Let me ask you something. 15 Best Online Business Ideas With Low Startup Cost (Start for Under $100)
What’s stopping you from starting that online business?
If your answer is “I don’t have thousands of dollars to invest,” I’ve got good news for you: You don’t need them.
Some of the most profitable online businesses today started with less than $100. Hell, some started with just $20 and a whole lot of determination.
The internet has leveled the playing field. You no longer need a storefront, inventory, or a massive marketing budget. You just need a solid idea, some hustle, and the willingness to start before you feel ready.
Here are 15 online business ideas you can launch today for under $100—ranked from easiest to most profitable.
1. Freelance Writing (Start Cost: $0)
If you can string words together in a way that makes sense, people will pay you for it.
Businesses are starving for content. Blog posts, email newsletters, website copy, social media captions—they all need to be written by someone.
How to start for free:
- Create a simple portfolio using Google Docs or Contently
- Sign up on Upwork, Freelancer.com, or ProBlogger
- Pitch 5-10 jobs per day
Pro tip: Don’t pitch “I’ll write anything.” Specialize. “I write blog posts for plumbing companies” makes you look like an expert, not a desperate generalist.
Earning potential: $30-$150 per article. Full-time writers clear $5,000+/month.
2. Virtual Assistant (Start Cost: $0)
Entrepreneurs are chaotic. They need help with email, scheduling, customer service, and random tasks. That’s where you come in.
How to start:
- List your skills (scheduling, email management, social media)
- Create a simple Canva graphic advertising your services
- Post in Facebook entrepreneur groups or on LinkedIn
- Start with friends who own businesses
Pro tip: Offer a “done-with-you” trial week at a discount to get testimonials. Then raise your rates.
Earning potential: $20-$50/hour. Specialize in something (real estate VAs make even more).
3. Print-on-Demand (Start Cost: $0-$50)
Design stuff. Sell stuff. Never touch inventory.
Print-on-demand lets you upload designs to t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and posters. When someone buys, a third party prints and ships it. You keep the profit.
Platforms to use:
- Redbubble (easiest, no cost)
- Printful + Etsy (more control, small listing fees)
- Amazon Merch (apply, wait, then profit)
Pro tip: Don’t design for everyone. Design for a specific niche—”retired teacher wine lovers” beats “funny teacher shirts” every time.
Earning potential: $5-$20 per item sold. With 20-30 solid designs, you can hit $1,000+/month.
4. Affiliate Marketing Website (Start Cost: $30/year)
Review products, get commissions. That’s affiliate marketing in a nutshell.
You create content around products people want to buy, include your special links, and earn when someone purchases.
Startup costs:
- Domain name: $10-$15/year
- Hosting: $3-$10/month (Start with Hostinger or Bluehost)
- WordPress: Free
Pro tip: Pick a niche with products that pay decent commissions. Web hosting, software, and high-ticket items often pay 30-50%.
Earning potential: $0 for first few months, then grows. Many affiliates hit $2,000-$5,000/month within a year.
5. Dropshipping (Start Cost: $50-$100)
Like print-on-demand but with physical products. You set up an online store, customer orders, and a supplier ships directly to them.
Platforms:
- Shopify ($1 for first 3 months often)
- Oberlo or Spocket for products
- Facebook/Instagram for marketing
Pro tip: Don’t try to compete with Amazon on price. Sell unique, interesting products that people get excited about.
Warning: This takes more marketing effort than other options. But the upside is real.
Earning potential: Varies wildly. Smart operators clear $1,000-$10,000+/month.
6. Online Tutoring (Start Cost: $0)
Remember that thing you’re good at? Teach it.
Math, English, music, coding, chess, guitar—if you know it, someone wants to learn it.
Where to find students:
- Wyzant or Chegg (they handle payments)
- Outschool (for teaching kids)
- Local Facebook groups
- Nextdoor app
Pro tip: Record your sessions (with permission) and use them as portfolio pieces to attract more students.
Earning potential: $20-$80/hour. Tutoring test prep pays even more.
7. Digital Products (Start Cost: $0-$20)
Create something once. Sell it forever.
Digital products have no inventory costs, no shipping, and infinite scalability.
Ideas for digital products:
- Printable planners and organizers
- Resume templates
- Budget spreadsheets
- Ebooks
- Lightroom presets
- Canva templates
Where to sell:
- Etsy (20-cent listing fees)
- Gumroad (free to start)
- Your own website
Pro tip: Solve a specific problem. “Wedding budget spreadsheet” sells better than “budget spreadsheet.”
Earning potential: $5-$50 per sale. With 10-20 products, you can build serious passive income.
8. Social Media Management (Start Cost: $0)
Businesses know they need to be on social media. They just don’t have time to do it well.
How to start:
- Pick 1-2 platforms you actually enjoy using
- Learn the basics of scheduling and engagement
- Approach local businesses
- Offer to manage their accounts for a monthly fee
Pro tip: Create a “social media audit” as a lead magnet. Show businesses what they’re doing wrong, then offer to fix it.
Earning potential: $300-$2,000/month per client. Most managers handle 3-5 clients.
9. Transcription (Start Cost: $0)
Listen to audio. Type what you hear. Get paid.
Transcription is straightforward and always in demand—for podcasts, videos, medical notes, legal proceedings.
Where to find work:
- Rev
- TranscribeMe
- GoTranscript
- Upwork
Pro tip: Invest in a good foot pedal once you’re serious. It speeds you up dramatically.
Earning potential: $15-$30/hour. Medical or legal transcription pays more.
10. Sell Stock Photos/Videos (Start Cost: $0)
If you have a decent phone camera, you can sell stock content.
Businesses constantly need authentic photos and videos for their websites and ads. The days of cheesy posed stock photos are over.
Platforms:
- Shutterstock
- Adobe Stock
- Pond5 (for video)
- EyeEm
Pro tip: Look for gaps. Search what’s available, then create what’s missing. “People working from home with cats” still has demand.
Earning potential: Passive. Upload consistently and build a portfolio that pays you for years.
11. Online Reselling (Start Cost: $20-$50)
Buy low. Sell higher. The oldest business model, now online.
Hit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance racks. Find undervalued items. List them on eBay, Poshmark, or Mercari.
What sells well:
- Brand-name clothing
- Vintage items
- Video games and electronics
- Books (use Amazon FBA)
Pro tip: Use the eBay app to scan barcodes and see what items actually sell for before you buy.
Earning potential: $500-$3,000/month part-time. Full-time resellers make six figures.
12. Blogging (Start Cost: $30/year)
Yes, people still read blogs. In fact, 77% of internet users read blog posts regularly.
Blogging takes time to build, but it’s one of the most sustainable online businesses.
Cost breakdown:
- Domain: $12/year
- Hosting: $3-$10/month
- WordPress theme: Free or $59 one-time
Monetization:
- Display ads (once you have traffic)
- Affiliate marketing
- Sponsored posts
- Your own products
Pro tip: Pick a narrow topic you can write about for years without getting bored. Passion matters when you’re writing the 50th post.
Earning potential: Most bloggers earn nothing for 6-12 months. Then it compounds. Top bloggers make $10,000+/month.
13. Web Design (Start Cost: $0-$50)
Every business needs a website. Not every business knows how to make one.
You don’t need to be a coder. Website builders like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress make it accessible.
How to start:
- Learn one platform inside out (YouTube is free)
- Build 2-3 sample sites for friends or fake businesses
- Reach out to local businesses with outdated websites
- Offer a simple package: $500 for a 5-page site
Pro tip: Partner with copywriters. They have clients who need websites. You have clients who need copy. Referrals flow both ways.
Earning potential: $500-$3,000 per website. Maintenance retainers add monthly income.
14. YouTube Channel (Start Cost: $0)
You don’t need fancy cameras. You need helpful content.
People search YouTube for everything—how to fix their dryer, what to feed their bearded dragon, how to apply false lashes.
Startup needs:
- Phone camera (modern phones are plenty good)
- Free editing software (DaVinci Resolve, iMovie)
- Basic microphone ($20 if you want better audio)
Monetization:
- Ads (once you hit 1,000 subscribers)
- Affiliate links in description
- Sponsorships
- Selling your own products
Pro tip: Answer specific questions people are typing into Google. “How to clean a fabric couch with pets” gets searched more than “couch cleaning tips.”
Earning potential: $0 for a while, then scales. Many YouTubers hit $2,000-$5,000/month within 1-2 years.
15. Course Creation (Start Cost: $0-$50)
You don’t need to be a celebrity to sell a course. You just need to know something better than your target audience.
Platforms:
- Teachable (free plan available)
- Thinkific (free tier)
- Udemy (they handle marketing, take a cut)
Pro tip: Start with a mini-course priced at $27-$47. Prove the concept before spending months creating a comprehensive program.
Earning potential: $1,000-$10,000+/month once established.
Which One Should YOU Choose?
Still feeling overwhelmed? Here’s how to decide:
Pick the “easiest” if: You want money fast. Go with freelancing, VA work, or tutoring. Immediate income.
Pick the “most profitable” if: You can wait 6-12 months. Blogging, YouTube, and affiliate sites have higher ceilings.
Pick the “most fun” if: You want to enjoy the process. Print-on-demand for creatives. Reselling for treasure hunters. Course creation for teachers.
The $100 Startup Checklist
Whichever you choose, here’s how to invest that $100 wisely:
- Domain and hosting ($30): If you need a website
- Canva Pro ($120/year or use free version): For all your graphics
- Basic logo ($20 on Fiverr): Look professional from day one
- Coffee meetings ($50): Pick the brain of someone already doing it
- Course or book ($20): Learn from someone who’s succeeded
Spend the rest on nothing. Hustle covers the rest.
The Truth About Low-Cost Businesses
Here’s what nobody tells you: The cost isn’t the hard part.
The hard part is showing up every day when nobody’s paying attention yet. The hard part is writing when you’d rather watch Netflix. The hard part is pitching when you’re afraid of rejection.
But here’s the beautiful thing: Most people quit. They try for two weeks, don’t see results, and move on to the next shiny idea.
If you just keep going—consistently, patiently, stubbornly—you automatically beat 95% of the competition.
So pick one. Start today. Don’t stop.
Which of these ideas caught your attention? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear what you’re thinking of starting and help you take that first step!