10 Best Online Businesses to Start Under £100 in 2025

Looking to start an online business without emptying your wallet? Here's something exciting -global ecommerce revenue is on track to surpass $6 trillionby the late 2020s. This opens up amazing opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs like you.

The barriers to entry have never been lower for online businesses. Most digital ventures need less than $500 to launch, and the options in this piece cost under $100. You can start dropshipping with Shopify or create print-on-demand products with Printful. The possibilities are both varied and lucrative. On top of that, platforms like Bluehost for blogging and Canva for social media management help you turn your talents into real income.

The timing couldn't be better. The ecommerce market keeps growing, pushed forward by customer demands and tech advances. A recent YouGov survey shows small businesses have big plans for 2024. Their top priorities? Business growth, marketing expansion, and AI tool adoption.

This piece shows you 10 tested online business ideas. You can start these with minimal cash and position yourself in growing markets. Perfect for anyone seeking a side hustle or a full-time business venture.

Dropshipping with Shopify

Image Source: Shopify

Shopify dropshipping is one of the most available ways to start an online business. You don't need much money to begin, and there's plenty of room to grow.

What is Dropshipping with Shopify

Shopify dropshipping brings together a powerful ecommerce platform and a business model where you don't handle inventory. You can sell products in your online store without keeping any stock. Your suppliers take care of packaging and shipping when customers buy from you. This optimized approach gets rid of typical retail hurdles like storage expenses and inventory risks. New entrepreneurs with tight budgets find this model particularly helpful.

Why Dropshipping with Shopify works

Shopify's dropshipping model runs on flexibility and low overhead costs. Since you don't store inventory, you can put your energy into brand building and marketing instead of logistics. The business model brings in about $293.84 billion in ecommerce sales each year, which shows how well it works in the market. Store owners make their profit from the difference between supplier costs and retail prices. To cite an instance, you might buy an item for $7.94 and sell it for $19.85, making $11.91 per sale before fees.

Main benefits include:

• No need to buy inventory upfront

• Work from anywhere

• Test products without risking money

• Focus on marketing and customer service

Tools to start Dropshipping with Shopify

Shopify's ecosystem has tools that make dropshipping easier. DSers-AliExpress links your store to millions of products. Spocket helps you find US and European suppliers who ship faster. Zendrop combines dropshipping and print-on-demand services with US warehouses for quick delivery. On top of that, Modalyst focuses on brand-name products that add credibility to your store.

How to start Dropshipping with Shopify

Starting your dropshipping business follows these steps:

1. Sign up for Shopify's 14-day free trial

2. Select and customize a theme for your store

3. Connect a dropshipping app like DSers or Spocket

4. Import products and set competitive prices

5. Configure payment and shipping settings

6. Launch and begin marketing your products

Look for a niche that people want but isn't too crowded when picking products. You can make your store stand out through unique branding, great customer service, or carefully chosen products.

Dropshipping with Shopify pricing

Shopify's pricing plans fit different stages of business growth:

You'll need to budget for extra costs like a domain name ($14-24/year), optional premium themes ($80-350), and dropshipping apps ($0-30/month). Most people start with $50-100, making this one of the cheapest ways to start an online business.

Best platforms for Dropshipping with Shopify

These reliable platforms combine smoothly with Shopify to source products:

1. DSers-AliExpress: Gives you access to over 100 million products with one-click importing

2. Spocket: Works with US and European suppliers for faster shipping times

3. Zendrop: Uses US warehouses with 5-8 day delivery timeframes

4. Modalyst: Includes big-name brands and 6-8 day domestic shipping

5. Trendsi: Specializes in women's fashion with 2-10 day shipping

The platform that works best for you depends on your niche, target audience, and budget. Each one helps in different ways with product selection, shipping speed, and how well they work together.

Print-on-Demand with Printful

Image Source: Printful

Print-on-Demand with Printful turns your creative ideas into real products. You won't have to deal with inventory management or pay production costs upfront.

What is Print-on-Demand with Printful

Print-on-Demand (POD) with Printful lets you create custom products that are made only after customers place orders. You don't need to buy or store bulk inventory like traditional retail. Your job is to design products—from t-shirts to mugs. Printful takes care of making, packaging, and shipping them straight to your customers. This approach eliminates risks from storing inventory and helps you build a brand around your designs.

Why Print-on-Demand with Printful works

POD makes entrepreneurship easier by removing major obstacles. Printful shines with over 300 customizable products from apparel to home decor. Their quality production gets great reviews. They've built mutually beneficial alliances with brands like Gildan, American Apparel, and Bella+Canvas. The platform's printing techniques are versatile:

• Direct to Garment (DTG) creates detailed fabric designs

• Cut and Sew makes continuous patterns across seams

• Embroidery adds textured, professional finishes

You can put your energy into design and marketing while Printful handles production logistics.

Tools to start Print-on-Demand with Printful

Printful's built-in tools help you launch quickly:

1. Design Maker - 791 fonts, 20,496 clipart graphics, and 668 colors/patterns at your fingertips

2. Mockup Generator - Makes professional product photos without physical samples

3. Product Templates - Shows how designs look before production

4. Sample Order Program - Gives 20% off on sample products (3 products monthly limit)

You can use Printful's free Design Maker or try Canva at £10.32 monthly for premium features.

How to start Print-on-Demand with Printful

Starting your business takes just a few steps:

1. Create a free Printful account

2. Link to your preferred ecommerce platform

3. Make designs with Printful's tools or other software

4. Pick products and add your designs

5. Price your items competitively

6. Test quality with sample orders

7. Open your store and start marketing

Quality prints need files that follow Printful's guidelines: 150-300 DPI resolution in PNG/JPEG format.

Printful pricing

Printful charges per product with no required subscription:

Printful Growth costs £19.99 monthly but becomes free after £9,530 in yearly sales.

Best platforms for Print-on-Demand

Printful works naturally with many ecommerce platforms:

• Shopify - Has the most features and POD app choices

• WooCommerce - Perfect for WordPress users who want control

• Etsy - Ready-made marketplace with built-in traffic

• Wix - Easy to use and costs less

• BigCommerce - Enterprise features without transaction fees

Each platform brings different benefits in customization, traffic, and marketing tools. Pick one that matches your skills, budget, and business vision.

Freelance Services on Fiverr or Upwork

Image Source: Fiverr

Freelancing offers a direct path to online entrepreneurship. You can turn your expertise into income without worrying about inventory or production costs.

What are Freelance Services

Freelance services let you sell your skills to clients through platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. These marketplaces connect skilled professionals with businesses that need help. You can offer writing, design, development, marketing and many other services. Unlike selling products, freelancing helps you tap into the potential of your existing skills to make money.

Why Freelance Services work

The freelance business model runs on flexibility with minimal startup costs. You decide your workload, rates, and which clients to work with. Here are three ways to price your work:

• Hourly pricing: You charge for the time you spend

• Project-based: One fixed price for specific deliverables

• Value-based: Rates that match your client's benefit

Freelance platforms keep your money safe with secure payments and help solve disputes. Platform data shows skilled freelancers can earn £79.42 to £138.98 per hour when they position themselves right.

Tools to start Freelance Services

These tools are the foundations of freelance success:

Upwork's built-in tools handle contracts, invoices, and payments. This makes administrative work much easier.

How to start Freelance Services

Here's how to start your freelance journey:

1. Set up professional profiles on Fiverr or Upwork

2. List your best skills and specialties

3. Research the market to set fair rates

4. Build a portfolio of your work

5. Write proposals that show your expertise

6. Build reviews with smaller projects first

Freelance Services pricing

Your earning potential depends on several things. Upwork takes 20% of your first £397.08 from each client. This fee drops as you earn more. Long-term clients help you make more money. Fiverr keeps 20% of everything you earn.

Smart rate-setting means looking at your costs, what others charge, and time spent on non-billable work. Most successful freelancers add 60% to their base rate to cover unpaid hours.

Best platforms for Freelance Services

These platforms stand out for freelancers:

• Upwork: Perfect for finding steady clients across many categories

• Fiverr: Great for selling pre-packaged services with clear pricing

• Freelancer.com: Offers lots of project types and payment options

• People Per Hour: Uses AI to match you with the right projects

Each platform works differently. Pick one that fits your services and career plans.

Affiliate Marketing

Image Source: Ryan Robinson

Affiliate marketing stands out as one of the most adaptable online business opportunities. You can earn commissions without creating products or delivering services.

What is Affiliate Marketing

The concept of affiliate marketing is straightforward. You promote other companies' products or services and get commissions for successful referrals. Each affiliate receives unique tracking links to share with their audience. Money flows in when someone completes a desired action—usually making a purchase. This performance-based model creates a win-win situation where businesses pay only for results.

Why Affiliate Marketing works

The numbers tell the story of affiliate marketing's success. The industry will grow from £15.25 billion in 2021 to £29.30 billion by 2030, with a 7.7% annual growth rate. Success comes from flexible commission structures that reward affiliates based on their performance, which motivates top performers.

Common commission models include:

• Pay-per-sale (PPS): Commission on completed purchases

• Pay-per-lead (PPL): Payment for lead generation

• Pay-per-click (PPC): Earnings for referral link clicks

Tools to start Affiliate Marketing

These tools will help you succeed in affiliate marketing:

1. SEO tools: SEMrush or Ahrefs for keyword research and competitor analysis

2. Link management: WordPress plugins like Pretty Links for cloaking affiliate links

3. Analytics: Google Analytics for tracking site performance

4. Content creation: Grammarly for improving writing quality

5. Email marketing: GetResponse for subscriber management

How to start Affiliate Marketing

You can launch an affiliate business with minimal investment:

1. Pick a specific niche instead of broad categories

2. Research and join relevant affiliate programs

3. Build an online presence (website or social media)

4. Create engaging content around your niche

5. Promote your affiliate links through various channels

6. Track performance and optimize strategies

Starting costs are low at just £79.42, which covers domain registration (£7.94/year) and basic hosting (£3.97/month).

Affiliate Marketing pricing

Most affiliate programs let you join free. Your main costs include:

• Website hosting: £55.59-90/year

• Domain name: ~£9.53/year

• Optional premium WordPress themes: £0-30

• SEO and marketing tools: Many offer free versions initially

Best platforms for Affiliate Marketing

Here are the top affiliate networks to explore:

• Amazon Associates: Perfect for beginners with millions of products

• ShareASale: Easy-to-use platform with diverse merchant options

• CJ Affiliate: Partners with numerous big brands

• ClickBank: Focuses on digital products with high commission rates (50-75%)

• Impact: Features an easy-to-use interface and automation tools

Choose networks that match your niche, audience, and preferred payment structures. Each platform offers different commission rates, cookie durations, and merchant options.

Start a Blog with Bluehost

Image Source: Bluehost

Bluehost and WordPress together create a perfect platform for entrepreneurs who want creative control and passive income through content-based online business.

What is Blogging with Bluehost

The combination of WordPress content management system and Bluehost's reliable hosting services makes a powerful blogging platform. You can create content about topics you love and attract readers while making money through different methods. WordPress handles the content creation part, and Bluehost takes care of the technical side by hosting your blog files and keeping your site available to visitors.

Why Blogging with Bluehost works

Since 2005, Bluehost has been WordPress's official recommended hosting provider, serving over 2 million websites worldwide. Their stellar reputation comes from consistent uptime that keeps your blog available to readers. New bloggers love Bluehost's one-click WordPress installation because it removes technical hurdles. On top of that, their support team works around the clock to help you—even during late-night holiday emergencies.

Tools to start Blogging with Bluehost

Your blog needs these key tools:

• Yoast SEO: Makes your content search engine friendly, boosting visibility

• UpdraftPlus: Saves your content automatically with backups

• WordPress Plugins: Add features like social media integration and contact forms

• WonderBlocks: Ready-made templates for professional designs without coding

How to start Blogging with Bluehost

Your blog setup follows these simple steps:

1. Sign up at Bluehost.com and pick a hosting plan

2. Select your domain name (comes free with hosting)

3. Finish the checkout process

4. Install WordPress with one click

5. Pick and customize your WordPress theme

6. Set up your site's title and description

7. Start writing content

Blogging pricing

Starting your blog won't break the bank with Bluehost's plans:

These special rates usually need 12-36 month upfront payment.

Best platforms for Blogging

WordPress.org with Bluehost leads the pack, but you have other options:

• Hostinger Website Builder: Cost-effective with simple design tools

• Wix: Feature-rich drag-and-drop website builder

• WordPress.com: Simpler version with limited customization

WordPress.org paired with Bluehost gives you the best mix of value, flexibility, and money-making potential if you're serious about blogging for income.

Create and Sell Digital Products

Image Source: Hostinger

Digital products are a fantastic online business chance with unlimited scaling potential. You can create once and sell repeatedly without worrying about inventory.

What are Digital Products

Digital products are intangible goods that exist in digital format. Customers receive them through downloads or email. These include ebooks, templates, software, online courses, digital art, music, and virtual goods. The e-learning industry alone is projected to reach $673.45 billion by 2030. This shows the massive market potential.

Why Digital Products work

Digital products shine through these impressive business advantages:

• High profit margins - Minimal ongoing costs after the original creation

• No inventory management - No storage and shipping expenses

• Automation potential - Orders deliver instantly without oversight

• Environmental sustainability - Zero extra resources needed per sale

Digital products generate income with minimal effort, which frees up your time for other priorities.

Tools to start selling Digital Products

Here are the tools you just need to create digital products:

• Canva - A user-friendly design platform for templates, ebooks, and graphics

• Google Docs/Microsoft Office - Simple printable creation

• Shopify - A detailed ecommerce platform for digital selling

• Easy Digital Downloads - WordPress plugin for digital product sales

How to start selling Digital Products

A successful digital product business starts with these steps:

1. Identify your expertise or passion

2. Research what customers want using keyword tools

3. Start small with a "light version" as a free offer

4. Create your product using design software

5. Build a website or storefront

6. Price competitively based on value

7. Launch and promote through a social-first strategy and email

Digital Products pricing

Your pricing strategy can vary based on your digital product type:

• One-time payment - Fixed price for lifetime access

• Subscription model - Recurring fee for continued access

• Freemium model - Simple version free with premium upgrades

• Tiered pricing - Different price points for various benefits

The average US adult spends $95-$103 monthly on digital products. This shows customers are willing to pay for value.

Best platforms for Digital Products

Here are the top platforms to sell digital products:

• Thinkific - Specializes in course creation plus digital downloads

• Etsy - Perfect for creative digital products with built-in audience

• Shopify - Complete commerce platform with dedicated apps

• Gumroad - Simple platform with low entry barriers

• Patreon - Subscription-based model for content creators

Your choice depends on your product type, target audience, and specific business needs.

Online Course Creation with Teachable

Image Source: Teachable

Online courses have become a great way to turn expertise into revenue. Teachable provides tools that help create digital courses without major investments.

What is Online Course Creation

Teachable's platform lets you develop educational content that students access online. Their no-code system handles all technical aspects. You can upload videos, PDFs, and interactive elements easily. The platform has served over 38M students worldwide. Teachable manages hosting and payment processing so you can focus on creating valuable content.

Why Online Course Creation works

Your course keeps selling after you create it. There's no need for continuous updates. Students who pay more tend to complete courses at higher rates. This self-sustaining model shows why instructors have brought in over five million customers and generated more than £39.71 million in sales.

Tools to start Online Course Creation

Teachable offers several powerful features:

• A drag-and-drop builder that simplifies course creation

• Built-in AI tools to generate curriculum outlines

• Marketing tools for student referrals and upsells

You can start recording quality videos with your smartphone and a simple tripod. Equipment upgrades can come as your revenue grows.

How to start Online Course Creation

The launch process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for Teachable's seven-day free trial

2. Create your product and select "course"

3. Build manually or use the AI course starter to draft curriculum

4. Customize with your branding elements

5. Configure pricing and publish

Online Course pricing

Teachable's pricing structure is clear:

Experts suggest pricing your course at £79.42 minimum. Many successful courses charge substantially more.

Best platforms for Online Courses

Teachable stands out with its powerful selling tools and flexible course builder. Other options exist too. Kajabi provides an all-in-one solution at a higher price point. Heights Platform gives you a 30-day free trial without requiring a credit card. In spite of that, Teachable's mix of affordability and reliable features makes it perfect for new course creators.

Virtual Assistant Services

Image Source: SGI Consultants

Virtual Assistant (VA) services are a perfect way to start a business. They let you turn your admin skills into a money-making remote career without much upfront cost.

What are Virtual Assistant Services

Virtual Assistant services help businesses and professionals remotely through technology instead of working at a physical location. VAs take care of everything from simple admin tasks to specialized technical support. This helps business owners grow faster, run better operations, and hand over tasks they're not experts in. VAs work with businesses of all sizes in healthcare, education, e-commerce, finance, IT, publishing, and sustainability.

Why Virtual Assistant Services work

The VA business model runs on flexibility and needs very little to start. More businesses now see the value of hiring VAs to:

• Take care of admin work while they focus on customers

• Grow their business without hiring full-time staff

• Get expert help when they need it

VA entrepreneurs get to work from anywhere, balance their life better, and earn good money. The VA market will be worth more than £6.83 billion by 2030, growing at 22.3% CAGR.

Tools to start Virtual Assistant Services

You don't need much to start VA services:

• A good computer (laptop or desktop)

• Fast internet connection

• Quality headset with microphone

• Calendly for scheduling

• Zoom and Skype for calls

• Google Drive or Dropbox for storage

• Toggl to track time

• Password manager to keep client data safe

How to start Virtual Assistant Services

Here's how to get your VA business going:

1. Pick your services (admin, marketing, technical)

2. Set your rates (around £30/hour in the UK)

3. Build your online presence with profiles and portfolios

4. Set up a proper workspace

5. Get clients through online platforms and networking

6. Create a smooth client onboarding process

VA pricing

UK Virtual Assistants charge about £30 per hour on average. Yearly salary numbers look like this:

• Indeed: £30,985

• Glassdoor: £27,737

• Talent: £29,250

Experienced VAs often switch to package or retainer pricing. This helps them earn more while working fewer hours.

Best platforms for Virtual Assistants

You can find VA work on these top platforms:

• Upwork - Lots of long-term work opportunities

• Fiverr - Great for newcomers offering packaged services

• People Per Hour - Uses AI to match you with the right projects

• Zirtual - High-end US-based service focused on quality

• Remote CoWorker - Connects Filipino VAs with businesses of all types

On top of that, VA agencies like Wishup, Time Etc, and Belay offer more structured work options.

Social Media Management with Canva

Image Source: Canva

Social media management with Canva is a creative digital venture. It needs minimal investment and rewards people with visual flair and digital marketing skills.

What is Social Media Management

A social media manager creates, curates, and manages content on platforms to improve brand visibility and boost engagement. Your role includes developing content calendars and designing posts. You'll monitor how audiences interact with content and analyze performance metrics while helping businesses grow online.

Why Social Media Management works

More than half the world's population uses social media platforms. Companies just need management services more than ever. Paid social media skills saw a 116.4% increase since the pandemic. Instagram-related skills grew by 28.4%. This business runs on a simple truth - companies know they need professional social media presence but lack time or expertise to handle it themselves.

Tools to start Social Media Management

Canva is your key tool that provides:

• Content Planner to schedule posts on platforms

• Thousands of pre-designed social media templates

• Free high-resolution photos and graphics

• Brand Hub to keep branding consistent

You can combine Canva with scheduling tools like Buffer (£7.94/month) or Hootsuite for a complete management system.

How to start Social Media Management

Your business launch checklist:

1. Pick a niche you love (fitness, food, fashion)

2. Study how your target audience uses different platforms

3. Get a Canva Pro account for advanced features

4. Make sample content that shows your skills

5. Create your service packages and pricing

6. Show your work in an online portfolio

Social Media Management pricing

Monthly packages start at £397.08-£555.91. Freelancers charge £23.82-£111.18 per hour based on experience. City agencies might bill £31.77-£150.89 hourly for ongoing work.

Best platforms for Social Media Management

Your services should target these high-engagement platforms:

• Instagram and Facebook (visual content)

• LinkedIn (professional audiences)

• TikTok (short-form video)

• Pinterest (product discovery)

Managing these platforms effectively puts your clients in front of their target markets.

Sell Handmade Goods on Etsy

Image Source: Etsy

Handcrafted items have taken over the online marketplace. Etsy stands out as the go-to platform for artists who want to turn their creativity into profit without spending much to get started.

What are Handmade Goods

Handmade goods on Etsy has items sellers create, design, or hand-select themselves. The platform lets you sell jewelry, wall prints, customized gifts, wedding decorations, and craft supplies. Etsy's definition of "handmade" is clear - you can sell products you make by hand, items you design but have others produce, or vintage pieces over 20 years old that you've selected.

Why Selling Handmade Goods works

Etsy's marketplace runs on its huge customer base. Last year alone, 46.4 million shoppers visited the platform. The buyers here mean business - they're not just browsing but ready to buy. People pay more for unique handmade items, especially those made from recycled materials or eco-friendly methods.

Tools to start Selling Handmade Goods

Everything in running a handmade business needs these tools:

• Canva - Create product photos, shop banners, and marketing materials even if you're not a designer

• G Suite - Get professional email and document management from £3.97 per month

• Craftbase - Keep track of inventory and bookkeeping

• Fotor - Edit and enhance your product photos easily

• Tailwind - Schedule Pinterest and Instagram posts from £7.94 monthly

How to start Selling Handmade Goods

Starting your Etsy shop is straightforward:

1. Set up a business account

2. Choose your priorities (language, currency, country)

3. Pick a shop name (4-20 characters, no special symbols)

4. Add your first product with great photos

5. Price your items to cover costs and make profit

6. Set up payment and shipping details

Handmade Goods pricing

Etsy's pricing structure is simple. You pay £0.16 to list each item for 4 months. The platform takes 6.5% of your total sales including shipping, plus 4% and £0.20 for payment processing. Your prices should cover materials, work time, studio costs, and profit. New sellers can start with just £79.42 - that's £59.56 for materials, £15.88 for packing supplies, and £3.97 for your first listing fees.

Best platforms for Handmade Goods

We focused on Etsy because it leads the handmade market with its craft-loving audience. Amazon Handmade checks seller quality and Shopify gives you full brand control. But Etsy remains the best choice for beginners thanks to its easy setup and built-in community of craft enthusiasts.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

You can start a successful online business without breaking the bank. These ten business models show how to launch with less than $100 and still tap into the full potential for growth. Each option brings unique benefits based on your skills, interests, and money goals.

Your choice should match your natural talents. Creative people might do well selling handmade goods on Etsy or designing print-on-demand products with Printful. People with expert knowledge could build profitable online courses or blogs. Service-focused entrepreneurs can thrive as virtual assistants or social media managers.

Platforms like Shopify, Bluehost, Canva, and Printful have made entrepreneurship accessible to everyone by removing old barriers. These tools handle the technical side so you can create value and market your business. The comparison table shows how all but one of these business models can earn well despite tiny startup costs.

Each business needs hard work and smart planning, but the financial risk is nowhere near what traditional businesses face. Many successful entrepreneurs start with one model and grow into related areas. Bloggers often add affiliate marketing, while course creators expand into digital products.

Your skills can become your income stream. Pick a business model that fits your strengths, get your tools ready, and start today. The digital economy keeps growing - this is your chance to be part of it.