Online creative business ideas you can start in the US

46 ideas

If you have a creative skill and would rather work from a laptop than a shop or studio, this page collects 46 online ideas to consider. Some turn your craft into teaching, such as online photography classes or online sewing lessons and courses.

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Under 1k1k to 5k5k to 20kOver 20kFrom homeOut and aboutOwn premises
Dealer showing a painting to a collector in a gallery.

Online art dealer for private collectors

Find, buy and resell artworks to collectors through your own website, social media and personal contacts.

  • $500-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,729 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.9% in a year
Visitors viewing colourful Aboriginal dot paintings hanging on gallery walls.

Online Aboriginal art gallery

Sell authentic Aboriginal artworks from Indigenous-owned art centers to US collectors through a website and private viewings.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,729 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.9% in a year
Decorator holding colour swatches beside a furnished living room.

Online decorating consultant

Offer room plans, mood boards and shopping lists to clients anywhere by video call and email.

  • $200-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
16,797 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.8% in a year
Designers reviewing logo sketches and brand boards around a table.

Niche branding agency with a small team

Specialize in one type of client, like restaurants or health practices, and deliver full brand identities with a small team.

  • $3k-15k
  • Full-time
  • Online
15,828 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.7% in a year
A production crew filming video content in a modern media studio.

Niche newsletter or podcast

Publish a newsletter or podcast on a topic or town you know well, funded by sponsors and loyal readers.

  • $200-2k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
9,763 US businesses with employees in this field, +6.3% in a year
Music producer working at a mixing desk in a recording studio.

Online music producer and mixer

Produce, mix and master songs remotely for artists who send you their recordings.

  • $500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
2,131 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
Designer working on a website layout on a laptop at a desk.

Niche website design studio with care plans

Specialize in one type of client, such as dentists or contractors, and offer set-price sites plus monthly upkeep.

  • $500-3k
  • Part-time
  • Online
68,051 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.0% in a year
Interior designer reviewing room layout plans with fabric and paint samples.

Online interior design packages

Sell fixed-price room design packages remotely: mood boards, layouts and shopping lists delivered by video call and email.

  • $300-2.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
16,797 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.8% in a year
Visitors viewing paintings on white walls in a gallery exhibition.

Online art gallery

Show and sell artists' work through your own website and earn commission on each sale.

  • $300-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,729 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.9% in a year
Editors reviewing printed book pages around a publishing office table.

Author-funded publishing press

Help local authors professionally edit, design and publish their books, with fees paid up front.

  • $1k-5k
  • Part-time
  • Online
2,347 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.8% in a year
Printed sheet music and songbooks stacked on a desk in a publishing office.

Online sheet music publisher

Publish your own arrangements and teaching pieces as PDFs and print-on-demand books for musicians and teachers.

  • $200-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
833 US businesses with employees in this field, -6.0% in a year
Engineer mixing music on a console in a professional recording studio.

Online mixing and mastering service

Mix and master tracks that artists send you online, with no need to host sessions in person.

  • $1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
2,131 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
Editor working on video timeline across two monitors in an editing suite.

Video editor for YouTubers and creators

Edit raw footage into polished videos for creators and small brands, working remotely from your own computer.

  • $300-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
3,144 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.1% in a year
Person reading an ebook on a tablet with digital audio and video icons.

Multimedia and audiobook title publisher

Turn books and guides into ebooks with audio, video or interactive extras and sell them online.

  • $1k-8k
  • Part-time
  • Online
2,347 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.8% in a year
Sheet music scores and licensing paperwork spread across a desk.

Online music licensing catalog for film, TV and video

Build a catalog of tracks you control and license them to filmmakers, ad makers and video creators.

  • $500-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
833 US businesses with employees in this field, -6.0% in a year
A designer sketching floor plans and drawings for a home extension.

Plan drafting for builders and developers

Produce permit-ready drawings remotely for builders, remodelers and small developers who need extra design capacity.

  • $1.5k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
22,805 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.8% in a year
Shelves of archived film reels and photograph boxes in an organised library.

Your own niche image and footage library

Run a specialist photo and film library on your own site and license it directly to publishers, agencies and businesses.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Part-time
  • Online
992 US businesses with employees in this field, -14.8% in a year
Rolls of newsprint running through a printing press producing daily newspapers.

Local online newspaper and newsletter

Publish local news on a website and email newsletter, earning from sponsors, ads and reader subscriptions.

  • $500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
5,851 US businesses with employees in this field, -4.0% in a year
Artist painting on a canvas in a light, airy studio.

Online art shop for prints and originals

Sell prints, originals and digital downloads of your art through your own online shop.

  • $150-1.2k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
38,677 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.6% in a year
Embroidery machine stitching a logo onto a polo shirt.

Online custom embroidery shop

Sell personalized embroidered gifts, hats and apparel online, made to order and shipped to customers.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
729 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.2% in a year

Online bead and findings wholesaler

Sell beads, clasps and jewelry supplies in bulk to makers and small shops through your own website and marketplaces.

  • $1.5k-7.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
1,984 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.5% in a year

Book and long-document formatting for authors

Format manuscripts into print-ready and e-book files for self-publishing authors and small organizations, all online.

  • $200-2k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,375 US businesses with employees in this field, -11.2% in a year

Online print-on-demand t-shirt store

Sell your own t-shirt designs online while a print partner makes and ships every order.

  • $100-800
  • Side hustle
  • Online
15,140 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.9% in a year

Online shop for small sculptures and editions

Sell smaller sculptures and limited editions online through your own site and marketplaces.

  • $500-3k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
38,677 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.6% in a year

About these ideas

Others sell creative work or supplies, like an online art gallery or a digital guides and ebooks publisher. These ideas suit people who enjoy their craft, are comfortable on camera or in front of a screen, and want flexible hours. Before choosing, think about who would pay for your skill, how you will reach them without a local footfall, and how much time you can give each week. Check whether you own the rights to everything you plan to sell or publish, and compare how much you would need to spend on equipment and software at the start.

More ideas

Questions

Which online creative business is easiest to start with little money?

Teaching or digital products usually need less upfront spending than stocked shops, since you mainly need a decent device, software, and a way to take payment. Compare the equipment and platform fees for each idea, and test interest with a small first offer.

Do I need to worry about copyright when selling creative work online?

Yes, it is worth checking. Confirm you own or have permission to use any images, music, patterns, or text you sell or teach from. Consider reading the US Copyright Office guidance and asking a qualified professional if you are unsure about licensing.

Do I need a business license or to collect sales tax for an online creative business?

It depends on your state, city, and what you sell. Check requirements with your state revenue department and local licensing office, including how digital products and physical goods are treated, and consider speaking with an accountant before you launch.