20 Business Ideas For Videographers [2024]
As a videographer, you already possess a unique set of skills that are in high demand. If you're thinking about branching out and starting your own business, 2024 offers plenty of opportunities to leverage your creativity and technical expertise. From niche markets to mainstream opportunities, there’s a wide range of business ideas to explore.
You could consider diving into virtual reality (VR) content creation, a field that's gaining traction as VR technology becomes more accessible. Another option might be creating online courses or tutorials, sharing your videography knowledge with aspiring filmmakers. Personalized video messages and highlight reels for events like weddings or corporate functions are also lucrative possibilities.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other videographer 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 move for a videographer aiming to supplement their income or even launch a full-time business. Leveraging your skills in crafting engaging video content, you could earn revenue through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise while sharing your expertise and passion. Whether it's how-to guides, educational videos, or entertaining vlogs, the platform offers a wide variety of opportunities to express your creativity and connect with a global audience.
The key to success on YouTube lies in consistency and quality. You would need to plan content meticulously, shoot and edit your videos professionally, and maintain regular engagement with your viewers. Additionally, understanding SEO and social media marketing can significantly boost your channel's visibility and growth.
Why start a YouTube channel?
- It’s a versatile revenue stream. You could earn from ads, sponsorships, and even merchandise.
- Showcasing your videography skills can attract additional freelance or client-based work.
- Building a community around your content can open doors to exciting opportunities, including collaborations and speaking engagements.
For more insights on how to successfully launch a YouTube channel, check out the Starter Story YouTube channel success stories.
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 as a videographer makes a lot of sense because you already possess vital skills like storytelling, editing, and production quality that are crucial for creating engaging audio content. Additionally, a podcast can serve as an extension of your brand, allowing you to reach a broader audience and showcase your expertise in various subjects related to videography or other passions you might have. By leveraging your existing skill set and equipment, you could create a captivating podcast that not only supplements your income but also builds your professional reputation.
Why consider starting a podcast?
- Your storytelling skills and technical know-how will enhance the quality of your podcast, making it more engaging for listeners.
- Creating a podcast can help diversify your income streams and attract potential sponsors or advertisers.
- It’s an excellent way to expand your personal brand and connect with a broader audience, further establishing your authority in the field.
For more insights on how to successfully start a podcast, check out this success stories 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.
3. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As a videographer, leveraging your skills to start a stock photography business could be a lucrative side hustle or even a full-fledged business. By capturing high-quality images during your shoots and uploading them to stock photo websites, you could earn passive income over time. This business model allows you to maximize the value of your existing equipment and creativity with minimal additional investment.
To get started, invest in good photography gear and learn the ins and outs of taking marketable stock photos. An online presence can help you sell your photos faster and at profitable margins. For more insights, you can explore success stories and startup costs related to the stock photography business on Starter Story.
Why start a stock photography business? - Diversify your income streams by selling images you’ve already captured during shoots. - Stock photography platforms offer a global market, increasing your reach and sales potential. - Passive income potential allows you to earn money continuously from a single photo upload.
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.
4. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a videographer, leveraging your skills to create a mobile app can open up new revenue streams and expand your creative horizons. By developing a mobile app, you could offer unique video editing tools, tutorials, or even a platform for creators to showcase and monetize their work. This venture allows you to tap into the booming app marketplace, providing valuable services to other videographers and content creators while boosting your own income.
Why develop a mobile app?
- It broadens your reach. Mobile apps can be accessed globally, providing you with a larger audience for your innovative video solutions.
- It's a scalable business model. Once built, your app can continually generate revenue with minimal ongoing expenses.
- You can offer niche solutions. As a videographer, you understand the specific needs and challenges in the industry, allowing you to create targeted, valuable tools for fellow creators.
Learn more about mobile app business 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.
5. Create an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a videographer, launching an AI writing tool could significantly supplement your income or serve as an enterprising side business. Harnessing your visual storytelling skills, you could develop an AI-powered platform to generate well-crafted, engaging scripts and content for creators and businesses alike. Given the growing demand for high-quality content, this tech-driven solution could position you as a pioneer in both video production and content creation.
AI writing tools can automate and refine content creation, making it accurate, error-free, and time-efficient. This venture would allow you to merge creativity with technology, offering an innovative service to a broad audience. Learn more about the potential and profitability of AI writing tools here.
Why create an AI writing tool?
- You could leverage your storytelling expertise and expand your business beyond videography.
- It offers a scalable solution to meet the increasing demand for quality content in various sectors.
- This business idea aligns with the future of digital content creation, ensuring long-term relevance and growth.
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.
6. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
An AI-based business solution offers a promising way to supplement your income or even build a successful side business as a videographer. By integrating AI tools into your workflow, you could automate repetitive tasks like video editing, metadata tagging, and customer outreach. This allows you to focus more on the creative aspects of your business while letting AI handle the mundane tasks that take up valuable time. For detailed success stories and insights, check out some AI-based business solution tips.
Why Consider an AI-Based Business Solution?
- You’ll save time by automating repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus more on creativity and high-value projects.
- You’ll gain valuable insights to better understand client preferences and improve your marketing strategies.
- You’ll tap into a growing market, positioning yourself at the forefront of technological advancements in your industry.
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.
7. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a highly lucrative venture for a videographer, combining your expertise in video production with your ability to create engaging written content. By identifying a profitable niche—whether it’s film reviews, cinematography techniques, or video editing tutorials—you can establish yourself as a subject matter expert and attract a dedicated online community. Through monetization strategies like affiliate marketing, brand collaborations, and advertising revenue, you could turn a niche blog into a robust source of supplemental income or a full-fledged business.
What makes starting a niche blog a smart move for videographers?
- Your video production skills can attract a visually-engaged audience, enhancing blog content and increasing follower loyalty.
- Ongoing blog updates will drive consistent traffic, leading to multiple monetization opportunities such as affiliate marketing and sponsorships.
- Engaging with a niche community allows you to showcase your expertise, build a personal brand, and expand your professional network.
For more insights into the profitability of niche blogs, you can explore Starter Story for comprehensive guides and success stories.
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.
8. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
Thinking about expanding your horizons as a videographer? Consider launching a niche website. This type of website focuses on a specialized topic that resonates with a specific audience, allowing you to leverage your expertise and creativity. By consistently creating valuable, targeted content and utilizing SEO strategies, you'll attract a dedicated following that opens up multiple monetization avenues like affiliate marketing, ad placements, and selling digital products. Starter Story has numerous success stories of entrepreneurs who have succeeded with a niche website here.
Why start a niche website?
- It allows you to tap into a specific market that values your unique insights, optimizing your content strategy and income potential.
- With the right audience, you could monetize your site through various methods, creating a steady stream of passive income.
- As a videographer, you already have the skills to create engaging visual content, giving you a significant advantage in attracting and retaining visitors.
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.
9. Develop a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a videographer, developing a lead generation tool could be a lucrative side business or even a full-time venture to supplement your income. This business idea involves creating a software application or platform that identifies and captures potential customer leads for businesses. By automating the tedious process of finding new clients, your tool can collect valuable data like email addresses, phone numbers, and interests through integrations with websites, social media channels, and other digital touchpoints. Given the high demand for efficient lead generation solutions, this could be your next profitable venture.
Why develop a lead generation tool?
- You could leverage your tech-savvy skills to streamline and automate client acquisition processes for businesses.
- The high demand for effective lead generation tools means a significant market opportunity for your unique solution.
- By helping businesses grow their customer base, you'll be providing a valuable service that businesses are willing to pay for.
For more about starting a lead generation tool business, check out Starter Story for detailed startup costs, marketing ideas, and success stories.
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.
10. Start a SEO & lead generation service ($60K/month)
Starting a SEO & lead generation service is an innovative way for videographers to supplement their income, leveraging their existing skills in digital content creation. Videographers already have a keen eye for engaging visuals and storytelling, making them well-suited for creating compelling content that attracts and nurtures leads. With a basic understanding of digital marketing and SEO principles, you could tap into a new revenue stream while helping other businesses grow.
By offering SEO and lead generation services, you could assist small businesses in attracting more clients and improving their online presence. This venture could be seamlessly integrated with your videography business, allowing you to create high-quality video content optimized for search engines. Learn more about the profitability of this idea here.
Why consider starting a SEO & lead generation service?
- You could utilize your existing video production skills to create engaging content that attracts and converts leads.
- This service could open up new revenue streams and diversify your income, enhancing financial stability.
- Helping businesses grow their online presence with impactful content could boost your portfolio, showcasing your expertise in both videography and digital marketing.
How much you can make: $8,000 — $200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
A link building company co-founded by Justas Markus has grown to make an average of $35k per month in recurring revenue with a focus on delivering high-quality services through manual processes and focusing on fewer markets.
11. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth. As a videographer with a keen eye for creating compelling content, you could leverage your skills to start a social media automation business, helping clients—from small businesses to influencers—enhance their online presence. This business involves creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms, saving your clients time while increasing their reach and engagement.
With the burgeoning need for consistent and strategic social media engagement, there’s a significant demand for automation, making this a lucrative niche to explore. If you have a knack for technology and marketing, this opportunity can complement your videography work while opening new revenue streams.
Why start a social media automation business?
- You could capitalize on your existing content creation skills to offer comprehensive social media management solutions.
- The growing demand for automated social media engagement presents a lucrative market with high-profit potential.
- Combining videography and social media automation creates a unique value proposition for clients, setting you apart from competitors.
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.
12. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Starting a health and wellness app would make sense as a videographer because this industry is ripe with opportunities for creating engaging, high-quality content that can significantly enhance user experience. As a videographer, you could leverage your skills to produce compelling exercise tutorials, nutrition guide videos, and mental well-being exercises, all designed to captivate and educate users. This could provide a unique angle to your business, setting your app apart from competitors with visually stunning and professionally produced content.
Moreover, this endeavor beautifully merges your passion for visuals with the burgeoning digital health market, offering an avenue to generate additional income and reach a wider audience. By investing in the development of a holistic health and wellness app, you could build a platform that not only earns revenue but also makes a positive impact on users' lives.
Explore more about starting a health and wellness app.
Why start a health and wellness app?
- The demand for digital health tools is growing, making it a lucrative market.
- Your videography skills will add a professional touch, making your app unique and engaging.
- You're positioned to create impactful, visually rich content that educates and inspires, setting your business apart.
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. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business can be a lucrative side hustle or full-time venture for videographers looking to diversify their income streams. By curating boxes tailored to a specific niche—like video production gear, DIY filmmaking kits, or even exclusive tutorials—you can leverage your industry knowledge to offer high-value, curated products that appeal to your target audience. Additionally, subscription boxes are in high demand, offering a blend of unique products and excellent customer service, making them a profitable and scalable business model.
Once you understand your niche and build strong relationships with fulfillment companies, you can perfect your box design and market your service effectively. Learn more about how to get started by exploring success stories and tips from established businesses. Check out subscription box business success stories to find inspiration and practical advice.
Why start a subscription box business?
- Tap into high demand. Subscription boxes are popular and profitable, offering recurring revenue.
- Leverage your niche expertise. Your industry knowledge can help you curate valuable, in-demand products.
- Expand customer engagement. Keep your audience engaged and excited with monthly deliveries, fostering brand loyalty.
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.
14. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a videographer. This model allows you to run an online store without holding inventory, giving you the flexibility to manage it alongside your videography projects. By choosing a niche that aligns with your interests or even your video work, you can create a cohesive brand and leverage your marketing skills to attract a targeted audience.
To get started, set up your online store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, list products from reliable suppliers, and focus on customer service and marketing to grow. As a videographer, you already have the skills to create compelling visual content, which can be a significant advantage in promoting your products.
Why consider a dropshipping business?
- Little to no upfront costs and inventory management, making it a low-risk venture.
- Ability to utilize your videography skills to create high-quality marketing materials, giving your store a competitive edge.
- Potential for passive income, allowing you to focus on your primary videography work while the dropshipping business runs in the background.
For more insights and success stories on dropshipping, check out these marketing ideas on Starter Story.
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.
15. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
Starting an email marketing tool as a videographer can be a lucrative side business or even a full-time venture. Utilizing your expertise in visual storytelling, you could create compelling email campaigns that capture attention and drive engagement. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate leads, increase sales, and build a loyal subscriber base, creating a steady stream of income.
Why start an email marketing tool?
- You could leverage your video skills to create engaging email content, incorporating videos into marketing campaigns.
- The global email marketing tool market is expected to reach $2.53B by 2028, presenting huge growth opportunities. Learn more.
- Email marketing is more cost-effective compared to other marketing channels, allowing startups and small businesses to get noticed affordably.
For more insights on the profitability and startup costs of email marketing tools, explore our resources.
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 a videographer, starting a WordPress plugin business could be a lucrative side venture or even a primary income source. WordPress plugins are essential tools that enhance website functionality, and if you've identified a gap or a need that isn't being met, you could develop a plugin to address it. This venture could allow you to utilize your creative problem-solving skills in a new, profitable medium.
Moreover, your plugin could be sold on platforms such as CodeCanyon, on your blog, or even through a dedicated website. By leveraging your understanding of multimedia content, you could create impactful plugins specifically for video content management, thus serving a niche market that you're already part of.
Why starting a WordPress plugin business?
- It provides a lucrative opportunity to diversify your income streams.
- You could use your existing videography skills to develop plugins tailored to multimedia needs.
- Selling plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon opens up access to a global market.
For more insights, check out how to start a WordPress plugin business.
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 online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a videographer, starting an online course sales business allows you to leverage your expertise and technical skills to educate others while generating passive income. By creating high-quality instructional videos on topics like filming techniques, video editing, or lighting setups, you could establish a revenue stream that works around your schedule. The beauty of online courses is that once they are created, they can sell continuously, freeing up more of your time for other projects or pursuits.
The e-learning market is booming and expected to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years, presenting an excellent opportunity for growth. For more on this, check out some inspiring success stories.
Why start an online course sales business?
- You could turn your creative skills into a passive income stream with minimal ongoing effort.
- The flexibility of online courses allows you to work on your own time, complementing your videography projects.
- You can reach a global audience, significantly expanding your impact and potential customer base.
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.
18. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an ecommerce reselling business as a videographer can be a smart and practical way to supplement your income or even launch a full-fledged side business. The skills you already possess in video production can be utilized to create engaging promotional content, helping your reselling business stand out in a crowded online marketplace. You won’t need a website immediately; leveraging social media platforms can help you get started and build a client base with minimal initial investment.
Why start an ecommerce reselling business?
- Low startup costs. Begin selling on social media without the need for an immediate website investment.
- Leverage your video skills. Use your expertise to create compelling promotional videos that boost sales.
- Flexibility and scalability. Start part-time and expand by adding a website or more products as your business grows.
For more detailed insights, you can check out some pros and cons of starting 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.
19. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
As a videographer, starting a print-on-demand business could be a lucrative side business opportunity that capitalizes on your creative flair and eye for design. By creating and selling customized products like apparel, home goods, and phone cases, you can diversify your income streams while utilizing dropshipping services to handle production and shipping. This model allows you to focus on designing unique and trendy items, all from the comfort of your home, with minimal startup costs.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- You could monetize your videography skills by designing custom products that showcase your unique artistic vision.
- It offers a low-risk way to test different creative ideas and gauge market interest without holding inventory.
- Online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy allow you to reach a global audience with ease.
For more on the pros and cons of print-on-demand businesses, check out this article on 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.
20. Start a hygiene product company ($1.18M/month)
As a videographer, venturing into the hygiene product business can be a compelling way to diversify your income streams while leveraging your existing skills in content creation and marketing. Hygiene products such as soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes are always in demand, and your knack for visual storytelling could help you stand out in a crowded market. By using your videography talents, you could create engaging promotional content that showcases the benefits and unique qualities of your products, helping you build a strong online presence. For more tips on starting a hygiene product business, check out Starter Story.
Why consider a hygiene product business?
- There is a constant demand for personal hygiene products, ensuring a steady customer base.
- Your videography skills can give you an edge in creating compelling marketing content.
- Diversifying your business can provide financial stability and additional revenue streams.
How much you can make: $30,000 — $5,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 332 days (?)
A hygiene solutions company founded by Jonathan Bradford now earns £500k/month, after years of developing a wall-mounted antibacterial wipe dispenser that is used in health clubs, workplaces, and in over 100 locations worldwide, and also developing an electronic washroom hygiene monitor.
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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.
