Online Business Ideas You Can Start in the United States

618 ideas

These 618 ideas all run mainly online, so you can serve customers across the country without renting a shop or office. They suit people who are comfortable working on a screen and want to test an idea with modest upfront costs.

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Shelves of model kits, craft supplies and board games in a family-friendly hobby shop.

Online hobby and model kit store

Sell model kits, paints and hobby supplies to enthusiasts online from a spare room or garage.

  • $1.5k-7k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
8,803 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.9% in a year
Shelves of kosher-certified packaged foods and household goods in a grocery store.

Online kosher grocery with local delivery

Sell kosher-certified groceries by online order and deliver or offer pickup to families in your area, without a full storefront.

  • $5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Online
62,947 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.5% in a year
Bride trying on a wedding dress during a fitting in a bridal boutique.

Online wedding dress rental

Rent out a curated range of wedding dresses by mail, with video or home try-on appointments.

  • $4.5k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
681 US businesses with employees in this field, -7.0% in a year
Customer service agents wearing headsets taking calls at desks in an office.

Small outsourced customer support team

Run a small team that handles customer calls and enquiries for online stores and software companies under contract.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Online
3,106 US businesses with employees in this field, -7.8% in a year
Financial adviser discussing pension and savings plans with a client at a desk.

Virtual fee-only financial planner

Help individuals and families plan savings, investing and retirement by video call, for a flat or hourly fee.

  • $3k-15k
  • Part-time
  • Online
23,359 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.9% in a year
Workers stacking solar panels and inverter boxes in an equipment warehouse.

Online solar kit and parts reseller

Sell solar panels, inverters and mounting kits online to DIY homeowners, cabin owners and small installers.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
13,379 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.6% in a year
Wheelchairs and walking aids displayed for customers in a supplier showroom.

Online daily living aids store

Sell grab bars, reachers, walking aids and other daily living products online to disabled people and carers.

  • $1k-6k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
10,170 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
Perfume bottles lined up on a shop counter with a customer sampling scents.

Online perfume shop with samples

Sell fragrances online, with small sample sizes so customers can try a scent before buying a full bottle.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
17,328 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.1% in a year
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
Loose cut diamonds spread on a dealer's velvet tray under light.

Online loose diamond dealer

Source certified loose diamonds and sell them to jewelers and private buyers online and by appointment.

  • $5k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Online
6,949 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
Accountant reviewing tax forms and using a calculator at a desk.

Online accountant for small businesses

Keep the books and file the tax returns for local small businesses, mostly remotely, on a monthly fee.

  • $1k-5k
  • Part-time
  • Online
47,699 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.7% in a year
Stacked irrigation pipes, pumps and fittings in a farm supply warehouse.

Online drip irrigation kit shop

Sell drip and sprinkler kits online to gardeners and small farms, shipped from a spare room or by your supplier.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
7,500 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.7% in a year
Recruiter meeting a senior executive candidate in a modern office.

Part-time headhunter for a few select searches

Take on one or two senior searches at a time alongside your job, using your professional network.

  • $300-2.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
5,897 US businesses with employees in this field, -5.5% in a year
Shelves of kitchenware, vases and décor items in a bright homeware shop.

Online homeware store

Sell decorative items and kitchenware online from a focused niche, with little or no stock held at home.

  • $500-4k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
11,046 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.6% in a year
Adult students following a teacher at a whiteboard in an English language class.

Online English tutor for adult learners

Teach English by video to learners abroad or nearby, one-to-one or in small groups.

  • $100-800
  • Side hustle
  • Online
1,558 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.6% in a year
Table and floor lamps displayed in a bright high-street lighting shop.

Online lighting store

Sell lamps, fixtures and bulbs online from home, focused on a niche like vintage or smart lighting.

  • $1.5k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
11,046 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.6% in a year
Stage lights hanging over a theatre stage during a live performance.

Online stage lighting reseller for churches and schools

Sell stage lighting packages online to churches, schools and bands, with advice and no big stock to hold.

  • $1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
10,248 US businesses with employees in this field, +6.8% in a year
Copper pipes, sheets and wire stacked in a metal supplier's warehouse.

Online copper sheet and offcuts shop

Sell cut-to-size copper sheet, tube, wire and offcuts online to makers, hobbyists and small shops.

  • $3k-15k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
8,608 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year
Person typing information from paper documents into a computer at an office desk.

Document data processing service

Lead a small team that handles ongoing data entry and document processing for offices, practices and companies.

  • $1k-5k
  • Part-time
  • Online
4,375 US businesses with employees in this field, -11.2% in a year
Shelves of tools and fixings inside a local hardware shop.

Online specialty hardware shop

Sell a focused range of fasteners, tools or fittings online from home, without paying for a storefront.

  • $2k-10k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
15,694 US businesses with employees in this field, +4.5% in a year
Close-up of steel ball bearings arranged on a workbench in a workshop.

Online bearing reseller

Sell ball, roller and plain bearings online to repair shops and small factories, shipped straight from your suppliers.

  • $1k-5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
9,605 US businesses with employees in this field, +6.0% 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
A bright teaching kitchen with an instructor guiding students at cooking stations.

Online live cooking classes

Teach cook-along classes over video from your own kitchen to students anywhere.

  • $300-1.5k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,657 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.5% in a year
Students learning hands-on skills in a vocational training workshop.

Online career training courses

Teach a job-focused skill or certification prep through live online cohorts, working from home.

  • $1.5k-8k
  • Side hustle
  • Online
4,657 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.5% in a year

About these ideas

Some are product businesses, such as an online specialty rice seller or an online electronic parts shop for makers. Others sell expertise, like an online career coach or online Chinese classes for kids and adults. Before you pick one, think about who your customer is, how they will find you, and whether you need stock, shipping or software. Also consider how much time you can give each week and whether you prefer selling products or services. Start with the two or three ideas that match your existing knowledge, then check the costs and rules that apply to them.

More ideas

Questions

How do I choose an online business that fits me?

Start with what you already know, what you enjoy doing daily, and how much time and money you can commit. Then check whether customers are already searching for it and whether you can reach them affordably through search, social media or marketplaces.

What should I check before starting an online business in the US?

Check whether your state or city requires a business license, how you should register the business, and whether you must collect sales tax on online orders. Rules vary by location and product, so confirm with your state agency or a qualified adviser.

Do I need a lot of money to start an online business?

Not always. Service ideas like coaching or tutoring may need little beyond a website and basic tools, while online shops often need stock, packaging and shipping. List your likely startup and monthly costs for each idea and compare them with your budget.