51 Tropical Island Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]
Interested in starting a tropical islands business in 2024?
We put together 51 of the best tropical island business ideas you can start in today.
For each island business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other tropical islands businesses to help you see what it really takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a tour guide business
Can you offer a native perspective of a town you know well? If yes, starting a tour guide business can be a significant business venture. Tour guides charge tourists per tour and provide visitors with an area with local tour narration and navigation.
To start a tour guide business, choose an area you know, and study its history. Visitors will often ask questions and expect you to answer them. Therefore, you have to be well-versed in the areas you will cover.
You can partner with a tour & travel company or a game park near you and offer the visitor's tour guide services.
2. Start an airbnb hosting business
Do you have an extra room or an unoccupied house in your home? You can turn that property into a revenue-generating asset by starting an Airbnb listing. Airbnb is one of the world’s largest accommodation platforms. According to experts, Airbnb’s future is undoubtedly bright.
Therefore, starting an Airbnb business can be rewarding. To start, prepare your Airbnb listing and set it up accordingly. To increase bookings, offer the best services, and encourage the guests to leave a positive review.
How much you can make: $35,000 — $270,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
HostButlers is Ireland's first professional property concierge service for short-term rentals on Airbnb, boasting over 200,000 hosted guests and profitability from month 5.
3. Start a surf brand
Tropical islands feature amazing beaches with calm waters and are great for surfing. The fantastic weather and calm waters make the beaches within the tropical islands an attractive destination for surfers.
Therefore, starting a surf brand in the tropical islands can be a profitable business. Alternatives include surfing lessons, surfing boards, and surfing accessories.
How much you can make: $8,000 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 67 days (?)
Ventana Surfboards & Supplies co-founder David Dennis discusses their environmentally responsible surf company that has seen their boards triple in value over the last three years, and has grown a profitable eco-apparel line, focusing on compelling content and stories to attract customers.
4. Start a travel blog
If you are an avid traveler, you will agree there is nothing like arriving on a tropical island. The exotic creatures, clear oceans, palm trees, plenty of water activities, and cool weather are some reasons travelers choose tropical destinations.
Do you live on a tropical island? Or maybe you are a blogger looking for the next idea. How about starting a blog relating to tropical island destinations? You can mention all the fantastic sightseeing sites, water activities, and other fun activities available to travelers.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,600,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)
Two friends started an online book club that now has 570 members and generates £10,500 MRR, by addressing the problem of 'Tsundoku,' charging a monthly subscription fee for one non-fiction book, one inspiring meetup, and one custom cocktail, inspiring conversation and community.
5. Start a vacation rentals business
Vacation rentals host travelers for a short period. Often located in top vacation destinations, vacation rentals feature spacious rooms and a cozy lifestyle and are cheaper than booking a hotel.
Building or buying a vacation rental is a smart way of creating a passive income without much involvement in the business.
To make money through the vacation rental business, ensure a strategic location, often nearby attractions. Choose an area that is easily accessible and desirable all year round and create a beautiful space for your guests.
Stand out by optimizing the vacation rental listing online and featuring all available amenities.
How much you can make: $1,500 — $295,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how a couple turned their childhood homes into vacation rentals, welcoming around 3k guests annually and generating an average revenue of $50k per year and property by focusing on a strong online presence and organic traffic.
6. Start a holiday decorating service
Holiday decorators make the interior and exterior of businesses and homes festive. While the holiday decoration business is seasonal, it is also highly profitable and requires minimal startup investments. You do not need any special training to start the holiday decorating business. However, being creative and having experience in decorating is crucial to running a successful business.
How much you can make: $20,000/month
Balloon Haus LLC, founded by Janeen Brown, is a successful balloon boutique generating an average of $20K/monthly, providing custom exquisite and trendy balloon installations and decorations to notable clients such as Instagram, Marriott, and American Express.
7. Rent party & events venue
Businesses use event venues for various purposes, including meetings, tradeshows, conferences, product launches, etc. On the other hand, individuals host birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations at event venues.
According to the latest statistics, the events industry is growing rapidly. Events provide a great marketing tool for businesses, and events are crucial for strengthening relationships.
The demand for event venues increases as individuals and corporates host more events annually. If you have some unused space and are enthusiastic about hosting events, you can start an events rental business.
To start, choose a niche, and market your business. You can focus on corporate events, social and entertainment events, or general venues suitable for any setting and party theme.
How much you can make: $3,500 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Akshay Patel's event rental and decor business, Simply Decor, Tents, and Events, saw an average ticket price of $2,000, as their advertising budget decreased from $20k to $5k, leading to 40% of their clients coming through social media advertising, 30% from expos, and 30% online in google, yahoo, and other platforms.
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 a cleaning business
Starting a cleaning business is an excellent opportunity to be your boss and make money doing what you love. This business is relatively easy to create and does not require much equipment or funds.
There are many cleaning services, so deciding what services (or combination of services) you will offer and what hours of the day or week those services will be available is essential.
To start cleaning service, you’ll want to consider investing in professional cleaning equipment such as a vacuum cleaner, a quality mop, and a good cleaning bucket. You will also need to buy environment-friendly cleaning products such as detergent, bleach, paper towels, and trash bags.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $708,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
MaidThis®, launched by Neel Parekh in Los Angeles with just one cleaner in 2013, has achieved over $10 million in total revenue by focusing on cleaning Airbnbs and vacation rentals, thanks to its successful remote business model and new-age marketing tactics, and has now launched MaidThis Franchise to expand the business further.
10. Start a resort hotels business
A resort provides accommodations and attractions conveniently located on the same premises. An ideal resort business on an island has an excellent prospect since many people love traveling. However, starting a resort can be overwhelming.
To start, ensure you have a solid business plan and scout the area you intend to purchase the property, ensuring it shall be well-positioned. Promote and market your resort to attract tourists.
How much you can make: $500,000/month
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.
11. Start a language learning app
Language learning apps use different activities and methods to assist users to expand their vocabulary and develop correct linguistic skills and general communication skills. The demand for global language learning apps has recorded a massive rise in the past decade and is expected to rise beyond $21.2 in the next few years.
Therefore, if you love linguistics or you have a passion for building apps that teach people a new language, then the language app business idea is worth diving into.
Here are basic steps to guide you through the journey of building a language learning app:
- Come up with an application concept
- Make a unique business analysis
- Define the feature set and make the requirements list
- Choose the technology stack based on the platform
- Develop the application design
- Create the content
- Develop full application version or MVP of your choice
- User testing
- Market and advertise the application
From the ideation stage to the final stage of your app development, focus on ensuring that your language learning application will have the following features:
- Gamification to encourage learners and bring on the competition
- Break down the courses into small chunks
- Provides learners with timely and relevant tips
- Variety of content and activities
- User-friendly design and interface
- Create a users’ community so they can interact and share tips
- Ensure a simple sign-in
- Regular assessment to test and score learner’s progress
Examples of language learning apps include Duolingo, Memrise, and LinguaLift.
How much you can make: $240 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $300 (?)
How long does it take to build: 227 days (?)
Gikken is a small, profitable European company founded by Alex that makes browser extensions and apps used by 800,000 people every month, with their flagship product, Mate Translate, generating around $18,000 a month, but monetizing their user base better is their top priority for the next year.
12. Start a beach wedding company
If you have been aspiring to start a business that relates to weddings, you may consider starting a beach wedding company. Beach weddings have a naturally intimate romantic vibe and can be a perfect fit for couples looking for a unique experience.
Besides, beach weddings can be cheaper since there is not much décor to do and the ceremony and reception take place in the same venue.
How much you can make: $165,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Florida-based Gulf Beach Weddings offers customized beach wedding packages and services across nine counties in the state of Florida and Alabama, conducting about 1,000 weddings a year and generating revenue of around $2 million annually, thanks in part to its trademarked Beach WeddingStudio software and focus on customer service.
13. Start a mobile photography business
Want to start your own photography business? You're not alone. With the rise of social media and photo-sharing, blogging, and online retailing, it's never been easier to start making money behind your camera.
There are photographers shooting weddings, creating images for ad campaigns, freelancing for magazines, touring the world, taking photographs of destinations — the list is endless!
To start mobile photography , research the target audience and determine which specialization area is more lucrative. Invest in high-quality, professional cameras, lenses, and a computer with professional software photo-editing software.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)
Photobooth Supply Co. offers a profitable business opportunity through their sleek and portable photo booths, with up to 97% satisfaction rate and a focus on customer experience, in a fast-growing event industry where photo booths are exploding.
14. Start a taxi cab business
If you are an experienced driver and know your city well, starting a taxi cab business can be a very lucrative side hustle.
Here are the steps on how to start a taxi cab business.
- Secure your business licenses
- Secure financing and purchasing equipment
- Purchase a commercial insurance
How much you can make: $250,000/month
Albert Williams grew a $3.5 million transportation company, The Best Deal, from a niche transportation sector; he attributes the company's success to providing excellent service and committing to continuous learning.
15. Start a tour company
Starting a tour company is a great way to bring your love of travel to life. You can share your passion with others and help make their dream vacations come true!
There are many types of tour businesses, so choosing something you are passionate about and knowledgeable about is best. Here are a few of the most popular tour companies to start:
- Food & Drink Tours
- Adventure & Sporting Tours
- Sightseeing & Historical Tours
- Shopping Tours
- and many more!
It’s also essential to determine what mode of transportation you want for your tour company, as this will determine the initial startup costs needed for your company.
To get started, find out if you need a license to operate in your state. Some states require tour companies to be licensed, while others do not. If you are required to be licensed, talk with the licensing agency to find out what steps must be taken before you can apply for that license.
How much you can make: $3,750 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
How Jessica Baumgart founded a successful food tour business in Denver, which broke even and started making a profit after just three months, generating $20,000/month in revenue from offering different food tour experiences.
16. Start a car rental business
Starting a car rental business can be a profitable venture for those interested in the auto industry.
Retail and corporate are the main segments within the car rental industry. Retail car rentals focus on individuals who rent cars for shorter periods, while corporate car rental targets companies that want to transport clients or employees.
If you are starting a car rental business , target airports, hotels, railway stations, commercial offices, and other high-traffic areas.
Market your business, hire employees who will manage the operations and keep records, and purchase business insurance for both cars and employees.
How much you can make: $870 — $10,000/month
How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)
ROAMERICA, a campervan rental company founded by Taylor Hood and Gretchen Bayless who quit their full-time jobs to focus on their business and have expanded their fleet quickly to meet the demand of adventure-seeking customers, with most of their web traffic coming from organic Google searches and a focus on social media and brand awareness.
17. Start a meal prep business
A meal preparation business is a service that delivers prepared meals to its clients in the comfort of their own homes. The meal preparation business is a fast-emerging niche that offers a real opportunity to earn good money. To succeed, the starter must be efficient in the meal preparation and ensure proper communication skills. Besides, the entrepreneur must keep time when it comes to delivery to avoid customer disappointment.
A global survey shows that demand for food delivery service is on the rise. This is as people get busier with their careers and other more important tasks, leaving limited time to prepare meals and bond with friends.
Therefore, starting a meal preparation business can be a great way to earn extra monies.
How much you can make: $50,000 — $600,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 6 days (?)
Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.
18. Start a gaming cafe
A gaming cafe is a place that allows players to rent time on computers and consoles to play video games.
These establishments are more of a 'hangout spot' where gamers can spend hours playing their favorite game, enjoy snacks, and socializing with friends or schoolmates.
The concept has spread around the globe and can now be found in many different countries, including the United States.
Starting a gaming cafe is a fun and rewarding way to make money. You can sell food and drinks, as well as rent out consoles and games for people to play. You can also run tournaments for cash prizes, or host events and parties.
How much you can make: $300 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 212 days (?)
PANIQ ROOM is a global network of immersive escape room experiences with 20 locations, generating annual revenue of $10 million, aiming to reach 30 locations, $15 million in revenue, and 400,000 players annually, while investing in in-house production capabilities with Indestroom and focusing on marketing through Google Ads, Groupon, and social media platforms.
19. Start a yoga tutoring business
Research has proven that yoga holds many health benefits. And with more and more people wanting to increase their quality of life, the demand for quality yoga trainers is rising daily. Take advantage of this growing industry and start a yoga business today. There is no doubt that being a yoga teacher is a gratifying job. Some benefits of starting a yoga business are:
- You can start it from your home
- You can explore more
- You have a low-stress way to test the waters
- No significant investment is needed
Here we have all that you need to start an online yoga tutoring business:
- Get your certification
- Pick your specialty
- Pick a name and a logo
- Decide on a marketing and execution plan
How much you can make: $10,000 — $59,000/month
How long does it take to build: 275 days (?)
Yoga Strong, a performance fitness accessories company, developed the perfect quality yoga mat with "Composite Technology," sourcing materials from over 200 yoga mat tests, and uses limited drops and influencer and affiliate partnerships to attract and retain customers, all while showing close to $10,000 in monthly sales.
20. Become a travel agent
Travel agents offer advice on destinations, plan trips, and itineraries, and make travel arrangements for clients. In addition, travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and admission to entertainment activities.
Starting a travel agency can be fun and rewarding.
To get started, complete relevant tours and travel training, do market research and competitor analysis, then create a website so you can be found by travelers.
How much you can make: $165,000 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 270 days (?)
How a first-time founder grew the first-ever online travel agency in Bangladesh to 700+ airlines and one million-plus hotels worldwide, with a 50% increase in revenue in October 2021 compared to pre-Covid sales and aiming to hit break-even by March 2022.
21. Start a craft business
If you have artistic passion and the skills to make unique art, consider starting a craft business. Craft businesses make jewelry, clothing design, card making, painting, sculpting, ceramics, among others.
According to research, the global handicraft market size will reach over $1252 billion in the next decade.
The best websites to sell your crafts include:
How much you can make: $1,000 — $80,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
A patch embroidery business based in New York City has grown to earn $6,500 per month on average within 18 months of starting, thanks to no custom embroidered minimum patches and a strong Instagram presence, with a future focus on B2B customers.
22. Start a coffee shop
Starting a coffee shop is an exciting and rewarding venture. It's a business that can be started with relatively little capital, and there are many ways to make it profitable. Coffee shops feature a low-cost stock but are profitable businesses.
If you plan to open a coffee shop, you may purchase a franchise, buy an existing business, or start from scratch. Whichever the decision, ensure a strategic location and renovate the space to create an inviting atmosphere. Develop a fantastic offering and begin marketing the business even before you open.
How much you can make: $3,000 — $15,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
New Zealand-based Fernweh is a subscription service that offers subscribers a new coffee roaster featured in the country each month, delivering coffee, tasting notes, and a story about the producer in a unique package for around $40 a month.
23. Start a laundromat
The first laundromat opened in the United States in 1887. It was invented by the entrepreneur Josephine Cochrane, who was frustrated with having to wash her family’s laundry by hand.
The laundromat is a self-service facility that provides washing and drying machines for personal use. There are many different types of machines available, including coin-operated ones and those that require a card. They also provide various types of detergents and fabric softeners for use with the machines.
A laundromat can make a lot of money if it is in the right location and has the right prices.
How much you can make: $9,300 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Pick My Laundry, India's on-demand laundry and dry-cleaning service provider has developed a mobile app and website serving almost 50,000 customers in its first year after signing up 100 third-party laundry services and franchising its model with over 50 franchises across more than 15 Indian cities.
24. Start a swimwear line
Are you interested in a textile business? If you live near a beach, a potential business idea can be swimwear. People wear swimwear when going for an afternoon of water activities. Therefore, starting a swimwear line can be a great business idea if you live near a beach or a swimming pool. Swimwear shops stock men’s and women’s attire.
How much you can make: $800 — $40,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $9,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Junk in your Trunks is a sustainable swim trunk brand that uses recycled plastic bottles, reporting up to $25K in monthly revenue and gaining traction with a Barstool Sports partnership.
25. Start a hotel booking platform
The explosively popular Airbnb and countless similar services have proven that the market for home and apartment rentals is growing rapidly.
As an entrepreneur who loves travel, you see an opportunity to extend this model to hotels.
That’s why you start a hotel booking platform where travelers can search for and book accommodations worldwide.
The market size of the online hotel booking platform industry worldwide amounted to nearly $518B in 2020.
Starting a hotel booking platform can be so interesting as an idea that can proliferate. It doesn’t require any license, no inventory — only mobile phones, an internet connection, and some motivation to succeed.
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
26. Open an ice cream parlour
Ice cream is something that people of all ages equally enjoy globally, making it a profitable business to venture into.
This frozen dessert industry has registered massive growth in recent years, a trend that shows the industry’s potential.
If you are looking to start your ice cream business, follow these steps:
- Decide whether to make your ice cream or to source from established ice cream brands
- Write an effective business plan for the ice cream shop detailing the goals, strategies, and plans
- Fund your business idea
- Choose a spacious shop in an area with plenty of foot traffic
- Offer different ice cream flavors
Opening an ice cream parlor is not easy work. However, if you do it right, it is rewarding and can be a lot of fun.
How much you can make: $16,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 730 days (?)
The Good Scoop, a California-based artisanal ice cream shop, started with a small Italian countertop ice cream maker and now has a production facility, wholesaling to various venues, offering frequent scooper programs, and using Instagram as their primary advertising platform.
27. Start a fitness center
Are you interested in starting a business that revolves around health and body fitness? How about setting up a fitness center?
A fitness center business is a health, recreational, and social facility geared towards exercise and other physical activities. These centers serve people who may want to do workouts to get into shape and improve their overall health.
The health and fitness industry is one of the fastest-growing industries today. Some factors behind the sector’s popularity include a health-conscious population who want to avoid lifestyle-related illnesses, social media influence, and a shift towards better healthcare.
Starting a fitness center business can be a fun and profitable venture. If you plan to start the business, secure a good location, and equip your fitness center adequately. You may choose to operate entirely online or a hybrid model where you have the physical fitness center and the online one.
How much you can make: $20,000 — $59,000/month
How long does it take to build: 145 days (?)
BioFit is a fitness studio that offers safe and effective exercise through high-intensity training (HIT) methodology, using adaptive resistance exercise (ARX) machines that can achieve results in as little as 20 minutes a week, with an 80% closing ratio, over 70% client retention, 125 clients, and an average monthly revenue of $20k.
28. Start a babysitting service
If you have some spare time at home, you can start babysitting services for couples who need extra support.
Here are the steps on how to start a babysitting business.
- Avail for training/credentials related to babysitting
- Register your business
- Apply for Licenses/Permits
- Open a bank account for business transactions
29. Start a sauna service business
Have you ever felt so tired that you wished you could jump into a steam room or a sauna? You are not alone. Sauna and steam room improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress. Thus, many people will even pay for a sauna or steam bath just to enjoy the relaxation. Therefore, opening a sauna and steam bath business can be profitable.
How much you can make: $59,000 — $60,000/month
How long does it take to build: 282 days (?)
Live Fit, a personal training company founded in 2011, grew from earning $80,000 in their first year with two trainers to earning over $760,000 in 2019 with 12 trainers and two locations, thanks to a focus on building trusting relationships and providing a variety of services to clients.
30. Start a restaurant
If you love cooking and are passionate about entrepreneurship, starting a restaurant can be a fun and lucrative business.
To get started, choose a great location, and hire an excellent support team. You will need a chef to inspect the food and line cooks, waiters, and waitresses to serve the customers. No matter the restaurant type, you need great culinary and business skills to make your dream come true.
If you plan to open a restaurant , gain insight from consumer preferences and focus on serving modern consumers what they need.
How much you can make: $124,998 — $2,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
One Life Meals is a Toronto-based healthy meal delivery service that made 14,500 meals per month and generated $130k in monthly sales in 2018 through their one-on-one consultation, lean protein and seasonal veggies-based meals, and their focus on the client experience.
31. Start a sea food restaurant
Seafood restaurants can be a fun way to become an entrepreneur and earn a living. Start by picking the type of seafood restaurant to open. This is especially important if the target area has other seafood establishments. Then, create a working budget and write a good business plan for a seafood establishment. Secure working capital and legitimize your business to avoid trouble with the local authorities.
Finally, contract reliable seafood suppliers, hire staff and market your business.
32. Start a casino hotels business
A casino hotel is an establishment consisting of a casino with temporary lodging and a hotel. Customers have access to gambling facilities, lodging, and other catering services under the same roof.
Casino amenities are profitable businesses, with much of their profits coming from gambling activities. However, they require certain licensing and permit guidelines that may differ from other catering businesses.
33. Start a juice bar
The increasing popularity of healthy juices and low start-up costs make starting a healthy juice shop appealing.
To start a healthy fresh juice business, prepare a business plan, create juice recipes and ensure you have the licenses and permits to sell fresh juice. Locate local producers and source fresh fruits for your business.
34. Start a jet ski rental business
Are you looking for a business you can start within the coastal locations? A jet ski rental business can be excellent if you target areas that attract water sports tourists. According to industry experts, the global market size for the water sports gear market will reach $55.2 billion in the next decade.
Therefore, starting the ski jet rental business can be a profitable business. To venture into the ski rental business, you may start alone or consider starting as a franchise partner. For an absolute beginner in this industry, a franchise would be advisable.
35. Become a face painter
Popular at children's parties, weddings, and even some corporate events, face painting is a great creative activity that sparks joy among people of all ages.
If you love making people happy and helping them celebrate different events in life, consider starting a face-painting business.
If you are planning to start a face painting business on a professional basis, it would be wise to take an introductory training course to learn the basics of face painting and the safety and health precautions involved in the business.
How much you can make: $25,000/month
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
How a recent college graduate started COOLERSbyU, a paintable cooler and accessories business geared towards Greek life and DIY crafting, growing from a few thousand dollars to an average of over $25k per month in just four years through mostly organic growth and a focus on SEO.
36. Start a resort hotels business
A resort provides accommodations and attractions conveniently located on the same premises. An ideal resort business on an island has an excellent prospect since many people love traveling. However, starting a resort can be overwhelming.
To start, ensure you have a solid business plan and scout the area you intend to purchase the property, ensuring it shall be well-positioned. Promote and market your resort to attract tourists.
How much you can make: $500,000/month
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.
37. Start a surprise travel agency
Are you looking for a scalable side hustle idea and one that allows you some flexibility?
A surprise travel agency is a good option that will enable you to choose a friendly niche market.
Besides, a surprise travel agency lets you gain exposure and experience while it is an opportunity with unlimited income potential.
If you love sharing travel recommendations and always find the best local spots when you visit a new city, this will be ideal for you.
How much you can make: $15,000 — $550,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 7 hours/week
Whisked Away Surprise Travel is a curated travel service for clients overwhelmed by the planning process, with revenue growth exponentially increasing each year since its launch in March 2017.
38. Start a fast food business
Fast food kiosks utilize ordering kiosks where patrons order food before taking a seat. The business model cuts the wait times by offering faster service and sending orders directly to the kitchen.
Starting a food kiosk allows you to reach a wider audience and comes with a reduced burden on staff. Therefore, food kiosks are a low-expense business with the potential to generate higher profits.
How much you can make: $124,998/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Andrew Buehler launched Urban Smokehouse, the world’s first digitally native BBQ brand, through a Summer Kickstarter campaign, raising over $30,000 in pre-orders; since then, the company has achieved monthly sales of over $5,000 split between their website and in-person pop-ups and events, relying heavily on word of mouth and organic social media.
39. Start a fruit delivery business
With today's busy lifestyles, people have turned to food delivery services. You can start a fruit delivery business, where you source fruits from reputable farms or groceries and deliver them to customers at a fee.
Alternatively, you can grow your own fruits and vegetables and deliver them to customers.
How much you can make: $5,000/month
Honeydew Lists mails editable honeydew melons for a unique way of creating a "honey-do" list, attracting 30 customers on its initial launch and anticipating $5000 revenue within its first month.
40. Start a skin care product line
The skincare business is a multi-billion dollar one, and it shows no sign of slowing down. New anti-aging products are entering the market at a nearly exponential rate, and the competition for consumers' money is growing more and more.
The industry was valued at 130 billion USD in 2021 and will expand at an annual growth rate of 4.6% up to 2030. This is surely a type of business that you should not miss. You'll need to build your creativity on your products and make sure that it is all safe and useful in improving the skin of your customers.
How much you can make: $300 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Two moms start a side hustle selling all-natural body products, doubling sales since their launch in 2017 with over 75 craft shows, promoting a non-profit source for their shea butter and self-promotion through podcasts, lining up retail interest from exposure.
41. Start a recreational boat rental service
Boat hiring and boat rental services are tapping into the booming market of the experience economy. Today, most consumers prioritize experience over material items. Boat rental services are necessary, not just for tourists but also for family, couples, friends, and even solo. Investing in the right recreational boat rentals can have a significant return on investment.
Listed are the steps to start a recreational boat rental service business.
- Register your business name
- Permit and licenses to operate
- Obtain equipment for the operation
- Hiring staffs
- Organize your business and activity flow
- Promote your business
42. Start a mini golf business
Minigolf or miniature golf is a viable opportunity for entrepreneurs looking for a fun and entertaining business opportunity within the sporting sector.
Typically, mini golf focuses on aspects of its parent game, and it's played on courses consisting of a series of holes that feature short lengths.
Starting a mini golf business is not as difficult as you may think. You can choose to become a mini golf creation and contracting company or set up a mini golf course, where you charge the players per session.
Like any business, know your market and choose the right location for your business.
43. Start a fishing business
Are you passionate about fishing and wishing to start a business? If yes, then the fishing business is fun and can be profitable if done right. Fish and fish-based food are consumed globally and can be a great source of nutrients.
There are different options if you are interested in starting a fishing business. You can start a fish farm in your backyard, do sea fishing, offer fishing classes, or rent fishing equipment to recreational and commercial anglers.
How much you can make: $100,000/month
Captain Experiences, a platform for booking outdoor sports guides, has reported booking over 47,000 hours in outdoor sports and partnering with over 1,200 guides since launching in March 2020, with a 4.9/5 star review average.
44. Start an apartment rental business
An apartment is a private residence divided into several separate dwellings. If you are interested in starting an accommodation and housing-related business, apartment rental can be a good fit. Your target customers can be business executives, dignitaries, travelers, etc.
To start your business, look for a strategic location and build or buy a ready property. When purchasing an apartment, you may need to renovate the property to be suitable for rental.
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
45. Start a community museum business
A community museum is an exhibition and gathering space for specific identity groups or geographic areas. Museums not only provide a sense and place for celebrating collective heritage, they are also a profitable economic activity.
If you know about a particular community and its economic activities, you can start a museum.
46. Start a speed boat rental business
Boat hiring and boat rental services are tapping into the booming tourism sector. Water activities have become a significant tourist attraction, especially in coastal areas. Thus, boat hiring and rental are among the most attractive maritime business opportunities.
47. Start a gift shop kiosk
The gifting culture is a trend that will not end anytime soon. People will look for customized or surprise gifts for their friends, parents, relatives, and colleagues.
Do you love the gifting tradition and looking for a chance to help others improve their gifting experiences? Maybe you can start a gift kiosk in your neighborhood.
A Gift kiosk sells greeting cards, books, candy, jewelry, fragrance, inspirational gifts, and baby and fashion items. To start, identify the niche, and set up the shop at a strategic location. It would be best to have high-quality suppliers so your business stands out and attracts return customers.
How much you can make: $800,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Meet Tyler Macke, the 21-year-old founder of SendAFriend, an e-commerce brand that sells stuffed animal care packages, which began with $50k in revenue in 2019 and is now on track to make $5M in revenue this year, while donating 10% of revenue to children's hospitals throughout the United States.
48. Start a boat cleaning service
Boat cleaning is a low barrier to entry business, with high-profit margins and low competition. If you love working on boats and looking forward to starting a boat business, this could be your best time to start the boat cleaning business.
To start a boat cleaning business, target the regions where boats are a popular means of transportation and fishing. Advertise your business, and focus on offering superior service so customers keep returning and referring your services to others.
49. Start a boating tours business
Boat tour is a relatively short trip taken for touristic reasons or fishing. If you are interested in water activity related business, you can start boat tours. Customers pay per hour or by distance covered.
50. Start a bungee jumping service
Bungee jumping is an action-filled recreational activity involving head-first jumping from a tall structure. If you have bungee jumping experience and are interested in earning from the business, consider starting the Bungee jump.
Bungee jumping is becoming a popular entertainment. However, starting the sporting activity can be cash-intensive. The business demands upfront startup capital for equipment buying, licensing, and marketing.
51. Become a bed and breakfast owner
Bed and breakfast is a sort of hybrid between a luxury hotel and a private home. The host offers the guests affordable accommodation featuring a bed and breakfast at the room's price. B&Bs offer affordable accommodations and are becoming popular among travelers who prefer a private setting.
If you have realistic expectations, B&B can be a profitable and enjoyable business. To start, you can renovate and turn your home into an inn. Alternatively, you can build or buy a ready house and convert it into a modern B&B.
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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.
