Looking for real online businesses that you can start from anywhere? Over the years, I’ve worked from so many different places – my sailboat in the Bahamas, our RV while road-tripping across the U.S., a cabin deep in the mountains, and more. And every time, I think the same thing: I’m so glad I started…
Looking for real online businesses that you can start from anywhere?
Over the years, I’ve worked from so many different places – my sailboat in the Bahamas, our RV while road-tripping across the U.S., a cabin deep in the mountains, and more. And every time, I think the same thing: I’m so glad I started an online business.
If you’ve ever dreamed of working for yourself and running a small business, setting your own hours, or even traveling while you work, starting a real online business might be one of the best things you can do. There are so many flexible and legitimate ways to earn money online, and the best part is – you can do it from anywhere in the world.
You don’t need a big budget to get started, either. Many of the ideas below can be started with just a laptop and Wi-Fi. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, digital nomad, or just looking for a change, these real online businesses can give you the freedom you’re looking for.
22 Real Online Businesses You Can Start From Anywhere
Yes, these are real businesses that you can start and run from anywhere in the world, even your couch.
Recommended reading:
1. Blogging
Starting a blog changed my life – literally. It started as a fun side project, and now it’s grown into a full-time income that has supported our travels and helped me save for early retirement.
For me, it is my favorite way to work online from anywhere.
Blogging is a real business that can earn money through income streams like:
- Affiliate marketing
- Display ads
- Sponsored posts and sponsorships
- Digital product sales
Blogging can take time to grow, but once you get traffic and start monetizing, it can turn into a semi-passive income stream. And yes, you can blog from anywhere with an internet connection.
Plus, you can learn how to start a blog in my free How To Start a Blog Course.
2. Selling printables or digital products
Printables are a fun and low-cost way to make money online. You can create planners, budgeting sheets, homeschool materials, checklists, wedding signs – really anything that someone can download and print.
Once your product is created, you can sell it over and over again without doing much extra work, which makes it a great way to make semi-passive income.
You can learn more at How I Made $6,161 in Just 4 Months With a New Etsy Printables Shop.
3. Remote cleaning business
Yes, you can run a local cleaning business, completely online. This is because you can hire independent cleaners in your area and manage everything from your laptop or phone (such as bookings and finding cleaners).
This is a great semi-passive business if you want to run something real but not do the physical work yourself.
You can learn more at How To Start a Remote Cleaning Business and Make $100,000+ Each Year.
4. Proofreading or editing services
If you have an eye for grammar and spelling, proofreading can be a great online business to run from anywhere. Proofreaders check for grammar, punctuation, formatting, and consistency.
You can find proofreading and editing work on Upwork, Fiverr, and by directly reaching out to business owners.
Also, there is a FREE 76-minute workshop where all of the most common questions about becoming a proofreader are answered. You can sign up for free here.
5. Social media management
Many business owners need help managing their Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, or other social media accounts. If you love social media and understand how to grow an account, this can be a fun online business.
Examples of tasks that you might do include:
- Plan and schedule posts
- Create graphics
- Respond to comments
- Analyze engagement stats
- Brainstorm campaign ideas
You can find clients by selling services locally, reaching out to small business owners, networking online, or on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
6. Print On Demand
Print-on-demand (POD) is where you sell custom-designed products like T-shirts, mugs, and tote bags without actually having any inventory or doing the printing yourself.
When someone orders, the item is printed and shipped by a third party. That means no storage, no shipping, and low startup costs.
You can learn more at How I Make $7,500 Monthly Selling Print-On-Demand Gifts.
7. Online course creation
Creating an online course is a great way to turn what you know into income. Whether you’re great at organizing, budgeting, painting, parenting, or something else, there’s probably a topic that you can teach about.
Learn more at How I’ve Made Over $1,000,000 From My First Course Without a Big Launch.
8. Bookkeeping
You don’t need to be an accountant or have a degree to start a bookkeeping job. A bookkeeper helps manage and track the financial side of a business.
You can sign up here for a free training that will teach you more about how to become an online bookkeeper and work from anywhere.
9. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of my favorite ways to earn online, and it’s how I make a large portion of my income each month.
With affiliate marketing, you earn money by recommending products or services and earning a commission when someone makes a purchase or signs up through your link.
Recommended reading: What You Need To Know About Affiliate Marketing For Beginners
10. Translating
If you’re fluent in more than one language, translation is a flexible online business that you can start from anywhere. Businesses, websites, and publishers need content translated into different languages, and you can get paid well for this skill.
11. Transcription
Transcription involves listening to audio and typing what you hear. This can be done in flexible chunks of time and doesn’t require talking to anyone, which is great for introverts!
Recommended reading: 18 Best Online Transcription Jobs For Beginners To Make $2,000 Monthly
12. Write your own book
Writing and publishing your own book is more doable than ever. You don’t need a publisher – platforms like Amazon KDP make it easy to self-publish.
13. Sell handmade items online
If you’re crafty, turning your handmade creations into a business is a fun and fulfilling path. Whether you make candles, jewelry, art, or even homemade soap, people love buying unique, handmade items.
14. Online tutoring
If you enjoy teaching or explaining things clearly, online tutoring can be a great way to earn money. You can tutor on topics like elementary or high school subjects, SAT or ACT prep, English as a second language (ESL), college-level topics, and more.
15. Stock photography
If you already take a lot of photos or want to learn, stock photography can turn your creative hobby into income. Bloggers, marketers, and businesses need photos all the time.
16. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
Amazon FBA is a way to sell physical products online without doing the shipping yourself. You send your inventory to Amazon, and they handle packaging, delivery, and returns.
17. Membership site
Membership sites allow you to build recurring monthly income by selling exclusive content, community access, or digital products.
18. Online coaching or consulting
If you have experience in a certain field, you might be able to turn that into a coaching business. This could be in areas like life coaching, business coaching, career coaching, fitness, or health.
19. Virtual event planner
More and more events are being hosted online, and someone needs to plan them! From business summits to online baby showers, virtual events are here to stay.
20. Freelance writing
Freelance writing is one of the most beginner-friendly online businesses to start. If you enjoy writing and have basic grammar skills, you can get started with little money.
21. Virtual assistant services
Virtual assistants (VAs) help business owners with everything from managing emails to scheduling social media to customer service. And the great thing is, this work can sometimes come with a flexible schedule that can be done from anywhere.
22. Graphic design
Graphic design is a valuable and in-demand skill, and one that can be turned into a successful online business. Graphic designers can make things like logos, branding kits, websites, blog graphics, Pinterest pins, eBook covers, printables, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about real online businesses that you can start from anywhere.
Do I need a lot of money to start an online business?
No! Many online businesses can be started with less than $100 and some with almost no money at all. I started many of the online businesses on the list above with nothing other than the laptop I already had and Wi-Fi.
How long does it take to make money from an online business?
It depends. Some see results in a few weeks, others can take a few months. Being consistent matters for a lot of online businesses.
Do I need to be tech-savvy?
Nope. Most platforms are beginner-friendly and have tutorials. You can learn as you go or outsource tasks. For all of the online businesses that I have started, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing! I learned as I went, I made a lot of mistakes, and now I have a successful online business that I love and can do from anywhere.
Can I run these while traveling or staying home with kids?
Yes! There are many online businesses that you can do while traveling or staying home with kids. I have a child, and I am able to easily bring my business everywhere we travel.
What’s the most beginner-friendly online business?
I think virtual assisting, transcribing, and selling printables are great places to start.