20 Business Ideas For Minimalists [2024]
Minimalists often seek ways to align their work with their values, focusing on simplicity and efficiency. If you are looking to start a business without accumulating unnecessary clutter or complications, there are numerous possibilities tailored to your lifestyle. This article explores several business ideas for minimalists like you.
In 2024, you could find opportunities in remote consultancy, where your expertise is your primary tool, eliminating the need for a physical office. Another option might be digital products, such as ebooks or online courses, which require minimal upfront investment. Additionally, you could consider a service-based business, focusing on skills and know-how rather than physical products.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other minimalist businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog can be a fantastic way to supplement your income while sticking to minimalist principles. By focusing on a specific topic that you are passionate about, such as fashion, video games, film reviews, or cooking, you need minimal upfront investment to start. Creating unique content, engaging with your community, and monetizing through affiliate links, collaborations, and events are all lightweight, scalable steps that align well with minimalist values.
Why starting a niche blog?
- Low startup costs and minimal equipment needed — a computer and internet connection are your main tools.
- Flexible work hours allow you to set your schedule and maintain a minimalist lifestyle.
- Engage deeply with a specific audience without the clutter of managing a large-scale operation.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
2. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
Looking for a focused online business that offers both creative freedom and potential revenue? Consider building a niche website. A niche website centers around a specialized topic, serving a dedicated audience with targeted content and products. Once established, it can become a reliable source of passive income. If you're passionate about a specific interest and have the dedication to dive deep, building a niche website might be your next rewarding project.
Why start a niche website?
- Low overhead costs fit perfectly with a minimalist lifestyle.
- Flexible schedule allows you to work on the site anytime, anywhere.
- Once established, it has the potential for passive income from various revenue streams.
For more inspiration, check out these niche website success stories on Starter Story.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
3. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast makes sense for minimalists because it requires minimal equipment and upfront investment while offering the flexibility to work from anywhere. By choosing a niche you're passionate about and utilizing affordable hosting platforms, you could create content that resonates with a specific audience. This lean approach means you can focus on high-quality content and organic growth strategies, like promoting through social media and online communities, to build your listener base and attract potential sponsors.
If you're interested in exploring more about podcasting costs and potential income, you could check out this comprehensive guide on podcast startup costs.
Why start a podcast?
- Low initial investment required, making it an ideal option for minimalists.
- You could easily produce content from home or any quiet space, offering great flexibility.
- Once established, it has the potential for passive income through sponsorships and advertisements.
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
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.
4. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
For minimalists with a knack for creating compelling video content, starting a YouTube channel might be your ideal venture. A YouTube channel offers a platform to share your passions, expertise, or hobbies while opening doors to revenue streams through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. With an initial low-to-zero cost setup, your channel can focus on anything from educational content to entertainment, fitting perfectly with a minimalist's ethos of simplicity and efficiency.
Despite the hard work, the flexibility and potential financial rewards make it a fulfilling endeavor. With consistency and quality, your channel can grow significantly. By combining creativity with strategic planning, this business allows for authentic expression while supplementing your income.
Why start a YouTube channel?
- Minimal startup costs. Most expenses can be limited to basic recording equipment and editing software.
- Flexibility to create and share content on your schedule, providing a work-life balance.
- Diverse revenue opportunities beyond ads, such as sponsorships and merchandise sales.
To explore more on how to get started, check out some YouTube channel success stories on Starter Story.
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.
5. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
If you’re a minimalist looking to supplement your income or start a side business, an AI-based business solution could be an ideal fit. This approach leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency and streamline various business processes, from customer service to data analysis. With the growing demand for AI solutions, you could tap into a lucrative market while maintaining a minimalist lifestyle, given that many AI platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and robust support systems.
Why start an AI-based business solution?
- Minimal setup and overhead costs. You can often start with existing software platforms that require little to no initial investment.
- High scalability. As your business grows, AI solutions can easily be adapted to handle increased workload without significant additional costs.
- Focus on innovation and creativity. AI handles repetitive tasks, freeing up your time to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of your business.
For additional insights and success stories, you can explore Starter Story’s section on AI-based business solutions.
- Check the profitability of AI-based business solutions: here
- Explore marketing ideas for AI-based business solutions: here
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.
6. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
Starting an email marketing tool business aligns perfectly with a minimalist approach, offering a streamlined and efficient way to generate income. As a minimalist, you could focus on creating a high-quality, user-friendly software application that helps other businesses with their email campaigns. Not only is the email marketing industry expanding rapidly, but the overhead costs of maintaining a digital product are significantly lower compared to physical goods.
By leveraging your skills in design and automation, you could create a tool that appeals to entrepreneurs, startups, and real estate agents looking to optimize their outreach strategies. It's a business model that provides value while keeping operations lean and straightforward. You could explore successful examples on Starter Story here.
Why start an email marketing tool?
- Minimal startup costs and maintenance, making it financially accessible.
- High demand for effective email marketing tools in various industries.
- Possibility to generate recurring revenue through subscription models.
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.
7. Develop an online survey tool ($304K/month)
If you’re a minimalist looking to start a side business, developing an online survey tool could be an excellent fit. This business allows you to offer a valuable service by helping companies gather customer feedback efficiently, all while keeping overhead costs low. Online survey tools like Typeform have proven successful, offering evidence that this market is both lucrative and in high demand.
Building a streamlined online platform can be done with minimal initial investment and can be managed largely through automation. The service includes a survey builder, data collection tool, and reporting system, making it a comprehensive yet simple business model to operate as a minimalist.
Why consider creating an online survey tool?
- Minimal initial investment with the potential for high scalability.
- Ability to automate many aspects of the business, reducing ongoing management effort.
- Growing demand as businesses increasingly prioritize customer feedback to inform their decisions.
For more guidance, you can explore stories and tips on how others successfully started their own online survey tools on Starter Story.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
8. Create an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
Starting an AI writing tool is an appealing prospect for minimalists interested in leveraging cutting-edge technology to create a streamlined and efficient business. Utilizing artificial intelligence to generate content saves time and reduces the need for extensive human intervention, aligning perfectly with minimalist principles of simplicity and efficiency. Such a venture caters to the growing demand for quality, automated content among bloggers, businesses, and students.
Embarking on this path requires minimal physical resources, making it an ideal and scalable venture for minimalist entrepreneurs. Learn more about the profitability, startup costs, and marketing ideas for this business on Starter Story.
Why create an AI writing tool?
- Minimal overhead and resource requirements; simply focus on the software.
- High demand for automated writing solutions ensures a robust market.
- Efficiently scalable, allowing you to grow your business without expanding your footprint.
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.
9. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Starting a social media automation business aligns well with a minimalist lifestyle, enabling you to streamline and control multiple social media accounts efficiently. This type of business involves devising tools to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze social media data, saving clients, such as small businesses and influencers, valuable time. Given the increasing need for consistent and strategic social media management, this venture can be both lucrative and rewarding, making it a wise choice for those passionate about technology and marketing.
Why consider a social media automation business?
- Low overhead costs and minimal physical resources are required, making it a cost-effective business to run.
- Operate from anywhere with a minimal setup, allowing for a flexible and location-independent lifestyle.
- High demand for automation tools means that you could tap into a consistent and growing market.
Explore more about starting a social media automation business here.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
10. Start a cold email service business ($170K/month)
Starting a cold email service business is a smart move for a minimalist entrepreneur. It allows you to leverage your writing skills and digital tools to generate leads for other businesses, all without the need for physical inventory or a large office space. This business is scalable, enabling you to start small and grow as your client base expands, making it an ideal venture for those seeking a flexible, low-overhead option.
If you have a strategic mindset and a talent for engaging through words, this business can be particularly rewarding. You'd help companies reach new clients directly through targeted email campaigns, analyzing metrics like open rates and conversions to refine your strategies. To learn more, check out how others have succeeded in this field on Starter Story.
Why start a cold email service business?
- Low overhead costs. All you need is a computer and internet connection to start.
- Flexible work environment. You can work from anywhere, making it perfect for a minimalist lifestyle.
- Scalable and in-demand. Start with small businesses and grow as your success stories build, ensuring a steady flow of potential clients.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
11. Develop a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
Starting a lead generation tool business aligns well with minimalist principles because it allows you to create significant value without excessive resource consumption. By designing software that automates the client acquisition process for other businesses, you could streamline your operations and focus on maximizing efficiency. The demand for such tools is high, making it a viable side business or even a primary venture that aligns with minimalist values.
For more details and success stories, check out this link on Starter Story: Lead Generation Tool Success Stories.
Why developing a lead generation tool?
- It requires minimal overhead, focusing on software development and maintenance rather than physical products or extensive infrastructure.
- You can work remotely and establish a flexible work environment, further aligning with minimalist lifestyle values.
- The recurring revenue model is attractive, as businesses continuously need leads, ensuring a steady income stream.
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.
12. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Building a health and wellness app could make perfect sense for someone living a minimalist lifestyle. Imagine an app that helps users achieve their wellness goals through personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, and mental well-being exercises—all in one place. By creating a platform that offers expert guidance on healthy living, you could both promote simplicity and focus on what's truly important: holistic well-being.
To start, you’ll need to conduct market research, collaborate with health experts, and develop the app. The potential to positively impact lives while tapping into a growing market makes this a compelling venture for minimalists. If you're passionate about health and technology, this could be your path to a meaningful and thriving business.
Why start a health and wellness app?
- Minimal overhead costs: Once developed, an app incurs minimal maintenance, reducing ongoing expenses.
- Positively impact lives: Offer a holistic approach to well-being, helping users achieve their health goals efficiently.
- Growing market: Tap into the expanding health and wellness industry, offering scalable potential for your business.
For more insights on starting a health and wellness app, check out our resources and success stories.
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.
13. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
Turning your brilliant idea into a mobile app is an excellent venture for a minimalist. Developing a mobile app involves creating a software application that can run on smartphones and tablets, catering to various user needs, from productivity tools to gaming. Starting a mobile app business requires a clear vision, basic coding knowledge, or the ability to hire a skilled developer.
Your primary tasks will include planning the user experience, designing engaging interfaces, and testing for functionality and bugs. Marketing your app effectively is crucial to attract users and achieve downloads. With dedication and the right strategy, your app could gain significant traction and generate substantial revenue, offering immense opportunities for innovative solutions.
Why start a mobile app?
- A mobile app allows you to offer innovative solutions to everyday problems, creating value with minimal physical resources.
- The potential for substantial revenue is significant as apps become integral to daily life and offer services everyone uses.
- It keeps operational costs low, since the main requirements are a computer and internet connection, aligning perfectly with minimalist principles.
If you have an idea that can solve a problem or entertain millions, the world of app development awaits. For more inspiration, check out these mobile app success stories.
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.
14. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
Starting an online course sales business would make sense as a minimalist because it allows you to generate income by sharing your expertise without cluttering your life with physical products. You could focus on what you are passionate about, such as music, cooking, or coding, and transform it into a revenue stream by launching online classes. This entrepreneurial endeavor requires minimal upfront investment, and once your course is created, it can generate passive income over the long term.
Why consider an online course sales business?
- It’s a low-investment option that generates passive income. After the initial effort of creating your course, you could continuously earn from it.
- You already possess valuable knowledge. Transforming your expertise into a course is a direct way to monetize your skills while providing value to others.
- It aligns with minimalist principles. There's no need for physical inventory, and you could operate entirely online, keeping your business footprint small.
For more insights and success stories, check out this link.
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 wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
Selling WordPress plugins can be a lucrative and minimalist-friendly business idea. As a developer, you could create solutions that address specific website needs, ensuring your plugins provide real value to users while generating passive income. With platforms like CodeCanyon or your own website, you could easily market and sell your products without needing significant overhead or physical inventory. For more insights, check out these marketing ideas for a WordPress plugin business.
Why start a WordPress plugin business?
- Low initial costs: Developing a plugin requires minimal investment beyond your time and skills.
- Flexibility and scalability: You could work on your own schedule and scale your business as demand grows.
- Passive income potential: Once developed and marketed, your plugins could continually sell, requiring minimal ongoing efforts.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
16. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business is a great fit for minimalists looking for flexible, low-overhead ways to supplement their income. This type of business allows you to earn passive income by promoting other companies' products and services, receiving commissions for each sale you facilitate. By focusing on finding the right products and building strong partnerships, you could effectively manage your affiliate business with minimal resources.
Why consider affiliate marketing?
- It requires minimal upfront investment, as there's no need to purchase inventory or rent physical space.
- You could work from anywhere, offering unparalleled flexibility to align with a minimalist lifestyle.
- The potential for passive income means you can earn money even when you're not actively working.
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.
17. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business is an excellent opportunity for minimalists looking to supplement their income or start a side business without the burden of managing physical inventory. This business model allows you to sell customized products like apparel, home goods, and phone cases, leveraging dropshipping services to handle production and fulfillment. By focusing on creating unique and trendy designs, you can reach a global audience through online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, all while operating from the comfort of your home with minimal startup costs.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- Minimal upfront investment. With no need for inventory storage, you can keep startup costs low.
- Flexible and location-independent. You can manage your business from anywhere, giving you freedom and control.
- Scalable at your own pace. You can gradually grow your business, allowing you to balance it with other commitments.
For more insights on the benefits and success stories of print-on-demand businesses, visit Starter Story.
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.
18. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business fits seamlessly with a minimalist lifestyle, focusing on quality over quantity and leveraging minimal resources for maximum impact. By investing in versatile photography gear and building a robust online presence, you could create a scalable income stream from anywhere, without the need for physical inventory or an extensive workspace. Plus, the passive income potential from licensing your photos means you can continually earn from your existing portfolio, allowing you to maintain a streamlined, efficient workflow.
Explore more tips on starting a stock photography business.
Why starting a stock photography business?
- Minimal physical resources are required, keeping your setup simple and uncluttered.
- Passive income allows you to earn continuously from the same set of photos, maximizing your efforts.
- Flexibility to work from anywhere, aligning perfectly with a minimalist lifestyle while reaching a global market.
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.
19. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business can make perfect sense for minimalists due to its inherently low-overhead and streamlined operations. Since you don't need to hold any inventory, you can eliminate the need for storage space and significant upfront investment. This aligns well with the minimalist principle of avoiding excess and unnecessary complications. By leveraging platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce and focusing on niche products coupled with effective marketing, you have the potential to create a thriving side business with minimal clutter and maximum efficiency.
Why start a dropshipping business?
- Low startup costs make it accessible without the need for a large investment.
- The business model requires minimal physical space and inventory management.
- You could focus more on customer service and marketing rather than logistics.
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.
20. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an eCommerce reselling business makes perfect sense for a minimalist, focusing on simplicity and efficiency. By purchasing goods for resale rather than consumption, minimalists can launch an online business without bearing the brunt of production costs, making it a low-risk venture. Additionally, you don't need a website initially; you could start on social media platforms and build a website as your business grows, allowing you to stay lean and avoid unnecessary complexities.
For more insights into the pros and cons, startup costs, and success stories, you can visit this link.
Why consider ecommerce reselling business?
- Low initial investment: You don't need to invest in production or create products from scratch.
- Flexibility: You could start on social media and evolve as the business grows.
- Scalability: Easily expand your inventory and market reach without significant overhead.
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.
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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.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
