7 Low-Cost Online Business Ideas You Can Start This Month

Let's explore low-cost online business ideas you can start today

You don’t need thousands of dollars, a business degree, or a full-time schedule to start your own online business. In fact, many successful businesses start with nothing more than a laptop, Wi-Fi, and a simple idea.

Whether you’re looking to earn extra income on the side, eventually quit your 9-to-5, or build something of your own that fits your lifestyle — starting an online business is one of the most powerful ways to take control of your time and money.

The best part? You don’t have to go all in or risk your savings to get started. There are plenty of legit, low-cost online business ideas that are flexible, beginner-friendly, and can grow with you over time.

In this post, you’ll find 7 real online business ideas you can start this month — even if you have a small budget and zero experience. Each idea includes what it is, why it works, how much you could earn, and what you need to get started.

Let’s dive in.

1. Sell Digital Products (Templates, Ebooks, Guides & More)

If you love creating, organizing, or explaining things — digital products are one of the easiest and most scalable ways to start an online business. You make something once, and it can sell again and again with zero extra effort. That’s the magic of digital.

Whether it's a printable planner, a budgeting spreadsheet, a Notion dashboard, or an ebook full of tips — people are constantly looking for tools that save them time or help them solve a problem.

What digital products are:

Digital products are downloadable files that you create once and sell online. They provide instant value to customers, whether that’s in the form of information, organization, or aesthetic appeal. You don’t need to ship anything or manage physical inventory — everything happens online.

Some popular types of digital products include:

• Ebooks or guides
• Canva templates
• Social media kits
• Notion dashboards
• Spreadsheets (for budgets, project planning, etc.)
• Printable journals, planners, or checklists

Why selling digital products works:

Selling digital products is a great entry point for first-time entrepreneurs because it keeps things simple and cost-effective. You can work on your own time, use free or cheap tools to build your product, and start selling without hiring anyone or setting up a complex business system.

Here’s why this model works so well:

• Super low startup cost — all you need is your time and a few tools
• No shipping or production costs
• Sell 24/7 to a global audience
• Perfect for creatives, educators, and problem-solvers
• Fully remote and scalable

Income potential:

The beauty of digital products is that your earning potential grows with your audience. While your first product might only bring in a few hundred dollars, you can scale by adding more items, improving your marketing, and building an audience around your niche.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Beginners: $100–$500/month with a few solid products
• Growing stores: $1,000–$5,000+/month with consistent traffic and marketing
• Top sellers: $10K+/month with a strong niche and product lineup

What you need to get started:

You don’t need fancy tech skills to start selling digital products — just a clear idea, a bit of creativity, and the right tools. Many entrepreneurs start with free tools and upgrade later as their business grows.

Helpful tools and platforms include:

• Canva – for designing templates, planners, and ebooks
• Google Sheets / Excel / Notion – for creating digital planners or dashboards
• Gumroad, Etsy, or Payhip – beginner-friendly platforms to sell your products
• ChatGPT – can help you brainstorm content ideas, write descriptions, or structure your ebook
• Basic branding and SEO knowledge – to help your products get discovered

Pro tip for selling digital products:

Pick a specific niche (e.g. digital planners for students, templates for real estate agents, social media kits for coaches). The more targeted your product, the more likely it is to sell. And always include a few high-quality mockups — good visuals make all the difference when it comes to conversions.

2. Start a Freelance Service Business (Writing, Design, Tech & More)

If you’ve got a skill — writing, graphic design, social media, coding, video editing, translation, you name it — freelancing is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to start your own online business. You don’t need a product, fancy website, or huge following. You just need something you can do well, and someone willing to pay for it.

This is a great option if you want to start small and get paid for your time while building valuable experience, confidence, and income.

What freelance is about:

Freelancing means offering a specific service to clients on a contract or project basis. You work with businesses, creators, or other professionals who need help but don’t want to hire full-time employees.

Here are some examples of in-demand freelance services:

• Writing (blog posts, web copy, newsletters)
• Graphic design (logos, social media graphics, branding)
• Web development or no-code websites (like on Webflow or WordPress)
• Social media management
• Video editing or podcast editing
• Virtual assistance or online business support
• Translation or transcription

You can work with clients directly or through freelance platforms.

Why it works:

Freelancing is one of the lowest-cost ways to get started online. You likely already have the skills (or can sharpen them quickly), and there are tons of people looking for help in every industry.

What makes freelancing a great first business:

• You can start earning right away — even without a website
• Choose your hours, clients, and services
• Build a client base and raise your rates over time
• Learn how to run a business by doing (without big risks)
• Completely remote — work from anywhere with Wi-Fi

It’s also highly scalable — many freelancers go on to build agencies, digital products, or consulting businesses from their initial service.

Income potential:

Earnings can vary a lot depending on your niche and experience, but here’s a rough guide:

• Beginner freelancers: $20–$50/hour
• Intermediate/experienced: $50–$100/hour
• Specialists/experts (e.g. SEO writers, UX designers, devs): $100–$200+/hour

Even 1–2 clients per month can replace a part-time income.

What you need to get started as a freelancer:

You don’t need much — just a clear offer and a way to communicate it.

Here’s what helps:

• A defined service you enjoy and can deliver well
• A simple online portfolio (Google Doc, Notion page, or personal website)
• Tools like:
  • Canva or Figma (for design work)
  • Notion or Trello (to manage client tasks)
  • Zoom, Slack, or Loom (for communication)
  • ChatGPT (to help draft proposals, emails, or content faster)
• A profile on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Contra — or outreach via LinkedIn and Facebook groups

Pro tip for freelancing:

Don’t try to do everything. Pick one service, one niche, and one type of client to start with — like “Instagram content design for coaches” or “SEO blog writing for SaaS brands.” The more specific you are, the easier it is to stand out and get hired.

3. Launch a Printables Shop on Etsy

Love planning, designing, or just making things look good? Starting a printables shop on Etsy is a low-cost, low-pressure way to earn money from your creativity — without ever dealing with shipping or physical products.

Printables are digital files that customers can instantly download and print at home. Once you list them in your Etsy shop, they can keep selling over and over again with zero extra work.

What it is:

You create downloadable products — like planners, trackers, calendars, art prints, or worksheets — and sell them on Etsy. Customers buy the file, download it instantly, and print it at home or use it digitally.

Popular types of printables include:

• Budget planners
• Daily/weekly/monthly calendars
• Meal planners or fitness trackers
• Wedding or event planning checklists
• Kids’ activity sheets
• Wall art and quote prints
• Business templates (invoice forms, content calendars, etc.)

Printables are always in demand because people want to stay organized, motivated, or just make their life a little easier.

Why it works:

Printables are perfect for beginners because they’re simple to make and inexpensive to sell. You can use free tools to design them, and Etsy already has a built-in audience actively searching for digital products.

Here’s why it’s a great low-cost business:

• No inventory, shipping, or customer handling beyond setup
• Easy to scale — one good product can sell for years
• Ideal for people with creative brains
• You can start with just a few listings and grow from there

Plus, once your Etsy shop is up and running, it becomes a semi-passive income stream.

Income potential:

• Beginner shops: $100–$500/month with a few solid listings
• Growing shops: $1,000–$3,000/month with a niche and consistent traffic
• Top sellers: $5,000+/month with bundles, seasonal products, or a strong brand

Prices usually range from $3 to $20 per product, and many sellers increase revenue by offering bundles.

What you need to get started:

You don’t need to be a professional designer — clean, helpful layouts sell better than fancy ones. What matters most is solving a specific problem or making life easier for your target buyer.

To get started, you’ll need:

• An Etsy seller account
• Canva (free or Pro) to design your printables
• Creative Market or Font Bundles (optional) for nicer fonts or icons
• ChatGPT to help write product descriptions or brainstorm product ideas
• Basic SEO for Etsy (titles, tags, and descriptions matter!)

You can start with one simple product, like a weekly planner or a kid’s routine chart, and build from there.

Pro tip for Etsy shop:

Focus on a specific audience or need — like “wedding planners for brides-to-be,” “budgeting printables for students,” or “meal planners for busy moms.” Etsy is a search engine, so niche keywords help your products get found — and bought.

4. Create and Sell a Mini Online Course

If you know how to do something others want to learn — whether it’s organizing a budget, mastering Canva, launching a freelance business, or even baking sourdough — you can turn that knowledge into an online course.

And no, you don’t need to be a full-time coach or have a massive audience. A mini course is a short, focused, low-cost product you can create quickly and sell repeatedly. It’s one of the most flexible, low-risk online businesses you can start — and it scales beautifully.

What it is about:

A mini course is a short online training that teaches one specific skill or solves a small problem. You can create it as a video series, slides with voice-over, PDFs, or a mix of formats.

Examples of mini course topics:

• “How to Create a Content Calendar in Notion”
• “Freelance Writing 101 for Beginners”
• “Instagram Reels for Product-Based Businesses”
• “How to Build a Personal Budget That Actually Works”
• “Plan Your Wedding in 5 Days: A Mini Prep Bootcamp”

You can host it on platforms like Teachable, Podia, or Gumroad — or even deliver it via email.

Why online courses work:

Online learning is booming, and many people prefer short, actionable content over long, expensive courses. Mini courses are easy to create, affordable for buyers, and a great way to build credibility, trust, and income at the same time.

Why this is a great low-cost business:

• You create once, sell infinitely
• No need to be “an expert” — just one step ahead of your target audience
• Builds your personal brand and authority
• You can start with zero following and grow as you go

You can also offer your course as a lead-in to other services or digital products later.

Income potential:

• Starter courses: $50–$500/month with a few organic sales
• Growing courses: $1,000–$3,000/month with basic marketing
• Top mini courses: $5,000+/month with strong niche positioning or bundles

Most mini courses are priced between $10 and $97 — affordable enough to sell easily, but valuable enough to make solid income.

What you need to get started:

Creating a course is easier than you think. Focus on solving one clear problem and delivering it in a straightforward way — no need to overcomplicate it.

Here’s what helps:

• A clear, specific topic people are actively searching for
• Tools like:
  • Loom or Zoom to record your lessons
  • Canva or Google Slides to build visual content
  • Teachable, Podia, or Gumroad to host and sell your course
• ChatGPT to help structure lessons, write scripts, or brainstorm content ideas
• A way to collect emails (like MailerLite or ConvertKit) if you want to build your list

You can even test demand first by pre-selling the course before you build it.

Pro tip for mini online courses creators:

The best-selling mini courses solve one specific, nagging problem — fast. Think small, clear wins: “organize your inbox,” “write your first resume,” or “set up a Notion dashboard.” Keep it simple, focused, and results-driven.

5. Build a Niche Blog or Content Site

If you love writing, researching, or sharing what you know, blogging is a powerful way to turn content into cash. While it takes a bit more time to grow compared to other ideas, it’s one of the best ways to create long-term, semi-passive income online — especially through affiliate marketing, ads, and digital product sales.

And no, blogging isn’t dead. In fact, niche blogs are more valuable than ever because people turn to Google every day to find answers, ideas, and inspiration.

What blogging is about:

You start a blog or content-based website around a specific topic or audience — and consistently publish helpful, SEO-optimized posts. Over time, you build traffic from Google and monetize with:

• Affiliate links (products you recommend)
• Ad networks (like Google AdSense or Ezoic)
• Your own digital products or services
• Sponsored posts or brand partnerships

Examples of niche blog topics:

• Budget travel for solo women
• Productivity for freelancers
• Remote work & digital nomad lifestyle
• Easy vegetarian meal planning
• Side hustles for full-time employees

The key is to pick a niche you enjoy and one that has an audience searching for solutions.

Why it works:

Blogging gives you a platform to build your own corner of the internet. It’s low-cost, scalable, and gives you full creative control. Plus, your blog becomes a business asset — something you can grow, monetize, and even sell in the future.

Here’s why this is a smart business to start:

• Minimal upfront cost (just a domain + hosting)
• You own your content and traffic
• SEO traffic can bring in income for years from one post
• Tons of monetization options as your site grows
• Great for introverts or solo entrepreneurs

It’s perfect if you enjoy writing, storytelling, or deep diving into a topic.

Income potential:

• Early stage blogs: $50–$500/month (within 6–12 months)
• Established blogs: $1,000–$5,000/month from traffic, affiliates, and products
• Top blogs: $10K+/month, or even 6-figure income when scaled properly

The more targeted your content and the better your SEO, the faster you’ll grow.

What you need to get started:

You don’t need to be a tech expert — modern tools make it super simple to launch a site in a day or two.

Here’s what helps:

• A domain name and basic web hosting (e.g. Namecheap + SiteGround or Hostinger)
• A simple WordPress theme or website builder
• Google Docs or Notion to plan content
• ChatGPT or Ubersuggest to help with keyword ideas and SEO outlines
• Optional: RankMath or Yoast SEO plugin for optimizing posts

Start with 5–10 helpful posts targeting questions people actually search for — then grow from there.

Pro tip:

Focus on low-competition, high-intent keywords — think “how to create a weekly meal plan” or “best laptop for remote work under $700.” These posts bring in readers who are actively looking for help — and more likely to buy through your links or sign up for your list.

6. Start a Subscription-Based Newsletter

If you enjoy writing and sharing useful or interesting content regularly, a paid newsletter can become a powerful online business. It’s low-cost to start, easy to manage solo, and gives you a direct relationship with your audience — no social media algorithm required.

You don’t need thousands of subscribers to make it work. With the right niche, even 100 loyal readers can create meaningful recurring income.

What paid newsletter is about:

A subscription-based newsletter is an email that people pay to receive — either monthly or annually. It could include:

• Curated industry insights
• Step-by-step how-tos
• Commentary or opinion pieces
• Templates or swipe files
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Niche tips, stories, or case studies

Think: “Weekly Marketing Tips for Freelancers,” “Finance for New Digital Nomads,” or “Mindset Shifts for Career Changers.”

You can offer a mix of free content to grow your list, and premium content for paying subscribers.

Why it works:

People are overwhelmed with content — but they’re still willing to pay for curated, relevant, high-quality info delivered straight to their inbox.

Why this is a great low-cost business:

• Practically zero startup cost (email tools are free to start)
• Build recurring monthly income
• No shipping, inventory, or design needed
• Perfect for writers, educators, and niche experts
• Scalable — write once, reach hundreds or thousands

Plus, it’s an excellent way to grow trust and eventually launch other offers (like courses or coaching).

Income potential:

• Small list (~100 paying subscribers at $5/mo): $500/month
• Mid-size list (~500 subscribers): $2,500/month
• Large audience (1000+ subscribers): $5,000–$10,000+/month

You can also monetize with affiliate links, sponsorships, or upselling to digital products.

What you need to get started:

Starting a newsletter is simple — all you really need is an email platform and a clear content promise.

Tools to help:

• Beehiiv, ConvertKit, or Substack for easy newsletter setup
• Notion or Google Docs to plan and write content
• ChatGPT to brainstorm topic ideas, outlines, or subject lines
• Optional: a simple landing page with Carrd or Thrive Architect to collect signups

Pick a cadence that feels realistic — like weekly or biweekly — and commit to delivering consistent value.

Pro tip:

People pay for specific outcomes or experiences. Instead of launching “a newsletter about mindset,” try “a 5-minute weekly mindset shift to help creatives stay consistent.” Make the benefit clear and the content focused — that’s what earns subscribers (and keeps them).

7. Offer Resume & LinkedIn Profile Services

If you’re good with words, know how to structure content, and understand what makes someone stand out professionally — offering resume and LinkedIn profile services can be a highly profitable, low-cost online business. It’s always in demand, especially with people changing careers, switching industries, or looking for remote work opportunities.

This is one of those “hidden gem” businesses that doesn’t require a huge audience — just good results and strong word of mouth.

What it is about:

You help job seekers improve their professional documents — primarily resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. Your goal is to make them more clear, compelling, and aligned with the roles they want to land.

This could include:

• Rewriting or reformatting resumes
• Optimizing LinkedIn bios and job history sections
• Creating customized cover letter templates
• Offering coaching or review sessions via Zoom
• Providing packages for different job levels (e.g. entry-level vs. executives)

You can charge per project or create service packages.

Why it works:

Job seekers are often overwhelmed and unsure how to present themselves — especially in competitive fields or after a career break. If you can clearly show them the value of what they offer and help them feel confident, they’ll gladly pay for the support.

Why this is a great low-cost business:

• No tech or tools needed beyond Google Docs
• High demand, especially during hiring booms or economic shifts
• Repeat business from referrals or career coaching add-ons
• Flexible — work with clients 1:1 or offer downloadable templates
• Great for HR professionals, writers, or career switchers

Income potential:

• Basic services (resume rewrite): $100–$250 per client
• Mid-range packages (resume + cover letter + LinkedIn): $300–$600
• High-end offers (executive level or coaching add-ons): $1000+

Even just a few clients per month can bring in solid income.

What you need to get started:

This is one of the easiest businesses to launch — all you need is your expertise, a clear offer, and a way for people to book or contact you.

What helps:

• Basic formatting skills (Google Docs, Canva, or Word)
• Knowledge of keywords, industry trends, and modern resume best practices
• Tools like:
  • Grammarly – for error-free writing
  • Jobscan – to optimize resumes against job descriptions
  • Calendly – to book consultation calls
  • ChatGPT – to draft or edit professional summaries faster
• Optional: build a simple service page with Notion, Carrd, or Google Sites

Start with friends, referrals, or small freelance gigs to build testimonials.

Pro tip:

Position your service around the transformation, not just the document. Instead of saying “I write resumes,” say “I help mid-career professionals land better jobs with standout resumes and LinkedIn profiles.” That shift can double your perceived value — and your pricing.

Ready to start your online business?

Starting an online business doesn’t have to be expensive, overwhelming, or risky. In fact, some of the most successful entrepreneurs began with just one simple idea, a laptop, and the decision to try.

If you’ve been thinking about building something of your own — a creative project, a freelance service, or a product that lives online — now is the time to start. Pick one idea that aligns with your skills, interests, and goals, and take the first step. You don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need to begin.

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Want more inspiration?
Check out this post on 10 online side hustles you can start from home — perfect if you want to explore more flexible, beginner-friendly ways to earn online.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to buy through them, at no extra cost to you.