For the past few decades, starting a business has been a risk that you should consider taking. It can offer a rewarding payoff—even if it requires a lot of work in the beginning. However, the risks involved with it can be equally as impactful. This highlights the importance of choosing the correct type of venture—like one of the top 10 most successful businesses to start that we’re going to explore in this guide.
We’ll mainly cover ideas for businesses that require little to no investment to start. We’ll also explore a couple of businesses that require a bit of upfront investment, but could offer a more fulfilling experience depending on your interests.
Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start in 2025 and Beyond
Let’s dive straight into our main topic and explore 10 successful business ideas in 2025 and beyond.
Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start at a Glance
The business ideas we’re going to be exploring in this guide are the following:
- Online Courses
- Consulting Firms
- Marketing Agencies
- Content Writing
- Graphic Design Firms
- Dropshipping
- Software Development
- Accounting Services
- Mobile Detailing Services
- Mobile Tire Repair
Businesses You Can Start with Little to No Investment
As mentioned before, the majority of our top 10 most successful businesses to start require little to no upfront investment. Let’s begin exploring them in-depth with one of the most popular business ideas out there: online courses.
Online Courses
Creating online courses can be a lucrative business to start for pretty much anyone. People are always looking for opportunities to learn new information on a wide variety of topics—which you can take advantage of easily. The first step to starting this business idea is choosing a niche. If you’re knowledgeable or passionate about a specific topic, choose it and start sharing what you know on the internet. You can do this in a variety of ways—by writing guides on your blog, posting video tutorials on YouTube, or even creating a more in-depth course on a dedicated learning platform.
Consulting Firms
Closely tied to our last point, establishing a consulting firm is another way to share your knowledge in a particular field. You’ll need a bit more than just knowledge and passion to start this business idea, as customers of such firms look for experience. However, if you do have lots of experience on a topic, you can provide consulting services to both individuals and companies.
Marketing Agencies
Marketing firms—especially those specializing in digital marketing—is an idea you’re likely to find on almost all “Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start” lists. However, there’s a reason for this. As the demand for digital marketing continues to rise, there are lots of ways you can get started in the niche. If you’re passionate about writing, you can start with Search Engine Marketing. If you have experience growing a page on a social network, then perhaps Social Media Marketing is a better fit for you. Or maybe you have good negotiation and collaboration skills, in which case you might be great at Influencer Marketing. The possibilities are endless in this space.
Content Writing
Content writing is another popular business idea. Besides the previously mentioned SEM content, you could also start writing for a variety of other goals. You may want to write blog articles for those looking to market through organic SEO. You could also write scripts for videos and voiceovers, assisting independent content creators in the process. However, be wary that despite a low barrier to entry, writing isn’t something everyone can do masterfully. Like all other professions, there’s a lot to learn—so be prepared to expand your skills as you go.
Graphic Design Firms
Graphic design is another high-demand industry. You can start off with something simple like creating marketing materials for companies following their established styles. As you build experience, you can start offering more involved products—like logos, brand books, style guides, and more.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is another item you’re likely to see in all “Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start” lists. As the eCommerce sector continues to grow worldwide, you can take advantage of this by connecting suppliers with buyers. While it may seem simple, there’s a lot of work involved in a dropshipping business—especially in terms of marketing. After all, you have to attract potential buyers to the products you’ve sourced to sell.
Software Development
While software development is an in-demand field, you’ll need at least a bit of education to get started in it. You don’t necessarily need formal education, but it will help you a lot—especially due to the competition involved in the sector. If you’re already a competent programmer, however, you can start working as a freelancer and take on a variety of jobs today.
Accounting Services
Like our last point of discussion, accounting services require some education to get started. However, accounting is an excellent business to start. As more aspiring business owners start their ventures, they’ll need lots of accounting services—including tax calculations, payroll management, and more. Once you get your first few clients, you’ll be able to establish a name for yourself in the industry.
Most Successful Businesses to Start with a Bit of Upfront Investment
Let’s finalize our list of the top 10 most successful businesses to start with two options that need a bit of upfront investment. If you can afford these expenses, you might be able to start a more fulfilling venture in a lower-competition space.
Mobile Car Detailing Services
Many highly successful professionals have busy schedules across the globe, which leaves them no time for a variety of tasks. These people will commonly have luxury items like cars—which they’ll want to keep clean and shiny. Mobile detailing services are perfect for these individuals, which is a relatively straightforward business you can get into. You’ll need a dedicated vehicle for this, along with all the necessary tools and knowledge. However, being an on-site service that can’t be outsourced, it could be a lucrative option depending on your area.
Mobile Tire Repair
Closely tied to our last point, mobile tire repair is another one of the top 10 most successful businesses to start that can’t be outsourced. Unlike detailing, this one will cater to a wider customer base. This will give you more opportunities to earn an income, however, each one will have a lower value. As a result, you may earn less with a mobile tire repair shop than with a comparable detailing business. But, you’ll likely have a steadier source of revenue in the short term.
Essential Tools for the Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start in 2025
Having explored a few great business ideas, let’s now cover what you’ll need to ensure your success. No matter which type of venture you choose, you’ll likely benefit greatly from the following software:
- Time Tracking Apps
- Project Management Tools
- Payroll and Invoicing Solutions
While all three of these can be invaluable for your business, a high-quality time tracker can be especially important. The main reason for this is that many of the best time trackers on the market combine a wide range of features—making them complete productivity tools. Let’s now explore how such a solution can guarantee your success.
How a Fully-Featured Time Tracker Contributes to the Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start
The highest-quality time tracking apps offer much more than a way to track work hours. Apps like WebWork are fully-featured productivity suites that can help you grow your business from scratch. They’ll help you in all aspects of your work—including management, productivity-boosting, reporting, and much more. If you charge for your services on an hourly basis, a high-quality time tracker can even help you bill clients accurately. If you employ freelance professionals, paying them will be much easier as well.
Final Thoughts
Starting a business is always a risk worth considering—especially if you pick the right one. While there are lots of different types of firms out there, some are easier to start than others. By picking one of the top 10 most successful businesses to start, you can increase your chances of success. This can kickstart your entrepreneurial career—helping make your dreams a reality.
