20 Business Ideas For Urban Explorers [2024]
Urban exploration offers a unique perspective on the hidden corners of your city. As someone who thrives on uncovering the unseen, you could turn this passion into a series of profitable ventures. From guided tours to photography businesses, the possibilities are vast.
Imagine creating a guided tour agency that takes curious minds on explorations of abandoned sites and historical landmarks. Alternatively, you could monetize your photographic skills by selling exclusive prints of the captivating scenes you discover. Both options tap into your love for adventure while generating income.
Perhaps digital content creation is more your style. You could launch a YouTube channel or blog that documents your explorations, attracting followers and potential sponsors. These platforms not only share your experiences but also build a community of like-minded adventurers.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other urban explorer businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way for urban explorers to supplement their income, make extra money, or even establish a full-fledged business. By creating compelling video content showcasing unique and off-the-beaten-path locations, you could attract a wide audience interested in virtual exploration, adventure, and history. With revenue streams from ads, sponsorships, and merchandise, a YouTube channel can turn your urban exploration hobby into a profitable venture.
Why start a YouTube channel?
- You could monetize your passion. Use ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales as revenue streams.
- You’ll build a community. Engage with viewers who share the same passion for urban exploration.
- Create a brand. Establish yourself as an expert in the field, potentially opening up other business opportunities.
For more details, check out success stories and profitability ideas on starting a YouTube channel here.
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.
2. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be an exciting and lucrative side business for an urban explorer. By sharing your adventures and insights, you could attract a dedicated audience of listeners who are fascinated by the hidden corners of cities. Podcasting allows you to tell compelling stories about your explorations, interview fellow urban explorers, and even collaborate with brands related to travel and adventure. To start, gather basic recording equipment and publish your episodes through an affordable hosting platform.
Why start a podcast?
- You could build a loyal audience who are passionate about urban exploration.
- Podcasting offers a flexible way to monetize your adventures, potentially through sponsorships and advertising.
- Sharing your unique experiences and tips helps establish you as an expert in urban exploration, enhancing your personal brand.
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.
3. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog as an urban explorer could be a profitable way to share your unique experiences and expertise with a passionate online community. By documenting your adventures, sharing tips on photography, safety, and hidden gems, you could create engaging content that resonates with fellow enthusiasts and curious readers alike. Additionally, monetizing through affiliate links, brand collaborations, and creating a YouTube channel can diversify your income streams and turn your passion into a sustainable business.
For insight into the potential earnings of a niche blog, check out this article on how much they make: How Much Do Niche Blogs Make?
Why starting a niche blog?
- Your unique perspective and experiences as an urban explorer can attract a dedicated readership eager for your insights.
- Monetizing your content can turn your passion for exploration into a profitable venture.
- A niche blog allows you to connect with a global community, allowing for growth, collaboration, and opportunities beyond your immediate network.
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)
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, making it ideal for urban explorers. By sharing your unique explorations and experiences through a dedicated site, you could attract a loyal niche community eager to engage with your content and monetize it through various revenue streams.
Starting this venture involves selecting a niche you're passionate about and knowledgeable in, creating compelling content, and optimizing for search engines to drive traffic to your site. You'll need to invest time in research, content creation, and SEO, but once established, a niche website can become a reliable source of passive income. For more inspiration, consider how successful entrepreneurs have developed thriving niche websites at Starter Story.
Why starting a niche website?
- Share your passion with a dedicated audience eager for unique urban exploration content.
- Monetize your content through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products.
- Turn your urban exploration adventures into a rewarding side business that can generate passive income.
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. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business could be a natural extension of your passion for urban exploration. As an urban explorer, you already visit unique and visually intriguing locations that are in high demand for marketing and advertising purposes. By investing in good photography gear and learning how to take high-quality stock photos, you could build an impressive portfolio and earn passive income from your adventures. Upload your photos to popular stock photography websites, and you could start making money from the places you love to visit.
Why starting a stock photography business?
- Your unique locations and perspectives as an urban explorer can set your stock photos apart.
- Passive income opportunities allow you to keep exploring while your photos generate revenue.
- You can turn your urban exploration hobby into a lucrative business by leveraging your existing passion and skills.
For more insights and success stories, explore this page on Starter Story: Stock Photography Business Success Stories.
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 stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
Exploring the urban landscape and navigating the stock market might seem worlds apart, but starting a stock investing business could be a seamless fit for an entrepreneurial urban explorer. Just as you uncover hidden gems in cityscapes, you'll delve into financial markets, discovering opportunities that others might overlook. With the right strategy and dedication, you could turn a stock investing business into a profitable venture, complementing your adventurous spirit with financial savvy. For those intrigued by finance, platforms like Starter Story offer numerous resources to get you started.
Why consider stock investing as an urban explorer?
- Urban explorers thrive on discovery and analysis, skills that are critical for successful stock investing.
- Stock trading provides the flexibility to engage in your passion for urban exploration while managing investments remotely.
- The financial independence gained from stock investing can support your lifestyle and fund further explorations.
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.
7. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business makes sense for urban explorers because you already have the knack for finding unique and captivating items in abandoned or seldom-explored places. Curate a monthly box filled with relics, artifacts, or themed items that cater to adventure enthusiasts and history buffs. This could be an exciting way to turn your passion for discovery into a profitable side business or even a full-time venture.
Consider the following aspect of starting a subscription box business:
Why starting a subscription box business?
- You could leverage your unique finds to create exclusive, high-value products that stand out in the market.
- Subscription boxes can build a recurring revenue stream by turning one-time sales into monthly customers.
- It allows you to share your passion for urban exploration and the stories behind each item, building a loyal community of subscribers who look forward to your discoveries.
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.
8. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
Starting a mobile app business can be a fantastic way for urban explorers to supplement their income or launch a full-fledged venture. As an urban explorer, you have unique insights into the hidden corners of cities, making you well-positioned to create an app that caters to others with similar interests. Whether it’s an app that helps fellow explorers discover off-the-beaten-path locations, documents your adventures through interactive maps and photos, or connects a community of like-minded adventurers, the possibilities are endless.
Moreover, the demand for innovative mobile apps continues to rise, offering significant opportunities for growth and revenue. The key will be in crafting an engaging user experience and effectively marketing the app to attract a dedicated user base. If you're ready to leverage your passion for urban exploration into a digital platform, the journey starts with your first line of code.
Why develop a mobile app?
- Bring your urban explorations to a wider audience. Share your unique findings and connect with other explorers.
- Generate passive income by monetizing your app through ads, in-app purchases, or a subscription model.
- Apps are integral parts of everyday life, providing ample opportunity for success and innovation in the urban exploration niche.
For more inspiration and detailed success stories, check out Starter Story's mobile app ideas.
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.
9. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
As an urban explorer, you have a unique perspective on promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through your adventures. By creating a health and wellness app, you could offer personalized fitness routines inspired by your explorations, create nutrition plans that cater to active lifestyles, and provide mental well-being exercises to complement physical activity. This app could serve as a virtual coach, guiding users with customized advice to help them achieve their health goals.
Starting this business involves market research, collaboration with health experts, app development, and effective marketing strategies. The growing market for health tech makes this a compelling venture that could positively impact lives while providing you with a lucrative income stream. If you're passionate about both health and technology, this could be a meaningful way to combine your interests while building a thriving business more info here.
Why starting a health and wellness app?
- You'd be tapping into a growing market with increasing demand for digital health tools.
- Your adventures and active lifestyle offer real-world inspiration for personalized fitness content.
- Combining passion with purpose, you could make a significant impact on users' well-being while building a successful business.
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.
10. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business as an urban explorer is a great way to supplement your income or even launch a side business. By leveraging your unique experiences and the niche audience you attract, you can promote products and services related to urban exploration, such as adventure gear, cameras, or travel accessories. Your personal adventures and authentic content stand to engage your audience and drive sales.
Why consider affiliate marketing?
- It's a passive income stream, allowing you to earn commissions on products without stocking inventory.
- You can capitalize on your niche knowledge and audience trust to promote high-relevance brands and products.
- Flexibility to work from anywhere means you can continue exploring while managing your business.
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.
11. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business can be an excellent side hustle or full-time venture for urban explorers. Leveraging platforms such as Shopify or WooCommerce, you could create an online store that sells products related to your urban exploration experiences, like tactical gear, photography equipment, or unique souvenirs inspired by your adventures. By finding reliable suppliers on AliExpress, you could focus on marketing and customer service to grow your business, all without the need to hold inventory.
Why consider a dropshipping business as an urban explorer?
- Minimal upfront investment and no need to manage inventory, so you can focus on exploring.
- Flexibility to run your business from anywhere, even while on the go, making it easy to juggle with your urban adventures.
- Opportunity to turn your unique experiences and interests into a profitable niche, resonating with a like-minded audience.
For more information, check out these dropshipping business tips.
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.
12. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an ecommerce reselling business is a great way for urban explorers to monetize their passion without getting bogged down by production costs. By curating unique, rare, or vintage items discovered during your explorations, you could set up an online storefront that caters to niche markets. Plus, you do not need to worry about creating a website right away; starting with social media platforms can help build an audience and generate sales.
Why consider an ecommerce reselling business?
- You have access to unique, often rare finds that can attract a niche market.
- Low upfront costs mean you could start selling almost immediately.
- Flexibility allows you to manage your business alongside your exploration adventures.
For more detailed insights, check out this success story that shows how to effectively kickstart an 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 a social media automation business ($139K/month)
For urban explorers looking to supplement their income or start a new venture, a social media automation business could be a natural fit. Utilizing your experiences in the field, you could develop tools and services that schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data for various clients. With the ever-growing need for strategic social media engagement, this niche business can be both lucrative and fulfilling.
Check out these success stories to see how others have made it work: Success Stories.
Why starting a social media automation business?
- You could leverage your tech-savvy skills. Your familiarity with online platforms and technology makes this a seamless transition.
- You could turn field experiences into engaging social content. Use your adventures to create unique, automated social media campaigns.
- You could diversify your income streams. Combining urban exploration with social media automation allows for multiple revenue sources.
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.
14. Start a niche investment platform ($167K/month)
A niche investment platform offers urban explorers an exciting opportunity to turn their passion for discovery into a lucrative business venture. By creating a specialized trading ecosystem around unique asset classes such as real estate projects discovered during explorations or even rare artifacts found in abandoned spaces, urban explorers can attract like-minded investors. This ensures a steady revenue stream through transaction fees and premium subscriptions, catering specifically to those looking for alternatives amid volatile stock markets.
Why start a niche investment platform?
- You could leverage your unique finds or insights to attract specialized investors.
- Recurring revenue through transaction fees and subscription models ensures a steady income.
- It combines your urban exploration passion with modern technology to create a transparent and exclusive investment environment.
For more on the benefits and startup costs of a niche investment platform, check out this detailed guide.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
15. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As an urban explorer, leveraging an email marketing tool offers unique opportunities to turn your passion into profitable ventures. By sharing your explorations and discoveries, you could create engaging email campaigns that attract subscribers interested in urban exploration stories, tips, and exclusive content. You could also partner with brands and businesses related to your niche, promoting their products or services through your newsletters, creating a consistent revenue stream.
By starting an email marketing tool business, you could make extra income and even develop it into a dedicated business, reaching more people than with just a blog or social media. For more insights, check out some email marketing tool success stories.
Why starting an email marketing tool?
- You could monetize your unique content, turning your urban exploration adventures into a sustainable source of income.
- It's a scalable business opportunity, allowing you to grow your subscriber base and increase revenue without significant additional effort.
- You could build valuable partnerships with relevant brands, enhancing your credibility and opening up new revenue streams.
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.
16. Start a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As an urban explorer, you likely come across unique challenges and situations that could be addressed with specific digital solutions. Starting a WordPress plugin business allows you to leverage your problem-solving skills by developing plugins that cater to niche markets or specific needs within the urban exploration community. This business model provides an excellent opportunity to monetize your expertise while enjoying a flexible work schedule that complements your adventurous lifestyle. You can sell your plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon or directly through your website, turning your digital creations into a steady income stream.
Why starting a WordPress plugin business?
- As a passionate explorer, you have firsthand experience with unique challenges, making it easier to identify and address specific needs.
- You could earn passive income by selling plugins on platforms such as CodeCanyon, allowing you to focus on your adventures.
- Developing plugins offers a flexible work schedule, fitting seamlessly into the unpredictable nature of urban exploration.
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.
17. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As an urban explorer looking to diversify your income, starting an AI-based business solution could be a lucrative opportunity. By leveraging AI, you could streamline various aspects of business processes such as customer service, inventory management, and data analysis. This not only enhances efficiency but also provides valuable insights and cost savings, making it an attractive option even if you don't have a tech background.
AI tools can automate repetitive tasks, offering personalized marketing strategies and predicting market trends. Given the growing demand for these solutions, presenting AI services to businesses can provide a competitive edge. Plus, with user-friendly interfaces and support from platform providers, getting started is more accessible than ever. For more information, you can check out this page on AI-based business solution.
Why consider an AI-based business solution?
- AI can automate time-consuming tasks, allowing you to focus on more strategic activities.
- You could provide businesses with actionable insights and data-driven decisions, elevating their performance.
- The market for AI solutions is rapidly growing, providing ample opportunities for new entrants.
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.
18. Start a cold email service business ($170K/month)
As an urban explorer, starting a cold email service business could complement your knack for discovery and engaging storytelling. This business involves crafting and sending compelling targeted email campaigns to help businesses reach new clients directly. With your strategic mindset and ability to connect through words, you could tap into a high-demand service that scales well from small businesses to a wide range of clients.
Why starting a cold email service business?
- You could utilize your natural curiosity and research skills to deeply understand client needs and target audiences.
- Crafting engaging email campaigns allows you to combine your storytelling abilities with marketing tactics for effective results.
- The potential for scalability means you could start small and grow your client base as your portfolio of success stories expands.
For more insights on how to kickstart your cold email service business, check out these success stories from entrepreneurs in the field.
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.
19. Develop a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As an urban explorer, you could leverage your tech-savvy skills and marketing know-how to develop a lead generation tool. This business idea revolves around creating a software application or platform that identifies and captures potential customer leads for other businesses. Imagine automating the often laborious process of finding new clients, allowing companies to focus on conversion instead.
By integrating with websites, social media channels, and other digital touchpoints, your tool can collect valuable data like email addresses, phone numbers, and interests. The demand for efficient lead generation is high, as businesses of all sizes are eager to streamline their marketing efforts and grow their customer base. Developing a lead generation tool could be your next profitable venture, especially if you're interested in a tech-forward business.
Why develop a lead generation tool?
- The demand for lead generation solutions is high, making it a lucrative market.
- Automated tools save businesses time and money, ensuring a strong customer base.
- Your urban exploration skills can help you identify unique data collection opportunities that others might miss.
For more insights, check out lead generation tool ideas on Starter Story.
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.
20. Create an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
Harnessing the advancements in artificial intelligence, developing an AI writing tool could be a lucrative venture for urban explorers. This enterprise would allow you to blend the thrill of exploration with the innovation of technology, creating a unique tool that assists in content creation. AI writing tools can generate high-quality, error-free content swiftly, making them indispensable for businesses, bloggers, and students in need of constant and reliable writing support.
For an urban explorer, this business proposition aligns seamlessly with the ever-evolving urban landscapes you encounter. By providing a solution that eases the workload of writers, you’re tapping into a consistently high demand for content, thereby ensuring a steady stream of potential customers. Embarking on this journey to develop an AI writing tool positions you at the crossroad of creativity and technology, offering a fulfilling and profitable side business.
Why create an AI writing tool?
- You could leverage your urban exploration stories and experiences to train the AI, making your tool unique and marketable.
- Urban exploring provides constant new content and inspiration, which can be directly fed into the AI writing tool for generating fresh, engaging content.
- You could turn every exploration into a profitable venture by creating captivating stories and content automatically with your AI tool, reducing manual workload.
For further insights and success stories, check out this resource on AI writing tools.
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.
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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.
