Inspiration for a new business venture can strike anywhere if you’re looking for a new venture- whether you’re ready to dive all in or start a side hustle.
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business, this post is for you. Finding a business idea that keeps you interested, passionate, and having fun can make success significantly easier. With access to a global audience, there are many opportunities these days.
We have a list of 21 unusual startup ideas that push boundaries and bring incredible profits. Read through for fun, or see if one piques your interest.
1. Virtual Fitness Challenges App
People looking to up their fitness game or start their fitness journey always look for new ways to succeed. Creating the next best app is a great way to help them and make some serious money.
Develop an app for fitness fanatics in which they challenge each other for different virtual fitness challenges. Also, add guidance for the people looking to start their fitness journey to get a vast audience. To earn high profits in the beginning phase, offer a free version with essential features and then make a premium version for extra perks like exclusive challenges, support, and faster progress tracking. The revenue will increase as the website’s popularity rises.
2. Digital Decluttering Workshops
As digital lives become more complex, the need for digital organization grows. A study by McKinsey & Company revealed that “the average employee spends approximately 1.8 hours every day on average — on searching and gathering information.” Digital declutter workshops help individuals and businesses streamline their digital assets, improving productivity, saving time, and reducing stress related to digital clutter.
3. Customized Greeting Card Service
Offer a heartfelt experience to the customers who want to add their sentiments to everything they purchase. Employ a trained customer service team who can communicate with shoppers and understand what they want, or you can also develop a simple website or app where customers can personalize their cards with messages and photos.
Offer subscription plans for regular customers and limited-time promotions to attract new clients. The key is providing clients with an experience they will never forget.
4. Cat Cafe
Cat Cafe came into being because spending time with cats helps to calm the nervous system, thus making people feel less stressed and anxious. It’s a fun cafe idea where you have coffee and interact with these furry companions. Not all cat cafes serve traditional drinks and food; some focus on entertainment and the therapeutic presence of cats.
With a mix of entrance fees, food, merchandise, events, and collaborations, your cat cafe can become a money-making venture. You can charge a small fee for cat cuddles and sell drinks and food for profit while providing an affectionate experience for cat lovers.
5. Eco-friendly Event Planning
A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report suggests that sustainability can lead to a 4% to 7% revenue increase due to improved brand reputation and working efficiencies. You can start with sourcing sustainable materials, providing locally sourced food, and offering offsetting solutions, such as planting trees. It helps skyrocket your entrepreneurial journey in an industry often seen as wasteful.
6. Fresh Homemade Snacks Delivery Service
It’s a convenient and tasty solution for people who like homemade food but don’t have the time to make it themselves. The secret is to keep up the freshness and quality of the snacks. Customers can place orders, and the snacks will be prepared and delivered to their doorstep. It’s as simple as that.
7. Augmented Reality Fitting Rooms
In this digital era, we all want convenience without sacrificing experience, and AR fitting rooms provide just that. If you are a tech junkie, create an app where users can virtually try on clothes before purchasing. AR can increase online shopping conversion rates by up to 40% as it provides a more immersive and confident buying experience. Brands like H&M have seen success with this technology, and its application goes beyond fashion to include home decor and even hair styling.
8. Professional Cuddler
Professional cuddling is a therapy to provide emotional support through cuddling sessions. People seek this service because of loneliness, stress relief, or the desire for human touch in a non-sexual way.
9. Zero-Waste Grocery Shopping Platform
Open up a zero-waste grocery shopping platform either on-site or online. The aim is to provide groceries, from fresh produce to household items, in minimal packaging. According to a report, packaging contributes to nearly a quarter of the material reaching landfills.
In on-site stores, customers are encouraged to bring their old and reusable packaging to get them refilled with their desired products. You can give back to society by contributing to the global movement of reducing single-use plastics and promoting more eco-friendly ways of shopping.
10. Drop Servicing
It’s like a simplified version of freelancing. It allows entrepreneurs to start a business without having the skills needed for the services offered- but rather focusing on marketing, networking, and providing quality services while outsourcing the delivery. You act like an intermediary here. You connect the client with the service provider, managing their communication. This is essentially what freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork provide but without a personalized touch.
11. Homemade Soaps with Personalized Flair
This business can be started as a hobby, and if it works, it can grow into a small business with proper marketing and quality products. You can make any design with homemade ingredients and unique scents, from roses and daisies to dinosaurs. More customers can be attracted if you offer customization and a personalized touch to your soaps.
12. Book Swap Community
This community can be a superb platform for book lovers to share, exchange, or give away their books. It’s a sustainable business idea because it encourages recycling and re-reading books, and it’s also cost-effective for the participants as they can read anything and everything without the need to buy it. It can be profitable with enough clients and a monthly payment plan.
13. Pet Concierge Services
Pets are no less than members of the family, and that’s why the pet industry is booming. A pet concierge service could offer pet-sitting, grooming, or even a pet taxi service. Imagine a luxury hotel that offers weekend packages for pets, including spa treatments and massages; as a pet owner, I find this business idea super tempting and profitable.
14. Tech Support for Seniors
In the world of technology, some older folks might need help to use these advanced tools in their everyday lives. Well, you can be their support in this cause. From helping them set up a device to giving them guidance about cybersecurity, you can become their go-to person.
15. Floral Artistry Business
If you like playing with flowers, learn to make jewelry and decoration pieces from them and start your own business. Just create an easy-to-use website or a social media page and upload pictures of your work.
You’ll see people coming like bees who like to be around nature. Try providing prompt delivery service so that the flowers reach the customers in good condition.
16. DIY Craft Kits for Kids
Making and selling DIY Craft Kits for Kids is fantastic because it lets children have lots of fun while exploring their creativity- and takes a lot of pressure off of the parents to come up with entertainment. You can develop unique craft projects, gather all the materials needed, and assemble them in a neat package. Parents or anyone can buy these kits, making it easy for kids to enjoy crafting at home.
17. Resin Art
It is a trendy business idea these days- selling or offering a studio for others to create. You have to mix the colors in a unique material called resin and pour it into molds. You can create coasters, trays, and even jewelry. Resin art is loved because of its glossy and beautiful appearance, making it a one-of-a-kind decoration piece. Who doesn’t love having unique and eye-catching decorations in their home?
18. Glamping
Glamping, aka glamorous camping, is a growing business worldwide. It’s like a resort where you enjoy both the outdoor adventure of camping and the comforts of modern living.
19. Art Therapy Studios
Seeking therapy for mental health issues is not a taboo anymore, and more people are now looking to alternative therapies for treatment. An art therapy studio provides a space for creative expression and can be a successful business venture, with applications in clinics, schools, and corporate wellness programs.
20. Freelance Writing
Be your boss with freelance writing. Sign up on any freelancing platform and showcase your writing skills in niches where you are an expert. The best part is that you can choose your clients, set your rates, and manage your work schedules. In the rising demand for quality content, freelance writing is a cheap and profitable source of income.
You can expand to a writing company, acting as a manager and outsourcing your work.
21. High-End Online Thrift Store
An exclusive, high-end online thrift store that curates and sells pre-owned luxury and designer items, each with a memorable story and a verified history of authenticity, can appeal to those hunting for both value and class.
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JayDee Vykoukal is a writer, author, mom, and Doctor of Physical Therapy. She has been writing about everything motherhood and health-related since 2018 when her first daughter was born, and she wanted to stay home. She loves to research new topics and fun facts with her kids to teach them about the world.
