What are the best business ideas for women? 

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to choose a business idea
• The best business ideas for women entrepreneurs
• How to start your own business

So if you want to become a successful entrepreneur and leave your day job, you’re in the right place. 

Read on to learn more.

How to choose a business idea 

Did you know that over 40% of businesses in the US are owned by women?

What all of those female entrepreneurs needed one thing to get started: An idea.

So what’s the best business idea for women like you? 

First, there’s no one-size-fits-all. 

Second, even if you don’t realize it, you’ve already got plenty of fulfilling and profitable business ideas within you. 

The right one combines your skills, your goals, and market demand. 

First, look at the valuable skills you’ve learned. They could be from your day job, hobbies, and life experiences.

For example, when I started my first business, I was in a 9-5 where I worked on different digital ad campaigns for big clients. So I used that skill and started helping online business owners grow their businesses with paid advertising. 

The next step is to look at your goals. 

Want to leave your day job and be a full-time entrepreneur? 

Or maybe you just want a side hustle for extra income.

Bottom line: The type of business you want to build is fundamental to finding the best business idea for you.

In this video, I talk about profitable ideas that could work:

Finally, once you have an idea, you need to figure out the market demand. 

In short, do people want your product or service? Are they willing to pay for it?

The best way to figure that out is simple: Ask.

Go to where your ideal clients are (like Reddit and social media) to learn what problems you can help them solve. You can also look at competitors to see what’s working. 

Now, want some examples of great business ideas for women? 

Let’s dive right in.

Online business ideas for women 

In this first section, we’ll look at what I call “Freedom Businesses.” A Freedom Business is a service business that is:

• Online
• Flexible
• Has little to no startup costs
• Highly profitable

And with hard work, you can turn them into full-time businesses that free you from your 9-5.

Sound good? Read on.

Health coaching

I get asked all the time, what is the most profitable online business idea for beginners? 

The answer: Coaching.

You can start coaching with the skills you already have and create high-ticket packages.

One type of coaching is health coaching. 

Health coaches help their clients improve their health. 

How? Depends on their background and experience. 

It could be through fitness, nutrition, alternative therapies – you name it.

For example, one of my students David Alsieux is a health coach who helps clients lose weight with herbal remedies. 

So if you have a background in health, you could make six-figures or more as a health coach. A good starting point is to offer a three-month coaching package and price it at $1,500. 

Here’s my guide on how to become a health coach.

Career coaching

Career coaching is another type of coaching that is profitable and rewarding. 

My student Adunola Adeshola started employeeREDEFINED after climbing the corporate ladder herself. She saw the common pitfalls mid-level career women face. Now she helps them get to the next level.

As a career coach, you need to be able to strategize with your clients to figure out the best path to their dream careers. 

Just like health coaches, you could make anywhere from high five to over six-figures as a career coach. 

Here’s how to start your own career coaching business.

Marketing consulting

Do you have a background in marketing? Consulting is a lucrative business you can build from home. 

You can specialize in any kind of marketing – from PR and paid ads to social media and SEO. 

And your role as a consultant is to create custom marketing strategies to help businesses grow. 

To get started as a marketing consultant, network within your industry and offer some free consulting sessions to ideal clients. You’ll start to build a reputation as you gain results from your work.

On average, marketing consultants in the US make $165,000 per year. So if you want to make a difference to businesses and leave your 9-5, marketing consulting could be the idea for you.

College consulting 

College consulting is when you consult high school students on how to get into top colleges. 

You don’t need any specific credentials but you do need experience. 

For example, this is a good business for someone who has worked as a college admissions officer. 

Or take a look at my student Mara’s business, Top Law School Consulting. 

As a former practicing lawyer, she now helps aspiring law graduates get into their dream law school.

Mindset coaching 

A mindset coach helps her clients break through mindset blocks, so they can achieve their goals.For example, my student Spencer Snakard. She helps entrepreneurs overcome self-limiting beliefs so they can build their dream businesses. Since starting her business, she has left her day job and earns three times as much as a mindset coach as she did in her day job.

You don’t need any qualifications to become a mindset coach. But you do need to have a solid method for helping your clients improve their mindset in an actionable way. 

Here’s how to become a mindset coach.

Membership program 

A membership program is a subscription-based, members-only service around a specific topic. 

And there are memberships about everything. 

Take the Personal Development School. Here, members learn how to navigate their relationships. For a monthly fee, they can access multiple courses and live workshops.

So membership programs can be highly profitable and scalable because of recurring revenue.

But it takes time to build that loyal following. And you have to keep adding content to your member’s area to keep your current members and attract new ones. 

However, if you have a dedicated audience and a strong niche, a membership program or site could be right for you.

Social media management 

Social media managers help businesses grow their social media platforms. 

That includes:

• Coming up with fresh social media ideas
• Designing content 
• Studying analytics
• Creating content calendars
• Posting on your client’s behalf

Creator Katie Steckly built a six-figure social media marketing agency by creating high-ticket packages.

How do you get started? Offer your services to a few businesses in your niche. 

Financial coaching

25% of Americans say they’re stressed about money. As a financial coach, you could help ease those worries.

Your role is to advise on how clients can achieve their financial goals. 

Now, this is NOT the same as financial planning. That requires a certification. 

Financial coaching is non-regulated advice on how to pay down debt, save more, and generally feel better about money.

Why is this a good business to start? Well, you can use the knowledge you already have (if you’re good with money). 

Plus, getting your first client is relatively simple. Reach out to your network and see who is interested in working with you on their finances.

You can learn more about starting a financial coaching business here. 

Relationship coaching 

A relationship coach helps clients find, build, and maintain good relationships. 

My student, Ruby Lee, was formerly a matchmaker at eHarmony. Now she runs a six-figure relationship coaching business, Good Gentlemen, helping men find love.

So if you have a background in psychology, dating, or you’ve helped others find their match, relationship coaching could be a rewarding business for you.

Here’s how to start your own relationship coaching business. 

Graphic design 

As a graphic designer, clients would hire you to design original digital assets for them, including:

• Logos
• Brochures
• Websites
• Social media graphics and banners
• Product packaging

…And more. 

You could even specialize in one specific type of graphic design. For example, you could focus on packaging for pet businesses.

But do you need a degree in graphic design? No. The most important thing is your portfolio. And you can create one with the tools you have. 

So how much could you make? On average, $100,000 a year. So starting a graphic design business could give you the flexibility and financial freedom you need to leave your day job. 

Freelance writing 

A freelance writer works on written assets for clients. And those assets vary depending on the client. 

You could work on blogs, whitepapers, instruction manuals, sales page copy, and more. 

So why is freelance writing a good business idea for women? 

Well, it’s a highly profitable and flexible freelance job. And if you’re a good writer, you don’t need any degree or qualification. 

Plus, you can choose how many clients you work with and your niche.

You also set your own rates. Writer Kat Boogaard reached six-figures in her writing business by working with high-paying clients. 

Now, freelancing can be profitable but digital products (like courses) are way better for scaling. 

Let’s dive into that next.

Online courses 

An online course business is one of my favorite business ideas on this list. Why? 

For a start, you could create a course about anything. From nail art to music production or mindfulness to kickboxing.

Second, online courses are profitable. You only have to create the course once, but you can sell it indefinitely. 

And that’s why the online education industry is worth $200 billion. 

But here’s the thing: Even though anyone can create an online course, I don’t recommend it for beginners. 

Look, it takes time to create and sell a course. So I recommend starting with coaching and then translating your process into an online course. 

That way you’ll already have a track record. Your course will sell way more if you can show that your method works.

And before you dive headfirst into creating your course, here are some things you need to know:

Web development 

As a web developer, you write code for websites and apps. 

If you know how to code and have a portfolio of projects, web development is a great business to start. 

Why? Well, web developers are in demand. 

And because it’s a specialist skill, you can set your prices high. 

Most web developers in the US make around $88,000 a year. So it’s a great side business that can grow into a full-time Freedom Business.

Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper is a financial professional who helps clients manage their finances. 

They record and track financial transactions on behalf of their clients to make tax returns and other reporting easier. 

And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a college degree to start bookkeeping. 

But if you want to stand out from the competition, it’s worth looking into a certification or diploma (if you don’t have one already). 

Especially if you’re trained as a bookkeeper in your day job, this business idea could be one that offers you more flexibility and freedom. 

Legal services 

Legal services are always in demand, which makes it a great business idea for women. 

And no, you don’t have to start a law firm if you don’t want to. 

If you have legal training and experience, there are many legal services you can offer. 

For example:

• Mediation services
• Compliance consulting
• Legal project management
• Law school coaching
• Legal coaching

My friend Lisa Fraley is a legal coach who helps online business owners get legally covered. She offers both DIY and one-on-one services.

Web designer 

As a web designer, you design and build websites for clients. 

You don’t need any qualifications to do web design. 

All you need is a good eye for websites and an understanding of how WordPress works. 

Web designers charge anything from $500 to $10,000+ for websites depending on their clients and their experience. On average, they earn over $80,000 a year.

Tech consulting 

Tech consultants help businesses improve their tech systems, build new tech solutions, and advise them on tech security. 

Most tech consultants work with big businesses, but you can choose your clients. After all, 72% of businesses are hit by ransomware attacks and the global cybersecurity market is expected to grow to $266.2 billion by 2027.

You don’t need any specific qualifications to become a tech consultant but a background in IT is helpful.

HR consulting 

As an HR consultant, you help businesses improve their HR policies and build better teams. 

A lot of HR consultants start at their own companies by becoming freelancers in their current roles. From there, they branch out to working with other companies and building a portfolio of work.

Plus, they are well-paid. HR consultants make an average of $71,000+ per year.

Note: Similar to legal consulting, you typically need a background or qualification in HR to start consulting.

Parenting coaching 

Parenting coaches help families in different areas of parenting, including:

• Baby sleep coaching
• Potty training coaching
• Adolescent coaching
• Gentle parenting coaching
• Communication coaching
• Nutrition coaching,

…And more. 

There’s no set way to be a parenting coach, so you can tailor your services to a style that works best for you. 

For example, Jess Marshall built Nurtured First, a parenting coaching company selling online courses for parents of young children. 

After working with a few clients one-on-one, you could expand your business to selling online courses. Or building a membership site to maximize your impact and profitability.

Leadership coaching 

A leadership coach works with executives and leaders to help them improve how they lead. You technically don’t need any qualifications. 

However many leadership coaches have an executive coaching certification. Not all clients require that, though, and you don’t need a certification. 

The most important thing – as always – is your results.

Next, let’s take a look at the best side business ideas. 

Side business ideas for women 

If you’re looking for a side hustle to boost your income rather than a full-time business, these ideas are for you.

Read on!

Online tutoring 

Got a degree in English, Math, or another academic subject? Then, you can do online tutoring. Sites like TutorMe connect you with students and pay you anywhere from $10 to $20 per hour.

Selling on Etsy 

Whether you make jewelry, sweaters, or digital templates, you can sell your products on a platform like Etsy. The average successful Etsy seller makes $43,000 to $46,000 per year from their sales. So if you learn how the platform works, you can make a great side income.

Building an e-commerce business

An e-commerce business is when you sell your products on an online store you own. For example, Lush, Ulta, and Bath & Body Works are e-commerce businesses. You need a product and inventory to start your own online shop, so take that into account when you build your business. 

Blogging

Want to write about a specific niche, like parenting or traveling? Try blogging. Some bloggers make five to six-figures a year monetizing their blogs with ads and sponsorship deals. And because blogs take time to build, it’s a great side hustle idea.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is when you recommend a product to your audience and get a commission from each sale. You can build an audience on the side of your day job and eventually, affiliate income can reach five or six-figures (although most self-employed affiliate marketers make less than $10,000 per year).

Selling art 

Love to create art? You can sell it online in multiple ways. You could create a website to sell digital prints and commissions. Or you could sell your art on a marketplace like Society 6, ArtPal, and Etsy.

YouTuber

YouTube is one of the best places to be content creators because video is so engaging. And you can create a channel about anything, from building tiny homes to training dogs. But on average, it takes years to build a successful YouTube channel (just like it did for me). Keep that in mind if you want to go full-time.

Flipping vintage clothes or designer items  

Flipping involves buying vintage or second-hand items and selling them at a premium. You could flip clothes, furniture, accessories – you name it. This is a great business to do in your spare time.

Content creation 

Content creators create video content, newsletters, or social media content. Typically, you then promote products to your audience and earn money through brand deals. Or you create your own product or service and sell that to them. However, getting to the level where you have a profitable business can take years unless you focus on selling first.   

Calligraphy business 

Here, you provide custom handwriting services. You could write wedding invitations, signs, or even design digital prints. Sure, it’s not very scalable – but it works well as a side business. 

Want business ideas that don’t require you to have specific skills or degrees? Read on.

Easy business ideas for women 

Look: No business is really easy. 

It takes work to become a successful entrepreneur. 

But to build some businesses, you can use skills you already have and have no educational requirements. 

Let’s dive into them. 

Virtual assistant 

Love organizing things? Becoming a virtual assistant is a business idea you could start today. Take Kayla Sloan for example. She didn’t have any official training but loved organizing, but now she makes over $10,000 a month as a virtual assistant.

Proofreading

Proofreading could be a side hustle or a profitable business depending on how you market your services. On platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, you can find proofreading jobs and get started straight away. The average salary for proofreaders is $22.19 per hour. 

Transcribing

Transcribing is another freelance job that you can start at home. Sites like Rev connect you to clients and can pay $0.50 per minute transcribed. And you can earn even more if you can transcribe another language.

Customer service rep

Did you know that you can become a customer service rep from anywhere? Many companies hire freelance customer service reps from platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. You typically need to have experience with SalesForce or other similar CRMs.

Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting is when you’re hired to write articles or books on behalf of someone else. Pay varies for ghostwriters depending on your experience (the average salary is $55,000 per year).

Voice over service 

As a voice-over artist, you record your voice for audiobooks, commercials, or YouTube videos. The average salary is $49.79 per hour.

Video editing 

Know your way around Final Cut Pro? Video editing is one of the most sought-after skills right now. Full-time video editors earn $53,000+ per year, but depending on your clients, you could earn more.

Content writing 

Another sought-after skill is content writing. Content writing includes social media captions, blogs, and more. On average, content writers make $40,000-80,000 per year.

Language tutoring 

Language tutoring is a popular business idea for women because it’s flexible. You can use platforms like Cambly and Italki to get started earning on average $10-20 per hour. Note that you don’t have to speak multiple languages. As an English speaker, you can help people improve their English skills. 

Sales rep 

Similar to customer service reps, companies hire freelance sales reps to sell their products globally. If you have some sales experience, you can get started at home and earn an average of $85,000 per year. (And often, employers will train you for the job.)

Next up: Offline businesses.

Offline business ideas for women 

Most of the business ideas we’ve talked about have been online. 

That’s because they are scalable, profitable, and “simple” to start. 

But what if you want an offline business? Here are some ideas.

Event planning 

If you have great attention to detail and love hosting events, you could start an event planning business. From weddings and birthdays to retreats and corporate parties, event planners are in demand. Take Candice Coppola, who made multiple six-figures planning destination weddings.

Photography

If you’re a photographer or someone who enjoys photography, you could potentially set up a photography business in your local community. There are plenty of niches to get into – portraits, real estate, events, pets, and babies.

Cleaning business 

If you want to start a cleaning business, you can begin by cleaning homes and offices by yourself and then expand your team. It will take time to build up a client base but you can raise your profitability with larger packages.

Dog walking 

Dog walking is an offline business – and often a good side hustle. Platforms like Rover help you set your rates, define your schedule, and book clients. 

Interior design 

Interior designing is when you professionally advise clients on how to improve their space. Your services might include moodboarding and personal furniture shopping. On average, interior designers make $68,349 per year. But you can raise your profitability by creating courses.

Makeup artist 

If you’re a skilled makeup artist, you can sell your services to local clients. Niche your services to provide different types of makeup; for example, wedding makeup, photography makeup, or TV makeup.

Personal trainer 

A personal trainer is a professional who helps clients achieve their fitness goals. You can get a certification, but it’s not always necessary. Reach out to clients in local gyms or social media groups. 

Stylist

A stylist or image consultant helps clients dress better. Often, people look for stylists in their area, so partner with local clothing stores or go to local online groups to find your first few clients.

Personal chef 

If you’re a trained chef, becoming a personal chef is an excellent business idea. You can tailor your packages to your clients and get well paid for it. On average, personal chefs earn $66,000+ but as a business owner, you can set your own rates.

Elderly care 

Former nurses and medical professionals can create a business working in elderly care. This could be more hands-on assistance or simple befriending services (helping clients who feel lonely.) This is a highly rewarding business idea for women.

So now you know the best business ideas for women, where do you start? 

Let’s talk about that next.

How do you start a business? 

Want to start your business this year? This is the method I teach my students:

• Decide on what kind of business: Do you want an online or offline business? I recommend starting with an online business first because it’s simpler to start and easy to scale.
• Find a niche: Answer these two questions: What do you do? And who do you do it for? The answer is your niche. 
• Market and competitor research: Would someone pay for your product or service? To find out, talk to your target audience online.
• Register your business (if you need to): Do you want to be a self-employed freelancer or an LLC business owner? Decide which structure works best for you and your business.
• Pricing and offer: Create a high-quality product or package that delivers a transformation for your customers. Then choose a price that fits with your target audience.
• Create a website for your business: You don’t need a website when you’re starting out (it’s a bit of a distraction). But create one after you’ve worked with your first few clients.   
• Find your first clients: Getting your first clients can happen within the first couple of months if you have a smart strategy. I talk about strategies for getting new clients here.
• Market your business and service: Go to where your ideal clients hang out online. I have some ideas in this blog post.

For more on how to start your business, I put together this short video with three simple steps: 

But as you’re building your business, it’s helpful to see others who are where you want to be. So let’s take a look at businesses created by other women. 

Examples of businesses launched by women 

There are plenty of successful businesses founded by women. Just a few of them include: 

• Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble: A dating app with over 50 million users
• Jessica Alba, The Honest Company: A household product company that is now worth over $200 million.
• Sara Blakely, Spanx: A global shapewear brand worth over $1.2 billion
• Sarah Lafleur, M.M. LaFleur: A women’s workwear brand that earned $22 million in revenue in 2023.

But you don’t need an “innovative idea” to get started. In fact, these businesses collected millions in funding – something you don’t need if you want to start a business. Instead, use the skills you have to build your business. 

I personally wanted a business that would afford me as much flexibility and freedom as possible.

That’s why I used my existing skills and built my current business – which today is an 8-figure business completely run online. 

FAQs

What is the easiest business to start right now?

The easiest business to start right now is the combination of three things: 

• A profitable business idea
• A niche where you can use your existing skills
• Low startup costs

And which business types combine all three? Coaching, consulting, or freelancing. These businesses are “easy” because you can start from home with the skills you have.

What small business is the most successful?

The most successful small business idea depends on your skills and goals. But no matter what your niche is, coaching is one of the best small business models. It’s highly profitable, simple to start, and doesn’t require any additional skills. And you can get started right away.

What is the most fun business to start?

The most fun business depends on your definition of fun. For some people, fun means being creative every day so selling art and crafts on Etsy would be fun. To me, helping people achieve their goals is fun. 

Next steps

And there you have it! These are the best business ideas for women. 

But the idea stage is just the beginning. If you want to build a successful online business, you need a clear path that will get you there. 

That’s what I share in my free PDF on how to help new business owners like you create profitable businesses and break free from the 9-5. 

Get it now: 

Read more:

Most Successful Online Business Ideas

How to Become Your Own Boss

How to Start a Business While Working Full-Time