20 Business Ideas For Painters [2024]
As a painter, you might be wondering how to take your skills to the next level in 2024. Diversifying your income with fresh business ideas could be the key to financial growth and creative satisfaction. Whether you're looking to supplement your income or fully transform your career, there are untapped opportunities waiting for you.
The art world is vast and evolving, offering numerous avenues for entrepreneurial painters. You could explore options such as offering online courses, creating a YouTube channel, or selling custom merchandise featuring your artwork. These ventures allow you to monetize your creative talents beyond traditional painting.
Additionally, collaborations with interior designers, opening an art studio, or hosting painting workshops could expand your reach. This article will help you uncover practical and profitable business ideas tailored for painters like you.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other painter 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 an excellent way for painters to supplement their income or even build a full-time business. By sharing your expertise, insights, and creative process, you could attract a dedicated audience interested in art techniques, industry trends, and your personal journey as an artist. Monetizing your blog through affiliate links, brand collaborations, and perhaps even online courses could turn your passion into a valuable revenue stream.
Why start a niche blog?
- Build a personal brand and connect with a community that appreciates your artistry.
- Generate passive income through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and online advertising.
- Showcase your unique skills and potentially attract clients or commissions, expanding your business opportunities.
For more insights and examples, explore niche blog profitability.
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 YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a game-changer for painters looking to supplement their income or even pivot into a new revenue stream. By sharing your expertise, whether through how-to videos, vlogs about the painting process, or educational content, you could attract a broad audience interested in art. This platform not only offers the potential for ad revenue and sponsorships but also the opportunity to sell your artwork or related merchandise directly to your audience.
YouTube allows you to connect with viewers globally, expanding your reach far beyond traditional gallery settings. To succeed, you'll need to commit to planning, shooting, and editing high-quality videos consistently, along with engaging with your audience across social media. For more detailed insights into starting a profitable YouTube channel, you can explore resources available on Starter Story.
Why start a YouTube channel?
- You could monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise, creating a new income stream.
- Sharing your painting techniques and insights could establish you as an authority in your field, opening doors for future opportunities.
- Engaging with a global audience allows for greater exposure and the potential to sell more of your artwork.
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 an online course sales business ($85K/month)
Starting an online course sales business could be a fantastic opportunity for painters. By leveraging your skills and knowledge in painting, you could create courses that teach various techniques, styles, and mediums to aspiring artists worldwide. This not only gives you a platform to share your passion but also establishes a steady stream of passive income as more students enroll in your courses over time. Considering the e-learning market's exponential growth, this is an excellent avenue for diversifying your income and potentially establishing a full-fledged business.
Why start an online course sales business?
- You could reach a global audience, sharing your expertise and passion with students from around the world.
- Creating courses requires an upfront investment of time, but once they are live, they can generate ongoing passive income.
- The demand for online learning is growing rapidly; the market is expected to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years, presenting a significant opportunity for growth.
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.
4. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business could be a highly profitable side hustle for painters aiming to supplement their income. By teaming up with brands and companies that align with your artistic focus, you could promote relevant products like high-quality paints, brushes, canvases, and even online art courses to your audience. Every sale you help facilitate will earn you a commission, creating a passive income stream that adds up over time.
Affiliate marketing allows you to monetize your artistic knowledge and skills without having to produce your own physical products. To explore more about affiliate marketing business success stories.
Why start an affiliate marketing business?
- You could earn passive income by promoting art supplies and tools that you already use and trust.
- It provides a low-cost way to diversify your revenue streams as an artist.
- You could leverage your existing audience, offering them valuable recommendations while earning commissions.
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.
5. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Creating a stock photography business can be an excellent way to supplement your income or start a side business if you're a painter. The skills you have honed in composition, lighting, and color theory will give you a competitive edge in producing high-quality stock images. By investing in some good photography gear and learning how to take compelling stock photos, you could build an impressive portfolio and earn passive income.
Why consider starting a stock photography business?
- You could monetize your creative photography skills, complementing your painting expertise.
- Establishing an online presence could help you sell stock photos faster and at profitable margins.
- Stock photography can serve as a steady source of passive income, allowing you to focus on other artistic pursuits.
For more tips on starting a stock photography business, check out this guide on Starter Story.
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.
6. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Starting a social media automation business could be a smart move for painters looking to supplement their income or create a new revenue stream. Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth. By developing tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data, you could save small businesses and influencers a considerable amount of time and enhance their social media presence. With the growing demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, there’s a significant opportunity to build a profitable side business or even a main venture in this niche. For more details and success stories, check out tips from other entrepreneurs in this field here.
Why start a social media automation business?
- You could leverage your artistic skills to create visually compelling social media content, attracting more clients.
- Managing multiple accounts allows you to diversify your income streams and not rely solely on painting.
- Automation tools save time, giving you more flexibility to focus on your primary passion—art.
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.
7. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business could be a profitable venture for painters looking to supplement their income or even build a new business. Utilizing platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, painters can sell custom-made products featuring their unique art. This model allows you to run the business from home with low upfront costs, offering an opportunity to monetize your creativity on a global scale.
By leveraging the print-on-demand model, you’ll be able to focus on what you do best—creating beautiful art—while the production and fulfillment services handle the rest. This business model empowers painters to build a scalable business that grows alongside their artistic skills and ambitions. For more details, you might want to check out a page within Starter Story on how to start a print-on-demand business and its profitability.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- Minimal initial investment required, making it accessible without significant financial risk.
- You can transform your art into various products like apparel and home goods, broadening your market reach.
- It allows you to maintain creative freedom while tapping into a global customer base.
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.
8. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast is a smart way for painters to supplement their income and share their passion with a broader audience. As a painter, you could discuss various techniques, art history, and the business side of art, while inviting guest artists to offer diverse perspectives. This not only helps build a community around your work but also opens up sponsorship and advertising opportunities to monetize your podcast.
Why consider a podcast?
- You could build an engaged community. Sharing your expertise and stories can attract a loyal audience who are interested in your art.
- Diversify your income streams. With growing listenership, you could attract sponsors and advertisers, adding another revenue source.
- Expand your reach. Podcasting allows you to connect with a global audience, helping you gain more exposure and grow your brand.
For more ideas on how to make your podcast successful, you might want to check out this page on Starter Story.
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.
9. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business could be a lucrative avenue for painters looking to diversify their income. By curating unique art supplies, limited edition prints, or even monthly mini-works of art, you can offer subscribers an exclusive experience that keeps them eagerly awaiting the next delivery. Given the high demand for subscription boxes, combining your artistic skills with a well-thought-out subscription service could transform a passion project into a profitable side business or even a full-time venture.
Why start a subscription box business?
- Enhance customer loyalty by offering exclusive art-related products.
- Utilize your creative skills to design attractive and unique box experiences.
- Create a recurring revenue stream with minimal ongoing effort, allowing you to focus on your main passion: painting.
For more insights, check out successful subscription box business stories on Starter Story.
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.
10. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an eCommerce reselling business is an excellent opportunity for painters to supplement their income or establish a side business. As a painter, you have an eye for aesthetic goods and can curate a collection of art supplies, prints, or artistic home decor. By leveraging social media platforms to start, you can grow your business without the immediate need for a website and expand your offerings as you gain traction.
Becoming an eCommerce reseller allows you to focus on the business side of art without the production costs associated with creating each piece. Whether it's sourcing unique framed works or collaborating with other artists to sell their creations, you can build a niche market that appeals to art enthusiasts.
Why consider starting an eCommerce reselling business?
- You could capitalize on your artistic eye to curate attractive products that resonate with art lovers.
- Begin with minimal upfront investment by leveraging social media to drive sales before building a dedicated website.
- Expand your artistic network by collaborating with other creators, enhancing your business's variety and appeal.
You can explore more about starting an eCommerce reselling business, including startup costs and marketing ideas, here.
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.
11. Start a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
As a painter, starting a stock investing business could provide a dynamic and flexible way to supplement your income. This venture involves buying and selling stocks to generate profit, making the most out of your analytical and strategic skills. With the right educational resources and trading platforms, you could turn your financial acumen into a lucrative side business or even a full-time endeavor.
Engaging in stock investing allows you to balance your creative endeavors with financial growth. By leveraging your off-hours or slow seasons in the painting business, you could diversify your income streams with strategic stock trades. For more insights, check out some success stories and tips on stock investing at Starter Story.
Why consider a stock investing business?
- You could make your money work for you by investing during downtime, resulting in potential high returns.
- This business offers flexibility, allowing you to manage trades alongside your painting projects.
- Continuous learning in the stock market could keep your mind sharp and open up further entrepreneurial opportunities.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Ticker Nerd is a monthly subscription service for investors that surfaces and analyzes trending stocks before the hype train arrives, and now has $4.5k in monthly recurring revenue from its newsletter without spending a single dollar on advertising, having validated the business via subreddits and organic Product Hunt launch strategy.
12. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
Looking to supplement your income or start a side business as a painter? Consider building a niche website. As a painter, you could create a site dedicated to painting techniques, materials, or even a specific style of art, attracting a dedicated audience who shares your passion. This focused online business offers creative freedom while potentially generating revenue through targeted content and monetization methods such as affiliate marketing, ad placements, and selling digital products.
A niche website centered around your painting expertise can become a reliable source of passive income once established. For more inspiration, check out these niche website success stories.
Why start a niche website?
- Share your expertise: Demonstrate and teach your unique painting techniques and insights.
- Generate passive income: Monetize your content through various revenue streams such as affiliate marketing and ad placements.
- Build a dedicated audience: Attract loyal followers who are passionate about your specialized content.
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.
13. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a painter, developing a mobile app presents a unique opportunity to supplement your income, make extra money, or potentially build an entirely new business. You could create an app that showcases your artwork, connects with potential clients, or provides virtual painting lessons and tutorials. By leveraging technology, you can reach a broader audience beyond your local area, creating new revenue streams and expanding your brand’s visibility.
Starting a mobile app business might require some initial investment in terms of time and resources, but the potential rewards can be substantial. With the increasing integration of mobile apps into everyday life, the opportunities for innovative solutions are immense. If you're an entrepreneurial-minded painter looking for new ways to monetize your skills, developing a mobile app might be the next step worth considering. For more insights and ideas, check out these mobile app success stories.
Why consider creating a mobile app?
- You could reach a global audience, enabling you to sell your art and services beyond your local region.
- An app can provide tutorials and virtual painting lessons, generating a stream of passive income while helping others improve their skills.
- Developing a unique app centered around your artistic style can significantly enhance your brand and market presence, setting you apart from traditional painters.
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 a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
Starting a WordPress plugin business might seem unconventional for a painter, but it's a viable way to supplement your income and diversify your skills. If you've encountered specific challenges while managing your artist website, you could create plugins that provide solutions for similar problems experienced by other artists. This business allows you to harness your creativity and technical curiosity in developing tools that cater to the broader art community.
By focusing on a niche such as art-related plugins, you could become an expert in addressing the unique needs of artists, resulting in a steady income stream. For more insights on how to successfully start this business, check out Starter Story's guide on how to start a WordPress plugin business.
Why start a WordPress plugin business?
- It offers a creative outlet beyond painting by developing tech solutions for fellow artists.
- You could generate passive income through a product that sells continuously.
- You can leverage your personal experience to create plugins that solve real-world problems for creative professionals.
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.
15. Create an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
Embarking on the journey of creating an AI writing tool could be a highly profitable venture for a painter looking to diversify their income streams. This innovative business entails developing a digital platform powered by artificial intelligence to assist in generating engaging and error-free content. As the demand for quality content continues to rise across various sectors, such a tool could attract a wide array of clients, including businesses, bloggers, and students, offering you a lucrative opportunity to supplement your artistic endeavors.
Moreover, this business addresses the growing need for efficient and automated content creation, making it an attractive proposition for the future. By developing an AI writing tool, you could revolutionize the writing process for countless individuals and organizations, simplifying their workload and enhancing productivity. Dive into the digital realm and seize this chance to transform the way the world writes.
Why consider creating an AI writing tool?
- Exploring innovation. Combining your artistic creativity with AI technology can set you apart and offer unique solutions.
- Continuous demand. The need for quality content is on the rise, ensuring a steady market for your tool.
- Flexibility. Balancing this venture with your painting career is possible, allowing for extra income without sacrificing your art.
For more details on profitability and success stories, you can visit this page on Starter Story: AI Writing Tool Profitability.
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.
16. Start a Fertilizer Distribution Business
Starting a Fertilizer Distribution Business can be an excellent side hustle or even a primary venture for painters looking to diversify their income streams. This business leverages the growing demand in the agricultural sector, which, according to Mordor Intelligence, is expected to expand by 3.5% annually between 2020 and 2025. With a modest initial investment in land, equipment, and a truck, you could tap into a market that was valued at $155.8 billion in 2019, providing ample opportunity for significant profits.
Why consider a Fertilizer Distribution Business? - The agricultural sector offers ongoing demand, ensuring a steady customer base. - This business requires minimal startup costs, making it accessible. - Diversifying your business portfolio can mitigate financial risks associated with seasonal painting work.
17. Start a cold email service business ($170K/month)
Starting a cold email service business as a painter could be a unique and profitable side venture. You could leverage your creative skills to craft compelling email campaigns that help businesses reach new clients. By understanding the nuances of effective email marketing, you could offer a valuable service that complements your artistic talent, particularly if you enjoy the strategic aspect of marketing. This business can be started with minimal upfront investment and provides an opportunity to generate additional income, especially during low seasons for painting projects.
Why start a cold email service business?
- Utilize creative skills for crafting engaging email campaigns, something artistic minds excel at.
- Low startup costs make it an accessible venture, even for those already investing in painting supplies.
- Potential for scalable income by expanding your clientele as your success stories grow.
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.
18. Develop a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a painter, starting a lead generation tool could be a brilliant way to supplement your income or even establish a side business. This venture involves creating a software application or platform that helps businesses identify and capture potential customer leads more efficiently. The demand for effective lead generation is high, as it enables businesses to focus on converting leads into customers, rather than spending exhaustive efforts finding them.
By developing a lead generation tool, you could tap into a consistent revenue stream and diversify your skills as an entrepreneur. This tool can integrate seamlessly with websites, social media channels, and other digital touchpoints to collect valuable data like email addresses, phone numbers, and customer interests.
Why developing a lead generation tool?
- Potential for high demand and consistent revenue, as businesses continuously seek efficient ways to gather and convert leads.
- You could leverage your existing marketing knowledge to create a tool that stands out in the market.
- By offering a valuable service, you could build strong business relationships and expand your network, benefiting both your painting business and lead generation tool.
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. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As an entrepreneurial painter, starting an email marketing tool could be an excellent way to supplement your income or even build an entirely new business. Email marketing is a powerful way to engage with your audience, whether it's building a loyal following for your art, generating leads, or increasing sales. With the email marketing industry expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028, creating your own email marketing tool could tap into this lucrative market.
Why start an email marketing tool?
- Generate recurring income by offering subscription plans for your email marketing software.
- Expand your business reach by helping other artists and small businesses grow their customer base.
- Leverage your creative skills to design beautiful, engaging email templates that attract users to your platform.
For more insights on this opportunity, visit email marketing tool startup costs.
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.
20. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
By leveraging AI-based business solutions as a painter, you could streamline your operations and make data-driven decisions with ease. Integrating AI tools can automate routine tasks, provide valuable customer insights, and even predict market trends, helping you stay ahead of the competition. Plus, many AI platforms are designed to be user-friendly, so even those without a tech background can succeed. For more about the pros and cons of AI-based business solutions, check out this article.
Why consider starting an AI-based business solution?
- Enhance efficiency and reduce costs by automating repetitive tasks.
- Gain valuable customer insights and predict market trends to stay competitive.
- Leverage user-friendly platforms that require no technical background.
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.
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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.
