The 24 Best Business Ideas To Start In Indonesia [2024]
Interested in starting a business in Indonesia in 2024?
We put together 24 of the best businesses you can start in Indonesia today.
In this list of ideas, you can find:
- Home-based businesses to start in Indonesia
- Profitable online business ideas
- Unique business opportunities for Indonesia
- Low investment business ideas (under $5k to start)
- Easy businesses you can start in Indonesia today
For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, + a step-by-step on how to start your small business in Indonesia.
Here's the full list:
1. Start an explainer video business
An explainer video is a short online marketing video used to explain a company's product or service. Marketers place the explainer videos on the website landing page or product pages to illustrate how the product or service works to their target audience.
Different types of explainer videos include:
- Live-action explainer videos
- Live streams on social media
- Animated explainer videos
- Whiteboard explainer videos
To create an explainer video, you need a video script and voiceover. You can use an explainer video editing software to add characters, music, and sound effects to the explainer video.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $180,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Discover how a small digital media agency scaled to a thriving animated explainer video company with 42 employees, leveraging international markets and achieving over 100% client growth annually in the early years.
2. Start a software business
Building a software business can be both a rewarding and challenging venture. At its core, this idea involves developing, marketing, and maintaining software applications that solve specific problems for users or businesses.
To start, you need a deep understanding of coding, problem-solving skills, and a knack for innovation. Developers often spend hours brainstorming, coding, debugging, and refining their products. The key to success lies in identifying a unique problem that your software can address better than existing solutions.
What's captivating about a software business is its scalability. Once you’ve created a valuable product, the costs of distribution are minimal, allowing for significant profit margins. Whether it's a mobile app, enterprise software, or a cloud-based service, the potential for growth is immense.
For those with a passion for technology and a commitment to continual learning, starting a software business can be a compelling and lucrative career path.
How much you can make: $350 — $4,200,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Learn how a designer and developer from Indonesia created Session, an app that helps people stay focused by blocking distractions, which currently makes $5.8K per month in revenue through its freemium business model.
3. Develop a mac app
Are you a passionate and skilled mobile app developer? You can start an Apple app development business as a part-time or a full-time job and earn from your passion.
According to a report published in CIO magazine, Mobile app developers are among the top 10 most in-demand technology jobs. In addition, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, app developer jobs will grow by 22% over the next decade.
Therefore, starting a mobile app coding business can be a rewarding business. iOS app developers mostly use Swift and Objective-C programming languages.
How much you can make: $21 — $200,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Indonesian software engineer Wilbert created Mumu, an emoji picker for macOS, which hit 10x his target revenue when he launched it recently, generating around $1,600 in total revenue, by designing and prototyping in Xcode and Figma, making a simple landing page to gain an initial beta launch momentum, and building in public to retain customers.
4. Become a business coach
Are you thinking of starting a career as a business coach?
Becoming a business coach can be a great way to help aspiring entrepreneurs while earning a healthy income. You may want to consider becoming a coach if you have skills in specialized business fields such as marketing, e-commerce, stress management, or leadership.
Many small-business owners are finding it hard to get started, grow, and succeed. As a business coach, your job will be to help entrepreneurs identify new opportunities and take advantage of the ones they already have.
How much you can make: $3,500 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,749 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Screw The Cubicle's Lydia Lee started a location-independent coaching business that generates an average monthly revenue of $10,000, helping corporate professionals transition to independent careers by offering self-guided courses and personalized coaching programs.
5. Start a furniture business
The furniture industry involves designing, manufacturing, and selling various types of furniture for household and commercial purposes. With the increase in flexible workspaces and the real estate industry’s growth, the furniture business’s demand is boosted.
The furniture business is easy to start and does not require high investments. However, it is first essential to know your niche, for example, office, domestic, home furniture, and luxury items.
The furniture business needs a lot of preparation and prior knowledge. Taking business classes, learning about your local market, and making a solid business plan is advisable. In general, if your products are unique and one of a kind, consumers will be willing to pay a higher, including the shipping cost.
How much you can make: $5,000 — $999,999/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Sasha Weekes, owner of Timber Grove Studios, turned her fine arts and cabinetmaking education into a successful home-based woodworking business that grew from a side project to netting 20-50% profits month-to-month and up to $10,000 in sales during peak periods through Etsy, with her company's growth continuing to increase through other social media outlets.
6. Start a crowdfunding platform
Raising money for your project can be difficult. Crowdfunding is one way to get funding through a large number of smaller investments. If you have some expertise in a particular area that may be useful to other people, there's no better time to take action. The crowdfunding revolution is happening right at your fingertips.
Crowdfunding has exploded over the past year, and you need to be a part of it. The Worldwide crowdfunding market share is expected to increase by $240B from 2021 to 2026. Crowdfunding is one of the quickest ways to get funding and build your brand.
How much you can make: $5,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 272 days (?)
DistantJob is a unique recruitment agency that specializes in finding full-time remote employees, and with $3 million in annual revenue, they offer small to medium-sized tech companies an edge over big competitors who are not willing to hire remotely.
7. Start a mobile app development business
Mobile app development is the process of creating software applications that run on mobile devices. These apps can be used for a variety of purposes, including games, productivity, and social networking.
Starting a mobile app development business is a great way to enter the world of software development. This type of company is growing in popularity as businesses are looking for ways to reach their customers through mobile apps.
To start a mobile app development company, you need to have strong technical skills and be able to develop high-quality software. You should also have a good understanding of how to market and sell mobile apps
How much you can make: $6,000 — $700,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
This case study features Md. Yousuf Ali, the founder of Rank Trends, who shares how he started a successful digital marketing agency, which generated a revenue of over $6k per month through SEO and video production services.
8. Start a food truck
Food trucks are a highly profitable business that offers customers a variety of meal options out of a mobile truck. This basically operates inside a large vehicle equipped with kitchen and food products. Starting a food truck is a dream for many people, but it's more challenging than it looks. To make it work, you need the ideal location and menu.
To start a food truck business in a particular city, it is mandatory to check what kind of food trucks are already operating, identify a gap, and bring in some new experiences. Then, with the right plan and the right approach, you can be on your way to starting your own food truck empire.
How much you can make: $30,000 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Food Fleet grew over 160% in just one year and managed over 20 million in sales for its clients, securing multiple contracts with the likes of Sodexo, Levy Restaurants and more, due to its understanding of catering client needs and its advanced turnkey and design services.
9. Start an ecommerce platform
Over the past decade, eCommerce has become an indispensable part of the global retail framework. According to statistics, over 2 billion people prefer shopping online.
While brick-and-mortar stores are still making more sales compared to online sales, the adoption of eCommerce is still rising, mainly because of the increased speed and convenience of online shopping.
Therefore, starting an eCommerce platform could set you on the right path to building a futuristic business.
How much you can make: $100 — $2,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
A 3D CAD designer and product inventor who started as a side hustle and averaged $9,000 a month in revenue, shares his insights on the ups and downs of owning a service-based business alongside an eCommerce store, as well as lessons learned in customer acquisition and in generating multiple streams of passive income.
10. Start a travel consulting business
Many people dream of traveling the world. Starting a travel consulting business is an excellent way to make a passive income, explore different parts of the world, and help others do the same.
As a travel consultant, you will provide advice to clients on various aspects of travel, including destinations, airfare, accommodations, and activities.
The objective is to assist tourists and travelers in planning personalized vacations, offer travel advice, and provide end-to-end travel arrangements for a fee.
By making use of industry knowledge and relationships with hotels, airlines, and destination experts, travel consultants can save their clients time and effort in designing their dream trips.
How much you can make: $20,000 — $1,500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Rayna Tours and Travels, founded by Kamlesh Ramchandani and Manoj Tulsani, began its journey as a small travel counter inside a Dubai hotel, and has now grown into one of the UAE’s leading destination management companies with earnings exceeding $40 million per year.
11. Become a business consultant
Business consultants serve as professional advisors who help companies achieve their goals or to streamline operations in a particular business area.
Business consulting is big business. Experts project the demand for consultants to keep increasing in the coming years. Therefore, becoming a certified business consultant can be rewarding.
To become a business consultant, you need a bachelor’s degree and expertise in a specific area. Are you ready to start your business consulting career and develop a professional network and web presence to help you connect with clients?
How much you can make: $1,500 — $1,500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
This case study is about a founder who launched a paywall platform for content creators in 2019, bootstrapping it from $0 and eventually selling it for $3.5M on Flippa, with the platform generating between $125,000 - $142,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) on 95% margins.
12. Start a hotels business
If you are considering starting a hotel, then it is time to implement your plan. There are five key elements to understand if you want to succeed in this industry: location, size, budget, experience, and market demand.
Here are some tips to consider before forming a hotel:
- Name your business
- Decide on a marketing strategy
- Start by renting out a room in your home.
- Hire a business capital broker
- Try Airbnb
- Make a marketing plan
- Offer complementary services
How much you can make: $15,000 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 325 days (?)
Boyd Hollow Resorts is launching a 5-star boutique resort and event center based on a fiction book that will be the first of many Villages to be built around the world, with over 200 event inquiries received before launching.
13. Start a stock investing business
Navigating the world of stock investing can be a lucrative venture if you’ve got a knack for financial markets. A stock investing business revolves around buying and selling stocks to generate profit. It’s all about analyzing market trends, making informed decisions, and executing trades with precision.
For those intrigued by finance and numbers, this business offers an exciting avenue to turn passion into profit. Educational resources and trading platforms can equip you with the necessary tools and knowledge. However, it requires dedication, continuous learning, and a keen eye on market movements.
By starting a stock investing business, you position yourself in a domain with potential for high returns. It's not a get-rich-quick scheme—success depends on strategy, analysis, and risk management. If you’re prepared to delve into market intricacies and strategize for long-term growth, stock investing can be a rewarding entrepreneurial journey.
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.
14. Start an insurance information business
Navigating the complexities of insurance can be overwhelming, but that's where an insurance information business comes in. In simple terms, this enterprise involves offering clear, accurate, and timely information about various insurance products to help consumers make educated decisions.
Your business would curat detailed reviews, policy comparisons, and expert advice through a user-friendly platform. The real work involves in-depth research to ensure the content remains current, partnering with industry experts, and effectively marketing your services to build trust and credibility.
Imagine becoming the go-to source for individuals and businesses looking to demystify the often confusing world of insurance. This is a growing field that fulfills a critical need and offers plenty of opportunities for expansion and specialization. With the right approach, your insurance information business can become an indispensable resource for many seeking clarity in their insurance choices.
How much you can make: $13,000/month
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.
15. Start a family business
Ever thought about leveraging family strengths to build a business? A family business might be the way forward.
This concept involves family members pooling their skills, resources, and time to create a business grounded in mutual trust and shared vision. Whether it’s a local bakery, a boutique consultancy, or a small manufacturing unit, the operations are driven by family unity and commitment.
The appeal here is multifaceted: you get to work with people you inherently trust, tailor responsibilities to individual strengths, and collectively reap the rewards. Of course, managing personal and professional dynamics simultaneously requires careful planning and clear communication, but the payoff can be immensely satisfying.
Delve into a family business if you crave a blend of entrepreneurial spirit and familial bonds. It's a journey that calls for dedication and harmony but offers the prospect of creating a lasting legacy.
How much you can make: $40,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 330 days (?)
Blindster, a leading custom window treatment eCommerce retailer, achieved record sales of $39MM in 2020, experiencing a 60% increase over 2019, by focusing on over-the-top customer service with a six-week training program for customer service reps and a Fit-or-Free guarantee, among other marketing tactics.
16. Start a content writing company
Content writing involves writing, editing, and publishing content in a digital format. Examples of content include a blog post, product description, and podcast script—eBooks, press releases, or landing page content.
Becoming a content writer allows you to work as your boss. Therefore, you choose whatever working schedule suits you and take a manageable workload. Moreover, content writing helps you develop essential skills you may not obtain from regular writing.
Content writing is a highly-on-demand service, as companies compete for the online audience who often begin their shopping journey by searching for relevant and educative content online. Therefore, a content writing company is an excellent source of passive income.
To start a content writing company in Indonesia, research the market and choose a suitable niche. Sketch a proper business plan and create a website. Hire a pool of talented writers and leverage modern technology to streamline operations.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $550,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Scribly.io, a subscription-based copywriting service providing high quality content that helps businesses scale at roughly 50% of the cost of hiring in-house, created by Dani, a first-time entrepreneur who started with just a few hundred dollars worth of projects and with the help of three other writers; as of last month, Scribly.io topped $14K monthly revenue.
17. Start a bed and breakfast business
Bed and breakfasts have been around for a long time. Owners interact with customers while they benefit from affordable lodging.
Travelers nowadays have a high interest in experiencing local culture, ready to take on the adventure of meeting and interacting with others from different backgrounds and perspectives in order to get a unique taste of how a small town or even neighborhood might live.
The great thing about starting at home B&B in Indonesia is that you don’t need a degree in business. You only need enough capital to purchase essential items needed to open your very first one.
Listed are the steps to start a bed and breakfast business.
- Plan your business plan
- Secure needed permits, licenses, and certifications
- Hire Staff
- Open a bank account for business transactions
- Prepare your business for operation -Promote your business
18. Start a fashion accessories brand
Fashion accessories are an integral part of our wardrobes and are chosen specifically to compliment a person's outfit.
Typical fashion accessories include footwear, apparel, jewelry, wallets, handbags, hair accessories, and watches.
The global fashion accessories market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period (2021 - 2026).
How much you can make: $1,250 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Mazi + Zo offers high-quality and modern jewelry for sorority sisters and other women, developed by founder Lizzy Klein after discovering a lack of stylish options in the market, and is now expanding into the broader market with organic social media being the most successful channel.
19. Start a crypto loan service
Crypto loans are a great alternative to traditional loans. They are quick, transparent and have low-interest rates. However, they can be difficult to apply for, because they require the borrower to provide more information than traditional loans.
A crypto loan service creates a personalized experience for clients who borrow crypto loans. You can make their process smooth, transparent and efficient by providing them with a complete loan application, matching them with the right lender, and executing their loan quickly.
You can launch your own crypto loan service on this platform
20. Start an axe throwing business
Throwing axes is a great way to relieve stress, bond with friends and coworkers, and even make some money.
Axe throwing is a new and exciting activity that is growing in popularity, especially for corporate or business events.
How much you can make: $80,000 — $110,000/month
Forged Axe Throwing is a successful axe throwing venue that teaches people the art of axe throwing while hosting tournaments, generating $960k of revenue per year and hosting over 30k people in their venue in a year.
21. Start a security dogs training business
Guard dog businesses are becoming very popular, particularly in areas that have high levels of crime.
First, you must identify the local dog owners in your area, which is easy to do with the help of social media sites, such as Facebook and Nextdoor. You can even offer to hold training classes at the local community center or park.
The first steps in setting up your guard dog business are to:
- Establish your LLC or business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Guard Dog Business
- Get Guard Dog Business Insurance
How much you can make: $8,000/month
As a side hustle turned full-time job, Mary Thompson's Happy Hound University dog training business brings in an average of $6,000 a month and growing, with her best month yielding over $12,000, largely due to personal referrals from vets, animal shelters, and other dog owners.
22. Start a real estate marketing agency
If you're a marketing whiz, starting your own real estate marketing agency could be the perfect business idea for you. As a real estate marketing agency, you'll be responsible for creating and executing marketing campaigns for clients in the real estate industry. This could include tasks like developing marketing materials, managing social media accounts, and conducting market research.
To be successful in this business, you'll need to have strong marketing and people skills. You'll also need to be comfortable working with a variety of clients. If you have these skills, starting your own real estate marketing agency can be a great way to make money in the real estate industry.
The salaries for those in the Real Estate Marketing industry are varied. The average earnings hover around ₹21lakhs, but can reach up to 50 lakh rupees depending on your qualifications and experience level.
The current trend of people searching for properties online is making the real estate marketing agency more popular than ever. In order to market a property effectively online, real estate agents need to work with a marketing agency that knows how to do just that. This trend is only expected to continue, so now is a great time to get involved in the real estate marketing business!
This is a great business idea for those with strong marketing skills. You can work with a variety of clients, which can be great for networking and building your business.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Livit International, a support ecosystem and service provider for startups and scale-ups in Bali, has enabled 750+ entrepreneurs to build disruptive businesses with a global impact through its coworking spaces, innovation and event spaces, HR and Strategic Business Partner services, tech and non-tech recruitment, remote work education, and business support services.
23. Start a pet sitting business
A pet sitter is a professional who provides daily care for pets while the pet owners are at work or on vacation. The pet sitter's duties include:
- Cooking special meals for pets as instructed by pet owners.
- Reporting any behavioral issues to pet owners.
- Playing with the pets to encourage their mental and physical stimulation.
One of the advantages of working as a pet sitter is that it's not a stressful career. You also get to work with different animals while enjoying a work-life balance.
How much you can make: $15,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
A technician-turned-CEO built an in-home pet care enterprise that generates $8k per month by documenting business operations and empowering employees, inspired by the successes of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc and researcher Brené Brown's work on vulnerability and empathy in the workplace.
24. Open source library
Open-source libraries become a widely used method of software development, stories from some of the top names in the field can help you with your development or help build your confidence in adopting this methodology for your own projects.
Open-source libraries have a lot to offer the world of programming. The potential for improvement and simplification of a wide range of computer applications is huge. However, with so many options available, how are developers and architects to see which ones are right for them? Following open-source library success stories that could help you determine your best options.
How much you can make: $3,000 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 3 hours/week
Vuetify is a popular open-source user interface library, built with the Vue.js framework, that generates revenue through digital content and services such as paid digital content in the Vuetify store, direct support through consulting, ad revenue from Carbon ads on the documentation pages, and donations/sponsorships via GitHub and Patreon, generating an average income of $6,500 per month.
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.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
