Is this a question that you've asked yourself before? When I was tired of the 9-5 and wanted to work for myself - I knew it was a step in the right direction but wasn't sure how.
So if you also want to start your own business but don't know what to do, or have no ideas, then this article is for you.
Chances are that since you are reading this online, you're looking to get into some type of business that is online.
I have nothing against brick and mortar businesses but the start up costs compared to an online business are far out of reach for most people.
Starting an online business can be accomplished with very little investment but can net big returns.
Below is a list of 5 different online businesses you can start today.
There is no "rank" to this list, just choose one that appeals to you.
#1 - Dropshipping
Drop Shipping is essentially advertising a product that you never have to carry inventory for, then selling it for a profit and having the manufacturer deliver directly to the customer. The platform that is most commonly used is Shopify and you can get a 14 day free trial here.
You can set up a niche store with just a few products, for example phone cases for iPhones. Or, you can set up a general store offering many different products or a store on a big niche like a fishing store. You can go with something you're familiar with but it doesn't really matter. With the right training you'll know what products to target and how to set up your store, etc.
Most of the money you will spend will be on Facebook ads. Typically you'll start off testing at just $5 a day for each product and scaling the ones that become profitable.
Google adwords is also a paid option that a lot of drop shippers are starting to use these days due to the higher costs of Facebook ads. SEO is also very powerful for ecom as who doesn't like free traffic?
Profit potential for drop shipping depends on the work you put into it. There are some drop shipping stores out there that make a few thousand a month to ones that pull in half a million or more.
If you want to know how you can make money from drop shipping, I recently wrote another article you can have a look at.
I have bought MANY dropshipping courses over the years.
Some are great, while others - not so much.
If you are looking for a dropshipping course I have some suggestions. Each of these are slightly different, some are more expensive than the others but you're going to get a few suggestions that in my opinion are the best ones.
Whether you are a beginner or not, these are your best bet.
CLICK HERE to see the list!
Get my FREE Dropshipping Cheatsheet!
Interested in Dropshipping and want a free guide to get started?
#2 - Affiliate Marketing
Probably one of my favorite ways to make money is through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is a simple model that has been around for many years.
Essentially, you are promoting someone else's product(s) and when someone buys from your link you get a commission.
These links are normally found in your blog, an ad you create, a link in a Youtube video, etc. Chances are you have bought a product in the past that was an affiliate link where someone got a commission from your purchase.
This is similar to drop shipping but actually much easier because you don't have to order the product from the manufacturer.
Once you make a commission you just have to wait to get paid. Simple. Commissions can be made from individual sellers, from sites such as Clickbank, JVzoo and even Amazon associates.
Individual commissions can be anywhere from a few dollars up to $1000 dollars or more depending on the product. When you scale this up, you can really make some serious bank.
Check out my article on affiliate marketing that goes into more detail.
Affiliate marketing is one of my FAVORITE ways to make money online.
The cost is very low to get in and the profits can be HUGE. It's possible to make $5000 - $10,000 a month or MORE with affiliate marketing but it takes work.
It's a job replacer that's for sure. It happened to me so why not you?
It takes work so if you are willing to put in the time, you could do very well.
CLICK HERE to see the list of courses I bought and recommend.
Get My Free Affiliate Marketing CheatSheet!
Sign up to get your free affiliate marketing cheatsheet and start your online business today!
#3 - Start Your Own SEO / Social Media Marketing Agency
If you like sales, enjoying talking to people and promoting your business in different ways, then perhaps you should start an SEO agency. Assuming you know how to do local SEO already, the other component is the task of getting clients. This is the most difficult process with this business model.
You will need a website and I have a guide here that shows you how to create a site. The website will be your brand that you will need to show prospective clients.
You'll need to rank your site to show that you can create results. Here's a tip - rank for an easy term then show a potential client. They don't understand ranking and seeing your site on the first page will certainly convey a message of capability on your part.
If you have no idea how to do SEO but feel this is a business model you'd like - take this training where you can get started for just a buck. You can always contact me if you have any questions about starting an agency as i'd be happy to see if I can help out.
If you're not an SEO expert and want to just focus on social media marketing, anyone can do this with the right training.
To learn more about creating your own social media marketing agency, check out this free training.
#4 - Amazon FBA
Amazon FBA (fulfillment by Amazon) is similar to drop shipping but instead of purchasing one-off products as your customers buy them, you are buying your products in bulk and selling them on Amazon.
Your products get sent to an Amazon fulfillment center where they will pick, pack and ship your products out to your customers for you. Customer service is also provided.
The benefits of this model is that you can leverage the plethora of traffic that the number 1 online store in the world gets.
Unlike dropshipping, you need to do a lot of marketing, retargeting, etc, to get a customer. With Amazon, the brand is there already.
The downside is that depending on the product(s) you wish to sell, there could be a substantial upfront investment. If you have some money to invest then this could be an option for you if you don't want to work on building your brand like you would need to do with Shopify drop shipping.
Profits with this business depend on a few factors. Potential wise, I have personally met an Amazon guru at a conference that has had 1 Million dollar months in sales. Crazy.
To learn more about this model, i'd suggest signing up for this free webinar from a very respected and well known professional in the Amazon space.
#5 - Local Lead Generation
Update!
During this Pandemic, it's probably not a wise decision to get into local lead generation right now. Once businesses re-open it is something you could consider but not for a while. There will be "repair" phase that needs to take place first.
This business model is quite unique. Essentially what you are doing here is ranking a website in a specific niche, then selling the leads to local clients in that niche then banking that money!
For example, you could rank a "Spray foam insulation" website in your local city (or any local city really) then contact businesses that are not on the first page of Google and ask them if they would like to have leads directed from your page to theirs - for a fee per call or a flat monthly rate.
For a business like this, you could charge anywhere from 50 - $100 a call. Imagine how that could add up.
There is inexpensive software that can handle the call forwarding and tracking (I use Callfire) so once it is set up, you are able to track your calls and the money that you make - all handled automatically.
The main thing you need here is to learn local SEO. James Upjohn has an excellent course called Ranking Rabbit where you can get started for just a dollar, it's the same local SEO course that I suggested above.
There's other courses out there that charge several thousand dollars for this which is pretty insane. You don't need to spend that kind of money.
One thing you need to understand about local lead generation is that it takes a lot of SEO skills. You are going to be up against other SEO's that have been doing this for years. There is also a significant investment in this business.
It's a much higher investment in lead generation to get started than comparing it to either affiliate marketing or dropshipping. If you don't have several grand lying around to invest - stay away from this business model.
#6 - Drop Servicing / eServices
This is a new business opportunity where you will have a website that offers "eServices" to business owners. It's kind of like owning an agency but not exactly. Here, you will outsource all the work so you really just focus on sales.
You can read more about this opportunity here - https://drews-review.com/how-to-start-drop-servicing-business
There are not many courses out there but do check out this course to see if it's for you if you want to learn more.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
These are the top 6 businesses in my opinion that would be your best bet to start. It is important that you match your business choice with your personality that I explain in a different article. If you choose wrong, you could hamper your success. Click that link to jump to the article learn more.
The one thing that stands out from all my suggestions above is a common thing - training.
Without training and understanding your line of business, you certainly will not have the upper hand on your competitors.
Invest in yourself. All the suggestions I gave above come from people that KNOW this business and have lived it. They will be your mentors and guide you through.
Success is up to you though. It's up to you to take action on any course you take. So think wisely what choice above is most suitable for you and take the training. The longer you wait, the sooner someone else will take your spot in regards to success.
I'm not saying buying a course is a must, as you can learn on your own pace through some free sources like Youtube, but you aren't going to get very specific training that is essential for success. One small detail could make ALL the difference in your business. Believe me, i've been there.
Any course I recommend on my blog i've bought already, used and reviewed. You will see a common theme on my site with certain products that I recommend over others. I don't recommend every single product out there like others do. Nor do I recommend a course that's expensive. I've found that expensive doesn't always mean good.
Oh and one more thing. Stick with one business model. Stop chasing the next shiny object that comes along.
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Drew is the founder of drews-review.com. He quit his day job in 2013 and makes a living with his laptop full time while traveling the world. He has several affiliate marketing and ecommerce websites and is an authority in this space. Read more...
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Is their anyway I can get more information on the RANK & BANK business? Is their a training series that for it.
I might do a blog post on this business model shortly. For this business you need to have good training in LOCAL SEO first and James Upjohn’s course does a great job with this. For a specific course on this model that also goes into SEO training I have not found one yet but I am looking.
Thank you for the response and informational website.
You’re welcome Raoul!
Thank you so much Drew! I am in-between consulting jobs and really want to get into something I have passion about and the $$$$ meets the amount of work I put in! I feel like my earning potential has been capped and I appreciate the work you have done here to really get the potential owner a glimpse into a new line of income! I look forward to training and starting a new business soon…
You’re welcome RoseMarie. I can relate to what you are saying as i’ve been there myself. Sounds like you have the entrepreneurial spirit so you’re ahead already from most people!
From one Drew to another, what a great site!
I stumbled here after watching a sales video on the 3030 h-com program, yet looked for some reviews first and comparables like Ecom Elites for Facebook training.
You offer a lot of great info here and a refreshing attitude in the way you deliver it.
The rank & bank business model is something i’m really interested in, so SEO training is what i’ll do.
I’m in the midst of a career transition. Getting out of general contracting and renovation to something that provides me more time and freedom.
I look forward to reading and watching all your great content.
Keep up the great work.
Cheers
Hey Drew!
I appreciate the positive comments regarding my reviews, glad you like my style. The rank & bank method is a good model and I imagine you have contacts in your industry so your foot is in the door already so to speak. It’s a great industry to do rank and bank with that’s for sure. I’d be very specific like: air conditioning repair in “city” as opposed to trying to rank for general contractor, etc. All the best!
I really like your review and it helps a lot to make a decision. Btw, do you have a review for Samcart?
Thanks Jan. I haven’t done one from Samcart but may in the future. Thanks for checking out my reviews!
Thank you Drew,
Exactly the next step I was asking for.
I appreciate your honest and helpful reviews without being mean about others… it’s always the high road to go.
I’m both enamoured and overwhelmed by this online industry! But the cleverness of your below question bot, is a brilliant coaching tech, I immediately tuned into. It felt personal to questions I didn’t know I needed to ask! And led me to a greater clarity and next step!
I will be following you, as my guide into this new venture. I feel hopeful and excited again!
Thank you!
Thanks for your comment and your kind words Stacy! Yes this industry is overwhelming but just pick something that works for you and stick with it. Many people try one thing with a half-assed attitude and just give up too soon saying that it doesn’t work. The ones that persist eventually make it. Best advice I can give is to go with a business model that that matches your personality and go hard core! Thanks again and all the best 🙂
Drew, Thanks for all the fabulous info. I just happened upon your site when doing some review research myself. My question is- I have been checking into CB Passive Income by Patric Chan on affiliate marketing. What is your opinion on this product or are you familiar with it? As a local diner waitress, I have time to invest more than I have money, but am very committed to starting an online business. I want to quit my waitress job. – Especially now that I am dealing with a work injury that makes my days difficult. Thanks again!!
Hi Sherry thanks for checking out my site! I am familiar with his product and I actually did a review on it a while ago. Please make sure you read my review before making any decisions – https://drews-review.com/cb-passive-income-review/ This should make things very clear if you should pick it up or not.
So glad I am sceptical of online courses, especially highly priced ones. Thank goodness I do fair bit of research, otherwise I’d be many dollars out of pocket. This scepticism has luckily directed me to honest reviews like yours.
Thank you so much, Drew. You’re reviews are great and very informative, and helping me to decide on which e-commerce avenue to take without handing over my hard earned dollars to those greedy enough to take it.
Thank you for the positive comments Bron, much appreciated. Yes, doing research is so important these days. Marketers do a very good job of convincing people to buy on their sales pages so you really need to step back and realize it might not actually be as great as it seems!
Drew,
I sure wish I’d found your review blog 3 years ago! I have lost a lot of money but have certainly learned a lot. I lost a lot having businesses set up websites for me that never made sales. The first group I did business with wanted to set me up with a Merchant Services account selling me leads supposedly of small businesses that had inquired about the service. Those people are doing jail time right now and occasionally I get a little bit of money from what the government is able to get from their assets. It’s been a horror story but I don’t give up easily. I know I just need to find the right opportunity. I’m willing to put the work in but my resources are running low. Do you know much about EcomEmpireBuilders or
Secret Online Goldmine? If you would like to respond individually to these questions let me know at the email address below. I have done some affiliate sales through Share-a-Sale and had a company set me up with a dropshipping store with health products. It takes a lot of sales to make much commission on small items. I have started working with Peter Pru and sales funnels but have only just started. Any of your wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Janice, sorry to hear you got swindled but it’s happened to many people so you’re not alone. Fortunately there are still talented and ethical marketers out there, you just need to find them. Any course I recommend on my blog has been thoroughly vetted by me personally after purchasing, going through the training, etc. If you want to contact me directly to discuss further, just visit my contact page as the details are there.
Dear Drew, Thanks for all your reviews. I came across this site by chance en.bitcoinbillion.club. Someone reviewed and mentioned that it is legit and trustworthy. I am still very skeptical. It has a deposit fee of $250. I just would like your help and give me some advice.
Thank you so much, Andy
Sorry Andy but I don’t dabble with bitcoin but i’m sure you can find a review elsewhere on it.
Hi Drew-
Do you know anything about Shopanova or eComBabes? They are both fairly expensive programs I’ve considered, though now I am going to check out the one you recommend..
I have an online store but have been teaching myself while working a full time job and have not had enough training on marketing, facebook ads, analytics and conversion, SEO etc. so am not getting any traffic really at all. I have Instagram and Facebook set up, but feel like they have just been a time suck with no real results.
I am interested in taking a training program to see how I can improve my existing store and begin to market. I am not drop-shipping though. Can the course you recommend also work for someone who is not a drop-shipper? I appreciate your feedback.
Hi Maggie,
I’ve heard of both yes but have not looked into them much to be honest. For what you are trying to do, eCom Elites will definitely help with the marketing aspect but not all will be applicable because it is a dropshipping course. You’ll definitely get some benefit though as a lot of the material would be related – just not the dropshipping stuff.
Hello Drew,
Thank you for your insights! I was wondering if you have come across a trustworthy local lead generation course that doesn’t charge an astronomical price? I did speak with someone that wanted $13,000 for their course!
Hi EL, the main thing with local lead gen is understanding SEO. I can tell you that James Upjohn knows his stuff as I was on a webinar with him in the past. He has a course and although it’s not specific to lead generation, the info in the course is definitely going to point you in the right direction. It’s also very cheap and you can start with a $1 trial. I’d recommend this even to my own mother before telling her to invest 13K in ANY course. That’s just madness.
Okay, thank you Drew. I agree that SEO is a huge part of it, but I have never built a website either, so I need to learn EVERYTHING 🙂
No problem EL. With good training you’ll be able to learn it the right way. As far as websites go, stick to wordpress. It’s the easiest platform to learn. Here’s some tips on getting a site going – https://drews-review.com/how-to-create-website-easily/
Hy Drew, I’ve just gone through your reviews on the site patiently and found out that you are indeed a good person and I appreciate all the helpful resources you’ve given so far.
Also Thanks for the other review as per Tai’s course. I’m grateful for not falling victim, Keep the good works on.
Thank you Adebajo, I appreciate the kind comments. I’m glad I was able to steer you away from trouble 🙂
Hi Drew,
I am new here to your website. Seems like its thorough research that you are providing. Thank you!
Thanks for your positive feedback Laila! Much appreciated.
Hi Drew,
I wanted to know if you need to establish a business name, business license or EIN before getting involved with dropshipping? I wanted to know because I’d technically be self employed and have to report my earnings what exactly is needed during tax time before starting anything. Sorry in advance if I used any of the wrong terminology. I’m highly interested in ecommerce and appreciate your blog about ecombabes.
Thanks,D
Hi Dee, I can’t give any tax advice because it all depends where you live. However I can tell you that I started as a sole proprietor without a business name and then eventually rolled over into a corporation. You might be able to do the same but you should definitely see what’s required where you live.