So you have a busy schedule or have other commitments but still want to venture into online business?
Well, you’re not alone. Many other folks are looking for ideas for online businesses with low time commitment.
This is no surprise given that starting a business online offers you unmatched flexibility and has the potential to generate significant income.
This guide will explore various online business ideas that don’t demand you to invest lots of time in them.
We’ll also delve into characteristics that make each of these businesses time-efficient and share actionable steps for you to get started.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or looking for new ideas, this guide will offer you valuable info to help you start and grow your online hustle.
Online business ideas with low time commitment
Here’s our list of the best business ideas that don’t demand a lot of your time commitment while giving you good returns:
#Dropshipping
One of the best low time commitment business ideas is dropshipping! Dropshipping is all about selling products online without necessarily holding any inventory.
Sounds magical, right? Whenever a customer makes a purchase in your store, the order is forwarded to your chosen supplier who then directly ships the product to the customer.
Some of the most popular dropshipping platforms today include Shopify and WooCommerce. An added benefit of this business model is that only a small initial investment is required to get started.
If you wish to be a dropshipper, you’ll first need to find a niche with high demand and low competition to help maximize your profits.
You’ll also need to find a reliable supplier. You can easily find reliable suppliers on platforms such as AliExpress and Spocket.
With a supplier at hand, you should not go ahead and set up your online store, using platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.
Finally, you’ll need to do some serious marketing to help drive traffic to your new store. You can rely on SEO, social media, and paid ads as some of the most effective marketing strategies for dropshipping.
TIP: If you’re too busy and have no time to run your new store, you can use automation tools such as Spocket to help automate product imports and order processing.
Moreover, you can use virtual assistants or customer service platforms like Zendesk to help you manage inquiries from customers.
#Print on demand
Print on demand, usually abbreviated as POD, is an online business model that involves creating custom products such as t-shirts, caps, mugs, phone cases, etc.
These products get printed only after a customer places an order. Printful and Teespring are some of the most popular platforms where you can launch your POD business.
Key benefits of starting this business is high flexibility when it comes to customization. This lets you create unique designs that are tailored to your specific audiences.
What’s more, you don’t need an upfront inventory as the products are produced only when an order is made. This significantly reduces financial risk.
Getting started in a print-on-demand business is easy-peasy!
You’ll first need to use graphic design tools to help come up with appealing designs. Platforms such as Canva and Adobe Spark can offer you easy-to-use design templates.
You’ll also need to set up an e-commerce store using platforms like Shopify. Selling your products on platforms like Redbubble and Etsy can help give you additional exposure.
Lastly, you'll need to do marketing to promote your products. You can use marketing strategies like social media, targeted advertising, and influencer collaborations.
#Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is another cool business that doesn't take up much of your time. It involves promoting other companies’ products and earning a commission for each sale.
Some of the most popular affiliate marketing networks you can join today include ShareASale and Amazon Associates.
As an affiliate marketer, you don’t need to create any products.
You just need to focus on marketing and promoting the existing products. Plus, it has the potential for high passive income.
Key steps to get started in this venture include choosing a profitable niche and building a website or blog where you’ll be promoting the referral links.
And most importantly, you’ll need to do content creation and SEO to help attract traffic to your site.
#Online courses
If you’re knowledgeable in a given field, you can easily monetize it by creating and selling eBooks around the topic.
The good thing about this side hustle is that you’ll just need to develop your course once and sell it repeatedly.
You can trust platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and Teachable to help you reach a global audience and generate passive income from your expertise.
The first step to creating an online course is determining which topics you’re knowledgeable about and then identifying your target market.
Next, you’ll need to create high-quality content for your audience.
In other words, develop informative and engaging course materials, including video lectures, downloadable resources, and quizzes.
Once your course is ready, all that’s remaining is to publish it on platforms like Udemy and then promote it via social media, email marketing, and partnering with influencers or other educators.
#EBooks
Just like online courses, eBooks allow you to share your knowledge with a broad audience and earn passive income.
Publishing and distributing your work is pretty easy, thanks to platforms such as Apple Books and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
Most folks favor this business model because of the low production costs involved and the ability to sell their work to a global audience without having to worry about inventory constraints.
If you want to start selling eBooks, we advise you to start by choosing a topic you’re passionate about and has high market demand.
Next, you’ll need to write a compelling and well-structured e-book that provides value to your readers.
When done, you can use tools like Kindle Create and Scrivener to format your eBook and publish it on the platform of your choice.
Finally, make sure you promote your eBook through social media, book blogs, email newsletters, and author websites.
#Digital marketing services
You can also offer digital marketing services as a low time commitment business. Such services include SEO (search engine optimization, content marketing, or social media management.
This cannot only be a flexible venture for busy individuals but also a profitable business. This is due to the high demand for these services by businesses trying to establish their online presence.
As a digital marketing services provider, you can work on your own schedule and manage clients as needed.
To get started in this field, you’ll need to identify your strengths, whether it’s SEO, content creation, or social media.
Next, you’ll need to build your portfolio to show clients your past work or case studies. You can then use social media, networking platforms, or even networking to find clients.
How to choose the ideal low time commitment business
With many low time commitment business ideas available, you’re spoilt for choices no doubt.
However, you’ll need to choose one that best suits your unique expectations.
One key factor to consider when deciding which business to go with is the automation potential.
This is based on the simple fact that being able to automate routine tasks helps significantly reduce time requirements.
Outsourcing possibility is another factor worth considering. By being able to outsource some aspects of your business, you’ll be able to free up time to focus on other activities.
Also, look for a business model that offers passive income opportunities (i.e., it lets you generate income with minimal ongoing effort).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much money do I need to start a low time commitment business?
It depends on the type of business you settle for. However, most of these businesses can be started with just a few hundred dollars for website setup, initial tools, and marketing.
2. What skills do I need to start a business online?
There are no set skills needed to start an online business. The specific skills you need depend on the type of business you choose. However, having basic skills like customer service, marketing, and technology can be a plus for you.
3. Can I run an online business while working a full-time job?
Yes, you can run an online business while working your full-time job. Most of the businesses we have shared in this guide are designed to be flexible and are easily manageable alongside a busy schedule.
Conclusion
Finding a low-time commitment business idea shouldn’t be a daunting task. In this guide, we have just discussed some of the best ideas to consider, including dropshipping, affiliate marketing, print-on-demand, creating eBooks and online courses, and offering digital marketing services.
All these business models are easy to get started, do not require lots of your time, and have the potential to generate good income.
Remember, the perfect business model that fits your busy schedule should have crucial aspects like outsourcing possibilities, automation capabilities, and passive income opportunities.
Which of these low-time commitment online business models would you want to start today?
