Looking for real online businesses that you can start from anywhere? Over the years, I’ve worked from so many different places – my sailboat in the Bahamas, our RV while road-tripping across the U.S., a cabin deep in the mountains, and more. And every time, I think the same thing: I’m so glad I started…
Looking for real online businesses that you can start from anywhere?
Over the years, I’ve worked from so many different places – my sailboat in the Bahamas, our RV while road-tripping across the U.S., a cabin deep in the mountains, and more. And every time, I think the same thing: I’m so glad I started an online business.
If you’ve ever dreamed of working for yourself and running a small business, setting your own hours, or even traveling while you work, starting a real online business might be one of the best things you can do. There are so many flexible and legitimate ways to earn money online, and the best part is – you can do it from anywhere in the world.
You don’t need a big budget to get started, either. Many of the ideas below can be started with just a laptop and Wi-Fi. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, digital nomad, or just looking for a change, these real online businesses can give you the freedom you’re looking for.
22 Real Online Businesses You Can Start From Anywhere
Yes, these are real businesses that you can start and run from anywhere in the world, even your couch.
Recommended reading:
1. Blogging
Starting a blog changed my life – literally. It started as a fun side project, and now it’s grown into a full-time income that has supported our travels and helped me save for early retirement.
For me, it is my favorite way to work online from anywhere.
Blogging is a real business that can earn money through income streams like:
- Affiliate marketing
- Display ads
- Sponsored posts and sponsorships
- Digital product sales
How to get started blogging:
Blogging can take time to grow, but once you get traffic and start monetizing, it can turn into a semi-passive income stream. And yes, you can blog from anywhere with an internet connection.
Plus, you can learn how to start a blog in my free How To Start a Blog Course.
Here’s a quick outline of what you will learn:
- Day 1: Why you should start a blog
- Day 2: How to decide what to write about (your blog niche!)
- Day 3: How to create your blog (in this lesson, you will learn how to start a blog on WordPress)
- Day 4: The different ways to make money with your blog
- Day 5: My advice for making passive income with your blog
- Day 6: How to get pageviews
- Day 7: Other blogging tips to help you see success
2. Selling printables or digital products
Printables are a fun and low-cost way to make money online.
You can create planners, budgeting sheets, homeschool materials, checklists, wedding signs – really anything that someone can download and print.
I buy printables all the time, and I know several people who sell printables while traveling around the world.
Once your product is created, you can sell it over and over again without doing much extra work, which makes it a great way to make semi-passive income.
You can learn more at How I Made $6,161 in Just 4 Months With a New Etsy Printables Shop.
3. Remote cleaning business
Yes, you can run a local cleaning business, completely online. This is because you can hire independent cleaners in your area and manage everything from your laptop or phone (such as bookings and finding cleaners).
How it works:
- Set up a website for bookings
- Find trustworthy local cleaners (via referrals, job boards, or flyers)
- Schedule clients and send cleaners to the job
- Handle payments and customer service virtually
This is a great semi-passive business if you want to run something real but not do the physical work yourself.
You can learn more at How To Start a Remote Cleaning Business and Make $100,000+ Each Year.
4. Proofreading or editing services
If you have an eye for grammar and spelling, proofreading can be a great online business to run from anywhere.
Proofreaders check for grammar, punctuation, formatting, and consistency. They can work with bloggers, authors, students, and businesses.
You can find proofreading and editing work on Upwork, Fiverr, and by directly reaching out to business owners.
Also, there is a FREE 76-minute workshop where all of the most common questions about becoming a proofreader are answered. You can sign up for free here.
You can learn more at 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year).
5. Social media management
Many business owners need help managing their Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, or other social media accounts. If you love social media and understand how to grow an account, this can be a fun online business.
Examples of tasks that you might do include:
- Plan and schedule posts
- Create graphics
- Respond to comments
- Analyze engagement stats
- Brainstorm campaign ideas
You can find clients by selling services locally, reaching out to small business owners, networking online, or on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
6. Print On Demand
Print-on-demand (POD) is where you sell custom-designed products like T-shirts, mugs, and tote bags without actually having any inventory or doing the printing yourself.
When someone orders, the item is printed and shipped by a third party. That means no storage, no shipping, and low startup costs. Instead, you would be creating the design, such as the graphic or the words (like funny quotes) that go on a T-shirt.
Popular POD platforms include Printify, Printful, Redbubble, and Teespring.
You don’t have to be an expert designer either – Canva makes it easy to create simple, sellable designs.
You can learn more at How I Make $7,500 Monthly Selling Print-On-Demand Gifts.
7. Online course creation
Creating an online course is a great way to turn what you know into income. Whether you’re great at organizing, budgeting, painting, parenting, or something else, there’s probably a topic that you can teach about.
How to get started:
- Choose a topic you know well. You can start by thinking about topics that your friends and family may ask you for advice on already.
- Outline what you’ll teach step-by-step.
- Record videos or write lessons.
- Upload to platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi.
Learn more at How I’ve Made Over $1,000,000 From My First Course Without a Big Launch.
8. Bookkeeping
You don’t need to be an accountant or have a degree to start a bookkeeping job, so please continue reading before you skip this one!
A bookkeeper is someone who helps manage and track the financial side of a business. They usually handle tasks like recording income, tracking expenses, organizing receipts, managing invoices, and creating basic financial reports.
Many small business owners hire bookkeepers because they don’t have time to do it themselves or because they don’t like dealing with numbers.
You can sign up here for a free training that will teach you more about how to become an online bookkeeper and work from anywhere.
Recommended reading: How To Find Online Bookkeeping Jobs As A Beginner
9. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of my favorite ways to earn online, and it’s how I make a large portion of my income each month.
With affiliate marketing, you earn money by recommending products or services and earning a commission when someone makes a purchase or signs up through your link.
You can include affiliate links in places like:
- Blog posts
- Email newsletters
- YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok
Recommended reading: What You Need To Know About Affiliate Marketing For Beginners
10. Translating
If you’re fluent in more than one language, translation is a flexible online business that you can start from anywhere.
Businesses, websites, and publishers need content translated into different languages, and you can get paid well for this skill.
You can get paid to translate things like:
- Blog posts
- Books
- Legal or medical documents (with proper certification)
- Subtitles for videos
And so much more.
You can start small by selling your services on freelancing platforms or by building your own client list.
11. Transcription
Transcription involves listening to audio and typing what you hear. This can be done in flexible chunks of time and doesn’t require talking to anyone, which is great for introverts!
Some things that need to be transcribed include:
- Podcasts
- YouTube videos
- Business meetings
- Legal or medical recordings (with extra training)
You can charge more for fast turnaround or accuracy, so fast typing skills really help!
Recommended reading: 18 Best Online Transcription Jobs For Beginners To Make $2,000 Monthly
12. Write your own book
Writing and publishing your own book is more doable than ever. You don’t need a publisher – platforms like Amazon KDP make it easy to self-publish.
Some book ideas include:
- Personal finance
- Travel stories
- Children’s books
- Romance novels
- Niche guides (like how to grow herbs indoors, RV tips, minimalist parenting)
Steps to self-publish:
- Write your manuscript in Word or Google Docs.
- Format it using KDP’s tools or hire help on Fiverr.
- Design a cover in Canva or outsource it.
- Upload to Amazon KDP and start selling!
Books can become a passive income stream, and you can even turn them into audiobooks or digital courses later.
Recommended reading:
13. Sell handmade items online
If you’re crafty, turning your handmade creations into a business is a fun and fulfilling path. Whether you make candles, jewelry, art, or even homemade soap, people love buying unique, handmade items.
I know a few people who live in RVs or even sailboats and sell their handmade crafts while they travel. For example, one person makes jewelry in their RV, then lists and sells it on Etsy. They travel all over and they really love it!
Tips to make this work:
- Take great product photos
- Write clear descriptions
- Use keywords so people can find your listings
You can start small and build your brand over time. Some handmade shops even grow into full-scale businesses with employees and fulfillment help. I actually know of another person who started a handmade business in their RV, and now she has many family members who help her run it from their own home as well.
Recommended reading: 12 Best Places To Sell Crafts and Handmade Goods
14. Online tutoring
If you enjoy teaching or explaining things clearly, online tutoring can be a great way to earn money. You can tutor on topics like elementary or high school subjects, SAT or ACT prep, English as a second language (ESL), college-level topics, and more.
You can find tutoring jobs on:
- Wyzant
- Tutor.com
- Local Facebook parenting groups
- Your own website
Tutoring can usually be done in short sessions, and the pay is usually $15 to $50 per hour, depending on the subject. Some subjects, like college entrance exams, can pay even more than that.
Recommended reading: 11 Best Places To Find Online Tutoring Jobs (Make $100+ an hour)
15. Stock photography
If you already take a lot of photos or want to learn, stock photography can turn your creative hobby into income. Bloggers, marketers, and businesses need photos all the time.
I buy stock photos all the time for my business (such as in this blog post or for my social media posts), and they are very helpful!
Some examples of pictures you can take include:
- Flat lays and desktops
- Families and kids
- Travel and landscapes
- Small business and work-from-home scenes
You can sell photos on sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Deposit Photos.
Once your photo is accepted, you can earn royalties every time someone downloads it. Over time, this can add up to a nice passive income stream.
Recommended reading: 18 Ways To Get Paid To Take Pictures
16. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
Amazon FBA is a way to sell physical products online without doing the shipping yourself. You send your inventory to Amazon, and they handle packaging, delivery, and returns.
You can sell things like:
- Products you source from wholesalers
- Private label products
This business has a learning curve, but it can scale well and work with a small team or just you.
Recommended reading: How I Quit My 9-5 And Made $1.4 Million Last Year Selling On Amazon
17. Membership site
Membership sites allow you to build recurring monthly income by selling exclusive content, community access, or digital products.
Some examples of topics for membership sites include:
- Travel tips
- Budgeting
- Freelancing
- Meal planning
- Homeschooling
- Work from home
- Passive income
- Blogging
- Kid’s activities
- Investing
- Stock photos
- Real estate
In a membership, you will want to provide a lot of value and update it frequently. This is so that customers will want to continue to pay month after month.
What to include in a membership:
- Monthly templates or printables
- Coaching or accountability calls
- Workshops or video training
- A private community or forum
Now, you don’t need to do all of these things. Some memberships just provide new printables each month and a private Facebook group, for example. So, it can be easy and not have any videos!
Recommended reading: 15 Monthly Service Business Ideas To Start
18. Online coaching or consulting
If you have experience in a certain field, you might be able to turn that into a coaching business. This could be in areas like:
- Life coaching
- Business coaching
- Career coaching
- Fitness or health
- Parent coaching
You can sell one-on-one coaching or group programs using Zoom or another video platform.
I personally have a friend who is an online coach. She does both motherhood coaching and weight loss coaching. You can check out her website here to see an example. She also has a membership, if you are interested in that business idea from the previous section!
19. Virtual event planner
More and more events are being hosted online, and someone needs to plan them! From business summits to online baby showers, virtual events are here to stay.
What you can plan:
- Webinars
- Conferences
- Masterminds
- Virtual parties
Virtual event planners handle all the behind-the-scenes details and make sure that everything runs smoothly – all from their home office.
This is an important job because there can be a lot of tech difficulties and planning that go into running an online event.
20. Freelance writing
Freelance writing is one of the most beginner-friendly online businesses to start. If you enjoy writing and have basic grammar skills, you can get started with little money.
One of my very first online side hustles was actually freelancing writing. I started at around $50 per article (I think; it’s been a while!). I now earn around $1,500 per article that I write (not something that is published on my site but when I write for another publication).
You can write for blogs, magazines, online businesses, and more. Content types might include blog posts, emails, newsletters, website copy, and social media captions.
How to start:
- Choose a niche you’re comfortable writing about (such as finance, parenting, food, health, or travel).
- Create a few writing samples – they can be on a free blog, in Google Docs, or even on Medium or LinkedIn.
- Look for jobs on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
- Pitch directly to blogs and websites you already read and love.
Once you have a few clients, referrals can keep the work coming in. Many freelance writers eventually raise their rates and choose long-term clients they enjoy working with.
If you are interested in learning more about how to become a freelance writer, please head to the article 14 Places To Find Freelance Writing Jobs – (Start With No Experience!).
21. Virtual assistant services
Virtual assistants (VAs) help business owners with everything from managing emails to scheduling social media to customer service. And the great thing is, this work can sometimes come with a flexible schedule that can be done from anywhere.
I have been a virtual assistant in the past for many years, and I did the work all on my own schedule and even while traveling. I also currently have a virtual assistant, and she can do the tasks I give her from anywhere in the world and at any time. All I ask is that the tasks be done each week.
Common services VAs sell include:
- Answering emails
- Calendar scheduling
- Social media scheduling
- Creating and formatting blog posts
- Data entry and research
VAs are in high demand, especially with so many businesses operating online. I don’t see this slowing down anytime soon.
You can learn more at How To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs as a Beginner.
22. Graphic design
Graphic design is a valuable and in-demand skill, and one that can be turned into a successful online business.
Graphic designers can make things like logos, branding kits, websites, blog graphics, Pinterest pins, eBook covers, printables, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about real online businesses that you can start from anywhere.
Do I need a lot of money to start an online business?
No! Many online businesses can be started with less than $100 and some with almost no money at all. I started many of the online businesses on the list above with nothing other than the laptop I already had and Wi-Fi.
How long does it take to make money from an online business?
It depends. Some see results in a few weeks, others can take a few months. Being consistent matters for a lot of online businesses.
Do I need to be tech-savvy?
Nope. Most platforms are beginner-friendly and have tutorials. You can learn as you go or outsource tasks. For all of the online businesses that I have started, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing! I learned as I went, I made a lot of mistakes, and now I have a successful online business that I love and can do from anywhere.
Can I run these while traveling or staying home with kids?
Yes! There are many online businesses that you can do while traveling or staying home with kids. I have a child, and I am able to easily bring my business everywhere we travel.
What’s the most beginner-friendly online business?
I think virtual assisting, transcribing, and selling printables are great places to start.
Real Online Businesses You Can Start From Anywhere – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on the best real online businesses you can start from anywhere.
Starting an online business might seem overwhelming and hard at first, but the most important thing is just to begin. You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You can start small, learn as you go, and stay consistent.
When I first started my blog, I never imagined it would turn into a full-time business, but it did, and I’m so grateful I took that first step.
Which of these real online businesses are you most excited to try?
Recommended reading: