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5 Promising Online Business Opportunities for Newbies in 2024

6 min readMar 10, 2024

5 Best Online Businesses To Start In 2024 (For Beginners)

I found five of the best online businesses to start as a beginner in 2024. If you’re someone who’s been thinking about starting an online business but you’re not sure which one to choose, you came to the right place.

As someone who is part of different organizations with over a thousand business owners, it’s pretty easy for me to see which online businesses have a lot of success and which ones are incredibly difficult to break into.

Starting an online business can be a great way to achieve financial freedom and flexibility in your career. Let’s dive into the top five online business ideas for beginners in 2024.

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1. High-Ticket Remote Setter or Closer Business

Number one on the list is a high-ticket remote setter or closer online business. This is basically a sales-type role where you would either be a setter, making the initial contact with a lead, or a closer, selling the product or service to them. While closers tend to make more money, the role is harder to get into and requires a high level of skill. On the other hand, being a setter is easier to learn and land a job in, although it may not pay as much. Sales is a crucial skill for any online business owner, and it can be a great stepping stone from being an employee to running your own online business.

Industries for High-Ticket Remote Sales

There are many industries where you can find high-ticket remote sales roles, including:

Info product industry (selling high-ticket coaching or masterminds)
Solar industry
Insurance industry
Software industry (tech sales)

Appointment setters can typically earn between $5,000 to $10,000 per month, while high-ticket closers can make $10,000 to $15,000 per month, largely based on commissions. Developing sales skills is invaluable for any online business owner, as it helps you understand what your target audience wants and how to connect your product or service to their needs.

2. Social Media Marketing Agency (SMMA)

Next on the list is starting a social media marketing agency, or SMMA. While this online business model has been popular for a while, it can be challenging to break into and quite stressful to manage. I tried my hand at running an SMMA in the past and found that while it taught me the fundamentals of running an online business, I didn’t enjoy being at my clients’ beck and call. However, many successful online business owners started with an agency-style business like an SMMA because it’s easier to sell a “done for you” service than a “done with you” or informational product.

Transitioning from Done-For-You to Done-With-You

Many SMMA owners eventually transition from a done-for-you model to a done-with-you model, such as coaching or a more automated online business. This shift occurs because done-for-you services are difficult to scale and can be very stressful. Some successful SMMA owners work with businesses that offer a percentage of profit or revenue, which can be a more sustainable approach.

If you’re interested in learning digital marketing skills without starting your own online business right away, consider getting a job as a digital marketer. This can be a great way to get paid while learning in-demand skills that you can later apply to your own online business.

3. Freelance Writing Agency

Another online business idea for beginners is starting a freelance writing agency. There are many types of freelance writing you can specialize in, such as SEO (search engine optimization) content writing. The key to success in this online business is to niche down and become an expert in a specific area, such as e-commerce, SaaS (software as a service), or the info product industry. By focusing on one niche, you can establish yourself as an authority and attract high-paying clients.

Freelance Writing vs. Starting Your Own Blog

In addition to offering freelance writing services, you could also start your own blog as part of your online business. While not everyone who starts a freelance writing agency or blog will achieve the same level of success, the potential for high earnings is there. As with any online business, it’s essential to set realistic expectations and understand that you may experience some failures before finding the right model that works for you.

4. YouTube Channel

My personal favorite online business idea for 2024 is starting a YouTube channel. Many successful people, from Hollywood stars to billionaire entrepreneurs, are starting YouTube channels because of the massive opportunity the platform presents. Some YouTubers are transparent about their earnings, revealing that they make six or even seven figures per month. The key to success on YouTube is choosing the right niche — some YouTubers with less than 10,000 subscribers are earning millions of dollars a year because they’ve selected a profitable niche for their online business.

Why YouTube is the Best Online Business Opportunity

YouTube offers several advantages over other online business models and platforms:

It’s easier to make money on YouTube than on any other platform
You can build a loyal audience and establish yourself as an authority in your niche
There are multiple ways to monetize your channel, including ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing

Starting a YouTube channel as an online business does require dedication and hard work, but the potential rewards are significant. By consistently creating valuable content and engaging with your audience, you can build a successful online business on YouTube.

5. Affiliate Marketing

Finally, let’s discuss affiliate marketing as an online business model for beginners. Affiliate marketing involves promoting other companies’ products and earning a commission on each sale generated through your unique affiliate link. This model is appealing because you don’t have to create your own product or manage a company — you simply focus on driving traffic to the affiliate offer.

Pairing Affiliate Marketing with Other Online Business Models

However, driving traffic is one of the most challenging aspects of any online business. To succeed with affiliate marketing, you typically need to pair it with another online business model that involves traffic generation, such as starting a YouTube channel or a blog. By creating content that attracts your target audience and incorporating affiliate offers, you can build a profitable online business.

The simplicity of affiliate marketing, which allows you to focus on the single skill of traffic generation, is what makes it one of the best online business opportunities. A successful affiliate marketer can earn significant income by partnering with the right companies and products.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these are my top five recommendations for online businesses that beginners can start in 2024. While there are many other online business models out there, such as starting a software as a service (SaaS) company, the five I’ve discussed are the most beginner-friendly and offer the best chances of success. Keep in mind that starting an online business involves risk, and you may experience some failures before finding the right model that suits your skills and personality.

The key to success in any online business is persistence and a willingness to learn and adapt. By choosing one of these five online business models and dedicating yourself to mastering the necessary skills, you can build a thriving online business that provides you with financial freedom and the ability to work on your own terms.