19 Business Ideas For Meme Enthusiasts [2024]
If you’re a meme enthusiast with an entrepreneurial spirit, 2024 could be your year. Memes are no longer just for laughs; they are big business. From merchandise to digital marketing, the possibilities are endless.
Imagine turning your favorite hobby into a profitable venture. You could create a unique line of meme-themed products like T-shirts, mugs, or stickers. Or perhaps, you could start a social media marketing agency that specializes in meme content for brands.
The digital world constantly craves fresh, relatable content. With your meme expertise, you could offer consulting services to companies aiming to reach younger audiences. There are more ways than ever to cash in on your knack for creating viral humor.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other meme enthusiast businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Starting a social media automation business makes perfect sense for meme enthusiasts who are already familiar with online trends and the power of engagement. Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth. This involves creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data—something meme enthusiasts already excel at for their own content.
As a meme lover, you could turn your knack for engaging online audiences into a service that saves your clients time and enhances their social media presence. From small businesses to influencers, there's a significant demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, making this a lucrative and fulfilling endeavor for anyone well-versed in meme culture.
Why starting a social media automation business?
- You could seamlessly integrate your knowledge of meme trends to enhance client engagement.
- This business allows you to use technology to streamline and scale your knack for social engagement.
- There's a significant market demand for optimized social media strategies, making it a profitable niche.
For more insights and advice, check out these tips on successful social media automation from entrepreneurs who’ve done it before: /ideas/social-media-automation-business/tips.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
2. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, starting a YouTube channel could be a natural extension of your passion. It's a platform where you can share your understanding of internet culture through video content, reaching a broad audience and potentially earning revenue through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. By consistently uploading engaging and relatable meme content, you could build a loyal following, giving you the opportunity to leverage your creativity for financial gain.
Discover how others have successfully started YouTube channels!
Why start a YouTube channel?
- A YouTube channel lets you monetize your meme knowledge through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise.
- Engaging with fellow meme enthusiasts can help you build a thriving online community.
- Consistent content creation offers you the potential to turn your viral ideas into a profitable side business.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
3. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Creating a niche blog as a meme enthusiast can be a fantastic way to turn your passion into a profitable side business or even a full-time venture. By focusing on a specific aspect of meme culture, such as meme history, trends, or tutorials on creating trending memes, you’ll engage with a targeted audience that shares your interests. This engagement can translate into steady traffic, making your blog an attractive platform for monetization through affiliate links, partnerships, and ads.
Monetizing your blog could involve various strategies, like collaborating with brands that appeal to your audience or expanding your presence to platforms like YouTube. For more ideas, check out how other niche blogs make profits and grow. Most importantly, your genuine enthusiasm for memes will resonate with readers and build a loyal community.
Why consider starting a niche blog?
- Your passion fuels the content. As a meme enthusiast, your love for the subject will shine through, making your blog authentic and engaging.
- There's a growing online community. Meme culture is booming, providing you with ample opportunities to attract and retain a dedicated readership.
- Multiple monetization options. From affiliate marketing to sponsored posts, a niche blog offers several ways to generate income.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
4. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, starting a niche website allows you to create a focused online presence that appeals to a dedicated audience. By centering your site around specific meme culture topics, you could attract a loyal following. Monetization can come through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling meme-related digital products, turning your humorous passion into a reliable income source.
Why start a niche website?
- It leverages your expertise and passion for memes to draw a dedicated audience.
- Offers various income streams like ads and product sales, boosting your financial potential.
- Provides a platform for your creativity, without limiting your content to third-party platforms.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
5. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, starting a print-on-demand business could be an incredible way to monetize your creativity and humor. This business model allows you to turn your viral meme ideas into tangible products like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases without any upfront inventory costs. By leveraging platforms like Etsy and Amazon, you can easily reach a global audience and run your business from the comfort of your home.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- Minimal risk involved due to low startup costs, thanks to the lack of inventory requirements.
- You could express your unique sense of humor and creativity, creating products that resonate with meme lovers worldwide.
- The flexibility to gradually scale your business, making it a perfect side hustle or a full-time endeavor.
Read more about the pros and cons of a print-on-demand business here.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
6. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business could be an excellent way for a meme enthusiast to capitalize on their unique sense of humor and wide-reaching influence. By curating a collection of meme-themed merchandise, you could create an online store filled with products that resonate with your audience—without the hassle of managing inventory. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to get started, and with a little marketing savvy, you could transform your meme-page followers into loyal customers. For those who want to delve deeper, check out some tips on starting a dropshipping business.
Why start a dropshipping business?
- Low initial investment: You don't need to purchase inventory upfront or manage storage.
- Flexibility: You can run your business from anywhere, making it easy to balance with a full-time job or other commitments.
- Scalability: As your meme page grows, your potential customer base expands, allowing your business to scale with your influence.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
7. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
For meme enthusiasts, diving into the world of mobile app development could be a unique and lucrative venture. Imagine creating an app that allows users to generate memes, discover trending content, or even create and participate in meme-based challenges. This could not only supplement your income but also allow you to share your love for memes on a global scale.
Starting a mobile app business requires vision, strategy, and either coding skills or the means to hire a skilled developer. Your main tasks will be to conceptualize the user experience, design engaging interfaces, and ensure smooth functionality through rigorous testing. Check out some interesting mobile app success stories that might inspire you: Mobile App Success Stories.
Why Start a Mobile App?
- Meme apps have a broad audience. People love humor and viral content, giving your app the potential for widespread use.
- You could turn your passion into profit. With the right features and effective marketing, your app could generate substantial revenue.
- Memes are a powerful form of communication. By creating a platform for meme enthusiasts, you can build a strong, engaged community.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
8. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
Venturing into an AI-based business solution as a meme enthusiast could be both lucrative and fascinating. Implementing AI technology allows you to streamline various operations like data analysis, customer service automation, and personalized marketing strategies. This approach not only enhances efficiency and reduces costs but also offers valuable insights for making informed decisions.
With the growing demand for AI solutions, you could leverage your creative skills to develop innovative products or services that stand out in the market. Many AI tools are user-friendly, meaning you don't need a tech background to get started. For more details on making this idea profitable, check out Starter Story's AI-based business solution success stories.
Why explore an AI-based business solution?
- An AI-based business can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up your time for more creative ventures.
- AI tools provide valuable customer insights, helping you tailor your offerings more effectively.
- The rising demand for AI solutions means a growing market for innovative, tech-savvy entrepreneurs.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
9. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, starting an email marketing tool could be a goldmine for supplementing your income or launching a full-fledged business. By leveraging your unique meme-creating skills, you could engage audiences in a way that traditional marketing often fails, making emails more entertaining and shareable. Additionally, the global email marketing tool market is booming, with an expected size of $2.53 billion by 2028, offering a lucrative opportunity for creative entrepreneurs.
Why starting an email marketing tool?
- Memes make emails engaging and shareable, increasing open and click-through rates.
- Capitalize on a booming industry expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028.
- Combining humor and marketing can draw more customers, leading to higher conversion rates.
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 (?)
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.
10. Create an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
If you're a meme enthusiast looking to pivot into a business venture, developing an AI writing tool can be a game-changer. This tech-forward business idea leverages advancements in artificial intelligence to streamline content creation, making it error-free and time-efficient. Imagine creating a tool that not only enhances productivity but also caters to the increasing demand for high-quality, consistent content in today’s digital landscape.
Combining your creativity with AI technology could birth a tool that revolutionizes content creation for businesses, bloggers, and students. This could substantially supplement your income, evolve into a profitable side hustle, or even grow into a full-fledged business as it scales. Check out this Starter Story for more inspiration and insights on the profitability of AI writing tools.
Why create an AI writing tool?
- AI tools offer a futuristic approach to writing, meeting the high demand for quality content efficiently.
- As a meme enthusiast, you already understand the power of engaging content; an AI tool could help scale it.
- This business idea blends innovation with practicality, potentially becoming an essential tool for content creators worldwide.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
11. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business makes a lot of sense as a meme enthusiast. Not only do you get to curate boxes filled with meme-themed merchandise that resonate with internet culture, but it also leverages a highly engaging and viral content niche. Offering a monthly box with meme-inspired products can tap into the loyal and ever-growing meme-loving community, allowing you to create a recurring revenue stream while delighting fellow meme enthusiasts.
Why start a subscription box business?
- Meme-themed boxes have a niche market with high demand among internet-savvy customers.
- Subscription models provide predictable and consistent income.
- Curating monthly boxes allows for creativity and keeps your audience engaged with fresh, trending content.
Learn more about this business model in these subscription box business success stories.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
12. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, you could diversify your income streams by diving into the world of eCommerce reselling. This business model allows you to capitalize on your keen sense of trends and popular culture without the burden of production costs. You can start by leveraging social media platforms to sell meme-related merchandise, such as apparel, accessories, or digital content, tailored to your niche audience and eventually grow into having your own website.
Why consider starting an ecommerce reselling business?
- Low startup costs: You don't need to invest in production, only in purchasing items to resell.
- Market trends: Your meme expertise helps you pick items that will resonate with your audience.
- Scalability: Start small on social media and expand to a full-fledged website as your customer base grows.
For more insights into how you can kickstart this venture, check out this success story on eCommerce reselling business.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
13. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
If you're a meme enthusiast with an entrepreneurial mindset, starting an affiliate marketing business could be an excellent way to turn your passion for viral content into a steady stream of income. By leveraging the massive audience and engagement your memes can generate, you could easily drive traffic to affiliate links and earn commissions from sales. Plus, with the right strategies, affiliate marketing can offer you a passive income stream while you focus on creating even more entertaining memes. Learn more about how others have found success with affiliate marketing here.
Why starting an affiliate marketing business?
- Capitalize on your meme audience: Your followers are already engaged, making it easier to convert them into buyers.
- Low startup costs: You don't need a lot of capital to get started, making it a great option for side income.
- Passive income potential: Once your affiliate links are set up, you could continue to earn commissions with minimal ongoing effort.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
14. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, starting an online course sales business makes perfect sense if you possess a unique or valuable skill. Whether it’s turning viral trends into meme masterpieces or understanding the subtleties of internet culture, you could craft an online course that teaches others how to harness this expertise. With the e-learning market predicted to be worth over $645 billion in the next few years, there's ample opportunity to convert your passion into a steady income stream by selling courses that dive deep into internet memeology.
Why consider starting an online course sales business?
- Your knowledge has value. Turn your meme mastery into an asset by teaching others the art and science behind creating viral content.
- Passive income potential. After the initial creation and launch of your course, it can generate revenue with minimal ongoing effort.
- Large target market. With social media use at an all-time high, there's a huge audience eager to learn how to make impactful, shareable memes. For more insights, check out our online course sales business success stories.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
15. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, starting a stock photography business could seamlessly align with your knack for visual content and creativity. You could leverage your understanding of current trends and internet culture to create unique stock photos that cater to businesses looking for fresh and relatable images for their marketing materials. Stock photography offers you the chance to build a passive income stream by licensing your exclusive photos to interested buyers. Learn more about this business idea by visiting this Starter Story link.
Why start a stock photography business?
- Your creativity can meet business needs. Memes and trends evolve fast, and your grasp on these can help create truly unique stock photos that businesses crave.
- Passive income potential. Once uploaded, your high-quality photos can continuously generate revenue without daily effort.
- Accessibility and flexibility. Quality photography gear and a strong online presence are all you need to kick-start and scale up your own stock photography business.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
16. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Starting a health and wellness app makes sense for meme enthusiasts because it allows you to blend humor with health education, making fitness and well-being more accessible and engaging. Imagine an app that offers personalized fitness routines and nutrition plans, all while sprinkling in memes to keep users motivated and entertained. By creating a platform that leverages pop culture, you could meet the increasing demand for personalized health solutions like a virtual coach in your pocket, providing expert advice in a fun and relatable way.
Combining market research, collaboration with health experts, and effective marketing strategies, you could build a thriving business that not only improves lives but also taps into the growing health and wellness market. If you're enthusiastic about both health and memes, this venture could be your path to making a significant impact while monetizing your passion. Check out some success stories to get inspired.
Why start a health and wellness app?
- Your app could stand out by combining health advice with meme culture, making wellness fun and engaging.
- The health and wellness industry is booming, offering plentiful opportunities to grow your business.
- You could make a genuine impact on people's lives by providing personalized wellness plans while enjoying the creative process.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
17. Start a SEO & lead generation service ($60K/month)
If you're a meme enthusiast looking to channel your creativity into a lucrative side business, starting a SEO & lead generation service could be an excellent fit. The skills you hone creating viral memes can easily translate into effective digital marketing strategies, helping businesses attract and convert potential customers. The knack for understanding what catches people's attention online can give you a competitive edge in generating high-quality leads.
By leveraging your understanding of online trends and digital engagement, you could turn businesses' casual visitors into interested prospects and loyal customers. For more insights on profitability and success stories, you can explore more about the possibilities on Starter Story.
Why start a SEO & lead generation service?
- Your creativity in making memes can translate into creating compelling, clickable content that drives traffic to client websites.
- Mastering SEO techniques and lead generation can make you indispensable to businesses struggling to attract and retain customers.
- It's a scalable business model that can grow from a side hustle to a full-fledged enterprise as you build your customer base.
How much you can make: $8,000 — $200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
A link building company co-founded by Justas Markus has grown to make an average of $35k per month in recurring revenue with a focus on delivering high-quality services through manual processes and focusing on fewer markets.
18. Develop a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, starting a lead generation tool business could be an exciting way to capitalize on your tech-savvy nature and marketing know-how. This business involves creating a software application that automates the process of finding potential customer leads for businesses, allowing them to streamline their marketing efforts and grow their clientele. Memes are a form of content that can go viral quickly, and your knowledge of internet culture and social platforms can make you uniquely adept at designing tools that capture the right kind of leads.
Integrating your lead generation tool with websites and social media channels ensures that valuable data like email addresses, phone numbers, and interests are easily collected. As businesses are always on the lookout for efficient ways to attract new customers, the demand for high-quality lead generation tools is substantial. If you’re looking to turn your meme enthusiasm into a profitable venture, developing a lead generation tool could be the perfect side hustle or even a full-time business.
Why developing a lead generation tool?
- Your internet and marketing savvy as a meme enthusiast can create unique and engaging lead magnets.
- Automating lead generation saves businesses time and resources, making your tool highly valuable.
- The growing demand for efficient marketing tools means a solid potential customer base.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
19. Develop an online survey tool ($304K/month)
As a meme enthusiast, creating an online survey tool can be a unique and lucrative opportunity to leverage your creative skills in the realm of data collection. Businesses are increasingly relying on online surveys to gather invaluable customer feedback, and your flair for engaging content can set your tool apart by making the surveys not only informative but also entertaining. By infusing your surveys with humor and memes, you could capture respondents' attention, thereby increasing response rates and enhancing the data quality that businesses value.
Why build an online survey tool?
- You could combine humor and data collection, making surveys more engaging and less tedious for respondents.
- There is significant demand, as businesses need high-quality feedback to make better decisions.
- You could create a recurring revenue stream through subscription models or premium features.
For more insights and success stories, check out Starter Story's online survey tool success stories.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
