Start an online sheet music publishing business

Private music teachers, students and parents, school band and choir directors, church musicians and hobby players.

You earn per download or per printed copy sold through your own website and online sheet music marketplaces. Bundles, songbooks and teacher packs raise the average order.

• Music notation software
• Arranging or composing
• Basic marketing and email
• Attention to detail when proofreading

• Copyright: arrangements of songs still under copyright usually need permission from the rights holder, so check print licensing before selling. Public domain and your own originals are safer.
• Check your state's sales tax rules for digital products and register if required
• Check marketplace terms and fees before choosing where to sell
• Consider registering your works with the US Copyright Office
• Check whether you need a local business license, and form an LLC if you want to separate personal and business liability

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $200 to $1,500, depending on the notation software and tools you choose and how you set up your shop. Print-on-demand means you hold no stock, which helps keep upfront spending down.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $100 to $1,000, depending on how many pieces you publish, where you sell them and how well you reach teachers and students. Fees on the marketplace you choose may reduce what you keep.

Arrangements of songs still under copyright usually need permission from the rights holder, so check print licensing before selling. Public domain material and your own originals are safer. Also check state sales tax on digital products and marketplace terms.