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15 Best Small Business Ideas for 2025

October 8, 2024 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

It’s time for my best small business ideas 2025 edition. Since 2012, I’ve helped thousands of people start and market their own business, and I can help you too!

Before You Start Reading!

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15 of My Best Small Business Ideas for 2025

1. Vintage Fashion Accessories – In 2024, searches for vintage designer/luxury thrifting reached an all-time high, especially for luxury vintage watches, designer shoes, and purses. So scour estate sales and grandma’s closet and start selling online, using vintage sales apps such as Vinted.

2. Health Coach – First it was Life Coach, then it was Wellness Coach, and now Health Coach is the top search. A health coach helps people make lifestyle changes to improve their physical and emotional health. For this consulting role, it would be beneficial to be board certified, so it is ideal for someone already in the healthcare field as a possible side hustle, with hourly rates at $50 to $200.

3. Remote Work Recruiter – COVID changed people’s perspective about working, and many found out that they really did like to work from home. Remote and hybrid jobs are the top searches on Indeed, therefore, a recruiting consultant who specializes in finding remote jobs or even creating a website focusing on such, is a very good business idea.

4. Solo / Singles Vacation Planner – “Solo cruises”, “solo camping trips” and “solo hiking trips” are at all-time Google search highs, as people seem to be looking for new ways to meet people outside of the dating apps. If you are already a travel agent, this is a great side hustle. If not, try a website that focuses on this niche.

5. Micro Wedding Planner – Searches for “micro wedding” soared this year. This is a wedding with 30 guests, likely a result of people wanting to spend less money, but still have it be an elegant affair. A great opportunity for a wedding or event planner, especially if you can find more ways for the couple to save.

6. Burnout Coaching & Toxic Corporate Change Coaching – Again, these two topics were huge Google searches in 2024, so if you have any HR experience, you could market your services in these areas to both companies and individuals.

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7. Pop Up Coordinator – You’ve heard of retail pop ups and Christmas pop ups, and now restaurant pop ups are the hot trend of 2024. With the pop up market still going strong, there is likely a need for a local business that can match up budding entrepreneurs with the proper pop up space, as well as with suppliers that can handle their temporary business supply needs.

8. AI Trainer – AI technology is moving fast into every aspect of life, and it can be intimidating to certain older segments of the workforce. Therefore, “AI Training for Employees” is one avenue to approach. Another one would be “AI Training for Executives” that would teach them how to use AI to cut costs and improve efficiencies.

9. Sauna Installer / Vendor –Demand for outdoor saunas has skyrocketed over 400% since 2019, due to an influx of articles with proven facts about the health benefits. Whether you want to sell them and/or install them, it is a viable industry, particularly popular in the colder places in the country.

10. Power Washing / Pressure Washing Services – One of the most in-demand services on the handyman website, Angi, is for power washing external surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, decks, siding, and so forth. People are charging $60 to $150 to power wash a driveway, depending on the size.

11. Stick Shift / Manual Driving Lessons – This is not the same as teaching someone to drive. The people searching for this service already know how to drive an automatic car and have their license, but now they want to learn to drive stick.

12. Typing Lessons for Kids – Parents are frustrated at how their children two finger type, and typing lessons are no longer on the school curriculum. Believe it or not, this was a breakout Google search this year, so there is obviously a need.

13. PS5 Repair – This was one of the top repair searches this year, as people will happily hire someone to fix their broken Playstation 5 then paid hundreds of dollars for a new one. Might be a great side hustle for one of your technically advanced kids.

14. Self Service Dog Wash – I always love looking at the top “near me” searches on Google, and “Self Service Dog Wash Near Me” was in the top three this year. You would not need a big facility, you could probably even do it as a mobile business, but not everyone has a way to wash their dog at home, especially a big dog.

15. Home Laundry Service – If you love to do laundry (you are likely alone), but many people hate it so much, searches for “someone to do my laundry” are at an all-time high, even requests for “can I hire someone to just fold and put away laundry?” You could offer it as a pick up and drop off service, and you would be able to write off your laundry room and appliances.

Need tools to start, grow, or market your business? Shop my Etsy store and Shopify store.

Trying to find a job? Check out my killer Resume Writing Service.

Interested in hiring me for a consultation on how to market or grow your business? Here’s my email: attentiongetting@gmail.com

About Me

I have been helping small business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs online since 2012. My advice has been featured in the New York Times, Success Magazine, Shopify Blog, Medium, and SheKnows, and was named one of the “Top 10 Small Business Blogs to Follow ″ by American Express. If there is another type of business or marketing service you need, or have a business question, feel free to ask me at attentiongetting@gmail.com.

Why You Need a Personal Brand

September 23, 2024 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Back in the day when I was working in marketing for a large technology firm, our CFO wanted me to write a bio for her, that she could submit for one of those “Top 40 Under 40” local business awards (she got it).

These days, there are many advantages and opportunities to presenting yourself as a polished, professional, personal brand.

THE COMPONENTS OF A PERSONAL BRAND:

A professional headshot
A killer resume
An engaging LinkedIn profile summary
An informative bio (always needed when working with media and events)
A brief but impactful social media bio (a shorter version of the above).

Whether you’re a lawyer, doctor, sales executive, upper management, realtor, travel agent, influencer, entrepreneur, or business owner, you want to make sure that your personal brand is consistent, compelling, and truly showcases you in a way that will impress.

WHAT HAVING A PERSONAL BRAND WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO:

Apply for higher level positions
Apply to be on boards
Apply to join professional organizations
Submit yourself for consideration for awards
Submit yourself for consideration for speaking engagements
Submit yourself for consideration for publicity opportunities
Attract new customers, clients, business alliances, partners, fans, and followers
Bolster your credibility and trustworthiness
Stand out from the competition
Grow your business or career
Prevent “imposters”

MY PERSONAL BRAND WRITING SERVICE

As a professional marketer and writer, I am offering a new Professional Branding Package, which consists of:

Resume overhaul (3 pages max)
LinkedIn profile summary (200-300 words)
Professional bio (100-150 words)
Instagram/Facebook bio (20-30 words)

Please email me at attentiongetting@gmail.com if you would like to see samples of my work. If you wish to order, just visit my Shopify store.

Embrace your personal brand and all the professional and financial opportunities it can bring you!

My Killer Promotional Idea for June

June 4, 2024 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Have you ever been in a restaurant and saw a fish bowl indicating that you simply drop your business card in to be eligible to win a free lunch?

Why not approach your local retailers with this novel idea to promote your own business?

For example, let’s say you offer a dog washing service. Ask your local pet shop if you can put a fishbowl on the counter for people to be eligible to win a free dog wash by simply dropping in their business card (or they could fill out a ballot).

It doesn’t cost the pet shop anything, and both they and you now can also beef up your email lists with all of these new contacts. It also serves as free advertising for your biz.

Alternatively, you can also ask businesses to do the same arrangement if they are exhibiting at a trade show or selling at a farmer’s market. Again, they still get the new customer contacts (as do you) but you’re the one giving away the prize so it doesn’t cost them a thing.

Give it a try!

Try This Easy Marketing Idea to Connect with Customers

May 2, 2024 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

If you need an easy way to connect with your current customers – or an innovative lead magnet to attract new customers – a “Trends Report” is always a great marketing idea. Plus, it can help establish you as an expert in your industry.

I have created four Canva Trend Report templates for various markets – Real Estate Agents, Jewelry Store Owners, Travel Agents and Interior Designers – but you can customize them for any type of business, as well as upload your own photos and trends (I just used these as place holders) along with adding your own colors, branding and contact information.

For example:

a candle business could quarterly release their scent trends
a restaurant could release current food trends
a retail store could release their top trending products
a t-shirt store could release their top design trends
a life coach could release the current wellness trends

They’re ideal to use for:

Email marketing
Newsletters
Blog posts
Social media posts
Handouts at trade shows and other in-person selling events
Inserts in customer packages

Best of all, they are a quick and easy way to get attention!

Two Marketplaces for Artisans

March 10, 2024 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Looking for new places to sell online? I have two.

You may or may not know that craft retailer Michaels now has an online marketplace called, MakerPlace, where small businesses can sell everything from jewelry and purses to pet products and furniture.

But another interesting thing Michaels is doing, is offering in-store appearances for artisans to sell their products directly to shoppers, with no commissions on sales. The appearances also allow the sellers to interact face-to-face with customers, get feedback, and take orders for custom items.

The other online marketplace you might not know about is 1800Flowers Marketplace. They have been offering this marketplace for a while now, and any product that would fit in the “gift” category can be sold here. They seem to particularly like food products, garden decor, baby items and bath & body. But keep in mind their commission rate is high, at 25%.

Cool Product Photography Ideas

February 21, 2024 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

I’ve said this many times, doing something different than your competitors is an easy way to stand out. It can be with the products themselves, or your marketing, such as your marketing copy, headlines, ads, even your photos.

I saw these two product photos, one for a barbecue sauce and one for an art print, and they both jumped out to me because they were non-typical. Now, I know that this quirky style doesn’t suit everyone’s brand, but it is a way to get attention. They are also very social media savvy.

Give it a try and do something more atypical with your product photos.

About Me

A 20+ year marketing professional and small business consultant, all of my services are very affordable. Read more about me here and view my services here.

Today’s Awesome Business Idea

December 17, 2023 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

I was curious when I saw that a top Google search this past week was, “Delicious Food Delivered Advent Calendar” so I had to check it out.

It turns out it’s a small business in Milwaukee that had a brilliant idea. They took the popularity of advent calendars, along with the desire to support local businesses, and created gourmet food boxes, in the form of advent calendars.

These beautifully packaged Christmas boxes contain one gourmet treat a day – from cookies to jam to cheese – for 24 days, each from a different local food company.

They currently have boxes promoting small businesses in various states, from Kentucky to Ohio, particularly with foods tailored to their respective state.

It is a brilliant idea because they make the perfect gift for family to gift to other family members who live somewhere else in the country, as well as for larger businesses or independent professionals to gift their clients, because not only do people love to receive food, but you feel good supporting the local community.

This idea is also viable for Valentine’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Halloween, along with wedding gifts, college care packages and housewarming gifts.

If you’re looking for a new business idea for 2024, be sure to read my post, 54 Small Business Ideas for 2024.

15 Super Easy Social Media Posts for December Anyone Can Do

November 16, 2023 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

I know you don’t have a lot of time to think up social media posts this busy time of year.

Therefore, here are 15 super simple posting ideas for December from my brand new 365 Social Media Ideas for 2024 that will help.

15 Simple Social Media Post Ideas for December

Post a #Funfact about a Christmas tradition like, “Why Do We Hang Tinsel on Christmas Trees?” (answer: Tinsel originally was strips of steel, used to reflect candlelight on the trees)
Post an open-ended question such as, “The Best Gift I Ever Got Was ___________________________”
Post a poll: “Vote for your favorite Christmas cookie: Sugar, Shortbread Butter, Gingerbread or Snickerdoodles” for national cookie day on December 4th.
Post a This or That Poll i.e. Christmas Movie: Home Alone or Elf?
Post an answer to a popular search such as, “Who was the first woman to win a Nobel prize” for the ceremony on December 10th (answer: Marie Curie).
Post a #reel of beautiful Christmas lights in your city #christmasmagic.
Post a Yah or Nay: Mulled Wine?
Post a “6 Sleeps Left Until Christmas!” graphic on December 19th.
Post a photo of a frosted window and write in the frost: “Happy 1st Day of Winter” for #firstdayofwinter on December 21st.
Post a #reel showing the word “peace” in different languages on December 25th
Post a #DidYou Know about Kwanzaa, such as “Did you know that Kwanzaa is a non religious, cultural celebration that only started in 1966?” on December 26th, when it starts.
Post a #FunFact about the Eiffel Tower for the 100th anniversary of the death of Gustave Eiffel on December 27th, such as “The Eiffel Tower will be painted gold for the start of the summer Olympics in Paris in 2024″.
Post a list of your 5 favorite movies of 2023 and ask followers if they agree.
Post a list of your 5 favorite books of 2023 and ask followers if they agree.
Post an open-ended question on December 31st such as, “The One Thing I Want to Do in 2024 is___________________________”