

• You could capitalize on your expertise by creating specialized tools for genealogists, filling gaps in the market.
• Selling plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon allows you to reach a global audience, increasing your earning potential.
• Plugins offer a way to generate passive income, as once developed, they can be sold repeatedly with minimal ongoing effort.

For more detailed information, you can check out these startup tips for WordPress plugin businesses.

18. Print on demand business ($411K/month)

As a genealogist, starting a print-on-demand business can be a great way to supplement your income and capitalize on your passion for family history. You could design and sell customized family tree charts, genealogical keepsakes, or historical family crests on products such as apparel, home goods, and phone cases. By leveraging platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, you can reach a global audience with minimal startup costs, allowing you to run operations from the comfort of your own home and focus on creating unique, heritage-based designs.

Why start a print-on-demand business?

• You can monetize your creativity without the burden of inventory costs, making it a low-risk venture.
• Online marketplaces enable you to reach a vast, global audience interested in personalized genealogical products.
• Operating from home offers flexibility, allowing you to scale the business at your own pace while working on what you love.

19. Open a BBQ food truck

Starting a BBQ food truck could be an exciting way for a genealogist to supplement their income and diversify their entrepreneurial endeavors. The popularity of BBQ items makes it a lucrative market, and the flexibility of a food truck allows you to explore different locations and customer bases. Leveraging your genealogical research skills, you could even incorporate historical recipes or regional BBQ traditions into your menu, providing a unique selling point and adding rich storytelling to your brand. For more insights on starting your own BBQ food truck, check out the business plan here.

Why opening a BBQ food truck?

• BBQ food trucks tap into a growing market with high demand, offering you a potentially steady revenue stream.
• Your genealogical skills can enrich your BBQ brand, making your food truck unique through historical or regional BBQ recipes.
• A BBQ food truck offers flexibility, allowing you to operate part-time or move locations to maximize customer reach.

20. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)

Starting a dropshipping business can be a great supplement to your income as a genealogist. By leveraging your specialized knowledge in ancestry and historical research, you could curate and sell products related to genealogy, such as family tree charts, DNA test kits, or vintage maps. Setting up an online store via platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce ensures a low upfront investment, allowing you to focus on marketing and customer service.

Why consider a dropshipping business?

• It's low-cost to start. You don't need to invest in inventory upfront, which keeps your initial expenses minimal.
• You can leverage your genealogical expertise. Offering niche products that appeal to those interested in ancestry can set you apart in the market.
• It's flexible and scalable. You can run this business alongside your genealogical work and scale it as you see fit.

For more tips on profitability, check out this article on Starter Story.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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