Online business services ideas you can start in Australia

44 ideas

These 44 ideas all serve other businesses or households through a website, email and video calls, so you can run them from wherever you have a reliable connection. They suit people with a work background to draw on, such as admin, finance, HR or sales, who want to turn it into a service.

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1k to 5k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premises
Scientific instruments and glassware arranged on a laboratory bench with a researcher.

Online niche lab supplies shop

Sell a focused range of lab consumables and small instruments online to schools, clinics and small labs.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Staff at desks processing data on computers in a shared administrative office.

Small team back-office outsourcing

Build a small team that handles admin, data processing and customer support for businesses on ongoing contracts.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Online
Local business owners chatting and exchanging contacts at a networking breakfast.

Online business networking community

Host online meetups for small business owners in a niche or region, funded by a membership fee.

  • A$200-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Person typing information from paper documents into a computer at an office desk.

Data processing service for business clients

Run a small team handling regular document processing, invoice entry and database upkeep for ongoing business clients.

  • A$1.5k-7k
  • Full-time
  • Online
Branded pens, mugs and tote bags displayed on a table ready for printing.

Online branded merchandise service for businesses

Run a website-led merch service for staff gifts, uniforms and events, with orders sourced from local and overseas suppliers.

  • A$1.5k-7k
  • Part-time
  • Online
A worker processing healthcare invoices and claim forms at a desk with a computer.

Billing service for specialists and larger practices

Run the full billing and debt follow-up for specialists and busy practices, with a small team as you grow.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Full-time
  • Online
A job seeker's CV and laptop on a desk during a writing session.

Online CV and cover letter writer

Write and polish CVs, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles for job seekers, all by email and video call.

  • A$100-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Stack of plain white envelopes arranged on a warehouse shelf.

Online envelope and stationery shop

Sell envelopes in set sizes and colours to small businesses online, with stock from a wholesaler.

  • A$500-2.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Stack of sanding discs and grinding wheels displayed on shop shelves.

Online abrasives shop for trade and DIY buyers

Sell sanding discs, grinding wheels and sheets online from home and post them to tradies and workshops.

  • A$2k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
A forklift moving stacked pallets of goods through a large wholesale warehouse.

Online niche wholesale supplier

Buy a focused range in bulk and sell it to small retailers and businesses through a simple online trade store.

  • A$3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Couple viewing a holiday resort apartment with a pool and sea view.

Online timeshare resale broker

Help timeshare owners list and sell their holiday weeks online, paid by commission only when a sale completes.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Online
Accounting team reviewing financial reports together in a modern office.

Online bookkeeping, BAS and payroll service

Keep small business books, lodge BAS and run payroll for clients remotely, around your other work.

  • A$1k-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Consultant reviewing budget charts with a client on a laptop in an office.

Online household budgeting coach

Coach individuals and couples to build a budget, tackle everyday money habits and plan for goals, over video calls.

  • A$300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
A consultant presenting a branding strategy chart to a client in a meeting room.

Online marketing consultant for one niche

Specialise in one type of business, such as online shops or health clinics, and serve clients across Australia remotely.

  • A$1k-5k
  • Part-time
  • Online
Branded branded gift boxes and merchandise arranged for corporate giving.

Online corporate gift and hamper shop

Run a website selling curated gift boxes and hampers that businesses order in bulk for clients and staff.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
A career adviser discussing job options with a young person across a desk.

Online career coach

Help people choose a career, update their résumé and prepare for interviews over video calls.

  • A$300-2k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Pallets of paper reams stacked in a distribution warehouse.

Online specialty paper reseller

Sell specialty and bulk paper online to local businesses, shipped direct from your supplier.

  • A$1k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Operator with headset taking a call and writing a message at a desk.

After-hours and overflow answering service

Run a small team covering evenings, weekends and busy-hour overflow for clinics, trades and property managers.

  • A$2k-10k
  • Part-time
  • Online
Accountant reviewing tax forms and using a calculator at a desk.

Online tax return service for individuals

Prepare individual tax returns online for employees and sole traders, busiest from July to October.

  • A$1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
Rolls of tape, cardboard boxes and bubble wrap stacked in a packaging supply store.

Online packaging supplies for small sellers

Sell boxes, mailers and tape online to small businesses that pack and post orders, shipped from a spare room or garage.

  • A$1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • Online

Medical transcription bureau with a small team

Run a small remote team that handles dictation and reports for several clinics under one contract.

  • A$3k-12k
  • Part-time
  • Online

Online hiring and onboarding support

Help employers write job ads, shortlist candidates and onboard new staff, all done remotely.

  • A$300-2k
  • Side hustle
  • Online

Online mediation service

Run mediation sessions by video from home for people and small businesses in dispute, in any part of your state or beyond.

  • A$2k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Online

Online health cover help for students and visa holders

Guide international students and temporary visa holders to the right health cover, with clear online guides and video calls.

  • A$800-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Online

About these ideas

Examples include an online bookkeeping, BAS and payroll service, online hiring and onboarding support, and an online corporate gift and hamper shop. Before choosing, think about who your first customers would be and how you would reach them. Check whether the work needs a licence, registration or insurance, and whether you would be selling your time or products. Start with the idea that fits skills you already have.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need a licence or registration to offer business services online in Australia?

It depends on the service. Work such as BAS, tax or financial advice may involve registration or other requirements, while consulting or admin support often does not. Check with the relevant regulator, such as the ATO or ASIC, and a professional adviser before you start.

How do I find my first clients for an online business service?

Start with people who already know your work, such as past employers, colleagues and local small businesses. Then consider a simple website, a LinkedIn profile and a clear offer for one type of customer. It helps to test your pricing with a few clients before widening your reach.

What should I set up before taking on online clients?

Check whether you need an ABN, whether GST registration applies to you, and what insurance suits your work, such as professional indemnity. Also look at client agreements, privacy obligations when handling customer data, and secure tools for storing files. An accountant can confirm what applies.